Saving Mr. Banks Review (2013)

Saving Mr. Banks Review
 
  While it took a moment to get off the ground, once it started, I was totally engrossed in it and it really made me want to re-watch Marry Poppins. 
  Tom Hanks and Emma Thompson did such fantastic jobs in their roles. Would I give Hanks the Oscar for best actor? Maybe not for this role although he was brilliant; I'd still say he deserved it more for Captain Phillips. Who really impressed me (who I didn't even know was in it) was Colin Farrell. It was by far the best I'd ever seen from him and he really went for it. Paul Giamatti also had a sweet little role and I really liked him in the film.
  This movie was extremely charming in a lot of ways and had so much heart. It was sad, delightful, inspiring, smart, profound and genuine all at once. I really couldn't find a flaw with it. I was pleasantly reminded of 2010's The King's Speech. 5 out of 5 stars for this gem. (A Must See)

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty Review (2013)

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty Review

    I really really enjoyed this film. The cinematography was stunningly crisp and beautiful. It could have been about absolutely nothing and it wouldn't have mattered because it was so gorgeous to look at. 
  Where it lacks in depth, it makes up for in creativity. I was invested the whole way and appreciated the filmmakers ambition. 
  The pacing was good, the comedy was spot on; some parts were predictable and silly, but I was okay with just going along with the ride and felt like there was something for everyone.
  If you're looking for some clean family fun, this is a good one for adults and kids to enjoy. Not to mention the soundtrack is tremendous. 
  4.5 out of 5 stars! (I'd Buy It)

The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug Review (2013)

The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug Review

  I will start off by saying that people will either love this or hate it. It is not as true to the book as some fans may have hoped, but I personally thought the additions were fine and so it didn't bother me. 
  For the most part, this movie keeps a really fast pace in comparison to the other Lord of The Ring's movies, which I liked. Bilbo's character really develops well in this, showing us how the ring changes him. Martin Freeman does such a good job with this role as does the rest of the cast in theirs. 
  While there are a lot of good things about Desolation of Smaug, like the beautiful cinematography and exciting action sequences, it does have its flaws. One particular addition with Gandalf seemed unnecessary. 
  Either way, the film is worth seeing simply for Smaug, voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch. The CGI on him is INCREDIBLE and his voice is so menacing and chilling. Every scene with Bilbo and Smaug are stunning. Overall I will give this movie a 3.5 out of 5 stars! (Worth Ticket Price)

Hunger Games: Catching Fire Review (2013)

Hunger Games: Catching Fire Review

  Fresh from rereading the book, I had such high expectations for this movie and let me just say, I was BLOWN AWAY. From the minute it starts the cinematography and directing was just beautiful. I enjoyed the first movie a lot, but Catching Fire takes us to a whole new level. The acting performances are better from everyone, it's edgier, no shaky camera, believable chemistry between Katniss, Peeta, and Gale, the budget is bigger, there's less CGI and the CGI that is in it is more realistic, the arena is stunning! All in all it was a perfect film in every way and got the tones of the books down to the T.  
  Everyone did SUCH an exemplary job with their characters, but two people stood out to me a bit more than the others and that was my girl, Jennifer Lawrence and Sam Clafflin who plays Finnick. Jennifer Lawrence has such amazing expression that you don't need a first person perspective like the book to know what she's thinking. You can just see it in her eyes. Jennifer really perfects this role, it's the best I've ever seen her. 
  Sam Clafflin also had a lot of pressure entering this all star cast, but he totally nailed it. Finnick's character is so likeable and he encompasses everything I imagined him being in the book perfectly. Now of course there are other names that did absolutely amazing as well, Jena Malone as Johanna Mason, Josh Hutcherson really brought it this time around, and I loved the new game maker played by Phillip Seymour Hoffman, just to name a few.
  I am so happy with how much detail from the book was in the movie from the smallest things. Buttercup actually looked like Buttercup instead of some random black cat like in the first movie. Katniss and Gale's hair were actually black like it was in the book instead of dark brown. Little details like this made the movie so much stronger than the first and that's saying something cause I really loved the first. 
  Director Francis Lawrence's vision of Catching Fire is definitely worth the price of an admission ticket. It's the best sequel I've seen since The Dark Knight.
 5 out of 5 stars, no doubt! (A Must See)

Thor: The Dark World Review (2013)

