Movie Review: The Master

The latest masterpiece from director Paul Thomas Anderson (There Will Be Blood, Boogie Nights), The Master is an enthralling and enigmatic piece of film, featuring some of the greatest performances of the year. Returning from Navy service in World War II, Freddie Quell (Joaquin Phoenix) drifts through a series of PTSD-driven breakdowns, trying to find his stride in several small jobs until having a violent breakdown in the middle of a department store. Lancaster Dodd (Philip Seymour Hoffman), after returning from the Second World War, having witnessed many horrors, is a very charismatic intellectual who creates a faith-based organization in an attempt to provide meaning to his life. He becomes known as "The Master". Freddie becomes his right-hand man, but soon begins to question both the belief system and The Master as the organization grows and gains a fervent following. There really is no other way to summarize this film, as it truly has to be seen in order to be understood (so to speak). 

The first I will speak of this film are the incredible, virtuosic performances of Joaquin Phoenix and Philip Seymour Hoffman. Phoenix, making his acting return since his "set back" in the acting world a few years ago, makes an amazing turn as Dodd's right-hand man. Phoenix is at the height of his career in this role, changing himself both physically and mentally to deal with the intense source material. Playing a mentally deranged drifter, he plays very well off of Hoffman as Dodd, and takes in each bit of Anderson's source material. He is likely to get an Oscar nomination in the (very crowded) Best Actor category. Philip Seymour Hoffman, the title character, is also at the height of his career, which is saying a lot considering his other Oscar-winning roles. He is incredible as Lancaster Dodd, playing a role just as intense as Phoenix. Hoffman is a true performer, and is by far one of the greatest actors of this generation. He is a lock for the Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination, and is currently in the lead for the win (his main opponent is Tommy Lee Jones in Lincoln). There is a scene earlier in the film, of just Phoenix and Hoffman, where Dodd is giving Freddie an "interview." This is probably the greatest scene in the movie, and is reason enough for both of them to win Oscars. Amy Adams also does very well as the wife of Dodd, Peggy, yet oftentimes gets outshined by the two leads. She should, however, get a Best Supporting Actress nomination. Another great aspect of this movie is the direction and writing of Paul Thomas Anderson. Anderson's writing is very smart, and keeps great pace throughout the entire film. His creative angle, bringing the most he can out of the talent of Hoffman and Phoenix is truly masterful. He is one of the greatest directors working today, and one of the best screenwriters. The look of the film, from the sets to the costumes, capture the post-war feel in a believable way. The score has also been another big talking point, using original and repetitive figures to create a sense of suspense and keep the intense feeling throughout the film. Overall, The Master is an incredible piece of film, at the same level of direction and performing of Anderson's last film, There Will Be Blood. It is one of the most original, confusing, yet satisfying films I have seen this year. A virtuosic motion picture if there ever was one. 

Rating: A

Possible Oscar Nominations:
Best Picture
Best Director- Paul Thomas Anderson
Best Actor- Joaquin Phoenix
Best Actor in a Supporting Role- Philip Seymour Hoffman
Best Actress in a Supporting Role- Amy Adams
Best Original Screenplay- Paul Thomas Anderson
Best Original Score
Best Cinematography

Movie Review: Beasts of the Southern Wild

Hushpuppy, an intrepid six-year-old girl, lives with her father, Wink, in the Bathtub, a southern Delta community at the edge of the world. Wink's tough love from her father prepares her for the unraveling of the universe; for a time when he's no longer there to protect her. When Wink contracts a mysterious illness, nature flies out of whack, temperatures rise, and the ice caps melt, unleashing an army of prehistoric creatures called aurochs. With the waters rising, the aurochs coming, and Wink's health fading, Hushpuppy goes in search of her lost mother. She ventures through the Bathtub and beyond, both in water and on land, with a ragtag group of people form her community and her father. In the end, she learns the ways of the world, and through heartbreak and triumph, learns the secrets of the aurochs and her mother. 

This film is one of the most imaginative creations to grace the screen this year. The main talking point of the film is the incredible performance of 6-year old Quvenzhane Wallis. Wallis is a powerhouse, showing so much talent and emotion that she puts veteran actors to shame. She is currently one of the frontrunners for the Best Actress Oscar, and is a lock for at least a nomination. The supporting cast also does a great job, including Dwight Henry as Hushpuppy's father, Wink. Benh Zeitlin does an amazing directing job, from using the full potential of Wallis's performance to creating the set to mimic Louisiana during Hurricane Katrina. The film was very smartly written, mixing fantasy and a child's imagination with a life-changing catastrophe. Shot in actual parts of the slums in Louisiana, the film feels like a real imagining of what life would have been like during this time. When the movie first came out, it was one of the frontrunners for the Best Picture Oscar, but has since lost steam going into the nominations because of the release of some more widely-seen movies. Overall, this is one of the most original films to come along in quite sometime, led along by the masterful performance of the you Wallis. This is a movie that needs to be seen by everyone, if not just for the brave girl named Hushpuppy. 

Rating: A

Potential Oscar Nominations:
Best Picture
Best Actress
Best Adapted Screenplay
Best Cinematography (longshot)

Movie Review: Lawless

The three Bondurant brothers, Forrest (Tom Hardy), Howard (Jason Clarke), and Jack (Shia LaBeouf) run a bootlegging operation during the depression, up in the mountains of Franklin County, Virginia. They sell to everyone in need, including the law, and in turn are left alone to tend to their business. But soon enough, Special Deputy Charlie Rakes (played by Guy Pearce), shows up wanting a share of the moonshining profits, at risk to the brothers of exposing their business. Forrest is attacked in the escalating tension, almost losing his life in the process. He then hires Maggie Beauford (Jessica Chastain), to help run the house and bar that the brothers own. Jack then meets local mobster Floyd Banner (Gary Oldman) shooting a competitor in town, and they soon start a business venture to help deal with the increasing meddling of Rakes. The Bondurant brothers finally take matters into their own hand after Rakes kills their friend and partner Cricket, which finally leads to a climactic shootout where justice is dealt rightfully so. 

To me, this remains one of the most underrated films of the years. It boasted one of the greatest casts of the year, the standouts to me being the usual powerhouse performance of Tom Hardy as Forrest and the incredible turn of Guy Pearce playing Charlie Rakes. Shia LaBeouf also does very well, finally shedding his "good boy" image made through his role in previous projects such as Even Stevens and Transformers. Jessica Chastain is also beautiful as always, and the master Gary Oldman has a good albeit short role as Floyd Banner. The story, based of the non-fiction book "The Wettest County in the World," was well adapted from the source material, keeping all the fascinating parts of the moonshining business with extra bits of violence and action. The look of the film matched that of the depression/prohibition era, with the characters being well-dressed to fit their individual roles. Overall, this was a great movie, filled with good performances by an all-star cast, and enough action mixed with story to keep the audience entertained for the whole movie. One of the most underrated movies of the year. 

Rating: A-

My Love Letter to Cinema

If you know me, then you know I love movies. Films, pictures, whatever you may call them. I love them all. Movies are a huge part of my life, and if I could make a career out of it, I would (hence the reason I'm writing this movie review blog). It's a sad fact that there aren't many movie critic job openings out there. But I do it for fun, and that's enough for me. This, overall, has been a great, great year for the cinema. We saw the end to Christopher Nolan's epic Dark Knight Trilogy and the latest Paul Thomas Anderson masterpiece, so aptly titled The Master. We saw Joss Whedon pulling off the impossible in The Avengers, and a 6-year old actress gave one of the greatest performances of this generation in Beasts of the Southern Wild. And there is still so much to look forward to. The grand adaptation of Les Miserables, Denzel Washington and director Robert Zemeckis's  return in Flight, Quentin Tarantino's Django Unchained, Peter Jackson's latest foray into Middle-Earth with The Hobbit. The list goes on and on. Movies are so much more than just what people see them as. It's not just mindless entertainment. Movies are an art form. A great movie can have just as much emotional impact as a beautiful piece of music or a striking piece of art. And I wish that people would see film as such. This all sounds random, and out of place, I know. The theater is my home away from home. A place where I escape, and focus on the craft being displayed. Being in a theater is pure bliss for me. And this is my thank you. This letter is not expertly crafted nor does it contain a logical structure. It's a list of things I appreciate, and it means so much to me. Stay tuned, as I have tons of reviews to write in the coming months. Thank you for reading.

