The Sorcerer's Apprentice

This time last year I remember walking around NYC and seeing bright orange and yellow signs taped to various parking signs and lamp poles notifying drivers that there is no parking on that given street due to a production shooting in the area.  I had seen the signs before, but these were different and I wanted nothing more than to try and find some way to be a part of it.  So after a week of seeing these various signs around I decided that the next time I was available on the date and time listed I would go back and try to find someone to talk to.  It took me about a week to find who I was looking for but the wait and following experience was totally worth it. 

Having my first crew experience on a Disney feature film was unbelievable. The crew was amazing and even though the overnight shoots were a little rough on the sleep routine I would not have traded the experience for anything.  Yes my days felt reversed after a while, and yes I had trouble keeping track of what day it was since everything was blending together, but it was such a high being on set that none of it mattered to me.  I spend 2 days working on 6th Ave where it was shut down from 14th St to 21st St for a part of the car chase, and 4 days at Bowling Green working the last scene of the film.  The week at Bowling Green I was actually working 20 hour days with my regular day job and then running off to catch a train to make it on set just as the call time rolled around.  There were even bets as to when I would go down during that week since few thought I would make it all the way through, but I proved it to myself and the friends I made on set that if you want it bad enough nothing can stop you. 

Now that the film has hit theaters, one can only imagine the excitement of going in and seeing what the final product is.  After seeing what actually goes into a film with a ton stunts and visual effects I was on edge waiting for clips to hit the web so I could see what all of that hard work was for, and for me the final product totally paid off.   

The Sorcerer's Apprentice is a family fun film full of movie magic.  It is the apprentice that carries the weight of the film on his back, and Jay Baruchel as Dave Stutler does that and more.  He brings a fresh new face and sense of humor to the film and gives his co-stars a run for their money.  With Nicolas Cage as Balthazar, Monica Bellucci as Victoria, and Alfred Molina as Horvath, the cast was full of great talent that will entertain adults as well as kids.  Director Jon Turteltaub gives us a fun adaptation to the classic fantasia cartoon of Mickey and the brooms.  Even with a bit of a humor on the iconic scene that was of course included, I don't believe anything was left out or needed to have made this film more fun. 

If you are looking for something fun to take your family to this weekend I would recommend checking out The Sorcerer's Apprentice.  It may not quite stand up to the action and suspense of the National Treasure films which were also directed by Jon Turteltaub, but it is a nice addition to the live-action Disney collection along side so many other great Jerry Bruckheimer productions.  So go out this weekend and experience the magic for yourself.  I'm sure you wont be disappointed.

How to Train Your Dragon -- Review

We always seem to go through phases when it comes to popular genres and topics of entertainment.  We have the year of 3D (which I'm still debating as to whether I should actually be excited or not), the year of remakes (that has become YEARS and I wish would seriously end), the year of cheapquels/sequels (which some films have promise and others are straight to DVD quality), and of course the year of the "underdog"/geek(which is by far my favorite).  3 months into 2010 and I already have two favorite films.  I recently noticed that I seem to have a pattern this year and am beginning to fall harder and harder for the "geek", and although one is a much older sense of humor, I also find myself falling harder and harder for Jay Baruchel.  He went from playing a "hard 5" and winning the heart of a "hard 10" to being a very un-viking like viking.  How to Train Your Dragon is based on the characters from a children's series by British author Cressida Cowell which following the adorable Hiccup and Toothless. This film, however paints a very different picture of Toothless in comparison to the children's novel. Regardless, after watching the film I wanted to go out and find some way of adopt Toothless for myself.

How to Train Your Dragon is an adorable family film that is truly a joy for kids of all ages.  From start to finish everyone in the theaters cheered and gasped as Hiccup (voiced by Jay Baruchel) discovered the truth behind the dragons and his discovery of friendship with Toothless.  I will confess there were several scenes where I became so wrapped up in the story that I even teared up for the dragons. and his viking companion.  The story of friendship, courage, and determination is one that everyone can relate to no matter your age, or personal goals in life.  It is far more than a story of "don't judge a book by its cover", but a true testament to going out and learning the truth for yourself so you can make an educated decision on whatever you may encounter in life.  Even the relationship between Hiccup and his father Stoick (voiced by Gerald Butler) is relate-able to the real world.

Dreamworks has created an amazing family friendly film that touches the heart of its viewers all the way down to the deepest darkest corner, warming even a bully's heart.  With voice talents of America Ferrera (Ugly Betty) as Hiccup's love interest Astrid, Kristen Wiig(Extract and Whip It) as the female of the twin duo Tuffnut and T.J. Miller(Extract and She's Out of My League) as her male counterpart Ruffnut, Craig Ferguson as the "handy" Gobber, Christopher Mintz-Plasse (Bad-Ass,  Role Models and Superbad) as Fishlegs, and Jonah Hill (Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Superbad) as the "tough" Snotlout you are sure to laugh with their outstanding comedic skills.  The names are enough to send any kid into a fit of giggles, but when you get the characters together on screen, competing for the ultimate bragging right and the chance to kill a dragon in front of the whole village, it's obvious why Dreamworks would take on such an amazing story.  The characters are fun, and the dragons will make even the macho-ist of men  turn a little soft around the edges.  As for the dragons, Toothless is the ultimate family pet.  Everyone will walk out of the theater wanting one of their own.  Even for a dragon that can breath fire, and almost destroy a village, his puppy dog eyes and lovable demeanor will push you right over the edge.

How to Train Your Dragon is a film for kids of all ages who are looking for a good time at the theater this weekend.  You will laugh, you will cry, and you will give three cheers for Hiccup and Toothless.  So if you are looking for a film to catch this weekend, take your kids or kid brother/sister or husband/wife or whomever and check out this film.  You will not be disappointed. I give this film a 4.5 out of 5 stars.

