My Favorite Movies

The sinking of the Titanic was one of the greatest tragedies in history more than a 1,517 lives were lost to the frozen waters it was a tragedy that shook the world in 1912 and left a lasting impression on all those who heard of the loss of that day. Many films have been made in 1943 Werner Klinger used the events as Nazi propaganda to discredit British and American capitalist dealings and glorify the bravery and selflessness of Germanic men. Than in 1953 Jean Negulesco made a very flawed and inaccurate take on the sinking of the RMS Titanic that held up for almost 44 as the best retelling of that doomed voyage. However, it was not until 1997 when James Cameron, one of Hollywood's most prominent directors, took on the difficult task of constructing a film about the Titanic that no one had ever seen before. Cameron was looking to create and epic sized film that, while true to the story, had a fictional romance between two passengers that gave audiences a look at life on that beautiful ship and showed them a love that like no other, a love that transcends time.


James Cameron's epic romance "TITANIC" is a film that defies all expectations with it's breathtaking scenery, it's beautiful set designs and it's fierce dedication to the story of its characters and the tragedy that ensues. Cameron has crafted films that push the very boundaries of special effects and Titanic is one of his films that is groundbreaking while still remaining old fashioned and entertaining enough for mainstream audiences both young and old. What makes this film so enjoyable and endearing is the fact that it does not patronize you; it does not make you feel like you are ignorant of the facts like most dramas based on real life do. Instead Titanic gives you the facts through the eyes of two individuals a young artist named Jack Dawson and a former rich society girl Rose DeWitt Bukater. The romance between them is not instant but slowly and surely takes unfolds in front of audiences, like a little child opening a present on Christmas, it's magical in every sense of the word and the film spreads it's magic on the audience making us feel like were flying high above the clouds with the birds. James Cameron's "TITANIC" succeeds on every level as a poignant and heartbreaking look at the lives lost on that, as a romance that stands the test of time and as a film that set standards for other films to follow.



Leonardo DiCaprio gives one of his most passionate performances in this film, DiCaprio best for being subtle and even-tempered but here he is wild, crazy and free which is a rare treat for audiences. DiCaprio does not try to impress you that is not what he is there to do no, he tries to make you believe he the character he is playing and he succeeds for the most part. But DiCaprio is only part of the team that helps make this film such a treat his other half in this picture, Kate Winslet, is another reason the films works because the chemistry between them is so strong that you almost don't believe that there actors playing parts. Winslet is fantastic and all around just amazing to watch onscreen the way she moves, the way she talks and acts is just phenomenal you feel like she belongs in that era and to convince the audience of this is a feat far more complicated than it seems. Winslet pulls it off without a single problem making her a remarkable sight and a force to reckon with. The rest of the cast including Billy Zane, Jonathan Hyde, Gloria Stuart, Kathy Bates, Bill Paxton and Victor Garbor are one of the best supporting casts that you will ever see in a film of this magnitude. They give the film such a sense of realism, a sense of right and wrong, good and evil. You see so many sides of a human being just from these characters stuck in this terrible situation. They do not just deliver on every note they blow you away.



"TITANIC" is a film that has amazingly stood the test of time it's been working it's magic on audiences for the last 13 years and will continue to work it's magic so long as there is a copy of this film out there. It is not just a testament of love transcending time it's also a bold statement of how humans can treat one another or how sometimes one person can make a difference in someone else life. "TITANIC" succeeds weather as a romance or as a disaster film, or as a true-life story of the lives lost on April 15, 1912.

L.A. Tom Ludlow is crawling out of bed he has a hangover from the night before, his gun in hand he heads to the bathroom to brush his teeth and instead pukes in the toilet. The sun is rising Ludlow walks outside gets into his car and drives away. Soon enough day turns to night, Ludlow is on the trail of a group of Korean child pornographers who have kidnapped to Korean high school girls. He meets them in a parking lot in attempt to find the girls Ludlow solicits to them a WWII 50 caliber machine gun, the kind mounted on a Humvee. The Korean gangsters are angered by the fact Ludlow could not get them the machine guns they wanted. Ludlow insults them and they proceed to beat him senseless. They leave and inadvertently lead Ludlow to their hideout where Ludlow delvers old school justice. Those are the events leading up to the explosive but slightly dull film "Street Kings".

This movie was allot of things to me. It was strangely beautiful, oddly touching. Complex, brilliant, stunning , grand, outrageously entertaining; need I go on? Vanilla Sky was a movie at first I didn't think I would like but after awhile I saw that there was more too it than meet's the eye. It was a very touching movie in an odd sense it shows you the trails and tribulations of a man trying to grasp whether or not his world is real or a dream.



There are things in life we don't quite understand and there are things we do, this film explores the latter it explores the perception that our world does sometimes seem like a dream and that things we do and things we don't can effect the realm of our imagination and the realm of our life. This movie doves deep into the physic of the human mind and it plucks at every sense and every feeling to provoke the main stimulus of our mind and it does it so well with such style and artistic beauty, It's a quintessential movie that mus be seen with an open mind and heart to fully comprehend the complex nature of it's story and it's deeper underlined meaning that is unearthed as the story moves along. It's astoundingly well made and crafted and is something that is going to become a classic as time goes on.




Tom Cruise(who was utterly fantastic here.) delivers one of his most potent and brilliant performances as wealthy playboy David Aames, Jr. an successful publisher who finds his whole life turned upside down. Kurt Russell does as just a good job as Cruise in his forceful performance as the compassionate psychiatrist who becomes a father figure to Cruise and brings Cruise's character out of his dark place. It's a great father son type of relationship to see unfold on screen. Penelope Cruz does amazing here she's so graceful and beautiful and is something amazing to watch on screen, she's fantastic! But the real weak point in this film was Cameron Diaz, her performance was so annoying and bland that when she died you showed no pity what so ever. But besides that the rest of the cast holds up very nicely and does a fantastic job.


This movie is a mind bending, melting pot of a film it's meant to bring out the most elated feeling of power and sorrow from the deepest part's of your mind. It's a film you can't miss at all it's amazing, breath taking, dark and so entertaining to watch. Vanilla Sky is a shoot out the lights , blow your hair back, mind blowing experience you have just got to see. All in all Vanilla Sky is a wild trip you'll want to take.

I've seen comic book adaptions that have tried and failed to garner the style and ambitious nature that watchmen brings to the screen, it soars above and beyond the regular superhero films and bust into new heights with it's dark, gritty and foreboding style. This film was brilliant on many levels and was severely overlooked by moviegoer's and some critics, but it is a top notch anti- superhero film that will go down as one of the best.



I had never heard of Watchmen prior to seeing the film.The promo said that it was the most celebrated graphic novel of all time, but being a comic book fan(not an avid reader like my dad is.) It completely slipped pass me. But after reading the graphic novels and then seeing the film really filled in the gaps for me. Yous see the film leaves out some of the more unimportant facts the graphic novel had that made it. Well boring. But the film sides steps that and keeps the most intriguing and thought provoking parts of the story, and that make this a great film.



Jackie Earle Haley( who is probably the best act in this film.) pulls no stops to make Rorschach as dangerous and psychotic as he was in the graphic novels, Jeffrey Dean Morgan is another who shines above the rest and makes his limited time on screen better than the whole cast combined. Patrick Wilson(who I've never heard of besides this film.) does good as Ozymandias and plays the part well. The rest of the cast holds up very strong and prevails in a slam bang film.


I'm not going to lie to you when I say that Watchmen is not a film for everyone. This isn't Spider-Man or X-Men. It's a very dark, violent and very chaotic film. But it's such a good one at that. Zac Synder has created an alternate 1985 the likes we have never seen before, it's a different world than the one we live and it something to relish and admire. All in all Watchmen is a force to be admired and yet feared, it's a powerful film with a powerhouse story to tell and to show us that being a superhero isn't all it's cracked up to be. Watchmen is as dark as it is smart and stylish and it's a film to be admired and watched for years to come.

I first heard about "9" like most people did, sitting a dark movie theater waiting for my movie to play. And as I was waiting a quaint and dark little trailer started to roll it showed a bombed out city and as I watched I became more and more intrigued at the premise of the film and the dark, Gothic style it infused with the brilliant and breathtaking animation. But I didn't see it until about a month later and now I'm regretting not having seen it while it was in theaters, Shane Acker and Tim Burton's "9" is brilliant, heartbreaking, dark, intense, breathtaking and at sometimes scary.




"9" is not a movie I would show my little sister, the reason is that "9" is at sometimes very scary and is a little too dark and violent for the mainstream children audience of 5-9 but. The age group of 10-50 may enjoy this film much more than the younger seeing as it is aimed at the more adult and teenage audience. However, with that said "9" is a sweeping animated epic that sucks you into a dystopia world and takes you on an adventure the likes you have never seen before. This film gets it's themes straight from the visionary minds of producer Tim Burton and Director Shane Acker they create a vision of a destroyed world and tell you a story of the nine little voodoo dolls that have to save civilization, It's quite a fascinating story and will surely entertain you while it blows your mind as well. Some people think this film does not deserve much acclaim or praise, but I am sorry to say this film deserves every bit of the praise. It something new, fresh, and not kiddish at all but it does teach some great morals in it like friendship, overcoming your fear and rising to the occasion to be more than what you really are. All in all "9" is a fun, fantastic, action packed, dark and mythic Sci-Fi animated epic like no other.




Elijah wood, Jennifer Connelly, Martin Landau, John C. Reilly, Christopher Plummer and Fred Tatasciore are all-fantastic in this as the nine voodoo dolls tasked with stopping the deadly machines. They all bring something different to there characters. Elijah wood(9) brings a soft spoken and heroic prowess to his young character, and he makes 9 more of a hero than a coward he turns him into a leader that is small but has a big heart(metaphorically speaking.). Fred Tatsciore (you may know him as the man who voices Bruce Banner in The Ultimate Avengers.) Brings a strong but dim bulled wit to his character 8, his style and power is more driven toward brute force than brains seeing as 8 is the giant out of the nine, but none the less he brings a little liability to a rather not so likable character. Jennifer Connelly (7) is tough, smart and strong, she is the second in command to nine, or that is how I see it. Connelly brings her toughness and power to an already impressive and imposing character. 7 is the strongest and the fighter out of the group, she is a force of nature and is not to be taken lightly. Crispin Glover(6) brings a quirky and Tim Burton type charm to this film as the lovable and misunderstood painter of the group, he's fantastic in the scenes he's in and he really brings the kindness and gentle quality to this film. John C. Reilly(5) plays the very friendly and caring 5, hr brings more than what is needed and that is alright because that humanizes the film and brings out of the extreme darkness set by the films story. While the twins 3 and 4 do not say anything, they are very sweet and timid characters and are great to have on screen. Martin Landau (2) is the old quirk out of them. Moreover, while he may not have much screen time he does do well at bringing a friendly and smart quality to his character. Christopher Plummer (1) is the crass, cowardly and not so great leader of the nine. His character believes in hiding instead of learning the truth behind what has happened to the world around them and fighting back, but none the less Plummer does great with his character and brings great power to him. All in all the cast does a fantastic job n this film and really elevates it to true greatness among the animated films.





"9" Is fantastic in every way imaginable and may not be very suitable for small children but anyone with a love of Tim Burton and his dark world will enjoy this film as much as I did. A fun filled Science Fiction epic has ushered the way for more mature animated films and the breathtaking CGI effects. ?9? is more than just an animated set piece it is a film with a heart and a soul that works its magic on you long after it is over.

Alice in Wonderland is one of the most beloved stories of our time, It tells of a young girl who falls down a rabbit hole and get's transported to another world where strange creatures rule and the possibilities of magic and adventure are endless. But it's been nearly 144 years since that story first appeared and ever since then film makers have been trying to tell the story a different way for years, But thanks to Guillermo del Toro we have the greatest spin off of all, El Laberinto del Fauno, or in English, Pan's Labyrinth.




Guillermo del Toro has crafted a Fantasy adventure the likes no one has ever seen before, and I know that I've said that before but this film breaks some amazing new grounds in special effects and makeup. It's just a film that you have to seen to really, truly believe because if you love Fantasy and dark, deeply emotional films than this is your ticket. While this film is brilliant in every way imaginable it does have it's downside, The film is very creepy and violent and not suited for children and may leave them with nightmares of the grotesque creatures that are shown in this film. But none the less Pan's Labyrinth is a dark and beautiful film It's one of the most exhilarating movie experiences you will ever have and it's a film you will not forget.

The Spanish cast of actors do amazing in this and give this film it's true power and worth, they bring a humanized side to an overall Fantasy movie and bring the stark reality of love, death, cruelty, sorrow and happiness to this film. All in all there fantastic in this film.



Pan's Labyrinth is brilliant, dark, engaging, relentlessly entertaining, heart breaking, horrifying and beautiful. It's a film with so much heart and so much loss and amazing fantasy adventure that when the movie starts your sucked into a world where your greatest fantasies live. And where your greatest nightmare's can lie as well It's a bold , new ground of film making that will enchant and blow your mind. All in all Pan's Labyrinth is one adventure you do want to take.

Washington Irving's "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" was one of the first ever horror novels written and even after almost 200 years the story still holds the mystery, intrigue and horror that it did all those years ago. Now in 199 Tim Burton puts his own twist on the original story that has terrified millions.



