Metalcoholic Reviews

From Paris with Love (2010)

Watchable if not Enjoyable

[3/10 · 5 February 2010]

If you want characters you love, a story with meaning, action scenes that blow your mind, or something worth spending your 11 bucks on, go see something else (Edge of Darkness perhaps).

Now if you want to see Travolta go nuts and be a crazy man then this is the film for you. He is like the "good guy" version of Ryder in the Taking of Pelham 123, and although fun to watch, the film provides nothing that stands out. Action moments you want to tell people about don't exist, and nothing in the script is worth remembering let alone repeating. Travolta was a wasted asset on all accounts. The infamous "Royal with cheese" line heard in the trailer is used in the most boring way possible, and everything after Wax's time with French customs didn't deliver like the first few minutes did. Such a waste, Travolta really CAN deliver in a well written movie.

However what kills this film isn't the clichéd plot or bad writing, but it's complete lack of anything close to acting. Jonathan Rhys Meyers is just BAD in this film. He's flat and uninteresting, similar to what you might see in a SyFy monster movie. Worst acting I've seen from him to date. I spent most of the film wishing for MUCH LESS of him and more Travolta.

So in short if a bald, cursing, drug loving, hot-head Travolta is the redeeming factor of a film then you can imagine how the rest is. All the parts are there, Action, Comedy, clichéd twists. Unfortunately these elements lack the quality or depth required to make this more than a DVD rental.

To Save a Life (2009)

FINALLY a Great Christian Film Without all the Preaching

[23 October 2009]

Let me start out with saying I was VERY surprised with the production value of this movie. I managed to catch an early showing on 10-22-09, and I have to Say this is the BEST (if not only) Christian film to hit theaters since The Passion.

Don't let the PG-13 rating scare you off, the rating is appropriate because of the serious issues that are dealt with in this film (divorce, teen pregnancy, drug use, and suicide), but nothing in the film is gratuitous. This is definitely a movie that a Junior High youth group could see without upsetting (most) parents, and the message is wonderful. The best part is this is not a film FOR Christians, it is a Family film without the cheesy 7th Heaven feel.

The laughs are there, and several times in the theater everyone was laughing, the bits of humor were natural and didn't seem scripted or forced, and that made for good pacing in such a serious film. Teens and young adult, both religious and otherwise, will be able to identify with many if not all of the characters in the film, and I was surprised to see such issues dealt with in this kind of film. The plot is not in any way predictable, and by the end hits closer to home than many will admit. Christians, fortunately, are not shown as all mighty know it all's of "The Word", but instead people just trying to understand life. Humans make mistakes and no one is perfect, not even in this film... not by a long shot.

The acting is top notch, the writing spot on, and you aren't hit over the head with all the preachy Christian rhetoric. This is a great film that will make you and your teens think, talk, and perhaps question their own morality (or lack thereof). If you want to see a quality family film in January check your local listings for this film, and you might learn something about yourself.

And I am a 25 year old male that just wanted to see a free movie.