Cloud Atlas
This is absolutely one of the best movies I have seen throughout my lifetime. It has received quite a bit of flack for its complexity and (somewhat) astounding runtime of 172 minutes, but I feel that it was a phenomenal piece of film that really broke some boundaries in storytelling. Starring
Halle Berry, Hugh Grant, Hugo Weaving, and Tom Hanks, the film weaved together several compelling and exciting storylines from what seemed to be our past, present, and future.
This film examines how the consequences of one's actions have the ability to ripple through history.
I would call this the movie of the year.
Hotel Transylvania
To describe this movie in one word, I would have to say: cute.
Though most Halloween movies are thought of as spooky, this one does not follow that rule. It is a heartfelt story of a father vampire looking out for his daughter as she is coming of age.
It's a kids' movie, so it isn't too deep of a plot, but the characters are fairly developed throughout the film. The casting of the voice actors was great (everyone really seemed to fill out their role well).
The animation isn't Pixar, but it was still fun to watch!
The Perks of Being a Wallflower
Having never read the book, I had no idea what to expect when I sat down to watch this September release. Despite being one of countless stories about highschoolers going through a tough time, this story covers quite a bit of material that seems to go untouched by other filmmakers (for example, teen suicide, psychological challenges, etc.).
Beyond the story, the film featured some excellent acting from stars including:
Emma Watson, Ezra Miller, Logan Lerman, Paul Rudd, and Kate Walsh.
Thursday, January 3, 2013
Monday, November 19, 2012
Pitch Perfect, Frankenweenie, & Argo
I'm calling it: Pitch Perfect is the feel-good movie of the year.
This late September release is the story of one collegiate a cappella group's journey on their way to the top. One might immediately think, "Oh no, I don't want to be trapped watching a knock-off Glee for close to two hours." Now it's up to you whether you enjoy Glee or despise it, but this film has something for both sides. It has beautiful vocals, a perfectionist group leader, and some dramedy (comedy-drama), yet all the while, it's genuinely hilarious, has original characters, and adds something totally new to the college-movie genera.
What made this comedy so likeable was all of its quirky elements, from secret "riff-off" showdowns to its references to The Breakfast Club, it was full of reasons to feel truly amused.
Absolutely one of my favorite comedies recently!
You have to watch it!
Frankenweenie
It was a great idea and a great story, but having recently seen ParaNorman, it was hard to truly appreciate it. In comparison to the summer release, Frankenweenie really seemed to be lacking. Some might say this was because of the choice not to create the film in color, but I think it was because the story and animation just were not as good.
It was a good effort, but it may have been better if it had been released after the excitement of ParaNorman died down a bit more.
Argo
The story, the acting, and the cinematography were positively brilliant. This is one that would be easy to give away too much about, but I'll say that it was more intense than most movies I go to.
I call it a must-see for anyone interested in historical events.
This late September release is the story of one collegiate a cappella group's journey on their way to the top. One might immediately think, "Oh no, I don't want to be trapped watching a knock-off Glee for close to two hours." Now it's up to you whether you enjoy Glee or despise it, but this film has something for both sides. It has beautiful vocals, a perfectionist group leader, and some dramedy (comedy-drama), yet all the while, it's genuinely hilarious, has original characters, and adds something totally new to the college-movie genera.
What made this comedy so likeable was all of its quirky elements, from secret "riff-off" showdowns to its references to The Breakfast Club, it was full of reasons to feel truly amused.
Absolutely one of my favorite comedies recently!
You have to watch it!
Frankenweenie
It was a great idea and a great story, but having recently seen ParaNorman, it was hard to truly appreciate it. In comparison to the summer release, Frankenweenie really seemed to be lacking. Some might say this was because of the choice not to create the film in color, but I think it was because the story and animation just were not as good.
It was a good effort, but it may have been better if it had been released after the excitement of ParaNorman died down a bit more.
Argo
The story, the acting, and the cinematography were positively brilliant. This is one that would be easy to give away too much about, but I'll say that it was more intense than most movies I go to.