Tim Burton's "Sleepy Hollow" is as scary as it is original and sinister it doesn't poke at your mind or play tricks on you like psychological horror films do but what it does is give you enough mystery, intrigue and dark, moody horror to satisfy you and scary you. It works as a scare machine but it also works as a neo-noir with it's stark colors, it bleak and grim series of events and the haunting legend of a headless horseman.



Johnny Depp gives a fantastic performance as the cowardly yet oddly heroic Ichabod Crane, Depp is much more human and emotional than he is in his other projects and that shows some serious talent and skill. To change your voice , hairstyle and the way you dress to fit the period and make it work is something amazing to see on screen. Christiana Ricci is smart and beautiful as the bewitching love interest to Depp but she is much more than that as her character is more mysterious than any other that reside in the creepy town of Sleepy Hollow and that makes her interesting to watch onscreen. The rest of the cast of old timers and newbies are great and give more appeal and eeriness to Tim Burton's fright machine.





"Sleepy Hollow" is a horror mystery you don't want to miss or ignore. It's as ingenious as it is horrifying it's the perfect scare machine and I can promise you this that if this film doesn't get you jumping I don't know what will. "Sleepy Hollow" is the ultimate modern horror thrill ride.

While not the 1989 original this 1992 sequel to the mega hit "Batman" is nothing short of brilliant thanks to Tim Burton's return to direct and Michael Keaton second and sad to say, final outing as the legendary dark Knight. Batman Returns is dark, foreboding, smart, stylish, taunt and riveting it's a worthy sequel and entry in the Batman franchise.



Batman Returns while not as great as the 1989, does have it's moments that really standout and are memorable. It's a great film and while too scary and dark for young children it is great entertainment for teenager's and adults alike. Tim Burton continues his trend of dark and complex story development, all the while boggling our minds with his amazing style of film making and ingenious ideals. He choose his actors wisely and in this all three of the main cast members shine and bring amazing power to there characters under his direction. All in all this is a superbly crafted and well executed film that is one of my personal favorites, as well as one of Tim Burton's best films.



Michael Keaton returns as the Dark Knight and is better than ever. He brings more human qualities and star power than he did in the first one. Keaton really brings out the darkness in Batman and in some spots in the movie it shows and in other spots he brings Batman out of the darkness and into the light, he's all around fantastic here. Danny DeVito is mind blowing as the grotesque Penguin. He show us a side to an old villain of the Bat like we've never seen and thanks to the costume designer and Burton he is more horrifying than ever. Christoper Walken is great as the sleazy judge who will do anytyhing to get ahead. While Walken brings his usual style to the film he also brings a quirky viciousness and evil not to commonly played out in white collar villain types, he's all around astounding. Michelle Pfieffer is slick, cool and captivating as Catwomen(seeing as she is the only one to ever play it right.) Pfieffer is great to watch onscreen but at times she becomes tiring and annyoing, but none the less she does great. All in all the cast is nothing short of strong and forceful in this film.



Batman Returns is not for those that scare easily and is at sometimes too dark and violent for younger audiences, but as a whole it is something to admire and revile. While it doesn't stake out new grounds it does entertain well and give you a good show for your money. Batman Returns delivers a knockout show that is both memorable and fantastic. It delivers.

While this one is not as great as the two first Batman films directed by Tim Burton, it does have it's quirks and charms about it. While Joel Schumacher is in no way Tim Burton, he does make due with the style that Burton set forth.




Batman Forever continues the stylish and dark tradition of the earlier films while infusing the comedic wit and style of Joel Schumacher which the earlier films lacked.Except for Batman. It's got great heart and power driven from the new Batman, Val Kilmer(who rocks here.) While I grew up with the first two I also remember this one much more due to me watching it on almost every Saturday nights. But some people feel this film doesn't live up to the first two well I'm here to tell you that it most certainly does. It's dark, brooding, smart, sexy, stylish, witty and foreboding. It's an all around great third installment to the Batman series and is worthy of being called great.




Val Kilmer(who at first I wasn't to happy to see play Batman.) Does utterly fantastic here as The Dark Knight he brings a Shakespearean quality and wit to an otherwise overwhelmingly serious character. It's something refreshing to see that kind of style being put into the character and it makes Batman seem even more great. Nicole Kidman(who was at her all time sexiest here.) Is the hot doctor who falls for Bruce Wayne and for Batman, It's great and sexy at the same time to see how this little love affair plays out on screen. Kidman does great here and is one of the true highlights of this film. She brings class, style and great charm and helps turn what could have been an oddball Batman film into great movie making. Tommy Lee Jones rocks the house as the maniacal Two-Face, while not as good as Aaron Eckhart who took over later. He does give off some serious power and madness in this and gives one wild and crazy performance. Jim Carrey is the one who really stole the show in this one, he is just down right mad as The Riddler, he's out of control and oh so zany to the point you want to either totally love him or punch him(I choose to love his performance.) But all in all Carrey is the real show in this film and is fantastic to watch.The cast does fantastic under the direction of Joel Schumacher and they pull off another home run in the Batman Franchise.




Batman Forever may not please many fans of Batman and Batman Returns, but it will garner new ones due to it's wild and out of control action sequences, slick hand to hand fights, cool visuals and amazing performances. All in all Batman Forever is a great comic book adaption and is, in my opinion, one of the best.

I have seen every incarnation of the legendary Batman character, Batman(1989), Batman Returns(1992), Batman Forever(1995), Batman and Robin(1997). But after watching the previous four and one failing me miserably I had given up hope of a fifth Batman movie until a British filmmaker by the name of Christoper Nolan stepped up to the plate and dared to do what no one had done since Burton, make a serious and dark Batman incarnation.



Batman Begins take audiences all the way back to the beginning of the career of the fabled Dark Knight, we are show in chronological order the sequences of events leading up to the beginning of his reign as the silent guardian of Gotham City. It's a dark, exceedingly smart, well crated and well written reboot of the Batman series. It's all thanks to Chris Nolan, who brought this franchise out of oblivion and back to it's roots stronger and better than ever before. He has truly crafted a movie experience and a comic book adaption like no other.





Christian Bale(Who is no Michael Keaton.) Is fantastic here and does amazing at playing a more disturbed and distraught Bruce Wayne the likes we've never seen before. Michael Cane(Taking over for four time predecessor Michael Gough.) Is amazing as the trusty and witty Alfred Pennyworth he is simply magnificent and amazing to watch onscreen as Bruce Wayne's surrogate father. Gary Oldman(who I had no doubts about for this film.) Is another class act in this film as the honest and trustworthy Jim Gordon(take mind this is Pre-Commissioner Gordon.) Oldman rocks the house as Gordon and brings much more to the character than Pat Hinge did, he is utterly fantastic. Liam Neeson is the show stealer as the vicious and maniacal Ra's Al Ghul he is nothing short of brilliant and poetic he brings much more to the table than the rest of the cast and outclasses them in some parts of the movie, but none the less Neeson rocks in this. The cast in all does great with there assigned parts and really makes this film a great an quintessential movie in the Batman Franchise.





Batman Begins is one of those rare movies that you like right off the bat. You can't hate it because it's too good and well made, and you've got to like it because of the nature of the film and the comic book character that is being put to the ultimate test on screen. All in all Chris Nolan's Batman Begins is fantastic and something to admire and relish as time goes on, it's masterpiece just like the original and a step up for comic book adaptions. All in all it delivers.

Batman Begins brought The Caped Crusader out of the dark ages(so to speak.) It brought a new and refreshing look at the world of Gotham and the interesting and twisted characters that live within it's realm. I never thought that they could create such a visual and exceedingly darker Batman film. But after seeing The Dark Knight all those doubts are gone.





The Dark Knight is the 2008 follow up to the mega critical and commercial smash Batman Begins. It picks up right where the first left off and throws us head on into it's dark and menacing world, what Chris Nolan didn't count on was when he thought of reviving the long dead Joker's cinematic side he never knew that that Joker going head to head with his long time arch rival Batman would thrill and entice audiences, but thanks to his steady hand and brilliant film making techniques, he turned what would have been a standard Batman sequel into something more, he turned it into the ultimate Batman movie and one of the greatest comic book adaptions of all time.




Christian Bale returns as the eccentric and valiant Bruce Wayne/ Batman like you've never seen him before. He puts such emotion and power into the character and drives him into new territories solidifying Bale as an a class act. Heath Ledger(May he rest in peace.) Is the real star of this show, he simply mind blowing, dark, sadistic, scary, haunting, menacing and malicious as Batman's number one rival, The Joker. Ledger creates an astounding amount of palpable reality around a character that over the years has been made to be nothing more than a funny man instead of the homicidal maniac The Joker is I've never seen my favorite Batman villain played like this before, he's so dark and scary Nothing like the Cesar Romero incarnation or Jack Nicholson's. No. Ledger is so different in oh so many ways that words can't describe it he's the quintessential and now no one can step up to fill his shoes, no one. Aaron Eckhart(who rocked my world in this film.) Is nothing short of vicious and evil as the horribly scared and mentally unstable Two-Face. Eckhart brings a human quality to this character which is new and refreshing, Tommy Lee Jones did great but his incarnation was just wild and crazy not emotionally distraught and revenge driven like he is here, it's something to admire and be shocked by at the same time. But none the less the cast does absolutely Fantastic here in this beautifully crafted and handsomely made film.




The Dark Knight is not the average Superhero/comic book adaption, It side steps the things that made it's predecessors(The Original four Batman films.) Well sort of goof in some ways. But it does pay homage to the older films( The good ones at least.) And for that this makes my top ten list. It's an all around great movie with amazing energy and a dark, stark reality of how ones choices in life can affect what happens to those around him/her. All in all It's one of the best of 2008 and one of the best comic book adaptions of all time that delivers a mind bending experience that you soon won't forget.

I never watched the 70's T.V. series that first brought the Incredible Hulk to people everywhere, but I have had the pleasure of watching Ang Lee's 2003 big screen adaption of the big green brute. It's a great film that is severely underrated and is not respected as it should, Ang Lee's Hulk is dark, smart, stylish, atmospheric, heart breaking and taunt.



Hulk I didn't like at first I thought it was a little pointless and boring, but after watching it years later I see it for the great comic book adaption it is. It's got great qualities and a power that lies deep within it's complex and thoroughly well thought out plot and story. While not as convincing and Hulk as most people would hope for. It does give us a great look and strong appeal of character and the emotional depth and amazing CGI effects to really keep you interested and incited by this slow moving, but brilliant Comic book adaption.





Eric Bana(Who is great here.) Plays the Hulk with such subtly, humanity and anger. He brings so much more to the table than what is needed and does great with it and gives it all he's got and in the end he comes out on top. Sam Elliot(Who rules here.) Is strong, tough and Ahab obsessed with getting the Hulk It's a thrilling and thought provoking thing to see unfold on screen as you get to see a calculating military man turn into a obsessed hunter. Nick Nolte(Who I don't like but does great here.) He is something of a show stealer as the maniacal and extremely disturbed father of Bruce Banner, he showcases some serious acting chops here and is a real treat to see in this movie. Jennifer Connelly who is amazing and very emotionally powerful as Bruce Banner's love Betty Ross. She brings a heart and soul to this film and she make sit another reasons to see it. But none the less the cast does fantastic here and really helps elevate this film from average to amazing.





Hulk is not a fan favorite because of it's slow pace and not so smashing nature. But I think it's a film to admire and devil in how well made and thought provoking it is a good film that is harshly overlooked. And If your very forgiving and kind It will entertain. All in all Hulk delvers.

Spider-Man to me helped jump start the Marvel revolution, it set fourth standards in comic book adaption greatness that have yet to be surpassed or matched. And with Spider-Man 2 the bar just keeps rising.





Spider-Man 2 is not just your ordinary sequel, It's a sequel that improves and even over powers the original. It's dark, brilliant, thoroughly well made to the point of perfection, emotionally convincing and extremely powerful, it's a film that grabs you from the very beginning and won't let you go until the credits finally role. It's emotionally convincing and powerful in the way it plays out the trails and tribulations of everyone's favorite web head.




Tobey Maguire(Who again rocks the house.) Is great as Spider-Man again and this time around he's even better than before, he brings more humanity and frailty to Peter Parker/Spider-Man which was what was lacking in the first for the most part of it. Now we see what the life of Super Heroism can do to man and how much it affects him and those around him. Kirsten Dunst(Who is even better here than the first.) Is strong and caring as Mary Jane Watson the love of Peter Parker's life. James Franco(Who almost steals the show.) is dark, foreboding and near sinister as the best friend of Parker and the sworn enemy of Spider-Man he really put's more power into the role than his first outing and is just spectacular here. Alfred Molina(The man who stole the picture.) Is sinister, smart and all around just a great bad guy. He brings out the human side of one my favorite Spider-Man and it truly is a sight to see the way he plays it on the screen. But none the less the cast does phenomenal here and is a real treat to see in action.



Spider-Man 2 is Sam Rami's true masterpiece it's brilliant and near-flawless in every way It's a great character study and at the same time a great look into the life of an everyday man and the choices he has to make as a super hero. All in all this film is great entertainment and another worthy and powerful entry in the comic book genre.

