Guardians of the Galaxy

So I was finally able to watch Guardians of the Galaxy this past Wednesday while on my vacation. (From my full time job, I mean, not this website. This hiatus is no one's fault but my own.) And before I begin with my review there are a couple things I'd like to state for the record.

First, I had never heard of the graphic novels before this film came out, and I still haven't read any. So this review will be based purely on my experience of watching the story/characters for the first time with no set up whatsoever. Going in, all I knew was what I got from the first trailer: Some group of expert criminals, or perhaps just criminals, were needed for something or other. That's it. Honestly, the trailer did nothing for me so I wasn't even going to watch the thing if it weren't for everyone singing its praises from the rooftops.

Which leads me to my second note. I feel that the film may have been inadvertently oversold to me, since all the rooftop praising made my expectations high (and I'm pretty tough on movies to begin with). However, I'll still be reviewing the film as objectively as I can, with notice of where certain expectations were disappointed or reached.

As always, my reviews are spoiler free... and long.

Directed by James Gunn, Guardians of the Galaxy tells the story of a group of criminals forming an unlikely alliance (of sorts) in order to fight against a being who aims to destroy the galaxy and all life as they know it.

The film is a sci-fi fantasy epic, not unlike the Star Wars series, only with less humans. Well, less traditional humans. During fantasy films centered in space I have always found the ratio between humans and aliens to be important. To be more specific, I have always found it more important for there to be more alien races than humans. I find this helps submerge the viewer (or reader) into the universe much easier and more quickly because it prevents us from getting comfortable seeing humans on screen to then suddenly have a jarring introduction of a being or creature that has tentacles coming out of its eyes (for example). In that, the film half achieved the goal. I was quickly submerged and given more alien races than humans... However, so many of those alien races -- the vast majority in fact -- were humanoid. Meaning they look just like humans except for one or two differences. This isn't the only film to do this -- and seeing as it is based off graphic novels it is not merely the film's choices either -- but I could never help but feel cheated when given a sci-fi/fantasy universe where the creators have free reign over their imagination and the best they give us is: "Here is a pink human... Now a blue one, but he has a horn-like bump on his head. Yeah. That's good."

Rainbow spectrum of humanoids aside, the visuals in this film were stunning. Both the physical and computer generated (but especially the computer generated) scenery and effects were top notch which made this film a captivating watch. There isn't much I can say here without going into spoilers so I'll just leave it with this: They used the physical when they could, and it made a difference, and when they had to resort to computer generation it looked real and natural even. So, galactic kudos to the men and women on that graphics team. Four for you, Graphics Team. You go, Graphics Team.

The characters, however, I felt could have used more work and attention. This is one of those areas I mentioned before that didn't meet my raised expectations. Going in, I figured the characters where going to be knocked out of the park, because the key to a successful story (and therefore film) is for the characters to be solid, complex, and engaging. Basically, they have to make us care. To be fair, my brother (with whom I saw the film) did warn me that Gamora (played by Zoe Saldana) was very flat and lacked proper character development. All of which I found to be painfully true. Moreover I don't believe this was Saldana's best performance. Perhaps I'm just growing jaded (i.e. bored) by seeing the actress in these roles, but I didn't believe her half the time. But she wasn't the only one I had qualms with. I felt Drax (played by Dave Bautista) had similar problems, though he at least had a more developed character arc (but not by much).

And I know I'm going to get a lot of hate for this, but I wasn't won over by Groot (the tree) either. Groot (voiced by Vin Diesel) was fun to watch and provided a lot of laughs, but I didn't have the bond with him that I should have. And, looking back, I can't even recall what his back story was, if he even had one. I feel that he did but the fact that its not memorable is a problem in itself. Rocket (voiced by Bradley Cooper) and Peter Quill (played by Chris Pratt) were the two most developed and well done characters, in my opinion. They each had a memorable backstory that propelled them forward and provided continued motivation for their actions. Also (and I don't know how much of this is Cooper's work or Sean Gunn's, who is credited as being the "On Set Rocket") the mannerisms and expressions that Rocket had made for a very entertaining and engaging character, which, needless to say, is an important quality to have in a character that is not actually there.

Pratt, as the songs went, stole the show. In that, the film did not disappoint. Though he's been acting since at least the 2000s, I had not seen him in much before this film, and the roles I have seen him in were from over half a decade ago. So it felt as if I was watching a new actor making his debut. And damn if he did not blow up the scene. He was very natural in his portrayal of the character and I felt the most connection to him than anyone else on cast. Coupled with Rocket, he was the source of the humor, jokes, and drama that actually landed.

Speaking of which, a lot of the dialogue hit my ear wrong. They were either forced jokes (as in trying too hard to be funny), painfully obvious observations (looking at you, Gamora), underdeveloped/chopped romance, or failed attempts at badass one-liners. Thankfully, it was not the majority of the film that suffered these flaws, which allowed for the film itself to still be a fun watch. But I do feel that a lot of moments could have been better and bigger if a line(s) were different or cut out all together. On the other hand, there were a lot of small moments that were made better and bigger due to priceless dialogue (that'll be the work of Rocket and Peter, mostly). I just wish the film were made completely of the latter rather than suffering so much from the former.

The villain of the film, Ronan (played by Lee Pace), was your typical genocidal foe. His backstory was explained and referenced throughout, though I felt like it was almost unimportant. This could have been purely my take, but it felt as if they said: "Okay, so this is why this dude is so angry. [insert exposition] Now back to the main characters!" Also the film had the classic insufferable elements so many others do with their villains. You know the ones: Monologuing; villain clearly has ability and opportunity to kill the heroes but doesn't; bad dialogue; childlike tantrum attitudes, and so on. Though that last one was actually called out by another character in the film, so it's not so much a developmental flaw as it is a personality flaw the character possesses. Which is unfortunate, since that's what kept me from taking the villain seriously. Due to my nonexistent knowledge of the comics, I don't know how much of that is a reflection of Pace's work and how much is just Ronan.