I call it a must-see for anyone interested in historical events.
Friday, October 5, 2012
A brief review of The Words
The Words
This film may not have the best rating on review sites, such as Metacritic, but I really enjoyed it. I felt that it had an excellent cast and that it portrayed the idea of intertwining and framing stories. Its varying cinematic styles added a beautiful aesthetic.
You may not be able to see this one until its DVD release, but if you're looking for something that isn't an everyday love story, I'd really recommend this movie.
This film may not have the best rating on review sites, such as Metacritic, but I really enjoyed it. I felt that it had an excellent cast and that it portrayed the idea of intertwining and framing stories. Its varying cinematic styles added a beautiful aesthetic.
You may not be able to see this one until its DVD release, but if you're looking for something that isn't an everyday love story, I'd really recommend this movie.
Dredd 3D
Dredd 3D
In the future, Mega City One (between what we know as Boston and Washington D.C.) cannot sustain the justice system we know today. Justice in a crime filled world is maintained in a stunning new way. Criminals are faced with one person who happens to be a judge, jury, and executioner, called simply, "Judge". If caught in the act by a judge, the criminal is sentenced immediately.
I honestly expected to hate this movie. I felt as though the trailers that were shown in theaters and TV before it premiered did a poor job of portraying the real essence of this film. The main character, Judge Dredd, is never shown in a way that allows the audience to see his eyes. In the preview, I felt that having him always wear an eye-covering helmet was a horrible way to portray him. How is the audience supposed to feel just looking at half of a face? (Not to mention, it's the half that is hard to illustrate emotions with.)
Let me just say: my first impression of this film was entirely wrong. The actor who played Dredd, Karl Urban, did an excellent job of using the helmet to the character's advantage. It created a sense of mystery, while making Dredd seem stronger than the average person, as the audience never got the chance to read emotion in his eyes. It was amazing to see how much emotion can be portrayed through just the use of his mouth area.
The acting of Olivia Thirlby, who played Anderson (a judge in training) was amazing, compared to her days of playing Juno's best friend. I was surprised at how well she did in a serious and action-based role. Her intensity really added to how I felt about Dredd 3D.
It had amazing cinematography, music (although it never actually used the one song that was almost every preview for it), and acting. I commend the makers of the film for not just cutting away when a scene got violent. It went the distance and made every violent moment worth viewing, no matter how gruesome.
I would recommend this film to anyone who really wants true action and a thought-provoking story.
As always, thank you for reading! Sorry it's been so long.
In the future, Mega City One (between what we know as Boston and Washington D.C.) cannot sustain the justice system we know today. Justice in a crime filled world is maintained in a stunning new way. Criminals are faced with one person who happens to be a judge, jury, and executioner, called simply, "Judge". If caught in the act by a judge, the criminal is sentenced immediately.
I honestly expected to hate this movie. I felt as though the trailers that were shown in theaters and TV before it premiered did a poor job of portraying the real essence of this film. The main character, Judge Dredd, is never shown in a way that allows the audience to see his eyes. In the preview, I felt that having him always wear an eye-covering helmet was a horrible way to portray him. How is the audience supposed to feel just looking at half of a face? (Not to mention, it's the half that is hard to illustrate emotions with.)
Let me just say: my first impression of this film was entirely wrong. The actor who played Dredd, Karl Urban, did an excellent job of using the helmet to the character's advantage. It created a sense of mystery, while making Dredd seem stronger than the average person, as the audience never got the chance to read emotion in his eyes. It was amazing to see how much emotion can be portrayed through just the use of his mouth area.
The acting of Olivia Thirlby, who played Anderson (a judge in training) was amazing, compared to her days of playing Juno's best friend. I was surprised at how well she did in a serious and action-based role. Her intensity really added to how I felt about Dredd 3D.
It had amazing cinematography, music (although it never actually used the one song that was almost every preview for it), and acting. I commend the makers of the film for not just cutting away when a scene got violent. It went the distance and made every violent moment worth viewing, no matter how gruesome.
