The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

The English version of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo had some big shoes to fill with the crossover of not only the Swedish book, but also the Swedish film as well. David Fincher is one of the few directors I could have seen actually pulling this off and he did it quite well.

Exciting, entrancing, enthralling, and entertaining from beginning to end, this version would have done Stieg Larsson proud. I went into this movie a little weary because of how good the Swedish version was. I didn't think any actress could match what Noomi Rapace had done in the first version, but then there is Rooney Mara. Absolutely stupendous! Bringing Lisbeth Salander's vengefulness, brutality, and smarts to the big screen is no easy feat, but Mara does it with elegance, enticing beauty, and ease. She carries the movie with seemingly little effort. Fincher made a great call casting a little known actress such as Mara for this role. She has a great chance of at least being nominated for many awards this season.

Daniel Craig lays down his Walther PPK and instead picks up his pen for this movie and proves that he is more than just an action star. His acting was believable and a far cry from his previous roles, but he couldn't really hold up across from Mara. Stellan Skarsgård as always was spectacular, I think better than Peter Haber, creating a character who could have been the head of company and liked by people he worked with. Haber was just too strange in my opinion.

The storyline of this version stays relatively close to the Swedish version, but adds its own bits and pieces here and there to make it a fresh version. Having a foreign film to base much of this movie off of probably helped a lot with how to pace it and how to present events. The story, obviously thanks entirely to Larsson,  is amazing and great fun to watch on the big screen, especially this time in English instead of having to read the entire time.

The layout of the island was sleek and mysterious and Martin's house was perfect. Every building was similar to the Swedish version, but had interesting tweaks making them new and exciting. However, the guest house was very similar to the guest house in the Swedish version, which was a pleasant surprise. The combination of similarities and differences throughout this version of the first in the Millennium series worked in perfect harmony.

The one difference I didn't like was the lessened violence. That was one of the most important parts of the Swedish version to me. Yes, some parts of the movie were still violent/aggressive enough almost to the point of having to look away, but others needed more to give the shock value the Swedish version had. The time in Martin's house should have been extended as well.

This remake of the Swedish original definitely did both the movie and the book justice and was in no way a disappointment. See it while you can! But it definitely won't be the last we see from this stellar group of entertainers.

8/10

Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol

You're probably thinking "Another Mission Impossible movie? Come on, why would they make another one?" or "the only impossible mission here is to make a good movie" or something along these lines. However, I can assure you that the newest mission has everything that the first one did, with better special effects and acting.

The IMF has been blamed for the bombing of the Kremlin and disavowed. Ethan Hunt and his team of three work to clear the IMF's name all while lacking many of their common resources provided by the full IMF.

Tom Cruise may have lost his mind a few years back, but his acting hasn't gone anywhere. Bouncing back from his cookie-cutter summer action/comedy Knight & Day in 2010 he shows he can still roll with the big boys when it comes to action movies. Performing one of the most thrilling sequences of Ghost Protocol Cruise was suspended from a few ropes and pulleys from Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world. While climbing and running up, down, and all around the outside of the building Cruise keeps his character poised on the mission at hand. If this scene doesn't raise your pulse or get your palms sweating I don't know what is wrong with you.

The rest of Ethan's team are great, each bringing something to the table. Jane (Paula Patton) provides vengeance and sex appeal. Brandt (Jeremy Renner) is a mysterious character bringing surprisingly good skills to the table for an analyst. And Benji (Simon Pegg) provides much of the comedic relief, but like any good action movie there is a healthy balance between the comedy and action.

Tying interestingly and surprisingly well to the third movie Ghost Protocol keeps the twists and turns coming, but never really strays into the completely unbelievable. Each twist breaks the plot and propels it forward to keep the movie moving. Even the dialogue scenes keep the plot moving, engaging us and allows us to take a breather between death defying stunts and plans.

The plot and the acting are both good, but what pushes Ghost Protocol ahead are the action sequences. Ranging from heights to depths and escapes to chases among many others, every scene is thought out brilliantly. The last 45 minutes has scenes reminiscent of the original Mission Impossible and is an incredible ending to a spectacular film.

I originally thought this movie would have done the best in the summer, but the more I think about it the more I realize this was a perfect time for it to come out. While independent studios and filmmakers and producing limited released movies, audiences want a break from these and just want to see action. Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol blends action, humor, and thought into one very entertaining movie. If you like action you won't be disappointed. Definitely see this in IMAX if you can. The extra money is worth it! (And you get a special treat before the movie in select theaters listed here)

I can't write about Ghost Protocol without mentioning the 6 minute 'Prologue' of The Dark Knight Rises (in theaters July 20th, 2012), especially because it is the reason I saw GP again. If you thought the opening of The Dark Knight was incredible you won't believe what Christopher Nolan has created for the last installment of his trilogy. Bane may be a little difficult to understand, but seeing everything unfold on an IMAX screen was amazing. This will easily top TDK and could top all the movies in 2012. An absolute must-see for anyone who has seen a Batman movie.

Ghost Protocol: 8/10

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows

In 2009, Sherlock Holmes was released and was a pleasant surprise to everyone who saw it. A stylish and exciting adaptation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's novels. While not as intricate or in depth as the novels are it was still a very fun movie to watch.

Well, now in 2011, Guy Ritchie has done it again. To be honest, I wasn't expecting this sequel to be as good as the first, but I was wrong. It was just as good if not better. Full of humor and heart, Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, proves to be a stand out film of the holiday season.

Sherlock and Watson must team up again in this sequel to takedown their toughest adversary yet: Professor Moriarty. Beginning with a cameo from Rachel McAdams and a reminder of what made the first Sherlock so enjoyable. Some of my favorite parts of these movies are when we go into Sherlock's mind and get a feel for how he works things out, in fights he explains everything that is going to happen while we see it in slow motion. Always a pleasure to watch.

Robert Downey Jr. has come a long way since his last arrest in 2001. He rose from his plights and has become one of the best actors of the last five years. His role as Sherlock Holmes is no different. He really does justice to all that is the hero Sherlock Holmes. Playing the role with just the right amount of humor and intelligence as he did in the first one. And Jude Law is great reprising Dr. Watson who is, in this film, a smarter sidekick than Sherlock is used to. Noomi Rapace made her Hollywood debut and she brought the power and aloofness of Lisbeth Salander into the world of Sherlock Holmes. We will be seeing a lot more from her in Hollywood in the future.

The plot, much like the novels, provides you with all the details to solve the mysteries, but put them in such plain sight or just breeze over them that you think nothing of them when you first see them. Only when we see the same details through the crafty eyes of Holmes and Watson does it all makes sense.

Sticking with a similar formula from the first film, Game of Shadows edges past its' predecessor and keeps true to the Sherlock Holmes I believe was originally intended by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Don't miss this one in the theater!

8/10

The Ides of March

This really is the year of the Gosling and he will deserve any and every award he receives unless it is at the annual Razzie ceremony. I don't think he is capable of pulling a Sandra Bullock from two years ago and winning both best actor and worst actor in one year. Especially with the year he has been having with Crazy, Stupid, Love and Drive under his belt (The Ides of March being a predecessor to Drive) I believe that he has at least the best actor statue in his pocket and he very well could snag the best supporting actor as well. I don't know if that has happened in the history of the Academy. However there are still some great movie months on the way so I can't really call it yet.