Movie Review: The Campaign

The Campaign, which teams up comedy dream-team Will Ferrell and Zach Galifinakis, is one of the funniest, yet most underrated comedies I've seen this year. Cam Brady, (played by Farrell, channelling his Ricky Bobby role), is a bumbling congressman that has ran unopposed for five terms. Marty Huggins, played by Galifinakis, is the local "town tour-giver," and is the patriarch of a traditional Southern Baptist family, who decides to finally challenge Cam to appease his fathers disappointment. So this brings us to all out war. Cam is caught up in a scandal (which is a blatant reference to Bill Clinton), which threatens to ruin his political career. Marty is blackmailed and then turned into someone who he is not comfortable with. Both opponents dig up old secrets and bring new ones to light. In the end, the right person wins, and both turn from opponents into friends and co-workers.

This film was filled to the brim with humor and great performances. Ferrell and Galifinakis are great together, mixing a perfect combination of Ferrell's slapstick and Galifinakis' quirkiness. They both have their fair share of scenes and one-liners, and they just blend together very well. There are some funny cameos by Dan Akroyd and a few other comedic classics. The writing was very funny and well paced, never dragging or lacking a fair share of humor. I believe some people just take this film too seriously, thinking that the jokes were silly and the performances just a little too wacky. I just think this film should be taken with a grain of salt. Just sit back and enjoy, laugh at the jokes (you know they're funny), and have fun. Galifinakis is charming as Marty, and I just think the movie as a whole deserves more credit than it has been given. A good movie to watch with buddies, for date night, or just to have a good laugh. It could have been a disaster, but it was not. And I respect it for that.

Rating: B+

Movie Review: ParaNorman

From the artists and directors who gave us Coraline and Corpse Bride, ParaNorman is a smart, funny, non-traditional family film satire on the horror genre, which also transcends the boundaries and expectations of animation in the process. In the town of Blithe Hollow, Norman Babcock is a boy who can speak to the dead, but no one besides his eccentric new friend, Neil, believes his ability is real. One day, Norman's estranged eccentric uncle tells him of an important annual ritual he must take up to protect the town from an curse cast by a witch it condemned centuries ago. Eventually, Norman decides to cooperate, but things don't go according to plan. Now, a magic storm of the witch threatens Blithe Hollow as the accursed dead rise. Together with unexpected new companions, Norman struggles to save his town, only to discover the horrific truth of the curse. 

This is just one of those films you must see in order to fully appreciate it. The animation overall was beautiful, seeming to combine the stop motion technique used in Coraline and Corpse Bride with the CGI setting of modern animation (used to greatest avail by Disney/Pixar). Everything from the construction of Blithe Hollow to each character is extremely detailed, and at times, there are great moments dedicated to just the scenery. The voice acting from the cast was very well done. Kodi Smitt-McPhee does well as the title character, and John Goodman, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, and Casey Affleck all give good supporting performances. The script is very smart and well-written, providing plenty of great moments for both children and adults. And above all, the film teaches us in a subtle manner the importance of family and friendship, and how anything can be achieved through both. A great film, and a serious contender for the Best Animated Feature Oscar. It's not just for kids, and I implore you to go see it. 

Rating: A

Movie Review: Safety Not Guaranteed

This latest helm from the rising Duplass Brothers (also known for Jeff Who Lives at Home), is a half zany dark comedy and half sci-fiesque fairy tale. We follow Darius (played by the hilarious Aubrey Plaza), who is an intern at a magazine in Seattle. Her supervisor, Jeff, finds a story in a town called Ocean Shores, Washington, about a man who places a classified ad saying he can travel back in time, and he needs a partner to do it. So the ragtag group of Darius, Jeff, and another intern, Arnau, head to Ocean Shores in order to get a story. When they arrive, Darius meets the man from the classifieds, Kenneth. He is a rather secluded character, who lives in a shack in the woods and works at a grocery store. Darius and Kenneth become friends, and Kenneth "trains" Darius to go back in time with him. Throughout the way, Jeff and Arnau try to find Jeff's old high school girlfriend (his only reason for coming to the town to start with), and to find a girl for Arnau. Darius also investigates Kenneth's past, and finds out some secrets and lies that he has been hiding. I won't spoil the ending (even though most of you won't see this anyway), but I beg that you please watch.

So everything about this film had an odd chemistry to it. It was like everything belonged, but in a somewhat weird way. The acting was spot on. Aubrey Plaza is amazing in anything she does, and she has amazing yet somewhat odd chemistry with her main co-star, Mark Duplass. The supporting performances of Jeff and Arnau are also funny, but it kind of seems like they are there just so Aubrey Plaza does not get all of the attention. The screenplay was well written, with many funny parts mixed in with drama scenes that work well in context. The small quaint town of Ocean Shores was also nicely shot, with a very "everybody knows everybody" feel. This film really makes you think about the future, while trying to reconnect with your past. Very underrated (because it isn't very mainstream), but definitely worth seeing.

Rating: B+

Movie Review: The Dark Knight Rises

This is the moment that everyone has been waiting for. After four long years of hush-hush secrets, teaser trailers, posters, and everything in-between, The Dark Knight has Risen. And Christopher Nolan has created a near flawless masterpiece that meets and exceeds fan expectations. We start with a snippet of Commissioner Gordon speaking at Harvey "Two-Face" Dent's funeral from The Dark Knight, after Batman has taken the fall for Dent's crimes. We then cut to eight years later. Our prologue resumes with a beautiful airplane escape sequence that gives us our first look at the menacing Bane. It is Harvey Dent Day in Gotham. The new Dent Law has put thousands of criminals behind bars, and Gotham is now virtually crime-free thanks to Dent's legacy. Bruce Wayne has been a social recluse, not coming out of his chambers for eight years, nor has Batman come out of the cave. Bruce then hears rumors of a "masked man" named Bane, who is beginning to run an underground crime operation in Gotham. He then decides to see if he still has it, and tries to don the Batsuit for the first time in eight years. We are introduced to a slew of new characters, including petty cat burglar Selina Kyle (never referenced as Catwoman in the movie), rookie cop John Blake, new Wayne Enterprises investor (and eventually CEO) Miranda Tate, and several other minor characters that fit into Bane's plan. Alfred and Lucius Fox return as Bruce Wayne's butler and technological advisor, respectively. So, Bane wreaks havoc on Gotham, turning it into a new "republic" where he is basically judge, jury, and executioner. He has created a nuclear bomb from an energy source that Wayne Enterprises had built, and threatens to detonate the city to finally purge Gotham of its corrupt injustice. Fitting to the theme of the film, Batman must "rise" several times, both literally and symbolically. I will not give any further plot detail. However, in its last hour, there are several plot twists and character revelations that really take the story further than anyone could have imagined. The ending of the film will have you on the edge of your seat, begging for more.

