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Welcome to the Entertainment page. If a product needs reviewing or we just feel like making fun of Hollywood's most famous nimrods, you'll find it here.

 

"Toy Story 3" a sweet end to spectacular trilogy
 By Ezra Mann (Editor in Spoof)

While it is possible to drag out a good movie series to three or more flicks, generally it’s an accomplishment to make the first sequel work. In the case of Michael Bay, it may be trying to make one of his three robot movies get off the suck railroad.
Disney and Pixar could have very well let their last toy adventure be the end to the story and no one would have faulted them for not forcing another chapter for the sake of money. Yet, time and time again the partnership that just can’t seem to produce a bad offering proves that there was indeed plenty of life left for the tale. “Toy Story 3” not only revives some of the most enduring animated characters, but compliments the legacy they have left behind.
It’s almost as if there hasn’t been 11 years since the previous sequel was released because things transition without even the slightest hiccup. Why I was only 12 years old when the first movie came out and the folks involved made me feel like that kid who saw it then all over again.
This time the story jumps several years into the future with a 17-year-old Andy (John Morris) getting ready for college. Abandonment concerns face the toys again when a misunderstanding leads Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) and the others to consider life anew at a daycare called Sunnyside. Woody (Tom Hanks) knows that the toys need to stay there for Andy even if it means being put in storage for a while, but has his work cut out for him.
What would these wonderful adventures be without a self conflicted villain to stand in the way of easy reunion. Enter, Lots-O'-Huggin' Bear (Ned Beatty), Ken (Michael Keaton) and an army of lackeys.
However, standing in the way of a plot of plastic domination along with our cowboy is the return of those like Mr. Potato Head (Don Rickles), Jessie (Joan Cusack) and Hamm (John Ratzenberger). Plenty of top-notch comedy, hijinks and even some sad moments ensue to make this one of the best movies of the year so far. Perhaps what is the most hard to not shed a tear about is how precious the role of the young girl Bonnie (Emily Hahn) turns out to be.
The 3-D function is not even really necessary as it looks great on the silver screen without overpaying for the glasses. My only concern I have now is that it has to compete with “How to Train Your Dragon” for an Oscar when both have turned out to be masterpieces.
I also don’t know what studio plans are, but if this did turn out to be the final moment for this storyline I think it couldn’t be a more appropriate finale. It’s appropriate for the whole family and will appeal to any age range. For making another Friday night stand out from the rest I give “Toy Story 3” five out of five laugh- out-louds.
"Karate Kid" a thoughtful revival of 80s classic
By Ezra Mann (Editor in spoof)
Excitement was far from my reaction the first time I heard that one of the most iconic movies of the 1980s was being remade. Then again, 2010 seems to be another year flooded with film retellings or adaptations from the decade of clothing and hair nightmares.
At first I did not think it was even appropriate to have another kid turns his life around with martial arts movie without Mr. Miyagi (Pat Morita). I doubted I would set foot in a theater or rent the DVD out of principal, but one bored Saturday evening and weeks of pondering finally got me in to see Will Smith’s interpretation. “The Karate Kid,” while not at all a correct title, was a much more enjoyable experience than I expected.
The one thing that sealed the deal for me more than anything else was finding out that Jackie Chan would be playing the role of the teacher, Mr. Han. Chan did not disappoint and I felt he delivered in his part more than any other actor in the story.
Instead of being set in America like the original, this version is set in Beijing China and features a younger kid, Dre Parker (Jaden Smith), struggling to find himself. Yet, many elements are done in a way as a tribute to the classic including relocating from a former home and having to deal with a well trained bully, this time a boy named Cheng (Zhenwei Wang). Instead of Karate, Parker eventually learns Kung Fu (apparently other countries will see this movie correctly called Kung Fu Kid) and the movie does a decent job showing how much a part of the native culture the defensive style is.
Another thing that stood out for me was that the whole surrogate father angle seems to have been pushed a bit deeper. It was a nice touch, especially when you find out more about Han’s past.
The leader of the bully’s kung fu class, Master Li (Rongguang Yu) was sufficiently a thug, no doubt he was a villain, though a bit less cheesy than John Kreese (Martin Kove) back in 1984. In any case, I do think it was a decent launching pad for Smith’s son, though I’m indifferent to the news of a possible sequel (hopefully not quite as unfortunately put together as the former Karate Kid II and III). For an effort that at least made it worth the initial viewing I give “The Karate Kid” three and a half out of five tournament wins.
Images are copyright of Disney, Pixar and Columbia Pictures.

Past Entertainment: Just Cause 2 for Xbox 360.

 
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