While the 2003 Hulk was a failure with fans this 2008 reboot is stylish, fast paced, brutal, dark, powerful, smart and just all around fun. The Incredible Hulk is an amazing step up from the firs tin action and in the brutal anger that is Hulk, but it lacks in the emotion department and is at sometimes preposterous and absurd. But ti makes up for that with mind blowing action and a great story and plot to keep it going.




The Incredible Hulk I was hesitant to see, I thought with the cast change and the change of the director but after I finally saw the trailer I broke down and decided to see it. And now I'm glad I did, not only is this film a major improvement in the action department it improves on the Hulk's designs as well. It's an all around great comic book with great heart and a good moral too it, even a monster can be the good guy.





Edward Norton(Who is fantastic here.) Is just as good as Bana as the Hulk, maybe even a little better in some places. He a brings a very humble and less geeky quality than Bana did, he also brings to the table a more sympathetic and clever Bruce Banner than were use to. Banner usual is not as witty or as clever at getting out of tight spots as her is here and to me that is a major step up in the right direction. Live Tyler(Who is all looks.) Is terrible as Betty Ross, while she has the attitude she lacks the power and the strength that Connelly originally gave to the role and is sort of an eye sore in the film, but she does try hard and does good for the most part. Tim Roth(The man who almost stole the show.) Is fantastic as the smart and ruthless as The Abomination the rival of the Hulk. Roth really puts back the bad in bad guy and shines above the rest as a key player in the film. William Hurt(Who is the true show stealer.) Is utterly amazing as General Thaddeus"Thunderbolt" Ross the obsessive military head out to get Banner, He brings the star power and the class and really helps boost the style and feel of this film. But none the less the cast does a good job here and elevates this a little bit closer to comic book greatness.



The Incredible Hulk in my book can't surpass the original, but as a film it does do that in some way and in some ways it doesn't. It has the power and the angry nature that made Hulk well, Hulk but ti lacks in the emotion department and the acting from some of the cast is less than great. But all in all this film does fantastic and is one of the best Comic book films out there. All in all it delivers.

Hostage thrillers are a dime a dozen, just like Mystery thrillers or Erotic thrillers. They all have the same basic plot if you look close enough, but once in a blue moon you get a Hostage thriller that blows your mind in ways you couldn't even imagine and that film just happens to be, The Negotiator.




The Negotiator is a movie that I missed and I don't know how, I's everything you could want in a potboiler thriller. It's taunt, brilliant and complex. In the movie you don't know who is telling the truth and who is lying, It's that complicated and trust me when I say this you won't know who did what and what really happened until the very end. The Negotiator is a film that resonates with the very best of film making It's a high class, High tension wire show that sure to please you if not blow your brains out.



Samuel L. Jackson is in top form in this movie as the framed Maverick hostage negotiator that has made a good living out of saving hostages lives, now he has to take hostages to stay alive. Jackson brings the tension and the power to this film and is perfectly cast in his role. Kevin Spacey is also at the top of his game here as the number 2 top hostage negotiator in the film, Spacey brings the caring nature, the calmness and the methodical thinking to the film. With Spacey and Jackson contrasting themselves fiercely in this movie the tension rises and the power soars until the pot finally boils over.





The Negotiator is a film that you don't really see coming, It's the type of film that if you don't watch carefully you will be completely lost. It's a great suspense thriller and also a great entry in the Hostage thriller genre. In my opinion this film is what Inside Man became later, The Negotiator set the benchmark for all other Hostage films to follow as to date I haven't seen one since Spike Lee's Inside Man that has really enthralled me and captured m undivided attention all the way through. But I do have on request if you do watch this movie. Watch very,very closely because nobody and nothing is what it seems.

The end of the world. No one knows when it will be and no one knows what will happen, but we all know in some way that it's coming. Knowing gives us a very intelligent spin on how the world might end through ideas from the last book of the bible Revelation that talk about the end of the world and the second coming of God. But while it doesn't have a hundred percent take on those ideals it does gives a good Science Fiction film that raises the question, How long do we really have?



Knowing is dark, complex, intelligent, disturbing and at sometimes rather breathtaking. It's a film that you must really, truly watch with an open and clear mind to understand the complex spiritual undertones of this film, they deal with, like I said, the biblical end of the world. Just Hollywood and Alex Proyas' spin on it. I liked this film for allot for reasons not just because it had Nick Cage and an awesome disaster story you could really sink your teeth in, but because it was heartfelt and powerful and it draws that power from the characters and the actors that portray them. It's a great story told with masterful skill and precision to the point that your almost entirely wrapped up in the film and the atmosphere of it.




Nicholas Cage delivers a smart and edgy performance as the professor who's son by chance or fate finds a sheet of paper with numbers on it that predict every global disaster for five decades. Cage gives one of his best and most emotional performances here as the man tasked with trying to stop the end of all life on Earth as we know it. Cage brings allot of heart to this film that without him would have been a normal disaster film with a unique message and I think in my opinion that saves the movie from oblivion. But all in all the cast does very well her and pulls off some great moments in this film and elevate it from average to extraordinary.




Knowing is amazing in it's execution and powerful in it's display of death and hope in the midst of the end of life on Earth. It's a moving film that if you give it a chance it will entertain if not blow your mind. All in all Knowing is one event that you need to be apart of.

When I first heard about Wolfgang Petersen was re-imagining Paul Gallico's The Poseidon Adventure, let me tell you at first I wasn't too pleased. I thought this was going to be another shallow and brainless Disaster film with amazing visuals and nothing much else to hold it up. Boy was I wrong. What I got was a smart, extremely intense,edgy and highly entertaining film with all it's pieces of the puzzle in the right place and not a single one missing, while I like Wolfgang Petersen(director of In the line of Fire, The Perfect Storm and Troy.) I didn't think he could properly bring such a compelling and thrilling story to the screen but with some luck and ILM to back him up he did it.



what I really liked about Poseidon was that it took a used story and turned it into something more, much more. And that is say something in the movie business where disaster films are a dime a dozen but a good disaster film is a one in a million. And here it is.





Josh Lucas gives off some great energy in this as the gritty,smart and loner hero who has to take charge to lead the small band of survivors to safety. Lucas plays the part with ease and style but while his hero can't measure up to Gene Hackman's he does give the role more grit and heart than what would really need be needed in a film of this caliber. But never the less he gives us a good show for our money. Kurt Russell is not as good here as he has been in the past, but he does have his moments where he really shines above the rest as the second in command to Lucas. But Russell is almost the standout here by his ties as a father in this film, which in some scenes have him making very uneasy choices that are motivated by his duty to his child and there he shines above the rest in almost all his scenes. Emmy Rossum is much better than she was in TDAT, she's not anywhere closer to being great or even better than her previous works but she does do much, much better than she has in the past and that is something to admire. Richard Dreyfuss is not as good here as he was in say.. Jaws(1976) or The American President(1996) but he does great as the kind hearted old man and delivers some good scenes in the film. But none the less the cast holds up very nicely under a poor script and with excellent direction from Petersen they soar.





Wolfgang Petersen's Poseidon is The Towering Inferno of disaster films, It just has water. This film delivers a powerful and moving experience that is common in disaster films but never quite like this, this time around it's more intense and character driven and that makes it one of the best and the brightest to hit the genre in years. All in all Poseidon is one adventure you want to be apart of.

Horror like action films and romantic Comedies has fallen prey to the disease that is formula. There hasn't been a full blown, original horror film in a long time. But now I have faith the genre can be saved thanks to a film called, 1408.





1408 is a notch above the regular horror films It doesn't use overt use of gore and blood to tell it's story or to shock and scare you. Instead it use the basic techniques horror films of the 30's. 40's, 60's and early to late 70's used to scare people, psychological tension and terror. 1408 picks at your brain the minute Mike Enslin(John Cusack) steps into the room, it pry's , pokes and prods at your mind like a little kid poking a rat in a cage or a lion toying with it's prey. It's an amazing and truly horrifying evil little terror machine the likes of which has never been seen.






John Cusack delivers an awesome performance as the distraught father and paranormal debunker, he brings allot of power and realism to a film that without him might have failed. Samuel L. Jackson is mind blowing as the believer of the cruse of 1408, Jackson gives off some serious energy and air of mystery in this and the truth of what he wants or even if he's involved. All in all the cast does amazing in this film and really helps make it more eerie and creepy with there great preformances.




1408 is dark, eerie, brilliant, complex and utterly horrifying It's one of the most effective horror film made in the past twenty years. It's something you have to experience or can't truly feel the terror, and trust me you will feel the terror. All in all 1408 is one room you want to spend the night in. That's if you can survive the night.

What do we truthfully know about angels? All we know is what we have read from the bible that they are celestial beings that keep watch over us and are servants of God.

In Stargate(1994) he took us to a whole other world, In Independence Day(1996) He Invaded the planet like no ones done before, In The Patriot(2000) He showed us the trials and tribulations of The Americans in there fight for freedom and In The Day After Tomorrow he gave us a glimpse of what Global Warming can do to our planet. It's 2009 and Roland Emmerich has created his disaster film masterpiece and that film is called, 2012.


2012 is epic, exciting, smart, heartfelt, dramatic and powerful, It's one of the most potent and sweeping action drama's to hit the screens in years. I haven't been this moved or shocked by a disaster film since I saw The Poseidon Adventure(1974) and The War of the Worlds(2005).


The story is centered around an academic researcher and his family as they try and out run the end of the world as predicted by the ancient Mayan calender which states the world will end on 12-21-2012(Which will never happen.) It starts out like all disaster films setting up events and scientists telling you there is nothing to worry about and wigged out people telling you that there lying and the world is coming to an end. Then you meet the hero of your story, in this case John Cusack and you get to see his troubles and find out some things about him, and then the the Earth starts to shake and the Global destruction begins and Cusack and his family are on the run from the danger that seeks to destroy them.


Sounds pretty clique, huh? Well truthfully it's not, because once the Earth starts a go-in' the drama and power starts a flow-in'. It's one of the most satisfying films of the year and delivers on it's promise to shock and wow, and boy does it ever.




John Cusack delivers an awesome performance as the father and hero of the story, Cusack gives off a great sense of loyalty and selflessness in this film which is rare to see him do seeing as he has never played a part quite like this. Amanda Peet is great as Cusack's ex in this film, she plays the part of the concerned ex and mother very well and gives much emotion to the role than she has done in the past. Chiwetel Ejiofor does great here as the sympathetic and tough scientific adviser to the President. He brings more power to the film and adds more to the dramatic punch the films has. Oliver Platt is nothing short of brilliant as the self-absorbed and crass as the President's Chief of Staff. He is the villain of the film and makes a rare role out of it (seeing as in all disaster films nature is the enemy.) Platt is cunning ,ruthless and smart he adds to the energy and flare of the film and by the end you'll hate his guts. But all in all the cast delivers knockout performances in this film and really raise the bar for this genre.





2012 is a film you have to go into with an open mind so you can fully comprehended the statement it is trying to make. It's one of those film that when you walk out it leaves you gasping for air and also leaves you thinking about how much we don't respect life sometimes. It's a good film, with a powerful message and a great story that resonates with the heart and soul. All in all 2012 delivers.

The Unknown is something moviegoers have been fascinated with for decades, I know I am. It's something that makes you just wonder what is out there and what they want. Roland Emmerich's Stargate does just that, it takes you on a wild and crazy ride to another galaxy and throws you headlong into the movie that started the phenomenon.






Stargate is an epic adventure set in our time but it has one thing it has a giant ring that transport you to another world much similar to ours and there lies the basis for this Sci-Fi action Drama centered around two very different men who step through the threshold of the mysterious Stargate to another world of unparalleled adventure. Stargate was and still is the benchmark film that started the phenomenon, it brought a whole new prospective to Sci-Fi like never before.





Kurt Russell is great as the hardened Col. Jack O'Neil. He brings a subtle and very human quality to a stone cold character, Russell brings the power and strength to this film and is undeniable one of the most memorable. James Spader brings the brains and the heart to the film, Spader's performance is crucial to the film together him and Russell contrast each other nicely and play off each other well and bring this film to great standards. But all in all the cast does great here and help make this one of the best Sci-Fi adventures of all time.




Stargate is as powerful as it is smart and mysterious, it's a film that you have to see to believe. It's a fantastic ride that has amazing visual effects, great acting, an original story that is up there with the best. All in all Stragate is one gateway you'll want to step through.

Movies like this are, like I've said many times before, a dime a dozen but once in a great while you get a rare coin in the bunch of old dull ones, and Smokin' Aces is that rare coin. It's slick, stylish, brutal, funny at times, dark , witty and smart It's got the making of a great action thriller and it's not afraid to show it.



Smokin' Aces is a brash action film that is straight out of the mind of Qunetin Tarantino, sadly he's not directing, but that's okay because this film is kind of a homage to his work and will please any fan of Tarantino or fans of action films alike. But ti also has it's downsides. Smokin' Aces at some points in the film it relies to heavily on the action and that takes away from the good conspiracy story and air of mystery it has buried underneath it all. But all in all Smokin' Aces is an awesome thriller with spectacular action and a jaw dropping twist that you won't see coming.




