‘Movie Corner’ Archives
The Grandmaster
The Grandmaster By Howard McQuitter II “The Grandmaster” (2013) **** 1/2 Drama/Action/Adventure Weinstein Company Cast: Tony Leung (Ip Man),Chen Chang (The Razor), Ziyi Zhang (Gong Er), Zhao Benshan (Ding Lianshang), Hye-Kyo Song (Zhang Yongchen), Xiao Sherr Yang (San Jiang Shui). (PG-13) Running time: 130 minutes. Languages: Mandarin/Cantonese/Japanese. Countries: China/Hong Kong. Director: Kar Wai Wong. Men in black in a night rainstorm perform martial arts in such stylist form they almost look like dancers dancing to Swan Lake. In super slow motion the raindrops splash like waves of an ocean and movements of men kick and punch each other like mountain goats clashing horns in silent thunder. Director Kar Wai Wong spent ten years on the project “The Grandmaster,” indeed, turning out, what I call, a grand film. Often times with martial arts films it can be difficult or impossible just what era is being depicted. Kar Wai [...]
Lee Daniels”' The Butler
Lee Daniels”' The Butler” ***** Weinstein Company Biography/Drama Cast: Forest Whitaker (Cecil Gaines), Oprah Winfrey (Gloria Gaines), Elijah Kelley (Charlie), David Oyelowo (Louis), Cuba Gooding Jr. (Carter Wilson), Terrence Howard (Howard), Lenny Kravitz (James Holloway), James Marsden (John F. Kennedy, Vanessa Redgrave (Annabeth Westfall), Alan Richman (Ronald Reagan), Liev Schreider (Lyndon B. Johnson), Robin Williams (Dwight D. Eisenhower), Ami Ameen (Cecil Gaines, age 15), Nelsen Ellis (Martin Luther King Jr.) and Clarence Williams III (Maynard.(PG-13) Running time:132 minutes. Director: Lee Daniels. Writer: Danny Strong. Lee Daniels”' fictional character butler Cecil Gaines based on the real life butler Eugene Allen serving in that position in the White House during seven presidential administrations. Lee Daniels”' “The Butler” is essentially a love story tapestried with the civil rights movement and walking the tightrope against [...]
This Is The End & The Lone Ranger
“This Is The End” (2013) This is the End Columbia Pictures. Comedy/Action/Adventure/ Horror. Cast: James Franco (Himself), Jonah Hill (Himself), Seth Rogen (Himself), Craig Robinson (Himself), Michael Cera (Himself), Jay Baruchel (Himself), Danny McBride( Himself), Emma Watson (Herself), Channing Tatum (Himself). (R) Running time: 107 minutes. Directors: Evan Goldberg, Seth Rogen. Set just outside of Los Angeles James Franco, Jonah Hill, Craig Robinson, Michael Cera, Jay Baruchel, Danny McBride, Emma Watson and Channing Tatu All friends”“play themselves in one big fraternal playground. All of them are having a party in a house in Los Angeles when cataclysmic events level the city and most of the surrounding areas. As the earthquake wrecks havoc, partyers scatter along with other Los Angelos. Not unlike most comedies today ”˜This Is the End” is crass”“and gross at times”“this bunch of guys manage to spawn quite a few [...]