I would recommend this film to anyone who really wants true action and a thought-provoking story.
As always, thank you for reading! Sorry it's been so long.
Sunday, September 9, 2012
Catching up as the school year begins!
In the later part of this summer there were quite a few movies worth seeing. I took a break to get ready for school, travel, and finish my summer job.
Now let's get started with these reviews!
In chronological order of the release dates:
The Campaign
Hilarious. To explain further, comedy is my favorite form of movie, so that may explain my opinion of this Ferrell and Galifianakis film. In addition to keeping up with proper Holywood comedy standards, this film unleashed some fresh talent, to be specific: Sarah Baker, Grant Goodman, and Kya Haywood (all of which played Galifianakis' family). It may not be what I'd call a theater-must-see, but I recommend The Campaign when it reaches your RedBox.
ParaNorman
Totally brilliant. The stop-motion animation-style was fascinating to watch onscreen. When thinking about other films like Wallace and Gromit, I remembered finding stop-motion to be a bit painful to watch when comparing it to other animation styles, however, ParaNorman is far more advanced (which is perfectly fine because it is over two decades past those days). Beyond that, the story that the film tells is exciting and compelling, spooky at times. Loved it! Great movie for the whole family.
Premium Rush
I had no idea what to expect from this Joseph Gordon-Levitt film. Obviously he's one of today's greatest actors, but really, how much can you expect from a movie that takes place almost entirely on bikes? To answer that one for you: SO MUCH! Okay, walking into the theater, I could have honestly cared less about bike messengers in NYC...but five minutes into the movie, I was on the edge of my seat and loving every second of the show. It had great casting, great scenery, and great music. Go see it, you'll love it!
Lawless
I always feel hesitant about watching a movie that starts, "Based on a True Story" but this was actually a really good story. It took place during the time of the Prohibition and is the story of the Bondurant brothers in their pursuit to sell moonshine throughout Franklin county, Virginia and beyond. The top-billed actors Tom Hardy and Shia LaBeouf are phenomenal, as well as their co-stars. The costumes, settings, music, ect. all created a very realistic mood in which it was easy to become immersed. If you're craving a bit of historically themed filmography, this is a great way to spend a couple hours.
Thanks for reading!
Now let's get started with these reviews!
In chronological order of the release dates:
The Campaign
Hilarious. To explain further, comedy is my favorite form of movie, so that may explain my opinion of this Ferrell and Galifianakis film. In addition to keeping up with proper Holywood comedy standards, this film unleashed some fresh talent, to be specific: Sarah Baker, Grant Goodman, and Kya Haywood (all of which played Galifianakis' family). It may not be what I'd call a theater-must-see, but I recommend The Campaign when it reaches your RedBox.
ParaNorman
Totally brilliant. The stop-motion animation-style was fascinating to watch onscreen. When thinking about other films like Wallace and Gromit, I remembered finding stop-motion to be a bit painful to watch when comparing it to other animation styles, however, ParaNorman is far more advanced (which is perfectly fine because it is over two decades past those days). Beyond that, the story that the film tells is exciting and compelling, spooky at times. Loved it! Great movie for the whole family.
Premium Rush
I had no idea what to expect from this Joseph Gordon-Levitt film. Obviously he's one of today's greatest actors, but really, how much can you expect from a movie that takes place almost entirely on bikes? To answer that one for you: SO MUCH! Okay, walking into the theater, I could have honestly cared less about bike messengers in NYC...but five minutes into the movie, I was on the edge of my seat and loving every second of the show. It had great casting, great scenery, and great music. Go see it, you'll love it!
Lawless
I always feel hesitant about watching a movie that starts, "Based on a True Story" but this was actually a really good story. It took place during the time of the Prohibition and is the story of the Bondurant brothers in their pursuit to sell moonshine throughout Franklin county, Virginia and beyond. The top-billed actors Tom Hardy and Shia LaBeouf are phenomenal, as well as their co-stars. The costumes, settings, music, ect. all created a very realistic mood in which it was easy to become immersed. If you're craving a bit of historically themed filmography, this is a great way to spend a couple hours.