Diving us right into the corrupt world of politics we follow the seemingly incorruptible Stephen Meyers, played by Ryan Gosling, the head of the campaign for presidential candidate Governor Mike Morris. We learn more and more about the perfect Morris (George Clooney) as we plunge into the grimy muck of politics.

Reprising his directorial role for the fourth time, George Clooney does an outstanding job yet again both in acting and directing. As a director he does a great job making us feel the world closing in around the main characters and as an actor we find ourselves torn over what to think of him. Stephen Meyers is a rock in the  torrential downpour from the politics around him, getting chipped away slowly, but surely. He tries to keep his hands clean in the dirty political world.

While much of the plot was predictable, the dialogue and interactions made up for the lackluster surprises. And of course the acting is what really propelled this movie to where it is now.

Gosling steals the show yet again in this movie and keeps the momentum he has gained this year rolling well on his way to many nominations and wins in the coming award season. Definitely an enjoyable movie worth seeing.

7/10

Moneyball

Baseball: America's past-time. Each spring the sport begins again with prospective recruits from around the nation being scouted, watched, and trained during spring training. Some recruits meet the expectations and others do not. However, one man: Bill James, came up with a way of optimizing the team called Sabermetrics, where players are chosen solely based on computer analyzed statistics.

Baseball as of late has turned into a game of money. Sabermetrics, in the right hands, can take the minimal salary cap and turn it into a winning team. This was the strategy employed by Billy Beane, which came to be known as Moneyball.

In his third film, Bennett Miller takes Michael Lewis' novel Moneyball and turns it into an enthralling movie experience. Chronicling the life of Billy Beane, played by Brad Pitt, as general manager of the Oakland Athletics, Moneyball shows the behind the scenes of a baseball team and shows what it takes to really be the general manager of a baseball team. After losing the ALDS to the Yankees and losing his star players, Billy Beane must rebuild his team. While looking for new players he meets a stats analyst, Peter Brand (Jonah Hill), and takes the idea of Sabermetrics and puts it into action.

Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill are atop their games in this film. It was amazing fun to watch. Making a baseball movie entertaining for people who are not huge followers of the sport is tough to do, but with these two holding the lead roles there was no doubt that it was possible. With this movie, Brad Pitt has at least thrown his hat in the ring for the Best Actor Oscar race. Jonah Hill should score a nomination for his supporting role. A meticulous, calculating man in his role as general manager who is a loving and supporting father in his familial role, Brad Pitt has surely made Billy Beane proud with his portrayal.

Not having read the book the script was great. There was only dialogue when it was needed. Very well could put the screenplay in the race for adapted screenplay. At 133 minutes and a fairly slow pace, the script keeps you into the movie the entire time teaching about Sabermetrics and interjecting Billy Beane's past. Very fun to watch. And with all of these nominations I'm throwing Moneyball into the ring for Best Picture.


Moneyball was incredible. I was not entirely sure what to expect going in and I was blown away. This movie has definitely placed itself in the top five of sports movies of all time. Definitely a must-see.

9/10

50/50

Heartwarming, healing, and hilarious 50/50 really surprised me. The premise alone could turn audiences away: a comedy about cancer? How could it be done well? If you want to know, see this movie.

Starting as a normal day in the life of Adam we are introduced to the other characters. Then, as luck would have it Adam learns he has a rare form of back cancer. The comedy before this event, while good, is nowhere near as fun or funny as after learning he has cancer.

The writing is stupendous! Line after line of pithy witty dialogue, each more entertaining than the last keeps the audience engaged. With much humor it seems that the heart of the story could be lost, and yet the story stays true to what it should be. The theater was full and tears were flowing from many faces as the sounds of sniffling filled the air during various touching events. Cancer is a scary thing and one of the best lines of the films personifies how I'm sure many cancer patients feel. To paraphrase: Why can't people just say 'hey, you're dying' and stop ignoring the problem.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt gives an incredible performance. To be honest I actually believed that he had cancer the entire movie. The emotions, or lack there of for much of the movie, he expressed were astounding and real. It didn't hurt to have a therapist (played beautifully by Anna Kendrick) throughout the movie to help us understand that Adam's reactions were normal responses to cancer. It made his emotions seem more real.  Even Seth Rogen gives a fantastic performance. Most of the time he plays a naive idiot, but this time his performance is full of heart.

The final part of this movie that brings it all together is the music. Michael Giacchino gets it. He knows the exact music that fits the emotions of the movie. He did it in Up and he does it again in 50/50. Simple songs fitting every mood and occasion. The music adds to the acting and the writing and creates a near perfect movie experience.

If you or anyone you know have been touched by cancer, see this movie. Or even if you just like comedies see this movie! Excellent! Early Oscar contender for sure. Best Acting nomination to Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Best Score nomination to Michael Giacchino, and it could possibly steal a Best Picture nomination as well.

8.5/10

Scream Series

While Halloween is not even close to the top of the list of my favorite holidays, it does bring about some of my favorite types of movies: horror films. The horror genre has had some tough times and has lost fan bases as more sequels are made. Which brings to light the question: Do you like scary movies?

A horror film series starting in 1996 got its reboot April 15th 2011 with Scream 4. The best thing about the Scream series was that they never take themselves too seriously. Every film references other horror movies and plays on the horror clichés and pokes fun at itself, making them all incredibly entertaining to watch.

Starting in Woodsboro in 1996 Scream introduces us to Ghostface and Sidney Prescott, America's favorite innocent victim. The opening scene throws the viewer into the action with Drew Barrymore responding to questions about her favorite scary movies by Ghostface. From there the rules of a horror movie are explained as they come up. The ironies start piling up as do the bodies. Characters say things like "She runs up the stairs when she should be running out the front door" and not ten minutes later that same character cannot leave through the front door and has to run upstairs. The twists and turns in the first installment of this series keep you guessing until the end. While we may follow Sidney, Gale, and Dewey for much of the movie, one of the most important characters in my opinion in Randy, the movie nerd. He lays out the rules for the characters as well as the audience and makes it clear what is to be expected.

Scream 2 released almost exactly a year after the original Scream revisits Sidney at college two years after the events of of Woodsboro and three years after the death of her mother (whom the original Ghostface claimed to have murdered). Instead of just playing on the clichés of horror movies, Scream 2 takes it one step further and plays with the rules of sequels with Randy again explaining the reasoning behind them as they come up. The three main characters, Sidney, Dewey, and Gale, all step up their game and improve their acting. Sidney this time around has been attacked and is a survivor so she knows the ropes a little better than the first time. The writing is just as good and creates an actual great sequel to an outstanding first film.

Scream 3 was released in 2000 and takes place three years after Scream 2. This time the rules have changed again. With Randy being killed off in the second movie (quite gruesomely) who is going to explain the rules this time around? It's simple. Randy from the grave! The killer in the third movie brings the characters together in Los Angeles around the set of the fictional Stab 3. It turns out that Randy, who figured he was going to die, recorded himself explaining the rules of the third act of a trilogy: mainly how everything goes back to the beginning. The third time around Sidney is no longer an innocent victim. She is fighting back though she may be terrified. While much of the acting has deteriorated in the supporting roles, Dewey, Gale, and Sidney are still giving powerhouse performances.

The writing of these two films is excellent! Kevin Williamson was rumored to have locked himself in a cabin for two days to write it and he based it off of a serial killer preying on college students, whether this is true or not the scripts for the three films he wrote were great and suited to the genre and style of films. For the third one, Williamson jumped ship and did not pen the screenplay. Unfortunately it really shows. Some of the twists are messy and seem to have been rushed. The dialogue is less revolved around other movies and more revolved around the shallow plot and supporting characters. Thankfully, though, Williamson got on board again for Scream 4.

