Sheep Movie Review: Ant-Man

Ant-Man
Directed By: Peyton Reed
Rated: PG-13
Cast: Paul Rudd, Michael Douglas, Michael Pena, Evangeline Lilly, Corey Stoll
Plot:
The next evolution of the Marvel Cinematic Universe brings a founding member of The Avengers to the big screen for the first time with Marvel Studios' "Ant-Man." Armed with the astonishing ability to shrink in scale but increase in strength, master thief Scott Lang must embrace his inner-hero and help his mentor, Dr. Hank Pym, protect the secret behind his spectacular Ant-Man suit from a new generation of towering threats. Against seemingly insurmountable obstacles, Pym and Lang must plan and pull off a heist that will save the world.

I remember when the first Ant-Man trailer came out, I watched it so excited to see all the amazing action coming, sadly I was disappointed. But my love for Marvel runs bone deep, so I didn't give up and call it a day. No, one bad trailer is not going to send me packing my Avengers backpack and heading to the dark side. And I am so glad. Ant-Man was worth the wait, worth the box office ticket price and worth sitting my ass in a public seat that's been filled by too many people. 

Marvel Comics has finally noticed us. I Smell Sheep must be doing big things and going all over the web. I say this BECAUSE you will see the sheep in this movie! That is no lie, at all. I may have cried out in joy when this scene happened, but trust me, we are represented in this one folks! Power to the Sheep! 

Michael Douglas may not seem like a comic book hero, but just wait. He's the kind of caliber you hope all in the cinema profession will end up like, the guy is movie gold. Please take notes from this man! Age is really just a number and he shows that you can still bring the badass no matter what year it is. Cover your faces, his fists are about to blow! 

I've been watching Paul Rudd since his days in the film Clueless, he's an actor I've grown up with and loved in just about every role he's take on. The man can deliver and has the comic timing to make you laugh out loud over and over. Paul truly becomes the Ant-Man and I certainly can not see anyone else in this role now. He's it! So don't you dare replace him. 

When it comes to secondary cast, sometimes you get a few wet noodles. It's not often that a lot of time is taken for the comic relief type of cast, but actor Michael Pena and rapper T.I. were hilarious! Mr. Pena is most often an under appreciated actor, and that's a damn shame because he is stellar! Give this man more parts in movies! His acting range has so many layers, you'd be silly not to invest more in this man. 

You may never again look at ants the same, and that's okay. I had some big flashbacks to "Honey I Shrunk the Kids" and that reminded me of the only other film I can think of which had some cool ants. My son now wants to learn about ants! That's amazing stuff. Fun CGI effects, great scripts across the board, Stan Lee cameo, Thomas the Tank going on a rampage and so much more I don't want to spoil. 

I would just like to add that my first job was at Baskin Robbins, which was so hilarious to see in this film. We are watching you! 

Overall, you totally get your money worth on this one. Great edition to the franchise, but make sure to stay past the credits! 

Getting 4 and 1/2 'I need a tank keychain" Sheep 

KD 

Sheep Movie Review: Haywire

Don’t you hate it when the previews are better than the movie? I'm afraid that with Haywire the movie's trailer has written a check the movie simply didn't or couldn't cash. I know that might sound a little harsh, and maybe I went in with the wrong expectations, but I was very disappointed with the movie in general.

Let me begin by saying I was excited about this film after seeing the trailer. I was expecting an action film with the added bonus of a female action hero that not only kicks ass on the screen, but can do it in real life too! Gina Carano, who plays ex-marine Mallory Kane, was a MMA champion who started her fighting career in the sport of Muay Thai. I figured her action scenes would be top notch and without a stunt double. To be fair this was one of the few things that I enjoyed about the film. The fight scenes were realistic and well-choreographed, but there weren’t many of them and that was pretty much it for the action part of the movie. The movie is more about the betrayal of Mallory Kane by her boss and how she uncovers the plot rather than the action. To be honest the plot of the movie isn’t even about her, really she is just a pawn in someone else’s game and becomes a lose end that needs tying up.

