TERMINATOR SALVATION (2009) (Preemptive Strike)

Watch the trailer.

Positive Experience/Entertaining? I guess watching the trailer was a positive experience. Honestly, Terminator 3 was such crap I really am not expecting much from Terminator 4. So, with that in mind, it sure looked better than the last one.


Technically any good? The FX look amazing. The FX are at the level I've always wanted them to be at for a Terminator film that takes place in the dark future the first (and best) movie in the series originally predicted. Everything looks great--the robots, the ships, the nuclear leftovers that were once America's cities--it all looks pretty awesome.

It's very sad that Stan Winston isn't around to see his Terminator design used so effectively. :(

Story-wise, I had some problems, however. Based on the trailer, the movie shows in detail what the first film only talks about--the moments that lead up to the first Terminator being sent back in time. With that in mind, don't we know how this movie will end already? And then there's a moment in the trailer that strongly reminded me Battlestar Galactica. So much so that I'm wondering if this couldn't be a prequel to that show.


How did it leave me feeling? Definitely curious and definitely interested, is how it left me feeling. However, in today's world of $12.50 ticket prices and a lousy economy, I'm probably not going to be rushing out to see this film. I'll definitely catch it once it hits Netflix, however.


Final Rating? NFI - NetFlix It for sure--it looks like it'll be a fun romp. However, I'd rather spend my $12.50 on six subway rides and a bag of Fritos.

That's another sad thing--when Terminator 2 came out, I remember thinking how unimpressive the premise was. I remember wishing they had just made a prequel instead of a sequel. Now that they have I guess I'm sad that they couldn't do more to convince me in the trailer that this would be worth my money. It's the only other Terminator film I've wanted them to make.

OBSERVE AND REPORT (2009) (Preemptive Strike)

Watch the trailer.

Positive Experience/Entertaining? For some reason I like Seth Rogan even though I generally don't like his movies. So, as I watched the trailer I found myself wrestling with two ideas. 1) Seth Rogan is funny and 2) this movie looks stupid. Then a third point struck me: Didn't that "King of Queens" guy just do a stupid security-guard-takes-himself-too-seriously movie?


Technically any good? On a technical level, this does look smarter and funnier than the "King of Queens" guy's stupid security-guard-takes-himself-too-seriously movie, but that's not saying much. It's still a stupid security-guard-takes-himself-too-seriously movie. Sure, we've all smirked, condescendingly at our local mall's rent-a-cop, but would any of us pay $12.50 to see a movie about the guy?


How did it leave me feeling? Shrugful. I understand Rogan is just trying to milk his flavor-of-the-month status for all its worth (I know, it's more like flavor-of-the-year) so I don't blame him for churning out as many scripts as he can just to keep the momentum going. But we still have every right to look at his latest and go: "Meh. I can just as easily Netflix Caddyshack."

And I strongly believe you should.


Final Rating? DNS - Do Not See. Sorry, Seth. If you had been in Caddyshack you'd have made it better, but Observe and Report looks terrible.

And what the hell is with that title???

I mean, I hate movies written by focus groups, but did you even ask yourself if that was a good title??? Keerap, I'd bet good money (if I had any) that you'd be unable to find a single person who saw this trailer in front of Watchmen in the same theater as me who would actually be able to remember the title of Observe and Report.

MUTANT CHRONICLES (2009) (Preemptive Strike)

Watch the trailer

Positive Experience/Entertaining? As I sat down to watch the trailer, I expected it to look like a loud, obnoxious and stupid movie. As I watched the trailer, I was actually pleasantly surprised. I am curious to see this movie now.

Technically any good? This is definitely an FX-driven movie and the FX look pretty standard for the action movies of today. One of the things I really like about how the film looks is the cross of time periods. Something anime has been doing for years is mixing design elements from different time periods creating a look that you can't quite put a calendar date on. I really dig this kind of thing and it's used in Mutant Chronicles. Of course, the poster gives the time period away and manages to not show off any of this cool production design, so don't let the Photoshop-special above, bias you necessarily. Then again story-wise, the trailer makes the film look like your standard xenophobic action movie where the heroic white men must fight against the freaky outsiders. However, the above-mentioned mix of time periods intrigues me and there's a reason "fear of the other" movies do so well--they're often a lot of fun.

How did it leave me feeling? Definitely interested to see the movie. However, in today's economic climate, I can't say that it made me want to drop $12.50 on a theatrical movie ticket. Buuut, once it hits Netflix, I'll definitely be checking it out on my flatscreen :)

Final Rating? SIYL - See If You Like big action movies and can afford the movie theater ticket. Don't expect the next Raiders of the Lost Ark (if it even comes close, I'd be surprised) but it looks as good as a Hellboy, to me anyway.

Check out the trailer for yourself by going here: http://www.apple.com/trailers/magnolia/mutantchronicles/ Read more of my Pocket Reviews at http://pocketreviews.net

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