Fast Five

All the action I could ever want. By far the best action movie of the year to date.

My vocabulary lacks the precise expertise in which I need to describe this movie in such a way that you feel like you -have- to go see it, but bare with me while I attempt...

Dwayne Johnson (The Rock) was so overly badass in every kind of way he needed to be; so badass in every scene you see him in he's sweating so much I don't think his own body could handle it. He gave me hope that our generation could have a "Big As Schwartzenegger" action star. If you miss the Schwartzenegger style of acting (over the top action packed one-liners) The Rock delivers with plenty for left-overs.

Now The Rock isn't the only major badass, those Vin Diesel fans get everything they want in their stoic action star in this fifth installment. While The Rock brings a heavy helping of unrealistic badassery to the table, Vin (again) delivers a more believable quiet approach to his liconic character. It's truly hard for me to side with either action star on this film, but I will say the action scene where The Rock and Vin exchange blow for blow sealed the "Best Action Movie" deal for me.

I feel the only way to get as much satisfaction out of this movie as I did, or to get the true experience they intended for everyone to gain, would be to see the previous four films. Actually, you could do without the 3rd instead just ask a F&F fan, they can summarize it for you in 2min and save you a couple hours of your life.

In all, this movie was an absolutely amazing addition to one of my secretively favorite movie series, and not to give any spoilers, but stay through the credits for a cliffhanger and possible loose end to build a sixth film with. I would go see this movie if out was the last ten dollars to my name. Twice.

Source Code

Now I'm really not one for repetitive films, ones that do the same thing over and over (with the exception of Groundhog Day), but it was the acting quality of Jake Gyllenhal that kept me from leaving the theatres.

I'll be totally honest with you, I didn't want to see this movie, even less did I want to have to write a review for it. I only saw it because the friend I went with wanted to do a "sneaky double feature," but the science fiction behind this movie was so interesting it I felt I had to speak upon this film's behalf. Now it's hard to write spoiler-free reviews, so bare in mind that there isn't much to stay about the film's plot that wont ruin the movie.

This is a movie of great experience, loaded with plenty of twists, and good science fiction. Gyllenhaal does a great job of giving the movie-go'er a sense of clearity after a much confusing introduction. You as the go'er are with Gyllenhal all the way, and while you think, you're rooting for him to solve the mystery of where is the bomb and who is the bomber, you're really hoping he can save everyone on the train's lives.

Now I'm a big softy for "America VS Terrorists" an major movie stars saving the day (a la Die Hard), an dI love science fiction, however I can only go as far as to say this, If you got 10$ laying around and nothing to do, only then would I recommend you go see this movie.

Battle: LA

This movie was described to me as "moto-boner food," and I must say that does sum up the movie in a nut shell.

OK I know I am a little bit too late on the scene for both seeing this movie and reviewing it, but I'm so glad I went late than never. 

This movie was such an amazing piece of dramatic action cinema, and I loved every single minute of it. There wasn't a thing I didn't enjoy about this film, not even Michelle Rodriguez (and believe you me when I say I cannot stand that woman in any of the movies she's been in). The film had very solid and very dramatic acting lead by Aaron Eckhart (of who I am always pleased to see) that kept not only the pace of the movie flowing, but nailed me to the edge of my seat. Eckhart plays the role of a United States Marine Corps Platoon Sargent, Michael Nantz, who is a day away from retirement, when astroids descend upon the beaches and shores of major cities across the globe and as an alien apocalypse is unleashed onto Earth, he is assigned to lead a platoon of Marines to scout and find survivors.

The film is about a (what I found to be a delightfully) unexplained alien invasion on the world, and centers around Eckhart and his half platoon of United States Marines who, when the action really ramps up, fight to stop the alien invasion taking from LA. I would have an impossible time telling you what part that I absolutely loved solely because this entire movie was one giant action-gasm. In other words, loved it from the first minute to the last. It quickly, which in the first 20min, became one of my all time favorite apocalypse movies to date. Military centered movies, I must admit, always get me going, specially ones that center on the USMC, this was a key attraction for me. 

Everything I look for in a movie is in this film: Action, drama, military respect, aliens, and an apocolyptic setting. All in all, I'd say you should go see this movie even if it's the last ten dollars to your name.

Your Highness

At one point during the film I was laughing so hard I got tunnel vision amd almost passed out.

I don't particularly like Zoey Deschanel as an actress, or even as a human being for that matter; she encompasses every reason I have a grudge against women. I say this because I want you to understand the magnitude of my words when I tell you, the finale of this film redeems her in my eyes.

Danny McBride was amusing, I actually and thoroughly liked him in this film; he was far less of a moron than he is normally portrayed in all of his previous films, and his mix of modern terminology with an olde English accent was a rather hilarious addition, it makes his character seem ahead of the times. Which was either a strike of ingenuity or a sign of pure McBride laziness.

What really drew me to see this movie was James Franco. I love Franco's serious work; he is really quite talented as an actor, so when I see him in a comedy like this I'm very forgivable, because I have seen his range of skill. Franco's performance as funny as he was in Pineapple Express, but slightly more adorable in his Olde Times naivety.

Maybe it's my movie star crush that clouds my judgement, but when isn't there a movie with Natalie Portman where she isn't amazing? In Your Highness she is (as  to be expected) the outright pinnacle of female badassery. She kicks more ass then the total combination of all three heroes. In addition to her stunning action performance, she had the only believable accent in the movie.

Loved the mythical homages to many films such as the Lord of the Rings series. The sword they quest for was pretty badass looking, and my favorite part of the film is how they added a nice Conan: the Barbarian touch upon it's discovery. McBride has an epic victory over the guardian of this mythical blade, and like his brother (Franco) explains, he must take a glorious trophy of his kill, and my oh my is it ever glorious.