New decade. New rules. This is the hook and the main idea in Scream 4. The opening of this Scream is fun to watch every time. The fourth film takes meta-reflexivity (the idea, in this case, of making a movie within a movie and referencing many other films) to a whole new level. Characters even explicitly say "how meta can you get?"; irony at its' finest. While Scream 4 may follow some rules similar to its predecessors new rules are rampant. The unexpected has become the expected. Somehow the fourth installment fights through the obstacle of just meeting expectations. It creates a very entertaining movie to watch and somehow, Kevin Williamson keeps you guessing until the end. The three main actors reprising their roles 10 years after the events of Scream 3 give even better performances this time around. My favorite part of this film is the fearlessness of Sidney. She fights and fights because she wants it to stop. She doesn't bat an eye when she gets attacked.

Overall, a great horror franchise, my favorite to be exact and I hope they keep making them, only if Wes Craven and Kevin Williamson keep teaming up, and as long as the three main characters keep reprising their roles as Sidney, Gale, and Dewey. They're fun to re-watch every October or when you're just in the mood for an entertaining scary movie.

Scream: 9/10

Scream 2: 8.5/10

Scream 3: 7/10

Scream 4: 8/10

Drive

In recent years, Ryan Gosling has proven that he is a great actor and Drive is no different. A thrillingly brutal drama about a daytime stunt driver who moonlights as a wheelman who seemingly has nothing really to live for.

Ryan Gosling makes the movie and literally becomes the Driver. The violent acts he commits, while stylized, are very well done. Gosling's lack of emotion is what makes his performance believeable. Only slight tics of emotion are shown aside from his aggression, which makes him an anti-hero of sorts. Every move he makes is precise and articulated beautifully. Armed with a hammer, his boots, gloves, and most importantly his car, the Driver has all the tools he needs to take care of what needs to be done.

The acting all around is incredible. Carey Mulligan definitely should have been utilized more because whenever she was on screen with Gosling we got a bit more emotion, making the Driver seem more human. Aside from that she was perfect for this role. Innocent beauty at its' finest. Bryan Cranston pulls a 180 from his character on Breaking Bad and is not tough, but rather a weak little man trying to work his way up in the world. The supporting acting was great, but Gosling steals the show, not that he really has to steal it since the whole film revolves around him. Every little thing he does has a purpose.

A nameless main character always makes a huge impression on the audience. It makes the character seem like more than just a person, but a symbol and the Driver is a great example. The choice to have silence and minimal dialogue throughout adds to the persona of the nameless anti-hero. Just as in The Dark Knight silence adds an eerie effect in Drive. Many movies of this genre include far too much dialogue which ends up getting repetitive and boring so the lack of dialogue was refreshing.

The brutality the Driver uses when fighting is outstanding. The most memorable and arguably one of the most brutal scenes occurs in an elevator directly after one of the most tender moments of the movie. The Driver is an enigma that is sure to bring many homemade sewn on scorpion patch jackets to Halloween this year.

Hands down one of the best movies of the year!

9/10

Warrior

A surprisingly moving drama Warrior is a modern day Rocky story. Revolving around the Conlon clan consisting of an alcoholic father and two estranged brothers, one of whom is married, the movie starts out slow, but picks up speed as the fighting picks up intensity.

The cast could not have been more perfect for this movie. Tom Hardy and Joel Edgerton look like they could actually be brothers and Nick Nolte looks like he could be their father. Nolte gives an outstanding and heartfelt performance as the alcoholic father. Edgerton and Hardy give believable performances as the estranged brothers and as the movie moves along we are presented with a film that revolves around family ties and isn't so much about the fighting. Even Jennifer Morrison, most well known from her time spent on House, gives a heartfelt performance.

With an all-star cast director Gavin O'Connor, previous credits including Pride and Glory and Miracle, couldn't go wrong. The directing gave the acting the subtle, nuanced touches this type of movie needed. Over the entirety of the film each of the characters seemingly develops more emotion which works towards the conclusion.

The script was very well done, with just the right amount of dialogue and just the right amount of fighting. The progress from slow moving pure drama in the beginning to moving family drama revolving around UFC fights was flawless. Each fight showing how close the estranged brothers were after all these years and how close both really were to their father.

One issue that arose during the movie was the accents. The characters would flow from a Jersey accent, to a Brooklyn accent, and sometimes even something similar to a southern drawl. It became a little distracting, but if that detail can be ignored the movie is very enjoyable. I found myself cheering throughout the fights along with everyone else in the theater.

Overall an unexpectedly good movie showing how strong the ties of family really are.

8/10

Contagion

Expertly crafted, well written, and brilliantly acted, Contagion has it all. Taking a premise that didn't seem likely to succeed, Steven Soderbergh spun a unique thriller revolving around the people more than the disease. Throwing us right into the action with disease spreading through the world, Contagion, like the virus within the film, doesn't let up.

The script beautifully gives us only the information we need. It does this by using many different characters across the globe instead of just a couple main ones. With the multitude of characters we are shown how a pandemic affects the world and how different organizations work together and react to the problem. The characters ranged from a village in China, a recently single father and his daughter, a deluded blogger, a group of scientists, and two higher-ups of the CDC.

With one of the best casts of the year the acting throughout this movie was incredible! Matt Damon, Marrion Cotillard, Kate Winslet, Laurence Fishburne, Jude Law, and Gwyneth Paltrow give oustanding performances. Full of emotional nuance and small facial expressions the actors do a great job of conveying their feelings and making it seem real. When tracking where the virus originated the actors give their performances a touch of urgency. None of the events in the movie ever felt like they couldn't actually happen. It was reminiscent of the swine flu and bird flu epidemics a few years ago. Their performances were unforgettable.

Contagion is full of twists, turns, and surprises, and just when you think you have it all figured out, it changes and messes with you. Definitely a must-see.

8/10

Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes

Most people know the story of the Planet of the Apes, but not exactly how it started and that is where The Rise of the Planet of the Apes comes in. While in experimental stages of creating a drug to cure Alzheimer's disease on chimpanzee uses his heightened intelligence to lead the other apes to freedom. Rise of the Planet of the Apes exceeded all expectations or preconceived notions I had about it beforehand. It was exciting, action-filled, thrilling, and had heart. Following a solid script with grade-A performances by James Franco and Freida Pinto this movie has everything a good blockbuster needs to be successful.

This film could have been one of the biggest failures of the summer, but instead we get thrown right into the story just as Bright Eyes is discovered, the ape who gains improved cognition and has no adverse side effects. From there the action and excitement ensues.

The acting was outstanding from every actor. James Franco was perfect in his role as the lead scientist Will Rodman. He carried much of the film and brought a lot of the heart to the movie. Every instance of drama throughout the movie was portrayed wonderfully by him and could be felt by the audience. Freida Pinto and Franco played very well off of each other as did John Lithgow. The one character that felt out of place was Dodge Landon played by Tom Felton. His character was awful to the chimps and made the audience hate him, something Felton learned to do very well in his role as Draco Malfoy in the Harry Potter series.

The script was just incredible. Including many twists, turns, and great action sequences it is a template that any good action flick should follow. The two main characters, Rodman and Caesar were developed extremely well. Much of Caesar's character development was portrayed through special effects, but a lot can be said for Andy Serkis's performance under all the CGI. He really knows how to bring characters like this one and Gollum from Lord of the Rings to life.