Thor: The Dark World Review

  While I was excited to see Thor kick butt, I'd be lying if I said I didn't see this film mainly for Loki. He's unpredictable, sarcastic, twistedly awesome, but not that much in the film which had me a bit disappointed. 
  The film's strength was it's comedy in that it didn't take itself really seriously at all. It knows it's cheesy, we know it's cheesy and it doesn't try to be what it's not, which I can respect. The visuals are beautiful especially in a particular scene involving a boat and a waterfall. However, there were quite a few flaws that I simply couldn't overlook. The plot was all over the place (most of the time I wasn't even sure what it was), Jane and Darcy were borderline annoying most of the movie, and again, I wanted more Loki! 
  The more you think about it the less you like it, but if you are in the mood for some fun mindless action, this is the film for you. I enjoyed the first movie more which makes Thor: The Dark World just good enough not to be bad. 2.5 out of 5 stars from me. I left the theater thinking, "Meh." (Watch If Free)

Ender's Game Review (2013)

Ender's Game Review
  
  I want to start off by saying that I have NOT read the book and so there will be no comparisons in this review; that being said, after seeing this, I would definitely like to.
  One of the things I can't stand in movies is bad child actors, thankfully most of the cast was really good! While some of the children had a hard time with the complex dialogue, (Ender) Asa Butterfield's line delivery is spot on. After seeing him in Hugo and Boy in the Striped Pajama's I already knew he was talented, but in Ender's Game he holds the entire movie on his shoulders and even stands out next to Harrison Ford, Ben Kingsley and Viola Davis. With such a tremendous amount of emotional range at such a young age, this star has a bright future ahead. 
  I was very impressed with the character of Ender himself and his development. He was effortlessly likeable, smart, and respectable, definitely a leader I'd want to get behind. 
  While at some points the story is a little hard to follow, long winded, and some of the emotional moments seem forced, Ender's Game held its head above the water with solid performances, strategic character development, and a powerful ending. It was hardly perfect, but it was charming. 3 out of 5 stars. (Rent It)

The Prestige Review (2006)

The Prestige Review

  The Prestige stars Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman as the two leading magicians and they do absolutely amazing jobs in their roles. In fact, the entire cast is terrific and all of the characters are brilliantly developed. Props to Christopher Nolan for crafting one of my favorite films of all time. 
  I love how terribly flawed our protagonists are and how accurately this film portrays obsession. Unlike The Illusionist, The Prestige breaks down all of the tricks so that we as an audience can follow along with Borden and Angier's rivalry. Not only that, but the film itself is like a magic trick. The answers are right in our face and yet we are so consumed with the illusions of our characters that we cannot see it.
  There is an elegant yet mysterious aura about this movie which makes it quite spectacular to watch. Nolan doesn't treat his audiences as intellectually inferior and this movie is proof of that. If you don't like it, it's because you aren't paying attention. The Prestige, without a doubt, earns itself 5 out of 5 stars. (A Must See)

Captain Phillips Review (2013)

Captain Phillips Review

 

  I enjoyed this movie a lot and definitely think it should be up for nominations. The performances were top notch from the entire cast. Tom Hanks really brought it in this and so did Barkhad Abdi, who played the leader of the pirates. The complexity of the characters really added to the story. We could see how desperate all of the characters were and why they did what they did which was much more interesting than if there were just bad guys and good guys. 
  There was a little bit of shaky camera at first which kind of bothered me but it was only in the beginning.  Once the plot started, I was so fully invested that I hardly even noticed the long length, however I do realize that some will. Other than that, I don't think there was much else to critique. This movie is solid from beginning to end and I look forward to buying it on DVD. 5 out of 5 stars! (A Must See)

Gravity Review (2013)

Gravity Review

  I went into Gravity with a pretty hyped up expectation of it. The reviews were crazy good and people were even saying it was likely to be up for Oscar nominations. While I did like Gravity, it wasn't exactly what I expected. 
  The cinematography was so richly striking that if anyone could walk away from this and say there is no God, they are deluding themselves. The sound and score were also amazing. If this isn't nominated for special effects I would be really upset.
  Clooney and Bullock give very solid and realistic performances, however the movie was more plot driven than character driven so sometimes I found myself wishing it had more layers. 
  I did expect it to be far more intense and scary and it was in certain parts, but after a while you get used to it and it loses a bit of tension until the end. 
  Gravity is a very good piece of art technically and is elegantly filmed, but I don't know if I'd be excited to see it again. I'll give Gravity 3.5 out of 5 stars! (Worth Ticket Price)

Upside Down Review (2012)