All in all, I felt the whole movie was trying too hard to be too funny. I didn't laugh nearly as much as I expected, however it was enjoyable, and worth the price of a ticket. Although, if you're not a huge fan of Danny McBride films, I'd say you're better off waiting for the DVD/Bluray release.

Arthur

When I think of Great Britain I only think of two things: Eddie Izzard, and how amazing of a man he is. Russel Brand, however attractive he may be, is usually my idea of Britain's idiot child for his lack of real humor and style. "He is funny, but only because he is a walking joke," is how I thought of Brand, even after watching all of his films my mind was made up. Untill I saw Arthur.

This film was oh so very enjoyable, and Brand was impressively believable, heartwarming, and a laugh riot. The way he plays Arthur gives the character more life in comparison to the original. I really felt touched by the relationship he had with his nanny, played by Hellen Mirren, it gave the movie a much more sentimental feel than the original had attempted to pull off. Arthur's relationship with his loveless mother and nanny proved to be much more touching then the original's semi explained relationship with his loveless father and male caretaker.

Greta Gerwig was sweet, wholesome, and adorable; I fell in love with her character instantly. If you are a huge Liza Minelli fan, I must apologize, but Gerwig's performance was infinitely more pleasing, more real, more believable. Liza should have really given up on her movie career, or at least taken a pass at this role.

In short, the story was wonderful, sentimental, and very heart warming. Compared to the original, this film is a cinematic masterpeice of human emotion. Brand was amazing, and it's definitely worth the price of a movie ticket.

Sucker Punch!

This movie has me somewhat baffled at it's entirety. Then again, I do tend to take movies too seriously.

This film, while impressively visually stimulating with it's "pin-up girl action," isn't going to get nominated for best story or anything of the sort. An incredibly sexy cast of beautiful women (lead by Emily Browning, Abbie Cornish, Jena Malone, Vanessa Hudgens, and Jamie Chung) outline an adventure carried out in subconscious action scenes to make a daring escape from an insane asylum being run by a psychopathic Blue Jones (Oscar Isaac who is sometimes mistake for David Krumholtz). The plot follows the main character only known as Baby Doll (Emily Browning) whose life is wrecked by the death of her mother, while defending her little sister from an atrociously disgusting and brutal Stepfather (Gerard Plunkett) she accidently kills her sister. Soon after the Stepfather sends her to an insane asylum where we (as movie go'ers) are plunged into her subconscious escape from the reality we see only for a rough 20min of the movie.

The whole film is a Zach Snyder-gasm. Amazing cinematography blended so very well with green screen computer generated backgrounds, enemies, environments and weather. I am a huge fan of samurai demon slaying, as well as gorgeous and enticing pin-up girls, so this movie was a real pleaser for me. However the plot, though basic in many regards and original in others, sufficed for what I feel the movie was trying to say, and in case you don't catch what the message of the movie is, it's laid out for you in the final 5seconds before the credits start rolling. I enjoyed the music to a lesser degree, it's not my taste, but it certainly fit the mood of the movie and that I can appreciate.

I found the movie as a whole to be worth while, as far as a price of a movie ticket is concerned. It's visually stimulating, and has a few redone songs from early generations, but overall this movie's plot was vague at times, tasteless at others, but seemingly original in context. I would give it a higher rating than most movie reviewers, only because I believe I understand that there are more than one standard to hold a movie to. In short, I can really only say that if you got 10$ laying around you should head over to your local theatre with a bucket of popcorn for this action packed CGI fest.

Red Riding Hood

Compare it to the Twilight series and you got a masterpiece of fantasy cinema!


(I've seen ever Twilight movie to date, opening night. Now I know you are about to start bashing on me, maybe even call me a fan of Twilight, but know that my one simple defense is: I have a teenage sister who loves the series.)

Alright back to the topic at hand. This film, both in story and in direction top the Twilight films.

(If you are still wondering why I'm comparing the two, it's because this is directed by Catherine Hardwicke who directed the first Twilight film, and started that movie franchise off on the right foot, however vapid and empty the writing is, Catherine Hardwicke did a great job.)

Sorry, I keep going off topic. Red Riding Hood's plot is very basic in it's retelling format, but has a few nice twists I appreciated. Now don't get me wrong, I made fun of this movie so much before it released, but I was very impressed with the quality of the film when I saw it on the big screen. My soft spot for "dark heroes" got the better of not only my wallet and time, but my judgment as well.

The CGI in this film was great. However I was, and always am, disappointed when werewolves are portrayed as quadrupeds. For as long as I've known werewolf lore they're always depicted as bipeds, man with the features of wolves.

Amanda Seyfried was somewhat less creepy looking than her previous films. This was a major attribute to how much I enjoyed her acting in this movie, though campy and slightly over drawn, was believable. Shiloh Fernandez (if you haven't seen Deadgirl, you're in for a treat) played his talentless and very cliche role well, but then again I am a sucker for dark hero archetypes. This film has a simple, but dramatic competition between Peter (Shiloh) and Henry (Max Irons) for the hand of Valerie (Amanda) that probably wont make you go as far as to make a "Team Peter" or "Team Henry" t-shirt, but was good for the quality of this movie.

Not to give any spoilers, but the ending was an unforeseeable twist, and I enjoyed how they left no evidence for the audience to deduce the ending before they showed you. This to me is what makes movies, the ending. Leaving you baffled, surprised, excited, happy or upset. I've seen far too many movies with "cop out" endings cough Inception cough that are so fantastically disappointing, they leave me with a feeling of "Oh, well that was just a waste of my money."

All in all, was worth the price of a movie ticket, if you are a Twilight fan.