Mad Max: Fury Road

WOW. My initial reaction. Absolutely incredible. This was a blast from the past and a brand new experience all at the same time, and I LOVED every second of it!

From beginning to end this is a visceral and vicious film that any action film fan will enjoy. In a post-apocalyptic world where oil is the desire of Immortan Joe (evil comes to life from Hugh Keays-Byrne), but water holds the real power, Max (embodied perfectly by Tom Hardy) and Furiosa (exquisitely played by Charlize Theron) must team up to escape. Nux (a surprising performance by Nicholas Hoult) is a great addition to the team.

If you enjoy action movies, this is right up your alley. This is the best action movie of the year, if not the decade. It could even be the best action movie of all time. It was fun, nuanced, and amazing. You think in seeing an action film, the character development won't be there, but George Miller brings you into the world perfectly and allows characters to say only the things, which are absolutely needed to tell the story. In an interview Tom Hardy was quoted saying that "you can fit all my dialogue on one page." Initially I scoffed at this statement, but after seeing the film I can't argue with it. It's a rare moment when it's funny because it's true. He has so few lines that his time on screen heavily depends on his actual acting ability and he doesn't disappoint.

Not only is the acting on all accounts fantastic (Charlize Theron brings it home, once again), but the way this was filmed blows my mind. Every stunt was done in real time and was not CGI. This might not sound that impressive, but once you see the film, you will go insane trying to think of all the planning, money, and skill that went into every single shot, stunt, or intense moment of the film.

Throughout the movie I was cheering, laughing, and clapping, probably to the dismay of others in the theater, but I was so invested and involved in the story that I didn't care. Many others were doing the same. It was that much fun. But more often than that, I found myself starring in awe of some of the incredible, beautifully composed shots during this action-packed adventure. The poster above is a part of the opening shot of the film and it pulls you into the world, both literally and figuratively.

One last note, I think this has been the absolute best use of 3D that I've ever seen. Mad Max: Fury Road proves that 3D can still be exciting and add to a storyline as opposed to just being a flash in the pan (*cough-cough* Avatar)

Never forget the importance of water in this world, or (Mad) Max Rockatansky will find you and make you regret your incompetence.

If you like action films, GO SEE MAD MAX: FURY ROAD NOW!

Best Pictures 2013

It only took about five months this year, starting with Gravity and ending with Philomena, but I have finally seen all nine of the best picture nominees of 2013. And it's time for my annual rundown of the "best" films of the year.

1. A pleasant surprise for me, Philomena was quite enjoyable. Following another trend of the Oscars this year the story was based in truth. It turned out to be a fun take on the road movie genre. I mean how can you go wrong following Judi Dench and Steve Coogan on a hunt for her adopted son. The characters were really entertaining (an extremely religious woman on a trip with an atheist? I'm sold.) The screenplay was wonderful. Obviously, since it was nominated for an Oscar. Overall this was a touching story that turned out to be much better than I expected. However, never has a movie made me dislike nuns more than this one.

2. Usually I'm a fan of "shaky cam" films, but something about Captain Phillips did not sit right with me. It might have been the fact that the shaky cam mixed with being on the ocean. But it also could have been the odd quick zooms with the shaky cam. It was all really overdone. I really think this might have been my least favorite of the nominees this year. simply because of the camera work. That and the fact that Captain Phillips' (played by Tom Hanks) wife was in one scene and then never again.  Another story based on true events the screenplay was well done, but I felt the whole film could have been better. However, the acting was great, especially Barkhad Abdi. He nailed his role perfectly. 

3. Another surprise for me, Nebraska grew on me throughout the film. With one of the best soundtracks I've heard in years (aside from Inside Llewyn Davis and American Hustle, what can I say it was a good year for music in movies), it really drove the story. Another road movie, I was entertained by each character. Though Bruce Dern as Woody Grant did get a little old and tired for me, he was great as the character of an aging alcoholic. Will Forte was better than I thought he would be, being an actor who plays generally unintelligent slapstick comedy roles. June Squibb played one of the best characters of the film.

4. Despite my initial reactions to Gravity and the various interpretations of what space is like, Gravity was outstanding. Story-wise, like many of the films this year, I felt that it was quite weak. I didn't care at all for either of the main characters. But from a filmmaking standpoint this film was incredible. The visual effects and the subtleties performed in the sound were perfection. Oftentimes sound in space films is poorly done. Clooney brings nothing new to the table (ever), but Sandra Bullock was as good as ever. Overall Gravity takes the viewer on a wild ride through space, unfortunately with lackluster characters.

5. Her is a testament to why the Academy needs to create an Oscar category for voice acting. Scarlett Johannson brings all the nuance, sexiness, and beauty from her acting and puts it all into her voice for this film. I was floored. The script is great and pulls you in for most of it, however the ending didn't really work for me. I appreciated the overall idea of making a commentary on our current society (everyone with their faces in their phones/tablets; always being connected). Joaquin Phoenix proves that his role in The Master was no fluke, even though this is a much more tame character.

6. Another 'based on a true story' story, this film proves that Requiem for a Dream wasn't the only thing Jared Leto could act in. Though again playing a character addicted to drugs, I didn't even recognize him when he first appeared on screen. This story of a renegade, homophobic, HIV positive, bull rider (Matthew McConaughey) packs a dramatic punch. He's not the most likable protagonist, but he grows on you. Overall though Dallas Buyers Club didn't impress as much as it could have. The acting was incredible. If Leto doesn't get the best supporting actor something is wrong.

7. Leonardo DiCaprio plus Martin Scorsese usually means an outstanding movie. That is not the case with Wolf of Wall Street. It honestly felt like I saw The Great Gatsby all over again, but set in more modern times instead of the 20s. Drugs, parties, and an overly exuberant host. DiCaprio plays Jordan Belfort, a penny stockbroker who scams his way through life. It's a character that gets old very quickly. And, contrary to Dallas Buyers Club where drugs are portrayed more negatively, almost every drug done in this film is shown to be wonderful and make whoever takes them more functioning than when they are sober. At a running time of three hours it could have been so much more than watching people take drugs and scam people. After an hour I thought it was over, but then more useless parties and drugs happened. Even the opposition was almost non-exisistent. It certainly seemed that Belfort could do no wrong. Scorsese is usually known for his ability to show corruption in a dark and exciting way, but trying to bring that world into the daylight did not do him any favors. In my opinion this is his worst picture. That's not to say it was awful, but it wasn't up to his standards.

