Men In Black 2 (2002) - Movie Review

[caption id="attachment_385" align="alignright" width="353"] Official Score = 2 Devils[/caption]

When I was a kid, one of the things that I really liked to do was to go to the movie theaters on the weekends. As a matter of fact, a lot of the movies that were released from the mid to late 90s that I saw, I saw them at the theaters!

And one of these movies that I happen to watch at the theater during one of these weekend excursions was the movie, Men In Black (1997)! Now I happen to really enjoy this movie and was glad when I discovered, Men in Black 2 (2002):

Written by Robert Gordon (Galaxy Quest), Barry Fanaro (Kingpin) and Directed by Barry Sonnenfeld (RV). Starring: Will Smith (Independence Day), Tommy Lee Jones (The Sunset Limited), Rip Torn (Eulogy), Lara Flynn Boyle (Wayne's World), Rosario Dawson (Sin City), and Tony Shalhoub (Monk).

Men In Black 2, is the continuing story of Agent Jay (Smith), and Agent Kay (Jones), and the, Men In Black Organization! During this time, Agent Kay is working for a small town postal department and is living his old life as Kevin Brown! And Agent Jay is going through new partners as fast as humanly possible!

[caption id="attachment_465" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Agent J. (Will Smith) as he re-introduces Agent K (Tommy Lee Jones) to the wide world of, 'Men In Black!'[/caption]

Now during this time a Kylothian Space Craft is carrying an Alien by the name of, Serleena (Boyle), who lands on earth to search for the, 'Light Of Zartha'. As Agent Jay begins his investigation in to the Kylothian ship and Serleena, Agent Jay comes to realize that the only way that Jay is going to solve this case is that he is going to have to bring Kay back in to the fold (despite the fact that Kay's memories of the men in black have been zapped!)

So as Jay figures out how to give Kay his memories back (so that the two can find the, 'Light Of Zartha'), and with Serleena having crippled MIB headquarters, it will be up to Jay... (and hopefully Kay) to save the world from the menace that is Serleena!

[caption id="attachment_467" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Agents J, and K are back to kick some major ass![/caption]

In my opinion this movie is not as good as the first one, it was definitely missing that love interest between Jay and Laurel (Played by: Linda Fiorentino) from the first Men In Black movie, and the some times comic nature of the communication between the Aliens and Men In Black was little over the top.

That was on the negative side, on the plus side, all the actors did do a fun job with what they had to work with, the special effects and camera work were a lot of fun, and Barry Sonnenfeld continued to bring a fun Men In Black movie to the big screen that will make it so that when you come out of that movie, you will not be disappointed but kind of pleased for having seen it!

http://youtu.be/pCRFJFLfBVc

Gattaca (1997) - Movie Review

[caption id="attachment_325" align="alignright" width="263"] Official Score = 3 Devils[/caption]

The 1990s saw a major change in technology for private use! Stuff that at this point has become the standard for most people, stuff like the use of, 'The Internet', 'Cell Phones', etc...

With that in mind, one thing that Hollywood does like to do is to make movies that ask the question, 'What if mankind took technology to such an extreme that, that technology began to take over?' A popular theme for these types of movies of course are movies that have to do with computer technology being taken so far that they gain their sentience and begin to take over the world.

A few of these examples of this type of film of course being, The Matrix (1999), and The 'Terminator' series!

But there is another slightly less dystopic (yet still quite unpleasant) version that begs the question of, 'what would happen if genetic technology was taken to the point where it was no longer fashionable to be, 'born' but to be created!

That is the question that the movie, Gattaca (1997) begs to answer!

Written and Directed by: Andrew Niccol (In Time). Starring: Ethan Hawke (Daybreakers), Uma Thurman (Pulp Fiction), Jude Law (eXistenZ), Gore Vidal (Shadow Conspiracy), Xander Berkley (Candyman), Elias Koteas (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) and Alan Arkin (Grosse Point Blank).

[caption id="attachment_472" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Vincent Freeman (Ethan Hawke) living the dream![/caption]

Gattaca tells the story of a man by the name of Vincent Freeman (Hawke). A man who was born naturally in a world that frowns upon this sort of thing.

In this world, there are two classes: The upper class being people that have been more or less genetically engineered. While the lower class being those that have been born naturally....

Now Vincent dreams about someday going in to space. The only problem is that the only group of people that are allowed to go in to space are the upper class!

So Vincent arranges to take over the persona of a crippled upper class genetically engineered man by the name of, Jerome Eugene Morrow (Law), to achieve his dream!

So far this seems to be working out awfully well for Vincent, as Vincent ends up making it all the way to the point where his dreams are about to come true, as he has finally been selected to go to outer space... Of course that is until his project director ends up being murdered!

Now Vincent's dreams of going in to outer space are in jeopardy due to fear that his cover could be blown during the investigation in to the project directors death!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Vincent Freeman is going to get to live his dream![/caption]

I do have to say that although I think the acting is great, the story is amazing, and the special effects are spectacular, the best thing I think that makes this movie great is the message that this movie has for the world! A message that says, 'that in a world that is harsh, where choices are sometimes extremely limited, that you can still succeed and achieve your dreams and goals in life!

http://youtu.be/ZppWok6SX88