Hot Tub Time Machine (Directed by Steve Pink)

IMDB LINK

Starring: John Cusack, Clark Duke, Craig Robinson, Rob Corddry, Crispin Glover, Chevy Chase

He said:

This film has to have the worst title of any film we have ever reviewed. I almost want to knock it's rating lower solely because of the title alone. Despite the god awful title this film is actually a lot of fun through out it's 99 minute runtime. Helen and I both love John Cusack and have wanted to see this film since we first saw the trailer. I am happy to say that the film's content set a bar far superior to its title.

Steve Pink might not be a name that you recognize off hand but his name had been attached to quite a few films that you might have seen, Grosse Pointe Blank, High Fidelity and Accepted. (The first two also happen to have John Cusack in a leading role.) Pink is a brilliant director that doesn't pull any punches. This film has a nostalgic feel that is reminiscent to films like The Wedding Singer and Back to the Future.

This is a fantastic film that has a lot of well timed and executed jokes breathing life into the near dead R-rated comedy genre that films like Hangover are trying desperately trying to revive. One of the best running jokes in the film involves Crispin Glover that I can say was worth the price of admission alone.

This is a film that despite it's ridiculous premise and celebrating a decade most of us would rather forget, finds it's audience early and holds on to the very end of the film. Some of the comedy is crass, and at times gag worthy, but this is a film that is worth your time. I give it {{{4 out of 5}}}

She Said:

Sometimes you come across a film that is so wonderfully bad that you want to watch it over and over again. This film is tacky and crass but unlike many films it is deliberately ridiculous. It walks the line of over-the-top while keep a hand on the side of irony and I have to say I LOVE IT.

As James said the title may put you off a bit. But after the opening sequence you already get a sense of the tounge-in-cheek nature of this film. Much like The Wedding Singer this protrayal of the eighties is a hyperbolic pastiche. There are brick-like mobile phones, brightly coloured shell suits and an irrational fear of communism. It is meant to be loud both visually and in the plot development - and it does just this.

I also appreciated the Crispin Glover on-going gag throughout the film. Being a complete Back to the Future nerd (James too) we loved even just the presence of Crispin Glover. And it is always great to see him in a comedy role like this. The other actors were also great. Rob Corddry, who plays the obnoxious sometimes vile 'friend in need' is perfect in this role.

If you find it hard to watch a film and dettach yourselves from sense and judgement and allow the hilarity to consume then avoid this film. Otherwise grab it on DVD when its out, get some mates round, have a bottle of wine and some nibbles and just enjoy! I give this film {{{4 out of 5}}}

They said: A great film with less than subtle mocking of a terrible decade. Plus... John Cusack... come on! We give this film {{{{8 out of 10}}}}

Alice in Wonderland (Directed by Tim Burton)

Watched: March 7th 2010

Starring: Mia Wasikowska, Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Stephen Fry, Crispin Glover, Anne Hathaway, Timothy Spall, Matt Lucas, Alan Rickman

IMDB link

She said:

This is one of 'those' films. The ones that you pre-book tickets and watch every possible trailer drooling over what promises to be a visual masterpiece. For me Alice in Wonderland lived up to expectations. It was just what I was expecting with Tim Burton's unique balance of the weird and wonderful with the dark and the magical.

The Burton-Depp-Bonham Carter have again provided a fantastic few hours of entertainment. Both Depp and Bonham Carter were both marvelous and it was as if the parts were written for them. But Tim Burton has a knack of manipulating any story to make them perfect for his dynamic duo. The casting of the supporting artists was also spot on from Stehpen Fry as the Cheshire cat to Matt Lucas as the Tweedles.

My favourite thing about the envisioning of these classic novels was the use of Carroll's wonderfully bizarre language. Burton did not hold back on challenging the audience with unusual speech and at times hard to understand dialogue - after all Wonderland is a place full of mad people! Matching this was the crazy costumes and make up which impressed me highly.

I look forward to watching this again. If you are a fan of Burton's goth-like magic world's or of the spirit of Carroll's novels and poetry (the Jabberwocky is one of my favourite poems) then watch this film. If you are after Disney... then er... go rent Disney. I give this <<<4.5 out of 5>>>

He said:
I agree 100% with what Helen said above. Honestly I would be remiss if I didn't mention that you won't be missing out on anything if you aren't one of the masses completely enthralled by the RealD 3D nonsense that every movie producing company has been trying to shove down our throats this year and I'm sure for at least the next few years to follow.

Tim Burtons Wonderland is beautiful and rich, and does not need the 3D embellishment. The added effect is amusing at best and at worst it is nothing more than distracting.

Certain 3D parts of the film, such as Alice falling down the rabbit hole, are completely chaos. The digital effects guys throw so much debris towards the audience and Burton films the scene so close up that everything blurs together in a mass of unintelligible imagery. I hope that other studios are taking note of this and realize that if they must make a 3D film, then it needs to be done during the shooting process and not done as an afterthought.

All of that aside I truly enjoyed this film. It's worth watching and like so many before it I will own it on DVD. I give it {{{{4.0 out of 5}}}}

They Said:
This film is definitely a must see, though maybe not in 3D save the extra money and splurge on another film this week. We both really enjoyed this film and give it [[[[8.5 out of 10]]]]