This film is, to say the least, a masterpiece. First, Christopher Nolan's direction is tremendous. He has a vision that I don't think any director in Hollywood today can match. He delivers a films that the fans wanted, that gives us closure, that throws us for a loop and then pulls us right back in. The look of the film was beautiful. From the gloomy streets of Gotham to the prison that Bruce is held in for a good portion of the movie. The soundtrack was as epic as the movie itself, with Hans Zimmer coming full circle, mixing snippets of previous Dark Knight soundtracks with new material (including the haunting "Rise" chant). The one complaint I did have was at times, the soundtrack got a little loud and boomy during dialogue, and it got a little hard to understand some of the characters at those moments. The Nolan Brothers, Christopher and Jonathan, who co-wrote the script, did a fantastic job at tying up everything that needed to be, bringing the whole story full circle. The striking allegories between some of America's current crises and Gotham was very well and subtly done. The performances in the movie were Oscar-worthy. Christian Bale delivers his best performance as Bruce Wayne and his alter-ego, providing raw emotion not seen in his previous renditions, especially in the movies third act. Anne Hathaway was the PERFECT choice to play Selina Kyle, and she delivers a beautiful (both physical and otherwise) performance. She looks great in her outfit. Tom Hardy was also perfect to play the physically brooding character Bane. He is the only villain in the series who is both a physical AND intellectual equal of Batman. He also provides a physical representation of one of the most iconic images from the Batman comics. His face is concealed by a mask that disperses pain medicine, due to an injury he suffered early in his origins. Without the medicine, he would be unable to function. Although Hardy's face is hidden with a mask, he does amazing things emotionally with just his eyes, showing through them some of the pain and suffering he has endured throughout his lifetime. His voice, in my opinion, was very well done. He has a very dark sarcastic voice of intelligence, which plays great with his character. He has an overall sense of doom and physicality throughout the movie, up until his last moments. Joseph Gordon-Levitt continues to define himself as a good actor as John Blake, an orphan who befriends Bruce Wayne and is integral in the plot of the movie. Marion Cotillard is striking and beautiful as Miranda Tate, who also provides a twist late in the movie. The returning characters are great as always. I was a little upset over the lack of Alfred in the film, though Michael Caine is great anytime he graces the screen, and provides some of the more subtle emotional punches throughout. Morgan Freeman is also good to see as Lucius Fox, providing some impressive new toys for Batman. And the master Gary Oldman is as good as ever as Commissioner Jim Gordon. And yes, there IS a cameo by Dr. Jonathan Crane, a.k.a. The Scarecrow from Batman Begins. The new Bat Gadgets were great. The "Bat", the flying hover pod type vehicle seen in the trailers was epic in every sense of the word, soaring through Gotham's streets and seemingly defying gravity. I just can't praise this movie enough. Christopher Nolan has taken the story full circle, tying up (almost) every loose end made throughout the series, and to quote Bruce Wayne, may not be the end that everyone wanted, but it is the end that everyone needed. His references to his previous Dark Knight movies was also smartly done ("I flipped a coin"). The movie is left open just enough for fans to want more, yet have a satisfying sense of closure. Nolan has redefined not just Batman, nor superheroes, but the entire film industry, proving that superheroes do not have to be campy, but can be serious and realistic. He has created a Batman that everyone can relate to. No other Batman film, nor will one ever, match what Nolan was able to accomplish. This is the motion picture event that everyone, superhero fan or not, needs to see. While Bane may not match the masterful performance of Heath Ledger as The Joker, the movie overall was better to me than The Dark Knight. If this isn't the superhero movie to win Best Picture, no superhero movie ever will. It was epic in every sense of the word, and a fitting, grand conclusion that every fan has dreamed of. The most amazing, large, grand scale, BEST, motion picture I have ever seen. Christopher Nolan, thank you. You not only matched fans expectations, you exceeded them.

Rating: A+++

The Year in Review (So Far...)

I would like to present a roundup of the year in movies so far this year. Here goes.

Top 10 movies:

10. Hugo
9. Midnight in Paris
8. Magic Mike
7. The Amazing Spider-Man
6. The Cabin in the Woods
5. The Hunger Games
4. The Avengers
3. Bernie
2. Prometheus
1. Moonrise Kingdom

Top 10 performances:

10. Kathy Bates in Midnight in Paris
9. Robert Downey Jr. in The Avengers
8. Emma Stone in The Amazing Spider-Man
7. George Clooney in The Descendants
6. Donald Sutherland in The Hunger Games
5. Charlize Theron in Prometheus/Snow White and the Huntsman
4. Jennifer Lawrence in The Hunger Games
3. Michael Fassbender in Prometheus/Shame
2. Everyone in Moonrise Kingdom
1. Jack Black in Bernie- If Jack Black doesn't get a Best Actor Oscar, or at LEAST a nomination, I'll be very surprised.

I'll post my actual Year in Review at the end of the year, complete with The Dark Knight Rises!!

Movie Review: Moonrise Kingdom

Wes Anderson, one of the forefront directors in quirky comedies, has helmed another masterpiece which is arguably his best film to date. Moonrise Kingdom is set in 1965, on the island of New Penzance off the coast of New England. There is a storm approaching the island. Sally Bishop is a "troubled child", the oldest of four siblings, and is having quite a difficult time getting along with her parents (played by a hilarious combination of Bill Murray and Frances McDormand). Her mother, Laura, is having an affair with the Island's police chief, Captain Sharp (played by Bruce Willis), which is making her relationship with her husband, Walt, fall apart. Sally sees this, and in turn decides to run away with Sam Shakusky. Sam is an orphan, who lives with foster parents on the island. He is also a Khaki Scout, a member of Troop 55. Sam is discovered missing by Scout Master Ward (played in quite a comeback role by Edward Norton), and a ragtag group of other scouts. So Sam and Sally run away together, and try to follow a path made by the former indigenous people of the island. Their backstory is shown, with Sam and Sally becoming pen pals, and deciding to run away together to escape from their troubles. They are found, however, by the raucous ensemble of Sally's parents, Captain Sharp, and Scout Master Ward. The search for them turns the town apart, unraveling old secrets and exposing new ones. Sam's foster parents decide that they cannot accept him into their home any longer, and so is to be taken to "juvenile refuge" by Social Services (played by Tilda Swinton). Sam and Sally escape once again, this time with the help of the other Khaki Scouts. They get "married", and decide to sail away to another island off the coast. However, the aforementioned storm has arrived, and their plans to escape are stopped. A chase around a church house ends in Captain Sharp deciding to adopt Sam, and he and Sally continue on with their lives, remaining in love.

The film, overall, has a sense of quirkiness about it. The direction by Anderson was spectacular, using several side scrolling techniques to keep the audience intrigued. The writing was great. I don't think there was a single moment where the audience wasn't laughing. The overall style and look of the film was very reminiscent of the era, with wardrobe and music being understated, yet elegant, and the set designs and shooting locations were beautiful. The soundtrack, which included new material by acclaimed composer Alexandre Desplat, also features several themes from Benjamin Brittens "Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra." The piece is a parallel to the town, with the piece and the town being unraveled and different parts exposed, then all the parts come back together in the finale. There were many great performances to go around. Bill Murray and Frances MacDormand were great as Sally's parents, Bruce Willis has a great comedic turn as Captain Sharp, and Edward Norton displays his acting skills that haven't been too present in some of his more recent films as Scout Master Ward. I believe that Edward Norton and Frances MacDormand (possibly Bill Murray) all deserve Best Supporting Actor/Actress award nominations. Two of the standouts were Sam and Sally, played by Jared Gilman and Kara Hayward (a dead lookalike of a younger Emma Watson). For two actors their age, they really pulled off the feeling of "awkward preteen love at first sight". All the characters in the movie just seemed very genuine and relatable. And, at the heart of the story, away from all the shenanigans of the townspeople and the secrets that come to light, is a pure love story, crafted in a way that only Wes Anderson could imagine. In a summer filled to the brim with high budget, special-effects ridden high octane cape-wearing action movies, a quirky little independent comedy/drama/romance like Moonrise Kingdom is a great relief. If it doesn't get a Best Picture nomination, or at least a Best Original Screenplay, I'll be quite disappointed. With an ensemble cast to rival that of The Avengers and The Help, this is the best movie I have seen all year. Go see it.

