The Hangover 2 directed by Todd Phillips

The Hangover 2
Rated R (for reasons that would take up the entire post)

My Summary: In the sequel, the wolf packs reunites in Thailand for Stu’s wedding. With the memory of the horrific events that happened in Vegas, still freshly embedded in their post-roofied minds,  Stu wants nothing to do with alcohol. Or anything that can be slipped in alcohol. All he asks of his friends is to have a simple brunch... Well, you know Phil ain’t going for that!!

With the beautiful setting of the captivating and tranquil gulf of Thailand in front of them, the boys persuade Stu to have one beer with them along side a late night bonfire and invite Stu’s fiancees' younger brother, Teddy, who’s only 16 years old. Mind you the kid is a prodigy, and a pre-med student.

Disclaimer: Bradley Cooper is hot!! Zach Galifianakis is freaking hilarious, and Ken Jeong is awesome!!

My Review: Being a huge fan of the first film, I had HIGH expectations of the sequel. I mean come on! For those of us that saw this uniquely, hilarious movie in the theatre the first time around; how shocked were you at some of their antics? Well, Todd Phillips, who not only directed (both) but co-wrote the second film, keeps to the winning formula: Drugs and alcohol, sex of some sort, Mike Tyson, and a wild animal.

Waking up in a dirty, hot and humid, trashed room, Stu, Phil and Alan kind of freak out because, as you would guess... they are hungover, and cannot remember how they got there. Even worse, there is a finger sitting in a cup, which has Teddy’s college ring on it, a monkey hanging from a pipe above, Alan has a shaved head, Stu has a tribal tattoo on his face, and there is a body part peeking through a mound of pillows. They are in Bangkok... “Holla, city of squalla!!”

Thankfully, Doug is safe and back at the resort.

However, their fears are confirmed as Doug tells them that Teddy is the one now missing.

And so the wolfpack is back and the quest to find Teddy begins, as they start the process of retracing the previous night’s event.

Let me tell you. I thought I couldn’t be shocked, any more than some of the photos that they rolled in the ending credits of Hangover 1. Well, let me forewarn you. That grotesque and wildly disgusting humor is back, a thousand times over. I need bleach to rid the images from my brain, it was that crazy!

All in all, I loved it and thought the second film did a great job of giving “hangover” fans exactly what they have been waiting for. It’s insane, it’s hilarious, and it’s wrong... So very wrong. But that’s what I love about these two films. So if you love the first film, you’ll LOVE the second one.

I highly recommend you catch this flick in theatres. Don’t wait for it on DVD, it’s worth your time and money!! And so I give it five stars, baby!

The Hangover 2 opens in theatres this thursday, May 26.

Cast and Credit: 

Directed by Todd Phillips
Bradley Cooper-Phil
Zach Galifianakas-Alan
Ed Helms-Stu
Justin Bartha-Doug
Ken Jeong-Mr. Chow

Cannes Film Festival Winners

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Books Making It To The Big Screen!

This week’s “Books Making It To The Big Screen” highlights two projects that I’m very excited about.

David O. Russell (director) and Mark Wahlberg are teaming up again for the screen adaptation of Matthew Quick’s “The Silver Linings Play Book”. The reason I’m excited about this particular project, is that both Russell and Wahlberg have worked together on other past projects; films such as “Three Kings”, “I Love Huckabess” (LOVED), and the brilliant, “The Fighter”.

Book Summary: THE SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK is the story of how one man regains his memory and comes to terms with the magnitude of his wife’s betrayal.

During the years he spends in a neural health facility, Pat Peoples formulates a theory about silver linings: he believes his life is a movie produced by God, his mission is to become physically fit and emotionally supportive, and his happy ending will be the return of his estranged wife Nikki. When Pat goes to live with his parents everything seems changed; no one will talk to him about Nikki; his old friends are saddled with families; the Philadelphia Eagles keep losing, making his father moody; and his new therapist seems to be recommending adultery as a form of therapy.

When Pat meets the tragically widowed, physically fit, and clinically depressed Tiffany, she offers to act as a liaison between him and his wife, if only he will give up watching football, agree to perform in this year’s Dance Away Depression competition, and promise not to tell anyone about their ‘contract.’ All the while, Pat keeps searching for his silver lining.