Not only were the special effects on Caesar great, but the effects throughout the movie were spectacular as well. Every bit of action felt well thought out and expertly choreographed and no action sequence ever felt out of place, too long, or stupid.

Overall this was the standout action movie of the summer. It was intense, action-packed, heartfelt, and enjoyable. The script was perfect, the special effects couldn't have been better, and the acting topped it all off. A great prequel to Planet of the Apes, it leads right into where the first of the series picks up.

8/10

The Debt

The Debt is the Ghost Writer of this year meaning it is a movie reminiscent of Alfred Hitchcock: a movie filled with deceit, betrayal, and intrigue. And with an outstanding cast it doesn't disappoint.

Starting in 1997 with shocking news about their former colleague David Peretz (Ciarán Hinds)
 reaching two retired Mossad secret agents, Rachel Singer (Helen Mirren) and Stephan Gold (Tom Wilkinson), The Debt starts the story off with a bang. From here the story is told through and across two different time periods with many twists and turns along the way.

The acting really made this movie work. Helen Mirren and Tom Wilkinson are as brilliant as ever giving nuanced performances full of emotion and everything they are most known for. The three younger actors in this movie were perfect for their roles. Jessica Chastain brought her character's fragility to life and made it believable and Marton Csokas and Sam Worthington played off of each other very well building tension between each other as the plot thickened.

Of course these performances would not be possible without the great script they had to work off of. This script was filled with everything a good espionage film needs: lies, deceit, betrayal, and action. Every sequence of action was outstanding, reminding viewers of the Bourne trilogy. The story made sense, was entertaining to watch, and created a fantastic start to fall movies.

Overall the acting was great, the script was even better, and all of it combined to create one of the best new espionage films of the year.

8/10

Colombiana

Colombiana starts right in the middle of the action with no explanation. From there we follow Cataleya (Zoe Saldana) on her journey of revenge. Following a mediocre script with some decent acting, this is another stereotypical summer action movie, lacking a lot of substance.

Having said that the action sequences throughout the film were outstanding! The attention to detail in each move that Cataleya makes, adds to the drama and suspense of her actions. Many times Cataleya acts like she is a female version of Ethan Hunt from Mission Impossible, moving fast, precise, and doing the seemingly impossible. The fight scenes are all physical which adds to the excitement whereas in Saldana's previous films the action relied much more on CGI and less on the actress actually having to learn the skills and "fight" for the movie.

The script, while lacking character development and explanations of other characters' parkour skills, worked well for this action movie and Saldana proves that she can carry a movie on her own. Her previous roles also more often than not had a big name actor or actress in the lead role, but after taking the full lead in Colombiana she has proven that she can shoulder an entire film on her own.

Every fight made the movie, it was the lulls in the action that really held the movie back. The acting from the supporting actors could have been better in these lulls and Colombiana would have done much better. Overall though the movie was a good cap to summer action movies. On to the horror films of the fall!

6/10

Our Idiot Brother

When the writers of Our Idiot Brother titled it that they did not understate the character. Paul Rudd's character Ned is just that: an idiot. At times he was far too much of an idiot to even handle, but that was the whole point of the movie.

We meet Ned selling produce at a farmer's market where he proceeds to sell marijuana to a uniformed police officer. From here we follow him to jail and then see him getting out early for good behavior. He is an outstanding person. Ned's philosophy is that if you put your trust out there for everyone they will rise to the occasion. This acts both as a blessing and curse.

After he gets out of prison he needs a place to live so he couch surfs between his sisters' houses. Throughout the movie Ned does what he does best and people love him for it. As he meets new people he instantly becomes friends with them, but as he does this he hurts the people around him just by being himself. The pressure builds during the movie and the fun ensues from there.

Paul Rudd is, as usual, in a role perfect for him, though this time he isn't playing a lovable jerk, but is just a lovable man-child. His acting was spot on for this role and he was surrounded by outstanding supporting actresses: Emily Mortimer, Zooey Deschanel, and Elizabeth Banks, all giving great performances. Fans of Deschanel and Rashida Jones will be excited and surprised about their performances.

The script was perfect for the movie. Witty dialogue and entertaining characters were only possible because of the script. And these characters are similar to people that every family has. Every family has an "idiot" whether it's a brother, a sister, or a different relative. But the way this script is written it actually feels like most of the events could actually be real, which is surprising for a movie like this. The idiot brother gets himself into many different situations, but he is so naive that he doesn't realize the things he says are to the wrong people.

The music throughout was great too. With many songs by the great Willie Nelson fittingly played through the movie as a nod to Ned's dog Willie Nelson. The songs fit the mood of every scene and event. Especially the opening track: "Tie A Yellow RIbbon Round The Old Oak Tree".

Overall this was a good end of the summer comedy about living life your way and putting trust into everyone around you. Everyone should find a way to connect with at least one of the characters in Our Idiot Brother, though the language could be a bit much for some ears. Other than that this was a good movie and nearly everyone would enjoy it.

6.5/10

Don't Be Afraid Of The Dark

Guillermo del Toro has the ability to take premises that have been done before and put a new spin on them. In this case Don't Be Afraid of the Dark takes an older movie Darkness Falls and revamps it and makes it new and exciting. While at some points I found myself thinking how dumb the characters were and some plot points just seemed stupid, I still enjoyed the storyline and the scarier moments of the film.

Throughout the film we follow a young girl Sally played by Bailee Madison as she learns the dark secrets of her new home. Not only does DBAOTB follow her journey in the house, but it follows her father and and his girlfriend spiraling into a state of mental peril. The acting from Katie Holmes and Bailee Madison is spectacular, portraying every emotion that a new "mother" figure and a young girl should have. The awkwardness and the developing relationship and all the emotions that come along with those interactions. 

While the two female roles were acted very well, a consistency in most of Guillermo del Toro's films, the male counterpart, Guy Pearce was not as well acted. However, this was partially due to the screenplay. His character, Alex, was the dumbest and most enraging character in the movie. Never listening to anybody but himself, following his own intuition making his girlfriend Kim angry and he is supposed to anger the audience at the same time. So in that regard his acting worked the way it was intended to, but he never really showed any emotion outside of a few minuscule moments.

The storyline was great! I loved the idea behind the creatures and how they moved and attacked. Outstanding! It may not have been the most believable premise, but horror movies rarely follow believable premises. The acting made up for that fact, but how the creatures came to be was very well established and for some people could be believable. Right from the start the audience is made to root for the little girl Sally because of her family situation, which of course works against Sally when the creatures start terrorizing the entire family.

Watching Don't Be Afraid of the Dark made me feel like a kid again. The sense of curiosity emanating from Sally through the movie was great fun to watch and reminded me of times when I was a kid. This movie can act as a reminder to adults and children alike that curiosity isn't always a bad thing and that you should rely on others just as much as you rely on yourself.

Overall, the movie was good. It was entertaining, but not very scary. The sets were massive and great fun to explore with Sally during the movie.

7/10

Transformers Dark Of The Moon

Following Shia LaBeouf, reprising his role as Sam Witwicky, this Michael Bay film has everything that makes a Bay movie what it is: crashes, cliches, cleavage, and CGI. We learn that the space race of the sixties wasn't just to be the first country to set foot on the moon, but was to study some alien technology that crashed on the moon.