Rating: A+

Movie Review: The Amazing Spider-Man

It's been just five years since the very disappointing finale of Sam Raimi's Spider-Man trilogy was released. This reboot more accurately depicts the beginnings of the hero, and sticks closer to the original comics than does the previous set of movies. The movie opens with our protagonist, Peter Parker, when his parents were still alive. Peter sees little snippets of his fathers work, including the very important decay rate algorithm, before he is forced to leave with his mother. Peter is left in the care of his Aunt May and Uncle Ben. Peter is now a teenager, attending Midtown Science High School in Queens. He takes photographs for the school papers, groups, etc. He also becomes interested in Gwen Stacy, his primary love interest from the early days of the comics. While cleaning out his basement, Peter discovers a suitcase that belonged to his father, which he recognizes from his youth. In it, he finds the documents that have the correct decay rate algorithm, along with a picture of his father and another scientist, who his uncle reveals is Dr. Kurt Connors. Peter does some research, and discovers that Dr. Connors and his father worked together with cross-species genetics, in order to create a way for humans to be able to heal themselves. Peter then travels to Oscorp, where Dr. Connors works, and discovers a project where spiders create a "super-web", a very strong web material that is near indestructible and can hold a lot of weight. Dr. Connors is still working on cross-species genetics, but is still unsuccessful because he can not prodguce the correct decay rate algorithm. Peter, having the correct equation, gives it to Dr. Connors, who then produces a formula that is successful in regenerating limbs on mice. He decides to then try it on human, due to mounting pressure from Oscorp (the formula is supposed to heal Norman Osborne, a name familiar to Spider-Man familiars). When he injects himself with the formula, he becomes The Lizard, a super strong reptilian-human crossbreed. So the plot finds Peter still trying to get used to his powers, becoming Spider-Man, falling in love with Gwen (and her falling back), and stopping Dr. Connor's evil plan. I will not reveal anymore, as I don't want to spoil it for those who are going to see it.

This reboot, to me, seems a more accessible, entertaining, and accurate depiction of the hero than previously portrayed. Peter Parker, played by Andrew Garfield, is shown in this adaptation as a coming of age story. He learns the meaning of responsibility and control of power, along with becoming a masked vigilante who fights crime and tries to stop a crazed madman bent on power. Emma Stone delivers another great performance as Gwen Stacy, who grows along with Parker throughout the film. One of the standout roles to me was Rhys Ifans as Dr. Connors/The Lizard. He portrays the character very well, switching between calm, mild mannered scientist to crazed genetic giant Lizard. The plot was solid, and the movie never seemed to drag. The look of the film, including the bright city of New York, was well done. The redesigned costume was a win from the costume department. And the special effects used to create The Lizard was great. It was, overall, a great reboot, and a new beginning for the popular franchise (the ending and after credits scene set up for a guaranteed sequel). One of the better summer blockbusters so far.

Rating: A

As always, there is a Stan Lee cameo. Be on the lookout.

Movie Review: Magic Mike

Steven Soderbergh, known mainly for his direction of action/sci-fi films such as Haywire and Contagion, brings us this revealing (in every sense of the word) portrait of the underground stripping world, based loosely on Channing Tatum's early days as a male dancer. The title character, Mike (played by Channing Tatum), is an entrepreneur by day, and an exotic dancer by night. He is trying to start his own customized furniture business, making tables, chairs, and such using materials such as old car parts, junkyard trash, etc. He also manages several businesses, including a roofing and tile business. He has been saving money for quite awhile from his odd jobs and dancing in order to finance his dreams of building custom furniture. At one of his roofing jobs, he meets Adam, who he nicknames "The Kid". The Kid is a down on his luck guy with a bad attitude and a knack for getting in trouble. He lives with his sister, Brooke, who is very protective of her little brother. So, Mike recruits The Kid to be a dancer. He meets the other dancers: Ken, Tarzan, Richie, and the owner of the club, Dallas. Dallas is trying to finance a move from Tampa to a much larger space in Miami, where business would surely be booming. So, The Kid begins to fit in, and is soon one of the crowd favorites. He eventually gets into the business too deep, and he begins selling drugs for the club's DJ. While Mike's relationship begins to grow with The Kid, so does his relationship with The Kid's sister, Brooke. Soon, The Kid gets in deep trouble, losing 10,000 dollars worth of drugs. Mike pays his debt, spending most of the money he was saving, in order to keep The Kid from getting hurt. The movie ends with Mike and Brooke presumably starting a relationship in Tampa, while the other dancers and The Kid make the move to Miami.

To start with, the movie actually turned out a lot better than I thought it would. It was greatly directed by Soderbergh,  who captures both the grittiness of the business and the fun had by those involved with it. The actors did a great job, making themselves very believable in their respective roles. The standouts were Channing Tatum, who really comes across as a person who doesn't just want to be a stripper for the rest of his life, Matthew McConaughey as Dallas, the club owner who can be fun looking on the outside but deceitful behind all of it, and Cody Horn as Brooke, who brings out the best in Mike. I wish I could say that Alex Pettyfer was good as The Kid, but the characters attitude was so crappy that it just flawed the performance. Many people were disappointed that there was an actual plot and storyline, instead of just two hours of Channing Tatum stripping. The plot did seem a little off center at times, and the movie dragged a bit around the 1 hour mark. One of the more surprising things in the movie were the dance scenes. Sure, gyrating half-naked guys aren't for everyone, but they were actually entertaining and often very funny with the concepts that the dances would be based around. Another more entertaining thing to watch was the audience. The showing I went to was primarily female, and to just watch their reactions to what happened on screen was very entertaining. The movie had charisma and entertainment value, if nothing else. In closing, it was a very well made movie that was actually entertaining, even if the plot wasn't all there. For a movie about male strippers, it is accessible to both male and female, with both finding things that they can enjoy throughout the film. It is the Boogie Nights of this generation.

Rating: B+

Movie Review: Ted

Seth MacFarlane, most famously known as the creator and voice behind T.V. hits Family Guy and American Dad, brings to us his first feature film, a comedy-fantasy saga about friendship and love, told from the viewpoint of a foul-mouthed, crude, pothead (albeit hilarious) teddy bear. It is Christmas time in 1980's Boston, and a boy named John Bennett is the "outcast" of the neighborhood. He just wants a friend to talk to, and to share his problems. His salvation comes in the form of a teddy bear as a Christmas present, whom he aptly names Ted. That night, John wishes that Ted was real, so they could be "best friends for life." And nothing is more powerful than a young boy's wish. So Ted comes to life, and instantly becomes a celebrity all over the world. We then jump forward roughly 20 or so years. John is working at a rental car agent, and has been dating his girlfriend, Lori (played by Mila Kunis), for four years. Ted is a stay at home pot smoker. Now that John and Lori are getting farther into their relationship, Lori feels that they should take the next step, and ask Ted to move out. So he does, into a rundown apartment that has "not had that many murders". He also gets a job as a supermarket cashier, and meets Tami-Lynn. So, shenanigans happen, Lori and John break up, get back together, Ted gets kidnapped (by a quite funny father-son duo) and rescued, and everyone lives happy ever after. Your standard talking teddy bear and his best friend material. 

I must say I was quite surprised at the level of humor that was present in the movie. There wasn't a scene where I didn't laugh, stemming mainly from Ted's nonstop one liners and jokes. The movie never bogged down nor did the concept ever seem to get boring. The humor was very consistent. MacFarlane's brand of humor is definitely not for everyone. The great thing about his style is that yes, he's vulgar, and he insults everybody, but it's very clever vulgarity and insults. It's well thought out. It's very similar in style to Family Guy and American Dad, with more cussing and nudity. The performances in the movie were done well. Mark Wahlberg as John was a little surprising, compared to his usual action movie type character. And MacFarlane himself is great voicing the title character. The movie was also filled with celebrity cameos, including Ryan Reynolds and the original Flash Gordon, Sam Jones. Overall, a very entertaining movie with a great script, great cast, and plenty of vulgar one liners and sex jokes. The funniest movie of the year (so far). 

