Beep is also a weekly newspaper in the North and West Suburbs of Chicago.
Here is the print edition of my film reviews (from the previous week).
I have to say, I love the design. HUGE fan.
(click here to see) -- You must have Adobe Reader to be able to view.
Friday, March 30, 2007
Meet the Robinsons - Movie Review
"Meet the Robinsons"
Scorecard Review
'Robinsons' predictably for the fam
Plot: Lewis is an orphan who has big ideas, but no one seems to want him. A young stranger tracks him down, to help him from the evil, mysterious Bowler Hat Guy. Together, they take off in a time machine and race to the future to try and fix the past.
Who's it for: Everyone. Kids will love this movie and parents should find enough humor and excitement. There are only a couple scary moments for the little ones, but it seems on-par with other Disney features.
(click here to read the rest)
Scorecard Review
'Robinsons' predictably for the fam
Plot: Lewis is an orphan who has big ideas, but no one seems to want him. A young stranger tracks him down, to help him from the evil, mysterious Bowler Hat Guy. Together, they take off in a time machine and race to the future to try and fix the past.
Who's it for: Everyone. Kids will love this movie and parents should find enough humor and excitement. There are only a couple scary moments for the little ones, but it seems on-par with other Disney features.
(click here to read the rest)
Blades of Glory - Movie Review
"Blades of Glory"
Quickcard Review
Ferrell's 'Blades" stuck in drunken sarcasm ... again
Plot: It's a tale as old as time ... Chazz Michael Michaels (Will Ferrell) is a cocky, sex addicted figure skater, and his arch-rival Jimmy MacElroy (Josh Heder) is a sheltered ice-skating phenom. They get into a huge fight after a competition and both are banned from men's competitions. Through a loop-hole, they become a figure-skating pair and attempt to put aside their differences and capture gold.
Who's it for: In an odd combination, I would say "Blades of Glory" is for teenage boys and fans of figure skating. The humor is mostly crude and there are tons of cameos from figure skating legends such as Scott Hamilton, Dorothy Hamill and Brian Boitano.
(click here to read the rest)
Quickcard Review
Ferrell's 'Blades" stuck in drunken sarcasm ... again
Plot: It's a tale as old as time ... Chazz Michael Michaels (Will Ferrell) is a cocky, sex addicted figure skater, and his arch-rival Jimmy MacElroy (Josh Heder) is a sheltered ice-skating phenom. They get into a huge fight after a competition and both are banned from men's competitions. Through a loop-hole, they become a figure-skating pair and attempt to put aside their differences and capture gold.
Who's it for: In an odd combination, I would say "Blades of Glory" is for teenage boys and fans of figure skating. The humor is mostly crude and there are tons of cameos from figure skating legends such as Scott Hamilton, Dorothy Hamill and Brian Boitano.
(click here to read the rest)
Friday, March 23, 2007
Bernie Mac - "Pride" - interview
A standup guy: Bernie Mac chats with Beep about respect, responsibility
When Bernie Mac walks into a room, there is no posse, no bodyguards waiting outside. “They would get in my way,” he says.
Mac grew up in Inglewood on the south side of Chicago. And when you listen to him talk, he definitely hasn’t forgotten his upbringing. Or how to talk. But unlike some interviews, where I finish and have a pocketful of unasked questions, this wasn’t the case with Mac. I didn’t get to ask every question I wanted, but everything he said felt genuine, every tangent he took was worth hearing. It’s a rare trait, and perhaps one he learned from “Big Momma.”
(click here to read more)
When Bernie Mac walks into a room, there is no posse, no bodyguards waiting outside. “They would get in my way,” he says.
Mac grew up in Inglewood on the south side of Chicago. And when you listen to him talk, he definitely hasn’t forgotten his upbringing. Or how to talk. But unlike some interviews, where I finish and have a pocketful of unasked questions, this wasn’t the case with Mac. I didn’t get to ask every question I wanted, but everything he said felt genuine, every tangent he took was worth hearing. It’s a rare trait, and perhaps one he learned from “Big Momma.”
(click here to read more)
Shooter - Movie Review
"Shooter"
Quickcard Review
Plot: Bob Lee Swagger (Mark Wahlberg) is a former Marine Corp sniper. He is convinced to go back into service and is double-crossed. Now, he’s on the run and has to prove his innocence. I think I just described 75 percent of action movies from the ’80s.
Who’s it for: It’s an action flick. Plain and simple.
(click to read more)
Quickcard Review
Plot: Bob Lee Swagger (Mark Wahlberg) is a former Marine Corp sniper. He is convinced to go back into service and is double-crossed. Now, he’s on the run and has to prove his innocence. I think I just described 75 percent of action movies from the ’80s.