I was also thrilled with the stellar lineup of Michael Douglas, Bill Paxton, Ewan McGregor and Antonio Banderas. They were cast right for their parts, but Douglas and Banderas didn’t get much screen time, which is a freaking shame 'cause Banderas makes for a great movie going experience! Bill Paxton plays Mallory’s father, but his role really wasn’t that pertinent to the plot. He helps hide Mallory from the bad guys but little else so I felt much of the character's potential was wasted. Ewan plays a great asshole by the way.


My basic problem with the movie was the weak plot which lacked the driving emotional conflict you get with most action/spy movies. I didn’t feel invested in any of the characters, except one who had a small role and gave us our one look into Mallory’s feelings about the lifestyle she has chosen. There were no real surprises or twists. Telling the story in a series of fragmented flashbacks ultimately left me more confused about who was doing what and why.

And let’s not even get me started on the music during the action scenes…and I am quoting my husband on this one “it sounds like it comes from a 1975 Shaft movie”. (Kalpar: Shaft is one bad motherfu- Kalpar: I'm just talking about the Shaft.) One last comment, I have no problem with a close up of someone running to catch the bad guy, but if I start to think about what I need to get at the grocery store, then it is too long.


I felt like I wasted my money on this one and I wouldn’t even want to spend $1 for the rental. If you are wondering if you will feel the same way I did, take into consideration I spent most the movie wishing I was next door in the IMAX Theater watching Underworld in 3-D. Our theater was vibrating from that one and you better believe I will be there this coming weekend! 


2 “OMG, there is a deer in the car!” Sheep

SharonS (edited by BAK)

Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps. yeah well i came close

Wall Street, directed by Oliver Stone, stars Michael Douglas, Josh Brolin, Shia LaBeouf and Carey Mulligan. It hit theaters this weekend. Never one to miss a movie staring Michael Douglas, I made my way to the theater with my movie gal pal, Ceci. :)

Plot Summary:

The sequel to the 1987 popular movie, "Wall Street". This film follows the actions of a Wall Street trader Gordon Gekko after his release from prison. As the global economy teeters on the brink of disaster, a young Wall Street trader partners with disgraced former Wall Street corporate raider Gekko on a two-tiered mission: To alert the financial community to the coming doom, and to find out who was responsible for the death of the young trader's mentor.

This movie review for me is a little hard to write. Let me explain a bit. Something definitely felt off in the script. Ceci and I discussed this for at length after the movie but could not put our finger on exactly what the problem was. To quote her words "the whole thing just needed to be redone". I don't know if I agree with that 100% but I get where she was coming from. Something did not work out, there was a big lack of finesse missing. More smoothness needed maybe? Definitely tricky.

Okay, review time. Bling is one of the big themes in this movie. So much time was taken to show who was wearing what and what fancy shmacny place they got it from. Really? Ok if thats what you want to waste film footage on. Oh wait! Film makes big money on showing off corporate names...got it. No wonder Heineken and Ducati are mentioned so much as well. :P

As for the acting, it was decent. Carey can sure cry on cue, had that water faucet pouring a plenty. Almost became annoying IMO. Michael, Shia and Josh put forth the best performance they could, but it all seems to come back to that script. Not much you can do if its horribly lacking. Cinematography was done well enough, but focus felt more on the architecture around the actors and left me with a feeling of emotion detachment.

Overall, it's a bunch of bling-bling look at my ring and Wall Street mind games. As I myself am such a direct person and HATE being manipulated in any fashion. The whole back stabbing and cut throat business that is Big Money was a huge turn off in it's own right. So again, writing this review comes with mixed emotions for me. And seeing how I was just recently screwed out of some money by a cleaver con-artist, this movie hit very very close to home.

Gets 2 1/2 sheep from me and a big recommendation to miss the high theater ticket price and wait for the dvd.

KD