Movie Reviews for You!

New Website

noreply@blogger.com (Jonathan) — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 05:30:00 +0000

Check out my new website! www.jshart.com I'll be posting my movie reviews from there from now on plus a whole lot more! Take a look!

Top 10 Films of the Decade

noreply@blogger.com (Jonathan) — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 18:24:00 +0000

With this year coming to a close, it not only marks the turning of another year, but the turning of a decade as well. This list is comprised of movies that I feel have helped push the medium of film-making forward and are movies everybody should see.

10. The Dark Knight (2008)

The Dark Knight is director Christopher Nolan's sequel to his 2005 original, Batman Begins. It is about Batman's attempt to capture his most infamous adversary, the Joker. This movie is probably one of the best superhero movies to ever come out. Heath Ledger's performance as the Joker is eerily remarkable. It not only was a fan favorite, but also a critical success as well, winning 2 Oscars. It doesn't reinvent the genre; it just does everything in superb fashion. It is a must see for any Batman fan!

9. Zodiac (2007)
Zodiac is a psychological thriller in the vain of other movies like Se7en. It stars Jake Gyllenhaal as an amateur detective trying to solve several horrific murders in the San Fransisco Area in the late 1960s to 1970s. What makes this movie very intriguing is the fact that the killer, who calls himself "The Zodiac", leaves cryptic messages about the murders. He taunts the police telling them that he will never be found. Probably the most interesting fact about this movie is that it is based on real events, where the serial killer has never been found. Gyllenhaal gives a great performance as well as supporting actors Robert Downey Jr. and Mark Ruffulo. It is one of the best of the decade that shouldn't be missed!

8. Crash (2004)
Crash is written and directed by Paul Haggis. It is the story of several different people and how each of their lives ultimately "crash" into each other. Sandra Bullock, Don Cheadle, and Matt Dillon are just a few of the stars who are in this movie and give a gripping performance. It is incredible to see how Haggis set up the lives of the characters, making them come together. Each character can be associated with another directly or indirectly through the course of the film. It is a strong film that has more of a human element than we see from most films. It's definitely a film for the ages!

7. The Departed (2006)
The Departed is about the two different sides of the law. In this case, it involves the police and the mafia. Each side has a mole in the other's agency. They both know they have a mole, but each side does not know who it is. They search for answers, until they finally figure out who is behind what, resulting in one of the best endings of the decade. Leonardo DiCaprio, Jack Nicholson, Matt Damon, and Mark Wahlberg are just a few of the actors in this star-studded cast. This film is directed by Martin Scorsese and it is arguably his best film. It is a masterful work of art that shouldn't be missed by any movie fan!

6. There Will Be Blood (2007)
There Will Be Blood is Paul Thomas Anderson's 2007 film about an greedy oilman, in 1898, who is willing to do anything to make a quick buck. It stars Daniel Day-Lewis in a tour de force performance as Daniel Plainview, the monopolizing oilman. Many critics have said that this is Lewis' best performance ever. It is something of beauty to watch an actor who really knows his craft. His performance is probably the best of the decade, not to mention one of the best of all time. It is a film about greed and what it does to people when they are obsessed with it. There Will Be Blood is an awe-inspiring film about what money can do to people, and is one anyone can enjoy, especially because of the performance given by Daniel Day-Lewis.

5. Avatar(2009)
Avatar is a futuristic movie about a paraplegic marine who gets the opportunity to travel to a new planet and have a new life. He gets the once-in-a-lifetime chance to become an alien on this other planet called Pandora, using special technology humans have made. Director James Cameron has outdone himself once again. The technology used in this movie is outstanding. You really feel immersed in the world. Movies like this are the next evolution in film-making and everyone should see this to get a glimpse into the future. (If you would like to read more about Avatar, you can read my review right below this post.)

4. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button(2008)
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is about a man, Brad Pitt, who ages in reverse. While the concept may sound strange, the movie is anything but. It is a remarkable journey about one man, whose journey through life is a little different than the rest of us. Brad Pitt is Benjamin, and Cate Blanchett is his love interest. It is a great movie with a different twist. To fully understand this movie it is something that must be seen. It is very worthy of being one of the best of the decade!

3. No Country For Old Men(2007)
No County For Old Men, based on the book by Cormac McCarthy, is about a man who stumbles upon $2 million and some dead bodies. The man, played by Josh Brolin, takes the money and flees. Not too long after he takes the money, he finds out that someone is after him and the money. That person happens to be a crazed killer named Anton Chigurh, played by Javier Bardem. Bardem gives a grand performance as this sociopath, who stops at nothing to get what he wants. Directors Joel and Ethan Cohen have done a remarkable job with this movie. It is a must-see for any movie fan!