Overall the film was an enjoyable experience, and I would see it again, but I hope they get rid of their crutches before any sequels. Because of the weak character development and all the lines that made me drop my head in disappointment or annoyance, I give the film 3.5 stars out of 5. Sorry, guys. I just can't give you that full 4 stars. Can't do it.

30 DAYS OF NIGHT

Okay, I know the word "vampires" has acquired a bad taste in everyone's mouth thanks to films such as the Twilight series making such a joke of the lore -- or at least it has to me. In my opinion, vampires have become another gimmick in the movie and television business rather than a classical (as in respected) horror creature/race.

But in 30 Days of Night? It's the real deal.

Based on the graphic novel by Steve Niles and Ben Templesmith, 30 Days of Night is the story of a small (and I do mean small) Alaskan town that is plunged into darkness for thirty days every year. Many of the citizens are in the habit of leaving town prior to the last sunset -- but this year, those that are left behind after the airport closes are left to face an unthinkable horror...
One that they're unable to escape from for thirty days.

Let me begin by saying that this film was genuinely and extensively creepy, and that's saying something because not only have horror flicks failed in actually scaring the general public lately, but vampires have been done to death (pun not intended).

David Slade's adaptation of the graphic novel left me burrowing into my seat, eyes wide open, and heart racing (witnesses can confirm) -- and it had everything to do with the direction and cinematography (shout-out to Director of Cinematography, Jo Willems. We'll get to him later). While the vampires' physiques in the film weren't completely unlike previous interpretations (pale, blood stains around their mouth, pointy teeth, black eyes), their movements and mannerisms were definitely worth the title "creatures." Each actor and actress portrayed their vampiric roles as if they were animals: primal, predatorial, and organized hunters. Seeing them moving through the shadows and rooftops, communicating in their own language, made me feel like I was watching a pack of wolves on a hunt. It was a very interesting choice and -- with the many talented men and women actors executing it perfectly -- it paid off.
Not to mention Slade and his writing crew (shout-out to Stuart Beattie and Brian Nelson, who co-wrote the screenplay with Steve Niles) were able to give us something that is getting increasingly difficult to pull off in this day and age: A twist ending that I truly didn't see coming. Kudos to you, boys. You did good.

Jo Willem's cinematography, as I said before, is what really made this film cringe-worthy. Nearly every shot sent a chill down my spine. The most impressive and effective shots were from above, looking down on the blood-stained streets and chaos as the vampires fed. It was heartbreaking.

Now that isn't to say that this film isn't without its flaws. As the unofficial requirement goes, a romantic connection was attempted between the two main characters, Eben and Stella Oleson (a separated married couple). While their relationship was, thankfully, downplayed, it still felt forced into the story and I didn't find it believable, nor did I care to see it delved into further. I was much too preoccupied with their struggles for survival. Also, I wasn't too impressed with Melissa George's performance as Stella Oleson. Throughout the film I kept trying to feel connected to or emotionally invested in her, but couldn't quite believe her to be someone I should care about. Every time her marriage to Eben (played by Josh Hartnett) was brought up in conversation I could feel myself rolling my eyes and hoping it would be brushed over.
I'll give them both the benefit of the doubt, though. Film adaptations of novels tend to rush or butcher at least one aspect of the story along the way so Stella's importance and the Oleson's relationship could have been one of them.

However, while George's performance wasn't spectacular, Josh Hartnett's was. Admittedly, he didn't look it at first, but Hartnett's character, Eben, quickly captured my attention and sympathy. I have to say his performance was by far the best in the film.

Overall 30 Days of Night was an incredible watch and I highly recommend it at your next late-night viewing. Just don't forget about the bowl of popcorn like I did. ;)

30 Days of Night 4 out of 5 stars.

Lakeview Terrace

Lakeview Terrace tells the story of an interracial couple who moves in next door to a police officer. It soon becomes clear that they are unwanted, and that Officer Abel Turner will do anything to drive them out.

When I saw the trailer it seemed that Lakeview Terrace had the potential to be an at least "OK" movie.

Just a few minutes into the film I was quickly made aware that I was wrong.

The writing and directing of this film were terrible.

None of the characters were believable, or well developed, and the dialogue was down-right painful at times. It felt as if the film was shot and produced out of the first-draft of the story. 

It wasn't perfected. It didn't even give the feeling that the writers cared for it or really tried.

The plot lacked so much depth and substance it actually hurt me to think about it; because this story did have potential. The writer's could have escalated things much smoother and much more violent. I never felt that this couple was really being terrorized from their home. 

They tried to use a forest fire as a symbol for how the conflict between the two neighbors went from contained, to out of control... But failed miserably. They didn't connect the two in a sufficient enough way to spark the audience's attention. All I could think of was: "Who cares about the fire?"

There were too many mediocre arguments, too many drawn out scenes that would have been most effective if short, and a too poor of an attempt to connect the audience with the story behind Turner's past.

The story itself may not have been enough for a full-length movie, but it could have had enough to be enjoyable: with the potential of earning at least three "stars" from its viewers.

But the production team seemed to give up and not put their best foot forward. They could have done so much more with the story than they did. It was very disappointing. 

What might be even worse than the writing, were the actors.

Samuel L. Jackson, who played Officer Abel Turner, did not impress me in the slightest. The dialogue didn't seem to fit him at all through the entire film. His character was much too flat for me to care about anything he did. 

You'd think the role of a terrorizing police officer would be fun to portray, but Jackson seemed to sluggishly move along in the role. If the actor can't show that he cares for the character, how can the audience feel anything differently?