8. David O. Russell most recently known for Silver Linings Playbook teamed up with the same actors from SLP (Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, and Robert DeNiro) and from The Fighter (Christian Bale and Amy Adams). The story overall was nothing new, but the various performances were spot on for the characters. It was a fun to go along for the ride, but like a disappointing final drop of a roller coaster the big reveal at the end was mediocre at best. Jennifer Lawrence brought the perfect amount of crazy to her character making her seem all too real. Her ability to play a character who is much older than her was impressive. Bale and Adams showed the same chemistry they had in The Fighter and it was a lot of fun to see them play off one another again. Cooper proved last year that he could act as something other than a pretty face and charming personality. He does again, here, but not with the same bravado he did in Silver Linings Playbook. While at times some scenes seemed to bring nothing to the table I hope upon multiple viewings this will change as it often does. The wardrobe and set design was incredible all around. Russell really transports the viewer into the world around these characters and that's what makes it fun to watch.

9. One of the most beautifully shot, acted, and made films of the year, 12 Years a Slave is my pick for best picture. The subject matter will always have gravitas, but Steve McQueen really drives it home in this film. Probably most well known for Children of Men Chiwetel Ejiofor plays Solomon Northup, a free man who is kidnapped and enslaved. The range of emotions Ejiofor goes through in this film is just incredible. And McQueen knew that. Instead of quick cuts between various camera angles he chose to lengthen his takes and force the audience to watch the pain and struggle on the character's faces. I couldn't look away even if I wanted to. It might feel like an affront to your eyes at times, but it works so well for this type of film. Michael Fassbender does what he does best and loses himself in the character. He becomes his character. The final performance that was perfect here was that of Lupita Nyong'o. The pain she shows in her face and in her voice is gut-wrenchingly beautiful. Covering every type of character from this time, 12 Years a Slave deserves every nomination and will hold up for years to come.

American Hustle

Four David O. Russell veterans team up to present one of the most interesting and entertaining films of the year. American Hustle is a film about two things: deception and survival. Be prepared to sit back and immerse yourself in a tale of deceit, lies, and passion. 

Set in New Jersey, the film follows Irving Rosenfeld (Christian Bale) and his lover and partner in crime Sydney Posser (Amy Adams). Caught in a scheme by FBI agent Richie DiMaso (Bradley Cooper) they are forced to work with him to pull their largest heist on Camden, NJ Mayor Carmine Polito (Jeremy Renner) to avoid jail time. Rosenfeld agrees as he attempts to keep his wife Rosalyn (Jennifer Lawrence) under control and quiet.

In the vein of a more accessible and comprehensible David Lynch, Russell really enjoys what he does and it is apparent. While it may be easier to understand than Mulholland Drive, it's still easy to lose your footing and wind up confusing yourself, but that's what makes it fun! It's easy to see Russell's passion overflow out of the film. 

The details all the way down to the music, set pieces, and costumes take you pack to the 70's; to a world of con-artists, mafia, and the FBI. The music alone was some of the best soundtrack work in recent memory. However, the colors, patterns, and clothes worn by every character both added to the feel of the 70's and added to the depth of the characters. 

David O. Russell crafts a wonderful plot built around four incredible characters, and that's where the beauty of this film truly lies. Unfortunately the story itself brings nothing new to the genre, but the characters move the film along with ease. Every character is played with precision and skill by the Russell veterans from 2008's The Fighter, Amy Adams and Christian Bale, and those from 2012's Silver Linings Playbook, Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence. 

Each of the actors shines in his or her respective roles. Christian Bale plays the con-artist who believes himself atop the world with perfection. Amy Adams portrays her seductive character, the lover and conning partner of Bale's, with ease. But the other two actors outshine the other two. Providing much of the comedic relief Cooper and Lawrence continue to show their acting prowess. Cooper plays the cocky FBI agent who coaxes the two con-artists into his master plan. He plays the sometimes crazed, oft arrogant character with perfection. Jennifer Lawrence has become one of the best young actresses in the business today and she does not disappoint in American Hustle. As the wife of Bale's character she plays the older, eccentric, and inquisitive character just over-the-top enough to make it believable. She never ceases to impress. Even Jeremy Renner nails his role as the near-perfect mayor. 

Overall, this is an amazing film in terms of directing, acting, and design. Every actor is successful in bringing the characters' passion to the screen. Each of those three things combine to pull you into the world surrounding the characters and make you feel like you were transported back forty years.

9.5/10

Visual Literacy Post

The class I TA for at American has asked me to come up with my favorite movies over the past years. I've done my best from memory and placed them where they belong after double checking. I thought I'd put it up here since a lot of people ask me about my favorite movies, but I have varying ones for different years. Here goes.

2000
1. Memento
2. O Brother, Where Art Thou?
3. Requiem for a Dream
4. Snatch
5. Scary Movie
6. Finding Forrester
7. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
8. Almost Famous
9. Best in Show
10. American Psycho

Honorable mentions: Gladiator, Battle Royale (the original Hunger Games), Pay It Forward, In the Mood for Love, The Whole Nine Yards, and the absolute worst movie that I haven't watched in a few years is Battlefield: Earth.

2001
1. Mulholland Drive
2. Royal Tenenbaums
3. Moulin Rouge!
4. Super Troopers
5. Donnie Darko
6. Frailty
7. Along Came a Spider
8. Monsters, Inc.
9. Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring

There weren't many films from 2001 that I really liked...

2002
1. Gangs of New York
2. Bubba Ho-Tep
3. 8 Mile
4. City of God
5. 25th Hour
6. Equilibrium
7. Murder By Numbers
8. Count of Monte Cristo
9. The Pianist
10. Bang Bang You're Dead

And of course Lord of the Rings: Two Towers

2003
1. Lord of the Rings: Return of the King
2. Kill Bill: Volume 1
3. Identity
4. Texas Chainsaw Massacre
5. Oldboy
6. Love Actually
7. The Last Samurai
8. A Mighty Wind
9. Darkness Falls
10. 11:14

Honorable mention: The Room (Because it's so weird and bad)

2004
1. Crash
2. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
3. Saw
4. Kill Bill: Volume 2
5. Big Fish
6. The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou
7. Mean Girls
8. Kinsey
9. The Motorcycle Diaries
10. The Woodsman

Honorable mentions: The Machinst (definite recommendation), Primer, and Club Dread

2005
1. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (also my favorite movie of all time)
2. Sin City
3. Brick
4. Hostel
5. Thank You for Smoking
6. The Jacket
7. Derailed
8. Cry_Wolf
9. Hard Candy
10. The Descent

Honorable mentions: Wolf Creek (best theater experience I've ever had) and History of Violence