Who’s it for: It’s an action flick. Plain and simple.
(click to read more)
TMNT - Movie Review
"TMNT"
Scorecard Review
Plot: First, you must know that Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are exactly that, mutated turtles, who are trained by Master Splinter (a rat) in the ways of a ninja. This particular adventure starts with the turtles each doing their own thing as Leonardo is off learning how to be a true leader. Here’s where things get a little scattered. It seems 3,000 years ago, a ruler found a gateway to another dimension. This froze his evil friends, granted him eternal life and released 13 evil monsters in the world. Now he’s trying to do it all over again and it’s the turtles’ job to stop him.
Who’s it for: Kids. It’s animated, which was a good call. There isn’t any adult humor or inside jokes to speak of and the plot doesn’t really make sense, which should bother anyone older. But the kids won’t mind.
(click here to read more)
Scorecard Review
Plot: First, you must know that Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are exactly that, mutated turtles, who are trained by Master Splinter (a rat) in the ways of a ninja. This particular adventure starts with the turtles each doing their own thing as Leonardo is off learning how to be a true leader. Here’s where things get a little scattered. It seems 3,000 years ago, a ruler found a gateway to another dimension. This froze his evil friends, granted him eternal life and released 13 evil monsters in the world. Now he’s trying to do it all over again and it’s the turtles’ job to stop him.
Who’s it for: Kids. It’s animated, which was a good call. There isn’t any adult humor or inside jokes to speak of and the plot doesn’t really make sense, which should bother anyone older. But the kids won’t mind.
(click here to read more)
Reign Over Me - Movie Review
"Reign Over Me"
Quickcard Review
Plot: Alan Johnson (Don Cheadle) runs into his old college roommate Charlie (Adam Sandler). Charlie had lost his entire family in the September 11 attack on New York. Alan attempts to help Charlie as both men seem to have issues they are trying to resolve.
(click here to read more)
Quickcard Review
Plot: Alan Johnson (Don Cheadle) runs into his old college roommate Charlie (Adam Sandler). Charlie had lost his entire family in the September 11 attack on New York. Alan attempts to help Charlie as both men seem to have issues they are trying to resolve.
(click here to read more)
Pride - Movie Review
"Pride"
Quickcard Review
Plot: Based on a true story from the 1970s, schoolteacher Jim Ellis (Terrence Howard) goes to a Philadelphia Department of Recreation Center that is about to be torn down in a rough neighborhood. He attempts to inspire African-American high-schoolers to take up swimming and compete, giving them opportunities he didn’t have.
(click here to read more)
Quickcard Review
Plot: Based on a true story from the 1970s, schoolteacher Jim Ellis (Terrence Howard) goes to a Philadelphia Department of Recreation Center that is about to be torn down in a rough neighborhood. He attempts to inspire African-American high-schoolers to take up swimming and compete, giving them opportunities he didn’t have.
(click here to read more)
Friday, March 16, 2007
The Namesake - Movie Review
Quickcard Review - "The Namesake"
Plot: An Indian family moves from Calcutta to New York. The film follows the Ganguli family as they attempt to hold on to their roots and experience America. Their son Gogol (Kal Penn) struggles with finding his own identity without losing his heritage. Based on the best-selling novel by Jhumpa Lahiri.
Who’s it for: This is a traditional family drama. Life, death, love, childhood rebellion — it’s all here. The only thing that’s different is it’s told through an Indian family, so there’s arranged marriages and other cultural differences. Still, the themes are the same.
(click to read the rest)
Plot: An Indian family moves from Calcutta to New York. The film follows the Ganguli family as they attempt to hold on to their roots and experience America. Their son Gogol (Kal Penn) struggles with finding his own identity without losing his heritage. Based on the best-selling novel by Jhumpa Lahiri.
Who’s it for: This is a traditional family drama. Life, death, love, childhood rebellion — it’s all here. The only thing that’s different is it’s told through an Indian family, so there’s arranged marriages and other cultural differences. Still, the themes are the same.
(click to read the rest)
I Think I Love My Wife - Movie Review
Scorecard review: ‘I Think I Love My Wife’
Plot: Richard (Chris Rock) is a married, family man frustrated by the same old thing. Normally, he just fantasizes about other women, but now an old friend’s ex-girlfriend has come into the picture to complicate things.
Who’s it for: Rock has said this is a more adult role for him. In this case, “adult” clearly means jokes about racism, marriage, sex and infidelity — not that he can’t make that work. You don’t have to be in a long-term relationship to enjoy this movie, but to fully appreciate it, six months better not be your longest time with someone.