Rating: A-

"I look like Snuggles the accountant."

Movie Review: Brave

Disney/Pixar has done it yet again. Recovering from last years disappointing Cars 2, Brave is a beautiful journey of love and relationships. The film begins with the introduction of Pixar's first main female character, Princess Merida. We see her first as a young girl on a trip with her parents. Merida wanders of into the forest, and discovers the willo-the-wisps, which according to her mother, Elinor, can lead a person to their destiny. Her father, King Fergus, is then attacked by a bear. We cut to Merida as a teenager. She is being instructed by Queen Elinor on every aspect of being a princess, while Merida simply wants to let loose and use her bow and arrow. A tournament is held to determine who will marry Marida, the competitors being the first sons of different clan leaders. None of them possessing any noticeable skill, Merida decides she will shoot "for her own hand." After this, Elinor and Merida quarrel, and Merida rips her mother's prized quilt of their family. Merida, tired of her mothers treatment, decides to visit a witch (voiced by the terrific Julie Waters, of Molly Weasley fame), and get a spell that will change her fate. I do not wish to reveal to much more, as this is more a movie that is better experienced when you do not know what will happen before hand.

The performances in this movie were terrific. Kelly MacDonald, who previously played the Grey Lady in the final Harry Potter film, does very good voice acting (with a terrific Scottish accent!), and really conveys all the teenage angst that Merida is going through. Billy Connolly (Boondock Saints) and Emma Thompson (Professor Trelawney in the Harry Potter films) do well as Merida's parents, and convey dealing with Merida's teenage angst. One of the best things about Brave was the scenery. Pixar has really outdone itself. The visuals of the surrounding Scottish Highlands was truly beautiful. All of the characters were very defined, as were the animals used. The film just overall looked terrific. The plot of the movie was also well developed. I have read reviews talking of the "unoriginality" of the plot, but this analyzation of mother/daughter relationships has never quite been done in this fashion. The ending was quite emotional, and, just like Toy Story 3, had me on the verge of well-deserved tears. Overall, a moving and beautiful film. Pixar is back at it.

Rating: A

On a side note, the Pixar short film that played before Brave, La Luna, was very nice. It looked beautiful, and had a great and creative idea. Well done.

Movie Review: Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter

Based on Seth Grahame-Smith's novel of the same name, ALVH is quite a dragging and lackluster adaptation of terrific and original source material. Set throughout Lincoln's life, VH begins as Lincoln was a boy. He sees a friend being beaten by a slave owner, and decides to take action, leading to the death of his mother by vampire. We cut to his teenage years, where he has vowed to kill the man that caused the death of his mother. He meets Henry, who saves him from said vampire, and then trains him to, yes, hunt vampires. Henry makes Lincoln vow to sever all personal connections, and never become serious with anyone ever again. So Lincoln is sent to a provincial little town, where he proceeds to kill several vampires at the order of Henry. He then meets Mary Todd, and they get married within 15 minutes. We then skip to Lincoln becoming President. He is now an older gentleman, who has since gotten rid of all his vampire hunting materials. The Civil War is looming, and the south decides to hire vampires in order to beat the north at Gettysburg. So Lincoln decides to ransack all the houses in Washington, and melt all the silver available, then put it all on a train to the south, all of which only takes a day apparently. The silver is delivered by the Underground Railroad, much to the dismay of the "Elder Vampire" who invaded the supposed silver train. The vampires (and south) are defeated at Gettysburg. The movie ends with Lincoln heading off to the theater with Mary Todd (a scene that actually made me chuckle. It was rather silly how the filmmakers presented it.) And that's the end of the movie. 

Overall, this was just a very hard movie to enjoy. Benjamin Walker does well as Lincoln, commandeering all of Lincoln's bravura in his speeches and actions. Most of the other performances were very one dimensional, without any development throughout the course of the film. The movie was so rushed, that it was hard to keep up with what was going on. One thing would happen, then another thing that made you completely forget about what just did happen. There was a Harriet Tubman cameo that was blink and you'll miss it, which could have greatly enhanced the story. There were some enjoyable scenes, mainly when vampires were involved. The action scenes were great, but they were very few and far in-between. I also think that the movie took itself a *little* too seriously. It's a rewritten history story, but it was very muddled, and didn't make much sense. The original novel was great, inventive writing, but this adaptation was just stale. I expected much more. For people who have not read the novel, it may be entertaining. What a shame. 

Rating: C

Movie Review: Prometheus

Ridley Scott's long-awaited sci-fi epic, Prometheus, has finally landed. Amongst rabid predictions from fans on whether or not this was a prequel to his previous franchise Alien, it now seems that Prometheus is exactly that, although being a standalone film apart from the Alien franchise. Prometheus opens in what is presumably Earth, with the "Engineers" (who created us) creating us. This scene looks beautiful, showcasing many beautiful natural structures. We then skip to the year 2089, where Dr. Elizabeth Shaw and Dr. Charlie Holloway have discovered yet another painting in a cave showing people worshipping a large figure, which holds planets. We then go 2092. The ship Prometheus is heading to an undisclosed planet in order to find the "engineers", and discover why we were created. We are introduced to David, a very human-like cyborg, played masterfully by Michael Fassbender. Then we meet the rest of the crew, various scientists, the pilot, Janek, and Meredith Vickers, played by the wonderful Charlize Theron. The crew lands, and goes to explore the presumed location of the "engineers". This is when things go awry. All Hell breaks loose, the Doctors discover that their creators are now trying to kill the entire human race, and they must be stopped. I don't want to reveal too much, although I will say the ending definitely sets up for a sequel, and ties in to a movie that already exists.

Overall, this was a fantastic film. Starting with the look, everything was beautiful. The nature scenes were gorgeous, the ship was pulled off very well, and the alien planet looked very...alieny. The costumes were nice, mainly the space suits worn by characters throughout the film. The main character performances were very good. Noomi Rapace continues to do well as lead female characters as Dr. Elizabeth Shaw. Idris Elba does well as the pilot of Prometheus, Janek. And again, Charlize Theron steals the show as Meredith Vickers. I don't understand why she must die in every movie. She's phenomenal. Her combination of beauty, evil, and sarcasm makes her roles. The plot of the film was also very well put together. It had the right combination of thought-provoking exploration and suspenseful action. I have read some bad reviews of the film, criticizing it because it does not "live up to Alien". That's the whole point! This movie is not supposed to be a horror movie about aliens popping out of peoples chests every 10 minutes. It is supposed to be a standalone movie that ties in to Alien, but is not in direct relation to Alien. I believe people would enjoy it more if they went into the theater expecting a good, thought driven movie, and not a sci-fi horror movie about Aliens. Overall, a terrific film that lives up to the hype.

Rating: A+

A king has his reign, and then he dies. It's inevitable.

Movie Review: Snow White and the Huntsman

This adaption of the classic Snow White tale goes back to its Grimm beginnings, pitting the Evil Queen Ravenna against Snow White in a battle for the kingdoms. Ravenna tricked her way into power, taking advantage of the King's loneliness, then killed him and took over his kingdom. She locks his daughter, Snow White, in the tallest tower for many years. Her "mirror on the wall" tells her that since Snow White has come of age, she is now fairer than the Queen (haha, yeah right), and so the Queen decides to have her killed and consume her heart, giving her immortality. So, Snow White escapes into the dark forest (on a white horse that appears out of nowhere). She is then hunted by, you guessed it, the Huntsman, who then joins her on her quest. They then met the dwarves, providing some much needed comic relief. Snow White meets her long lost prince, gets poisoned by the apple, goes to sleep, then gets awakened. She returns to the kingdom, fighting ensues, Ravenna dies, and Snow White becomes Queen. However, it is frustratingly left absent to whether she gets with the Huntsman or the Prince. It's the same Snow White story, just not the Disney version.