The story made more sense this time around compared to the second one, but really, really lacked in any emotional connections that the first one had. There were still holes throughout the story though, but most of those holes were filled by Michael Bay just fading to black and coming back and everything is okay and already happened. The characters are in about to save the world? Fade to black, come back, and there are decepticons everywhere. I did like how they took some old footage of historic events like the landing on the moon and JFK addressing the men landing on the moon. It's always fun to see old footage combine with current films to create something new. The writers seemed to try and put more story into the movie rather than just focus on the action. This was a mistake in my opinion. They dragged the story out far too long, but I won't say that most of it wasn't fun to watch.

One of the many ironies of this film was the acting. It was really funny watching Shia LaBeouf and crew pump out different emotions and lines automatically, like robots. And then on the other end of the spectrum  Michael Bay tried to humanize the Transformers a little too much for my liking. Not only were the Transformers acting more like humans, but Michael Bay added red oil to the machines to look like blood as they were cut and injured. Rosie Huntington-Whiteley playing Carly Spencer, Sam Witwicky's new girlfriend, was a better actress than Megan Fox, and I actually think is more attractive. And of course she is wearing minimal clothing for most of the film.

Another thing that really bothered me was how much the idea of fighting for freedom was pushed onto the audience. It almost felt preachy at times. There would be Optimus Prime narrating and then he would pause and end his narration with "Today we fight for freedom". Why was that needed? I just don't get it.

While the story and the acting were less than proficient, the CGI and action sequences were outstanding! That's more of why Michael Bay's films still make money is because of his great use of CGI and special effects. The slow motion, while sometimes overused, worked well and was fun to watch. Seeing the actual transformers change always makes me want to go home and pull out my old transformers toys and play with them.

Overall, it was another Michael Bay film full of his trademarks, and was a fun summer blockbuster, but as far as movies are concerned this butt-numbing two and a half hours was far too long for this Transformers.

5/10

Captain America: The First Avenger

I had planned on seeing Bad Teacher, but at ticket booth I changed my mind and saw Captain America: The First Avenger instead. What a good decision.

First things first. The title. Captain America may hold the "title" of The First Avenger, but he is the last of the four featured in the upcoming film (The Avengers) to have his own film. I just found it ironic that they made this movie last of the four.

So let's get to it. The movie moves more as a recount of events rather than just a story occurring (minus the narration). We follow a meek/mousy looking Steven Rogers (played by Chris Evans) who undergoes an experimental treatment to turn him into bigger, faster, stronger Captain America (aka Johnny Storm 2.0). Captain America starts out as a public figure of stability and has to gain the respect of the troops he is trying to help. He goes on to fight Johann Schmidt and Hydra.

Following surprisingly fitting dialogue these actors follow through. Evans and Hayley Atwell (playing Peggy Carter) have great chemistry when they are on screen, though a few events had some awkward timing, most notably the first kiss. Great performances all around by the main characters, help give this superhero movie an extra kick. I did not, however, enjoy the accents from some of the characters. They seemed a bit off to have been strictly German. With many big name actors in this film, I was not surprised that the performances were fun to watch.

The sound throughout this movie was outstanding! Easily one of the best parts of the film. The sound effects actually matched and were not simply the standard door creak heard in countless movies. They seemed fresh and added a lot to the fight scenes. The special effects, while good, left a little to be desired in my opinion. The only time they seemed strange was in the train scene. (See the movie to find out what I mean). Though I am very pleased to see more and more comic book movies focus on the stories rather than just on the action. It makes the movies more fun to go to, more well-rounded, and shows that the producers and directors are spending more time on the story details

While I haven't read any Captain America comic books in my time, I can say that I followed the story well and it made sense. I greatly enjoyed the tie in to World War II (though I know that came from the comic books). It makes movies like this more fun to go to; seeing things you've learned about for years, with a new spin on them.

Before Captain America became the hero in this film he was doing hokey bond-selling, which I must say I sided with the soldiers on. It fit with the time and for most of it I actually felt more patriotic, but after he tries the same spiel on the men in action the whole story changes and action ensues.

A mouse to lion story unknown to many, was brought to screen with pride and dignity. Captain America: The First Avenger was a great end to the separate films (The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man, and Thor) and a great beginning for Captain America and The Avengers.

8/10

The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet's Nest

What a wild conclusion to a wonderful trilogy! Stieg Larsson's Millennium trilogy was brought to the big screen by Niels Arden Oplev with The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo and seamlessly picked up by Daniel Alfredson for the final two films. I haven't read the books yet, but after watching all three of these films this trilogy is the next series on my must-read list.

The story on screen comes out as a web of intricate lies, deceit, and mystery as I'm sure the the books do and as usual probably better than the movies. Each film became darker than the previous one and the third installment was no different. Picking up right where The Girl Who Played With Fire left off we find a hospitalized Lisbeth Salander played again spectacularly by Noomi Rapace.

The acting throughout is yet again a pleasure to watch. The actors really bring their characters to life, especially Lisbeth Salander and Michael Blomkvist. The acting of Anders Ahlbom as Peter Teleborian was incredible. He made a character come to life as the sleaze ball that he really was. One character that I really liked was Lisbeth's doctor Anders Jonasson only because of how he helps her. Though I didn't really understand why he was so trusting and helpful to her or why she was so trusting of him. Maybe there is more detail in the book.

Since I haven't read the books I can't say much about the translation from book to film, but from what I know about screenwriting I thought it was decent. The one thing that confused me was how the courts work in Sweden. If the way it was portrayed in the film is how it really is court would be a very exciting place. With new evidence being found and added during a trial without the knowledge of the opposing side really showing a lawyers true worth. While watching the court scenes I couldn't help but feel elated as I watched the full story unfold and watch as pieces from the first two films come together to complete the excellent story.

Overall this final installment of the Millennium trilogy (originally supposed to be a ten book series) rounded out a solid set of films quite well. Though some things didn't make sense (like the courtroom scene) it all worked well. I am curiously waiting to see how the American adaptation of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo turns out later this year and if it will hold up the standard set by the Swedes in 2009.

7/10

Friends With Benefits

Making a movie that tells you pretty much the whole premise in the title entertaining is usually a struggle, but not with Friends With Benefits. It, along with Bridesmaids, has shown that cliched romantic comedies can be funny for everyone. It takes an idea that is usually attributed to college students and brings it into the "real world," but does it with wit and humor. I think that filmmakers are finally realizing that they can actually make romantic comedies funny.

The story follows Dylan (Justin Timberlake) and Jamie (Mila Kunis) meet in the airport in New York and as there friendship takes off so does the movie. At first it mimics their relationship. Fast quick edits like the time spent at the beginning of any friendship seems rocky, but fits perfectly. This editing is not standard for romantic comedies which adds to the underlying idea of the film: mock romantic comedies. This idea slowing fades though as the movie starts to become that which it pokes fun at. Don't let this deter you though, even as this happens the movie is entertaining and funny!

Following a man who is an emotionally unavailable workaholic (Timberlake) and a woman who is emotionally damaged (Kunis), this film keeps the wise-cracks coming throughout. These two actors have a great chemistry on screen and play off of each other incredibly well. The supporting characters were outstanding to watch as well. Every time a new character was introduced it was another actor/actress that I enjoy watching!

The script was full of witty rapport between Dylan and Jamie and some great lines will surely be repeated for months to come. The humor never really seemed to stop to me and a lot of that is due to the script, but also due to the actors' comedic timing, which was perfect most of the time. There were plot gaps and yes, maybe the humor is raunchy, but if you're looking for a movie that many will enjoy, Friends With Benefits just may be the right fit for you!

