Madagascar 2 to Transporter 3!

Among the recent Hollywood releases, Madagascar 2 and Transporter 3 are pretty interesting and entertaining. The former is a good comedy blended with a nice animation and the latter is filled with action. Hopes were high because the prequels were too good. Of course, the new releases could not live up to them but they're a good watch.


Madagascar : Escape 2 Africa :

In the highly-anticipated sequel to 'Madagascar,' Alex, Marty, Melman, Gloria, King Julien, Maurice and the penguins and the chimps find themselves marooned on the distant shores of Madagascar. In the face of this obstacle, the New Yorkers have hatched a plan so crazy that it just might work. With military precision, the penguins have repaired an old crashed plane--sort of. Once aloft, this unlikely crew stays airborne just long enough to make it to the wildest place of all--the vast plains of Africa, where the members of our zoo-raised crew encounter species of their own kind for the very first time. Africa seems like a great place...but is it better than their Central Park home?

Of course, King Julien (Sacha Baron Cohen), the surprisingly scene-stealing granny and the rest of the supporting cast provide added hilarity and wit to almost every repartee. Even more welcome was the relevant uplifting theme, which served as an effective sub-plot, an important message delivered in a fun, non-preachy way. If they intend to roll out a Part Three, this would be a tough one to beat!

Transporter 3 :


Jason Statham is back in the third outing of 'The Transporter'. This time he's hired by a criminal mastermind to go on a mission to deliver a 'package'. With Frank Martin now electronically rigged, he must complete his mission or die!

Mr. Statham is in outstanding shape, and shows it a little more, which provides the eye-candy for the ladies.

However, by far what made this installment in the series the best is "Natalya Rudakova".

The point is that we've already seen Mr. Statham do some variant of all the things he does here, namely the artistically choreographed fights, and eye popping driving (like the needle threading precision cork screw car jump as in "T2") so how does one top that without becoming redundant or ridiculous?

Well, the writers did a fantastic job of doing the build up in the first two, for which the release in this installment is perfectly timed, and as all releases, the longer the wait, the sweeter it is, but that's all I'll say on that subject lest it become a spoiler.

However, back to the subject of Ms. Rdudakova, one word, she is a "Natural". The last time I saw an unknown performer with that much on screen charisma and innate talent was in a movie called "2 Days in the Valley" and the performer was none other than Charlize Theron!

The way the role was written, it would have been a challenge for the most seasoned of actresses. A "spoiled rich girl" is too cliche a role, to make the audience want to take her over their collective knees and give her a good spanking, which she did admirably, is no great feat, but to make the audience come around and like her by the end, takes real talent. The role was executed impeccably. For example, in the fight scene in the garage, with the subtlest of expressions, one sees the transformation of Valentina from cold and self absorbed spoiled rich girl to ... to, well you'll have to see it and judge for yourself.

So for a first time actress to be on the screen for as long as she was and hold her own as well as she did is a credit to both her and those who discovered her and enabled her to pull it off. For me, without her, this third installment could have become a parody of itself, but as it is, it may earn a couple more visits the to cinema by me, and the DVD will be added to my collection for sure. I just hope that she takes her craft seriously and we get to see a lot more of her as she hones her skills and entertains us for years to come.

And I hope the writers have some other magic up their sleeves for "T4" because I'm definitely not done with it.

Two great flicks for this year, until now - Madagascar 2 to Transporter 3!