Top 5 Thursday: Comedies from the 2000s

It’s time for the 2000s and this decades best comedies. Comedy is different here, but not bad at all. Here are my favorite laughs of the 2000s.

5. Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy

Not that popular when it came out, but it reached a cult status later on. It even got a sequel. That wasn’t as good, but “Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy” is hilarious. It’s silly, but maybe that’s why I like it so much.

 

 

4. The 40-Year Old Virgin

This movie put Steve Carrel on the map (beside “The Office” off course). His portrayal of virgin Andy is so endearing and you can’t help but like the guy.

 

 

3. Old School

Somehow Will Ferrell always makes me laugh, he is such a funny actor. And his character of Frank the Tank is the best thing about “Old School”. Him singing ‘Dust in the Wind’ or doing gymnastics, if that doesn’t make you laugh.

 

 

2. Shaun of the Dead

It’s a horror comedy and it’s hilarious. “You got red on you”. Edgar Wright directs and Simon Pegg and Nick Frost star in this amazing comedy. Can’t get enough of it.

 

 

1. Hot Fuzz

Off course this is my number one. I stated my love for this movie (and the trio Wright-Pegg-Frost) so many times. It’s actually in my top 10 of all-time favorite movies. It doesn’t get funnier than this.

 

 

They Almost Made the Top 5: Superbad, Meet the Parents, Knocked Up, Wedding Crashers

100 Movie Challenge 2015 - # 58: Alice in Wonderland

Director: Clyde Geronimi, Wilfred Jackson, Hamilton Luske

Genre: Animation/ Family/ Fantasy

Runtime: 72 minutes

Year: 1951

Starring: Kathryn Beaumont, Ed Wynn, Richard Haydn, Sterling Holloway, Jerry Colonna, Verna Felton, J. Pat O’Malley, Bill Thompson

Description: Alice stumbles into the world of Wonderland. Will she get home? Not if the Queen of Hearts has her way.

Review: Walt Disney had made its first full length animation in 1937, wit “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” and many classics would follow. “Alice in Wonderland” came out a year after “Cinderella” and was the 13th animation by Disney.

The film is based on the novel by Lewis Carroll, but off course with a Disney touch. At first the movie was criticized and Walt Disney also stated that he hated the film. But the hippie generation liked it and the surreal elements in the film made it into an interesting film, even for adults.

“Alice in Wonderland” doesn’t show us everything that’s in the book and also has some interesting parts from its sequel “Through the Looking Glass”. But many things we loved from the book were left out. For instance there are no chess pieces and no humptee dumptee. The movie is only 72 minutes long, but at the end you have the feeling that you saw a lot.

I really love the wonderland and all the fantasy elements, but I disliked the fact that Disney left so many great things out.

Rating: 3/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2015 - # 57: It Follows

Director: David Robert Mitchell

Genre: Horror/ Thriller

Runtime: 97 minutes

Year: 2014

Starring: Maika Monroe, Keir Gilchrist, Carollette Phillips, Loren Bass, Olivia Lucardo, Jake Weary, Daniel Zovatto, Charles Gertner, Bailey Spry, Debbie Williams, Ruby Harris, Linda Boston, Leisa Pulido, D.J. Oliver

Description: Jay (Maika Monroe) followed by an unknown supernatural force after getting involved in a sexual encounter.

Review: The concise title “It Follows” says everything you need to know about this minimalistic horror movie. Wherever you go, ‘it’ will follow you. What ‘it’ exactly is, isn’t really explained and it takes some time for us to find it out. Don’t expect crazy dudes with masks, women in white dresses or psychopaths.

With an unknown cast (you might now lead actress Maika Monroe from “The Guest”) and a budget of 2 million dollar, the expectations weren’t very high. When “It Follows” got positive reviews after some festivals, it was up to the audience to judge.

In the suburbs of Detroit, Jay and her friends enjoy a careless teenage life. After having sex with her new boyfriend Hugh, her life will change. Hugh warns Jay for something that will follow her, because he passed it on to her. Jay doesn’t understand, until she sees someone coming towards her. Her friends are very skeptical about Jay’s story, because she is the only who can see the person following her.