2006
1. The Departed
2. Pan's Labyrinth
3. The Lives of Others
4. The Prestige & The Illusionist (can't separate them)
5. Akeelah and the Bee
6. Children of Men
7. The Devil Wears Prada
8. 300
9. A Scanner Darkly
10. Smokin' Aces

Honorable mentions: Little Miss Sunshine, Accepted, Silent Hill, Perfume: The Story of a Murderer, Running Scared, Running With Scissors, 2:37, and of course Snakes on a Plane

2007
1. No Country for Old Men and There Will Be Blood (absolute best films of the year)
2. Into the Wild
3. Trick 'r Treat
4. Gone Baby Gone
5. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
6. Death Proof
7. Teeth
8. Charlie Bartlett
9. Shoot 'Em Up
10. Hostel: Part 2

Honorable mentions: Superbad, Juno, Across the Universe, Eastern Promises, We Own the Night, The Kite Runner, Funny Games (remake of Australian film from 1999)

2008
1. The Dark Knight
2. Slumdog Millionaire
3. In Bruges
4. Let the Right One In
5. Cloverfield
6. Repo! The Genetic Opera (super weird, but entertaining. Paris Hilton is in it and super crazy)
7. Definitely, Maybe
8. The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
9. Otis
10. Burn After Reading

Honorable mentions: Be Kind Rewind and Wanted

2009
1. Inglourious Basterds
2. Zombieland
3. The Blind Side
4. The Hurt Locker
5. The Soloist
6. I Love You, Man
7. Star Trek
8. Up
9. The Hangover
10. Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (the entire Swedish series)

Honorable mentions: Antichrist (Lars von Trier is amazing, check out all his other stuff too!), District 9, Law Abiding Citizen, The Road, Push, The Collector, The Soloist, Exam (surprisingly excellent and is on Netflix instant watch), Precious, Funny People (only for Aubrey Plaza's standup segment of about five minutes, but it's totally worth the full watch too).

Also, Human Centipede. Yes it is disgusting, but it's an interesting concept and a pretty interesting film.

2010
1. The Ghost Writer
2. Toy Story 3
3. How To Train Your Dragon
4. It's Kind of a Funny Story
5. True Grit
6. Scott Pilgrim vs. the World
7. The Debt
8. Rubber
9. Machete
10. Devil

Honorable mentions: Black Swan, Red, Blue Valentine, The Crazies, Howl, I Saw the Devil, Buried,  and A Serbian Film. Arguably one of the toughest and strangest films I've ever watched. Banned in several countries, involves some very graphic sex and violent scenes. Proceed with caution.

2011
1. Drive
2. Midnight in Paris
3. The Artist
4. Killer Joe
5. Attack the Block
6. Scream 4
7. Bridesmaids
8. Limitless
9. Carnage
10. Super 8

Honorable mentions: Hobo With a Shotgun (ridiculously fun movie), Salmon Fishing in the Yemen, and 50/50

2012
1. Cabin in the Woods & Silver Linings Playbook
2. Mud
3. Seven Psychopaths
4. The Master
5. Skyfall (my favorite Bond movie of all time)
6. Django Unchained
7. Perks of Being a Wallflower
8. Looper
9. Chronicle
10. John Dies at the End

Honorable mentions: Sinister, The Avengers, The Paperboy, and The Collection

To be completely honest, I'm sure I missed one or two of my favorites over the years, but I can't be entirely sure. If you want any explanations from this or anything let me know and I will do my best to answer your questions. I probably could have written a blurb about all of these to help more, but don't have that much time on my hands.

The Purge

Every year for one night of the year all crime is legal. For anyone wondering, yes this includes murder. This is called the Purge and seemingly keeps the economy stable, crime rates down, and the country and society happy overall. The Purge had a ton of potential to be a taut and tense crime-thriller, but it falls just a bit short.

Instead of following just one perspective on the annual Purge, this film should have focused our attention on every aspect. From the "poor, homeless pigs who are not contributing to society," to the rich and protected, and finally to the hunters, the sociopaths, the people with an insatiable need to kill. Their hate being suppressed for 364.5 days of the year only allowing the beast to surface for 12 hours out of the year.

With a lot of potential wasted The Purge was still an entertaining movie experience. The idea behind the purge is how cathartic it is for everyone in the country and that seemed to translate to much of the audience as well, cheers and claps were heard throughout the film when certain deaths occurred. The acting overall was good.

Ethan Hawke has been out of major films for awhile, aside from last year's Sinister, which should have a sequel sometime in the near future, (I think). He showed that even a man who sells security systems and lives a life of luxury can still protect his family when he needs to. Lena Headey hides her anger and aggression well, with fleeting glances towards her husband. Max Burkholder and Adelaide Kane do a good job playing the kids, albeit fairly unintelligent ones. However Rhys Wakefield stole the movie as the "polite neighbor" (aka the leader of the crazy "hunters"). He was very similar to Heath Ledger's Joker in The Dark Knight including many of the facial expressions. He was terrifying. The other hunters really bring the crazy to life as well.

The storyline was overall, fairly basic. It was often predictable for the first half of the film. I kept waiting to be rewarded and brought around full circle with a few plot points, but was left hanging. While there were shortcomings in the plot, it made up for them in many entertaining ways. Whether it was the dialogue, the disturbing hunters, or the family dynamic, as a whole the story was thrilling.

Worth seeing if you have some pent up aggression, anger, or resentment and it's even worth seeing if you don't. It's a fun summer movie.

6.5/10

Mud

This is an instant classic. A combination of many of literature's finest and most intricate characters. Not only that, but the story is a perfect blending of various classic movies. Part Huck Finn, Tom Sawyer, The Tree of Life, Deliverance. Even some Hardy Boys flows throughout. It is, however, completely unfair to compare this to past movies because it stands alone with imaginative characters and one of the best told stories I've seen in recent memory.

Two young boys encounter a mysterious man on a beach and as they learn more about him they grow increasingly closer with him and involved in his affairs. Think Stand By Me, but without the discovery of a dead body. Details run rampant during the film and if you lose focus for one second you may miss something from earlier. It evolves at its own pace and reveals pieces of the story in slivers, never more than one bit of information at a time, but it never loses focus or drags. Not only that, but the one thing that ties everything together is the idea of true love, whether it be the version the young boys in different home situations have, or the one Mud is pushing upon them.