(click to read the rest)
Plot: Richard (Chris Rock) is a married, family man frustrated by the same old thing. Normally, he just fantasizes about other women, but now an old friend’s ex-girlfriend has come into the picture to complicate things.
Who’s it for: Rock has said this is a more adult role for him. In this case, “adult” clearly means jokes about racism, marriage, sex and infidelity — not that he can’t make that work. You don’t have to be in a long-term relationship to enjoy this movie, but to fully appreciate it, six months better not be your longest time with someone.
(click to read the rest)
Friday, March 09, 2007
300 - Movie Review
"300"
Extremely graphic novel: ‘300’ a stylish but violent retelling of Frank Miller’s tale
Plot: “300” is a fictionalized retelling of the ancient Battle of Thermopylae in which King Leonidas (Gerard Butler) and 300 Spartans fought against Xerxes and his massive Persian army.
Who’s it for: Do you crave violence? This should do the trick, same for anyone with a loin cloth fetish. Even though the battle took place in 480 B.C., it doesn’t feel like a period piece. Perhaps that’s because I was busy watching numerous spears piercing the skin of Persian warrior slaves. Did I mention it’s violent?
(click to read the rest)
Extremely graphic novel: ‘300’ a stylish but violent retelling of Frank Miller’s tale
Plot: “300” is a fictionalized retelling of the ancient Battle of Thermopylae in which King Leonidas (Gerard Butler) and 300 Spartans fought against Xerxes and his massive Persian army.
Who’s it for: Do you crave violence? This should do the trick, same for anyone with a loin cloth fetish. Even though the battle took place in 480 B.C., it doesn’t feel like a period piece. Perhaps that’s because I was busy watching numerous spears piercing the skin of Persian warrior slaves. Did I mention it’s violent?
(click to read the rest)
Gray Matters - Movie Review
"Gray Matters"
Brain dead: ‘Gray Matters’ doesn’t have the sense to shut up
Plot: At first glance this ode to New York looks like a typical romantic-comedy, until you find out the two leads are brother-sister. But luckily that awkwardness isn’t the focus of the film. Gray (Heather Graham) is questioning her sexuality and falling for the same woman her brother just married.
(click to read the rest)
Brain dead: ‘Gray Matters’ doesn’t have the sense to shut up
Plot: At first glance this ode to New York looks like a typical romantic-comedy, until you find out the two leads are brother-sister. But luckily that awkwardness isn’t the focus of the film. Gray (Heather Graham) is questioning her sexuality and falling for the same woman her brother just married.
(click to read the rest)
Friday, March 02, 2007
Zodiac - Movie Review
"Zodiac"
Plot: A serial killer is haunting the San Francisco Bay Area in the 1970s. He gives clues to the press and police who attempt to track him down. Robert Graysmith (Jake Gyllenhaal), a quiet cartoonist for the San Francisco Chronicle, becomes increasingly obsessed with trying to track down the killer known as the “Zodiac.”
Who's it for: You have to like thrillers because “Zodiac” has great moments of tension, there is also some troubling violence in the beginning third of the film, but nothing compared to “300” or “The Departed.” The film will also give you a history lesson in how far technology has helped investigations.
(click here to read the rest)
Plot: A serial killer is haunting the San Francisco Bay Area in the 1970s. He gives clues to the press and police who attempt to track him down. Robert Graysmith (Jake Gyllenhaal), a quiet cartoonist for the San Francisco Chronicle, becomes increasingly obsessed with trying to track down the killer known as the “Zodiac.”
Who's it for: You have to like thrillers because “Zodiac” has great moments of tension, there is also some troubling violence in the beginning third of the film, but nothing compared to “300” or “The Departed.” The film will also give you a history lesson in how far technology has helped investigations.
(click here to read the rest)
Wild Hogs - Movie Review
"Wild Hogs"
Plot:
Four suburban weekend warriors (Tim Allen, John Travolta, Martin Lawrence and William H. Macy), known as the Wild Hogs, decide to recapture the adventure in their lives and go on a cross-country motorcyle trip. They get entangled with a real biker gang, and end up trying to save a small town from the menancing El Diablo gang led by Jack (Ray Liotta).
(click here to read the rest)
Plot:
Four suburban weekend warriors (Tim Allen, John Travolta, Martin Lawrence and William H. Macy), known as the Wild Hogs, decide to recapture the adventure in their lives and go on a cross-country motorcyle trip. They get entangled with a real biker gang, and end up trying to save a small town from the menancing El Diablo gang led by Jack (Ray Liotta).
(click here to read the rest)
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