2. Million Dollar Baby(2004)
Million Dollar Baby is a film about a young woman who wants to become a boxer. Hilary Swank plays the woman and reluctantly gets a coach, played by Clint Eastwood, to help her train. Eastwood isn't too fond of her at first, but through the course of the movie they develop a father-daughter relationship. It is an inspiring movie. One of the scenes near the end where Eastwood has to make a life-altering decision is one of the greatest scenes I've ever seen in a movie. Swank and Eastwood give great performances. This film has real emotional depth where other films just scratch the surface. It a great film that is definitely one of the best of the decade!

1. Memento(2000)
The number one film of the decade just happens to be from the first year of the decade. Memento is based on the short story "Memento Mori," written by Jonathan Nolan. The film is directed by his brother, Christopher Nolan. The film is about a guy who has short-term memory loss. He uses tattoos, pictures, and notes as a way to try to find the guy he think killed his wife. The movie is told in reverse. The first scene of the movie happens to be the last scene in the time line or plot. While this may seem confusing, and at times it is, this gives a layer of depth other movies just don't have. It makes sense because of several things throughout the movie. The best part about it is that you have to watch it several times to understand the various facets. You can't really learn everything there is to learn in one viewing; it really takes multiple viewings. This is the pinnacle of film-making and something everyone should see. This movie is without a doubt the best film of the decade!

So there's my list for my top 10 films of the decade. Feel free to leave comments and let me know what you think. You can even let me know what you thought were your best films of the decade.

Avatar Review

noreply@blogger.com (Jonathan) — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 09:12:00 +0000

Avatar was written and directed by Academy Award winning actor James Cameron. It tells the story of Jake Sully, a crippled marine who gets the opportunity to transform into an alien creature called the Na'vi. Jake's mission is to learn the way of the natives from the inside out, so he can help the humans gain the rare mineral that they are searching for.

The cast includes Sam Worthington (Jake), Sigourney Weaver, Giovanni Ribisi, Michelle Rodriguez, Zoe Saldana, and Stephen Lang.

This movie is truly a great triumph in film making. James Cameron spent years working on a special camera system that made this movie come to life. The camera helps to make every person look a lot more realistic and believable. It adds another layer of depth that just wasn't possible before.

One of the greatest parts of the movie are the visuals. For the first few minutes of the film, I wasn't even paying attention to what was happening. I was just so engrossed in the beauty of the world that Cameron had created. It was something of sheer and utter beauty. Some of the best visual showcases are when the Jake and company are in the forest at night. The way the forest lights up is something of magic.

From a plot perspective, it isn't anything fantastic. It sticks to a familiar plot structure that we all are familiar with. It wasn't bad, but it was something that we are used to. He sticks to the formula and it works, resulting in a great movie, with some predictability. I did find, however, a few holes in the film that were minor grips in the overall story arch.

I saw Avatar in IMAX 3D. I feel this is the only way it should be seen. Cameron created this technology so this movie could be viewed this way. I plan to see it at least one or two more times because watching at home just won't be the same. You just won't get the full experience of this film if you see it in 2D or even standard 3D. Everything from the sound to the gorgeous high def visuals adds another layer that just can't be matched. The 3D in this movie is one of the first films that uses 3D correctly. It doesn't do any stupid camera tricks where some object is flying out at you. The main emphasis on 3D is to show you the depth, which helps to put you more into the world.

This movie has changed the way I view film. Now I look at movies and say that it was either pre-Avatar or post-Avatar. I want to see more types of film implement this type of technology.

I have heard talks of Cameron making two more Avatar films, but I'm not sure if it will happen. The movie comes to a conclusion and ultimately resolves the conflicts it sets up. I could see an Avatar 2 and 3, but it will only happen if this is a blockbuster hit and James Cameron feels like making two more movies.

This is a genre defining movie that can't be missed. It has raised the bar on all movies in the future and has set a new standard on what can be achieved. Avatar is definitely a film every movie fan must see and it will be talked about for a long time to come!

10 out of 10

The Fourth Kind Review

noreply@blogger.com (Jonathan) — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 00:44:00 +0000

The Fourth Kind is a movie about alien abduction. It is a movie that is supposedly based on true events, but that is something that is still to be decided.

The movie gets it's name based on a scale of alien contact. The first kind-sighting, the second kind-evidence, the third kind-contact, and the fourth kind-abduction. While there really is a scale that measures the kinds of close entcounters with aliens, this is one of the only known facts about this movie.

The movie opens with the star, Milla Jovovich , telling you who she is and that this is based on actual case studies and that you can draw your own conclusions.

