Ice Age 4: Continental Drift, 2012

Ice Age: Continental Drift, 2012
Directors: Steve Martino, Mike Thurmeier
Cast (voices): Ray Romano, Denis Leary, John Leguziamo, Queen Latifah



Stage: Home theatre (a very sh**** copy unfortunately)



Ice Age in short: When Scrat accidentally provokes a continental cataclysm with a storm, Manny is separated from Ellie and Peaches on an iceberg with Diego, Sid and Granny but he promises that he will find a way to return home. While crossing the ocean, they are captured by the cruel pirate Captain Gutt and his crew. However they escape and Manny plots a plan to steal Captain Gutt's ship and return to his homeland in a dangerous voyage through the sea. But the cruel pirates seek revenge against Manny and his family and friends. 



Preps: You don't need preps for Ice Age. It's cool. The only issue or question is, what have they prepared now and how have they upgraded the last versions. Since my voices tell me that I only can see the synchronized version at the theatres, I finally give up on waiting and provide myself a very sh*** copy of this piece. I want to see it. 


Reality:  Well, I am not disappointed. I am always full of ears whenever Seinfeld steps in the room, have always been a great fan and a huge admirer. As Manny, I can see Seinfeld's faces in spreading the irony. The other side of the coin, Sid, always gives me goose bumps of laughter. Like in some kind of reality show, the main characters in this animation cannot be a fail. Maybe similar story to Shrek, where Eddie Murphy together with Banderas runs the show completely.

Now, the fourth part deals with worlds breaking apart - and explains a really funny theory, how the continents were shaped. It's always a pleasure seeing the squirrel chasing its nut and as always, I am eager to make it to the final scene, where I will again see the nut heaven.

Ice Age is very much alike to Tom / Jerry cartoons or something similar, as I cannot get fed up with it. I would be happy to see this prolonged in some other sequels, which is much more than we could say for any type of movie. But in this sense, I believe the creators of recent animated movies that became notorious really tried to assemble some of the greatest comediants or live show entertainers combined with the best humor and ironic dialogues, plus a funny story. It cannot be a bad assembly.

Therefore, even though we have already seen three parts, I am still hungry for more. This one I liked, as it is somewhere on the same level as its ancestors/previous versions. The stories are something you easy relate to and find it deep in your heart - all the emotional rock n'roll, the uprise, hard downfall (pirates and captivity, being separated from a family) and then a happy ending. Like in good old Disney days.


My personal rating: 7,5 (solid piece, right on the level of all the other Ice Age's.).


Ice Age 4 on IMDB

 

Bringing down the house, 2003

Bringing down the house, 2003
Director: Adam Shankman
Cast: Steve Martin, Queen Latifah, Eugene Levy



Stage: home theatre, Sunday evening, randomly chosen


Bringing down the house in short: Peter Sanderson is a divorced, straight-laced, uptight attorney who still loves his ex-wife and can't figure out what he did wrong to make her leave him. However, Peter's trying to move on, and he's smitten with a brainy, bombshell barrister he's been chatting with online. However, when she comes to his house for their first face-to-face, she isn't refined, isn't Ivy League, and isn't even a lawyer. Instead, it's Charlene, a prison escapee who's proclaiming her innocence and wants Peter to help her clear her name. But Peter wants nothing to do with her, prompting the loud and shocking Charlene to turn Peter's perfectly ordered life upside down, jeopardizing his effort to get back with his wife and woo a billion dollar client.


Preps: well, nothing more exciting to do on a Sunday night, plus I am a bit tired. This was on my list a while ago, however I need something sweet and relaxing. I know this one will be no brainer for my cells.


Reality: Well, true to the last bit. It is no brainer. You need no cells to burn. Easy and simple to understand, filled with some sit com moments, no smart laughing, but fun.
It's amazing how Queen Latifah can wear so many clothes in such various colours, that would never fit a rounded lady, but she looks hot in them. I could call this a special Queen Latifah genre, as these movies that contain her, are very similar. She is either a cop, a detective, a baby sitter, a criminal(name the profession), she always has a guy besides (more or less attractive) and makes a "cool" impression. You get to learn the cool vibes, the cool language.. so you feel equipped to go under the hood and in one of those districts.

As said from starters, it's not a specifically intelectual piece. And it's not even trying to be. It has the energy and the moves, it has the good music that makes you want to dance all night long and it has humour that relaxes you. Plus, in this perticular piece we have the privilege to see Dear John again, which is also the plus of it. I haven't seen this guy ever since, so I am quite excited about this.
Now, being Queen Latifah is something, but trying to copy her is another. This is why Martin looks like an idiot when trying to do it. Joan Plowright from The Golden Girls is another addition to this movie and she casts a strange old lady that is a good flavour to this movie.

It gives second thoughts to our prejudice we carry in our inside. Are people really what they seem to be or is it on us to discover their innerself, may it be good or bad. And how much that prejudice influences our decisions? Would a lawyer from a good family really take a convict under his roof? Don't really think so. Would this same person really change everything he knows or stood for? Also, not really likely. But in this piece, it is shown in the most humorous way. As I am against most of movies Queen Latifah plays in for the same reason (find the humour really stupid and underestimating to the viewer), I need to admit that this piece is above the average in this made-up genre. Entertaining, but not really profound.


My personal grade: 5,0 ( a cute comedy to have on a Sunday night).


Bringing on IMDB

Taxi, 2004

Taxi, 2004
Director:Tim Story
Cast: Queen Latifah, Jimmy Fallon



Taxi in short: A mouthy and feisty taxicab driver has hot tips for a green and inept cop set on solving a string of New York City bank robberies committed by a quartet of female Brazilian bank robbers.


Stage: Home theatre

Preps: none in perticular. Just wondering, if this is the famous comedy from ages ago, the french stuff, that I really liked.


Reality: Well, this is a totally different movie. Queen Latifah as the queen of bicycle race (or racing) for a postal office. Interesting. Science fiction, in fact. I doubt that law officers or police would let these races happen. Nevertheless, this is a mere start of a pretty decent comedy.
Making your life better is the main theme in this movie to my opinion. Let it be in the relationship or as a career (step forward from bicycling to driving a taxi). Some material disputes I had - as I claimed before that you cannot drive a byke this way and remain not punished - well the same goes for the Batmobile that Queen posesses as a taxi driver.

This movie relaxes and offers some good humour points. But nothing more. So it's a decent Sunday entertainment when you have nothing else on your mind to disturb your piece.

My personal rating: 4,0



Taxi on IMDB