I'm going to try to give Partick Wilson the benefit of the doubt, because he did fantastically in both Hard Candy and The Phantom of the Opera, so maybe his complete disaster-of-a-performance in Lakeview Terrace was the fault of a bad Director.

Wilson plays the role of Chris Mattson who moves into the house next door to Turner with his wife, Lisa (played by Kerry Washington). Wilson seemed to struggle with this role more than with his troublesome neighbor. Chris is supposed to be a white man who smokes and loves rap music.

I didn't believe him on either point. [[And since when is a mint and hand sanitizer enough to cover the smell of smoke?!]]

As the actions of his neighbor "escalated" he failed to show me that he was growing increasingly angry or frustrated. He reminded me more of a child pouting in his corner than a grown man fighting against a "terrifying" neighbor.

Kerry Washington, who is well known for her role in Fantastic Four as Alicia, did little to improve on the rest of the film.

She seemed much too casual throughout the entire film. It always seemed she was talking to a friend of hers, even when she was supposed to be angry. She just didn't convince me to be a woman tormented by her neighbor and her struggling marriage.

It was a shame because I expected more from her.

Overall this movie was not ready to be made. It desperately needed to go through two or more drafts before reaching a final script, let alone the big screen. I wasn't expecting this movie to be fantastic, but I didn't expect it to be such a disaster either.

((Barely)) 1 out of 5 stars.

EAGLE EYE

Last weekend I had the pleasure to catch Eagle Eye with a good friend of mine. The next day I was able to catch Lakeview Terrace which I will review after this. If things go well there will be THREE reviews today because I finished reading Broken Wednesday. ((Yes I could review them all in one long post but I'd like to keep them separate so I don't have like 20 Labels.))

EAGLE EYE

The film tells the story of Jerry Shaw (played by Shia Labeouf) who, after attending his brother's funeral, walks into his apartment to find boxes upon boxes of weapons and chemicals. His world is turned upside-down as he is hunted by the police, and receives a series of mysterious phonecalls that direct him to his next location or task. Along the way he meets Rachel Holloman (played by Michelle Monaghan), who has also received the mysterious calls. Who is this woman who calls and threatens them? How does she know so much about them? How does he see their every move? And how far will they have to go before she releases her hold on their life?

Any doubts I had with the story were gone the second the first call came in. The movie starts out a little slow, showing you what a regular-Joe Jerry Shaw really is. It's supposed to be boring because then, when the story takes off, you are as shocked, confused, and afraid as he is. 

You're kept at the edge of your seat as one thing after another continues to go wrong for Shaw, and you find that the truth behind the mysterious caller is more terrifying-- and possible --than you ever imagined.

Shia Labeouf gets a lot of bad publicity from movie-goers and the like. These are the people who can't get past his role in the Disney Channel Original Series Even Stevens where Labeouf plays a wacky, not-too-bright younger sibling who is always causing mayhem.

What they fail to see is how much he has grown as an actor. To me, he doesn't even look like the old Disney character anymore; He's completely different.

One strengh I see in him that I never saw in the television series, is his ability to perform emotional scenes. In Disturbia, he showed the world with one look how devastating the blow of losing a father is. In Transformers, when Megatron has him trapped on a rooftop, he shows us how someone could be completely terrified, yet determined all at the same time. In Constantine, when his character is beaten to death, he shows the innocence of a teen who just wanted to aid in something greater than himself. 

And then, in Eagle Eye, he expresses his sorrow over losing his brother, and his guilt in not being there more all in one look over the casket.

So no one can say he can't act.

His performance in Eagle Eye was just as impressive as his performance in Disturbia. What starts as fear and awkwardness turns into strengh and determination as he fights for his, and Rachel's, lives.

Michelle Monaghan seems to be a new up-and-coming actress. I never really heard of her until this year with her leading role in Made of Honor-- which I have not seen. However, I will definitely be looking her up from now on based on her performance in this film. Monaghan plays the role of Rachel Holloman, a mother whose son's life is threatened unless she, along with Labeouf, obeys the commands of this mysterious caller. 

Monaghan effortlessly convinced me she was a mother worried sick for the safety of her child. It was in her eyes, her face, her very stance. She isn't an amazing person, she's just a single mother working to make ends meet. But when her own is threatened she will do anything, even if she's almost paralyzed with fear while doing it.

At one point in the film she really steps it up and holds two men at gun point. Rachel doesn't care what happens to her anymore. She just wants to get things done and keep her son safe.

This film had a fantastic cast, with the one exception of Billy Bob Thornton.

Thornton played the role of Agent Thomas Morgan. He wasn't terrible, but he never convinced me he was an agent. His performance seemed to lack confidence and control. Even an agent who has made mistakes in the past always come through in the end with flying colors. But Thornton didn't. 

As the story neared the end I saw no growth with his character. Sure, I saw what was supposed to be there: knowledge, trust, determination-- But Thornton failed to perform them convincingly. He never seemed like an officer to me. Just a man staying close by putting his two-cents in on how to figure things out.

Fortunately, his performance did nothing to hinder the film overall. I was completely overwhelmed with stress and anxiety as I followed Jerry and Rachel's story all over the country.

It's definitely a movie you don't want to miss.

4.8 out of 5 stars.

Charlie Bartlett

A couple of nights ago my brother rented a movie for the whole family to watch. It's been a while since we've done that; the renting and the family thing.

Anyway, the film was Charlie Bartlett, and let me tell you-- this will be a tricky one to review.

The film revolves around a teenage boy, Charlie, going to a new school-- a PUBLIC school --after being kicked out of yet another private school. He doesn't get along so great on the first day, as the swirly gift clearly shows, but eventually changes his luck when he begins to give psychiatric help to the students. He would listen to their problems or "symptoms" and then reenact them to his family's psychiatrist who then assigns some prescriptions... which Charlie then sells to the students!!