Thanks for reading!
Friday, August 10, 2012
The past month (...or more) in movies!
I'll make these first couple extra short and sweet:
Ted:
Literally one of the funniest movies I've seen in a long time. If you like Family Guy humor, you'll love it...if you don't, you still might! The casting was awesome (Mila Kunis, Mark Wahlberg, Joel McHale, Seth MacFarlane, etc.)!
Love it! Go watch it!
The Watch:
Cheesy but funny. I was expecting a little more from the cast of Ben Stiller, Jonah Hill and Vince Vaughn, but it was still enjoyable.
It's not a must see, but if you like any of the actors and are looking for some entertainment, this might tide you over for a bit.
(Also, there's an amazing cameo in this movie...made my day!)
Savages:
Brutal does not even begin to explain this movie. Centered in the cannabis market of southern California, the plot of this movie follows the lives of three young and beautiful friends, who have become each others' closest family. Kick-Ass' Aaron Johnson plays the entrepreneur of the business that gets them all into one of the most horrifying situations possible. Taylor Kitsch plays what one could essentially call the "protector" of the family. Then we have Blake Lively in the role of O, who enjoys being the romantic lead in both of the mens' lives. They have a strange yet beautiful arrangement, which makes for quite a passionate search for O when she becomes kidnapped by the business' closest competition from Mexico.
Now that you have some of the summary, here's the pits and the peaks.
-The casting of the roles was amazing, yet the acting was lacking in a couple parts that involved Lively.
-The cinematography in certain parts was one of the most amazing things I'd ever seen, the colors were perfection and shots had a way of making the audience feel the pain that characters were going through, but there were some parts that looked like they could have just been from a cable-TV show.
If you are looking to feel dangerous or wanting to see some passionate love scenes, while making sure you still have plenty of gunshots and action, you'd love it. It has plenty to offer, but it's not for everyone.
Total Recall:
This movie took some reflection afterwards to really appreciate. The acting was decent, the casting was good, and the soundtrack wasn't bad either. What really made this film memorable to me was the portrayal of the future. The technology and transportation were really fascinating to think about beyond just the time spent in the theater.
The setting was an excellent device within the story. Total Recall takes place at the end of the twenty-first century on Earth, all of which has become inhabitable, except for what is currently called the United Kingdom and Australia ("The Colony"). The Colony, under the oppression of the leader of the United Federation of Britain, is connected to the Federation by a tram called "the fall."
From what I've heard about the Schwarzenegger version of the film, this is not a remake, it is nearly original, however this film does make reference to the first version.
If you are looking for a fast-paced thriller with a futuristic twist, I'd recommend this one to you!
Thanks for reading!
Ted:
Literally one of the funniest movies I've seen in a long time. If you like Family Guy humor, you'll love it...if you don't, you still might! The casting was awesome (Mila Kunis, Mark Wahlberg, Joel McHale, Seth MacFarlane, etc.)!
Love it! Go watch it!
The Watch:
Cheesy but funny. I was expecting a little more from the cast of Ben Stiller, Jonah Hill and Vince Vaughn, but it was still enjoyable.
It's not a must see, but if you like any of the actors and are looking for some entertainment, this might tide you over for a bit.
(Also, there's an amazing cameo in this movie...made my day!)
Savages:
Brutal does not even begin to explain this movie. Centered in the cannabis market of southern California, the plot of this movie follows the lives of three young and beautiful friends, who have become each others' closest family. Kick-Ass' Aaron Johnson plays the entrepreneur of the business that gets them all into one of the most horrifying situations possible. Taylor Kitsch plays what one could essentially call the "protector" of the family. Then we have Blake Lively in the role of O, who enjoys being the romantic lead in both of the mens' lives. They have a strange yet beautiful arrangement, which makes for quite a passionate search for O when she becomes kidnapped by the business' closest competition from Mexico.
Now that you have some of the summary, here's the pits and the peaks.
-The casting of the roles was amazing, yet the acting was lacking in a couple parts that involved Lively.