The Silver Linings Play Book is tentatively scheduled for a 2013 release and no confirmation yet on what role Mark Wahlberg will take on in relation to the project. 

Catherine Hardwicke is set to direct the movie adaptation of Martha O’Connor’s “The Bitch Posse” and some critics are eager to see Hardwicke’s take on the book about teens (who eerily did a very good job with the film, Thirteen). 

The story focuses on three high school friends, with a terrible incident changing the dynamics of the group. Having not read the book, all I can think of is “I Know What You Did You Last Summer”, but I’m sure that’s not what it’s about. Actually, I think I may put this book on my to-read list. See how that works?

Here’s the book summary: The story focuses on three friends, Cherry, Amy and Rennie, as high school seniors and as women in their mid-30s. Compelled by miserable home lives to form the Bitch Posse as teenagers, the three girls ricochet dangerously through their last year of high school, sharing a passionate, almost sinister bond until a terrible secret rips them apart. Still damaged—and separated—by the unspeakable event, the three live equally wretched lives as adults, Cherry in a mental institution, Rennie as a promiscuous failed writer and Amy in a loveless marriage. After pages of vodka, cocaine, “f@#king” and “cutting” (in both past and present narratives), the friends’ terrible secret finally comes to light, though it reveals logistical and thematic gaps in the narrative. “Her past is like a sore that won’t ever heal, memories are spurting at her like blood and she can’t close the wound” characterizes the level of emotional complexity attained in this heavy-handed novel, but the story fascinates even as it repels.

No word yet on a projected release date. 

Bridesmaids directed by Paul Feig

Bridesmaids
Rated R

My Summary: Chosen to be maid of honor by her life long best friend, Annie, whose broke and bitter over a recent break-up, must find a way to pull off the expensive ritualistic events that every bride dreams of.

Disclaimer: I freaking heart Kristen Wig. Got that? Also, amen to the rated R comedies hitting summer. [insert screams of joy] I love comedies, and more so, laugh out loud-leak from your bladder, comedies.

My review: Oh, who am I kidding. What am I going to write? When it comes to the "Rated R" comedies, a real review tells you whether it's worth seeing in the theatre, or on DVD. Am I right? That's all you care about.

Well, Bridesmaids is worth seeing in the theatre!!

The premise behind the film is that Lilian and Annie have been best friends since they were young, sharing in life’s troubles and turmoils. When Lilian finally gets engaged, she asks Annie to be her maid of honor. Though Annie is touched at the request, she is down in out after a failed business and relationship. To plan her best friend’s wedding, proves to be difficult as she not only struggles with the logistics to giving Lilian a proper bridal shower, bachelorette party, etc... but comes to the realization that she is sad at the thought that she may be losing a friend.

At the engagement party, Annie meets the other bridesmaids, let me introduce you to them.

Helen is the groom’s bosses wife. She’s rich, beautiful, perfect and a freak about thinking she’s Lilian’s new best friend.

Rita is Lilian’s cousin. She’s married with three boys. As her motto goes, “Momma just wants to rage,” and so this opportunity proves vital in ensuring she gets to party, guilt free.

Becca is newly married. She’s innocent, and naive; a perfect compliment to Rita.

Megan is the groom’s sister. She’s horny, and loves Air Marshalls. Enough said.

From the beginning of the movie; a hilarious sex scene between Kristin Wig and John Hamm, to the very end of the film with, surprise, the wedding; the movie is awesome. You know how some trailers show the best parts of a movie and then you go see it, thinking the movie is going to be better than the trailer. Well, this film’s trailer does not even do justice to the film. It’s honest to god, that good.

There are so many great actresses in this movie, with, excuse my language, fucktastic one liners that I almost lost an ovary, laughing so hard. This movie is right up there with "The Hangover”.

Without spilling out every detailed scene, let me just say that Kristin Wig really does comedy, in her dry and whisper-like delivery, brilliantly. But another stand out actress for me, is Melissa McCarthy, who plays the grooms sister. She by far, lights up the screen in many of the over the top scenes that involve diarrhea, puppies, air marshals, and submarine sandwiches.

In summary, the film is super funny, actually has a little plot going on, and watchable for all men that will be forced to accompany their wives to this screening.