Jeremy Piven does great here as the man everybody wants to kill, Piven puts all his comedic and dramatic talent into the role of a strung out, douche bag magical who's at the ends. And he plays it better than anything I've seen him do before/ Ryan Reynolds is good as the rookie FBI agent assigned to protect Buddy Israel(Piven), he's got the smarts and the attitude to play the part and he pulls it off nicely but falls short in some places when he's needed the most. Ray liotta(Who I don't like much as an actor.) is not as good here as he was in John Q Or Identity but holds up well. The cast is great and they help move this film up past the regular actioneer standards.





Smokin' Aces is just like the title suggest, this film is on fire and the fire won't die down till the bodies stop dropping credits roll. It's a good action thriller with high class qualities and enough action, jokes, style and plot twist to satisfy you, it may not be the most original action film but ti sure is different in it's own special way. All in all it's one hit you 'll want in on.

When Henry Selick created a Nightmare before Christmas it was the start of a new era in stop motion animation. While Selick has always stayed in the world of stop motion animation he has given us a great and wonderful time with that, James and the giant peach was phenomenal and now in 2001 he created a film that blends perfectly live action with the stop motion animation of his design. And this film so happens to be called, Monkeybone.



Monkeybone is smart, charming, unrelentingly funny and visually breathtaking it's a fantasy adventure with such high class and such great comedic timing that it just leaps out at you and sucks you deep, deep into the world of Henry Selick and his wild, dark and zany creatures. What I loved about this film is how Fraser's character started out meek and dull and slowly but surly turned into the hero and real man you know he is on the inside. It's a great face the music type of story and a great fantasy adventure that is just too good and just too eye catching to resist.




Brendan Fraser gives one of his best comedic performances here as comic strip scribe and creator of Monkeybone Stu Miley. Fraser's performance is key to the film and it sometimes calls for him to go above and beyond the call of duty for his role. But never the less Fraser pulls it off nicely and helps make this comedic adventure worthy watching. Bridget Fonda is alright as the doting and caring girlfriend Julie, while not as strong as Fraser and not as serious as she could have been Fonda does alright with her part and is not a thorn in this films side. John Turturro is fantastically funny and witty as the popular but treacherous comic strip character, Monkeybone. Turturro breaks out all his comedic skills and brings some seriously huge laughs and style to this film as the voice of the mischievous little monkey. But all in all the cast holds up great and brings some serious charm laughs to an otherwise unique and original picture.




Monkeybone is cool as it is slick and while not as popular as it should be or as praised but Henry Selick's Monkeybone is an original and visually striking motion picture that I know if your forgiving and open up to this world Monkeybone will not disappoint. All in all Monkeybone is one wild and zany trip you really want to take.

While Terminator set up the beginning of John Connor and created a new era in FX and unbrash action and suspense this no holds bar sequel Improves on the first and pushes the special effects further than ever for it's day. Terminator 2: Judgment Day is smart, taunt, stylish, dark and oh so much fun. It's the perfect action sequel and one of the best films of the '90s.




James Cameron's brilliant sequel has everything and more that made the first great and this one even greater. What T-2: Judgment Day does is extend further the story of the prophesied, "Judgment Day and continues the story of John Connor and this time around The Terminator is not his enemy but his protector and that shifts the story from Machine VS. Human to Machine VS. Machine and Human. And that is amazing to see and watch unfold. T-2 while not as good as the first is, but is an amazing step up in story, action and in special effects and is a worthy sequel and entry in the Terminator franchise.




Arnold Schwarzenegger delivers another great performance as the time traveling terminator his performance is much less robotic than the first and more human which contributes highly to this films appeal and moral structure. Linda Hamilton is more strung out and nutty than I've ever seen her before and she helps bring more power and emotion to this film. Edward Furlong is amazing as the young, rebellious John Connor Furlong brings the tension and more heart to the picture and humanizes an otherwise mechanical film. But all in all the cast does amazing under the great direction of James Cameron and his amazing script, with that they help make this a must see for fans of the first and for fans of Sci-Fi as well.



T-2 is powerful in it's execution and emotional in it's story, it's an amazingly well crafted film with such heart and depth that it, much like the first, jumps out and grabs you when you least expect it. All in all T-2 is a welcome addition to the franchise and a major step up from the original, essentially it's the perfect action/ Sci-Fi film.

While I have not seen the 1932 Universal original production starring Boris Karloff I did, however enjoy and revel in this 1999 Stephen Sommers re-imaging of the classic horror machine. While having a unique story for it's time and amazing special effects "The Mummy" is much more, it's an extremely well thought out film and a highly entertaining Adventure epic that is right up there with Indiana Jones.





Stephen Sommers "The Mummy" is smart, fast paced, hilarious at times, touching at others and powerful in it's sweeping and dynamic story and atmosphere. But this film really benefits from it's strong lead performances from Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz who help elevate this film from average to great and really up the appeal and power of this film. But the real draw comes from the adventure and the excitement that is released in small capsules that in certain areas burst open and blow you away. But all in all this film is wild and crazy fun that is more well made than it should, and allot better acted and scripted than it should but you get what you want and more and in the end you won't be disappointed.




Brendan Fraser rocks as the tough but kind heartened adventurer Rick O'Connell, his performance is key to keeping this film afloat and believable if someone else was cast I don't think it would have worked out as well seeing as the humor infused with the terror and thrills and Fraser is the only one who I can see pulling this off to the point that you don't see the actor but the character he plays. Rachel Weisz is amazing as the smart and beautiful Evelyn Carnahan she really brings the charm, the heart and the style., she is also a great focal point in this film and helps bring a human zing quality to the picture. But all in all the cast does amazing in this film and under the direction of Stephen Sommers they succeed.



"The Mummy" is what you call outrageously entertaining and majorly exciting, it's one of those films that just captures you from the very beginning and won't let you go til the credits roll. "The Mummy" is high octane thrills mixed with old schooled horror and amazingly timed humor helps create one of the best re-imaginings of all time and one of the greatest adventure films since "Raiders of the Lost Ark".

Ridley Scott has brought us some amazing films in the past: Alien(1979), Blade Runner(1982), Thelma and Louise(1991) and Gladiator(2000). While Scott has always given us good action films and compelling dramas it's a first for him and moviegoers to make a romantic dramedy. A Good Year is compelling, heartfelt, touching, sweet, romantic and sentimental. It's one of the best of the genre and a major step up for Scott and Crowe.




A Good Year is something that at first glance may look like nothing more than a standard Rom Com but in reality it is something more, much more. Ridley Scott has created a compelling and thought provoking look into the life of a man(Crowe) who's only goal in life is too make money, it's not until that his money grubbing and selfish ways cause him to lose touch with the one man(Finney) that was a mentor and a father to him. And it takes the death of his beloved Uncle Henry Finney to bring him back to his Uncle's vineyard in Provence, France where it all began for him. Ridley Scott's A Good Year is a great film with great heart and amazing depth of emotion that will lift you up if not inspire you to be more than you can be. All in all it's an amazing film that must be experienced and watched over and over again.


Russell Crowe gives an amazing and heartfelt performance he really brings the charm, the style and some of the laughs in this well executed film. If not for Crowe being cast as the lead role Max Skinner this film would have crumbled and fallen under anyone else in this part, Crowe is essential to this film and is amazing to watch him out of his character. Albert Finney is a class act in this film and even though he's not in the film much except in flashbacks he really puts his all into those scenes and makes the most out of it. Abbie Cornish (Who I have never heard of until this film.) is a good contrast to Crowe's character and gives us a good show. The cast puts on a great show and helps make this a stand-out in the romantic dramedy cross genre.



A Good Year is a film that I passed up two years ago due to the fact that it didn't really capture my attention but now I'm glad I took the time to watch it. It's a film that lifts your soul and takes it soaring to new heights with it's high spirited and heartfelt story and intoxicating scenery. It's an all around great time and a film that captures the emotion of the lush French countryside and the emotional tale of the search for the broken soul of a lost man. All in all it delivers.

In Frank Capra's 1946 Christmas epic,"It's a wonderful Life" James Stewart got to see what life would be like for the people around him and the world if he had never been born. There by discovering that his life was not bad but missing something.

In this 2000 rendition of that classic film Nicolas Cage plays a similar character, his characters name is Jack Campbell and he's a greedy and self absorbed investment banker who's only goal and love in life is to make money. Well that all changes one night when he stops a young African-American man named Cash from shooting a clerk over a lotto ticket but little does Jack know that this man is not some ordinary street punk but is in reality an Angel sent to help Jack changes his greedy ways. When Cash ask Jack what he wants out of life? Jack replies, "I've already got everything I need." Cash tells him that he brought this on himself and leaves. Jack not really thinking about what he had said goes home to bed and the next day wakes up, not as the playboy investment banker he is, but a married tire sales men of two with his college sweetheart he left behind 13 years earlier. Now the only way Jack is ever going to get his old life back is too first learn to live and appreciate life as, "The Family Man".



"The Family Man" is heartwarming, charming, sweet, touching and an all around great time for anyone in the mood for a great Christmas fairytale. While the story may seem a little familiar it does have it's moments that just really grab you and pull you into the deep rooted story about love, family and making the right choices even if at the time they seem wrong. It's one of those films that you have to watch and see just for the story or not even that, see it for the great performances, the high spirited nature of the events unfolding onscreen see it just because you've got the itching for a good Christmas story. Whatever the reason you see this film see it with an open mind and an open heart and I can promise you that if you do the story will leave you with a great and warm feeling on the inside. All in all Brett Ratner's "The Family Man" is nothing short of beautiful and touching entertainment at it's very, very best and will entertain if not lift you up.




Nicolas Cage gives one of the best and brightest performances of his career as first being the stuck up, self absorb Campbell and then slowly but surely changing into the man deep down inside he knows he is. It's something magical to watch onscreen and the change in Cages performance as the film progress is astounding it's something new for Cage and it plays out very well for him onscreen. Tea Leoni is astounding in this as the under payed and over worked wife of Jack in the alternate reality, Leoni plays the part with wit, charm and style and really shows how life as a suburban housewife can be. Leoni doesn't lie in her performance or tries to sugar coat what motherhood is like. She shows you how it works and how she helps the other Jack find solace in being a blue collar worker. Don Cheadle doesn't have allot of screen time in this film but the parts he is in are great and well preformed. But all in all the cast is phenomenal and really shine in this brilliant and beautiful holiday love story.




"The Family Man" Has always been a favorite of mine to watch at Christmas time mainly because of the story and the message it plays out for you. It's just such an amazing film and it's so well told and crafted that it at sometimes doesn't feel like a movie with actors, but a really true to life story about a man who lost his way and has to find his way home. It's a great Christmas film and an amazing drama about how the choices we make can either make us a better person or make us into something we sometimes barley recognize. "The Family man" is a motion picture experience that is pretty original and something that you've never seen before , you may think you've seen this kind of story before but trust me when you watch it you won't think about comparing it to other films because this one is a one of a kind modern classic.

As fascinating as it is complex Ridley Scott's 1982 masterpiece has amazingly stood the test of time and become a standard building block for all Science Fiction films that have followed it. But the real question is, What makes Ridley Scott's Sci-Fi film noir such a classic? Is it's dark, moody atmopshere? Or it's visually breathtaking landscape and portrayal of a dystopia Los Angeles? Or is it both? The answer is yours to decide.




Los Angeles- November, 2019 four replicants have escaped from one of Earth's off world colonies to the Planet's surface in search of a way to extend there short life span. Enter street wise detective Rick Deckard(Harrison Ford) retired from the Blade Runner unit he is called back in by his old boss(M, Emmet Walsh) to track them down one by one and" retire" them. And there the trouble begins.




"Blade Runner" is powerfully prophetic, visually spectacular, dark and moody. It's an amazing look at one man's vision of a dark and smoke clogged future. Ridley Scott has done something most directors dream of doing or attempt to do and fail. he has created an epic Science Fiction film the likes you have never seen before or ever will. Most directors try to create a visually stunning world that will amaze you and deeply immerse you in it's extremely complex story of murder, love and life. All in all Blade Runner is a film experience that you just can't miss or ignore .




Harrison Ford gives one of his best performances as hard nosed Blade Runner Rick Deckard Ford's performance is crucial to keeping this film afloat and also keeping it interesting. The whole film mostly follows Ford around L.A. chasing down the replicants and while that is interesting. Anyone else in the lead would have failed to impress and Ford does impress. Rutger Hauer is fantastic as the leader of the replicants Roy, Hauer gives his all and more to this role and to the film and it pays off amazingly. The cast really gives there all in this film and shine bright.




Ridley Scott's "Blade Runner" is the pitch perfect example of how Sci-Fi noir should be made and set the bar for the genre for years and years to come. It will stand the test of time and will remain a classic and a piece of film making greatness that will show you how it's done.

Not being a major sports fan but an avid lover of sports movies, I had never heard of Don Haskins and his underdog team the Texas Western Miners.. Until now.