Milla Jovovich plays Dr. Abigail Emily Tyler, who is a psychiatrist in Nome, Alaska. Some of her patients have been reporting strange things happening to them in their sleep, so she investigates. Her findings help her reach the conclusion that they were abducted by aliens.

The movie does something very interesting. At parts where she is interviewing her patients, the movie does a split screen, or a side by side view of supposedly actually case study footage. You see the dramatization, as well as, what purportedly the real thing. This brings a level of depth and realism to the movie that I really loved. It made me much more invested and it made me care a lot more.

The case study footage helped a lot and is what will keep the word of mouth about this movie going. It shows things that doesn't seem humanly possible. A main point of discussion is the real Dr. Abigail Emily Tyler. While they say she is real, their is no evidence of her existence anywhere, but it is still fun to speculate the validity of her existence. (I will post a link to an article that might help you decide the truth of the matter at the end of my review)

I loved this movie, the style in which it was shot just works and it makes it all the much better. I think it is one of the best alien abduction flick many years. It left me with chills! It is a definite must see!!

9.5 out of 10

Here's the article:

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/214375/the_fourth_kind_missing_persons_in.html?cat=40

Feel free to leave your thoughts or comments on the movie.

Paranormal Activity Review

noreply@blogger.com (Jonathan) — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 00:42:00 +0000

This movie has captivated audiences since its initial release. People have said it's the scariest thing they have ever seen. Their have even been reports of people running out of the movie theater crying.

Paranormal Activity is about about a couple who experience unexplained phenomena. Supposedly, the girlfriend, "Katie" is haunted by a presence that she can't explain. They try different methods of contact the presence, until finally the heed results.

Some of the ideas are fever clever and are a great way to instill a sense of fear in the audience. One example, is when the boyfriend, "Micah" puts baby powder on the floor to make sure that if something comes in there bedroom they will have proof. Then out of nowhere, you see footprints appearing, without anything making them. The movie has other instances like this that help it seem more realistic.

The acting was awful, since these are first time actors, they don't really know how to act. Some might think it makes the movie seem more realistic, but for me it just seems stupid.

One thing I didn't realize going into this movie was it was shot like a home made video. Micah, the boyfriend is filming the whole thing, trying to find evidence of "Paranormal Activity". So if you are the squeamish type, this moving isn't for you with all the shakes of the camera.

The most startling fact is that it was shot in one week for a budget of $15,000. To date, the movie has already made $100 million dollars in the U.S. alone, making it the most profitable movie ever made.

I personally didn't find it scary. I thought that it did have a few good scares, but nothing that great. What I think people liked about the movie is the fact that you don't really see whats happening, so it leaves it to the imagination.

This is the type of movie that is best seen with a group of friends. The audience reaction is really a key role in why this movie works. It's a good film, especially for the budget, but not the scariest movie ever made, as some would claim.

7.5 out of 10

2012 Review

noreply@blogger.com (Jonathan) — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 00:41:00 +0000

From director Roland Emmerich (Independence Day and The Day After Tomorrow) comes 2012, a disaster flick that might just actually happen.

2012 is based on the premise that on December 21, 2012 the world is going to come to an end. The reason being, that that is the last day on the Mayan calendar. Also, that the planets in our solar system are all supposed to be lined up in perfect symmetry next to each other, an event that happens only once every few million years.

Most of the movie is spent with John Cusack and Amanda Peet, following them on their journey to escape the crumbling world around them. While this does make for an interesting popcorn flick on the big-screen, it leads to one close call after another. It is fun to watch them overcome insurmountable odds, but its just so implausible it's laughable.

The reason this movie does appeal to me is the fact that it discusses what might happen on that faithful day in 2012. It makes you think about your mortality more than Emmerich's other movies. Their are several scenes in the movie where people are calling to their loved one's, knowing good and well that it might be the last time they ever talk to them.

The acting isn't bad, it's just mediocre. Two things worth noting is that Woody Harrelson plays a small role as a conspiracy theorist, who first tell Cusack about the impending doom. Danny Glover is also in this movie as the U.S. president.

While there are many theories about what will happen in 2012, it is interesting to see this movie and speculate what will could happen, if anything. It a standard popcorn flick with some very cool and extravagent close calls that Roland Emmerich has always been known for.

8.0 out of 10

Pirate Radio Review

noreply@blogger.com (Jonathan) — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 00:40:00 +0000

Pirate Radio tells the tale of a group of guys who saved Rock' N Roll for England. The government didn't allow radio stations to play rock music, so a few DJ's decided to change all that. They live on a ship where 24/7 they broadcast rock music to the masses.