After watching the film, I knew right off the bat not everyone would enjoy it. It seems to be targeted to viewers with a specific taste. I myself enjoyed it, but wouldn't call it fantastic. Only way I can maybe give you all a hint as to whether you'll like it or not is this: If you liked or loved JUNO, then you'll at least enjoy this movie. I LOVED Juno, it's one of my favorites now, and enjoyed Charlie Bartlett, but didn't go crazy for it.

That's all I got.

Charlie was played by Anton Yelchin. He's done movies and shows before, but the only recognizable title I found was the movie Along Came A Spider, although I can't remember his face in it. I'll have to re-watch that at some point.

But, boy, Yelchin must have had a BLAST doing this role. The character is so bizarre and unlike any character I've seen before. It made for a really enjoyable watch, and provided lots of laughs.

Awesome job, Yelchin, hope you do another fun character soon.

Charlie's love interest and close friend is Susan Gardner played by Kat Dennings. She also stars in the new film Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist. The two most well-known films she's done work in the past are The 40 Year Old Virgin and, for all you Hilary Duff fans ((which to be honest I am NOT)), Raise Your Voice.

Dennings' character was really sweet. Susan is just a normal teenager who's struggling to handle losing her mother at the same time as her father loses himself. She quickly befriends Charlie and grows a liking to him as well. They attempt to help each other in their struggles to move along.

My favorite character, however, is definitely Principal Nathan Gardner played by our very own Iron Man, Robert Downey Jr.

Principal Gardner was my favorite character to watch because he was the one going through the most, in my opinion. He hates his job, lost his wife, is losing the respect of his only daughter, has none of the respect of his student body, and now has to deal with the "new kid" who the whole school listens to after just a few days.

Downey gives an incredible performance as his character's whole life falls apart around him. It was really something else to watch Downey, who I've always seen playing characters in full control of their life, portray someone who is the complete opposite. 

If he was missing from the film I don't think I would have enjoyed it as much as I did.

Really incredible.

So if you liked JUNO then I recommend you pick this film up as well. Maybe you'll absolutely love it, maybe not. But I know it's worth at least 3.9 stars out of five.

The Fountain and Chicken Little

I've seen these movies too far back to review them in detail, but that doesn't mean they can't get some honorable mentions ;)
In short, both The Fountain and Chicken Little are great-- for very different reasons of course.

THE FOUNTAIN

The Fountain tells three seperate stories that overlap each other. It's not an easy movie to describe. Much of it depends on the viewer's personal interpretation.

The writing is fantastic. It has to be one of the most creative scripts I've ever seen. Darren Aronofsky is a genius. Enough said.

While the casting was flawless, I don't really have the memory to go into every actor's performance.

So I'll only highlight one:

Hugh Jackman.
Jackman had to play a variety of roles in this film, each of them completely different from the others. Actually, they're all completely different from any role he's played before.

Truly a gifted actor, and one of my top favorites.

CHICKEN LITTLE

Everyone knows the story of Chicken Little and his claim that the sky is falling; but no one has ever seen it told quite like this before.

I found this film very enjoyable actually. I had heard mixed reviews about it so I wasn't too excited to see, but I'm glad I did. The film is packed with humor from beginning to end, and Zach Braff's performance as Chicken Little's voice only added to that effect. With every line spoken I could imagine the facial expression on Braff's face, which you could find perfectly reflected onto the face of Chicken Little.

This is a film literally anyone could enjoy, no matter what age.

Definitely worth looking into ;)

21 and Vantage Point

I went to the theaters last night and caught the flick, 21, which I'm ready to review; but as I was preparing to do so I remembered that I had never reviewed the film Vantage Point which I saw a while ago. So, while it will not be the usual detailed review, I shall review it in this post as well. It's a two-fer, folks!! Enjoy!!

21

Based on a true story, 21 tells the story of six MIT students who are trained to be expert card counters and take Vegas casinos for millions.

Overall, I thought the movie was...."Alright." Worth watching at least once but maybe not for the 8 buck ticket price.

However, the movie was fantastically made, the characters were all different and equally enjoyable, and the story is one that surprises and entertains you-- while at the same time never jumping the shark.

The reason why I didn't enjoy it as much as the next guy is because it just isn't my style of film. As the plotline obviously shows, the movie is heavy on the math side. I was completely lost through the whole "counting cards" explanations and training. I just don't understand what it means for a deck to be "+16". However, if you enjoy mathematics, or you don't mind a more intellectual film, then you'll probably enjoy this film more than I did.

My puny mind just couldn't get past the fact that all the fuss was being made around a deck of cards, hahha.

The movie had this very interesting style to it. I can't quiet explain it, there was something with how all the scenes were handled, how the flashbacks where done, how the settings and colors were used. It was a very "attractive" film in the sense that I really enjoyed watching the screen.
All credit of that goes to the director, Robert Luketic. Thumbs up, Luketic.

The casting was fantastic. While I felt there were no "WOW" performances, I did enjoy watching all of them.

I am happy to say Jim Sturgess, who played the lead role of Ben Campbell, did just as well in this film as he did in The Other Boleyn Girl. He had to play a COMPLETELY different character and pulled it off just as easily. While I enjoyed his performance in Boleyn more than his performance in 21, he still did fantastic.

A familiar face that Superman Returns fans might recognize is the face of Kate Bosworth, a.k.a. Lois Lane. In this film, she played the role of Jill Taylor; a fellow card-couting team member and Jim's love interest. Bosworth is clearly in command of every emotion, and holds the ability to express any which one at the drop of a hat. Very impressive.