I’m so stoked on this film, I give it five stars, baby!

Cast and Credit: 
Directed by Paul Feig
Kristin Wig-Annie
Maya Rudolph-Lillian
Rose Byrne-Helen
Wendi McLendon-Covey-Rita
Ellie Kemper-Becca
Melissa McCarthy-Megan

Less Than Zero by Brett Easton Ellis

Genre: Adult Fiction, Early 80's drug and sexual reference.
Author: Bret Easton Ellis
Publisher: Vintage-(1985) Paperback 208 pages

My own brief summary: The book is told through Clay, an affluent young man home from college for winter break. Set during the early 1980's, the backdrop is Los Angeles, Ca. With his return, Clay quickly falls back into the lifestyle he briefly left behind; drugs, promiscuous sex, and unfulfillable relationships.

My review: So from what I understand, the movie is loosely based on the novel, and in fact, for quite sometime after the premiere of the film, Ellis refused to watch it.

Having said that, it was the movie that inspired me to want to read the book. Not really being a product of the early 80's, I definitely wanted to indulge in Ellis's point of view of that era, for if it is one thing that Ellis does right, it's capturing a moment in time... As American Psycho does for NY late 80's, Less Than Zero does for LA, early 80's. But other than the cool music references... This book was not good.

At only 208 pages, the book should be a quick read but it's the tone of the book that made this novel so difficult for me to not only read, but digest.

Narrated by Clay, a rich kid home from college, I guess I expected more from his character. In the beginning, we see that he is disenchanted by his old lifestyle, yet he begrudgingly returns to it without so much as an effort to move beyond it. He does a lot of cocaine, has sex with both men and women, and basically doesn't care about anything or anyone, escaping his own misery by partying and club hopping. Though we see the same behavior from his friends, and we learn from Clay it is this lackluster behavior for life that bothers him, I kind of hoped that Clay would have grown by the end of his winter break and return to College having learned something (though I understand in theory, it is hard to ask this of a young adult).

But my real issues lie in the content. The vibe of the book is one of carelessness and zero self worth (and I can understand why the novel was titled after the Elvis Costello song) . After all, why would one subject themselves to such demeaning behavior such as daily drug use, and unemotional sex. But the behavior of Clay's friends seems to get disturbingly worse as the novel progresses, and it's not simply about being "lost" or unsure of one's path, it's dark... Very dark. I normally don't like to reveal spoilers, but there were certain actions by some of Clay's friends which upset me. From the viewing of a snuff film (which if you don't know, definition is here), to the kidnapping, drugging and consistent rape of a 12 year old girl; things that I could not stomach in the context of their frivolous partying... For me, I couldn't move past this. And what disturbed me even more, was the fact that Clay did nothing about these things. Though he briefly mentions that he is not alright with such behavior, case in point with the 12 year old, he still does not call the police nor remedy the situation in anyway. I kind of felt like he just turned away or closed his eyes to the horrific situations, and for him, that meant disinvolvement. But for me, as the reader, the images stuck with me and I was not okay with it. At all.

Through out the book, Clay shows signs that he could be potentially a good guy and rise above it but that notion is often squashed as Clay holds tight to two words; a billboard that displays "Disappear Here", and it almost becomes his motto, a mechanism that he uses to cope with the actions of those around him, maybe even his own actions or lack of in some cases. In the end, Clay returns to college and references the 80's music group X's song, Los Angeles; for some of you that remember the group, these are hard core lyrics that talk about having to leave LA and hating everything and everyone in it. So I can only presume that Clay never really learned anything, but simply fled back to college... till the next break. And then what?

Though I appreciated what Ellis tried to do in the book, which he wrote when he was 20, Clay just felt too, two dimensional for my liking and his consistent lack of feelings, only made me feel unemotional toward him. When I wanted him to redeem himself, rather than turn a blind eye to some of his friend's disturbing and illegal behavior, he did not. And so for that, I could not root for him, nor understand the purpose to his journey; which I somehow believe is the author's intent.

I have to say, if the film strayed from the book, I could see why. As much as it grieves me to say this, I thought the book was pointless and utterly disappointing. It just wasn't for me. My rating is technically somewhere in between 1 and 2, more like 1 1/2 stars. But I more than struggled, I really just didn't like the story.

