{"id":13168,"date":"2010-09-21T00:09:23","date_gmt":"2010-09-20T14:39:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.fernbyfilms.com\/?p=13168"},"modified":"2018-03-15T22:20:54","modified_gmt":"2018-03-15T11:50:54","slug":"movie-review-jumanji-united-93-talladega-nights","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fernbyfilms.com\/2010\/09\/21\/movie-review-jumanji-united-93-talladega-nights\/","title":{"rendered":"Movie Review – Jumanji, United 93 & Talladega Nights"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Jumanji-Talladega-United-93-Review-Logo-v5.1\"<\/p>\n

Today we welcome special guest reviewer Robert Nowotny to fernbyfilms.com<\/em>, a fellow film connoisseur and purveyor of his own opinions across at Friend Site, Need To Vent<\/a>. Robert gladly accepted my challenge to write something about the films he hated, and I was most impressed when he came up with three<\/em>! One of these choices is destined to be highly controversial, I’ll admit, but that’s what we’re here for, to debate the merits of film. Before I let Robert vent his spleen about cinematic travesties, I’d like to thank him for his contribution here, and point you towards his website should you feel the desire to read more of his work.<\/h4>\n

And so, without further ado, here’s Roberts thoughts on Jumanji<\/em>, United 93<\/em>, and Talladega Nights<\/em>.<\/h4>\n

<\/p>\n

\"Jumanji-Review-Logo-v5.2\"<\/p>\n

\n

– Summary –<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Director :<\/strong>\u00a0 Joe Johnson
\nYear Of Release :<\/strong>\u00a0 1995
\nPrincipal Cast :<\/strong>\u00a0 Robin Williams, Bonnie Hunt, Kirsten Dunst, Bradley Pierce, David Alan Grier, Jonathan Hyde, Bebe Neuwirth, Adam Hann-Byrd, Laura Bell Bundy, Malcolm Stewart, Annabel Kershaw, Patricia Clarkson.
\nApprox Running Time :<\/strong>\u00a0 104 Minutes
\nSynopsis:<\/strong> A young boy opens up a world of adventure when an enchanted board-game suddenly whisks them into a world where the jungle comes alive!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

**********************<\/p>\n

Jumanji<\/em> is just one of many disasters produced by Interscope Communications, a company that has released more crap over the years than Ex-Lax.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Fresh on the heels of the pathetic Operation Dumbo Drop<\/em> and the downright disgusting The Tie That Binds<\/em>, Executive Producers Ted Field and Robert W. Cort decided to roll the dice one last time before 1995 came to a close. Talk about a couple of Hollywood Turkeys\u2014I’m referring to both the films and the bozos behind them.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
In Jumanji<\/em> the premise, essentially Stephen King meets Milton Bradley, might have merit had it been undertaken by anyone else with access to a camera\u2014Beavis and Butt-Head included. Based on the 1981 book by children’s author and illustrator Chris Van Allsburg, Jumanji<\/em> tells the tale of a mysterious board game in which every roll of the dice leads to horrific consequences. And, according to screenwriters Jonathan Hensleigh, Greg Taylor and Jim Strain, this is a game that must be 100 percent completed before any players are permitted to quit. Although there’s no exit strategy allowed while playing this deadly game, those unfortunate to be viewing this mess do have the ability to walk away at any time. The sooner the better\u2026<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
The big attraction, of course, is Robin Williams. His fans will be severely disappointed. Playing a part so bland that anyone (R. C. Slocum, Schimmel Bladehorn, even Neville Chamberland) could have been chosen without losing a beat\u2014Jumanji<\/em> simply doesn’t allow Williams to showcase one iota of his immense talent. Creatively, there hasn’t been a bigger casting error since the Dorf On Fishing<\/em> video series.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Among the dire consequences which bombard the board game and its players are giant mosquitoes (although it should be noted that anyone from Houston would hardly take notice), a gang of unruly monkeys, a lion in need of a nap, a monsoon, an earthquake and a stampede of creatures that I first mistook to be housing developers and real estate agents on their way to the Texas Hill Country. Upon closer examination I realized these blurred and non-thinking animals were supposed to be rhinoceroses, elephants, zebras and, believe it or not, a giant pelican or two. Suffice it to say that all the money spent on these not-so-special effects rival the Halliburton contract for lack of value received.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Not to be outdone, Director of Photography Thomas Ackerman treats us to a painfully long out-of-focus shot of Bonnie Hunt standing in her doorway. But the most unbelievable gaffe of all takes place when Robin Williams drives away in a hardtop (with a powered sunroof no less) and in a few scenes later he screeches to a halt in a convertible. Give the continuity people some credit, at least this second car was the same basic model and colour.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
As a game, Jumanji<\/em> is more distasteful than playing spin the bottle with Leona Helmsley and Tammi Faye Baker. As a movie, Jumanji<\/em> is more inept than last year’s Democratic presidential campaign. As a critic, I’ve only scratched the surface when it comes to the many flaws within this case of celluloid cellulite. Alas, it’s time for me to cease my finger pointing for fear of developing carpal tunnel syndrome.<\/div>\n
\"3-Star\"<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
***<\/div>\n
Okay Robert, you laid bare your thoughts on <\/em>Jumanji, so what’s next? Robert responds with vitriol reserved for critically acclaimed <\/em>United 93, the story of the plane and passengers who crashed in a Pennsylvania field on 9\/11.<\/em><\/div>\n
***
\n<\/em><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\"United-93-Review-Logo-v5.1\"<\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/strong><\/div>\n
\n
\n