And guess what, Superman fans? There's yet another familiar, but not at all friendly, face you'll see in this film. Kevin Spacey, who will be most often recognized as the man who played Lex Luthor, also stars in this film playing the role of the self-appointed leader of the card-counting students, Micky Rosa. His performance was especially enjoyable to watch due to the many faces the character displays. Never a dull moment with Rosa.

Overall the movie was fantastic... It's just not my cup of tea. Although, I'd have to admit, I would love to have that movie poster. Just look at it! That is one spankin' image to have on your wall ;)

VANTAGE POINT

Vantage Point tells the story of an attempted assasination of the US President told from eight different perspectives.

This film blew me away. The only reason I had not reviewed on this sooner is due to heavy schoolwork at the time.

The director, Pete Travis, is a genius. No way could this film be done any better. Every time they switched to a new point of view, they gave you a huge cliffhanger to stress about.

I was at the edge of my seat throughout the whole film. It was amazing.

Fantastic job, Travis, amazing.

One actor I have to mention is Dennis Quaid. In this film he played the role of Thomas Barnes, the man trying to piece all the witnesses' stories together to find the man behind the shooting.

His performance was spectacular!! That role was not and easy role to do by a long shot. The fact that he was able to pull this role off so perfectly has really installed new respect from me.
Fantastic actor, I'll have to see more of his stuff soon.

The Other Boleyn Girl

Alright, I forgot to write this after I saw it Saturday and have been busy with school since then so this review might not be as long or detailed as I'd like, but I hope it gets the point across.The point? The movie is fantastic!

Based on the bestselling book by Philippa Gregory, The Other Boleyn Girl tells the story of the Boleyn sisters who fight for the heart of a king in hopes to please their father and raise the family's status in society.

This may sound like your typical chick-flick and, sure, you could see it that way, but the reality is that anyone can enjoy this film. To watch how everyone is manipulated for the betterment of another, then having every single plot slowly fall apart is something no one gets tired of.
It's a powerful story.

The entire cast was perfect in their performance. Not a single weak link in the bunch.

The role of the younger sister, Mary Boleyn, was played by Scarlett Johansson-- who you all might recognize from The Black Dahlia or The Prestige-- and the eldest son, George Boleyn, was played by Jim Sturgess-- 21 and Across the Universe.

Both were flawless in their performance. Every line, every expression, every emotion-- give them anything and they can do it, all the while tugging at your heart.

Awesome.

However, the actress who impressed me most was Natalie Portman, hands down. She played the role of the eldest daughter, Anne Boleyn, who fought to find her own way to make her name in society.

WOW!

That's all I can say for her performance: WOW!

This film revealed to me that Natalie Potman doesn't get anywhere near the amount of credit and respect as she should for her talent. My jaw dropped as I saw her on that screen. Every emotion was so raw, and her face showed such a wild variety of emotion with the slightest of change-- a talent I have only seen matched by Cillian Murphy.

And if you've seen Murphy in action before, and know what I'm talking about, then you know what I mean when I say she's phenominal.

She's the real deal, folks. We are definitely going to see a lot more from her, and I bet all my money she will never dissapoint.

I can not wait to see her in another film soon. She is now my favorite actress, no contest.

I strongly suggest you catch this flick in the theaters, it's well worth the money for food and tickets.

The Boondock Saints

Although I've been told of the film, The Boondock Saints, it wasn't until recently that I had the chance to watch it. I have to say, I'm really glad I did.

Boondock Saints tells the story of two brothers who, after defending each other in a fight, decide to rid the world of all crime-- By killing all who they deem evil.

The story was fantastic. Kudos to Troy Duffy on an amazing script.
With every line and every event you see just how strong the bond is between the brothers Murphy and Connor MacManus. Watching them fight together, and defend each other, was really amazing.
Not only that, but the "mission" they go on is one that doesn't leave your mind. The subject Duffy portrays for us on-screen is an extreemely controversial one: Crimelords, murderers, rapists-- they all get walk out of court, grinning from behind their untouchable shields. If someone decided to take them off the streets, permanently, do we praise them for it? Or do we treat them no different than the ones they hunt?
This isn't just an action movie, it is a film worthy of thought and consideration.
Terrific job, Troy Duffy. Thumbs up!

The two brothers, "Murphy and Connor", were portrayed beautifully.
They were played by Sean Patrick Flanery ("Connor") and Norman Reedus ("Murphy").

Sean Patrick Flanery has played a lot of roles when you list them, however the only other film I've seen him in is Powder; which was tricky character to pull.
Norman Reedus has also had various roles but I have only seen him in Blade II in which he played the role of "Scud."
I was blown away by both actors in their performance in Boondock. There were many scenes that called for some intense emotions and, trust me, when these men screamed-- you feel the pain in their voice.

One performance that I must point out is Willem Dafoe's role of Officer Paul Smecker. Most would know Dafoe from his role in Spider-man as both the "Green Goblin" and "Norman Osborn," but I find his role in Boondock much more memorable.
The role of Paul Smecker could not have been easy to portray, he is one of the most complex and eccentric characters I have ever come across. I was really impressed with Dafoe's performance in this film, it takes a really gifted actor to pull off a character like this.
Congrats Willem Dafoe, you just earned a lot of respect in my book.

The movie is enjoyable from start to finish; wether it be for the performances, the script, the subject, or the witty humor throughout, The Boondock Saints is a film I highly recommend to anyone.

CLOVERFIELD

Story:
A group of friends throw a going-away party for Rob who landed a vice-presidential job overseas in Japan. However their party is cut short as the city suffers what seemed to be an earthquake.
Unfortunately it is soon revealed to be something much more unimaginable - and much more terrifying...