Book Blog Hop and Feature & Follow Friday!

"In the spirit of the Twitter Friday Follow, the Book Blogger Hop is a place just for book bloggers and readers to connect and share our love of the written word! This weekly BOOK PARTY is an awesome opportunity for book bloggers to connect with other book lovers, make new friends, support each other, and generally just share our love of books! It will also give blog readers a chance to find other book blogs to read!" Jen at Crazy for Book

This weeks question comes from Twitter! Thanks to Melissa (akaMiel_et_Lait) who blogs at Miel et Lait.

"Which book blogger would you most like to meet in real life?"

There are a few because of their impressive sites, constant posts of information, and knowledge of the industry, that I wouldn't mind meeting... But, I have known (in the bloggy world) the gals from Bewitched Bookworms for quite some time, and I would most definitely love to meet them.

Over at Parajunkee's View, it's time for feature and follow and this week's blogger is Al from Magnet 4 Books. Her question was "What character in a book would you most like to be, what character in a book would you most like to date?" 

Holy crap, why am I even saying this. Do I dare? Ok, how about Bella and Edward Cullen... Shut up!! It's the truth!! ~ Suz

In wrapping up this week, I have my movie review, 13 Assassins directed by Takashi Miike (4 Stars) and our new weekly post, "Books Making It To The Big Screen", which is a great way to discover books. Also, you can check out my movie reviews over at InsideOutHawaii.com (Inside Out Hawaii Magazine), or subscribe to my week film newsletter, Screen Shots. 

For Noe (my co-blogger and younger daughter), she's finishing up her school year with straight A's and an acceptance into AP Math next year. I couldn't be prouder of my daughter. 

As for me, Suz... well, I've recently joined a writing group (yeah me!), signed up for personal training to get in shape (not so fun, but still yeah me!), and will have my older son home for college here in a few weeks. Life couldn't get more wonderfully, chaotic. 

To all Mothers Out There!! Have a wonderful Mother's Day!!

Books Making It To The Big Screen!

Since I spend a great deal of time searching through film and movie news, I've been amazed lately at how many great books are being made into films. Maybe it's always been like that and I haven't noticed... But either way, I want to pass on to you my weekly findings in a post titled appropriately, "Books Making It To The Big Screen". Who knows. Maybe it will shed light on a book that you may want to put on your to-read list... You never know.

So this week, I want to bring attention to three different projects.

I'm going to take a step back on this one. Back in late March, it was reported that James Franco had optioned (first right to purchase full movie rights) Steve Erickson's novel, Zeroville.

"Set in Los Angeles at the end of the 1960s, "Zeroville" is a darkly funny novel about a young man, Vikar Jerome, so obsessed with film that he has tattooed Elizabeth Taylor kissing Montgomery Clift on his head. He becomes a film editor." LA Times

What I love about this project is that essentially, it's a movie about a film enthusiast based on a novel (how ironic). The character intrigues me, and I think there is no better person to bring this dark comedy to life than James Franco. Plus James Franco is made of fairy dust and unicorns. He's awesome.

Jennifer Egan's novel, A Visit From The Goon Squad, is this year's Pulitzer Prize Winner for Fiction and has won many countless awards, including 2010 National Book Critics Circle Award, and if that wasn't enough... HBO has just optioned the novel. Looks like the cable company wants to turn this highly acclaimed book into a series and I couldn't be more thrilled. After all, Game of Thrones series, based on the novel, A Song of Ice and Fire is awesome, n'est-il pas? And Mildred Pierce the mini-series, based on the 1941 book, was simply brilliant.

"Bennie is an aging former punk rocker and record executive. Sasha is the passionate, troubled young woman he employs. Here Jennifer Egan brilliantly reveals their pasts, along with the inner lives of a host of other characters whose paths intersect with theirs. With music pulsing on every page, A Visit from the Goon Squad is a startling, exhilarating novel of self-destruction and redemption."

From what I've read, the book shifts from late 60's to present day and I honestly can say, now that I'm older, am completely intrigued with plots that have elements of reflection. This book will go on my to-read list, and I cannot wait for it to become an HBO series. 