Upside Down Review 

  Upside down is a steaming hot mess. I'll start with what I liked and end with what I didn't. Firstly, Jim Sturgess outdoes himself in his role as he has done in previous roles I've seen. He performs so effortlessly that he seems TOO GOOD for such a messy script. Kirsten Duntz was decent, but nothing to get excited about. It was nice to see Timothy Spall as a protagonist for a change.
  The visuals, directing, and cinematography were flawless and inspiring, executed with perfect precision. It was almost like James Cameron directed this with a Nicolas Sparks script. The science behind the concept would have been intriguing if it wasn't so flawed, but even if you were to suspend your belief of how the worlds work, you would still have characters with little development. Sturgess did the best he possibly could with such an underdeveloped character, but it just wasn't enough to bring the plot together. He and Dunst had chemistry, but we are told they love each other and we must accept that with no other background other than they met as kids. Sturgess himself is endearing and that translates into the character he played, but Kirsten's character we care little about. If they got together it wouldn't really matter and if they didn't we'd probably only feel bad for him, but not that bad. 
  The ending was abrupt, anticlimactic, and forgettable. I wanted to like it more than I did. For Sturgess and the breathtaking cinematography, I'll give it a 2.5 out of 5 stars. I just couldn't get it to 3. (Watch If Free)

Mud Review (2013)

Mud Review 

 

   Let me start off by saying that the actor who played Ellis (Tye Sheridan) was GREAT. Usually I hate kid actors but this guy totally nailed his role. With his parents on the verge of divorce, Ellis just wants to believe that love can work and that is the motivation for helping Mud.
  If you go into this not knowing what to expect then you may be disappointed by all of the praise it's getting. Mud is not a tense, edge of your seat, action thriller and if anything is rather slow (Sometimes even too slow). If you go into it knowing that, then I think you will like this little indie. The brilliant directing and the effortlessly stunning performances from the cast are the only thing that kept me in my seat, especially when the plot runs thin. Is it over-hyped? Yes, but it's not awful. 2 out of 5 stars. (It's Okay)

The Wolverine Review (2013)

The Wolverine Review

 

   I'm going to be totally honest in saying that I haven't enjoyed too many superhero movies this summer, but Wolverine definitely revived that inner fangirl. Most of the time it is hard to relate to characters that can't die *cough* *cough* superman *cough*, but the story of Logan makes you want him to go all the way. 
  The fighting scenes were intense, but not overdone. Some may argue there are not enough action sequences to which I kindly disagree. There was an especially cool scene atop a bullet train that really caught my eye. The camera work was excellent and I was entertained the whole way through. While the story structure is simple minded and can casually be watched, the characters are colorful and Hugh Jackman does an excellent job as Logan (duh). One of the villains, Viper, was a bit weak and unnecessary in my opinion, but overall I award the Wolverine a 3.5 out of 5 stars. I couldn't quite get it to four. (Worth Ticket Price)

World War Z Review (2013)

 World War Z Review

  World War Z is what summer movies are all about. It was extremely entertaining, quickly paced, and intelligent. I was afraid when watching the trailers that the zombies would look very CGI, but thankfully they didn't, they were actually pretty cool. 
 Brad Pitt has a solid performance as Gerry Lane who's character I liked a lot although really anybody could have played him. The rest of the actors were also solid. I wouldn't say that anyone stood out, but I don't have any complaints as far as the acting goes. 
  Overall I'd say that it worked and I enjoyed the heck out of it. It didn't lag, it ended where it needed to and definitely was far better than Febuary's Warm Bodies. Yikes... World War Z is a thrill ride ranking right up there as a less scary version of I Am Legend. I give it a 4 out of 5 stars. (It's Great)

Man of Steel Review (2013)

Man Of Steel Review

 

  In Man of Steel, Zack Snyder tries to reinvent the origin of superman. Do they suceed? Well...

  We start off in Kyrpton and spend quite a bit of time there before Kal-el is even sent off to earth. Kyrpton looks pretty cool and Russell Crowe did the best he could with the time he had there but once little Kal-el is sent off in his ship, the movie hits the ground hard. 

  Clark is shown as an adult and we get to know him in a series of very choppy, badly directed flashbacks. While the casting for Clark as a child was pretty good, the actors themselves I wasn't very impressed with. 

  My hopes for this movie were REALLY high. I wanted to like it very badly despite the bad critic reviews, but honestly, I just didn't. What kept going through my mind was, "Why should I care?" and "When will this end?". The end half of the movie is overwhelmed with a lot of boring action while the character development is nowhere to be found. Lois and Clark had NO chemistry whatsoever and I didn't understand why they cared so much about each other. 