CLOVERFIELD has to be the most incredible film I have ever seen. Watching this film made Danny Boyle's films (28 days later, Sunshine) look like characters facing the stess of a broken nail.
Never have I been so emotionally tied to a film to the point where my stomach was literally in knots from the stress.

The story is... surreal. A nightmare come to life.
Drew Goddard wrote a story of unimaginable circumstances. While the idea of a large creature attacking a city is not new in the movie business, Goddard creates an original twist in his personal adaptation of the idea. The entire attack is told from the point of view of the victims themselves.
A single camera binds you to the screen as it shows the only live-witness account of the events.

The things these friends have to go through is unbelievable...
Phenominal story, Goddard. Fantastic.

Mat Reeves, the director of CLOVERFIELD, also deserves recognition. Everything was perfect to the smallest detail.
I have never been more stressed out while viewing a film.
There are no words, Reeves. Unbelievable work.

The film had perfect casting. Not one weak link in the bunch. Every actor and actress gave it their all and it showed in their performance.
Flawless.

However the actor that captured my most was T.J. Miller, who played "Hud" - the man holding the camera throughout the film.

Because he is behind a camera lens for almost the entire film, his role depended heavily on him to be able to portray his emotions through his voice.

And he delivered.

You feel a pounding in your chest as he screams for everyone to run.
It is his performance that pulled me into the story the most.

This is actually his first role in a major motion picture, his only past work has been his role in the TV series Carpoolers.

I sincerely hope we see more from him. He proves to be very promising.


CLOVERFIELD is a movie no one will soon forget. It will shake you to your very core and leave you stunned.
It definitely has made major shoes to fill.

Sweeney Todd - The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

Story:
After hard years in exile for a crime he didn't commit, Benjamin Barker now Sweeney Todd, returns to London to find his wife dead and his daughter in the hands of the evil Judge Turpin. In his anger, Sweeney goes on a murderous rampage on all of London, with the help of Mrs. Lovett, he opens a barber shop in which he lures his victims in with a charming smile before casually ending their life with a flick of his razor across their neck. But not one man killed, nor ten thousand men can satisfy Sweeney's lust for revenge on those who've caused his years of pain.

I have always had a soft spot for musicals, and I proudly add this one to my list.

The story was a wickedly twisted one that was fun to watch and lovely to hear. It quickly pulls you in and before you know it you're cheering for Todd and Mrs. Lovett, despite the horrible deeds they commit.

Johny Depp was amazing as usual. I was already aware of how well he sang from his performance in Crybaby, but it was a whole new experience to hear him sing in Todd. The songs were, obviously, a whole new style and it was great to hear him sing them in a much more "serious" role.

Helena Bonham Carter was my favorite in the film. Her character was absolutely adorable. Mrs. Lovett is someone who wins your heart, she was so much fun to watch during the films and her songs always made me laugh. She may be more twisted than Sweeney Todd, but she somehow still carries on a sense of innocence.

Phenominal work, Carter.

Many will recognize Alan Rickman from his role as Proffesor Snape in the Harry Potter films. In Todd he plays the role of the evil Judge Turpin. His role was one you quickly learn to hate, which (to plainly state it) means that he did a fantastic job.
Kudos.

There were a lot of younger actors that had amazing voices in this film. Jamie Campbell Bower, who played the role of Anthony Hope, is only twenty. He had a shockingly pure voice that took my breath away. He has only performed in two other films, The Dinner Party (2007) and RocknRolla (completed).
I hope he continues doing well.

Jayne Wisener, who played Johanna, has never recorded her voice, nor has she acted before Todd. Her's was a voice that was sweet, gentle, child-like. It was a sweet sound that you miss when the song ends.

However, the award for the most impressive voice in the film goes to Ed Sanders (IX) hands down. Playing the role of a young boy named Toby, Sanders steals all the scenes he's in. His voice carries on strong for someone his age, and I was completely blown away by it.

And he wasn't too shabby of an actor either. *wink*
I hope to see his work again soon.

My only complaint on the film is the absense of Danny Elfman's music. I understand that it is based on an original Broadway play but I was really hoping Tim Burton's usual partner in crime, Danny Elfman, would redo the music. Keeping to the basic idea, but adding a dash of his own flare.
Danny Elfman and Tim Burton work so well together, that I was actually a little saddened to hear his absense. I couldn't help but wonder throughout the whole film what it would have been like if I was hearing Elfman's music instead.

Overall, the movie was fantastic. Thumbs up, Burton.

Sunshine

Last thursday, I believe, I was finally able to see the movie "Sweeney Todd" but didn't have the chance to review it. But it will have to wait, because I just finished seeing a film that left me breathless.
"Sunshine."

The Story:
The Sun is dieing. If it dies then so does all human and animal existance. All hope lies on a bomb created by physicist Robert Capa. Equalling the size of Manhattan in mass, the bomb is designed so that, when released into the sun, it will automatically thrust itself into the center then explode. The result would be a blast so massive it would create a star within a star.

The story was phenominal. The idea of this suicide mission **as I viewed it** was enough to send me through a whirwind of emotions. I found myself literally at the end of my seat, experiencing all emotions along with the characters.
But writer Alex Garland doesn't stop there.
The store becomes more intense as it goes along, the situations become more dire and the race against time becomes more and more frightening.
The story is one that engulfs you completely in the first couple of scenes when it is made uncomfortably clear the reality of the situation at hand.
I was unable to detach myself from this world the whole way through.
Fantastic writing.
Beautiful, Garland.

