The Interview

I finally got to see the highly anticipated and controversial film (according to North Korea) starring Seth Rogen and James Franco. Written by Dan Sterling and Seth Rogen and Directed by Evan Goldberg and Seth Rogen, this action-packed 2014 comedy that was banned for a few months because of content with the assassination of Kim Jong-un (North Korea’s president); causing not only a threat from North Korea and the hacking into Sony Studios but also massive chaos by the masses to see what was so offensive in the first place!

Brilliant strategy if you ask me, as ‘the film they didn’t want you to see’ is all the buzz and doing incredibly well, all things considered. The budget was $44 million USD but because of the delay in theaters as well as the ban they only grossed $6 million USD. Despite that set-back it is a movie ‘everybody’ is obliged to see because of the real-life persons involved and the amount of attention it stirred.

Crammed-pack with hip-hop and modern pop music, pervasive language, sexual humor, nudity and graphic blood and drug use it is the typical Hollywood entertainment type script. Is it well executed technically-speaking? Most certainly. Does it deliver on laughs? Indeed it does. The actors turned friends (Rogen and Franco) deliver what the people want in excellent and comedic fashion. They work well together and had it not been for all the controversy before their opening, it would have paid big in the box-office. 

There’s no such thing as ‘bad-press’ and I’m pretty sure their next movie will have movie-goers lined up to see what provocative subject-matter they’ll tackle next!

This is the End

Rambunctious to the max, yet terribly entertaining! This 2013 comedy/fantasy about 'The End' or the 'Apocalypse' was cleverly and simply executed with real friends and actors filming what would really happen in their lives if this given scenario were to take place. And the results of such a simple idea? Success at the box-office!

Written and Directed by Canadian Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, and based on a short film by Jason Stone, this film delivered laughs from James Franco, Jonah Hill, Seth Rogen, Jay Baruchel, Danny McBride, Craig Robinson, Michael Cera, Emma Watson, Mindy Kaling, Channing Tatum, Paul Rudd and many many more.

The film was wild, provocative, silly, and unbelievably great commitment and comic timing. Rated R for crude sexual content, pervasive language, violence and some drug use, it isn't recommended for younger audiences. And with a budget of $32 million USD and returns of $101 million USD, not only were these friends successful at collaborating but it looks like they also had a great time playing together! 'This is the End' certainly brings the giggles!

Good for the Soul

**Sad movies always makes me cry...

Oz, the Great and Powerful

There was a time I was fascinated by and in awe of the talent of James Franco, and his talent still exists but over the years his delivery has lost it's genuine charm. Franco, along with sweet Montana blonde Michelle Williams, Ukranian bright-eyed bombshell Mila Kunis and force-to-be-reckoned-with English Rachel Weiz and Zach Braff all team together with Disney to bring this family adventure to life.

Written by Mitchell Kapner and David Lindsay-Abaire our viewers are whisked into the visually- appealing fantasy world of Oz, where wizards, witches and fairy creatures are to be excepted but more importantly the film's message of 'Oz' played by Franco learning to become a better man when he realizes how to use more than magic to face the problems he has at hand.

Not as jaw-dropping or attention-grabbing as other fantasy films I've seen, but certainly inspirational and fun for the children audiences. I was impressed with new-comer angel-faced Joey King who played the 'Girl in Wheelchair' as well as the 'China doll girl' whom also stretches her acting chops in 'The Conjuring' out this month (July). Reminiscent of a young Angelina-Jolie; Joey King has got a solid acting career ahead of her if she plays her cards right.