Phillip Seymour Hoffman, one of the stars of the movie, is the head DJ. Along with Rhys Ifans (The Replacements) and Nick Frost (Hot Fuzz and Shaun of the Dead) as two of the other DJ's.

I found this movie interesting for a few reasons. One reasone being, it is based on a true story. It is also exciting to know that this really did happen and it makes the movie feel a lot more enjoyable to watch.

Since this is a movie about Rock N' Roll, the music has to be phenomenal and it was. There were many times throughout the movie where they would be playing a song and the actors would be jamming out right along with it, giving you the sense that they really loved what they were doing. The music really is a great part of this movie; they play everything from Jimi Hendrix to The Beatles.

This movie isn't for everyone, the humor is a lot cruder than I thought, but I didn't mind it. The humor fits the movies, especially since about British music junkies in the 1960's. Some of the humor I found to be skewed more to British people since that is what the movie is depicting, but that could just be me.

It's a fun comedy with a lot of laughs. If you just feel like seeing something a little different, but know you want to have a good time than this is your movie.

8.5 out of 10

Jennifer's Body Review

noreply@blogger.com (Jonathan) — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 01:48:00 +0000

This movie has been on the top of my "Must See" list for some time. The trailer looked very intriguing to me and it looked like it had everything that is needed for a great movie.

Thankfully it lived up to most of the hype. It is a dark comedy that stars Megan Fox, from the Transformers series, and Amanda Seyfried. The movie is about a girl named Jennifer (Fox) who kills boys. Her best friend, Needy (Seyfried) finds out what she is doing and tries to put an end to the madness.

Since this is a dark comedy from the mind of Diablo Cody, who wrote the award winning movie Juno, expect the quick witted humor we have all come to love from Cody. She truly knows how to write captivating dialogue.

I don't feel like this movie has as much universal appeal as Juno did because of the fact that the comedy is so dark, some people may be off put by that fact. But if you stick with it, I think that by the end of the movie anyone can find something enjoyable in it.

While I liked most of the movie, some of it felt very contrived. For instance, when she lures a boy over to a house, he tries to open the front door, but it is bolted shut. He finally climbs in through a window. He looks around until he finds Jennifer, then realizes that it's not her house. Some of the scenes did not feel all that fleshed out, which somewhat hurt the movie.

Some people might have a gripe that it stars Megan Fox. It didn't bother me at all. Either you like her or you don't, it's that simple. The movie did do a good job of showing off her assets, even though the film didn't have any nudity.

If you set your expectations appropriately you will have a good time, but you have to know what you are going in for before you see it. If you have seen Juno, it will help you to better understand how Diablo Cody thinks and how the plot might develop.

The highest praise this movie can be given has to be the great dialogue. It can't be said enough how creative it truly is. Their needs to be more films like it. Overall it is an impressive sophomore film for Diablo Cody, if her next film is anything like this one, I'm sure it will be a hit.

9.5 out of 10

Whiteout Review

noreply@blogger.com (Jonathan) — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 01:56:00 +0000

Whiteout is about a U.S. Marshal named Carrie Stetko, played by Kate Beckinsale. She is stationed in Antarctica and is the chief security official in the frozen tundra. When a dead body is discovered, she is forced to find out how he died and ultimately track a killer in the process.

I was really looking forward to this movie. The trailer looked very intriguing, but in my opinion it's just another average movie. I was looking forward to seeing a lot of action and some mysterious elements as well. It had these elements, but not to my satisfaction.

Once Carrie finds out that she has a murder on her hands, she tries to find out more about the individual. She learns he was a geologist. He was stationed at another site with many more geologists looking for meteor samples. Once she finds out his identity, the phone just happens to ring. It one of the guy's co-workers who informs Carrie that she should come out to the base because there is something "really" important he has to show her.

When Carrie reaches the base, she finds him dead with the killer not too far behind her. She flees, ultimately getting back to safety. The scene itself just didn't feel realistic. They are in Antarctica, with winter approaching. The temperature is in the negatives with storms raging all the time. When she is outside, she attaches herself by rope to another series of ropes that keeps her from getting blown away in the storm. The series of ropes lead to all the buildings on the site. It is weird when she is running away from the killer attached to a rope and is trying to get to safety. The killer is also attached to a rope, which makes it even more laughable. There isn't anywhere for her to go but forward or backward and the whole thing just seems very contrived. There are two scenes where this happens and it just brought the movie down.

Kate Beckinsale's performance was ok at best. She didn't seem like she gave it her all. It felt like she was passive, not really there.

Another scene worth noting is that the last geologist that is alive comes to tell Carrie what his crew found in the abyss. While Carrie and he are talking, someone spooks him. He then runs away because he is afraid the killer is after him. Some scenes appeared totally random, while others were very predictable. During a few parts in the movie I was thinking to myself what the logical next step would be, and sure enough my outcome happened.