The best thing about this film are the performances. The dwarves were technically pulled off very well, putting actors heads onto dwarf bodies, instead of just using dwarves. Chris Hemsworth does well as the Huntsman. Kristen Stewart is not terrible in her role as Snow White, she just has the same look on her face throughout the whole movie, literally, and she shows no emotion, even while Hemsworth reveals his love or when she becomes Queen. The best performance, however, comes with Charlize Theron as the Evil Queen, Ravenna. She truly embodies the nature of evil, and even when she ages greatly, is still the most beautiful thing on screen. She's just fantastic. Aside from the performances, the plot and pacing of the film suffer. Around the middle hour, the film lags greatly, and provides no action or comedic relief to keep viewers entertained. Kristen Stewarts performance brings the intensity of the film to a screeching halt, due to her lack of feeling. The look and sound of the film are great. The costume designers did a fantastic job at dressing the Evil Queen. Special effects and set design look beautiful as well. And the soundtrack is done very well (and sounds very similar to the Mermaids track on the fourth Pirates of the Caribbean film). Overall, it's a great looking film with some good performances (mainly from Charlize Theron), but due to a very slow middle part and Kristen Stewarts emotionless performance, the film doesn't obtain it's full potential. Plus, I don't understand how the Mirror believes Kristen Stewart can surpass Charlize Theron. It's not possible.

Rating: B-

Movie Review: The Dictator

Admiral General Aladeen, the leader of the fictional country Wadiya, is Sacha Baron Cohen's fourth outing as somebody that is not Sacha Baron Cohen. General Aladeen has recently come under pressure from the United Nations about his Nuclear Weapons program, and has been requested to come to New York to meet with the UN, or his country gets bombed. Once in New York, he is kidnapped by the extremely racist yet very funny John C. Reilly, and is forced into the streets without anything, anyone, or anywhere to go. In short, he must find a way to prove to the public that he really is General Aladeen, so that he can sign a new treaty to turn Wadiya into a democratic society. That's about all there is in terms of story.

The film is filled to the brim with racist and insulting one-liners, which are all very funny, because they make fun of everyone. Cohen is an equal opportunity offender. The many supporting roles in the film, including one by Anna Farris as an organic store owner who falls in love with Aladeen, are also very funny. Although being one of the most offensive and racist movies I've seen, The Dictator never fails to make you laugh, and deep down, has an even deeper message about stereotypes that exist in the country. Cohen is a genius when it comes to movies like this. Although filled with plot holes and outlandish schemes to get Aladeen back in the throne, The Dictator, so far the funniest movie I've seen this year, does not disappoint.

Rating: B+

Movie Review: Dark Shadows

When you see this movie, you know that it's Tim Burton. From the sets, the characters, the effects, the source material, everything. There's Tim Burton basically written on the walls. This is Burton and Johnny Depp's ninth movie collaboration, and is a very loose adaptation of the cult 1960's T.V. "soap opera" of the same name. We follow Barnabas Collins, played by the wonderful Johnny Depp, who is the heir of the Collins Seafood Company fortune and business in the 1800's in Collinsport, Maine. He has a fling with a maid named Angelique, who also happens to be a crazy witch. Barnabas eventually falls in love, only to have his intended lured to her death by Angelique, and being turned into a vampire by her. He is chained in a coffin and buried, only to be discovered by a (very unfortunate) construction crew a few (hundred) years later. He is now in the 1970's, his seafood business is in shambles, and his beloved mansion CollinWood is rundown and overlooked by quite a bizarre array of characters, headed by Elizabeth Collin Stoddard, played by the fantastic Michelle Pfeiffer. He is also joined by her daughter, Carolyn, (Chloe Grace-Moretz), her brother, Roger, (Johnny Lee Miller), her nephew, David, the groundskeeper, Willie, and Davids psychiatrist, Dr. Julia Hoffman, played by the lovely Helena Bonham Carter. Each of the supporting characters have their own supernatural secrets, most of which are disappointingly kept secret until the near end of the movie. Angelique is still living in Collinsport, and is the seafood business that has kept the Collins out of business. She is still bent on revenge, and does everything in her power to stop Barnabas from ever finding true love again. The ending is satisfying, yet ends with the viewer wondering what will happen next.

Overall, the movie had a terrific look, with many relics from the '70's present, such as lava lamps and music from the era. It is often interspersed with humor, sometimes a little too much humor, but nonetheless providing some relief from the dark story line. The plot drags quite a bit, especially near the middle of the movie. Barnabas trying to get used to the new era is quite funny, and shows off the acting skills of Johnny Depp. Not the best Depp/Burton collaboration (that has to go to Sweeney Todd), it's still a very entertaining, good looking, and well directed and acted movie, despite the various problems in the plot and script.

Rating: B

Carolyn: "Are you stoned?"
Barnabas: "They tried stoning me, my dear. It did not work."

Movie Review: The Avengers

After years of hidden after-credit scenes, several movies that all connected with each other for this one, and what felt like a millennium of waiting, the Avengers have finally assembled. Picking right up with where it left off at the end of Captain America, The Avengers moves at a very fast pace, picking up a new superhero at every turn. Loki, Thor's younger brother, has decided that Earth cannot handle itself as a free world, and believes that everyone should be ruled unitedly by a tyrant (himself). Thus begins the war between Loki and his alien "army" and the Avengers and their Hulk. I'm sure you can figure out who wins. The ending comes with a hint at who will be the next target of the Avengers for the next Avengers movie. Along with being extremely well paced and very entertaining, the Avengers also features some incredible performance, both individual and the group as a whole. Samuel Jackson does what he usually does as the man who assembles the Avengers, Nick Fury. The "big 3" superheroes, Iron Man, Captain America, and Thor do very well in their respective roles. The newcomers to the Avengers, Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye and Scarlet Johansson as Black Widow, do extremely well in their supporting roles. But the main breakout star in this film is Mark Ruffalo as The Hulk. I couldn't count the times that The Hulk got cheers and claps from the audiences of the showings I went too. Mark Ruffalo has finally gotten The Hulk right, both emotionally and physically, something that it's prior incarnates, Eric Bana and Edward Norton have failed to do. And The Hulk also has been executed perfectly in the visual and design category for the first time, with an actual plausible look instead of choppy CGI that looks like green play-doh. Tom Hiddleston also does well as the main villain, Loki. As an ensemble, it's possibly one of, if not the best, ensemble acting in recent memory, in comparison to the lovely ladies of The Help. A huge amount of credit also goes to director Joss Whedon, who quelled the fears of fanboys world wide that an Avengers movie, especially one of this size and quality, would ever happen. He has created a masterpiece, and has completely shattered box office records, squashing the opening weekend record previously held by Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, grossing an unprecedented 207.4 million dollars. The Avengers is an amazing movie of the highest quality. Whedon has created an ensemble cast, that, although had the potential to be too cluttered, works perfectly. The best movie of the year so far.

Rating: A+

Loki: "I have an army."
Iron Man: "We have a Hulk."