7.5/10

Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Part 2

I don't know where to begin with this. This movie brought an official close to my childhood. I, along with many others, grew up with the Harry Potter series, got the books at midnight when they came out, and waited for hours in lines to see the movies at midnight too. I call this movie a bookend to my childhood and I mean it in every way.

The movies matured as the books did, and I am very happy they decided to stretch the last book into two movies. There was just too much information for them to include in just one movie. Everything about this film lived up to my expectations and that's the best way for me to put it. Honestly I feel that even if you haven't read the books or seen any of the movies this one paired with its' part one would be great movies to see and very enjoyable.

The actors performances were the best of the eight films and they brought each of the characters to life exactly how I had imagined in the final book. It only took ten years. The darker aspects of the book really shine through in the movie. All the deaths and violence were portrayed a little shallow for my taste, but they were trying to keep it a family-esque film so they had to basically brush over the deaths. But the whole movie had a dark feel to it. A feel that first joined the movies in the Goblet of Fire. It made the movie seem more adult (like a majority of the audience).

Not only was the acting great, but the script, aside from a few delineations from the book's plot, was outstanding as well. Some of my favorite parts in the book came through exactly as I had pictured them while reading. One was the Molly/Bellatrix fight, another was the Gringotts scene, and the scene in the Room of Requirement. They all did justice to the book and I was very pleased with them.

The score as usual was outstanding! Especially the parts when there was no music. All we heard were footsteps or the crunching of leaves. Alexandre Desplat's music emphasized all the right scenes and worked its' magic throughout the movie. Every swell in the music matched a swell in the action. It was fantastic!

Overall the movie was a great end to an outstanding book and film series. If you have read the books you'll love this movie and if you haven't read the books, you should probably start there first.

9/10

Horrible Bosses

It's been awhile since I've seen a movie (20 days to be exact) and I wanted to see one before seeing Harry Potter on Thursday night. So I went to see Horrible Bosses. It turned out to be a pretty standard summer comedy. While it had a great cast, script, and acting, a few things just didn't really work for me.

The movie begins with an explanation of each of the three main characters bosses and why they hate them. The explicit use of titles on the screen for what Nick, Dale, and Kurt (played by Jason Bateman, Charlie Day, and Jason Sudeikis respectively) think of their bosses. The entertainment ensues from there. Jason Bateman seems to be channeling his old character Michael Bluth from Arrested Development. In this movie I think it worked great! Especially opposite Charlie Day and Jason Sudeikis, previously seen together  in Going The Distance, who share the same chemistry in Bosses. Each of the three men has his own quirks and they come through at different points in the story. The comedic timing from these three was just outstanding and the delivery of their lines was great as well!

The villains matched the performances of the protagonists perfectly. Kevin Spacey, one of the great actors of the time, is stupendous as Nick's boss. He is wonderfully evil and despicable. Colin Farrell is hilarious as a coke-head boss and of course Jennifer Aniston is as stunning as ever and she gives a great performance opposite Charlie Day's Dale. Finally one of my favorite characters of the film was Motherf**ker Jones played by Jamie Foxx. The many different interactions amongst these seven characters is what made the movie funny to me, though I think this has to do more with the script than just the acting.

The script could have sold itself in my opinion. Some of the lines are hilarious and had me in stitches. However, while most of the script was funny and entertaining, a few times it dragged a joke out too long. I think it only happened three times to be exact and two of the times were the same joke being dragged out. Past that though, many new lines were said that will probably be quoted for the next few months and possibly years.

One of the best things about Horrible Bosses was the use of fantasy and imagination throughout. Mainly because everyone has thoughts of killing someone they despise at least once in their life. The movie takes that idea and runs with it. Each man devising a different way to kill each other's boss. And the collisions between story lines and characters produces some great comedy. The story is good, but sometimes dragged on a little too long to me. Either way, if you like Jason Bateman, Charlie Day, or Jason Sudeikis, you will enjoy Horrible Bosses.

7/10

The Tree of Life

What did I just watch? Seriously. Someone please tell me. I liked it and I think I get it and I thought it was outstanding, but I'm not entirely sure what I just watched. I haven't been this confused since the first time I ever watched Donnie Darko.


This visually stunning film was a pleasure to watch. Every shot seemed to have a purpose even if it didn't necessarily make sense in the story. There were a lot of things that just didn't make sense to me. I don't know if it was supposed to or if it will as I watch it again, but it worked for me. It made me appreciate all I have in life and the people around me. In the first half hour of the movie I think there were a total of 30 words spoken and the score underneath the images immediately conjured images in my head of 2001: A Space Odyssey. (And the confusing story and ending added to that too)


The Tree of Life is a story about loss of innocence and coming of age. The family we follow has very strange dynamics. One second they are all lovey-dovey and the next second they fight with each other. I guess that's how many families are. A death early on in the film forces one of the children to begin questioning everything. A similar thing open-minded people go through at young ages when they are determining their outlook on life. Many of the scenes are bookended with quotes from the Bible, most specifically from Job. I'm not a religious person by any means, but the whole story sort of revolved around the Bible and questioning God and the things happening on Earth and it worked for me. Every quote, having never heard most of them before, fit in the story and made sense.


As with Super 8 we feel as though we are the kids, but in Tree of Life we not only feel like the kids, we see things at their height in the movie. Rampant with point of view shots from each of the main characters, you begin to feel the ebb and flow of the O'Brien family and feel almost like a part of their family. These point of view shots add to the character development as well, but the acting takes care of itself. Brad Pitt is spectacular in his role and my feelings changed almost every time he was on screen. One minute I liked him the next I pitied him and the next I hated him. Incredible! And the child actors were good too. They remind everyone how difficult it can be to grow up.


The score throughout the film, as I briefly mentioned before was spot on perfect for the movie. As tensions rose in the movie, you could feel them rise in the music, whether it be from a single repeated bass note, or just a symphony record being played.


If you are looking to think about your life and how you have become the person you are today I highly suggest this movie. I'm not saying it makes you think about life in a bad way, it just gets you thinking. It plays with beliefs and religion and made me think about what I believe in and why I believe it. The movie also made me start to wonder how my life would have been had a few things happened differently. But really as much as The Tree of Life focuses on beliefs and religion it focuses on love and the struggle of mother and father inside a child. Two of my favorite quotes from the movie: "Father, Mother. Always you wrestle inside me. Always you will."

"The only way to be happy is to love. Unless you love, your life will flash by."

Overall, outstanding movie, though I don't claim to know exactly what happened by any means. Definitely go see it for the experience and don't be afraid to get too into the film!

8/10

Source Code

I was merrily surprised with Source Code. I didn't entirely know what to expect going into it except for some pretty good reviews from various newspapers and magazines. We are basically thrown right into the action here, with beautiful sprawling shots of Chicago and the train. This oddly enough leads to very subtle foreshadowing, which may or may not have been intended.

A different take on its' similar film, Vantage Point from 2008, Source Code makes you follow Captain Colter Stevens, played by Jake Gyllenhaal (surprisingly well) as he uncovers the mystery of a bombing on a train. However, early into the film we learn that this is not the only mystery he must solve. We and he have no clue where he is or why he is there. This works very well throughout the film. As we gain information about the bombing of the train we slowly get more information on where Colter Stevens is. These two parallel mysteries bring along two different villains as well. That's as far as I'll go so I don't ruin anything for you.