My opinions of child actors has been expressed here multiple times, but these two young men carry their roles to near perfection. Tye Sheridan, previously in The Tree of Life, played the role of a teenager in a crumbling home looking for adventure, better than I could have imagined. Bringing the innocence of youth to life is something that isn't necessarily an easy thing to do and as Ellis does an outstanding job. Jacob Lofland as his sidekick, Neckbone knocks it out of the park. The two played off of each other better than a lot of adult actors do. Reese Witherspoon reminded me of her role as June Carter in Walk the Line. Just as well acted and sadly portrayed as then, her character Juniper was equally as mysterious as Mud.

Matthew McConaughey has proven again, what he did in Killer Joe in 2011, that he's actually a great actor with skills as perfect as anyone. His character in this movie reminded me of a lot of things and people. He was expertly written by Jeff Nichols and felt like a ghost of a pirate for much of the film, but the best part was McConaughey. He was a man of few words, but his actions did all the speaking needed. This is easily his best performance of his career.

While the story and acting are both strong, what ties the film all together and makes this one of the best times you'll have in a theater (without special effects) is the cinematography and music. Some of the most beautiful shots occur in this film. Of the river, island, and the surrounding areas. There is one sequence mirrored in the film and when it comes back around it is extremely important. A single guitar ties the montage scenes together and adds to the feeling of small town life.

Do yourself a favor and sprint, bike ride, roller blade, drive, walk, ride a Segway for all I care. Get to the theater and don't miss this gripping tale of childhood fantasy, crumbling love, and one of my favorite stories to date. It will easily be one of the year's best films and should be around for awhile. Mud is a classic and we should be seeing a lot of it come awards season.

This is a movie that reminds me why I want to make movies. It was fresh, fun, entertaining, surprising, gripping, and just overall fantastic. Please go see this! (And take me along!)

10/10

Amour

Amour is a minimalistic love story about a man and his wife, who suffers from an attack, and how their love is tested. Whether it is through talking with her, feeding her, or just being with her, this is a tale of true love and the tribulations that can come with it in old age.

Foreign films often struggle in America due to the added issue of subtitles. Amour, however found a way around this. By choosing only static shots on the screen, save for a few moments when the camera follows the action, it is easier to read all the dialogue and see the character's expressions at the same time. The static shots also add a feeling of claustrophobia throughout the film.

And in a film about love and other emotions, expressions are key. Critics and audiences alike are relishing Emmanuelle Riva's performance as Anna and it is stupendously tragic, but without the outstanding performance of Jean-Louis Trintignant she would have been "hung out to dry." The chemistry the pair share on screen is unquestioningly charming.

What made their performance so great was the story and how it shows the audience the everyday struggles someone who has had a stroke must deal with. Going to the bathroom, showering, even eating. Nothing is off limits in this movie.

In the end Amour raises the question: What would you do for the person you love most?

8.5/10

Les Misérables

When driving to a movie theater, what do you want to see? A film or a theatrical production? My thought is that no matter what, you'd want to see a movie. Anyway Les Mis is great for what it is, basically a filming of the stage play.

A story seen in many different iterations, from original stage play to actual movie and finally to a filmed version of the musical. It has been done well in each version and I've seen all three. Easily the best one is this one. Only a few roles utilize the live singing to its full potential, but when it works, it shines incredibly brightly.

Starting with Anne Hathaway's singing of 'I Dreamed a Dream,' it is unparalleled by any other song in the movie. Powerfully sung and depressingly beautifully acted, she nails this song on the head and upped the ante for the songs later in the movie. Only matched by Samantha Barks' performance of 'On My Own.' This is what the live singing should be used for: emotional performances. The other performances worth noting are Sacha Baron Cohen and Helena Bohnam Carter. Adding the only humor to the story.

Aside from the singing, the acting was outstanding. Anguish, anger, and ambivalence abound throughout this dark and dreary musical. Hugh Jackman and Russell Crowe are stupendous as the two main characters, even though Javert appears much too "magically" in this film. However this is more the original story's fault. How, over such a span of time, is one man supposed to inadvertently run into the man he is searching for?

Much of the acting is exactly what it needs to be, depressing and desolate. It works very well throughout, but far too many of the actors are singing just outside of their range and it shows in their facial expressions. In a stage play if you're singing out of your range you won't get the job, so why does it work on the screen? I don't have an answer for that. It's almost painful at times to see the straining in the actor's faces, only from the singing, not because they are identifying with the words.

Aside from the strain in the actors' faces there is not much else wrong with the movie. It would have been much better had they made it more of a musical instead of an opera. The only difference being actual dialogue versus constant singing. I wish there would have been more dialogue, though I know the stage musical didn't have much, if any, dialogue, but instead of singing with an annoying simple melody is worse than stopping your singing to actually speak.

Overall, it's a good adaptation of the musical, but the director needed to make his mind up whether to make his own version of Les Misérables or to copy, almost directly, the stage musical. In this case he chose to film the stage musical.

7/10

Zero Dark Thirty

Zero Dark Thirty is a grim, detached portrait of the CIA manhunt for Osama bin Laden. Technically it is brilliant, utilizing its handheld camera to the peak of its potential. Professionally shooting the Seal Team 6 sequence impeccably, making it look like it could have come straight from a documentary.

First things first, I'm generally not the biggest fan of war movies. There are always exceptions, most recently with The Hurt Locker and, now again with Zero Dark Thirty. Two movies from Kathryn Bigelow. What I loved about Locker was how it became not about war or fighting, but a character drama about an adrenaline junkie and I was hoping for something similar here. Unfortunately much of the character development falls very short. Minimalistic interactions between characters give fleeting glances at what these people went through, where they came from, how learning new information affects their relationships with one another.

At its pivotal moment, Zero Dark Thirty is hollow. I go to the movies to see a plot with developed characters and relationships, not to just see a condensed ten-year news report, from what the CIA will share, of what happened. 

Jessica Chastain gives a decent performance, with a few cursory moments proving her acting ability. It's hard to truly put a word to her performance; how can you, when the majority of her time on screen is spent silently looking off camera. I felt more like I was watching a high schooler getting her senior pictures taken for much of the film. Brevity is probably the most appropriate term here. However, the moments where she holds nothing back are incredible and add much needed, albeit minuscule, emotion to the movie. Maybe that's the point. How calculating and cold you have to become to be in charge of something like this. Jason Clarke easily steals the screen when he shares it. Playing an interrogator who beats and tortures detainees, gives a brief glimpse at the humanity some people risked as a part of this manhunt.

One thing I was sure Zero would be is a love-letter to America. I was pleasantly surprised with a general worldly look at the hunt. Instead of focusing on only the United States, Zero Dark Thirty does an outstanding job reminding the audience that it was not just this country in search of Bin Laden, but that it affected the entire world. 