Movie Review: The Cabin in the Woods

Finally, through the very creative mind of Joss Whedon, they have made a smart, scary, and funny scary movie. This film proves that all horror movies don't have to be gore and guts to be entertaining, or frightening. The story follows the usual horror movie crew: the dumb blonde, the jock, the stoner, the token black guy, and the girl who is too smart for her own good. They travel to, you guessed it, a cabin in the woods. There, they are tricked and controlled by unknown operators in a building, who monitor and regulate everything (and I mean everything) that goes on in the house. Unfortunately, I cannot give away too much more information, as the ending is very well made and provides for a twist that M. Night Shaymalan would blush over. There were some fantastic performances by everyone involved, the standouts (in my opinion) being Richard Jenkins as one of the operators, Chris Hemsworth as the jock, and a (very) surprising cameo by Sigourney Weaver as "the Director". Also, near the end, there is an 8 minute gore fest in which everything from your worst nightmares is released, and they decimate everything in their path. This movie was very smartly made, and provides a very fun and scary movie-going experience. An underrated movie that deserves a lot more praise and attention than it has received.

Rating: A-

Movie Review: American Reunion

In the words of Thin Lizzy, The Boys Are Back in Town. In this 4th "official" American Pie movie, the original crew is back and just as raunchy and sex-obsessed as ever. Jim and the gang are back in town for their 13th High School reunion. Jim (Jason Biggs) is married to Michelle (Alyson Hannigan), and they have hit a "rough patch" in their marriage due to the birth of their son. Oz is a "celebrity" sports show host, now made infamous by his appearance on Celebrity Dance-Off. Kevin is also married, yet is forced to sit through "girly" drama TV and play househusband. Stifler is well...Stifler. Still living at home with his mom (played by the hilarious Jennifer Coolidge). So, as usual, things get wild, temptations rise and are either given into or overcome, and everyone is happy in the end. Especially Jim's Dad (played by Eugene Levy), who gets with Stifler's mom. There was not a single moment in the movie where I was not laughing, and the comedy was very well paced. It was nice to see literally EVERYBODY from the first two movies, and to see what happened to them after high school. A very funny movie with a cast of very funny actors/actresses. I must say, it feels good to be reunited with the original crew after all this time.

Rating: A-

Movie Review: The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo

This film, adapted from Steig Larsson's bestselling Millenium Trilogy, is an unflinching view into the human psyche, a view into the world of evil and lies that often times go unseen. Rooney Mara plays the role of Lisbeth Salander, a ward of the state, who is the best computer hacker around. She is enlisted to be the assistant of Mikael Blomkvist, who's journalism career has just been shattered by a scandal he published that he cannot prove. Blomkvist is hired by Henrik Lundkvist to solve a mystery that has plagued his family for over four decades, the disappearance of his niece, Harriet. Lisbeth and Mikael, both with their own strengths, work together in order to solve the mystery. Lisbeth eventually falls in love with Mikael, after having been put through some harrowing sexual abuse in the first half of the movie. The film ends on a somber note, however leaves plenty of room for the continuation of the story, The Girl Who Played With Fire. The movie is very intense, with multiple scenes of torture, two of them being of a sexual/rape nature. Rooney Mara does an amazing job as Lisbeth, displaying all the intensity and subtleness that is present in the novel. She is beautiful, though you can see the pain in her face from the ordeals she has suffered through. Daniel Craig also does well as Mikael, and the cast of many supporting actors/actresses do amazing also. The score by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross is also very well done. The title sequence was, as well, a fantastic oily montage of Lisbeth's journey through the three books in the trilogy. Overall, a very intense, emotionally and physically, journey through a great detective story, all brought together by the brilliant and enigmatic performance of Rooney Mara as Lisbeth.

Rating: A

Movie Review: The Hunger Games

I'm going to start this review by saying this: Jennifer Lawrence is beautiful. She is one of the most enigmatic actors I have ever seen grace the screen, and I believe this is partly because she is one of the most beautiful people alive, and she's a terrific actress, and an Oscar-nominated one at that. Now, on to the actual movie. Adapted from Suzanne Collins' addictive best-seller trilogy, The Hunger Games, (followed by Catching Fire and Mockingjay), this film is one of the most successful adaptations of a book I've seen, next to the Harry Potter series. Panem, the nation formerly known as the United States, is now divided into 12 districts, all manned by a Captiol in the center of the districts. The Hunger Games, created in response to the rebellion of the now-extinct District 13, pits 24 teenagers against each other in a fight to the death, with the winner being bathed in riches for the rest of their life. Katniss Everdeen, played by Jennifer Lawrence, lives in the very poor District 12 with her mother (her father died earlier in a mining accident) and her sister, Primrose (Prim for short). She has a hunting partner in Gale, played by newcomer Gale Hemsworth, in a relatively minor role compared to the books. On the day of the Reaping, where the contestants for The Hunger Games are selected, Katniss, Prim and Gale gather in the town square to hear this years tributes called. Prim is called for the female tribute, but Katniss comes to her rescue and volunteers as tribute. The male tribute nominated is Peeta, played by Josh Hutcherson, who has a sordid past relationship with Katniss after giving her bread when she was starving, and later confesses during the tribute interviews that he is in love with her. That's the basis of the story, without giving too much away. Peeta and Katniss enter into the Hunger Games, and fight for the latter half of the movie. The casting for the movie was incredible. Jennifer Lawrence is perfect for the role of Katniss, as are Liam Hemsworth as Gale and Josh Hutcherson as Peeta. The one supporting role that really stood out in my opinion was Donald Sutherland as President Snow. Sutherland provides an unflinching performance as the cruel President of Panem, and is very successful in displaying the subtle evil that he gives off in the books. Elizabeth Banks and Woody Harrelson also do terrific as Peeta and Katniss's mentors, Effie and Haymitch, and Lenny Kravitz does very well as Katniss's stylist, Cinna. With an almost scene for scene adaptation of the book, a FANTASTIC cast of many wonderful actors, one of the most beautiful actresses ever in the lead role, and enough action and drama to satisfy boys, girls, men and women alike, The Hunger Games is the best movie of the year so far. It definitely lives up to the hype. If you haven't read the books or seen the movies, do it. They're enthralling, and very satisfying. 

Rating: A

Movie Review: 21 Jump Street

Jonah Hill got skinny. No longer in his awkward days of playing sex-starved teenagers in movies like Superbad, Jonah Hill is in his second major "grown-up" role, the other being his Oscar-nominated portrayal of a stats genius in Moneyball. Channing Tatum is also making quite a name for himself, with roles in this movie, The Vow, and Magic Mike. The story in this adaptation of the TV show of the same name, is that two cop partners, Hill and Tatum, join the police force together after having the traditional bully/victim relationship in high school. They expect a lot of action to go down, but are instead put on bike duty. They have a big drug bust in the park they're patrolling, but they forget to read the criminals their Miranda Rights. Then, the partners are sent to 21 Jump Street, an undercover operation that sends cops...you guessed it...undercover, into high schools to solve various drug problems with the students. But, how the times have changed since they were both in high school. The people who used to be outcasts are the cool kids, and vice versa. And the story goes on, etc. etc., and they figure out who makes, supplies, and sells drugs. The movie, surprisingly, was actually very funny. It was well written, had plenty of raunchy material without "going there", and provided a solid 2 hours of hilarity. The plot never really slows down, and the jokes keep up with the pace of the movie. There was also a fantastic cameo by original 21 Jump Street TV star Johnny Depp. This movie is no Oscar winner, but it was funny and clever, and had some great starring roles from Hill and Tatum. Overall, a good comedy that never lags, and constantly provides new material to laugh at.

