SAW IV

The "Saw" franchise keeps getting weaker and weaker with each installment. This particular one has a bunch of transition shots from place to place. The story doesn't make sense and the ending is as open ended as the last 2 films. I can appreciate what they are trying to do, but I'm not even sure if they know at this point. I will say that they are watchable and they keep your attention, but that's just because you don't know what's really going on. They try to tell the story through flashbacks and you can never really get a grasp on how or why this is happening. It's entertaining enough to pass the time at a brisk hour and 29 minutes. On the surface it's decent, but that's about all this franchise has left.

If you like the series, then keep watching them, but this is a very average if not slightly below average film.

CLOVERFIELD

I hated the "Blair Witch Project". I was a little hesitant to watch this for that reason. But that's what I do. I watch movies and especially the films with hype around them. I was curious to see if it could live up to the marketing strategy. I'd say it barely pulled it off.

The film is a total first person perspective through their own video camera. I loved the concept of making a story by using previously fimed footage intercut between the happenings that are taking place during the destrucion. This could never happen in real life, so you just gotta go with that. It allowed the back story to be told without ever losing it's first person point of view. Which was important to the story. It gives the film a side story, than just a monster trashing New York. So I liked that. The only problem I had was that it does just end and nothing really gets accomplished. If that doesn't bother you at all then it's a really good film. I understand why they did it that way and that's why I'm passing it as a good film, but it kinda leaves an empty feeling at the end. They do give you a great shot to end the film on a high note. Not a classic, but I would go see this film for sure.

RAMBO

I just want to say "welcome back" Sly Stallone! You touched our hearts with "Rocky Balboa" and made a champion go out on top. And now you bring peace to Burma with the last installment of "Rambo".

This film is the first feel good film of 2008. Can you say "Oscars 2009"? I wasn't expecting much from this film based on it's early reviews, but it's obvious that those critics are pro genocide. This time around, Rambo is on a mission to save a christian group from colorado who traveled into Burma. They get themselves captured and then it's up to Rambo and a group of mercenaries to go into the village on a rescue mission. Along the way he finds his inner self, by ripping out their innerselves.

Seriously speaking though. This movie is no cinematic achievment, but it's a great high octane film if you can stand the blood and gore. It's not for everyone, but I was very surprised at how much it entertained me. There are a couple of moments that made me want to stand up and cheer, but I hate those people, so I didn't. I think he failed on his message that he wanted to send about the civil war in Burma, but stumbled across a great action film. I would say this is a for sure pick if you like Rambo films, but I wouldn't recommend it to the squirmish.

THE KINGDOM

I finally got to watch "The Kingdom" on Hd the other night and it was better than the trailers and reviews said. It was a little thrown together and jumped around a bit, but it was an intriguing and emotional story. There is a great and very tense chase scene that will keep you on the edge of your seat at the end. It's a chase and rescue scene. Very well done and I wasn't sure what was going to happen, so that was a pleasant surprise. Jamie Foxx does pretty good in it, but the story itself just feels rushed. The pace picks up at the end and all of a sudden the climax is there. I'd recommend this movie to anyone who likes more realistic action and not over the top slow-motion.