Where Zero Dark Thirty really shines is its development of information-getting techniques used throughout this hunt. The torture scenes were uncomfortable, but rightfully so. How can people be up in arms about torture methods exposed periodically during the war and the hunt for Bin Laden. They were dark, gritty, and felt real. Yes, there were parts that seemed excessive, but isn't that what happened in the real search? As a country the first thing thought to do was torture anyone thought could have an iota of information as to the whereabouts of Bin Laden. Later in the movie the interrogation techniques lighten up, but still hold the same power. 

Mark Bohl and the whole team working on the script had quite a task ahead of them when they began rewriting it after Bin Laden was announced dead. What worked very well was the final twenty-ish minutes of the movie, where Seal Team 6 makes the move into the compound. This sequence and its unabashed use of torture, when needed, are Zero Dark Thirty's saving graces. 

In the end I wouldn't be upset if it won best picture, but I really don't know that it will. Both Lincoln and Silver Linings Playbook were expertly crafted from top to bottom. My advice to you, don't take Zero Dark Thirty as pure fact or pure fiction, but how you take tequila, with a grain (usually more) of salt.

8/10

Golden Globes

Although the Golden Globe nominations just came out and I have a few movies to see (18 to see all the best screenplay, acting, and picture nods) it means one thing to me. The best time of the year for movies has finally begun.

As I do every year, I will attempt to see the other 18 movies by the time the awards happen (yet another reason I love winter break!). The Golden Globe nominations are a good place to start if you're looking for those outstanding movies you may have missed earlier in the year and are usually at least somewhat accurate when it comes to predicting the Oscars.

Looking at the nominations so far, four movies clearly stand-out: Lincoln, Zero Dark Thirty, Les Misérables, and Silver Linings Playbook. The leader of the pack is Lincoln, no surprise to anyone, with seven nominations, the other three falling behind (with four nominations) my least favorite nominee, Argo, and my most anticipated movie of the year: Django Unchained (each receiving five nods).

Of the six mentioned above, I've already seen three and the winners are clear: Lincoln and Sliver Linings Playbook hands down. However the buzz surrounding both Zero Dark Thirty and Les Mis may make me think twice.

If the past few years have taught us anything it's that Kathryn Bigelow knows how to make a war movie not revolve around a war (the main rationale behind her adrenaline junkie focused Hurt Locker taking the big prize at the Oscars). But how can one make a movie about the search for Osama Bin Laden not revolve around war? I don't think it can be done, which makes me think this will end up being reminiscent of past 'war-centered' award winners like Apocalypse Now, Platoon, and The Deer Hunter. Where this movie will be different is the fact that no one in America will be able leave the theater without wanting to chant "U.S.A."

This is what I expect to see surrounding me in the theater:

As much as I love The Hurt Locker and Kathryn Bigelow for taking down James Cameron and his precious Avatar"d," (Don't get me wrong, I like Avatar, but I would have liked it better had it been an original story) I think this is an low and easy way to get nominations. Take a story that everyone has at least heard about and make it into a movie. I sincerely hope I fall in love with this movie.

Now onto Les Mis. A musical. The last time a musical won was 2006's Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. Could this be the year to dethrone a comedy? Possible, but not likely. Either way, it is already being heralded already as one of the musical greats. Probably most famously for having the actors sing live on the screen. In the modern age, yes this is something new and rare, but when film first started, the only way to record sound was to actually have them sing live. Maybe the nostalgia will capture audiences the way it did last year in The Artist. Although for many I think it will add a feeling of watching an actual Broadway production, which will detract some, but attract many more.

Finally there is Quentin Tarantino's new film Django Unchained (for those who don't know, the 'D' is silent). In true 'him-fashion,' for lack of a better word, Tarantino has made what looks to be like the best western in years! I'm especially looking forward to seeing Leonardo DiCaprio and Christoph Waltz (both nominated for Best Supporting Actor) square off in the film. Both are able to carry weighted roles and make them look easy. Seeing Jamie Foxx and what I'm sure will be gratuitous violence through out is definitely exciting as well.

Other movies worth mentioning are the Ewan McGregor and Emily Blunt carried Salmon Fishing in the Yemen, the awkwardly adorable Moonrise Kingdom, and the apparently visually stunning Life of Pi (Move over Avatar).

While I still like the Golden Globes they pale in comparison to both the Oscars and the Emmys so no TV talk from me today. Even some of the movies were a surprise. There was talk of The Dark Knight Rises getting some attention, but alas, it went unnoticed. We shall see how these movies hold up through the coming months building up to the Oscars.

Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln had an extremely tumultuous career as President of the United States. The Civil War and emancipating the slaves, culminating in his assassination. He was a man of many stories and loved by many and this new (albeit early) frontrunner for Oscars nails it on the head.

Lincoln is far less of a biopic than it is merely a period drama of his accomplishments in the last months of the Civil War, but as a period drama it is stupendous. Take Steven Spielberg, Sally Field, Tommy Lee Jones, and the incomparable Daniel Day-Lewis and combine them and you will get one of the greatest takes on a president ever made.

Opening in true Spielberg fashion, we are tossed right into the middle of Civil War at its peak. After an opening similar to Saving Private Ryan we meet the man, Abraham Lincoln (Day-Lewis). With many people against him, the movie follows how he helped end the Civil War and free the slaves.

Want to know what it felt like to live during 1865? See this movie. The art direction, costume design, and dialogue is how I imagine it was during this time. 

Daniel Day-Lewis became Lincoln, as he does with most of his roles. It is incredible to watch. It feels almost like watching a play where Abraham Lincoln is playing himself on stage. Sally Field as his deranged wife is astounding. I believed her emotion and felt like she actually was going crazy from losing a child. Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Tommy Lee Jones are perfect in the roles they play. 

With an odd amount of humor, unfortunately not joining the movie until a good 45 minutes in, James Spader's character and his other cronies are hilarious and provide some uplift and laughter to an otherwise slow movie. Without them I probably would have fallen asleep.

As a period drama this is an awesome movie, but as always seems to happen, slow movies will get lots of Oscar attention. I'm not saying that it doesn't deserve the nominations, but as of right now I don't think it should win best picture. Day-Lewis and Field are definite front runners for Best Actor and Supporting Actress. It will be quite the showdown in these categories this year. I hope anyway.

9/10

Silver Linings Playbook

Before I start this, I know I seem to love every movie I see. This is a problem for a lot of people. One of the most often questions I get is "how do you not like a movie?" My response usually involves something about how I find the things I like about a movie and remember those. And for the most part I do like every movie I see, but nowadays it's even more true. Maybe it's because I know the movies I want to see and I don't settle for other movies or maybe it is because movies are simply getting better overall. 