How to Train Your Dragon -- Olympic Sports Spots
Snowboarding

 

Ski Jump

Speed Skating

Bobsled

Medal Ceremony

Trailer

She's Out of My League -- Review

We've all have that conversation. You know the one. It's usually over dinner or drinks with your good friend. More likely than not, it's a conversation you'd have at a bar while the person that you're talking about is just on the other side of the room. The one that usually sounds a little something like this...:

"You know that guy/girl... you know, that one that was just so OMG. Yeah that one... He/She's so hot, but he/she'd never go for someone like me. He/She's just so out of my league."

Yeah... that one. Well, now we get a wild romantic comedy that takes things to the extreme. And it's with "that guy". The new up and coming Canadian hottie, well if you like the sort of geeky type, Jay Baruchel. You will remember him from Tropic Thunder when he played the young guy that could read maps. Yes, Kevin Sandusky is making his rounds and quickly becoming one of the faces to watch. This year alone Jay Baruchel will have 3 films hit theaters, beginning with the off the wall romantic comedy She's Out of My League on March 12, quickly followed by How to Train Your Dragon when he offers his voice talents to character Hiccup on March 26, and then we have to wait until July 16 to see his apprenticing skills in The Sorcerer's Apprentice. Even sitting here watching the short 2 minute trailers I feel like a little kid on Halloween being offered my favorite sweets, and each one getting a little better and a little sweeter.

I remember sitting in an early screening back in November for She's Out of My League and laughing so hard my sides hurt. Maybe it's just me and my life, but Kirk and his friends are SOOO my friends. Their idiotic comments and reasons why you should or should not date someone and the insane way in which we "rate" someone we're interested in and then compare to how we "rate" our own standing in the dating world. Granted we all have a slightly different grading system, and some may be partial to things that others aren't which of course tips the scales a little in one direction or another. But it is what we do. This film is for the... dare I say... dating impaired and their friends. We have all been there at one point or another for some reason or other (and if you say you haven't... I call your bluff). But watching Jay Baruchel's performance in this film just adds to his adorableness and I would include it in the "great date movie" category.

In the mix we have the wonderfully talented Debra Jo Rupp from That 70's Show's who plays Kirk's mother Mrs. Kettner, Breaking Bad's Krysten Ritter as Molly's friend Patty (who causes a little trouble of her own), Alice Eve as Kirk's love interest Molly, Cloverfield's Mike Vogel as Kirk's best friend Jack, 7th Heaven's Geoff Stults as Molly's jealous ex-boyfriend Cam, Worst Week's Kyle Bornheimer as Kirk's older brother Dylan, and Get Smart's one and only Nate Torrence (Lloyd) as Kirk's married friend Devon. The comedic timing and chemistry between all of these characters adds to the hilarity of datings "best moments".

So take a chance with this film and see if you can catch a "hard 10".

She's Out of My League -- Review

We've all have that conversation. You know the one. It's usually over dinner or drinks with your good friend. More likely than not, it's a conversation you'd have at a bar while the person that you're talking about is just on the other side of the room. The one that usually sounds a little something like this...:

"You know that guy/girl... you know, that one that was just so OMG. Yeah that one... He/She's so hot, but he/she'd never go for someone like me. He/She's just so out of my league."

Yeah... that one. Well, now we get a wild romantic comedy that takes things to the extreme. And it's with "that guy". The new up and coming Canadian hottie, well if you like the sort of geeky type, Jay Baruchel. You will remember him from Tropic Thunder when he played the young guy that could read maps. Yes, Kevin Sandusky is making his rounds and quickly becoming one of the faces to watch. This year alone Jay Baruchel will have 3 films hit theaters, beginning with the off the wall romantic comedy She's Out of My League on March 12, quickly followed by How to Train Your Dragon when he offers his voice talents to character Hiccup on March 26, and then we have to wait until July 16 to see his apprenticing skills in The Sorcerer's Apprentice. Even sitting here watching the short 2 minute trailers I feel like a little kid on Halloween being offered my favorite sweets, and each one getting a little better and a little sweeter.

I remember sitting in an early screening back in November for She's Out of My League and laughing so hard my sides hurt. Maybe it's just me and my life, but Kirk and his friends are SOOO my friends. Their idiotic comments and reasons why you should or should not date someone and the insane way in which we "rate" someone we're interested in and then compare to how we "rate" our own standing in the dating world. Granted we all have a slightly different grading system, and some may be partial to things that others aren't which of course tips the scales a little in one direction or another. But it is what we do. This film is for the... dare I say... dating impaired and their friends. We have all been there at one point or another for some reason or other (and if you say you haven't... I call your bluff). But watching Jay Baruchel's performance in this film just adds to his adorableness and I would include it in the "great date movie" category.

In the mix we have the wonderfully talented Debra Jo Rupp from That 70's Show's who plays Kirk's mother Mrs. Kettner, Breaking Bad's Krysten Ritter as Molly's friend Patty (who causes a little trouble of her own), Alice Eve as Kirk's love interest Molly, Cloverfield's Mike Vogel as Kirk's best friend Jack, 7th Heaven's Geoff Stults as Molly's jealous ex-boyfriend Cam, Worst Week's Kyle Bornheimer as Kirk's older brother Dylan, and Get Smart's one and only Nate Torrence (Lloyd) as Kirk's married friend Devon. The comedic timing and chemistry between all of these characters adds to the hilarity of datings "best moments".

So take a chance with this film and see if you can catch a "hard 10".