Director and writer David Robert Mitchell used nightmares from his own youth to create “It Follows” and it appears to be very original. It’s obvious he got inspiration from masters like George Romero and John Carpenter. The movie has some jump scares, but the fact that ‘it’ can literally be anyone makes you constantly aware of people approaching Jay.

“It Follows” also has a great soundtrack, with strong, electronic music. Much like actress Maika Monroe’s previous film “The Guest”. The dreamy cinematography is in contrast with what the characters are going through. There are hardly any adults present in the film, it focuses on Jay and her friends. And ‘it’ isn’t over-explained.

If you’re looking for an unconventional and original horror movie, that isn’t only interesting for the fans of the genre, than you should watch “It Folows”. And you will probably think twice about your next one-night-stand.

Rating: 4/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2015 - # 56: Pacific Rim

Director: Guillermo del Toro

Genre: Action/ Adventure/ Fantasy/ Science Fiction

Runtime: 132 minutes

Year: 2013

Starring: Charlie Hunnam, Idris Elba, Rinko Kikuchi, Charlie Day, Ron Perlman, Diego Klattenhoff, Burn Gorman, Max Martini, Robert Kazinsky, Clifton Collins Jr., Brad Williams Henke, Larry Joe Campbell, Joe Pingue, Milton Barnes

Description: As a war between humankind and monstrous sea creatures wages on, a former pilot (Charlie Hunnam) and a trainee (Rinko Kikuchi) are paired up to drive a seemingly obsolete special weapon in a desperate effort to save the world from the apocalypse.

Review: Gigantic aliens, called Kaiju, have stormed the planet. They come from a big hole in the ocean. Mankind fights back in big robots, called Jaegers, that are controlled by two pilots. But the Kaiju gets stronger and often come out of the ocean. That means they have to close the hole. It’s up to traumatized pilot Raleigh and the unexperiences Mako to save mankind.

“Pacific Rim” has a simple set up. If this movie would have been made by an average director, it would be terrible. But luckily for us there is Guillermo del Toro. The robots and monsters look fantastic and are very detailed. The opening is great and with the introduction of the main characters the story also looks more interesting. Sadly Del Toro didn’t manage to create characters without any clichés. Charlie Hunnam is well cast as Raleigh, but he is a bit dull at times. But he does have chemistry with Rinko Kikuchi. Idris Elba is marshall Stacker Pentecost and impresses. Although, I’m not sure about that cheesy speech he gave.

“Pacific Rim” is an overwhelming action movie, visually spectacular. The love that Guillermo de Toro has for monster movies is clearly present and that makes “Pacific Rim” a joy to watch. I was skeptical, but it was a lot better than I initially thought.

 

Rating: 3,3/ 5

Movie Trailer Sunday (188)

Here are this weeks trailers.

Legend

Description: Identical twin gangsters Ronald and Reginald Kray (Tom Hardy) terrorize London during the 1950s and 1960s.

Director: Brian Helgeland

Starring: Tom Hardy, Emily Browning, Taron Egerton, David Thewlis, Chazz Palminteri

Trailer: Trailer "Legend"

Comment: I love Tom Hardy, now we get two!!

Irrational Man

Description: A tormented philosophy professor (Joaquin Phoenix) finds a will to live when he commits an existential act.

Director: Woody Allen

Starring: Parker Posey, Joaquin Phoenix, Emma Stone, Jamie Blackley

Trailer: Trailer "Irrational Man"

Comment: Woody Allen can Always go into two directions, but mostly I love his work.

Strangerland

Description: A family finds their dull life in a rural outback town rocked after their two teenage children disappear into the desert, sparking disturbing rumors of their past.

Director: Kim Farrant

Starring: Nicole Kidman, Joseph Fiennes, Hugo Weaving

Trailer: Trailer "Strangerland"

Comment: Yeah, Australia!

The Last Witch Hunter

Description: The last remaining witch hunter battles against an uprising of witches in modern day New York.

Director: Breck Eisner

Starring: Elijah Wood, Michael Caine, Vin Diesel, Julie Engelbrecht, Rose Leslie, Olafur Darri Olafsson

Trailer: Trailer "The Last Witch Hunter"

Comment: This looks pretty cool, let's hope it will be.