  No one really killed it in their roles and the plot was EVERYWHERE! I am very disappointed with this film and honestly I doubt there ever will ever be a good superman movie. Again, I really wanted to like this and really tried to find the good in it, but everything was just so bad that I couldn't even be entertained by it. Sadly, (and it pains me to do this) I give Man of Steel a 1 out of 5 stars because it really was just a hot mess. But hey, on the bright side, Henry Cavill is really good looking. (Hate It)

The Purge Review (2013)

The Purge Review


  Going into this movie I was excited because I LOVED the concept. It was original, intriguing, and seemingly a perfect world for our story to take place in. 
  While I must admit the story line could have been taken to more extraordinary levels, I quite enjoyed this movie. Granted some of the characters, mainly the children, got on my nerves quite a few times, and then there were a few obvious jump scares in the beginning, but there was something fresh about the concept of this film that I really liked. Is it for everyone? Not at all. Some may find this movie more amusing than scary and I will admit, a lot of the problems they faced could have been avoided if the characters showed a little more common sense. 
  Also The Purge failed in the area of horror. It seemed like more of a thriller to me and was kinda forgettable. It's not great, but it's entertaining. A little forced perhaps, but bearable. Overall I give The Purge a 3 out of 5 stars. If you don't want to have to think very much and just enjoy the movie, this is for you. (Rent It)

After Earth Review (2013)

After Earth Review

 

  I went into this film with very very low expectations and enjoyed it more than I thought I would. Is that saying much? Not really... After Earth is probably the best I've seen of M. Night Shyamalan but I've pretty much hated all of his movies. While Will and Jaden smith do the best they can with such little plot to work with, some of the journey seemed a bit tedious at parts. Jaden has a lot of potential but I don't know if working with a director like Shyamalan can help him in his skill. That being said, the movie had it's moments and I had more fun with it than I thought I would due to all of the horrible reviews it's gotten. 

  Will Smith's character is supposed to be fearless but comes across sometimes as a stiff, emotionless, jerk. Again, he did the best he could in a role that wasn't very endearing.

  I thought this movie was decent and that if it had a better director it could have been even more decent, unfortunately we were stuck with Shyamalan. If this didn't interest you from the trailer, than you will probably hate it.

  I will be gracious and give After Earth a 2.5 out of 5 stars. (Watch If Free)

Now You See Me Review (2013)

Now You See Me Review

 

  Let me start off by saying that Now You See Me is not the modern day Prestige. So don't go into this thinking that it will even be the same caliber. That being said, I had a blast with this movie despite all of the bad reviews. 

  The cast had great chemistry, it kept you thinking, it was funny, fastly paced, clever, and fun. I think that it did bite off a little more than it could chew by the end, but if you accept this film for what it is, you will find yourself really invested. 

  Now You See Me has an all star cast including: Jessie Eisenberg, Mark Ruffalo, Woody Harelson, Isla Fisher, Dave Franco, Melanie Laurent, Morgan Freeman, and Michael Caine who all suited their roles very nicely. Could this movie have happened in real life? Not likely. But it worked for me. I'll give it 3.5 out of 5 stars! Good way to start off the Summer! (Worth Ticket Price)

Life of Pi Review (2012)

Life of Pi Review

 

   Ang Lee's adaption of Life of Pi is unlike anything I've seen in a while. It is about an Indian boy who is moving with his family to Canada to sell animals from their zoo in India. All havoc breaks loose when there is a huge storm and Pi (played by Suraj Sharma) is shipwrecked on a lifeboat with a vicious Bengal tiger.
   It takes some time to find its flow in the beginning but once you get on the water, you are fully immersed in what is truly a spectacular journey. Not only are the visuals beyond gorgeous, but the story is filled with depth and conflict that I didn't expect from a PG movie. Ang Lee has executed this movie with nearly flawless precision as we are kept at the edge of our seats, rooting for our hero to survive. 

  I've found Life of Pi to be refreshing and different. The relationship between the tiger called Richard Parker and Pi was far more interesting than that of your sappy teen romance movies.
  I am also very impressed with newcomer Suraj Sharma. Not only was he talking to air most of the movie (Because the tiger was CGI) but he didn't even know how to swim prior to this. I felt that his acting was very genuine and pure.
  As you can tell from this review, I really loved this movie. I give it 5 out of 5 stars! (A Must See)

 

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Review

  Not being a huge fan of the Lord of the Rings trilogy (I know, shoot me), I found the Hobbit to be a lot more enjoyable than I would have imagined. I rented it purely because there was nothing else to watch and found myself quite entertained. 