Yes, there are still the awful movies (Twilight series among others), but I tend to avoid seeing those without any problem. Occasionally watching a bad movie is a lot of fun (see the Step Up series), but once you figure out how to spot the winners from the losers going to the movies is always an enjoyable experience. Silver Linings Playbook is almost a hidden gem only because of its limited release.

It has been receiving attention for awhile since it debuted at film festivals across the country, even some Oscar buzz. I was skeptical about the Oscar talks until I saw it for myself. This movie comes out of left field and just works.

When you take a mentally unstable person and another mentally unstable person and make them the main character of your movie (or book) you open the door for anything to happen. Bradley Cooper's character, Patrick, spent eight months in a mental hospital for various reasons that I will not mention here and Jennifer Lawrence's character, Tiffany, has her own issues as well. The two compliment each other perfectly.

The story is very relatable on many levels. Either you have come in contact with someone with mental issues like the characters or you have actually acted like the characters in the film (with or without the instability). It follows the ups and downs of bipolarity through the characters and the plot and it is great to watch. I feel that you really get a chance to understand the troubles of mental instability all while being able to laugh. There were very few moments where I wasn't laughing.

Cooper and Lawrence deliver one hundred percent. I believed both of their mental instability. Whether it was acting or just a regular actor's personality doesn't matter. They were both incredible. Definite Oscar contenders (first for Cooper and second for Lawrence and so far my favorites to win them, but Lincoln will probably change at least the Best Actor). Robert DeNiro is stupendous as the father set in his ways. Other than that most of the characters fall by the wayside since they have minimal screen time...With one exception: Chris Tucker. He was an huge addition to the humor and you'll understand if you see the movie.

Overall, this is a great movie for everyone. No matter who is watching he or she will definitely be able to find something to enjoy in Silver Linings Playbook. There are multiple meanings for many of the jokes and lines throughout this movie and you can read into them however you like. And therein lies the beauty of this film. I think this is an instant classic and a must-see. It will build Oscar buzz and hopefully take a few awards.

9.5/10

Wreck-It Ralph

In an age replete with constant references and homages Wreck-It Ralph fits right in. An incredibly fun take on video games, you cannot help but enjoy it.

Any fan of "older" video games will find something they recognize here. Whether it is something from Pac-Man or Qbert to Bowser or Sonic the video game references and cameos do not ever seem to stop.

The story is entirely engaging and delightfully fun to watch. Ralph and Felix are part of a fictional game named Fix-It Felix Jr. Ralph destroys a building and Felix has to climb the building and fix the building and save the people who live in it. Ralph is lonely because at the end of the day when the arcade closes everyone in the building shuns him and is afraid of him. From there it gets fun as we follow Ralph through different adventures so he can try and be a good guy for once.

Much of the humor comes from the references in the writing, whether they are from past video games or other "nerdy" allusions to movies or comics. Small details in the film are what made me laugh more than anything. One of my favorite instances coming from the beginning of a race sequence. For fans of the Mario Kart series of games it is obvious. If you push the 'A' button too soon you get a bad start and just like in the game a few racers don't start as quickly as the others.

Voice acting can be just as challenging as live-action acting and the actors nailed it. Ralph would not be nearly as likable if it were not for John C. Reilly providing the voice. Vanellope voiced by Sarah Silverman is perfect, starting out as an annoyance, but growing on you as the movie goes on, much like Silverman in real life (watch The Sarah Silverman Program if you don't believe me). There are many more great performances here, but Jane Lynch and Jack McBrayer as Calhoun and Felix respectively are awesome. Each bringing his or her stereotypical humor to their roles.

As a whole this is a great movie, fit for children and adults alike. Much more enjoyable than I had anticipated and I could not stop smiling except for a brief period of time. Definitely go see it this holiday season.

8/10

Looper

Have you ever had that movie experience where your mind is completely blown? Like Memento or Inception or even The Dark Knight (Heath Ledger's performance, whew!)? Would you like to have your mind blown again? Well look no further this year, for in the realm of science fiction, one movie reigns supreme: Looper. (My apologies to Christopher Nolan for not supplying pop culture with a mind destroying film this year)

Before this movie I could only fathom what seeing Blade Runner for the first time in theaters could have done to someone. It would have been mindjarring (my personal combination of mind blowing and bottling). As was my experience with this film. Rian Johnson has done what he did to film noir with Brick (2005): flipped it on it's head.

I thought I knew sci-fi movies and knew the kind of movie that Looper was, but whatever thoughts I had in my mind were changed because of this movie. The story begins with us following the life of Joe played by Joseph Gordon Levitt. His narration draws us in slowly and gently, but ever so subtly and we are transported to another world (or dimension depending on how you look at it). And after that we are given the conundrum: "if you were to meet your future self, should you kill him or her if you were a looper? "The sci-fi genre has not seen the likes of this movie since Alien or the aforementioned Blade Runner. The script is written so beautifully with subtle mentions of different topics that we never get a full explanation of, but have to fill in with our minds, and keeps reminding you that Bruce Willis is from the future. (Most of the movie I had to remind myself that he was)

But nobody likes a good story without a great ending. And Looper does NOT disappoint. Four little words in the film are all it took to blow my mind this time around. I walked out of the movie, drove home, and immediately asked my roommates if they wanted to see it tonight. The acting is incredible for the genre. And the special effects/make-up used to make Joseph Gordon-Levitt look different are unbelievable. He is transformed into a younger Bruce Willis with no visible changes at all. I could barely believe my eyes.

Whether you like sci-fi movies or not this is an absolute must-see. (Do you like Christopher Nolan movies? Yes? GO SEE THIS MOVIE TOMORROW!)<--Said in your Billy Mayes voice. This is a movie that could turn non-fans into die-hards (no pun intended Mr. Willis).

9/10

Safety Not Guaranteed

Time traveling has been out of the movies for sometime, especially romantic dramas. Coming from the producers of Little Miss Sunshine this movie was pretty similar in terms of humor. It was a quirky indie movie with lots of indie music and good humor.

If you like seeing smaller films in the theater alongside the bigger box office hits, you'll enjoy this movie. Including three of my favorite actors from three great comedies they were the perfect combination for Safety Not Guaranteed. Aubry Plaza from "Parks and Recreation," Jake Johnson from "New Girl," and Mark Duplass from "The League." Seeing the three of them together on screen was incredible and they all had some great chemistry. Aubry Plaza with her standard dark humor delivering lines with a flat face and tone was perfection. Mark Duplass brought just the right amount of crazy to this idiosyncratic comedy.

Following a magazine writer and two interns responding to an ad in a local newspaper about looking for a partner to go back in time with. The whole story develops from there and the relationships and inter-weavings of characters is so much fun to watch. Similar to the indie comedies in the past (i.e. Juno and Little Miss Sunshine) there are great lines and great scenes.

For the money spent on the movie it makes use of every penny. The only time it is clear that money was spent on it is towards the end. Not only that, but this comedy follows some of my favorite things like witty retorts and intelligent references to other movies and the way they are combined makes Safety Not Guaranteed a movie that shouldn't be missed. Try and catch it if you can.

7.5/10

Dark Knight Rises

I have started this post at 3:54 am, the morning of July 20th. Or more accurately the day I've been waiting for for nearly a year, anticipating the glorious end to a great trilogy.

My previous favorite movie theater experience was a stereotypical event that many people would find irritating. I saw Wolf Creek in Mayfair mall at night. While at the theater the other spectators were yelling at the screen, which I loved! However this triple-feature at least tied that. In between Batman Begins and The Dark Knight we had trivia and between each of the movies we had a jolly old man come in and introduce the next film. It was also filled with some big Batman nerds, which made the experience that much greater. And I should say that midnight showings are nearly sacred to me. I LOVE midnight showings, the entire atmosphere is just better at these showings.

The third act of this trilogy is one of the better third acts I've ever seen. My opinion could be swayed due to my viewing of the entire trilogy in theaters. This was the first time I've ever done an in-theater movie marathon before and I'm happy this was the one I chose to see. The Dark Knight Rises tied in so closely and so well with the first two that having just seen them a mere six hours before the midnight premiere made the tie-ins that much more apparent. Many of the similarities were in the dialogue and a few flashbacks, but what set this apart in the trilogy was the cast.

The characters in every movie have had great performances (i.e. Joker/Heath Ledger). However, every character of this film has a perfect actor or actress who should have portrayed them and in true Christopher Nolan fashion each received his or her perfect fit. Whether it was newcomers Selina Kyle (Anne Hathaway) or John Blake (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) or old favorites Jim Gordon (Gary Oldman) or Lucius Fox (Morgan Freeman) the actors were pitch perfect. Ladies and gentlemen we have a Catwoman that I actually liked! Not just a sex symbol, but a real character, Hathaway showed some grit in her performance as the jewel thief. For a comic book movie the characters felt real and not just like they were straight off the pages of a book.

What was really weighing on this film for many moviegoers was the villain, Bane. If you remember back to the first two trailers, his voice was nearly unintelligible and their best solution was to re-dub the film. It was the best solution and only strayed into the unbelievable and almost annoying once. Annoying may not even be the right word, but it got a bit high for a big guy like Bane. I simply cannot write a review without mentioning how Tom Hardy compared to Heath Ledger's Joker. Seeing as how the two villains are nearly polar opposites (one more physical and the other playing a more mental game) they were both great performances. Aside from Hardy's voice his performance gave me chills. I had to get picky to even think of this one incident.

As for the action, what would a Christopher Nolan Batman movie be without a lot of action? From the many new gadgets and the old ones he brought back were great fun to watch on screen. It was a terrific blend of action, character development, and story. So perfect that Nolan almost achieved something only two things have accomplished before: getting me to cry. I know I'm not the only one in the theater who was close to tears, and I don't care either. It was that good.

There are plenty of twists and turns that, while sometimes guessable, are much more fun to just let them happen. Replete with many jaw dropping, "aha," and "oh my god, did that really happen?" moments, Overall I thought it was a near perfect end to an outstanding trilogy. The Dark Knight Rises is the summer movie event I've been waiting for. I cannot wait to see it a few more times in the theaters. 

9.5/10

Prometheus

For the first time since Blade Runner I believe, the master of science fiction, Ridley Scott (in my opinion), returns to a world he created with Alien. This time it’s set a few years before the first Alien and it attempts to answer some of the questions that have haunted mankind since the dawn of time. Such as: where did we come from, where are we going, who/what created us? And the most important of all: why are we here?

This time around no expense was spared when it came to the ship, the Wexley corporation spent a trillion dollars on the ship: Prometheus. For the first time in Alien history the ship shares the movie’s title. That is as far I as I want to take the comparisons to the original because, though originally planned as a true prequel to the entire series, Scott decided to go the smarter route and create an entirely different storyline.

We follow captains and couple Shaw and Holloway, another first for the series, and their crew into space where they believe they have found a moon where life could survive. Obviously something doesn’t go according to plan and we get blood, action, suspense, and many fun surprises. It’s awesome!

Another similarity with not only the Alien series, but all of Ridley Scott’s movies. The term here is used lightly because everything in the “series” paled in comparison to Alien and James Cameron’s sequel, Aliens. His ability to draw great performances out of all of his actors is incredible and it follows through in shining color here. Noomi Rapace, following her turn as Lisbeth Slanader proves that she can bring power and heart to a scientist, just like Sigourney Weaver did with Ellen Ripley in the original Alien.

Every single one of the supporting actors perfectly suited his or her roles. Aside from Rapace, Michael Fassbender as the agenda-running robot David creates a character arc not seen since Blade Runner. Throughout the movie he must endure digs against him and comparisons to what the crew are doing (i.e. searching for answers to the aforementioned questions) and he provides a nuanced performance. And finally an Oscar winner beautifully acts the character that proves to have the biggest agenda. I don’t want to make it too obvious.

The story here took “old” themes, but throws in new surprises, twists, and technologies, all while following a formula perfected by the great Ridley Scott. Absolutely spectacular and he follows through with great force. A definite must-see for the summer!

8/10

This is a picture of the theater seats. I love watching my movies loud and this theater did me proud. It was extremely loud and I loved every second of it. The one bad thing was the lighted seat numbers. I just covered them up with my hands which worked perfectly!

AirBus

I wasn't planning on writing a post about this, but I felt it was too good not to. I don't know how many of you have flown on an airbus before, if you ever get the chance take it. I've been on flights with movies and personal screens before, but the selection was right up my alley.

Instead of just a handful of movies this has a vast collection. Movies, TV shows, music, and much more. You can pick from premiere movies (aka new ones), Oscar favorites, and then by genre too. As for TV shows, I assumed there would be only old shows. I was wrong. New Girl, Modern Family, and many more shows are available.