"Glory Road" is the inspiring true story of Don Haskins, a small town coach who accepts an offer from an El Paso College to coach a team who hasn't won a championship in 15 years, The Texas Western Miners. But Haskins see the only way his new team has a shot at winning the championship is for him to something, for that time, nobody has done before. Start seven black players on his team a first in NCAA history. With that Haskins searches the country over to fins the right boys for his team and he does find and recruit them, train them. And with that Haskins set's off to make history by changing the face of basketball forever and taking his team all the way to," Glory Road"




This film is much like other sports movies and then at some points it is not. The way it is like other films of it's genre is that you know what is going to happen in the end, but you don't know what lead to those events or what started the story. That is the reason sports films still hold strong today and why this one triumphs over it's formula and soars above the rest. "Glory Road" is among the best sports films I've seen in a long time it's story powerful and heart-wrenching and it's out coming uplifting and inspiring. "Glory Road" is a truly magnificent film about one man and his team and how he took them all the way to the top.



Josh Lucas gives one of his best performances of his career as the tough coach Don Haskins, Lucas doesn't hold anything back and gives his all to make his performance believable and his role power house. It is him and the fantastic cast of young actors that keeps this film afloat and keep the story going. The cast does fantastic in there assigned parts and they keep this film going when it should fall apart and they take it in their hands and make it something more, much more.



This is the type of film that demands your surrender to it's broad story and it's passion for the game. It calls for you to watch how a mismatched team does the impossible. How they redefined a game forever and how they changed the outlook of African-Americans in sports. All in all it's an amazing film about a story that was not truly,completely know until now, "Glory Road" shines.

James Cameron has created a visionary style of film making that has yet to be surpassed or ever will. He has taken us to worlds unknown and showed us true terror in Aliens(1986), He gave to us a new and visionary look at the end of humanity in Terminator(1984) and then again for what everyone thought was the last time he showed us what love and tragedy really truly looked like in Titanic(1996). Now it's 2009 almost 12 years after the ultra-mega success of Titanic James Cameron gives us a breathtaking and visually stunning look at what can easily be called, a whole new world.



James Cameron's "AVATAR" is stunning, beautiful, breathtaking, magical, visually arresting and epic It's everything you could ever hope for in a motion picture and more. It's so powerful and strong in it's story and so deeply involved in it's characters that when the lights dim and the narration by Sam Worthington begins, your already there right beside him all the way. This film doesn't just give you something to watch like others movies, no it immerses you into the surroundings and the events of the story and characters so deeply that you don't even feel like your watching a movie but an epic battle between two races for a jungle planet called, Pandora. "AVATAR" is one of those films that you have to see to believe and trust me on this when I say that you will believe.



Sam Worthington(You man know him best as Marcus Wright in "Terminator: Salvation") gives an emotional and powerhouse performance as the heroic Jake Sully. Worthington was the right choice for the role and he plays it so well that you actually believe the character he plays. Zoe Saldana is another class player in this she moves you and makes you fully and completely believe she's nine- ten feet tall blue Na'vi. Saldana is a major player in this films massive success and acclaim with her quick witted and commanding performance. Sigoruney Weaver shines as the crass, Na'vi loving scientist Grace Augustine Weaver is a key player for you too really connect with the Na'vi and truly understand there plight from the human side. Stephen Lang is epic as the hard-nosed, Na'vi hatting Colonel, Lang is so good at being bad that you hate his guts the moment he enters the picture. Lang Helps elevate the films status from great to masterstroke. But all in all the cast pushes the limits of there abilities and comes out on top to make this one of the best films of the year possibly the decade.


James Cameron has given us great adventures in the past but now he has topped every thing he has ever done in the past, even Titanic. He has created a visionary world and adventure that you will soon not forget and will stick with you long after the film is over.

While clunky, misguided and at sometimes overblown Jan de Bont's "The Haunting" somehow works despite major flaws and comes out on top to be terrifying and mysterious. But what amazed me the most about this film was it's amazing visuals and little ques to old school horror classics like "House on the Haunted Hill"(1959), The original Robert Wise directed "The Haunting"(1963), which inspired this remake, and "House of Wax"(1953). But what really makes this horror flick enjoyable is how effective it is at being good and at being so bad it's good at the same time, "The Haunting" works.


It's not as great as the original horror machine that inspired it, but this 1999 remake of the Robert Wise classic does give you some efficient thrills and chills for your money. But the awkward performances from the supporting cast(Wilson, Taylor and Zeta-Jones) may disenchant you and make you believe less and less that this is a straight out horror film and not a horror comedy. Which is what many will believe at first but then be reassured by the terrifying visuals and the jump out at you moments. "The Haunting" is not a great in the genre but it does have it's enjoyable quirks and charms to it, and while the story is intriguing and the plot somewhat solid but this film relies more visual thrills than actual horror effects which is good and all but that doesn't make it a true to blue classic.



Lili Taylor(Who I don't like for good reasons) is the major eyesore in this picture with her very poor performance and overacting. Taylor tries and fails miserably to give a strong and worthy performance but all we get instead is her mousy little girls voice yelling at ghoulish figurines and looking not so scared Taylor is a waste in this and woefully miscast in a role that should have gone to a stronger actress. Cathrine Zeta-Jones is alright, but much like Taylor her amazing talent is squandered here. But there are some parts that Zeta-Jones really shines and that I will give her credit for. Owen Wilson,an amazing comedian but not so much an amazing horror star, is the second eyesore in this horror flick but not as much as Taylor which is good , and then it's not. Wilson is good at comedy and dramedies but horror isn't a field he's very well suited for and ti shows in his performance. But Wilson isn't a total loss and that saves him from being a casualty of miscasting. Liam Neeson is the savior of this film and the only perfect casting out of the rest Neeson is high class in this and really raises the bar for this film bringing up from corny to worthwhile. The cast, well most of them, is woefully miscast and drag along at some points through out the film but for the most part they do there jobs and make this a very enjoyable and sometimes chilling thrill ride.




It's not great, it's not bad, it's not a total waste of time but it could have been majorly better than what it was. But I will say this on it's behalf it is enjoyable and it does give you what you want and then at sometimes it doesn't . But "The Haunting" is efficient horror machine and may not make any top ten list but it sure will entertain and thrill.

There are films that rattle your nerves, there are films that shock and disgust you. And there are films that are so powerful and magnificent that when you watch them your lost in it's world that you don't even realize your watching a movie.




Paul Thomas Anderson's adaption of Upton Sinclair's novel "OIL!" is powerful, extraordinarily complex, dark and moving. Its the kind of movie that you get completely and utterly hooked from the beginning to the end. "There Will Be Blood" will not win over everyone at first viewing but over time it will convince you of it's power and it's extreme depth of emotion and dark complexity. It's a movie going experience that you can't miss or ignore.



Daniel Day-Lewis gives the performance of a life time as the greedy oilman Daniel Plainview, Day-Lewis' power is draw from his natural and smooth acting abilities. Day-Lewis is charming and sinister in his role and it shows onscreen but he also shows a loving and caring side to his character with his young son. And that is amazing to see the change of emotions he shows onscreen. Day-Lewis owns the screens. Paul Dano I've never heard of until this film and now I'm glad I did. Dano is powerful as the corrupt so called faith healer, Dano can not in one ways top Daniel Day-Lewis' performance but he came very close. All in all the cast is at the top of there game and showcase the best acting in a film of the decade.



Paul Thomas Anderson's "There Will Be Blood" is impressive on an amazing level and as a piece of film making it will enchant you and leave you shocked and amazed. It's a film that stays with you long after it's over and will change how you see films.

Everyone all over the world has legendary monsters that are told to each generations. Mexico has the chupacabra, the Tibetans have the abominable snowman. And the USA has the beast of Bray Road and now the Mothman.




"The Mothman Prophecies" is the modern reworking of the events that happened in Point Pleasant, West Virgina in 1967. Those occurrences have been moved up to 2002 to be told with a modern twist and I'm here to tell you that it worked. "The Mothman Prophecies" is eerie, smart, extremely complex, dark and mysterious. This film will have you hooked form the horrific and mysterious beginning till the shocking and even more mysterious end and it won't stop throwing thrills and chills at you until the credits rolls.




Richard Gere gives an extremely disturb and emotional performance as the reporter trying to piece together the event's of The Mothman. Gere's performance is extremely key to keeping this film from falling apart, he's the glue that keeps everything together and is also the engine of the film he keeps it running even when it should stall out and die. Will Paton's is equally as good as Gere with his mysterious and disturb performance as Gordon Smallwood. Patton is as much a key player in this films story as Gere, Patton even more so. Patton is much more apart of the story then the events taking place and he helps keep it interesting as Much as Gere does. The cast is phenomenal and does there best to keep this supernatural thriller afloat and instead they make it soar to new heights.





"The Mothman Prophecies" is eerily suspenseful and shockingly real in it's portrayal of the events that took place in Point Pleasant. And will keep you guessing if what is happening is real or all in Richard Gere's head. All in all "The Mothman Prophecies" is a supernatural mystery you'll want to expose.

When Dare Devil appeared on the scene in 1964 during the stroke of brilliance for Marvel no one had any idea that Daredevil would become one of Marvels most disturbed and darkest characters. now almost 44 years after his initial

Frank Capra inspired and awe struck generations with his films, while Frank Darabont is in noway Capra his film The Majestic does a good job at honoring Capra and his films with creating a plausible love drama about a man(Carrey) just trying to find where he belongs in the world. It's one of Darabont's best and most complete work since The Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile.



"The Majestic" is powerful in it's execution, strong in it's story and daring it's plot. It's a film that once you see it your in love with it, now mind you it's not a rare or unique love story but it's good enough of a love story and a dramatic film that you don't care if it feels like you've seen it before. It's got the feel good appeal you would expect from a film of this caliber but it's got a surprisingly strong lead dramatic performance from Jim Carrey to help carry this film to new heights and make it a must see on anyone's list.



Jim Carrey who is more know for his comedies than being dramatic really shows what he's worth in this story about loss, love and hope found. Carrey is not my first choice for a project like this but he certainly help make this worth the time. Laurie Holden isn't worth the part she is in while she is pretty to look at she has no acting abilities whatsoever and helps only to just be there and that's all. The rest of the cast of old time actors such as Carl Reiner, David Ogden Stiers and Martin Landau are all fantastic in there roles and shine bright, they help give this film the old time feel that director Frank Darabont was looking for and he found it in them and in Carrey.



"The Majestic" is an old time story of lost hope and love found, it's a story that all ages can relate too and it's film that shines brighter than any modern period piece dramas that come out these days and it will show you how one man can lose his way and how sometimes what your looking for is a place that you would least expect. "The Majestic" delivers.

Unlike most films of this genre Paul Haggis' "In The Valley of Elah" takes you farther and deeper into the torn lives of soldiers and the families and the toll of war takes on them. It's a masterful and powerful film that is part neo-noir, part social drama. The mix of the two collide to create a film experience that you will not forget.




"In The Valley of Elah" is not at first glance a great movie but after you finally break down and see it you will be sucked into a world of corruption, murder, deception and mystery. It's one of the best films of the decade and one of the most well made films of the modern era, it will enthrall you and enchant you. It's the kind of movie that the minute it's over you want to see it again, it's just that good.



Tommy Lee Jones owns the screen as the take no bull father looking for his AWOL son. Jones is so powerful and so convincing in the role that he completely and firmly convinces you that he's a gravel pusher. His performance is key to this film as it is almost entirely centered around him so Jones has to give it all he's got so the film can stand on two feet, he's the glue that holds everything together and he is the one that helps propel this film to greatness. Charlize Theron is the other big name player in this film, Theron is great but not as great as Jones but she puts everything she's got into the role she plays and is a worthy second to Jones.




"In The Valley of Elah" is engrossing, smart, stylish, powerful and at sometimes dark. It's a can't miss film with a can't miss performance from one of the best actors of this generation, Tommy Lee Jones. This film delivers what it promises and more. It's a film that must be seen to be truly believed.

Truly compelling and honest emotional films are really hard to come by these days mostly due to the fact that good old fashioned family values and inspirational stories take a backseat to dark and gritty crime dramas and murder mysteries. But John Lee Hancock's "The Rookie" proves that films like that are not dead.


"The Rookie" is the inspiring and heartwarming true story of Jimmy Morris, a high school science teacher and coach of a small town team that's had a bad season. So coach Morris makes a bet with his team that if they win the championship he would try out for a major league team. Well his team wins and now Morris has to uphold his end of the bargain and tryout for a team, but little does he or anyone else know is that Jimmy Morris is about to become the oldest and most unlikely rookie.



It's a film that literally will make you stand up and cheer, it will touch every fiber of your soul and every inch of your heart. "The Rookie" may seem like a run of the mill, seen it before sports film but trust me it's not. No this film is something more and it's something that must be experienced to truly believe the amazing power that it exudes and the extreme depth of emotion and character that is in it makes more of a great example of Disney magic and film making at it's finest.


Dennis Quaid gives the performance of a lifetime as the high school coach turned MLB all star, Quaid's performance is skillful, powerful, emotional and honest. He gives his all and then some to the part and to the film and it shows. All in all the cast does amazing in this film and play out there parts well in this brilliant and up lifting film.


"The Rookie" is a fun, enjoyable, smart and well mounted film that has it's heart in it's right place and it's game on the right track. It's a must see film that shows that no matter how old you are you still can make your dreams come true.

Espionage thrillers have been a major staple in cinema since the 1930's onward and there place in film history has never been in question until the 90's rolled around and the genre took a major plunge into over the top antics choppy dialogue, bland acting and terrible plotting. But that all changed in the 00's when Tony Scott released his old schooled espionage thriller, "Spy Game".


"Spy Game " is highly charged, brilliantly paced, well plotted and exceptionally acted especially on Robert Redford's part. It's got game and it's got the hyper kinetic style of most Tony Scott films but what they lack this one has all the right parts. It has the deep rooted effect of making you believe that what your seeing is a true to life story and it plays out so well that by the time the story begins your in it till the end.

Robert Redford proves that even though he is old he's still got what it takes to smoke the younger generation Redford gives Pitt the one up and completely and utterly overshadows him in this film. Brad Pitt is not as good as Redford and is at sometimes just there so Redford can talk to someone, but there are some scenes in the film where Pitt does shine and is equal to Redford. The rest of the cast display amazing talent and skill in there parts and do great to back up there two leads.



Tony Scott's "Spy Game" may be too complex for some but for others it's a blast to watch the espionage genre get back it's old feel and style. It's got the right stuff to make it believable and the right moves to play the game. Now there's only one question left, will you be there to watch it all go down?

While Ron Howard's adaption of the smash hit novel "The Da Vinci Code" was well thought out in the production crews heads and on paper but when it was finished audiences and critics saw that it failed to truly deliver the intrigue, style and genius of the novel.

This 2009 sequel while entertaining at best is another failure for it's poor adaption of the novel, lopsided plot, low level acting especially from Tom Hanks. But it does have the feel and the style of the novel and that saves it from being a total waste of time but it won't impress die hard fans of the hit novel.

Ron Howard's "Angels & Demons" has got game a great cast and some serious intriguing plot twist and a some what compelling story, but at best it's far to chaotic, jumbled and convoluted to deliver the intense and intelligent story of the 2003 novel, But I will give it the benefit of the doubt that it tries and it tries so very hard to bring Dan' Brown's "Angels & Demons" to the screen and it does succeed on a minor level to entertain.


Tom Hanks performance is much better than his first outing as Robert Langdon but he fails to impress here as his acting is almost close to wooden and bland. Hanks tries to hard to really impress and comes off as over the top, but he does alright for the most part and he is not a complete waste in this. Ewan McGregor is alright as the treacherous Priest but he isn't as cunning as the original character and is a wasted talent. The rest of the cast try hard and do well for the most part but the poor script, loopholes in the plot and frantic direction cause them to stumble and fall.



"Angels & Demons" is semi-smart but not too appealing, it's got some serious game but no strategy to how it should be played. It is entertaining on a low level when it should be completely enthralling. "Angels & Demons" tries and fails to be the great thriller it aims for but for your money you do get a very entertaining ride. All in all it's passing entertainment.

When Arthur Conan Doyle created Sherlock Holmes he helped jump start a revolution in the detective genre the likes no one has ever seen. Now 111 years later Guy Ritchie gives Holmes the film he deserves.



Guy Ritchie's "Sherlock Holmes" is smart, stylish, dark, moody, intense, mysterious and intriguing. It's got everything a great mystery adventure should have and more. It's got the great appeal of any Holmes adventure with a little modern flare thrown in there. It may, may not appeal to die hard Holmes fan but "Sherlock Holmes" has got the humor, mystery and adventure to keep you thinking and reveling in the film long after it's over.



Robert Downey, Jr. owns the screen as the legendary sleuth, Downey puts his own flare and style to a character society has know for much longer than any other literary character in history. Downey has a very dry sense of humor which shows onscreen and plays out well with his co-star Jude Law, and that leads this 2009 update to play out better than it should. Jude Law is perfectly cast as Holmes stalwart partner Dr. John Watson Law use every bit of his acting prowess to keep up with Downey's enigmatic performance and in someways he surpasses Downey and in others he doesn't. But Law you can't rule out without him Downey and someone else it wouldn't be as intense or as comedic to see them work which plays out so well you actually think there life long best friends. But Law is a massive classic act in this and pulls off one of his best performance of his career. Mark Strong is phenomenal as the sinister and devious Lord Henry Blackwood the main antagonist to Holmes before Moriarty. While Strong is downplayed but is still a strong(no pun intended.) presence. Rachel McAdams is woefully miscast as Irene Adler the only human on Earth able to outsmart Holmes. She is bland emotionless and not so easy on the eyes. She is nowhere near the level of Downey she extremely below it she can't even hold her own to convince of us that she is smarter than Holmes all she is good for in this is as a love interest for Holmes and nothing else. But all in all the cast hits hard, plays smart(Except for McAdams) and showcases some serious talent and they help make this smart and gritty reboot of the popular detective series a must see.



"Sherlock Holmes may not attract die hard fans of the series but it will interest newcomers and will delivers the great entertainment you expect for RDJ and Guy Ritchie. "Sherlock Holmes" will not disappoint but will instead enthrall you and engage you. All the clues are there for you to find, now here's the real question: can you solve the crime before Sherlock does?

Sports movies no matter how well made and how diverse the cast is you always know what is going to happen before it happens and that's okay because how they got there and how they made it all the way to the end and became united as a team is the best part of watching these movies. And "Remember the Titans" reminds us of that.



"Remember the Titans" is powerful, brilliant, witty, heart breaking and almost a tear jerker it's an amazing true story of how one man brought together a divided team and unified a school and a whole town at the same time. It's got some great strength behind it mostly due to the powerful appeal and performances of Denzel Washington and Will Patton that drive this film all the way to success and help propel this into sports film greatness.


Denzel Washington gives a powerhouse performance as the tough and opinionated head coach of the Titan Tigers Washington is one of two major keys to keeping this clique sports film from being a total drag. And it is he who brings up the quality of the film to new heights. Will Patton is the second major player in this film while Washington brings some of the power Patton brings the rest and then some. Patton almost over shadows Washington in this film and is a standout among the young cast (as him and Washington are the only seasoned actors) He gives a emotional and tough love touch to his take no bull character, much like Washington. The young cast is great and are really well chosen and diverse in there personalities and racial out looks. They all bring something different to the table and it is welcomed.


"Remember the Titans" will have you cheering, crying and laughing all in the same period of time it's a great film with some major heart and sou infused into it's gritty and intense football orientated story. It will enthrall you and enchant you and when the film is over you will Remember the Titans.

Jack the Ripper's true identity has always been talk among people for two centuries, yet nobody has come up with a decent answer or any conclusive evidence to truly crack the case of the worlds first serial killer. Now in late 2001 the Hughes Brothers attempt to adapt the 90's graphic novel series from Alan Moore(creator of Watchmen) that gives a spin on the true identity of one of the in famous killers of all time, but alas it fails to deliver the horror and suspense need to sustain a story of this magnitude .



"From Hell" is a visually impressive, intelligently written, well played out psychological horror film just minus the horror. With all those qualities it should be a great film but sadly it's not it tries to use flashy tricks and not so mind boggling plot twist. "From Hell" is very, very interesting and extremely dark but the lack of horror suspense and a decent pace keeps this film from being the mystery/horror film it should be.



Johnny Depp gives a great performance as always but he is slowed down by the boring pace of the film, Depp could have really shined and helped this film become a massive success and an amazing film. But the Hughes Brothers lack of experience in this genre cause him to fall with the film. Depp is smart, emotionally disturbed and cunning as the inspector Abberline but that's all he's got to go on in this film and nothing more. Heather Graham is surprisingly fantastic as the prostitute who falls for Depp and helps him in his case. Graham exudes some serious star power and strength in this film and is an awesome class act and a major savior of this film and she is a major reason to see this film just for her performance. The cast is exceptional and they work hard to keep the film interesting but sadly they can't, not even the interplay between Johnny Depp and the killer can save this film from being a major snooze fest. But all in all they give it there all and that to me is a success.


"From Hell" has all the makings of a great period piece mystery and horror film, but it lacks the refined tooling that makes others similar to this success. I will admit that I was a bit enthralled by the story but ti wasn't enough to keep my attention for the whole film. But all in all it's a well made and extremely intelligent film but with little to no knowledge of how a horror film works. All in all "From Hell" is not a case you'll want in on.

Have you ever had a dream that was so real and so vivid that you almost thought that you weren't asleep? Have you ever felt like the world your living in is a complete work of fiction that it's all just a big dream fabricated by an otherworldly force? Those are the question that you will be asking yourself after you watch Alex Proyas' fascinating and undeniable mind blowing Science Fiction Noir, "Dark City".




"Dark City" is so mind bending in it's story and so compelling in it's bizarre and intriguing look into what makes a human, human. This film may not interest everyone as it is extremely complex and very disturbing in it's visuals, but for those who enjoyed " Blade Runner", "Alien" or "The Matrix" will certainly see this as a major step up in Science Fiction and film making. Dark City is enthralling, mind bending, complex, nightmarish, dark and brooding, compelling and heart pounding. It's a rare film so far ahead of it's time that it will be looked on as a modern and cult classic for years to come, Alex Proyas has delivered what you would hope for and more his film has given us the Sci-Fi noir that we've been waiting for it's one of the ultimate examples of film making at it's very best.



Rufus Sewell is fantastic as the mysterious and confused John Murdoch, Sewell brings such human emotion and heart to his role and make his character something truly fascinating to watch onscreen. Kiefer Sutherland in my opinion stole the show as the eve more mysterious doctor helping "The Strangers", his role is vital to the picture and is crucial to help keep the story interesting and moving along without Sutherland the role of the doctor in anyone else hands wouldn't be as interesting, or as complex. William Hurt is another class act as the hard nosed and relentless detective chasing Sewell, Hurt is not as crucial a character as Sutherland's or Ian Richardson's(Elder for the strangers) but it is a good part for Hurt and he plays it with the usual charisma and force that you would expect from Hurt and that is a saving grace for him and the character he plays making him a class act and a great addition to this film. Jennifer Connelly is beautiful as ever while her character is a complete throwaway yet she somehow finds a way to make it work and that is something amazing to see, while Connelly is just there to be there she ends up being much more than that she ends up being a crucial figure and key player in the film and for that she has won my respect ans shown that even before she got her Oscar she had what it took to play ball with the big boys. The rest of the cast is fantastic and play out very well in this film and show there defining talent and skills in there role and they, with the help of the amazing visual, help make this one of the most daring films of the 90's.





"Dark City" has all the making of greatness and them some what it has over other films of it's caliber is the human heart. It has a heart running the center of all the mayhem and the gloom, it brings such humanity to a stark and brooding film. It's a masterpiece of film making and a true testament that the human mind is more dangerous than what we could ever imagine. "Dark City" delivers.

If someone hurt the one you loved how far would you go to make them pay? Would you go outside the law and take matters into your own hands? Would you try and at least do the right thing and wait for the proper authorities to come and catch them? Well the honest truth is that this film explores the latter. It explores how one father and mother take justice into there own hands and get revenge on the people that hurt there young daughter. Now here's the real question, what would you do?



Dennis lliadis and Wes Craven's " The Last House on the left" is as disturbing and brutal as modern horror can get but it also has the subtle and level headed type of film making that you rarely see in modern horror which makes this gorefest quite a sight to behold, but it also has something else that makes something of a rarity it actual has high class acting and a very steady and well thought out plot and story to support the intense and disturbing nature of the film. But while it is a horror gem the film has a few sequences including a very realistic rape scene that may disenchant viewers and cause them to give up on this film before the ball really get's moving(I know I almost did). But after all that is over and done you really start to get to the heart of this film and see how these events affect the two parents(Tony Goldwyn and Monica Potter.) and how it drives them on anger fueled rampage against the ones that hurt there daughter(Sarah Paxton). But in reality is this remake of the 1972 classic just plain terrible? No. Is it a horror gem? That would depend on how you look at the film in it's entirety but "The Last House on the left" does enthrall you and entice you with it's unique spin on the revenge plot and it will give you the horror thrills and chills that you would expect from a film of this caliber, and then again it might not be what you exactly expect.




Tony Goldwyn and Monica Potter are fantastic as the parents seeking revenge, they give a whole new meaning to the word "Average psychos" there performances really drive this film and help move the slow plot along. But the thing that I really like about there performances is that in the beginning you see them as average, ordinary people living out there lives in peaceful tranquility until one night when vacationing in there lake house there daughter, who is in town with a friend, is attacked by a group of escaped criminals and left for dead in the woods amazingly she survives and makes her way home to only find that the people who harmed her are staying in there house trying to escape the storm realizing this the parents take matters into there own hands and exact there brutal revenge plot on the criminals. That too me is something you don't see everyday in films or in this case revenge thrillers they put a seriously unique twist on there parts and are a saving grace to the picture. The rest of the cast of some well known faces and not so well known are great in the parts of the criminals and show true talent but are swallowed up by Goldwyn and Potters performances yet they still shine.





"The Last House on the left" is not an everyone's horror film but if you can get past the brutal violence, the intense rape scene you can start to get involved in this gritty and bloody revenge tale that almost breaks into the spot of classic status. "The Last House on the left" delivers.