The acting was nuanced and particularly believable. Every actor played his or her character exactly how they should have been played. Jake Gyllenhaal, coming off of two of the weaker movies of his career, delivers in this heartfelt performance. Michelle Monaghan brings her character to life, yet again. She is hands down my favorite actress. I remember first watching her in 2005's Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, which turns out to be one of my favorite movies. Everything I've watched her in since then has been great! She makes every role her own and is great to watch on screen. Jeffrey Wright is great as Dr. Rutledge and works as the crazed doctor from any good Sci-Fi movie. And finally providing one of the best performances of the movie, Vera Farmiga plays the soldier with a heart and we can see it in her subtle facial tics.

Obviously the actors would have had nothing to work with had the script not been good. Some points were admittedly unbelievable, but it is a Sci-Fi movie so what can you expect? The dialogue is believable and fits the situation well. There is not much more to say about the script though. One of my favorite parts of the film was when a shot of the Chicago loop was shown. They were claiming that the city was being evacuated and it looked to me like a shot of just normal day rush hour in Chicago.

Possibly one of my absolute favorite things to find in movies is points of foreshadowing. And this movie has a great one! It happens during the montage of shots of Chicago and the train. Every shot of the train is shown traveling across the screen from left to right except for one. Keep that in mind when you are watching it and you will catch an entertaining and interesting bit of foreshadowing. Like I said earlier in this review, this may or may not have been intentional on the director's part, but I greatly enjoyed it.

The opening montage of Chicago scenes is accompanied by music that instantly reminded me of a Mission Impossible movie. I found this fitting of the movie's mood. Following two mysteries/missions that seem unsolvable and improbable, the music sets us up right away for an exciting story. Not to mention the actress veteran from a Mission Impossible film: Michelle Monaghan.

This movie partially parallels aspects of J. J. Abrams' television show Fringe. That last sentence will make much more sense after seeing the movie for those of you who watch the TV show. If I say anything more I would ruin the adventure, excitement, and suspense of following these characters through the Source Code.

8/10

Super 8

Super 8 was incredible! Absolutely fantastic and a great load of fun to watch! It was like The Goonies on crack combined with Cloverfield, E.T., a bit of Stand By Me, and even some Ocean’s 11.  I know that sounds like a lot of movies to fit into one hour and 52 minutes, but it never feels like too much.

Perhaps it’s because of the Disney stereotyped characteristic of lacking a father, but I found it strange that this film involves the absence of a mother instead. Many times in movies with child protagonists the parents are absent much of the film. This is not much different in Super 8, but the fathers are involved in some of the drama amongst the children.

J.J. Abrams, true to his favorite advertising scheme, drew me in with his cliff hanging and vague trailers. I didn’t know what the movie was going to be about and I loved not knowing what was coming. The movie starts off a bit slow, but that does not hold it back at all. Once the train crash seen in trailers occurs the movie is action, mystery, and thrills for the rest of the time. Abrams at first plays the same trick that Steven Spielberg used in Jaws by not revealing the monster until the opportune time. We don’t know what the thing terrorizing this town is or why it is there, but we begin to learn the reasons slowly throughout the film.

The screenplay was extraordinary with believable dialogue and great character development. The characters took Abrams’ script and made it their own. The six main young actors and actresses were astonishing! I couldn’t help but root for each and every one of them. Each character has his or her specialty, which instantly made me think of movies like Ocean’s 11 and The Italian Job. There was an explosives expert (Cary), a ringleader (Charles), and a character that is seemingly overlooked and walked all over, but becomes a leader (Joe Lamb); each one playing off of the others’ strengths. The performances from these young actors were just incredible. I loved following Joel Courtney (playing Joe Lamb) as he and his crew discovered what the monster was and why it was here. The mystery of what the monster looked like was reminiscent of Cloverfield and worked just as well in this movie.

I absolutely loved the way it was filmed. A movie named after the old super 8 cameras looked similar to the way super 8 film actually looks when projected. The film had a grainy look to it and added to the feel of the movie. Following the children throughout the film drew me into the story even more because I love feeling like I’m in movies when I’m watching them. I think having child protagonists works the best in this regard for me because I feel that I am growing up with them. They are put into tough situations and are forced to grow up during the film. The actors play their parts perfectly and I couldn’t see any other actors playing these parts. Kyle Chandler, probably most well known from Friday Night Lights on NBC, gives a wonderful performance as Joe’s father.

The movie even subtly references movie director greats like George A. Romero in the movie within the movie that Joe and friends are working on: a zombie movie involving a chemical plant by the name of Romero. Abrams has a way of enhancing his scripts by adding subtle references to other films and directors that normally go unnoticed. I only found a couple more in this film, but I’m sure there are many more.

This movie works as a coming of age story, a monster story, and even as a story of acceptance. The ending was a little too quick for me, but in general I loved everything else about Super 8 making it a definite must see thriller and will provide entertainment over and over again.

8.5/10

Thor

The third of the films about the four Avengers for the upcoming film, Thor brought Nordic mythology to film and made it enjoyable. While a film about a god/superhero it never lost my attention. It starts by dropping us right into the action and then backtracks and explains how and why Thor ended up on Earth.

The script was great. It gave enough background on Thor and the mythology behind it that it made sense for me who is new to this superhero though I am a fan of the Avengers. The dialogue between characters seemed to be a mix between old english and nordic languages. It made Thor seem like a genuine good person.

While watching the film I, at first, did not like Thor portrayed by Chris Hemsworth. I thought he was cocky, self-absorbed, and hot-headed. I actually, at first liked his brother a lot more than I liked him. By the end of the film my opinions flipped. I greatly enjoyed cheering for Thor and condemning his brother. This is partly due to the writing, but also to the acting. It was definitely written so the viewer hated Thor at first and then grew to like him, but it would have not come off that way without an outstanding performance by Chris Hemsworth. He fit the role perfectly and played off of the other actors very well. He actually humanized the god he was playing and made me care about his character.

Natalie Portman fresh off of her award winning role in Black Swan gives another great performance. She acts as the main cause of Thor's humanization process. She is one of my favorite actresses so I don't really think that she can do any wrong roles (except maybe No Strings Attached). Stellan Skarsgård plays a great voice of reason throughout the film and never airs on being too fatherly, which follows a common theme of daddy issues all through the film. Thor is trying to convince his father, then defies his father, and finally comes around, but much of the movie has to do with appeasing the father figure of the film.

The acting as I've already said made the characters believable and fun to watch. Seeing Thor swing his mighty hammer Mjǫlnir and watching the camaraderie between the characters was just a thrill to watch. I highly recommend this movie for anyone who wants some background on another Avenger. We've gotten to see the Hulk, Iron Man, and now Thor, and I for one cannot wait to see Captain America in full action on July 22nd!


Overall the acting and the script were outstanding and the cast fit the personalities perfectly. Anyone who likes a good superhero/summer movie will enjoy Thor.


8/10

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

Coming from humble beginnings as just a theme park ride Pirates has grown into an international film sensation. Beginning with an outstanding first film and growing into a trilogy, the newest film in the series acted as a reboot and did just that. On Stranger Tides acts as a reboot to try and wipe the slate, dirtied by At World's End and Dead Man's Chest, clean.