This movie felt like it was trying to take on too many genres. First and foremost it was trying to be an action flick, then somewhat of a suspense thriller with a few lines of comedic dialogue thrown in for good measure. It was trying to be too many things, most of which it was not.

The best part of the movie was Antarctica. It showed the beautiful snow-covered peaks, as well as what looked like to be the Aurora-Borealis. The name of the movie, Whiteout, works very well. The movie does a good job of showing the harsh conditions of living in the most isolated land mass on the planet.

Overall, it is mediocre. It's one of those movies that really isn't that good or bad, just average.

7 out of 10

Gamer Review

noreply@blogger.com (Jonathan) — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 02:16:00 +0000

Gamer, a movie staring Gerard Butler of 300 and The Ugly Truth fame, is about a man trapped in a game controlled by another human.

This movie isn't for everyone. As the title implies, people who like games- or more specifically video games- will find some enjoyment out of this movie.

The movie takes place in the not so distant future. The world is in utter chaos, with the prison system on the verge of collapse. Michael C. Hall, known best for Dexter, plays billionaire software mogul Ken Castle. He has created this virtual reality where people can vicariously control every movement of another human being.

Castle has created two worlds, the first called Social, which is what it sounds like, a place for people to get together and mingle with each other. They can be anyone they want to be and live out any fantasy they wish. When I first saw this, it made me think of an application for Sony's Playstation 3. The application, called Home, allows you to create an avatar and be who or whatever you want. But in Gamer, it is taken to the extreme. All Social really is is a place to have sex and show gratuitous amounts of nudity. I understand the message that they were getting across, but it served no purpose whatsoever.

The second world, Slayer, is where most of the movie takes place. The players that are in Slayer are death row inmates who have an opportunity to be set free if they win and stay alive. They must win 30 sessions to be free. No one has beaten it before. Instead, most of the people die in over-the-top ways, with a good number of head shots, might I add. Gerard Butler's character, Kable, has won twenty-seven matches, with only three more to go. The matches consist of Kable shooting people in various way, a-la the video game Call of Duty 4.

While this movie is supposed to appeal to gamers, it does to some degree, while also failing miserably. The movie carries along with it the stigma that is attached to people who play video games, that it is only kids or fat adults that don't have anything better to do with their lives. There also is a dance number in the movie. I have no idea why it was in there, but I guess it was supposed to add some comic relief. It just didn't fit the style of the movie.

If you are someone who likes to play video games, then this movie might appeal to you more than just the average moviegoer. It had some good action scenes, as well as everything else in between. Overall it just another movie with a lot of killing.

7.5 out of 10

The Time Traveler's Wife Review

noreply@blogger.com (Thea) — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 16:39:00 +0000

A couple of days ago, I had the pleasure/displeasure of seeing The Time Traveler's Wife, a movie starring Eric Bana as Henry the Time Traveler and Rachel McAdams as Clare the Wife, based upon the book by Audrey Niffenegger(yes, that's really her name). Just walking into the theater gave you a feeling about what this movie was going to be like. The place was crowded with dates and mothers and daughters (or, in my case grandmothers and granddaughters). And all of a sudden I knew I was walking into a sap story.

The movie itself isn't really that bad, and the story was relatively strong....but the script just kept slipping. I didn't really care about Henry and Clare until the very end of the movie, where, SHOCKER, something goes wrong.

The movie starts off focused on Henry and his time traveling ways, the first time he traveled, some of the rules of traveling. One thing that is not explained however, is why Eric Bana's wig is so bad. It was so bad I wanted to reach through the screen and rip it off his head. It made my head itch just looking at it, but I think you get my point. Eventually he meets Clare, who he has apparently met before when he was older, but he didn't know it when he meets her in the future/past. It was moments like this in the movie where it started to make no sense. My grandmother had to turn to me several times during the movie and ask what was going on, and when I attempted to explain it, it really made no sense.

There were other moments like this, where Henry would just abruptly travel and leave Clare behind for long amounts of time and you would just feel so depressed and sometimes even slightly bored. Other things in the movie just go completely unexplained. For instance, it doesn't explain why in one scene we see Henry beating the crap out of some guy while he's wearing what appears to be denim short shorts and a pink t-shirt with lace trim and screaming "GODDAMN HOMOPHOBES!"
Towards the end of the movie, you begin to feel that ominous feeling that things are starting to go downhill, when the vibe in the room begins to change. And when Henry finds out he's going to die when his daughter turns 5, I heard the woman next to me whisper, "Oh shit..."