Rating: B+

Movie Review: Dr. Seuss's The Lorax

The latest animated film from Dreamworks Studio, and the newest Dr. Seuss children's book adaptation, The Lorax, was a half-cheerful, half-depressing movie with a very strong message about the environment. Ted, voiced by Zac Efron, has fallen for a girl in his city of Thneed-Ville, named Audrey (in an actual enjoyable performance by Taylor Swift). Audrey's greatest wish is to have an actual tree, which are now non-existent. So, Ted travels out of the city limits to visit The Once-Ler, an old man who is the only person who knows the story of the trees, and the only person who can give Ted a tree for Audrey. Then the story of the title character, The Lorax, begins. The Lorax, voiced by Danny DeVito, is an enjoyable character who conveys a strong message about protecting the environment. In the end, the boy gets the girl, the girl gets the tree, and the Once-Ler is forgiven of his misdeeds by his old pal, The Lorax. The movie is very well-paced, alternating between past and present segments, and interspersed with various musical numbers that are characteristic of this type of film. There are some great supporting roles, mainly by Ted's Grandmother, voiced by the hilarious Betty White. Overall, a very well-adapted representation of the Dr. Seuss classic, that combines comedy, music, and a message about the importance of preserving our environment. Even if the kid's don't understand what the movie is trying to convey, the adults who take them should. It may get a little too dark for a children's movie, but the book did as well. An entertaining and thoughtful adaptation. 

Rating: A-

Movie Review: Shame

A movie about a sex addict. Who would have thought that would ever come to fruition. In quite a revealing role, 2011 breakout star Michael Fassbender (who also played Magneto in X-Men: First Class) plays Brandon, a sex addict living the life in New York City. No one knows of his secret, until his sister, played by Carey Mulligan, decides to come bunk with him, (which causes some awkward situations). As Brandon slips deeper into his secret life of sex with everything that walks, a ravaging pornography addiction, etc., his sister also slips into her own addiction with alcohol and drugs. Eventually, both of the characters dark sides reach a climax when Brandon has a complete mental breakdown and throws away all of his "materials", and Sissy attempts suicide. With two very emotional and well-acted performances, it is a wonder why neither Fassbender or Mulligan were honored with Oscar nominations (probably due to the gratuitous nudity and that the movie was rated NC-17). One of the most intense movies of the year, and definitely under appreciated, it is quite a fascinating journey into the mind of an addict often not seen in media. And again, fantastic performances by both Fassbender and Mulligan power the movie until the end. I will warn viewers though: not a film to watch with any relatives. Sure to make for awkward silences. But overall fantastic movie. Sidenote- I loved the poster. Pretty clever.

Rating: A-

The Oscars: Who Should Have Won

Best Picture
Who won- The Artist
Who should have won- The Tree of Life/The Help: Well, the movie that everyone knew was going to win did. However, I don't think it should have. Sure, it was "inventive", and it was an entertaining movie (as entertaining as a silent movie in this time period could be). Now, on we move to The Tree of Life. Now, that was an inventive movie. A two and a half hour journey through the cosmos, and a small southern family where a boy discovers himself and his role in the universe. A 17 minute history of creation had patrons seeing the movie leave and ask for refunds. Now, does this film have a definitive story that The Artist did? No. The story was there, but Oscar voters don't usually like the story unless it's hitting them in the face with a baseball bat. But just the things Terrence Malick was able to achieve was stunning. It was a masterpiece, and really made you look at your life in a broader spectrum than just yourself. And then we have The Help. Has a movie like this been done before? Yes. But not in the same context. The Help boasted some of the most amazing performances of the year, with Viola Davis in one of the most emotional roles in film this year (more on this later), Octavia Spencer in an Oscar winning supporting role, Emma Stone, and the love-to-hate performance of Bryce Dallas Howard. And the entire film was expertly crafted and adapted from the novel of the same name, with a lasting message that can resonate with everyone. I believe either of these two movie deserved the Oscar over The Artist.

Best Director
Who won- Michel Hazanivicius, The Artist
Who should have won- Terrence Malick, The Tree of Life: See above.

Best Actor
Who won- Jean Dujardin, The Artist
Who should have won- George Clooney, The Descendants: Sure, Dujardin did a fantastic job acting without actually saying anything. But George Clooney had a masterful performance. Mixing raw emotion, anger, humor, and everything in between, Clooney should have beat newcomer Dujardin and taken home the trophy.

Best Actress
Who won- Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady
Who should have won- Viola Davis, The Help: Ah, the category I've been itching to write about. The win from last night was bullcrap. Did Meryl Streep have a good performance as Margaret Thatcher? Yes. But it's been done before. Meryl Streep has been nominated 17 times, and has only won 3 times, including last night. Now, I wonder why that is. Viola Davis brought an emotion that rarely is seen in film, and certainly inspired a large group of people with her performance. She was phenomenal, and should have walked home with the trophy. Meryl Streep's performance was good, yes, but overrated and incomparable to Viola Davis.

Best Supporting Actor
Who won- Christopher Plummer, Beginners
Who should have won- Alan Rickman, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2: Why Alan Rickman has not been nominated before for his role as Professor Severus Snape, I do not know. His role in the Harry Potter films was one of the most accurate and well cast from the books, and his performance in the last film, especially in the Prince's Tale scene, was stunning. He should have at least gotten a nomination. But, alas, the Academy frowns upon such fantasy roles.

Best Supporting Actress
Who won- Octavia Spencer, The Help
Who should have won- Octavia Spencer, The Help: One of the only awards of the night that I thought was given to the right person. Octavia was spectacular as Minnie Jackson, and rightfully deserved the trophy.

Overall, it was a very predictable, yet disappointing ending to the awards season.

Show rating: C

Movie Review: Midnight in Paris

Ah, another romantic comedy masterpiece from one of the most prolific directors of all time, Woody Allen. This film follows Gil (played by Owen Wilson) as he meanders around the streets of Paris looking for inspiration to complete his novel. One midnight stroll, however, proves to be more inspirational than the others, though, as Gil enters a cab and is "transported" back to the 1920's. Here, he encounters many famous artists and writers of the time, including F. Scott Fitzgerald and his wife Zelda, Ernest Hemingway, Cole Porter, Gertrude Stein, and Salvador Dali (in a hilarious performance by Adrian Brody), among others. Through his adventures, Gil takes the viewer on a magnificent journey through the streets of Paris, and Owen Wilson is supported by many, many strong performances. The soundtrack also captures the essence of Paris, and changes styles to adapt to the different time periods. The story did get a little confusing at times, switching between time periods, but it all came together eventually. This film did not get many Oscar nominations (including snubs in my opinion for Best Actor and several supporting roles, namely Kathy Bates), but did pick up nominations for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay. It really only has a chance to win Best Original Screenplay, though I believe it was much better than some of the films nominated for Best Picture. It was a nice little journey through Paris, and did not try and force itself upon viewers as many of the traditional Best Picture nominees tend too. A very nice surprise, and lighter than other Oscar fare.

Rating: B+
Potential Oscars: Best Picture, Best Director (both of which won't happen), Best Original Screenplay

Movie Review: The Artist

A modern silent film about old silent films. Imagine that. Silent movie star George Valentin (in a fantastic performance by French actor Jean Dujardin) falls victim to the rise of the "talkies", leading to his divorce and loss  of passion for his life. Meanwhile, breakout actress Peppy Miller (played by Berenice Bejo) is the talk of the town in Hollywood, and is the leading star in many of the most popular movies in Hollywood. Fate eventually brings the two together, probably due to the fact that Valentin gave Miller her start in the movie business. Valentin is on the verge of taking his life, when Peppy saves him and gets him another acting role. This "love letter to cinema" was technically excellent, and showed deep appreciation of the beginnings of film. Also, the dance scene at the end was one of the most entertaining sequences in a movie this year. Though the story does get a little dry and repetitive and points, this film was magnificently crafted by French director Michael Hazanavicius. I don't believe that it deserves the coveted Best Picture Oscar (which I am sure it's getting because it is traditional Oscar bait, and an award which I believe should go to either The Tree of Life or The Help), but it was still an entertaining film with a nice ode to the beginnings of "modern" (talking) cinema.
Rating: B-
Potential Oscars: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Originial Screenplay, Best Costume Design, Best Score