There are mysteries without answers, there are crimes without justice and sometimes the answers that we search for aren't always the one's we want. That's the moral and center of Allen Coulter's deep rooted and dark Neo-Noir,"Hollywoodland", this 2006 biographical picture tells the story of the rise and subsequent fall of actor George Reeves(Ben Affleck) the star of the 1950's T.V. series "The Adventure of Superman" who after his show was canceled and he was out of work shot himself a year later in 1959. Or so people were lead to believe.


"Hollywoodland" is set near the end of the golden era in Hollywood new faces are popping up and films are becoming more and more explicit. But in the midst of change a tragedy emerges the beloved actor (George Reeves) who portrayed the most popular superhero of all time has apparently committed suicide. But the people closest to the Reeves wouldn't believe that he would just kill himself while the evidence and the police says different. So out of the blue a dogged P.I. named Louis Simo(Adrien Brody) starts sniffing around and asking questions about the death of George Reeves and what he finds is a seedy sort of corruption,sex, lies, cover-ups and murder, or so Simo believes and in some amazing way he may be right. Now he has to jump fee first into hell and take on big wig studio bosses, his old colleagues while trying to unravel one of Hollywood's most notorious murder mysteries.



This film may be a little heavy handed in some ways and may seem implausible to much older audiences who have lived this story. But for those who know it and are interested in finding out different versions of how his death might have happened will find it highly interesting. But what really catches you from the very start is that you don't just see how George Reeves died you get to watch the case unfold from the very point of his death and then you get to see his rise and fall which is flawlessly played out and preformed by Ben Affleck that you forget that he's playing a role. The story of Simo and his investigation into the death of Reeves is far more fascinating than the last few years of Reeves' life which is why the film is so effective, now I'm not dismissing the back story of Reeves it works wonderfully and does give the film a distinctive feel and a certain appeal to it that is important to the story but like I've said it may not appeal to much to everyone. But what "Hollywoodland" does is give you a look into the life of a hero to children and a look into the life of the P.I. looking for the truth to his death, this film will give you the truth your looking for if your looking for it and it will also give you the films version of the truth that it presents to you if you are not.The outcome of "Hollywoodland" is never in question and the telling of it's story is efficient and engrossing even if it is at times slow paced.




Adrien Brody performance as Louis Simo the jaded Private Investigator is exceptional, powerful and at sometimes brooding and dark. Brody is a major key player in keeping this film afloat as he and Affleck are two of the main cast members who have the most screen time, and while there are some points Affleck almost outclasses Brody, Brody is able to use his intensity to beat out Affleck as the true start of this film . Ben Affleck shows what he's truly made of as the troubled and struggling actor George Reeves, Affleck gives one of his best and most haunted performances and is an amazing centerpiece to this films complex and compelling story. Diane Lane Is fantastic and sexy as the older lover to Reeves and one of the suspects in his apparent suicide, Lane is not as prominent in the film as Affleck or Brody but she is one you remember long after the film is over. The rest of the cast of well know faces are fantastic and are well placed in the story and the setting and help elevate this Neo-Noir to the status of greatness.



"Hollywoodland" will impress you and entice you if your willing to let in the complex nature surrounding the death of George Reeves. But if you open you mind to the different possibilities of the nature of the story, the film leave it up to you to decide what the truth is.

All over the world people have different ghost stories, from Japan to Russia, from Russia to Italy, from Italy to the United States. Everyone has some type of story of a haunted house or some possessed room and as films they have fair extremely well over the years leaving there mark on cinema and moviegoers forever. Such classics as "The House on the Haunted Hill" (1959), The "Haunting"(1963), "The Shinning"(1980), "Rosemary's Baby"(1968) and " Psycho"(1960). All these films defined horror and the genre of ghost stories, but after the 90's began the ghost films started to become more and more derivative of the older and more skilfully made films of the past; Like such films as "The Haunting" (1999), "House on the Haunted hill"(1999) and many more, but out of the final days of the 20th century a little unknown director named M. Night Shyamalan came up with an idea for a ghost story the likes audiences have never seen before that film was called, "The Sixth Sense".




M. Night Shyamalan's "The Sixth Sense" doesn't take the path that most horror thrillers do instead it takes the path less traveled it uses emotion and deep drama to tells it's story while blending old school horror elements with nerve shattering tension. But the film doesn't stop wowing and amazing you, no, it keeps pushing the bar by throwing one twist after another, after another , after another. It's driven by the hearts of the characters and the soul of Shyamalan's well written and extremely thought out script and plot. But even if you know how the films is going to turn out, even if you know how it is going to end you still won't be able to prepare for the massive mind blowing twist at the end and you won't even be able to predict the workings of the film even if you've seen it a hundred times over, "The Sixth Sense" is always scary and never jangling no matter how many times you've seen it.



Bruce Willis gives one of his best and emotionally charged performances as the kind heartened child psychiatrist Dr. Malcolm Crowe who is trying to help a disturbed child. Willis is not as much a key player as Haley Joel Osment is, Osment is more prominent in the film than Willis and oddly at times more powerful than Willis, but what they do is compliment each other onscreen when there acting together Osment gives Willis the means to be more emotional and Willis gives Osment the means to push himself farther in his performance. There the perfect horror duo like Batman and Robin, John Constantine and Chaz Kramer. They put all they've got into the parts and show there true worth in this film and prove to everyone that they've got true star power. The rest of the supporting cast including a scary Mischa Barton, and depressed Olivia Williams and a compassionate Toni Collette and strung out Donnie Wahlberg are all stand outs even if they don't have allot of screen time they make due with what they have and help further this film to greatness.






"Th Sixth Sense" is not a gory modern horror flick or a slick exploitation of horror that uses cheap tricks and flashy CGI spectacle to get it's point across. Shyamalan does one better he gives audiences the true, blue horror film that they have been waiting for and it is a film that will stand the test of time for as long as it exist. "The Sixth Sense" is the ultimate film when it comes to chilling psychological terror and there is no other film that will be like it, ever.

Society for almost a century now has been enthralled and enchanted by the world of comics you've read the harrowing tales of Super-Man, you've traveled into the dark depths of Gotham City with Bat-Man and you've seen the darker side of heroism with Dare Devil, Ghost Rider, John Constantine, Iron Man and even Spider-Man. But here's the real question what if those stories you've read were real? What if the tale of an invincible man or a man who could read minds was true? What if superheroes actually existed?




M. Night Shyamalan's "Unbreakable" explores the haunting question of what if the stories we've read about superheroes were real? What would that person do? And what would he be like? Would he be like everyone else and have a normal job and a family? Or would he be like the heroes we've read about and have nothing to keep him warm at night but his own self pity. Shyamalan doesn't waste your time getting to the point of the film by showing you instantly how our hero, played with great skill and care by Bruce Willis, is basically unbreakable as the title suggest, But what really intrigues you from the very beginning is the care taken to tell the story at a pace that the audience can get immersed in and slowly but gradually believe that Bruce Willis is impervious to harm and also piece together the trappings and underlining layers of the plot. It's an extraordinarily complex film that demands your undivided attention to it's near-perfect story and it's bullet-proof plot, it's the kind of film that after you watch it leaves a lasting impression on you and you can't believe what you've seen so you just have to see it again and again and again. "Unbreakable" is a can't miss thriller, with a story that will blow your mind from beginning to end.




Bruce Willis gives a great and heartfelt performance as David Dunn the unbreakable man. Willis is key to keeping this film interesting and intriguing as only an actor of his caliber could do so with such an original and mind bending story as this. But Willis is just one part of the coin the other is Samuel L. Jackson who tops Willis in every way but doesn't push himself to overshadow him. Instead Jackson does one better he plays the support part but makes it crucial enough that after the credits roll you remember him as much as Willis. The rest of the cast gives great performances and some of them do stand out in this film like Spencer Treat Clark who plays Willis' son, or Charlayne Woodward who plays Jackson's mother in three parts of the film, but all in all they shine bright and bring everything they've got to the table in this dark and moody potboiler.





"Unbreakable" is a must see of the highest caliber it's a film that cannot be ignored for any reason, even if you don't like Willis or Jackson or Shyamalan for that matter this film is still worth the watch 10 times over. It's constructed to be engrossing, yet subtle, tough and smart, dark and brooding and most of all mysterious. "Unbreakable" is top dog when ti comes to capturing your attention and your imagination.

for about a 1,000 years stories of beings from another world have been told to countless generations through writing and art. But the real question is is it true? Or is it all an elaborate hoax, a fairytale to put us to sleep at night or give us something to watch? Whether they are real or not has always been in question and truthfully we may never know the answer to our constant questions. But after almost 60 years of films that exploit and tell of alien invasion or aliens visiting our world and trying to offer us help but we instead out of fear try and destroy them, but no matter how you twist it or how you play it out on screen we will never know enough about them to fully understand and comprehend there intentions if they did come to our little world. M. Night Shyamalan's "Sings" does not exploit them or make them an instant enemy but instead slowly but surely let's you see the film's character's and you come to the conclusion of there hostility and does that make this film different from any other invasion film? No. But what makes it different and unique is the fact that you never really see the space craft's, you never see much of the aliens except for some scattered glances. It is a trick Shyamalan uses to build the tension until it finally explodes in the climax. It's not a slick exploitation or a cheap CGI fare with wall to wall action and violence, but what "Signs" is is an old school paranoiac Science Fiction thriller that boggles the mind and will leave you breathless.




"Sings" is not like allot of Science Fiction films these days as most today try and build upon non-stop action sequences, flimsy plot's and scripts and horrible acting and dialogue. But while some of them are good intentioned they don't impress or wow modern audience, modern audiences want Science fiction that can please, wow and while doing that capture your imagination. M. Night Shyamalan's "Sings" does just that it pleases you, wow's you and captures your imagination and your heart as an added bonus, Shyamalan does not just make movies that thrill you and give you the chills he also puts deep rooted emotion and very memorable characters in all his films, but is that the main reason for "Signs" success? Or is it because this film has such a draw and naturally and creepy appeal to it? the answer to both questions is yes. But that is my answer to how I felt about "Signs" the answer to the questions I offered or any question you may come up with are for you and you alone to answer. The truths about aliens is a very mysterious and elusive question that we may never get an answer to, but "Signs" attempts to give us a few answers to our questions now the real question is what do you believe?




Mel Gibson turns in a great emotional performance as the head of the Hess family,Graham Hess what makes Gibson so perfect for this role is that he has the right attitude and style to play a character like this. Gibson doesn't hold back on the audience he let's it all out, he cries, he acts corny, he acts serious, he acts scared etc. If you can name it Gibson puts it out there on the screen for you to see. But Gibson isn't the only player that gives you one amazing show a young Abigail Breslin is a huge contender for Gibson, Breslin shows even at such a young age that she had tremendous talent and skill and puts on a great show making her one of the heavy hitters in this isolated Sci-Fi masterpiece. While Joaquin Phoenix and Rory Culkin are good and try hard but come out a little flat and bland but they can be easily overlooked by the interplay between all the other cast members which helps turn it from average to great.



M. Night Shyamalan's "Signs" may not impress many and it may leave others feeling like they've been robbed of the huge and explosive Sci-Fi thriller they came for and if you think that then you have truly missed the point. This film is not simply a Sci-Fi thriller it is also an emotionally wrenching drama a look at family in the midst of loss and how they come together to fight a mysterious force from another world. "Signs" is a feverish paranoiac thriller ride that doesn't seem to let up from the ominous opening to the heartfelt and startling finale, it delivers on the fears of all families and people across the world with it's tale of doom in small town America.

every single day someone is fired, for reasons that may be oblivious to them but clear as day to there employers so they fire them but in some occasions these big shot bosses don't have the balls to do there own dirty work so they call in a specialist to sack there employees for them. In Jason Reitman's "Up in the Air" George Clooney plays just that type of man. Clooney's character Ryan Bingham is charming, smart, witty and very good at his job as you watch the film you start to see something missing in the life of a man who loves to travel. If only for the sole purpose of racking up a certain number of frequent flier miles so he can get a prestigious card only rewarded to six other people and also it's his job. You notice there is something truly missing in his personal life, something that almost all people need a significant other.

Ryan doesn't seem to care too much about that and he thinks that it doesn't really matter because as he says he's surrounded by people, even if he doesn't have someone waiting for him at home. What makes him an interesting character? What makes his life so interesting to watch unfold and then crumble down around him? I'll tell you, this film is like watching something that could happen to you but shows you what the trauma is like from the other side of the table. It shows what it is like for the person who has to fire you and how the reaction of the one being fired can take a massive toll on the firer, that person in question being Ryan Bingham. Reitman's "Up in the Air," press major question about the social and ethical questions about what we do. In addition, is it right. "Up in the Air" will make you laugh, it will make you cry, it will move you and take you to new heights, this is a film that deserves to be called great and has got the power and style to back it up when you think it starts to fall short of it's target. I can promise you this that after you see this movie you'll be flying high.






"Up in the Air" is not as much a satire like "Thank you for Smoking" which pokes fun at spin doctors and smoking, or "Juno" which doesn't poke as much fun at something as it does the events unfold for Ellen Page playing a cynical and crass teenager who inadvertently got pregnant. What do all of Reitman's films have in common? They all have deep rooted and well thought out and played characters, they have heart and extreme emotion that resonates well with mainstream audiences as well as independent audiences.