The director, Danny Boyle, is the same man who directed "28 Days Later".
I don't believe anyone could have handled this movie better than him. With a story this delicate, every detail had to be perfect.
The casting.
The visual effects.
The presentations of lines.
Setting.
Everything.
It all had to be flawless in order to pull off a film of this magnitude.
And he did it.
Boyle has a gift for doing stories where it seems everything is going wrong until you believe it couldn't possibly get worse,
and then it does.
This is the man you go to for thrills, excitement, and the most stressful viewing of a movie ever.
Definitely a man who owns his craft.

Out of the main cast I recognized three.
The physicist who invented the bomb was played by Cillian Murphey. He is the man who also starred in "28 days later", "Red Eye", and portrayed the Scarecrow in "Batman Begins."
I always enjoy Murphey's work. He has the ability to display different emotions without changing his actions too much. And when he does do drastic changes you are always faced with such raw emotion that makes you drop your jaw in astonishment.

None of the characters were easy to pull off. Every character demanded nothing but the best from the actors and all of them delivered 110%

The hardest role, I believe, was that of Chris Evans who played "Mace," one of the scientists aboard the ship.
Mace is someone you want to hate, but can't. Evan's character is clearly established as the 'jerk' of the group. Very blunt, very rude, very serious. And while many of his lines cause you to argue with the screen, you cannot hate him because while he may be hard to deal with, he ALWAYS does the right thing.
The result was a very difficult personality to adapt to. Having seen Chris Evans in the role of "The Human Torch" in the "Fantastic 4" films, it's hard to notice what an amazing actor he is.
This film DEFINITELY makes you notice.
Watching Evans play this character opened my eyes and created newfound respect for him.
I felt the same as I did the first time I saw Will Smith play a serious role after watching him play "comic relief" characters such as in "The Fresh Prince of Bel Air" and "Men in Black."
It left me speechless as I was watching him through this journey, becoming more and more convinced of the danger lurking around them all.
I cannot wait until his next film.

Some of you may recognize Rose Byrne from the film "Troy" in which she played the role of Briseis.
In "Sunshine", she plays the role of "Cassie".
Cassie is one of the only two women on board the ship "Icarus II", and probably the one seen as more feminine.
Byrne has some difficult scenes to handle as well. Most of her scenes required her to display emotionally-draining situations that are extremely difficult to pull off without going "too over the top" or "not strong enough."
It is quickly proven, however, that Byrne is in full controll of her talent and is fully capable of handling any scenario handed to her.
It was refreshing to see someone handle a role so well that it looked as if it was all done casually, almost second-nature.

The visual effects and images were amazing. It is no easy task to design a world mere miles away from the sun. There are so many details and unanswered questions that we cannot begin to comprehend the answers to, that creating an entire film with the main focus being the small distance from the sun was a HUGE risk to take.
I'm glad to say that this, too, was done spectacularly.
I cannot imagine how it could have been any better.
It was breath-taking.

"Sunshine" is a fantastic film that I HIGHLY recommend everyone to see. I don't think there is a film out there at this time that can match it.

Brother Bear 2

I've seen the sequel to Disney's Brother Bear and it was.....meh.

I absolutely loved the first movie. The music was fantastic, Phil Collins is a genius, and the story was one I would read if it were novelized. The art and color were fantastic, especially the scenes with the "Great Spirits".

However, the sequel did not live up to the first. The drawing lacked, and there were no more fantastic colors or effects. The music was not Phil Collins and so it was not even done in the same style as the first, which makes no sense to me since sequels should demand continuity. The music was fine but it didn't seem to fit with the style of the film, the previous movie's music matched every mood down to the expressions of the character's faces.

I'm dissappointed to see yet another sequel by Disney be unsuccessful. What is it with them? Why can't they make a good sequel? They make great movies, but as soon as they try to continue them it all goes downhill.

Toy Story2 was great, but it's more PIXAR than them so it doesn't really count, but Mulan 2 bombed, so did Hunchback 2 and Cinderella 2.
The only Lion King sequel that was great was Lion King 1 1/2, and probably because it was the same story, AND animators, as the first only from a different point-of-view.
I haven't seen "The Return of Jafar" in years but the other sequels I remember were horrible as well.

I will never understand why if they create such beautiful stories and movies the first time around, they can't repeat that.

Brother Bear 2, thumbs down. C'mon Disney...

I Am Legend

"I Am Legend" inspires many different emotions from its viewers. I was deeply amazed at the high quality of the film, but also deeply upset from the story.

I cannot recall any flaws in this film.

Will Smith once again proves to me to be a gifted actor. All events are made real through his facial features and voice alone.

Will Smith is the man.

The script was, WOW. I was glued to the screen in suspense, anxiety, excitement, and sorrow all the way through. It even made me cry. Yes, tears actually formed and fell. The story is one that connects you to each character, main and secondary, in a very intimate way very quickly. You are pulled into the story and quickly find yourself caring for each character and wishing for their safety, gasping and moving to the end of your seat whenever they are in danger.

The story was phenominal.

Francis Lawrence, the director, knows what he's doing. I cannot find a single complaint about the film other than it made me cry.

I highly recomend it to anyone. And if you have the chance to see it in Imax, please do. You will not regret it.

My Favorite, OLD Review

I was going through my old messages on myspace and found feedback on reviews I've long ago written. Included in the feedback would be the review, so I decided to post what I think is my best one.

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300 is not a movie in the hollywood sense of the word. It is a legend. A story of honor and bravery that leaves all audiences in awe of true warriors.

"No Retreat. No Surrender.That is Spartan Law."

300 is the legend of King Leonidas and his army of Spartans facing unimaginable odds against the army of Xerxes for the honor and freedom of Sparta.

"Our arrows will block out the sun.""Then we will fight in the shade."

Zack Snyder takes Frank Miller's graphic novel to the big screen, panel for panel, in beautiful screen shots that look like paintings themselves. There is literally no frame in the film that won't leave your eyes scavenging over the screen in admiration.

