Norbit

Rating: PG-13

Movie Release Date: February 9, 2007

DVD Release Date: June 5, 2007

Plot 411: Eddie Murphy playing multiple roles to varying degrees of success.

Review: Norbit (Eddie Murphy), a nice guy, is married to a witch of a woman named Rasputia (Eddie Murphy). She has ordered him around since the day they met and he does nothing to stop it. When Norbit is reunited with Kate (Thandie Newton), a childhood friend, Rasputia's ire is unstopable. Entering the mix are Rasputia's brothers (played by Terry Crews, Clifton Powell and Lester Speight) and Kate's fiance (Cuba Gooding Jr.). I don't know how or why the idea of Murphy playing multiple characters exists in our world. But, somehow it does and there are only so many times this can work right? This concept keeps repeating over and over, even when the laughs aren't as loud and the jokes aren't as funny. I agree that the dinner table scene in The Nutty Professor is freaking hilarious, but I don't think there's been anything close to that since then. Why does he continue to use the same gag over and over?

Watch It: For Rasputia in all her glory.

Skip It: For Murphy classics from the 1980s.

2012

Rating: PG-13

Movie Release Date: November 13, 2009

DVD Release Date: March 2, 2010

Plot 411: The end of the world has come. Run for your lives!

Review: This film was pretty similar to all the other end-of-the-world/apocalypse/disaster movies that came before it. Most audiences who enjoyed those will also like this one. The idea of actually enjoying a disaster flick is pretty twisted when you really think about it, but that's for some other blog. In this one, we talk about movies so I'd say the CGI both made and broke this film. With such a gigantic scope as the of the world, audiences are already prepared for a whole lot of CGI. This component is probably the most significant aspect of the film, even beyond the actors, which included the likes of John Cusack, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Amanda Peet (whose face is quite odd looking in this movie), Danny Glover (Mr. President), Thandie Newton (cute as ever), Oliver Platt and Woody Harrelson (playing a nutjob . . . surprise, surprise). The massive earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis and complete destruction of society as we know it was definitely a huge undertaking for all those animators. It really is amazing to see little people dangling off of freeways and toppling buildings, chunks of earth and lava hurtle toward you and famous landmarks crumble to the ground. However, despite all their efforts, the quality of the CGI is still not advanced enough to render a good image. It's completely obvious that these events were created on a screen. There's absolutely no doubt that they didn't use practical effects. The fact that we can tell is the disappointment. As for the plot, refer back to the 411.

Watch It: On a large screen with surround sound if at all possible to get the full effect.

Skip It: Because if you've seen one of these types of movies, you've seen 'em all.

RocknRolla

Rating: R

Movie Release Date: October 8, 2008

DVD Release Date: January 27, 2009

Plot 411: A shady real estate dealing go bad when a Russian's lucky painting goes missing.

Review: I'm so digging on Guy Ritchie's flicks. This is the third one I've seen and while their subject matter is always the same (some convoluted screw up involving some British crooks), it's always a pleasure. His plots are cyclical in nature and the end always leads back to the beginning. For me, his films are like the British version of the western film. There are bad guys, even badder bad guys, corruption, guns, cheating and crime. Only thing missing are the horses and the wide open plains and prairies. But throughout it all, there is loyalty among friends and a thin line of morality and honor among thieves. What I like most is that the actors always seem to go with their natural accents. No faking British or American (or even Scottish) accents. It's always an international affair. Gerard Butler stars as One Two, the leader of a small-time gang. He gets involved in stealing money for an accountant (Thandie Newton), but he doesn't know she's stealing from her boss, a Russian business man without any scruples. On the outer edges of this story, but also somehow very close to its heart, is a rock and roll singer (or rocknrolla, if you prefer) who has faked his death and has gotten ten times as famous as when he was alive.

Watch It: For a kick ass movie with a plot that twists and turns as typical of Ritchie's style.

Skip It: If you think there's going to be a ton of action or violence. There's some but this isn't really a true action flick.

Trailer: