The Host

   

             Earth has been invaded by a symbiotic race of aliens that inhabit human bodies.  Nearly every single human on the planet has become a host to one of these “Souls.”  There are only a precious few uninhabited humans left and they must fight to maintain their freedom.  This movie begins in the middle of the action as Melanie (Saoirse Ronan) tries to avoid capture by jumping  through a window intending to die rather than be captured.  Her body survives, however, and the Soul that inhabits her body is called Wanderer.  Wanderer begins to search Melanie’s memories in order to locate the human resistance.  Instead, Melanie and her memories cause Wanderer to question everything she has ever known to be true. 

                This movie is based on the book of the same name written by Stephanie Meyer, the author of the Twilight Saga.   *Sigh*   Alas, the writing in this story is no better than that in her previous endeavors.  The characters the audience is presented with are flat and we are given no time to get to know them at all before we are expected to sympathize with their actions.  The dialog exacerbates this problem and I am completely drawn out of the experience to wonder who wrote this and had had they ever heard a real conversation between two people? 

                I didn’t think it was possible, but the love story is even less relatable in this story than in Twilight.  The audience knows nothing about the characters or their relationship before they are expected to accept that these two characters are so firmly in love that they would die, or kill for each other.  One of my biggest pet peeves about love stories by the way.   The audience should fall in love with him as much as she does and vice versa.   The beginning of this movie moves too fast to allow this to happen and the end drags so much that you no longer care what happens to them. 

                The real tragedy here is that the movie was not poorly made and quite well performed all around. A lot of money was spent on this film and the production value and aesthetic are impressive.  If the script had been better, I would have quite liked this movie.  I am a huge fan of Saoirse Ronan.  You might remember her from Lovely Bones, Hanna, or her Oscar nominated performance in Atonement.  The main love interest is played by Max Irons whose parents are both actors; his father is Jeremy Irons who boasts an Oscar, an Emmy and a Tony as well as being one of my top ten favorite actors.  Melanie’s uncle is played by William Hurt whose prestigious career includes three Oscar nominated performances and one Oscar winning performance.  My point?  Huge.  Waste.

                I won’t say it has no redeeming qualities, but I will say that I wish I had my $9.50 and 125 minutes back.  I know there are a lot of die-hard Stephanie Meyer fans out there and if you are one of them, by all means go see it and enjoy!   Otherwise you might want to pick a different movie this time.

New movie in the theater for this weekend:

Evil Dead:  A revival of Sam Raimi’s cult classics of the same name.

Jurassic Park: 3D  :  A re-release of the Spielberg smash hit with a few embellishments.  AKA- an excuse to charge you $13 for a movie you have already seen a hundred times.

The Call

A 911 operator, Jordan (Halle Berry) is traumatized after her mistake causes a caller to become a murder victim.  When she is on the line a year later with a kidnap victim, Casey (Abigail Breslin) she has a chance to redeem herself.  The kidnapper is crafty, desperate and on the move, so the hunt is more difficult than most calls.  Will Jordon be able to save Casey, or will she become the next victim of a psychotic criminal?

                This movie is non-stop suspense!  It really never gives you a break from the moment Casey dials 911.  Well written and well executed, this is a good way to spend a couple hours.  This film is directed by Brad Anderson and he knows how to make a dark movie.  He piloted the cult classic The Machinist and lots of dark TV shows including  Fringe, Boardwalk Empire, The Wire, The Shield and The Killing.   This movie is quite disturbing and sort of makes the viewer’s skin crawl.  No punches are pulled and it makes for a very intense experience. 

                Fair warning, I found the ending a bit of a disappointment since the rest of the movie was so enjoyable, but it is still well worth the price of admission.  Leave the kids at home, though.  This has some pretty graphic violence and a bit of language. 

New movies in the Theatre for this week:

The Host: When a symbiotic alien race takes over the Earth and inhabits human bodies a small resistance is the only thing standing in the way of the fall of the human race.  A teenage girl from the resistance can make the difference when she is inhabited.  Stars Saoirse(pronounced Ser-sha) Ronan, Max Irons and Diane Kruger.  Rated PG-13

GI Joe: Retaliation:  The G.I. Joes are not only fighting their mortal enemy Cobra; they are forced to contend with threats from within the government that jeopardize their very existence.  Stars Dwayne Johnson, Bruce Willis, Channing Tatum.  Rated PG-13

Oz: The Great and Powerful

In this prequel to the Wizard of Oz we see how the wizard (James Franco) gets to Oz and establishes himself there.   We also see how the wicked witch gets so wicked.  The basic formula is followed as we go from black-and-white to vibrant color, also from 2D to 3D.  We have a protagonist who travels from Kansas to Oz and with the help of some local companions, achieves his goal.

This movie is exactly what I was expecting from a Disney film.  Lots of color, a sappy message shoved in your face but with a less ideal message underneath, and a predictably happy ending where the characters learn nothing and face no real consequences for their actions.  This movie is very well made and is breathtaking to watch, but I was less impressed with the performances from some otherwise fantastic actors.  There are a few laughs and some exciting scenes, but overall I was disappointed with this one.  I thought it was a little too sappy for adults, but perhaps too intense for small children. 

If this is one you are really excited about, I would encourage you to go while it is still in the theater since it is a stunning film visually, but if you are on the fence I would suggest skipping this one. 

New movies in the theater this weekend:

The Call:  A 911 operator recognizes a murderer’s pattern and tries to save the latest victim when she calls 911 during her abduction.  Stars Halle Berry and Abigail Breslin.  Rated R

The Incredible Burt Wonderstone: A famous magician must reinvent his act when he is threatened by a new street magician’s stunt that impresses everyone. Stars Steve Carell, Jim Carrey, and Olivia Wilde.  Rated PG-13

Dead Man Down

Victor (Colin Farrell) is a henchman in the organized crime world of New York City.  His boss Alphonse (Terrance Howard) is getting ominous letters and when people who work for Alphonse start dying, he begins to search for the culprit.  Other than the occasional shoot-out at work, Victor lives a quiet and empty life.  Beatrice (Noomi Repace) lives in the same building with a balcony facing Victor’s.  When she witnesses him murder a man in his apartment, Beatrice decides it is time to meet Victor with a proposition.  Even before they meet, the two have a strong connection and that connection creates problems for them both as each moves closer to their personal goals. 

This movie was marketed as a shoot-em-up film, but turned out to be something very different.  If you are looking for a non-stop action flick, this is not the movie for you.  But if you are looking for a dramatic thriller with strong characters and good performances, then this is the film for you!  The mood of this film is very dark and quiet.  Long periods of time will go by with little or no talking, but there is never a moment where something is not being said.  Even when there is no dialog, the actor’s performance or the director’s choice of shot is telling you something about the characters or their story.  This movie is directed by Niels Arden Oplev.  This is his first big American film, but he directed the original Scandinavian version of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo which also starred Noomi Repace.  I am definitely looking forward to his next project.

Personally, I can’t find anything to criticize this film for.   I thought everything was very well done.   A good script is complimented by a worthy cast and a thoughtfully artistic director.  I was pleasantly surprised when I entered the theater thinking I was going to see an adrenaline-filled two hours and got a character-heavy story with some bullets thrown in for flavor.  The villain is appropriately menacing and the protagonists are flawed without being off-putting.  I would say this one is worth seeing in the theater, but isn’t necessary.  If you are just kind of interested the red box can save you six bucks. 

The Last Exorcism Part II

This sequel takes place directly after the first movie ended.  After the epically failed exorcism at the end of the last film, Nell, the innocent victim of Abalam the demon, is found alone and nearly feral.  She is sent to a house for young women who need to restart their lives.  For the first time in her life, Nell begins to feel normal, but then strange things begin happening again.  Can the innocent Nell rid herself of Abalam for good?

The first movie was filmed in a documentary style while this one is more of a traditional film style.  I like the idea of following a character after one of the stereotypically ambiguous horror movie endings.  I always wonder, “How does this all this get explained?” and, “What happens now?”   I also thought it was nice that they didn’t use any big name actors.  I prefer it when I don’t really know the actors in a horror movie.  You can kind of forget that they are actors and get more caught up in the suspense, whereas if it’s Angelina Jolie, or something, I am always thinking of this or that other movie she was in. 

I didn’t find the ending to this film particularly innovative or original, but the meat of the film was suspenseful and fun.  There is definitely some good imagery in this one.  Overall I wouldn’t say it stands out as being particularly good or bad.  If you like horror movies, it is definitely worth the watch, but I wouldn’t clear your schedule to make sure you see it or anything.

P.S.  The new movies in the theatre for this week are:

OZ the Great and Powerful  - A sort of prequel to The Wizard of OZ where the Wizard himself is the main character and we see how he comes to OZ and establishes himself there.   Stars James Franco, Michelle Williams, Rachel Weiz and Mila Kunis.   Rated PG

Dead Man Down  -  A woman with prominent facial scars witnesses a murder and decided to hire the murderer to kill the man who maimed her.  Stars Colin Farrel, Noomi Repace, and Terrance Howard.  It is Rated R

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Beautiful Creatures

Ethan(Alden Ehrenreich) is a sixteen-year-old boy living in the tiny town of Gatlin, SC.  He dreams of leaving and experiencing the great world outside.  He also dreams of a mysterious girl every night.  When that girl, Lena, arrives in Gatlin on the first day of his Junior year, his life takes a dramatic turn.  When she shares her closely-guarded secret and the dangers that come with it, he commits himself to her and her world.  But is the danger too great?  Will they be torn apart by forces beyond their control?

This movie is based on the book of the same name by Kami Garcia.  There is a whole series and the studio is hoping this will catch on and make the rest of the films.  I hope they do.  This was a surprise for me.  I had really no expectations going into this movie.  I was expecting Twilight, and in essence that’s what this is.  If Twilight had a plot where things actually happened, characters that were like able and compelling, and a love story that actually makes sense.

This movie was a lot of fun.  It has a lot of humor, but it is also just really well-made.  The music is very good and well-suited to the film.  The setting and costumes are beautiful and the cinematography is interesting enough without being distracting.  There is also a fantastic adult cast, boasting 3 Oscar nominees in Jeremy Irons( won an Oscar), Emma Thompson(won 2 Oscars), and Viola Davis(nominated twice). 

I would recommend this movie to anyone who likes Twilight or any other story of supernatural elements in our own world.  I also would recommend it for anyone who just like a light movie that’s well-made.  The entertainment value is high and so is the quality, which seems to a rare combination these days.  I would also urge anyone interested to see it while it’s still in the theater since it is a beautiful movie to watch. 

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A Good Day to Die Hard

                This fifth installment of the Die Hard series takes place in Russia.  Our hero John McClane (Bruce Willis) is trying to find his estranged son Jack (Jai Courtney).  When he locates him in Moscow facing murder charges, McClane gets on a plane and goes to rescue his son.  When he arrives, however he finds that things are not quite what they seem and saving the day might not be so simple this time.

I am a huge Die Hard fan and was really looking forward to this one.  I have to say I was pretty disappointed.  The story is poorly written and the characters are not compelling, even our favorite cowboy, John McClane, was not himself and lacked the snarky punch-lines and sarcastic come-backs.  The character of his son is a throwaway and the villain is not the adversary that we have come to expect from a Die Hard movie.  The action scenes are absurd rather than exciting and so badly edited that it is difficult to tell what’s going on, especially in the chase scene.  The only saving grace is that it is only an hour and a half out of your life.  It pains me greatly to say this, but skip the new Die Hard movie. 

Side Effects

Emily Taylor (Rooney Mara) is a normal woman trying to get by in New York City.  She has a job and an apartment and a car.  What sets her apart is that her husband Martin (Channing Tatum) is about to get out of prison for insider trading.  When he returns home, life is not the bliss she expected it to be.   After a failed suicide attempt she is visited by a psychiatrist named Dr. Banks (Jude Law).  She begins seeing him for treatment of her depression and he prescribes her a new medication called Ablixa.  For a while things are looking up until, unexpectedly, a terrible tragedy occurs.  The lives of all involved are turned upside-down and as events take a particular downward turn for Dr. Banks, he begins to suspect that things might not be what they seem. 

This is an extremely well-written psychological thriller/mystery.  All the characters are complex and provide surprises throughout the film.  With four Oscar nominations and a win in this cast’s back pocket, there is no surprise in how well performed this film is.  There is a general understated tone that makes the characters more believable and draws the viewer in rather than making them sit back and enjoy the show from the outside.  The film is brilliantly directed by Steven Soderbergh who you might recognize as the director of Ocean’s Eleven, Traffic, Erin Brockovich, and Contagion among many others. 

I would recommend this movie to nearly everyone.  There is a good mix of quality and entertainment that I have come to appreciate from Soderbergh.  Although there are no explosions, car chases or special effects in this film please give it a try, there’s a good chance you’ll like it anyway.  It is rated R for some nudity and language, but I would suggest leaving the kids at home anyway, they would probably get bored.  If you want to wait for the Red Box, that wouldn’t hurt you since the visuals aren’t the focus of this film, but I think you would find the price of admission well worth it if you wanted to see it this weekend.

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Warm Bodies

Traditionally, in a zombie movie, the zombies are the villains providing a fate unquestionable worse than death.  In this interesting take on the traditional zombie film, the main character is a zombie (Nicholas Hoult).  He can’t remember how he died or what his life was like when he was alive.  He can’t even remember his own name.  One day on a routine quest for food (i.e. brains) he sees a girl named Julia (Teresa Palmer).  From that point on his fate, and the fate of all zombie kind is forever changed.  Julia’s father (John Malkovich) is the militaristic leader of a community comprised of still-living people.  Can our unlikely duo convince him of the zombies’ changing ways in time to save both from a still-greater danger?

This movie is a lot of fun.  It’s like a romantic comedy with zombies!  The characters are likeable and for and believable.  The Zombie action is fun and funny, and the plot moves along well enough so the movie never drags.  It is fun to see the zombie genre from a different angle.  If you don’t like zombie movies, the romance will save it for you.  If, one the other hand, you don’t like romantic comedies, the zombies will save it for you.  And of course John Malkovich just makes everything better! 

Don’t go in with huge expectations though, and you won’t be disappointed.  It is not exactly Oscar material, but that’s ok, not every movie has to be.  This movie doesn’t pretend to be anything it’s not.  Unless you are a die-hard zombiephile, I would suggest waiting for the red box on this one.  If you are more of a literary type, it is based on a book of the same title by Isaac Marion.

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Zero Dark Thirty

Zero Dark Thirty

An indefatigable CIA agent, Maya (Jessica Chastain), hunts for Osama Bin Laden after the September 11 attacks.  This film focuses on her relentless search which resulted in the death of Osama Bin Laden at the hand of the Navy S.E.A.L. Team 6 in May 2011.  This is director Kathryn Bigelow’s First Project since her film The Hurt Locker won best picture in 2008.   There has been a lot of anticipation for this film.  It has already been nominated for 5 academy awards.  Jessica Chastain is nominated for the Best Actress category and has already won a Golden Globe for this role.  

A mistake could easily be made in expecting this to be an action or thriller movie because of the military aspect.  This is not an action movie, this is a heavy drama punctuated with moments of excitement.  Even the raid scene itself is presented without musical score and is brutally honest rather than being flashy or showy.  This movie is about Maya and her journey that climaxes with the death of Osama Bin Laden. 

I was extremely excited to see this movie because I enjoyed The Hurt Locker so much.  The way that movie was filmed truly was a work of art.  This film is much less poetic and far more honest than Bigelow’s last work.  The pacing of this movie is painfully slow, the purpose being to put the viewer in Maya’s place.  The events of this movie span ten years and the mild frustration I feel as a viewer must be magnified a thousand times over for this woman who works for months without discovering a single useful piece of information.  Although effective in making me respect and admire the character, the tactic does not make me want to see the film again anytime soon.  The viewer feels every second of the 157 minutes of this film.

Jessica Chastain is amazing in this role and I fully expect her to win Best Actress for it.  The film itself, however, is well-made but forgettable.  I am glad it has been recognized with nominations, but I do not see it as a real contender for Best Picture.  I would not even recommend it for most people.  If you are planning to be watching the Oscars, you must see it soon before it leaves the theaters.  If you are a fan of political or espionage drama or character-driven drama then the red box will be waiting in a few months.  Otherwise I have to recommend skipping this one unfortunately. 

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Django Unchained

Quentin Tarantino’s foray into the western genre, Django Unchained is not your average Hollywood theater experience.  This movie takes place in America two years before the civil war.  A German dentist-turned-bounty-hunter named Dr. King Schultz (Christoph Waltz) needs the help of a black slave named Django (Jamie Fox) in order to identify his next bounty.  The two strike a bargain and begin working together.  They hatch a risky plan to save Django’s wife from a plantation owner Calvin Candie (Leonardo DiCaprio).  Will they succeed in rescuing the damsel in distress?

The Tarantino style is recognizable her, or at least the “Neo-tino” style that we have come to recognize.  The budget is bigger and the dialog is shorter, but the comically graphic violence is still there along with the classically seventies sounding music and sociopathic villains.  The patented style of dark humor is present throughout.  The film is extremely well-made.  The production value is at the same level as Inglorious basterds which was markedly higher than his previous films.  The sets and costumes set a rich backdrop for the characters to move through.

I enjoyed this movie but when it was over, I felt a little disappointed like something was missing.  It took me a long time to realize, but it is because there are only three characters in this movie.  Schultz is a fantastic, verbally dexterous character and Candie is a fabulously loathe-able villain with distinct flair.  I didn’t actually like the character of Django, and found myself not caring what happened to him.  His wife was a non-character and did nothing but caused the duo problems during the escape attempt, and scream an awful lot.  I was particularly disappointed by this because Tarantino typically provides some pretty interesting female roles.  Also, because there is only one set of characters, there is only one storyline.  That storyline is followed in a linear way that is also atypical of the classic Tarantino film. 

This won’t eek into the realm of a favorite, but I really had fun on this movie.  It is nearly three hours long, but I didn’t feel the length and was entertained the entire time.  I laughed the whole way through.  Waltz and DiCaprio are nominated against each other for Golden Globes for their performances and they deserve it.  The film itself is also nominated for best Drama, Best Screenplay, and Best Director, which I don’t think it deserves.  The film is extremely violent and the language is very strong, so if you are sensitive to these things, please stay away from this movie.  But if you are a fan of dark humor, Waltz or DiCaprio, or are following the award circuit then this is a must-see.  If you are a Tarantino fan, or plan to watch the Golden Globes, go see this before it leaves the theater, but otherwise I would suggest waiting for Red Box. 

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Les Mis

This adaptation of Victor Hugo’s novel of epic suffering has long been a favorite of the stage audiences worldwide.  The haunting music of Claude-Michel Schonberg and Alain Boublil has made its way to the big screen.  Les Miserables can boast some of the biggest names in Hollywood, has already pulled four Golden Globe nominations, and will undoubtedly earn a couple Oscar nominations.  The story is set in 19^th century France and focuses on a man named Valjean (Hugh Jackman) who breaks parole and is hunted for decades by a ruthless officer named Javert (Russell Crowe).  Valjean is obliged to save and care for the daughter of a woman named Fantine (Anne Hathaway), a decision which changes his life forever.

The music will be familiar to those fans of the stage production, but has a few surprises in that several scenes are added to fill certain logistical gaps in the story.  I am a little disturbed with the idea of adding music to this show, but the added portions are brief and necessary to move the story from A to B without confusion.  One thing that makes this film different from other film musicals is that all the songs are recorded as they perform them during filming.  We are hearing the actors’ performances at that moment rather than being recorded in a studio months prior and then have the actors lip-sync to their own voices.  The result of this is rather interesting.  The voices are not perfect and the emotional performance is more evident in the songs themselves.  Since this story is nothing if not emotional, I liked how the effect works.

The performances in this movie are breathtaking.  Both Anne Hathaway and Hugh Jackman earned Golden Globe nominations for their performances .  Personally I have never been a fan of Anne Hathaway, but I must begrudgingly admit that she most definitely earned this nomination and did my favorite character a credit by her amazing performance.  Russell Crowe is the embodiment of the villain Javert; and although his singing didn’t carry the emotionally gritty punch I was hoping from that character, I was pleased with the performance. 

The most impressive aspect of this film for me was the visual element.  Because the dialog is all song and very condensed, the costumes, sets and cinematography must be utilized intelligently in order to flesh out characters, setting and mood.  I felt that all visual elements were brilliantly used in this film.  The filmmakers were not afraid to show the actors in a less-than-flattering light and you really do feel like these people are living on the streets of 19^th century Paris. 

I would recommend this movie to anyone who loves musicals or follows the award seasons.  This movie has a solid presence in the big categories at the Golden Globes and will be a contender at the Oscars, so don’t miss your chance to see this movie if you plan to watch the award shows.  If you prefer lighter, more fun movies, this is not for you!  Be prepared to shed a tear or two, this story is about misery.   I actually would recommend spending the extra to see this in the theater.  It would be a shame to miss any of the stunning work that went into the visuals on this film.

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The Hobbit

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

The time has come my friends!  I can now stop avoiding TV in fear of seeing a commercial and my panicked sprints from the theater when a preview came on are at an end.  The long-awaited The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey comes out today.  Ten years after The Fellowship of the Ring caused a Middle Earth mania we return once again to see how it all started.  In this prequel a young Bilbo Baggins is suddenly and unwillingly thrust into the middle of a century-old quest to free the legendary Dwarf kingdom of Erebor in the Lonely Mountain from a dragon named Smaug. 

Many beloved characters have returned with Bilbo, although the younger version is played by Martin Freeman and Gandalf the wizard (Ian McKellan) who orchestrates the mission.  A visit to Rivendell brings with it an appearance of Elrond, played again by Hugo Weaving, as well as a few other familiar faces.  Gollum steals an entire scene to himselves as Andy Serkis re-dons the motion capture suit as no one else ever could.   New characters include 13 dwarves, the leader of whom is Thorin Oakenshield, the last of the line of Durin, the rightful king of Erebor.  Thorin is played by Richard Armitage and somehow manages to display his chiseled profile to the camera as he stares into the middle distance nearly every time we see him ( not that I’m complaining…).

We also meet another wizard, Radagast the Brown portrayed by Sylvester McCoy.  I found his part of the story odd as none of his scenes actually appear in the book.  These scenes are alluded to or mentioned in various appendices here and there but adding them to the movie gives the writers a chance to do whatever they want with it. 

The entire tone of this film is very different from that of the Lord of the Rings trilogy.  The trilogy had a tone of heavy, dark beauty and a certain majesty which translated well form the books to the films.  This movie on the other hand takes the light, silly more comical tone from its corresponding book.  I was hoping for a darker movie with Guillermo Del Toro involved in the writing process, but I was not disappointed with the lighter version.  That being said, Director Peter Jackson has never shied away from  a good fight scene.  The trilogy was greatly lacking in Dwarf characters and culture.  This film makes up for any dwarf fans that felt forgotten with the trilogy.  A nice balance is struck  between the comical nature of the dwarves and the strength and dignity of their culture. 

The music is again amazing, although I did notice that all the musical themes were recycled from the trilogy with the exception of one added theme that represents the Dwarves and their mission.  As expected, the cinematography is rich and stunning  with lots of wide, panning shots of the company marching through the breathtaking beauty of Middle Earth.  The cast is well chosen and everyone played their parts well. 

I only really have two reasons for disappointment:

1.       It was evident that there was less money spent on this film.  The special effects were good, but not the painstaking, nearly flawless examples from the previous films.  The sets and costumes are visually stunning but do not draw you in as completely as before.  Other subtle cues like this keep the viewer from being as completely immersed as they might be expecting.  I just do not see this movie racking in the award noms that Lord of the Rings did.

2.       I was not completely happy with the writing of this movie.  I felt that some scenes that were important for story and character development were rushed while too much time was spent on things that don’t matter as much for example,  I didn’t like how Radagast was handled.  I thought it was a little too silly.  The dignity of the character was completely stripped away in favor of laughs, of which there are many involving this character.

All things considered, the wait for the midnight show was completely worth it and I thoroughly enjoyed this movie.  If you are a huge Lord of the Rings fan, please keep in mind that this is not meant to be a continuation of the last set of movies and must be taken as its own entity and you will like it better.  If you have never seen Lord of the Rings but want to enjoy a few laughs and some good fight scenes then definitely go to this one!  The theater is a must for this film as the visuals really are stunning.  I f however, you think all this fantasy stuff is stupid and annoying, this film will do nothing to change your mind and you can save the extra ten dollars for something else.  I don't expect it to bring any nominations this year.

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Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part 2

We return once again to Forks and the supernatural drama we have all come to know and love.  That drama comes here to a tumultuous end.  In this final chapter of the Twilight saga, BellEdward and company must save their miracle child Renesmee from the Volturi, a vampire government of sorts that is half Vatican and half fascist military regime.  The Volturi think that Renesmee is an immortal child which is strictly forbidden and none are allowed to live.  The Cullens gather all of their friends from all over the world to help them protect the remarkable child of Bella and Edward.

The cast of characters is a little different this time.  We have all the staples with Bella and Charlie, the Cullens and Jacob’s wolf pack, but now we have Arabic vampires, Amazon warrior women, revolutionists and Transylvanian counts among many others.  The influx of new characters and new special abilities gives the movie more of a fun factor and makes it more bearable.  Nothing actually occurs in this movie until the final showdown with the Volturi, but that is no different than the other stories.  That being said, the final battle is pretty epic.  If you have seen a preview for this movie, 90% of the clips are from that scene.  It is exciting and well-filmed as well as having a few surprises for fans of the book.

I found this film a little tiresome.  It took a long time to get to the story and the majority of the dialog was tedious.  Add to that the fact that so many interesting characters were crammed in that nothing ended up happening with them.  Some of them seemed to have more to do with the story but we just never saw it.  I have always found the secondary characters in this saga much more interesting than the love triangle that is Edward, Bella and Jacob, and now we have even more interesting characters and they are more overshadowed by the main characters than before!

I think the bottom line here is that if you are a Twilight fan you will love this movie.  It has romance and danger and perpetual teenage angst along with the cheesy one-line comedy.  However, if you don’t like Twilight, this movie will do nothing to sway your allegiance.  I will say that I felt the ending worthy of the epic nature of this craze and that final battle does redeem the overall movie to be enjoyable even for me, so if a friend of girlfriend drags you to this movie, don’t despair; just hold out until the end!

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Lincoln

Lincoln

                The plot of this film revolves around President Abraham Lincoln during the specific time near the end of the civil war.  We experience the stress and personal hardships or one of our country’s biggest historical figures as he fights to pass the 13^th amendment.   Personal, political and moral objections rise to hinder the constitutional amendment to free America’s slaves and Lincoln must personally address and conquer each.

                President Lincoln in portrayed by the incomparable Daniel Day-Lewis, and he is likely to gain another Oscar nomination this year.  His voice, demeanor and carriage match that of Lincoln with the subtlety and artistry we have come to expect from the two-time Oscar winner.  We also see Sally Field as Lincoln’s wife, Mary, David Straithairn as his Secretary of State, William Seward, and Tommy Lee Jones as the Senator Thaddeus Stevens.  The cast of supporting characters will reveal dozens of familiar faces as well.

                Because the film is directed by Steven Spielberg, it is spectacularly well made and emotionally powerful.  Also the viewer can be assured that it is very historically accurate.  Many of the dialogs in this film are real documented quotes from the characters that speak them.  If you are a fan of biopics, period/historical drama, Lincoln the man, or Performance-driven films then this is the movie for you.  Spielberg will likely pull lots more Oscar noms this year with Lincoln and if you like to watch the awards, this film will get you well on your way to having a vested interest in the outcomes.

                Personally, while I enjoyed this movie, and thought it was incredibly well-made, I am not super excited by it.  This film possesses the characteristic flawlessness of a Spielberg film and will likely reveal a lot of longevity.  I can see kids in high school watching this when they learn about Lincoln, the 13tha amendment or the civil war.  However, this film does not bring anything new to the world of film as art and does not challenge the viewer as much as I prefer.  That being said, this is a well-made entertaining film and I do recommend it.  If you are interested in it for Oscar season, you will likely have to see it in the theater since it is not likely to be out on DVD in time, if not then it would be just as enjoyable sitting on your couch as a noisy theater, so I would suggest waiting for RedBox.

Skyfall

Here we have the latest installment of the James Bond franchise.  Not really too many surprises, M gives Bond an impossible mission and without a second thought, he’s off to save England from yet another insane evil genius.  Daniel Craig returns as Bond and Judi Dench is again M, this film also features Ralf Feinnes, Javier Bardem and Albert Finney.  The addition of Ben Winshaw as Q was a pleasant surprise, taking the character into the boy-genius character instead of snarky-labcoat-guy. 

The Good

            I really liked the way this film took a lot of the favorite retro element of the series and highlighted them while at the same time updating and modernizing the logistical elements.  This way there are plenty of things for the diehard Bond fan as well as a first time Bond watcher.  The Action is next to non-stop and even though I am not one for chase scenes, there are some very innovative chases in this movie.  The thing I liked the most is that this film takes James Bond as a character and really looks at who he is, and where he came from and where he might be going.  What happens when 007 starts to get old?  What makes him so different from the other agents in MI6?  I like that the film makers tried exploring some of these ideas and I think that kind of writing is what is going to keep the franchise alive in the future.

The Bad

            I am not going to sugar coat it.  The Bond girl was awful.  Bérénice Lim Marlohe as the femme fatale looked the part for sure but she overacted it terribly and I found it distracting because everyone else was wonderful.  She was in 4 scenes and only served as a devise to get from A to B in the story.  She seemed like an afterthought to the writing as if they suddenly thought, “Oh yeah! There is supposed to be a hot lady!” and shoe-horned her into the plot.

The Oscar-Worthy

OK, we need to talk a little about Javier Bardem.  Bardem fist chilled the spines of American audiences when he played the sociopathic villain in 2007s No Country for Old Men.  If possible, his portrayal of this Bond villain is more disturbing and eeks close to Heath Ledger’s Joker.  I am sucker for a good villain and this does not disappoint.  The character is well written and Bardem steals every scene he is in.

I would definitely recommend this for all you action lovers and Bond fans out there.  Seeing it on the big screen was worth it, but not necessary, so if you want to wait for Red Box, go ahead!

Thanks for reading

Enjoy!

Cloud Atlas

                It is difficult to say exactly what this movie is about.  The general premise is based on six separate storylines that span the globe and 472 years of time.  The first taking place in the South Pacific in 1849, and the last taking place in a post-apocalyptic reality in the Hawaiian Islands in the year 2321.  Although all of these storylines are seemingly unrelated, the actors recur as very different characters in each story, sometimes playing a large part, sometimes a small one; sometimes a hero, sometimes a villain; sometimes a man, sometimes a woman.  The stories all become related to each other by the end and a theme of love and integrity is a cord that runs through the entire film.

                 Cloud Atlas stars Tom Hanks, Halle Berry and Jim Broadbent.  You might also recognize Hugo Weaving, Hugh Grant and Jim Sturgess among others.  Three of the storylines are directed by The Wachowskis, best known for The Matrix trilogy, and the other three are directed by Tom Tykwer, a German director best known for Run, Lola, Run.  Both of their distinct directing styles are rich and distinct, making for a beautiful and visually impressive film.

                I happened to really love this movie.  There is a little something for everyone here.  Each of the stories does have a romantic element to it, though only one makes it the focus of the story.  There is lots of action and some of the stories are very funny.  It is really interesting to see Tom hanks play a hero and a villain in the same movie and Halle Berry is a male character in one story.  The Visuals are breathtaking and the music is stunning without taking focus from the scene. 

                There are three drawbacks to my recommending this to everyone:

1)      This film is not for children.  It is rated R for quite a bit of swearing and a little nudity.

2)      This movie is long.  I was not aware until I got out of the theatre, but it is nearly 3 hours, so if you don’t like to sit for long periods or can’t focus for that long, this might not be the movie for you.

3)      It can be confusing if you are not paying strict attention.  The stories don’t go in order and the film jumps back and forth among them.  If you are more of a linear story fan, this might not be the movie for you.

Over all this is a wonderful movie that is well-made as well as being highly entertaining.  It might not be for everyone, but please give it a chance even if you are not sure what it might be about, it is definitely worth it! 

Entertainment:   8

Award-Worthy:  8     One of the few that does both well!

Beasts of the Southern Wild

I know it has been a long time since I have posted a review, but the movie I saw last night renewed my faith in the film industry!  Few of you will have even heard of this film, but it is the best movie I have seen so far this year.

The title: Beasts of the Southern Wild

The story:  A six-year-old girl named Hushpuppy lives with her father in a bayu community called “the Bathtub.”   This community is completely cut off from the rest of the world by a levee which keeps the water out of Louisiana and in The Bathtub.  The people of The Bathtub live by their own laws and social amores, and have a vibrant culture all their own.  This film is basically just a glimse of life through the innocent eyes of a small child who knows nothing else but the world she lives in.

Describing this film is difficult because it is an experience more than just a story.  Although they live in poverty, the people of The Bathtub, including Hushpuppy, would live nowhere else.  When a storm threatens their very lives, they choose to stay rather than enter the world so familiar to us, yet so foreign to them. 

Although Hushpuppy’s relationship with her father would be considered extremely abusive by the standards of those of us living North of the levee, to her and those around her it is normal and the film lays no moral accusations on the situation.  This is an extremely emotionally heavy film, but at no point does the viewer feel manipulated into any certain emotion, rather the story is simply presented and the viewer is free to feel whatever they organically would.  This is the main reason that I am so impressed with this film and why I consider it true art and not just entertainment. 

There are other reasons why this film is impressive.  The cinematography is all very close and intimate, making the audience closely relate to the small child protagonist.  The Score is powerful without being overpowering.  The characters are all so beautifully multifaceted and true to life.  The acting is also beyond compare.  At no time does the viewer feel that they are watching actors, but more like watching real people in a documentary.  I think the fact that none of the actors are recognizable helps with this effect, but the performances are so subtle, even in their drama, that they truly draw you into their world and make you feel part of it.

As far as rating this one goes, it’s pretty simple.

Entertainment-  3.   Although this movie holds the attention from beginning to end, it is not the one if you are looking for something light to fill a couple hours.  It is difficult to watch at times, and there isn’t any real comedy or action sequences.

Award-Worthy-  10.  I think I gushed enough about the merit of this film.  There is no weak point in my opinion.

Thor

This film is based on another comic book classic and the latest brick in The Avengers foundation. Elements of the Nordic mythology is folded into the story as we are presented with the history of King Odin(Anthony Hopkins) and his sons Thor(Chris Hemsworth) and Loki( Tom Hiddleston) living on the planet Asgard. Thor is cast out for his aragance and finds himself on Earth without his powers in the company of scientist Jane Foster(Natalie Portman) and her research team. Meanwhile an ancient enemy threatens Asgard and all those living there. Will Thor regain his power in time to save both Earth and his home world?

I was impressed with this film. It has both high entertainment and production values. This film does not take itself too seriously. The big action sequences and bold dramatic scenes are tempered with plenty of humor. What might come off as silly or over the top is presented in just that way so that the viewer never feels the need to quirk an eyebrow and snort, “Really?” Instead they smile and enjoy the ride. The only blatant exception to this is the love story element to this film. The instant and unbreakable bond that Thor and Jane form for one another is not only obvious but undeveloped. It’s almost as though the writers thought, “Well, everyone knows they will end up together, so why waste time writing the details?” I found this distracting and a huge drawback to an otherwise enjoyable film.

The graphics in this film were very well done. The filmmakers selected their spots judiciously as far as where the attention was focused. The realm of Asgard was a breathtaking visual display while the creatures and villains are well integrated with the actors and real sets. With two Academy Award-winning actors in this film( Hopkins, Portman) the acting certainly does not lower the value of this film. Newcomer Hemsworth pulls his own weight among established actors and with his distinct look(aka handsome face and physique) I would be surprised if he is not a household name in the next coming years.

My thoughts in a nutshell:
　
Entertainment: 8- Again, this film may have been a home run if it weren’t for the groaner of a love story. It should have been more well-developed or left out completely. Otherwise, this film is engaging and exciting with just the right amount of humor.
　
Award-worthy 5- The reason I like this film so much is because they don’t pretend it is an award winning movie. This is just pure fun!

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

In this film, we see the continued adventures of the beloved Captain Jack Sparrow(Johnny Depp) in this case, his search for the fountain of youth. Sparrow becomes involuntarily tangled in a three-way race to the fountain. Because he possessed a map to the fabled place, Jack is hijacked by Black Beard ( Ian McShane) in his attempt to outrun his prophesied doom. As always, Captain Barbosa ( Geofrey Rush) causes trouble as he too searches for the fountain of youth. The Spanish fleet set the pace of this race and although out of sight for most of the movie, always seem to be one step ahead. The film includes the expected physical comedy mixed with one-liners and blurry lines between friend and foe. With the absence of Elizabeth Swan and Will Turner, or as I liked to call them ‘dead weight,’ we are presented with a new female lead in Angelica (Penelope Cruz) who is both alluring and capable, the admirable combination we saw in the Elizabeth Swan of the first film.

The storyline of this film is very reminiscent of the first few films. This case seems to be a simplified or watered=down version. This film lacked some of the scope that the first few films possessed and makes the film seem a little anti-climactic. We have come to expect large sweeping sea voyages and many exotic and dangerous destinations. In this film, we really only get one destination after what seems like a short jaunt by ship. Although several specific and rare ingredients are needed to gain access to the fountain, all are found on the island itself. By the time the fountain is found it seems as though anyone could have done it. And there is evidence that many people already have. We have also come to expect a recurring and beloved cast of characters. With the exception of Gibbs, Barbosa and Jack himself, none of the characters have returned. All of these aspects combined makes the viewer feel as though something is missing.
Visually, the film is just as stunning as the first three. I do feel, however, that if less time was wasted
 on weird chase scenes, then more could be dedicated to the quest itself. The mixture of dark and macabre with the fun and carefree tones of the franchise are still in tact. It is difficult to tell when the actions of Captain Jack are merely for comedic value, or if they pan out to be the essential part of his major plan.

My opinion in a nutshell:

Entertainment: 6- Although I thought this movie was really fun, it didn’t live up to the original film and doesn’t provide anything new for the viewer.

Award-worthy: 3- the production value is excellent in this film, but the writing seemed sloppy and overall the film seemed like a lazy attempt to squeeze a bit more money out of their franchise.