  Martin Freeman, who played Bilbo Baggins, was absolutely excellent and made Bilbo endearing. The rest of the cast was also good. In particular: Thorin, Kili, and Gandalf. 

  I had a bit of a struggle relating to Frodo in the other movies, so it was refreshing to have a character I actually cared about. The movie's biggest problem is definitely the pacing. It lags a lot and adds a lot of unnecessary subplots that were never in the book.

  The direction, camera work, and CGI were all well done, and overall, I really enjoyed this movie. I give The Hobbit 3 out of 5 stars. (Rent It)

Trivia and Sex and Nudity from http://www.imdb.com/

Red Dawn Review (2012)

Red Dawn Review

 
  Let me start off by saying that this movie is exactly what it looks like from the trailer. It immedietly throws you into the story with a bunch of characters that you could care less about, bad acting, bad screenwriting, and plenty of holes. 

  It's bland, boring, predictable, the ending was messy, and it was hardly even entertaining. I really have nothing to say about this film so this review will be pretty short. I went into it with low expectations and still came out of it disappointed. The only thing that added anything to this movie was Chris Hemsworth's face and even that wasn't enough to keep me interested. 

  It was unrealistic and the longer you watch, the more you realize that none of this would or could ever happen. It was unnecessary and didn't need to be remade. After this, I have no interest whatsoever in seeing the original. 1 out of 5 stars. (Hate It)

Iron Man 3 Review (2013)

Iron Man 3 Review (2013)

 

   Let me start off by saying, that the humor is the savior of this movie. Robert Downey Jr. brings his usual self back on screen with his witty one liners and charisma that really adds a lot to the movie. Also, Shane Black (Director) takes full advantage of his huge budget, creating some epic action scenes and special effects. Iron Man 3 is a strong installment to the trilogy, but in my personal opinion, the first movie was still better.
  About 3/4's of the way through, the movie started to lag just a bit and a certain twist will leave some of the hardcore comic book fans a bit angry, and rightly so. I also think that there was some overuse with some of the other iron man suits in the movie and it was almost overwhelming. Another thing was that it felt really safe. You know that everything's going to be okay in the end you don't really expect anything to happen to the lead characters which makes the villains less intimidating. Did I enjoy this movie? For what it was, yes. I was thoroughly entertained for most of it and I especially loved the end credit scene. However, because of some of the things mentioned above, my rating will be a 3 out of 5 stars. (Rent It)

42 Review (2013)

42 Review (2013)

 

   42 was a very well done movie with a compelling story, good acting, and inspiring characters. Chadwick Boseman really manages to really bring it in this film, making us not only sympathize, but really feel the rage driven emotion that Jackie feels. But it's not just about him. Branch Rickey (Played by Harrison Ford) was extremely effective in this also. Not only did he have a massive part to play in the making of history, but he really did show just as much courage as Jackie had to. I applause all of the performances in this film and I am pleased to say that I wasn't disappointed with any.

  Now what really surprised me most, is the comedy added to this. It had some genuinely funny moments that really added to it. I also thought it was a very pleasant film to look at as far as coloring and the way it was shot.  Where it lacks being raw or gritty, it makes up for with a lot of heart. 

  In conclusion, 42 was an awesome biopic that I really enjoyed. 4 out of 5 stars. (It's Great)

50/50 Review (2011)

50/50 Review (2011)

 

  Inspired by a true story, 50/50 is the story of a young man, Adam, (played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt) who finds out that he has a very rare kind of spinal cancer and his chances of living are 50/50.
  I was shocked at how much I loved this movie. How the script manages to keep a smooth tone while combining humor and drama with such ballance and respect is extremely impressive. The cast, which includes: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogan, Bryce Dallas Howard, Anjelica Huston, and Anna Kendrick all give STUNNING performances. Joseph Gordon-Levitt has really put the standard high with this Oscar deserving accomplishment.
  50/50 is realstic, funny, sweet, charming, genuine, original, fresh, and uplifting.  Director, Jonathan Levine, has done something most filmmakers would never dare to do and he has done it well in this satisfying dramedy. It's a story about survival, friendship, loyalty, and life that will leave you crying tears of sadness and tears of laughter. Being by far the best movie of 2011, I will reward 50/50 with 5 out of 5 stars! (A Must See)

Argo Review (2012)

Argo Review (2012)

