The Blockbuster season is in full swing and Men in Black III stepped up to the plate this weekend. Was it a hit or a miss? Also Chernobyl Diaries tried to hang with the big boys. Listen in and find out how it fared. We would like to invite you to post your reviews here in our comments section. Or use our Facebook Page. You can also email us moviemadnesspodcast@gmail.com. And Finally if you’d like to hear your voice on the podcast use our voice mail # 1-260-573-0015

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The movie theaters were invaded this weekend by aliens and dictators! Find out if either one of these should win the battle for your hard earned money! And If you can, help us out by sending your reviews and feedback  to moviemadnesspodcast@gmail.com or use our voice mail 260-573-0015. We look forward to hearing from you!

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The Avengers is finally here! Based on the 1960’s comic book, The Avengers movie is a brilliant tribute not only to the comic, but also the writers and the fans. Director Joss Whedon’s vision is a fantastic blend of action, dialogue, chemistry and just plain fun! Joss Whedon gets it; the most important element in comic book movies is great characters and The Avengers is packed with ‘em. Not only that, but the characters are already developed leaving Whedon room to play, and he does.

The world is, once again, in deadly danger and Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) the director of Shield, the world’s chief investigative unit, thinks he has the answer: the “Avengers Intitiative.” Fury is nearly fanatical about the Initiative and thank god he is. Loki has come to the Earth and he wants revenge. Only The Avengers:  Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) and Captain America (Chris Evans) are powerful enough to face, Loki (Tom Hiddleston), the god of mischief.

Loki has been drifting through the cosmos collecting friends, not the fuzzy nice kind, but the kind that want to rule the universe. He’s not greedy though, he just wants the Earth. That’s where the Avengers step in and Loki’s is stymied, at least till he creates a passageway for his massive army. Then it’s on, the classic battle between the space monsters and the heroes. You have to go to the theater to find out.

Whedon’s vision for The Avengers is even better than I imagined. His development and blending of personalities, especially between Tony Stark and Bruce Banner, is amazing. The humanity of each hero, even Thor, is shown in its gooey Marvel Comics goodness. It was like watching the first twenty Avenger’s comics come to life. Iron Man, Thor, Hulk and Captain America are at each other’s throats, just like in the books, (except when they fight evil then it’s “Hulk” smash). These are the most powerful heroes on Earth and Whedon never lets the audience (or Loki) forget it.

The acting is superlative, the plot simple but elegant and the story elements brilliant. Even more important, the casting of The Avengers could barely have been better. Even Scarlett Johansson, as the Black Widow, seems to fit beautifully, though Jeremy Renner was a distraction. Renner’s Hawkeye really didn’t sell.

The Avengers is easily one of the best comic book movies ever and I heartily recommend it. It’s now one of my top five and rate it a solid:

4.5 out of 5.

Johnny Depp and Tim Burton have teamed up once again in attempt to revive this early TV series / soap opera. Have Depp and Burton made movie magic again or should this one been left buried?  What did you think? Leave your review on our Facebook page or use our voice mail 260-573-0015. We would love to hear from you!

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The Avengers kicked off the Blockbuster Season in a big way! Does it live up to the hype? And does the little movie about second chances find a place in our reviewers hearts? If you’ve seen either of these leave a comment or your review hear or on our Facebook page. or call our voice mail 260-573-0015

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Safe sizzles from the very first scene with chills, spills and thrills and of course, Jason Statham. Suspend disbelief and hop on the roller coaster, Safe is a good one. Statham is at his absolute best, beating the hell out of Russians mobsters, Chinese gangsters and crooked cops, while quipping his way throughout. Here’s where Safe deviates: the film uses all the typical action clichés but feels real.

Director Boaz Yakim introduces Mei (Catherine Chan), an 11 year old prodigy with legendary memorization skills and attitude. She’s been given the codes to the Chinese mob’s entire system. Han Jaio (James Hong) doesn’t believe in technology. This has made the Chinese vulnerable to the Russian mob and the New York police. Both are hunting her before the Chinese can find her. Mei also holds the key to Luke Wright’s (Statham) redemption.

Wright, former cop and now failed cage fighter, has fallen on truly hard times. His past haunts him. His life is in shambles. And not until he meets Mei does he find away to reconcile it. In the New York subway Wright sees Mei hiding from Russian mobsters and saves her. He further takes it upon himself to keep her from both mobs and the police. When crooked cops get involved the body count begins and Wright goes into high gear. The rest of the Safe is classic: car chases, explosions, violence and flying bullets (a few of my favorite things).

In Safe Wright seems more like a modern day “man with no name” than a cop turned avenger. Pitting the mobs against each other and the cops against both is a fun revisit to 1965’s For a Few Dollars More. Statham is great in the Eastwood style role and, as always, he kicks some serious ass. He also manages to deliver the expected one liners without making it seem too cliché.

Safe is a classic action hero flick with some great twists and much less of the, “I’ve seen this before,” feeling. The villains are cliché, the plot predictable, the acting melodramatic and over the top, but none of that matters. Safe is a great flick, with incredible action and phenomenal fight scenes, a good, if implausible, story and a tight, fast pace. I loved the film and want to see more. Look for Luke Wright to be back again.

Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5!

The Movie Maniac Craig and Tom put in a marathon of movie viewing this weekend! Listen in and find out which one rose above the pack. Don’t forget visit our Facebook page and leave your reviews!

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It was a slow week at the theaters but The Movie Maniac has  found you a pleasant surprise in Think Like A Man. Also Tom chimes in on Cabin In The Woods. Leave us a comment or post your review on our Facebook page.

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This review has little bit of everything! From horror to action sci-fi we even have some slapstick. One of these is an instant classic! And one we have very different opinions on. You’ll have to listen in to find out! Remember to leave a comment or review here on our facebook page

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Listen in as the Movie Maniac reviews two of the oddest named movies in a long time! Both these movies are in limited release and might not be in the theaters long.  If you’ve seen these help us out and post a review on our facebook page! The more opinions and reviews the better!

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