Last, we have Don Winslow's novel, Savages, which is set to be produced and directed by Oliver Stone. Looks like Don and Oliver will be working together on the script, and some casting has already been done: John Travolta, Uma Thurman, Blake Lively, Salma Hayek, Aaron Johnson, Taylor Kitsch, and Benicio Del Toro. (Um, amazing cast already!!) 

"Part-time environmentalist and philanthropist Ben and his ex-mercenary buddy Chon run a Laguna Beach–based marijuana operation, reaping significant profits from their loyal clientele. In the past when their turf was challenged, Chon took care of eliminating the threat. But now they may have come up against something that they can't handle—the Mexican Baja Cartel wants in, and sends them the message that a "no" is unacceptable. When they refuse to back down, the cartel escalates its threat, kidnapping Ophelia, the boys' playmate and confidante. O's abduction sets off a dizzying array of ingenious negotiations and gripping plot twists that will captivate readers eager to learn the costs of freedom and the price of one amazing high." Don Winslow

Pot growers from Laguna Beach... Dude, I met my husband for the first time at their party! I know these guys!! All kidding aside, how awesome is the cast? I mean, I'm not sure if the film is supposed to be funny, or dark and dramatic, but either way, I'm going to say that Oliver Stone will do a good job with it. As far as the novel, Amazon has mixed reviews but the majority of them being 4/5 stars. I don't know. I think this might go on my to-read list as well.

"Cut, It's a Wrap!"

13 Assassins directed by Takashi Miike

13 Assassins
Directed by Takashi Miike
Japan-Rated R
Limited Release in Hawaii, May 6, 2011.

Summary: Cult director Takeshi Miike (known for his ultra-violent work in the horror genre) delivers a bravado period action film set at the end of Japan's feudal era in which a group of unemployed samurai are enlisted to bring down a sadistic lord and prevent him from ascending to the throne plunging the country into a war-torn future.

Disclaimer: When I started this review, I was not at all familiar with Takeshi Miike, but having done some research on the director, I can see that he is quite a big deal in the genre of horror, and probably more, foreign horror. Just recently, Quentin Tarantino announced his newest project, which will take elements from one of Miike's films. So, if you have never heard the name, now you know.

My Review: Over all, this movie was a very well made, super graphic, Samurai movie on the most epic of epic proportions. But, I might add, it was a bit too long for my tastes, and the ending battle felt a little boring by the time we reached its ending because of the exaggerated death scenes. Yet, if we could have just nipped the movie's length, by say 20 minutes, this would have been a nearly perfect Samurai movie.

In the beginning, we quickly learn of Lord Naristugu and the horrific ways he keeps his servants at will; rape and murder. To say he is a bad guy, is an understatement-Miike paints a dark and sadistic picture of a man that enjoys barbarous and perverted liberties. Some directed at past enemies, some for fun, and some for his own sexual pleasures. Though he is not a demon, his actions prove otherwise and his evil ambitions are at the core of the plot; the need to assassinate him before he is able to ascend to a higher political position, thus removing the years of peace the country had so far enjoyed.

A select group of assassins is gathered in order to kill the ruthless warlord before he travels back to his home territory, leaving him according to rules, untouchable. And so the adventures of the 13 assassins begin.

Simply stated, the first half of the film definitely pulled elements of Miike’s background in horror. Visually, there are some scenes that are graphic and disturbing (with relation to Lord Naristugu's actions). But, it makes the last half of the film, the epic battle between the 13 assassins and the 200 guards protecting the lord, quite entertaining and rewarding. And with the addition of the 13th assassin in the last half, came some much needed comedic relief; his unusual methods of fighting and odd-ball one liners, were a breath of fresh air among the river and cascading waterfall of blood (which for some reason makes me life, instead of gasp).

My final reaction: I was a little shocked at how graphic and violent the first half of the movie was, more horrorish... but the second half of the movie, stays true to those great samurai movies of the past. The combination of the two was definitely a first for me (though I know in the world of anime, you see this often) and other than the movie being too long, was sort of kick ass all around. So if you have the chance to catch this foreign film in the theatre, it's worth seeing.

Had this movie been shortened, I would have given it five stars. But, because of it's ruthlessness, still kept my interest--definitely a four star film.