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides follows Captain Jack Sparrow, Captain Barbossa, and Blackbeard, and their quest to find the fountain of youth. The acting is still there and so is the entertainment. Had the characters spent more time on screen together the movie would have been even better. Much of the film featured just the adventures of one character at a time and we don't get much interaction on screen. Johnny Depp continues to make his character Jack Sparrow as entertaining and clever as ever and that helped keep me from straying attention.

The writers and director made the correct choice by ridding the series of Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley. The storyline between the two of them thankfully ended in the third one. What really worked the best for On Stranger Tides was the fact that it was a standalone film, but can definitely lead to another trilogy. A few plot points are brought up from previous films like the map Jack had leading to the fountain of youth and his compass leading to what he wants most.

The action was still there and so was the entertaining dialogue, but ultimately what made this film work was still Jack Sparrow and Barbossa. Depp and Geoffrey Rush give great performances and Penélope Cruz and Ian McShane as Blackbeard feed off of those characters to give equal if not better performances. The chemistry between Depp and Cruz can be felt in the theater and is great when they are on screen together.

Though the movie still received a PG-13 rating it was a bit more family friendly than the pervious films. The innuendos used were more obscure and would be tough for small children to understand what is really being said. The action spent most of its' time in the cheesy/childish/slapstick/comedic realm with the exception of a few scenes, which were truly violent.

Overall, I think this installment of the Pirates franchise was a step up from the previous two films and could definitely lead to another trilogy. How I feel about that, at this point, I can't say until I see a preview or read up on future films, but I can say that if Johnny Depp keeps reprising his role as Captain Jack Sparrow and Geoffrey Rush comes back as Barbossa the films will still have my attention because the two best characters of the franchise will be back and working with and against each other. Worth seeing, but maybe wait until DVD.

7/10

Bridesmaids

Wow! What can I say about this movie. It is hilarious! I saw it twice in the theaters and laughed harder the second time. The last time that happened to me in a movie was The Hangover. This movie really outdid itself.

Bridesmaids really surprised me! I went into it with an open mind and walked out of the theater still laughing. I love seeing films written by and starring actors and actresses from Saturday Night Live (mainly because I really love Tina Fey and everything she does) and I loved seeing that it isn't just Tina Fey who is funny and has the talent to write a hilarious comedy.

Kristen Wiig is absolutely perfect for the role she plays; a combination of awkward, cute, and endearing. She and Maya Rudolph have some of the best female "sis" (read bro/frat guy) chemistry I've ever seen and it really pays off in the end of the film. They interact in ways that seem real. Never does it seem out of place to me. However, the character who I know will make the film entertaining for most guys is Megan played by Melissa McCarthy. She is one of the funniest characters of the film, if not the funniest and in my opinion nearly steals the whole film. Wiig's character, Annie, is funny and awkward and the one we follow throughout the film, but Megan provides a lot of the slapstick/crude humor. She acts as the male comedic relief to me. She's gaseous, open about her sexuality, and seems to really not care about what other people think of her. I think an obvious comparison, based solely on the self-confidence, is to Alan from The Hangover. Each one carrying their respective insecurities, yet each one striving to be themselves and acting no different around others.

The script for this movie could not have gotten any better. It had its' moments of gross out humor (puke), heartfelt humor (in the form of awkward humor), just straight up witty rapport throughout the dialogue, and of course heart. Having so many differing female personalities clash was pure genius! We get Annie and Lillian, the best friends for a long time, Becca (the newlywed), Rita (the unhappy married woman), Megan (the confident one), and Helen (the bitch). The acting and chemistry amongst these six characters is almost unbelievable! Every actress adds nuances to the characters that make them believable.

My personal stand-out performance, however, goes to Rose Byrne. As a guy I don't think I've experienced the same emotions portrayed throughout the film between Annie and Helen, but I felt them in the film. Helen is a controlling devil woman who, through Annie's eyes, is trying to steal Annie's best friend Lillian away. The things that Helen does obviously upset Annie and since we are cheering for Annie to prevail during the movie we can feel what the character feels. We begin to bond with Annie in the hatred of Helen. While this movie is nearly perfect, one flaw really bugged me.

The State Patrolman. In Wisconsin the state police do not sit around on side roads, they don't go into bars in their uniforms for a beer, and they can't use their car for personal use... I know those are small details of the great picture of the film, but it bothers me only because of how real the movie feels otherwise. A great deal of this felling of reality is simply because many of my friends could easily slip into Annie, Lillian, Becca, Rita, Megan, and Helen.

Bridesmaids was simply outstanding and I recommend it to anyone and everyone. Definitely the comedy of the summer so far!

9.5/10

The Hangover Part II

For those of you who don't know. The Hangover Part II director Todd Phillips changed the name from The Hangover 2, to The Hangover Part II because he felt that the two films were most closely related to The Godfather Part I & II only in relation between sequel to original. Boy was he wrong. The Godfather Part II expanded upon a fantastic first part. I feel that The Hangover was a great first part, but I think it would have been better off just left alone. Had it stayed on its' own it probably could have gone down in history with comedy greats like Caddyshack, Animal House, and Airplane!. While some of those films had sequels as well, none of them ever even came close to equalling the hilarity of its' predecessor.

I am not going to say that I didn't laugh during The Hangover Part II, but the humor seemed far too familiar to me. It seemed like a rehash of the first one, but in a different country and a different person is missing. Yes the times that the characters were figuring their "situation" out were funny, but they seemed far too similar to the first film. The events follow the same pattern that they did in the first one. The problem is that the first movie had the huge advantage of surprise, which this one could have used! The fact that the writers "came up" with the same story, but in Thailand (pronounced "Thighland" thanks to Alan) was just uncreative to me. It is still a funny movie, though just a new/cruder style of humor. The most specific example of this involves Stu. The scene with Phil, Alan, and him in the strip club is funny at first to watch, but by the end of that scene the humor was walking a very fine line for me. I laughed, don't get me wrong, but the "women" walking around throughout...It just got awkward by the end.

The humor may have gone from witty and creative to bland and boring, but the chemistry amongst the actors is still there. Bradley Cooper reprising his role as Phil, "the cool guy", has obvious chemistry with every character he comes in contact with during the film. Ed Helms again playing Stu, the "Doctor", plays the same "wild and crazy (only when he's drunk)" character he did in the first one. And of course, who could forget Alan, portrayed by Zach Galifianikis, the "lovable oaf". Each character still brings his own personality to the table and they still work well together. However, I went into this movie hoping and praying that Doug would get to be a part of the bachelor party and the shenanigans, but he was, yet again, "too cool" to participate in the festivities so to speak. Stu, Phil, and Alan still go through some interesting experiences, which I don't want to reveal to you because you should still see them for yourself.

While Stu doesn't pull another tooth, as seen in the trailers he has gotten a tattoo (the same one as Mike Tyson), instead of a tiger, they find a monkey, and instead of the groom going missing, a different character disappears. The sense of adventure, surprise, and pure enjoyment of the first one was just lost for me. I found the movie to be almost repetitive. It was still a funny movie, but in no way surpasses or expands upon the first one as Todd Phillips had thought it would.

I'm sure The Hangover Part II will still hold its' own at the box office and in peoples' minds, but the fact is, it follows the same plot (person goes missing, follow clues from pockets, discover misadventures of night before, someone drugged someone else, Stu has an epiphany) as the first one. The chemistry amongst actors is definitely still there and I felt that the heart was still there. Maybe not the "heart" per se, but the brotherhood/camaraderie was still there. I still think that fans of the first one will enjoy this movie, but definitely take it with a grain of salt and don't expect to be too surprised.

6.5/10