Results

Description: Recently divorced, newly rich, and utterly miserable, Danny (Kevin Corrigan) would seem to be the perfect test subject for a definitive look at the relationship between money and happiness. Danny’s well-funded ennui is interrupted by a momentous trip to the local gym, where he meets self-styled guru/owner Trevor (Guy Pearce) and irresistibly acerbic trainer Kat (Cobie Smulders). Soon, their three lives are inextricably knotted, both professionally and personally.

Director: Andrew Bujalski

Starring: Giovanni Ribisi, Kevin Corrigan, Guy Pearce, Cobie Smulders, Brooklyn Decker, Anthony Michael Hall, Tishuan Scott

Trailer: Trailer "Results"

Comment: Looks like fun, but not special.

100 Movie Challenge 2015 - # 55: The Immigrant

Director: James Gray

Genre: Drama/ Romance

Runtime: 120 minutes

Year: 2013

Starring: Marion Cotillard, Joaquin Phoenix, Jeremy Renner, Dagmara Dominczyk, Angela Sarafyan, Glenn Fleshler, Gabriel Rush, Ilia Volok, Antoni Corone, Dylan Hartigan, DeeDee Luxe, Julian Murdoch, Francine Daveta, Anna Kuchma, John Mitchell, Gil O’Brien, Kevin Cannon, Francesca Murdoch

Description: The innocent immigrant Ewa (Marion Cotillard) is tricked into a life of burlesque and vaudeville until a dazzling magician (Jeremy Renner) tries to save her and reunite her with her sister who is being held in the confines of Ellis Island.

Review: A ship full of immigrants arrives in New York. The promise land. After the war in their homeland, all those people want is a bright future. Two Polish sisters, Ewa and Magda, dream about a new beginning. But when they arrive, Magda is put into quarantine because she looks sick. And Ewa is about to be send back to Poland.

A shady theater director, Bruno Weiss, saves her. He gives Ewa a job, in an American version of Moulin Rouge. And Bruno also gets her to sleep with men for money. A part of that money she uses to get her sick sister out. Her beauty attracts lots of men, but none of those feelings are sincere. But then she meets magician Emil, Bruno’s cousin and rival. He wants to genuinely help Ewa.

The décor and costumes are fantastic, it shows us America in the beginning of the 20th century. A yellow glow, a world ready to be discovered. This gives the movie a believable and credible feel. Sadly the rest is a bit more monotone. All men seem like barbarians and women have no say.

The cinematography is effective and conventional and the tone of the movie is very serious. The story is good, but towards the end, they wanted to wrap it up quickly. It leaves you a bit unsatisfied.

“The Immigrant” is an above average movie, because the acting is so good and I liked the story. But the wrap up of the film is not satisfying at all.

Rating: 3/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2015 - # 54: 22 Jump Street

Director: Phil Lord, Chris Miller

Genre: Action/ Comedy/ Crime

Runtime: 111 minutes

Year: 2014

Starring: Channing Tatum, Jonah Hill, Ice Cube, Dave Franco, Nick Offerman, Peter Stormare, Rob Riggle, Wyatt Russell, Jillian Bell, Amber Stevens, Dax Flame, Ashlyn McEvers, Jimmy Tatro, David Stephen Mitchell, Johnny Pemberton, Joe Chrest, Kate Adair, Libby Blanton, Amber Carollo

Description: After making their way through high school (twice), big changes are in store for officers Schmidt (Jonah Hill) and Jenko (Channing Tatum) when they go deep undercover at a local college.

Review: In 2012 we got the movie version “21 Jump Street”, a TV show which starred Johnny Depp. The movie, starring Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum and a huge amount of jokes, was a success. So when a movie is successful, there will off course be a sequel.

This time Schmidt and Jenko have to go undercover again. Not at a high school, but college. They have to infiltrate the dealers and find the supplier. Technically the same story, but then set at college. But the makers know that and mock it. That’s why “22 Jump Street” is better than I initially thought, because of the self-mockery.

Schmidt and Jenko are two completely different guys. Schmidt is smart and thinks things through, Jenko has a physical strength and is more impulsive. Those differences are also a central theme in the movie. This often gives us some clichés and stereotypes.

What is left is a movie that has much of the same, but still was surprisingly funny. Especially the way the movie mocks itself (stay for the end credits) and the great chemistry between Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum, make this a fun night at the movies.

Rating: 3/ 5