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Saturday, May 26, 2012
Two cowboys in two flicks make summer debut
by   |  June 17, 2010  |  

The summer movie scene roars onward Friday as two blockbusters hit the silver screen.

“Jonah Hex” and “Toy Story 3” are the two headlining movies this weekend, and both promise to be quite pleasing. While on the surface they seem like completely different movies, I, Woody Toms, movie-extraordinaire, can see under the exterior and find many similarities.

First off, the main character is a cowboy. Second, there’s major action in both movies, it’s just portrayed differently. Lastly, there’s a hot and heavy sexual relationship brewing between the cowboy and our heroin (Lilah or Jessie). OK, so maybe there aren’t that many similarities in the show, but it was worth a try. Either way, both movies seem worth seeing, with “Toy Story 3” being the safer bet on being a classic.

Toy Story 3 (G)

Starring: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack

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Photo provided

After an 11-year sabbatical, Andy’s toys return for their third go around. There’s one problem though: Andy isn’t the young, innocent and lovable kid that he once was. He’s now an 18 year-old kid fresh out of high school and on his way to college. With the toys out of date and without a home, they are given to a daycare center (cue dark and ominous music). Feeling completely out of their element and constantly having their patience tested by new kids and new toys, the group poses a grand escape and rescue of Woody (Hanks), who was taken home by a little girl from the daycare. Will Buzz (Allen) and the gang be able to save their leader? Or will he be lost in the abyss of girly, childhood cynicism forever?

I have been waiting so long for this movie. Over the past 11 years I’ve been anxiously awaiting Woody and Buzz’s triumphant return to the screen. And, just as I had given up hope of a third installment, the fine people at Disney and Pixar release “Toy Story 3.” With the virtually the whole cast returning along with perfectly opposing storylines about growing up (Andy) and getting younger (the toys going to daycare), I feel like the movie is set up to be one of the blockbuster hits of the summer.

Verdict: You know how I feel about it; you must go see this movie.

Jonah Hex (PG-13)

Starring: Josh Brolin, John Malkovich, Megan Fox

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Photo provided

Jonah Hex (Brolin) is a harsh and scarred (literally) bounty hunter who has a history that is shrouded in darkness and mystery. Legend has it that Hex has connections between the real world and the paranormal one, which makes him a very dangerous person/ghost/demon/whatever you want to call him. Having only one real link to his mortal side of life in Lilah (Fox), Jonah has no problem taking a bribe from the U.S. government to hunt and kill his archenemy Quentin Turnbull (Malkovich) who is a threat to his and her lives. “Jonah Hex” follows Jonah’s epic journey as the lines between supernatural and reality become more and more skewed as he treads on.

Bringing a new twist to the traditional Wild West genre, “Jonah Hex” looks like a perfect example of a “dark-action” film. The combination of a nonchalant, no-mercy gunslinger and a hot “damsel in distress” along with a literal dark setting makes the film very intriguing. Co-writers Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor ("Gamer," "Crank") guarantee to bring some high-flying and fast moving action to the screen. Also, with an eerie resemblance to the recently released video game “Red Dead Redemption,” "Jonah Hex" will surely attract a large audience of action lovers and gamers alike.

Verdict: Like the main character, this movie is mysterious. I’m going to see it, but probably during the cheaper matineé showings. See it if you like the Western/gunslinger type movies.

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