– Summary –<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Director :<\/strong>\u00a0 Paul Greengrass
\nYear Of Release :<\/strong>\u00a0 2006
\nPrincipal Cast :<\/strong>\u00a0 Khalid Abdalla, Christian Clemenson, Cheyenne Jackson, JJ Johnson, Sarmed al-Samarri, David Alan Basche, Omar Bedouni, Jamie Harding, Gary Commock, Olivia Thirlby.
\nApprox Running Time :<\/strong>\u00a0 110 Minutes
\nSynopsis:<\/strong>\u00a0 An account of the bravery of the passengers of United Flight 93, hijacked above American soil on 9\/11.
\n
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

**********************<\/p>\n

It is almost a full twenty-four hours since I left the Marketplace Theatre in New Braunfels after seeing United 93<\/em>.<\/p>\n

I am still shaking.<\/p>\n

Yes, I continue to shake uncontrollably from this intense experience\u2014but the cause is not for any of the reasons you might logically assume.<\/p>\n

To begin with, my trembling has nothing to do with the inherent nature of the story. When it comes to a deeply visceral screening experience you can find about as much emotional intensity in an old Sky King<\/em> rerun.<\/p>\n

Nor is my malady a result of witnessing once again just how inept and incompetent the US military, the FAA and this nation’s government was on 9\/11. For example, hours pass by and, ultimately, a grand total of four jet fighters are scrambled. Yes\u2014only four jets can even get into the air\u2014and two of these were unarmed. You’ll normally find that many zipping past at the opening ceremonies of a NASCAR event each weekend. It’s enough to make the average person quiver like an aspen leaf; but this is old news and it isn’t the cause of my current woes either.<\/p>\n

Finally, let me reassure you that my spasms are not a debilitating reaction to observing every passenger’s cell phone working perfectly and without interruption as their Boeing 757 rockets along at over 550 miles per hour, across several states and at altitudes ranging from 33,000′ down to 3,000′ and less. This technological accomplishment is singularly unfathomable to me, but I have elected not to dwell on my personal cell phone experiences and so the cause of my present condition lies elsewhere.<\/p>\n

You see, the real reason for my ongoing involuntary twitching lies solely with Director of Photography Barry Ackroyd’s unrestrained cinema verite style of filming that has the camera shaking more violently than Nancy Pelosi’s vibrator. Not even fans of The Blair Witch Project<\/em> could possibly appreciate the excessive jerkiness, in-your-face-but-out-of-focus cinematography found not only in the not-so-friendly skies, but also on the ground, in the terminal, even in the NORAD bunker. Ninety plus minutes of wide screen, uninterrupted visual chaos will leave you shaking, too.<\/p>\n

I find it fitting that Cinematographer Ackroyd’s next project will be an Irish\/UK co-production titled The Wind That Shakes The Barley<\/em>. What do you want to bet he wears a self-winding watch?<\/p>\n

\"4-Star\"<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

***<\/div>\n
Okay, that’s going to set the cat among the pigeons. For the finale, Robert lets fly at perennial idiotkind (the opposite of wunderkind, and a word I’ve invented<\/em> just now) Will Ferrell, in <\/em>Talladega Nights.<\/em><\/div>\n
***
\n<\/em><\/div>\n
\"Talladega-Nights-Review-Logo-v5.1\"<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n
\n

– Summary –<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Director :<\/strong>\u00a0 Adam McKay
\nYear Of Release :<\/strong>\u00a0 2006
\nPrincipal Cast :<\/strong>\u00a0 Will Ferrell, John C Reilly, Sacha Baron Cohen, Michael Clarke Duncan, Leslie Bibb, Gary Cole, Jane Lynch, Amy Adams, Andy Richter, David Koechner, Ian Roberts, Jack McBrayer, Pat Hingle, Greg Germann, Molly Shannon, Ted Manson, Rob Riggle.
\nApprox Running Time :<\/strong>\u00a0 108 Minutes
\nSynopsis:<\/strong>\u00a0 Ricky Bobby is a race-car driver who wants to go fast. Amidst the turmoil of his personal life, his sponsor troubles and his kids, he suddenly finds a new driver on the circuit who threatens to put him out to pasture.\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

**********************<\/p>\n

\n
Talladega Nights<\/em> is a bigger mess than a wetback’s morning constitutional.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
For those of you who believe that Will Ferrell is the best thing since sliced bread (in this case Wonder Bread) you will surely be disappointed. Even Sacha Baron Cohen comes across as flat as Ann Coulter’s chest. There’s plenty of blame to go around.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
For starters, the chicken fried cornpone script is so atrociously bad I am positive that \u201cCoo Coo\u201d Marlin is black flaggin’ it in his grave. Co-writer Adam McKay’s direction is so haphazard Boss Hogg should throw him in the hoosegow. And the editing, credited to Brent White, is so lethargic and poorly paced one had better watch this film wearing Lisa Nowak-endorsed diapers; you honestly think this NASCAR narcosis will NEVER end. The same is true for the incessant product placements.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Someone’s mammy once said that if you can’t say at least one good thing then you should keep your trap shut. With this in mind I will heap a bit of praise on the aptly named Leslie Bibb who is so infectiously hot that I actually needed one (a bib that is) to corral my slobber every time she was on the screen. Egads, Bubba, this is a girlie worth watching; everything else is literally the pits.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\"1-Star\"<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Righto, so you’ve read Robert’s thoughts on these films: now’s the time to let us know what YOU think! Fire away in the comments below!!!<\/em><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Related articles<\/h6>\n