-The cinematography in certain parts was one of the most amazing things I'd ever seen, the colors were perfection and shots had a way of making the audience feel the pain that characters were going through, but there were some parts that looked like they could have just been from a cable-TV show.
If you are looking to feel dangerous or wanting to see some passionate love scenes, while making sure you still have plenty of gunshots and action, you'd love it. It has plenty to offer, but it's not for everyone.
Total Recall:
This movie took some reflection afterwards to really appreciate. The acting was decent, the casting was good, and the soundtrack wasn't bad either. What really made this film memorable to me was the portrayal of the future. The technology and transportation were really fascinating to think about beyond just the time spent in the theater.
The setting was an excellent device within the story. Total Recall takes place at the end of the twenty-first century on Earth, all of which has become inhabitable, except for what is currently called the United Kingdom and Australia ("The Colony"). The Colony, under the oppression of the leader of the United Federation of Britain, is connected to the Federation by a tram called "the fall."
From what I've heard about the Schwarzenegger version of the film, this is not a remake, it is nearly original, however this film does make reference to the first version.
If you are looking for a fast-paced thriller with a futuristic twist, I'd recommend this one to you!
Thanks for reading!
Friday, July 20, 2012
Catching up!
Sorry it's been so long! I have no good excuse, so I'll just get on with the reviews!
Seeking a Friend for the End of the World:
This movie was marketed as a comedy...the comedic solution to the "end of the world." It, however, was not. I left the theater crying and declared that it was more sad than The Titanic. It had amazing acting, great splices of comedy, perfect hues of irony, and a beautiful story.
I would recommend this movie to anyone who likes Keira Knightley's acting style--just don't expect to leave smiling because you just saw Steve Carell.
Brave:
Such phenomenal animation. I saw bits and pieces of this movie's promos starting last summer on Tumblr. I was intrigued immediately by a fiery, redheaded princess. Honestly, you'd be crazy not to. It isn't just a story for kids either--there's a lot more to it than just another princess story. The main character, Merida, is one of the spunkiest, tomboyish creations that Disney has produced. Loved it (setting, voice-acting, visual effects, etc.)!
It's a great story and I'd reccomend watching it with your mom---it would make a great Mothers' Day present!
Spiderman:
Best part: Emma Stone! Just kidding, although she was great, this movie had a lot more to offer than just one of my favorite actresses.
The origin story of Spiderman in this is what really made the movie great. It's different from the other recent movies, but I don't want to give away too much! The character of Peter Parker and the life around him seemed to me as though it could have flown directly from a comic book onto the big screen--colors popped, the action was fast, and the story was entertaining--what else would you expect from a Marvel film?
Perfect summer movie!
Seeking a Friend for the End of the World:
This movie was marketed as a comedy...the comedic solution to the "end of the world." It, however, was not. I left the theater crying and declared that it was more sad than The Titanic. It had amazing acting, great splices of comedy, perfect hues of irony, and a beautiful story.
I would recommend this movie to anyone who likes Keira Knightley's acting style--just don't expect to leave smiling because you just saw Steve Carell.
Brave:
Such phenomenal animation. I saw bits and pieces of this movie's promos starting last summer on Tumblr. I was intrigued immediately by a fiery, redheaded princess. Honestly, you'd be crazy not to. It isn't just a story for kids either--there's a lot more to it than just another princess story. The main character, Merida, is one of the spunkiest, tomboyish creations that Disney has produced. Loved it (setting, voice-acting, visual effects, etc.)!
It's a great story and I'd reccomend watching it with your mom---it would make a great Mothers' Day present!
Spiderman:
Best part: Emma Stone! Just kidding, although she was great, this movie had a lot more to offer than just one of my favorite actresses.
The origin story of Spiderman in this is what really made the movie great. It's different from the other recent movies, but I don't want to give away too much! The character of Peter Parker and the life around him seemed to me as though it could have flown directly from a comic book onto the big screen--colors popped, the action was fast, and the story was entertaining--what else would you expect from a Marvel film?
Perfect summer movie!
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