The Hammer (2007)

Yeah Coach, when is the black man finally gonna get a fair shake in the fight game?” - Jerry Ferro

Synopses
Jerry Ferro is a retired boxer who left the sport early so he could maintain his perfect record. He now works construction and teaches suburbanites boxing in the evening. Things seem to be going nowhere for Jerry when one day he gets a chance to fight an up and coming boxing superstar. Despite getting pummeled, he manages to land a colossal knockout punch. This inspires Jerry to give it another go at the sport he loves.

Jeff’s Review
Released in select cities, the Hammer is sure to be a mega hit once everyone gets a chance to hear about it. No doubt, the more people see it, the more they will recommend it. This is the problem with independent films with such a limited budget. Few realize it costs about $15,000.00 just to make one print of a film for a movie theater. That’s an insane amount of money when you think of major films that open at 3,500 plus theaters!

This movie is strong enough to over come the obstacles. And even if it doesn’t mange to get a wider release, I predict it will be huge on DVD. Which is something I suppose they were expecting with their miniature budget.

But audiences will love Jerry Ferro. They will empathize and care about him. Adam Carolla is remarkable actor and his quick wit reminds me of Steve Carrell and the late Phil Hartmen.

Carolla is found of saying acting is easy and anyone could do it. He uses the example of his co-star Oswaldo Castillo who really is a Nicaraguan construction worker who happenes to be friends with Adam in real life. When making the movie, Carolla would just say to him to, “Now act happy,” or “act sad” and he would do it. And even if he is exaggerating, it doesn’t matter because Castillo is actually good in his acting debut.

Cast
Adam Carolla as Jerry Ferro
Oswaldo Castillo as Oswaldo Sanchez
Heather Juergensen as Lindsay Pratt
Harold Moore as Robert Brown
Jonathan Hernandez as Victor Padilla

Suggestions and Ratings
Great date movie (read chick flick) that guys will enjoy! The movie is rated R because of a couple “F” bombs, but I would suggest it for teenagers and up. The Hammer is a fun comedy that I can’t wait to see again. Four out of four stars.

Trapped in the Drive-Thru (2007)

“Weird Al” Yankovic, the undisputed king of parody strikes again with his very own R&B opera. Using R. Kelly’s “Trapped in the Closet” for inspiration, Weird Al weaves a tale of a young couple who make a late night trip to grab some fast food. Running just over ten minutes it’s a marvelous animated cartoon by Doug Bresler (Doogtoons).

Bresler is the winner of countless awards, such as best animated video of 2007 by Yahoo! and Best of the Web by the Animation World Network 2007. And I must say deservedly so! This video was wildly entertaining and produced extremely well. I would suggest readers check out other cartoons created by Bresler because they are equally as good as this one.

Weird Al as everyone knows is an extremely gifted writer and singer who doesn’t get the credit he richly deserves. Sure he’s immensely popular, but I think many think of him as a joke and not a talented artist. Every time I hear one of his songs I am always surprised by his vocal abilities.

Trapped in the Drive Thru is a must see for all fans of silly and satirical humor. Three out of four stars

Bridge to Terabithia (2007)

I watched Bridge to Terabithia with great excitement. It came highly recommended from my good friend and fellow critic, Heather. But even in her praise for the movie, I was not ready for what I saw. I watched in stunned silence as the film ended. As I wiped away tears from my eyes, I thought about my own childhood. There’s something magical about elementary school that’s hard to explain. However, the friendships you make, while they may not last, are almost sure to have an impact on your life for years to come.

The story revolves around a young boy named Jess Aarons (Josh Hutcherson) and his little sister May Belle (Bailee Madson). The movie begins as we see Jess getting ready for a big race at school. Unfortunately, his mom threw his lucky sneakers out with the trash and since he comes from a poor family he’s is forced to wear his older sisters pink tennis shoes instead. Mortified at the thought, he quickly grabs a black marker and colors them in.

Later that day, as the race is set to begin the new girl in class Leslie (AnnaSophia Robb) decides to run as well (much to the chagrin of the others, who thought this was a “boy’s only” race). The contest is a close one between Leslie and Jess with Leslie taking the lead and beating him at the last minute. May Belle runs over to her big brother Jess, but he is sour because he was beat by Leslie who offers to shake hands after the race. He’s embarrassed and walks away from her. His bitterness fades away and eventually the two of them develop a close friendship help by the fact that Leslie moved in to the empty house next door to Jess.

While playing in the woods one day, the two of them create a magical world called Terabithia. Filled with magic and wonder, their world is full of prisoners being held captive by the evil, Dark Master. Jess and Leslie, with the help of dragon fly warriors have come to set them free. As their imagination sores, so does the adventures they have in Terabithia.

In a film full of remarkable moments and scenes, I have to say I was impressed at a very potent conversation Leslie, Jess and May Belle have on their way home from church one Sunday about God and the Bible. Leslie tells them she doesn’t believe God would ever damn anyone to hell because he’s to busy making “all of this” as she points to the picturesque country around her.

The Bridge to Terabithia is a extraordinary movie that should be remembered as one of the best coming of age movies ever created. The amazing thing to me is how the movie so carefully focuses on the different kinds of friendships and how important those can be. You see the frustration and anger Jess can feel have towards his little sister May Belle, but at the same time how much he loves and cares about her. And then the relationship between Jess and Leslie is incredible because you feel the connection these two have towards each other is so genuine and beautiful words fail to aptly describe it.

Another thing that sets the movie apart from the rest is the music. Throughout the film the director so wisely uses the music to set the tone and feeling of the movie. Every film tries to do this, and it rarely works as wonderful as it does in Bridge to Terabithia.

One of the best movies ever made, this should be required viewing or all students in junior high or high school. Based on the award winning novel by Katherine Paterson, the Bridge to Terabithia is a movie for all ages who cherish friendship. Turn on your imagination and be sure to keep your mind wide open, this movie gets Four out of four stars.

Michael Scott “Bad Taste”

The Office Quotes - From season three, episode one “Gay Witch Hunt.”

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