  Let me start off by saying, Argo deserved every nomination and Oscar it was presented with. It was well done, brilliantly acted, amazingly directed, and simply incredible.  Ben Affleck executes this film in such a way that never in any moment does it feel too long or lagging. The opening scene sets a tone of uneasiness that will keep you at the edge of your seat the entire time.
  Yes, there are a some inaccuracies historically that some may have gripes with, but overall I would say this was an astounding piece of work and would give it a 5 out of 5 stars. (A Must See)

Chasing Mavericks Review (2012)

Chasing Mavericks Review (2012)

  Though this film was visually impressive, it lacked unpredictability and a good script. It had a few moments that were somewhat touching and a few lines from Gerard Butler to make it bearable, but overall it was plagued with cliche's of every drama you've ever seen and lacked passion from the filmmakers. 

  It was a mediocre film with cool surfing stunts and images, but it was bland and would probably surf the same waters as Soul Surfer.  

  Does it a completely wipe out? I wouldn't say so. It does have its sweet moments, but not enough to make up for the poor execution. I give it a 2.5 out of 5 star rating. (Watch If Free)

 

Jack and the Giant Slayer Review (2013)

Jack and the Giant Slayer Review (2013)

  Jack and the Giant Slayer was an entertaining movie but it was a bit slow at first and could have ended a bit sooner. The acting performances from Nicholas Hoult, Eleanor Tomlinson, Ewan McGregor and Stanely Tucci were all very good and the CGI giants didn't bother me half as much as I thought they would, which was surprising. But were they great? No. They were okay if you ignore all the cheesy burping and farting that the director apparently felt needed to be there. It was cheesy, but amusing and fun. I liked the chemistry with Jack and the Princess and I enjoyed Ewan McGregor's character even though some of his lines gave me flashbacks of Starwars... Not sure if that's a good or bad thing. 
  Overall I did enjoy this movie, but it must be seen with low expectations and I probably wouldn't watch it again. I give it a 2 out of 5 stars. (It's Okay)

Snitch Review (2013)

Snitch Review (2013)

  There were lots of things that I liked about this movie. The script was pretty good and the plot was intriguing.  Really my only gripes with the film is some of the acting. Dwayne Johnson was decent as the lead but a lot of better actors could have been cast. It was very hard to ignore the fact that he is massive and buff as he tries to play the normal dad who works in construction. However, I did enjoy the fact that he was the one receiving the beating which was a bit of a twist compared to his other roles of playing the tough guy.
  Jon Bernthal, who plays Daniel, was surprisingly effective in this film. I had never heard of him before but would be very interested in seeing him in more movies. Susan Sarandon and Berry Pepper are also good in their roles.
  The movie trailer is a bit misleading, leading audiences to think this is an action film when really it's more of a drama. Overall this movie was cheese, but it was good cheese. I will give it a 3 out of 5 stars. It was good, but failed to WOW me due to some of the casting. (Rent It)

The Beaver Review (2011)

The Beaver Review (2011)

  Mel Gibson gives a solid performance as his character in The Beaver, showing a darker side of himself that is very different, but not exactly in a good way. 

  Anton Yelchin, Jodie Foster, and Jennifer Lawrence also give solid performances, though there isn't much for them to work with.

  The Beaver is hardly a flawless movie and it isn't for everyone, but I admired it's bravery. Jodie Foster really balanced the film with some amusing humor and dark tones, while keeping it somewhat realistic within the world.

  Foster does an excellent job of telling multiple stories and keeping it interesting, though at times the audience must suspend belief about what is happening. I will give this very mediocre film a 2 out of 5 stars. (It's Okay)

Warm Bodies Review (2013)

Warm Bodies Review (2013)

 
  Honestly, I didn't expect very much going into this film even though a lot of the critics raved it.  

  Unfortunately, it was exactly what I thought. It seemed like they were trying to do far too much with it. At some moments it was trying to be a comedy, other times it was trying to be a drama, different times it was going for horror. In the end, it all just played together in a quirky, but convoluted way. 

  The acting performances from Nicholas Hoult and Teresa Palmer were solid, but they didn't have much to work with. I continually found myself wondering when it would end and how much stranger it could possibly get. It was very hokey and the action scenes were the most boring parts. Maybe it's just me, but I didn't find the comedy to be as amusing as everyone said. It was generic and overall didn't work in the slightest. I am going to have to give this one a lousy 1 out of 5 stars. (Hate It)

Mama Review (2013)

Mama Review

 
  There were a lot of things that really worked for this movie. Guillemero del Toro found ways to recreate the cliches of your typical horror film and make the experience fresh.
  Megan Charpentier and Isabelle Nelisse were excellent as Lily and Victoria. I was surprised at how these young prodigies stole the show. It is always exciting when you discover good child actors and these girls were no disappointment.
  Jessica Chaisten also nailed this role beautifully, keeping us all on the edge of our seats with suspense. Her character's development was great to watch and she actually made us care about what happened to her. 