And then when that big, horrible moment does come, all around me I heard sobs and gasps and even my grandmother was bawling her eyes out.

What the movie really comes down to is a sweet, sappy love story that at times doesn't really make sense.
I would wait to rent it.
6.5/10

Halloween 2 Review

noreply@blogger.com (Jonathan) — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 22:51:00 +0000

This weekend marks the return of 2 horror franchises, Final Destination and Halloween. Unfortunately, they have both failed to make a comeback.

In Halloween 2, Rob Zombie's remake failed to capture what is great about the series. Zombie, who wrote and directed this film, tried to explore both the mind of Michael Myers and Laurie Strode, the sole survivor of Zombie's first Halloween.

The movie starts off right where the first one ended. Laurie is rushed to the hospital in the wake of Michael's reign of terror. Myer's body, presumed dead, is transported in a van to the coroner's office. The van just happens to crash into a cow in the middle of the road, reawakening Myers.

A year later, Laurie is trying to cope with the horror that had befallen her. She is now living with her friend, whose father is the sheriff. She starts having bad dreams that, unfortunately, the viewer has to experience with her.

The movie tries to show the mind of Myers and Laurie. While it might be an interesting idea, the execution is awful. The viewer is transported into these "trippy" scenes that look into Michael's and Laurie's pasts. This unfortunately pulls the viewer out of the movie.

One thing that I did find interesting was the fact that it showed the contrast between Laurie's life and Dr. Samuel Loomis. Loomis, Michael's former psychologist, has struck it rich with his books about the killer, while the books have negatively impacted the people that have been effected by Myers. It shows how Dr. Loomis has gotten rich off of his story and how the fame and fortune has gone to his head. Laurie, on the other hand, starts sinking more and more into depravity, until she finally loses it.

This movie isn't as good as Zombie's first, but it still has it moments. It felt a lot more visceral than his previous movie, leading to more suspense and more horrific kills.

The ending was something that I didn't expect. I am not going to spoil it, but with the way it was set up, it could lead to a new Halloween that we have never seen the likes of before.

The idea of looking into the minds of Myers and Laurie was a great idea, but it just did not turn out how I would have liked it. This movie will probably not be at the box office long, so if you want to see how the story of Zombie's Michael Myers continues, you better get there fast.

6.5 out of 10

The Final Destination 3D Review

noreply@blogger.com (Jonathan) — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 01:52:00 +0000

The Final Destination is the fourth and final movie in the long running horror franchise. Like in all the previous Final Destination movies, where the main character foresees the untimely deaths of other characters through gruesome accidents, this one involves a teen that has a premonition of a deadly car race.

The teen, named Nick, realizes that death is coming for him, so he leaves the racetrack along with some of his friends and a few other people who heed his warning. Soon, some of the people are dying and it is up to Nick to keep everyone alive.

This movie is just a rehash of the other three movies, only with a different cast. It still has the same gruesome dismemberment scenes that we have all come to know from this series.

Some events leading up to the death seen even more convoluted than in past iterations. One event happens, and then another, and the events eventually culminate into the horrible death of a person. They draw it out too much instead of making the cause of death somewhat plausible.

The Final Destination can be either seen in 2D or 3D. I saw it in 3D. The added dimension did not really have that much of an impact on the movie. It felt like it was just an afterthought. An object would come flying at the audience, letting the viewer know that in the coming minutes someone was about to get killed by that very object. The movie did this countless times. I felt that it really detracted from the overall experience of the movie.

The acting in this movie was awful. Most of the acting felt forced, which is not something I want to see. Even though this series has never had a good track record for acting, you think that by the fourth movie they would have gotten a little better.

Lastly, the story was laughable. There were scenes where they tried to add comedy, but it failed miserably. The previous movies, especially Final Destination 2, tried to have a story. While it did not work on all levels, it did, however, give us a connection with the characters. It made us care for them and care whether they lived or died. The Final Destination, however, did not do this. If a person died, it was just another person. The viewer did not have that same sense of compassion as in some of the previous movies. The whole movie just felt like many people died for no reason.

This movie is a standard horror flick. It's nothing that hasn't been done before. If the viewer likes to see various gruesome deaths, this is the right movie. If you are squeamish around blood, then this isn't your movie.

7 out of 10

Hitler on Avatar

noreply@blogger.com (Chris) — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 17:41:00 +0000

Inglourious Basterds Review

noreply@blogger.com (Jonathan) — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 04:18:00 +0000

Inglourious Basterds is about a group of Jewish-American soldiers in WWII. Their sole mission is to torture, terrorize, and kill Nazis.

The movie is a mixed bag. Some parts are likable, while other parts are just boring.