This is no ordinary "movie."

This film is much more graphic, much more surreal, and has so much more depth than any other film created thus far, it will leave you breathless.

"Only Spartan Women give birth to perfect men."

The cast to this 2007 film is flawless.

I have seen the training the actors went through to transform their bodies and to enhance their strength. And it pays off.The Spartans are perfect soldiers in every way. And it is clearly shown that the cast threw their whole heart and sweat into their performance.

Gerard Butler plays the memorable role of King Leonidas, a man who would die not only for his homeland, but for every one of his soldiers as well. You find yourself respecting his character more than you would any other leader. There are no words for his performance; but I cannot imagine anyone else doing a better job portraying a king, a husband, a father, a friend, and a fellow soldier all in one.

No one else could have done this role better than him.

Rodrigo Santoro, who plays the self-proclaimed God-King Xerxes, had few lines in the movie, but that is all that he needed. He was able to convey a look alone that showed power, dominance, and all control.His mere appearance was formidable.

Lena Headey is Queen Gorgo. Hers is a role that shouts wisdom, nobility, and justice. Her performance impressed me most because female roles such as these always seem to leave something to be desired. But not here. Although she may not be a soldier and could never do the things her husband does, Queen Gorgo fights for what is right at all costs. Headey did a wondrous job in performing this role. Her strength, wisdom, and prowess radiates off her very stance.

"Do not ask what a Spartan citizen should do, nor a king.Ask what a free man should do."

The story leaves nothing to be desired. I commend the writers for their spectacular job well done.They not only brought the story alive, but they filled and extended it in a way that only intensified the message of the film.
It took my breath away.

"Earthquake.""No. Spartans, battle positions!"

There were many special effects in the film. Whether they were the armies or beasts, they never failed to have the same artistic beauty as the rest of the screen shots.Zack Snyder's work was nothing short of genius as he directed the film to have the very look of a graphic novel.The armies and horses themselves looked just as much as beasts as the wild wolf. All of which just add to the film's excellence.

The film had this very interesting style where there would be slow motion shots throughout the battle scenes.This was a risky choice because slow-motion shots, if not handled carefully, could put off many viewers and hinder the film's effect on the audience.Snyder must have been aware of this because he handled the slow-motion scenes with great care and presicion that none of them seemed out of place. The very thing that could have hurt the film, made it extraordinary in a whole new way.

Overall this film is indescribably amazing. Anyone who is foolish to think that comics are "just for kids" should either watch this film or read the graphic novel it's based on.

It will leave you breathless.

Rescue Dawn

Now war movies aren't always my favorite. They just don't always catch me. I didn't like "Braveheart" until the second half, I liked "Tristan & Isolde" more for the story line rather than the fight scenes, and I loved "Troy" and "300". So it all depends on the movie.

I am happy to say that I enjoyed "Rescue Dawn." It felt slow for me at first but it picked up for me half way through. I think the only reason it didn't catch me earlier than that is because it was all soldier life which I have never been exposed to. Things that were supposed to be funny or common knowledge went right over my head, and even after the torture scenes didn't hit. If I recall correctly there was complete silence during those scenes and a good soundtrack/score is very important when it comes to sucking me in.

"Rescue Dawn" is the story of Lt. Dieter Dengler's capture, escape, and rescue.

The story really doesn't need more description. You are there for it all. I always enjoyed stories like this, where nothing out of the ordinary happens, just what did happen. That's right, this is based on a true story.

Christian Bale was magnificent as usual. He never fails to impress me. With one scene you are convinced you're watching his struggles live.

Now, Steve Zahn BLEW MY MIND AWAY! I have never before seen him in a serious role and so for what might be the first time I was finally able to see his acting talent shine. His character, Duane, broke my heart over and over again. He threw his whole heart, soul, and body into his character, and it clearly shows.

I was really impressed with his performance.

Whether or not movies like this are your cup of tea, I recomend it. It has a fantastic story, based on a true one at that, with characters that will not only pull your heart strings,

they become a part of you as well.

How will you know? ((review of ENCHANTED))

Last saturday, I believe, I went to the movie theater for the first time in months with my friends. Due to show times, we decided to watch Enchanted. I haven't reviewed anything in a while, plus the memory isn't raw in my mind, so I'm going to be rusty, but here goes.

Giselle's life was perfect. A beautiful voice, animal friends, and she is now to marry the prince of her dreams. However, things take a very surprising turn when an old woman leads Giselle away from her wedding to a magical "wishing" well. The woman's true intentions show when she is revealed to be the prince's step-mother, determined to keep her throne she sends Giselle to another world unlike anything Giselle could have ever imagined...

New York.

When I first heard of this movie I wasn't interested in seeing it, but as I saw the trailers I started to get curious. It seemed like it was going to be funny.

It was. Every joke I made in my mind when watching Disney movies in the past, they thought of it too. Which made the film very enjoyable to watch.

I loved the storyline, if I had any complaints they weren't serious because I can no longer remember any. The film had one more twist aside from the obvious reality switch, and I was pleased to see that it fit perfectly.

It was refreshing to see something different, yet so familiar, all at once. I think it's a fantastic modernization of the stories I used to love as a child (and still do).

James Marsden was my favorite in the film. A lot of the laughs from the movie came from the antics of his character, Prince Edward. I really enjoyed watching him and would watch the movie all over again if only for his scenes.

Amy Adams, who played Giselle, was my second favorite. It was great to see her character grow as the story progressed. I haven't seen her in anything else she's done but I hope to see her again if the story fits.

The cinematography was fantastic in my opinion. And there were some shots that left me thinking, "WOW. Now THAT was awesome."

Overall I recomend the film to anyone who ever enjoyed Disney in the past or if they still enjoy them in the present.