  The camera work was good and so was the cinematography. It didn't rely on cheap scares to keep it going which is also a plus and it was very elegantly executed.
  Unfortunately, I found the third act to be quite lazy. Once they showed us what was behind the curtain, it ceased to be as frightening as it was before. The ending was a bit hokey and not satisfying enough for me. For that reason, I give this film a 3 out of 5 stars. (Rent It)

The Hunger Games Review (2012)

The Hunger Games

 
  Being a HUGE fan of the books, I was very very excited for this movie. Was it everything I wanted it to be? To a certain degree. What I really liked about this film was Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen. She gives a really strong performance and is very memorable in this role. 

  The script was great and the music was quite lovely. They kept the movie a lot closer to the book than most film adaptations do, but it was missing just a few things. I felt Josh Hutcherson's line delivery as Peeta wasn't the best and that some of the characters (Cato for instance) were portrayed more shallow than they actually were in the book. 

  Because of reading the books before seeing this movie, I saw the places where they could have taken it up to the next level and didn't and for that reason it was somewhat disappointing. Is this a bad film? Absolutely not! It manages to portray the powerful moments beautifully but just needed work on some of the less powerful. Katniss and Peeta's relationship seemed forced at some points in the film, but maybe that is how they intended it in order to show how Katniss doesn't love Peeta the way he loves her. It's hard to tell considering the fact that we were in Katniss' mind the entire book series and she explains everything to us. 

  Overall, this movie was a big success and I give it a 4.5 out of 5 rating. (I'd Buy It)

The Amazing Spiderman Review (2012)

The Amazing Spiderman Review (2012)

    There were several things that I liked about this movie and several things that I disliked about this movie. Let me start off with the things I liked.    

  Andrew Garfield did an excellent job as Peter Parker. Even with the not so impressive script, Garfield highly succeeded in making Peter endearing, relatable, and even funny at parts. Emma Stone, who had the potential to be the annoying girlfriend that most of these superhero movies typecast, was surprisingly delightful and I really bought her relationship with Peter. The chemistry of both actors was great and I really liked the first two acts of the film in which they were developing the story. 

  Now for what I didn't like about this film. The villain, played by Rhys Ifans, has the most cliche' storyline in the history of cliche' storylines. Not only have we heard and seen this story before, but the CGI on the giant lizard was extremely sloppy. I absolutely hated the villain in this movie and his goals never made any sense to me. To make matters worse, the screenwriters seemed to get lazy by the third act. That, or they never changed it from the first draft. It felt rushed and the stakes weren't high enough to make the climax fulfilling. If I had gone to see just the first two acts of the film, I would have really liked this film. Unfortunately, the ending was messy and let's face it, not so amazing. 3 out of 5. (Rent It)

Parental Guidance Review (2012)

  My Parental Guidance Review!

  Parental Guidance stars Billy Crystal and Bette Midler as the grandparents and do they do a good job? Yes they do. However, between the somewhat cliche' moments and the verging on annoying children, this movie is more irritating at parts then it is funny. Is it as bad as I thought it would be? Surprisingly not. It did actually have some good humor in it and I did laugh at certain parts, unfortunately, the youngest boy was annoying and ruined a lot of it for me.
  So is this movie worth seeing? If you have kids or you are a grandparent yourself, you will probably enjoy this movie. It had it's moments that were really good and moments where you just want to spank the kids yourself. Overall, I give this film a 2 out of 5 stars because I feel they actually did try.  (It's Okay)

Warrior Review (2010)

My review of Warrior (2011)

 

  Warrior stars Tom Hardy, Joel Edgerton, and Nick Nolte. The performances by all three of the actors deserved nominations and were absolutely wonderful. The story is deep and and the script is powerful. Not only will MMA sports fans enjoy this, but anyone who enjoys a good movie about family relationships and forgiveness.
  The fighting scenes are brutal and entertaining but what I enjoyed most about this film was the dialogue. The characters were developed extremely well and little by little, through the dialogue, we are allowed peices of each characters history.
  This film is fantastic and moving, fillied with a lot of heart.  I have really no gripes at all with this film and the only thing  I can really do is recommend you watch it, if you haven't already! Warrior really sets a high standard for fighting films and is so emotionally involving that the characters all seem alive and breathing. I give this film a 5/5 stars! (A Must See)

The Dark Knight Rises Review (2012)

Review for The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

 

   I had very high expectations going into this film as a HUGE batman fan and an even bigger Christopher Nolan fan. Luckily, my every expectation was met. The Dark Knight Rises is a masterpiece with brilliant performances from the entire cast. The third chapter of this Nolan franchise is perhaps the most emotional yet. 