My main gripe about the movie is that over half of it is subtitled. I guess the director, Quentin Tarantino, thought it would make it feel more authentic, but it just doesn't fit the style of his movies. I felt like I was reading, which is not something I want to have to feel in a movie.

Another gripe I have about the movie is that the dialogue felt liked it kept going on and on and on. The length of the movie didn't help either. It clocked in at over two and one half hours. I wanted to get to the next action scene instead of listening to what the characters had to say because, let's face it, we don't go to Tarantino's movies for the story. We go to them for the action, which was quite lacking for most of the movie until the end.

Brad Pitt's performance is mediocre at best. His country accent is one of the worst I've heard. He overdoes it so much that it creates laughter where there shouldn't be any.

I have no clue why Eli Roth, director of the Hostel movies, was in it. His acting skills were weak. He needs to stick to directing, not acting.

This movie isn't as grotesque as some of Tarantino's other movies, but it does have its moments (most notably when "the basterds" cut the scalps off of the Nazis' heads, and imprint swastikas into the Nazis that they allow to live).

Lastly, it has the humor we all expect from Tarantino, which some people may like and some people may not. It's strictly preference.

This movie is a good pick for die-hard Tarantino fans! Be warned; you will most likely be physically and emotionally exhausted after watching this movie!

6.5 out of 10

Avatar Day Preview

noreply@blogger.com (Jonathan) — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 03:44:00 +0000

I normally don't do previews, but I guess there is a first time for everything, right? This is the type of movie that comes along once in a blue moon, so I felt like it deserved something special.

Today is a very momentous day for James Cameron's upcoming movie, Avatar. Select movie theaters around the nation played scenes to a chosen few (who reserved tickets). Selected viewers got to see fifteen minutes of the movie. Fortunately, I was one of the lucky ones who got to see the elusive 15 minutes.

The opening scene James Cameron greeting the audience. He sets up the story and tells viewers that Avatar is about a paraplegic war veteran named Jake Sulley. Sully gets a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to travel to a foreign planet called Pandora. He must transform into one of the planets' inhabitants, called the Na'vi.

The best part of the preview was the visuals. The 3-D wasn't overwhelming. It nicely complemented the action on screen. The 3-D focused more on the depth and the ability to perceive it, instead of always relying on the usual "objects flying in your face routine". This movie will be talked about for ages, not only for the story (hopefully), but especially for the visuals. It was hard to tell where the CG began and where it ended. The colors of the world that the Na'vi live in are breathtaking. The flowers are gorgeous; they are true works of art. The barrage of colors -not only on the planet, but also on the creatures- is something to be marveled at.

One scene worth noting is when Jake tries to tame a dragon-like creature to ride. An intense fight ensues until Jake finally wins and tames the wild beast. The colors of the dragon are things of beauty- light blue, with hints of purple and all colors in between.

I have high hopes for this movie, and so far the sneak peek has only whetted my appetite for what is sure to be a movie for the ages!

Here is a link to the latest trailer. It gives you more of an idea of what the movie is really about!

http://www.apple.com/trailers/fox/avatar/

Julie and Julia

noreply@blogger.com (Chris) — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 01:16:00 +0000

I just got back from seeing Julie and Julia, Nora Ephron's mash-up of Julie Powell's blog/book, Julie and Julia: 365 Days, 524 Recipes, 1 Tiny Apartment Kitchen, and Julia Child's autobiography My Life in France. Starring Amy Adams as Julie Powell and Meryl Streep as Julia Child, the film is at least half of a good movie. You get no points for guessing correctly.

The film interweaves the two stories - Julie's modern-day tale of attempting to cook the entire ouevre of Child's seminal cookbook Mastering the Art of French Cooking over the course of one year, and Child's tale of her days in Paris, going to culinary school at Le Cordon Bleu, and writing her legendary cookbook. But more importantly, it tells the story of Child's relationship with her husband and muse Paul. Fortunately, this part of the movie works on all levels.

I was tempted to say cooks on all levels, but that might be a bit much.

The structure of the interspersed stories doesn't work terribly well for one main reason - I just didn't care about the modern day story. This has to be due in large part to this section of Ephron's script, which is a rather bland bit of "empowerment" that left me cold. Julie Powell comes off as a bit of a dilettante, and the reliably charming Amy Adams is as unappealing as I've ever seen her. At no point did I feel any empathy for her character, and when her husband (Chris Messina) leaves her temporarily, I saw no reason for him to return.

On the other hand, Stanley Tucci gives an amazing performance as Paul Childs. There is a sense of passion and style between the two that makes you look at Julia Child in a completely different way. Their relationship is white-hot and sexy, and the feeling of love, and lust, between the two characters is one of the more realistic portrayals I've seen of middle-aged love and passion. Meryl Streep is, as always, mesmerizing.