This was a little worrisome because I needed to sleep at some point while in flight. Maybe I'll get tired, but I haven't explores everything available on this thing yet. So cool!

I have an addiction and it's to media. It's not the worst thing I could be addicted to, in fact it has given me more things to write about here. Now I can get a few movie reviews up while I'm in Australia too!

And I've landed. Made it safely. Great flight and already great people. Got my first of many G'day mates already too!

Marley

Bob Marley. A man and a legend who preached peace, love, and harmony above everything. Quoted as saying that his life isn't important unless he helps other people. An incredible man with a musical talent everyone could see and feel even when he was young.

Marley is a testament to his life. It takes us from his birth, through his life, and finally to his death and legacy. Being a documentary this could have easily fallen into a trap of only having "talking heads" on the screen, never turning to the man this film was about, but thankfully it didn't. Kevin Macdonald made this movie the way I think Bob would have wanted it. Leaving it open to public opinion. Should Bob do this concert? Should he skip it? He didn't care. He just wanted to play his music

Filled with music and incredible archive footage of Bob Marley himself, this movie has everything. A glorious life story to tell, fantastic music, and smart editing make this a documentary you can't miss!

Starting where he was born we get to see how Bob grew up. The groups he was a part of growing up and the music he created with those groups. I didn't know all the music he created when he was younger and that he started with Ska. The group he was a part of started out by copying white groups of similar sounds and then put a Jamaican twist usually with ska in the background. It was just great seeing him grow.

And learning all the influence he had all over the world. His country was in political turmoil so he went to London to keep trying his luck at playing his music all over the world. The people of Jamaica asked him to come back and perform. And he did just that! His style, Reggae, is one genre of music that can unify everyone. It's incredible and it's shown throughout the movie.

One of my favorite parts of this movie was the archive footage. I obviously had never seen Bob Marley live before. I hadn't even seen footage of him live, even though I know now that I could have found it pretty easily. He was a great performer and the spliced in footage is proof of that. A man who died too young due to a lack of medical checkups and staff on tour, his legacy lives on in his music and now in this documentary

If you love his music and what he stood for, even if you just like his music and don't know everything he accomplished see this movie. It's a documentary you must see!

8/10

The Avengers

Last year was my self-proclaimed year of Ryan Gosling. This year it seems that it is the year of Joss Whedon. So far having two huge movies in the theater: Cabin in the Woods and The Avengers. Both are incredible and worth multiple viewings. The Avengers had an advantage having the full process of prequels before it so it didn't need to be riddled with backstory of the main characters, but could enjoy having the ability to create a memorable story filled with action, comedy, and energy.

Dating back to 2008, with Iron Man and The Incredible Hulk (with Edward Norton), the Avengers series of movies began with a bang. An argument could be made that it dates back to 2003 with the garbage that was Hulk with Eric Bana and Jennifer Connelly, but it's really not even worth watching. Then came Iron Man 2 and then last year we got Thor and Captain America: The First Avenger. Each of the four character's solo films are definitely worth watching, but not needed before seeing The Avengers. It does however add lots of depth to the characters allowing the movie to flow and focus on character development and an enthralling storyline.

It opens with the Tessarect, a mysterious cube of energy, being studied by S.H.I.E.L.D., a dark matter and intelligence division of the government and the re-introduction of our villain: Loki, Thor's brother. This leads into the action throughout, with bouts between Thor, Captain America, the Hulk, and Iron Man. The time these four spend fighting each other makes for some of the most entertaining parts of the film and when they begin to work together the combinations we get to see are outstanding!

Replete with mind-blowing action sequences ranging in span and scope, many times leaving me leaning forward in my seat, or sitting with my mouth agape. Every sequence was so well done even though I knew much of it was fake. I didn't care. My palms, which usually only sweat in movies dealing with climbing, were sweaty the whole time. Probably due to my excitement. Seeing it in a nearly full theater helped a lot too. People were cheering and yelling at the screen. It was exactly the way everyone should see it. AND it was in 3D, making it even that much better. I raised my hands in disbelief or excitement far too many times and was probably overly hyped up, but it is a fantastic movie.

Not only were there a lot of action scenes, but the script had many shining moments, from Hulk's one-liners, to Iron Man's clever retorts, and the always enjoyable Thor/Captain America not understanding references. That's one of my favorite things about this movie. The small details in the script make this movie for me. Keeping Thor speaking like he is straight out of a Shakespeare play and keeping Captain America speaking like he's from the 1940's, which he is.

One thing that plagued the Hulk part of the Avengers was the actor. He hasn't been played by the same actor in any of the films of the last 10 years, previously played by Eric Bana and Edward Norton. Now they finally found the right guy for the job: Mark Ruffalo. Things have changed now. He signed on for six movies, playing the role of Bruce Banner/the Hulk. This means that besides the 2013 sequels Thor 2 and Iron Man 3 and 2014's Captain America 2, we can probably count on seeing a(nother) reboot of the Hulk. This would be amazing because I think Ruffalo's Hulk was by far the best Hulk.

The acting by everyone is incredible. Thor, Captain America, Iron Man, Nick Fury, Black Widow, Agent (Phil) Coulson, and Loki, among a few others all being reprised by the same actors. Loki was especially convincing as the villain and really upped his game this time around. The banter amongst Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Captain America (Chris Evans), Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), and Bruce Banner is hilarious. I was in stitches from many different lines. My absolute favorite line was given by Banner towards the end of the movie, when he finally reveals his secret for not turning into the Hulk.

Samuel L. Jackson is as great as ever playing Nick Fury, bringing honor and heart to this character. He puts his trust in the Avengers and keeps the audience on track when we may take a small dip in the action. And Scarlett Johansson is perfect as Black Widow, a spy with an interesting and entertaining interrogation technique. I can't not talk about Jeremy Renner as Hawk Eye was stellar as well. The acting on all accounts proves that even superhero movies can have some of the best acting even though much is left to special effects in these movies.

The Avengers was completely full of awesome special effects and camera angles. Oftentimes showing us a canted angle of the characters. Just a joy to watch. The special effects for each of the Avengers were perfect. Especially the Hulk. Thanks to motion-capture technology the Hulk seemed more real and lifelike than ever before. I can't go into much more detail without giving things away. And one final camera technique only used towards the end of the film were sporadic zooms similar to mockumentaries. It brought out details that otherwise may have gone unnoticed or forgotten.

I'm not sure if I did this movie justice in writing. Just see it. If you're looking for a standalone movie to see in the theaters see Cabin in the Woods, but if you're looking for the best superhero movie of all time, and maybe one of the coolest action movies of the past ten years go see The Avengers.