   It's riveting, powerful, and epic as we are given new heroes to root for, new story goals, and new villains. Tom Hardy is terrific as Bane and the choreography between batman and him in each of their fight scenes is hauntingly beautiful. Anne Hatheway kicks butt as Catwoman, Detective Blake is very well played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and same to say for Miranda Tate played by Marion Cottilard. Yes, the movie does have some minor flaws but nothing you can't overlook for the epic cinema it is.

   The score is breathtaking, specifically in a extremely moving scene regarding a pit, which happens to be my favorite scene in movie history. Christian Bale is simply touching in this last performance as Batman/Bruce Wayne. The pace was perfect and I even found myself, after it being nearly 3 hours, wishing it was even longer. I loved this movie and give it a 5/5 rating, because while it wasn't perfect, it was a wonderful climax to the trilogy and nitpicking over little things isn't even worth the time. (A Must See)

Inception Review (2010)

Here is my review of Christopher Nolan's 2010 thriller, INCEPTION.

 

  I will immediately start out by rewarding Inception with 5/5 stars. This film is a remarkable feat in film making and gives the audience a challenge that not many movie makers dare to make. This film is so well thought out and so clever that you can't help but be in awe by the end of it. Not only is it smart, but it is emotional and the story is as deep as the dream layers. The music by Hans Zimmer is fantastic. The cinematography and direction are breathtaking.
  The cast, which includes: Leonardo Dicaprio, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Tom Hardy, Cillian Murphy, and Ellen Page give memorable and outstanding performances.
  Inception is not a film that you can watch casually because it does require a lot of attention, but if you are tired of cliche' film making, bad acting, and cookie cutter scripts, I suggest you go see this. You will not be disappointed! (A Must See)

Peacock Review (2009)

Let me take a trip back to 2009 and review the movie Peacock...

 

  I want to start this review by praising Cillian Murphy's astounding acting chops in this film. The way that Murphy takes on each character and successfully makes them so different from each other is truly a work of art. John is a fragile and mousy character with child like behavior and neurotic shyness. Emma on the other hand, is outgoing and curious. Murphy pulls this off brilliantly, although it can be somewhat uncomfortable to watch the female parts. The supporting cast, which includes: Ellen Page, Josh Lucas, Bill Pullman, and Susan Sarandon are also great in this film, though no one quite compares to Murphy's performance. 

  Not only is this movie a lot deeper than you would expect from a thriller, but it is also very metaphorical. The soundtrack is quite gorgeous and the cinematography and camera work are stunning. Despite the subtleness of the film, it is really engaging. It keeps a steady pace and takes its time to tell the story. It is compelling, memorable, and original. I give it a 4 out of 5 stars. (It's Great)

Trivia and Sex and Nudity from http://www.imdb.com/

The Impossible Review (First Review of 2013)

My first review of 2013 will be a review of The Impossible.

  

  When I went to see The Impossible, I expected it to be intense, but not as emotionally draining and overwhelming as it was. The cinematography, special effects, direction, and acting were top notch. It was brutal and relentless, grabbing the audience by the throat and refusing to let go at any point in the film. This was far more graphic than I would have ever expected from a PG-13 rated film, but honestly if it were any less unsettling it wouldn't have felt right or true.

  Naomi Watts gives a phenomenal performance as Maria Belon that is Oscar worthy and by far the best I've seen from her. Newcomer, Tom Holland, also handles his own in his first feature film and is a surprising and delightful find. Ewan McGregor has a smaller part than both Holland and Watts, but steals every scene he's in. 

  A lot of people have a gripe with this film because the original family is a Spanish family and they use white actors, but I feel as though not very many actors in Hollywood, that I can think of, could have played this family as realistic and well as the actors chosen. 

  Although this film is compelling and beautiful, the director holds nothing back and if you can't stomach a lot, I don't suggest you see it. The Impossible is really an experience more than a piece of entertainment. I give this poignant film a well deserved 5/5 stars. (A Must See)