Everyone knows how the story ends - French Cooking becomes perhaps the most influential cookbook ever published, now in it's 49th printing, but the details and nuance of their life together is fun to watch, and at times heart-wrenching. Paul Child was a career diplomat, and his dealings with the odious Joseph McCarthy and HUAC in the late fifties would have given anyone pause. And the scene where Julia learns of her sister's pregnancy, the mix of pride, love, and regret (the Childs never had children) that swirls on Streep's face, along with Tucci's response, is wonderful.

And the food - I have to admit that Julie Powell's half of the story gets better food porn, which for those who know me is saying a bit. Watching the movie made me hungry, and made me want to cook. Which I plan to do this weekend.

So, Meryl Streep gets a big yes, Stanley Tucci gets a big yes, and sadly, Amy Adams gets a big meh...

The Top 5 Movies I'm Looking Forward To Seeing This Year.

noreply@blogger.com (Jonathan) — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 18:39:00 +0000

Here is a list of the top five movies I am looking forward to seeing this year. Follow the links for a look at the trailers.

5. Shutter Island

This movie stars Leonardo DiCaprio, with Martin Scorsese directing. It is about DiCaprio traveling to a mysterious island that is home to a mental institution. He's looking for an escaped patient, and he gets more than he bargained for while there.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdumGs1qoXM

4. Sherlock Holmes

It stars Robert Downey Jr. as Sherlock Holmes. I'm looking forward to seeing this modern take on this classic detective.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUQbmFAE5WI

3. Lovely Bones

From author Alice Sebold, comes the tale of a young girl's murder and her family's search for answers. It is directed by critically acclaimed director Peter Jackson, of Lord of the Rings fame. The trailer even has an introduction from Jackson himself!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWyNYxGZonI

2. The Road

From Cormac McCarthy, author of No Country for Old Men, comes the story of a boy and his father in a post-apocalyptic world struggling to live at all costs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbLgszfXTAY

1. Avatar

From James Cameron, director of Titanic, comes this revolutionary 3-D movie. Avatar is about a group of humans who travel to another planet and are pitted against the planet's inhabitants. This movie has been shrouded in secrecy from its conception. There will be little known about this movie until its December 18 release. Here's a teaser trailer!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGs3_1qKl34

The Goods Review

noreply@blogger.com (Jonathan) — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 18:20:00 +0000

The Goods tells the story of hotshot used car salesman Don "The Goods" Ready. When a used car dealership in California is facing bankruptcy, they call on Don and his crew to save them.

Don is played by Jeremy Piven. His performance is lackluster at best. It feels like we've seen his character in numerous other movies. There really isn't anything about Piven's character that feels real.

There are a few good laughs here and there, but they reuse some of the same material over and over again. They even go as far as throwing Will Ferrell out of a plane to try to get some laughs. The worst part about the movie is that they try to reuse some of the material in a different way. This humor might appeal to some people, but it's nothing we haven't seen in countless movies before it.

6 out of 10

District 9 Review

noreply@blogger.com (Jonathan) — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 19:54:00 +0000

Neill Blomkamp's first feature film is a stunning success. He weaves details into the story that make the movie come to life. It is a "must see"!

It tells the story of an alien race stranded in the city of Johannesburg, forced to live in the slums called District 9. The alien race, or as the humans call them, "Prawns", are forced to live in filth and poverty. The slums are sectioned off from the rest of the city, but the conditions still cause feelings of hatred toward the aliens.

The way Blomkamp shows the emotional connection between the aliens is really amazing. An emotional connection is established between the viewer and the alien race, and viewers may find themselves concerned about the aliens' well being. The movie was shot like a documentary, which makes it feel even more realistic.

The main character is a man who works at MNU, the company set up to handle Human-Alien relations. He is sent out with the task of evicting some of the aliens to a more suitable location that is further removed from humans. He accidentally becomes the key to harnessing the power to use the alien encrypted weapons. He is faced with the challenge of helping the aliens return home and returning the human race to normalcy.

This is a genre-defining movie that can't be missed!!

9 out of 10

Entering the World of Blogging and Movie Reviews!

noreply@blogger.com (Jonathan) — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 04:16:00 +0000

Welcome Everyone!

My name is Jonathan and this is my first blog. I know that I'm really late to the whole "blogging scene", but better late than never, right? One of my favorite passions in life is watching movies, and since I watch so many movies, I decided to create this blog where I can voice my opinion on the movies I see. Hopefully, my reviews can help you determine what movies are worth seeing and which ones are worth passing up! If you have any questions or advice for me, send me an email at jonsh92@gmail.com.