BackLineMedia

Since being one of the three Catch That Kid younglings along with Corbin Bleu and Kristin Stewart, we’ve not really seen much of Max Thieriot. Sure he was in Jumper (as the young Hayden Christensen), but Corbin Bleu went to High School Musical and Kristin Stewart is gonna be in Twilight (though, she was also in Jumper).

I actually took notice of Max’s acting in Jumper and you can say I prefer seeing him more than Shia LaBeouf, Daniel Radcliffe and Zac Efron just because I don’t like being too patronizing of the teenage whoredom mainstream. I had meant to write about Max in his role in 25/8, a thriller set for release in 2009 whom he co-stars with Denzel Whitaker - the awesome young dude in The Great Debaters.

News today was even greater for Max as he found himself landing the role of Chuck Russel’s Prodigy.

“Thieriot will play William Cooley, a rebellious student at an elite boarding school producing world leaders with the help of pharmaceuticals. Three days before graduation, several of its alumni are murdered, and William is implicated. As the school valedictorian investigates William, the two eventually become reluctant allies and targets while uncovering a conspiracy behind the crimes.” [source]

Cloverfield

A 50-ft. monster rampages on New York streets and Rob Hawkins’ (Michael Stahl-David) Japan send-off ends with him, his girlfriend, brother, brother’s girlfriend and pretty much most of New York dead and destroyed. A video of the destruction is later found in central park. It turns out to be of crappy quality with a mix of a video from an earlier travel.

Produced by J. J. Abrams and written by Drew Goddard, the videocam effect offered something fresh in as far as being The Blair Witch project of the 21st century. We should have something like that every 10 years.

Jumper

So you have Anakin Skywalker and that dude from the Green Day video battling Samuel Jackson. Oh boy, that’s gotta be good. Jumper isn’t the most exciting movie to watch but it does have a good story that’s not boring the first time. I do think Hayden Christensen was overshadowed by Jamie Bell in as far as acting and charisma, but hey, it’s a pop-corn movie.

Max Thieriot was also quite a revelation for me in this movie. Playing the young David Rice effectively (Hayden Christensen’s role), the kid from The Pacifier, Nancy Drew and Kit Kittredge served as a good base for creating the character’s frail persona.

21

I always liked Kevin Spacey, hence it was a nobrainer to watch 21. This one, of course, is not about him. I’d say he’s one that producers got to give the film some credibility. If not for him the movie might have gotten the Step Up 2 treatment - a talentless, substanceless movie filled with the all too predictable Hollywood stereotype. Oh yeah it did get that kind of review. I still like it though.

I’d recommend checking out the DVD for those who have not yet seen it. It’s a fun film.

Wall-E

Set 700 years after the Earth was evacuated, the idea of global warming was pretty much in tow even as it’s makers say there’s no political agenda behind the film. I know what you mean, makers of this film: the only people calling this movie political are those that have agendas themselves. And to quote Irvin McLovin, Wall-E is love! It takes you awhile to realize that he wont have lines but he made up for it by playing the genuine, loser guy (aka. The Michael Cera role).. You’ll love him for finding a plant, taking care of EVA, and bringing the fat dudes of the future back on their feet.

The Incredible Hulk

After a very boring first movie by Ang Lee, I didn’t have high expectations for this movie. In fact, I was highly skeptical about it and went on to question Edward Norton playing Bruce Banner and the chemistry his introvertedness would connect with Liv Tyler’s. Dont they both look too quiet?

Over time though, the comparisons were running high over the web and the one thing everybody said was that The Incredible Hulk was good. Indeed it was.

Hellboy II

Guillermo del Toro at the helm of Hellboy II The Gold Army wasn’t quite the movie experience I expected. I’d say too many lines did not connect - it started too specific, went a bit predictable, and ended lame. It’s really more of a big budgeted soap opera with heroes resembling the crayola box.

However, if you’re in for a two hour flick with pop corn and soda in hand, this one wouldn’t be a bad choice either. Del Toro proves himself as a master of horror by gracing us with several more of the creepy creatures in his head.

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian

The 2nd installment of the Narnia franchise was far better than the first. The Pevensie kids were more mature this time, and were better actors. Ben Barnes played the role of Prince Caspian convincingly enough but was.. I dont know.. weak. I’d say Skandar Keynes (Edmund Pevensie, the second child) was the best of them all, and why not, he’s coming back for part 3. This movie follows after Lord of the Rings, Troy, X-Men, The League of Extra Ordinary Gentlemen and other films that manage to conduct huge wars without spilling a pint of blood.

Kung Fu Panda

The lesson of the story is that Panda’s, however fat they are or however hungry they get, will always beat a Bengal tiger in getting a darn scroll. The martial arts genre have always had some air of animation in it - of animal-styles, gravity defying sequences and paralyzing pokes.

To overkill, there had to be a film made up of a Turtle, Rabbit, Panda, Monkey, Tiger, another Tiger, Duck (the father of the Panda), Monkey, Snake and Mantis (and maybe a Rhinoceros). It was a star-studded cast but other than Jack Black and Dustin Hoffman, the others were limited. So if you’re expecting some wacky Jackie Chan moments, no can do.

Iron Man

For the first time in his life Robert Downey is cool and everyone loves him. That’s what you get when you’re a super rich weapons specialist and genius inventor who has a digital-buddy named Jarvis, a personal assistant as hot as Gwyneth Paltrow, a pimped out body suit and a knack for making your own rules. And if that’s not enough, just have Samuel Jackson drop by your house. What’s not to love?

The movie also started a series of cameos that might build its way to the Avengers movie which stars Downey as Iron Man, along with Marvel superheroes Hulk, Thor, Captain America and Antman.

Wanted

The concept of the movie was simple - a loser-turned-hero, a nobody turned somebody.. overcoming struggles, and then coming back anew. Reborn like a butterfly, except that it’s Mr Tumnus and he can shoot wings of flies, curve bullets and make Morgan Freeman say “shoot this mutherfucker.” It’s good that they’re making a sequel coz I want more.