Reitman always looks for a film and a story that doesn't have to do with sex, lies or murder. No his film has moral and deep meaning that show in how he tells the story and how the events that unfold affect the main characters and people around them, "Up in the Air" is no exception from that. It's the type of film that draws you into its world of highflying fun and grounded drama the perfect mixture of drama, comedy and romance that just jump's out at you and wows you at every turn. You can't ignore a film like this because it calls you watch it , it calls you into its world and never let's you go until the credits roll and the music starts to play. The question is, does this film deserve to be called great? Yes it does, does it give you what you want? Most definitely, Jason Reitman has crafted a pitch perfect film that not only exceeds expectations but will exceed being a film because when your watching this your not watching some dramedy about some guy who likes to fly, no your watching a dramedy about a guy who likes to fly and the people around. Now that to me is something worth seeing, "Up in the Air" may not entertain all but it will give you a good look at how big business is ran and how sometimes not everyone seems to make the cut. It will also show you that even if your set in your ways, even if you don't like change that sometimes change is needed to make what was missing in your life there and just like George Clooney said, "Everyone needs a co-pilot." If that co-pilot is the people, you know and love.





George Clooney is phenomenal as sacker Ryan Bingham Clooney not only brings his trade mark charm and wit he also brings a more human and emotional side which you don't get to see him do very often. In addition, it makes him something of a fish out of water in this picture, but a welcomed one at that. But Clooney is not the only heavy hitter in this picture a young Anna Kendrick shows that at 24 she has what it takes to play ball with the big boys, Kendrick is a surprise to see how good she is as you don't take her seriously for her being so young an also being from the Twilight film series. Nevertheless, make no mistake Kendrick is a tough player and an emotional one at that. While Clooney and Vera Farmiga both play the opposites of each other Kendrick plays, what Farmiga and Clooney's characters use to be young, naive, head strong kid trying to prove that there worth something to the world Kendrick's plays off the two very well and is a dark horse in the picture but a thoroughly welcomed one at that. Vera Farmiga is exceptional and tough as the love interest to Clooney but as it starts out like that her character develops into something more. She creates a character that is both morally vacant and ruthless, Farmiga is a class act but Kendrick out does her and put Farmiga in a kind of awkward out of place type of position in the little screen time they have together. The rest of the cast including most notable Jason Bateman and Norman Reedus and amongst others are fantastic and play there parts well and help the main cast elevate there work and viscera verse, all in all there top notch.



In the beginning, this film feels a little heavy handed and slightly disjointed but as it rolls along it becomes more lighthearted and then in the final act it comes back around and is sad but still lighthearted. "Up in the Air" is a movie for our time, it's the "it" movie 0f 2009 and a film that cannot be ignored. Jason Reitman has again created another modern classic alongside "Thank you for Smoking" and "Juno". This is his best work yet and it should go down as one of the greatest films of the past twenty years, this film will not disappoint you and it will leave you with the feeling like your up in the air.

For the last 5,000 years humanity has been dancing it has become part of our culture, it has become part of who we are even if we can't dance we still do it not because we want to but because we have to. When we hear music that just gets our blood racing and our feet tapping we just can't resist getting up off our feet and just dancing. It's natural and it feels good and that is the center of Peter Chelsom?s charming romantic/musical comedy that is more about love of the human spirit and music than love itself.



"Shall we Dance?" is not as flashy as Rob Marshall's "Chicago" or as slick as "Grease" but what it has going for it is that it doesn't try and cheat you out of the reality of things that actually happen in real life it doesn't use big musical numbers or anything you see in conventional musicals. Instead it takes it slow and builds up the relationships between the characters and also takes it time building up to its heart warming and musical dazzled finale. But what really makes "Shall we dance? a real joy is not the music nor is it the back drop of New York as a huge ballroom, no what makes "Shall we dance " such a joy and a pleasure to watch is the fact that the actors have so much fun at just doing what there doing. They enjoy the dancing and they enjoy working with each other and it shows as the films progresses on but while they music and the actors are phenomenal what really draws you into this films world is the amazing cinematography that highlights and creates a more elegant and graceful New York it makes it dream like and creates an atmosphere that is relaxing, while exhilarating, enthralling but subtle. "Shall we Dance?" is a move event that you don't want to miss it's so heart warming, so funny, sweet and oh so charming that even if you don't like it at first you will by the end , it's just too good to resist.



Richard Gere gives one of his most charming and endearing performances as an overworked and bored lawyer just looking for his place in the world and he found it through dancing. Gere is charming as usual yes but his performance is less based on his charms than his skills but what makes him such a staple and a standout is the fact that Gere doesn't play younger than he is he actually for once plays his age and it is a relief to see that because Gere usually always is the romantic lead or the one who seduces younger woman but seeing him play a stable family man is somewhat of a relief but also seeing him let loose on the dance floor is also something to behold. Gere is both functional and stylish and is not only a class act but proves that even though he's old he?s not out of the game yet. Susan Sarandon is perfectly cast as the wife of Gere, Sarandon may be down played in this film but her character and the time she is on screen is very important to keep the story going and even she delivers a few laughs of her own. But Sarandon is great and with more screen time I think she would have made a lovely addition to the main cast but where she ended up is just as good. Jennifer Lopez is beautiful and graceful as the dance instructor Paullina but her acting talent's are seriously lacking and she can't hold her own besides Sarandon and Gere but her amazing moves and style is enough to give her the edge she needs to stay afloat beside two titans. The rest of the cast including Stanley Tucci and Lisa Ann Walter and other known faces are great and help hold up the main cast and even at times shine on there own and show there just as good as the big names.





"Shall We Dance?" Is a musical for our times and a film that can be enjoyed by anyone with a passion for dancing or a love for people that do? While some may call it clique and some may call it derivative of other better musical. But I say what do you think?

Science Fiction has set bold new standards for films all across the board from action to romance, crime to comedy, it wasn't until 1982 that one of cinema's oldest genres, film noir was blended to create a whole new sub genre in the Science Fiction world, Sci-Fi noir and the two films pioneered this sub genre were Ridley Scott's "Blade Runner" and Alex Proyas' "Dark City", they pushed the bar for film making and propelled this young genre into new heights making it a major staple in the film industry. Now in 2010 a pair of young filmmakers named Michael and Peter Spierig attempted and succeeded in combining dark sci-fi noir with the vampire genre. A feat up until now that has never been accomplished on such a grand scale and breathtaking scale, that is, until now.





The Spierig Brothers' "Daybreakers" is a movie of ingenious design, ambitious and ferocious determination it doesn't cheat you out of the good entertainment you deserve. But this film is not just an exercise in bloody horror or dark thrills, no "Daybreakers" is more emotionally driven than any horror film that has come out in these last few years. It focuses on the characters more than the action and there lies the key to its success. It draws you in from the very beginning till the bloody and shocking end, "Daybreakers" succeeds in every way as both a horror thriller and as a poignant and heart breaking dark Science Fiction drama that has deep rooted emotions , morals and shows that even if your undead you still have a soul, this film relies on it's actors to give it the realistic and emotional feel that is needed to keep this film afloat there crucial and without good performances and excellent dialogue for them they would be nothing more than cardboard cut outs of the characters they are trying to believable play. Whether or not this film is successful as a sci-Fi horror thriller is never truly in question but the odds may be against this film as it comes during a time when vampire films are the new thing in style, but "Daybreakers" is far above the ranks of more poorly executed vampire films and succeeded at both shocking and entertaining you.




Ethan Hawke is exceptional as Dr. Edward Dalton the human respecting vampire, while Hawke's performance is very bland and almost devoid of emotion in the beginning he quickly turns that around and becomes a very emotional centerpiece for this films bleak story. Hawke is sound and confident in his role but there are some scenes where he starts to falter and you as an audience watching this think that it is the fault of the director when it is Hawke doing this on purpose to make his character seem more sympathetic. And it works; Hawke is a class act and one of the more memorable players in this thrilling blood stained adventure. Willem Dafoe is either someone you want in your corner or someone you just want to plain kill; this time around he is someone you want in your corner. Dafoe this time doesn't try and push the envelope instead he goes for a more grounded and calmer approach then what you would usually expect from him and in his case that's good. Dafoe is calm, cool and collective as the mentor to Ethan Hawke's character they way they both act onscreen is completely different as Hawke takes a more modern and cynical approach to his acting, while Dafoe takes a more 50's style to his acting seeing as he is playing a character named Elvis who happens to like vintage cars, but while both seem to completely contrast each other they both share traits that make them both viable one use to be a vampire and one is a vampire, with that the contrast and similarities of there characters is just stunning and something amazing to watch onscreen. Sam Neill is what you would tentatively call the dark horse of this film, Neill is neither good nor bad he is what you would call a vampire white collar villain he has his own motive and reasons for what he is doing and in some eyes it may seem he is doing the right thing and in most he is just doing it for his own benefit. Neill is almost a show stealer he outclasses all the other vampire types in this film to come out the best vamp standing. The rest of the supporting cast of almost unknown actors are good in there own right and do help support the leading cast well in there efforts at making this a very believable film.




"Daybreakers" in it's own right is unconventional and unorthodox for it's type it stands out far above others films of it's sub genre and firmly plants it self as a leader in the new sci-fi vampire world. "Daybreakers" may not please all fans of vampires but it will give you a different spin on a genre that is as old as the talkies themselves.

Since Dracula first graced the silver screen with his presence in 1931 vampires have become the number #1 horror icon of all time and a major staple of almost every creature feature from then on; from 1931 to 1992 Dracula reigned supreme over the screens as the most terrifying creature ever invented. With his departure after Francis Ford Coppola's "Bram Stoker's Dracula" the vampire genre seemed all but dead(no pun intended.) until 1996 when the genre had some new life breathed into it by two up and coming directors Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino there collaborated effort was a little known film at the time but has since now become one of the greatest, and only, cult classic to ever grace the genre there film was called from Dusk till Dawn" and today it is still consider the film that restarted the vampire genre.


Robert Rodriguez & Quentin Tarantino 's "From Dusk till Dawn" is not a traditional vampire flick, in fact in the beginning you don't even suspect that or even think that this film is a vampire flick. "From Dusk till Dawn" starts out being a hostage drama in the first act and then in the second act it quickly and unexpectedly turns into a survival horror thriller that pays homage not only to Mexican horror films but also the golden oldies of the 70's and early to mid 80's, this film literally serves as a testament that just because you?ve think you've seen it before you haven't. "From Dusk till Dawn" will not entertain everyone but it will entertain the die hard, can't get enough fans of the vampire genre this film won't disappoint.






George Clooney always plays either the clean cut lawyer or charming criminal in this film he is neither charming or nice instead Clooney plays a character that we as moviegoers have rarely ever seen and while at first he rubs you the wrong way, gradually you begin to like and respect his character as the film's story quickly spins out of control but Clooney never losses his cool in the film not even for a second. He's always level headed and thinks it through that is why his character and Clooney himself succeeds at evoking a sense of realism in this film without him and someone else playing the character I don't think this film would have felt as real as it did. Harvey Keitel is a class act in this film he doesn't play a gangster( Reservoir Dogs), or an FBI agent(National Treasure I & II) instead he plays a preacher and a family man which is strange to see him play as he is know to always play the tough guy. But while Keitel is tough he is also playing it safe through most of the film as he has two kids to think about and that alone is a sight to see, but he also pulls allot of risky stunts challenging Clooney and even worse jumping feet first into his own grave when fighting the vampires, Keitel is someone you want in your corner whether as an acting partner or a fellow vampire fighter. Quentin Tarantino, who sadly only has a small part in this film, is fantastic as the other Gecko brother Richard. Tarantino is psychotic, smart and paranoid only someone as nuts as Tarantino could play a part like this it is practically made for him and while he doesn't share as much screen time as Clooney his part is essential and a reason to see this movie just to see how far he will go. The rest of the cast including, Juliette Lewis, Ernest Liu, Cheech Marin and Selma Hayek and many others are fantastic in there roles and really help out the main cast in making there parts more believable and help the story flourish and flow like the rapids.





"From Dusk till Dawn" is unconventional, sometimes uneven and far too brutal for it's own good, but this modern day vampire flick is what you would expect and then some it doesn't cheat you or leave you hanging it gives you what you came for and then it bids you a farewell.

Have you ever wondered what lies inside the mind of a serial killer? Have you ever wondered what makes them work, what makes them tick? We may never truly know what has driven them to commit such violent acts, was it the abusive or neglectful parent? Was it being looked down on by friends and family? The answers to many of those question may never come to fruition, cinema has tried to give us a look into the mind of these demented individuals but they've only explained there madness to us they have never shown us what there minds are like or how they see themselves in there own world. Tarsem Singh?s ?The Cell? shows you there world and how sometimes the most unassuming and harmless looking people can harbor a darker side to them.




"The Cell" is a film that is straight out of the minds of David Lynch and Chris Carter, it's a twisted, bizarre and unique journey into the mind of a torn individual(D'Onfrio) and how one person(Lopez) has to journey into his mind to save his latest victim. This film is filled with breathtakingly beautiful yet strange scenery that extenuates and balances out the strange and startling violence that is blended into this extraordinarily complex, dark and foreboding film that uses it beauty as both a lethal form of expressing the stories deep emotions a way of unleashing the depraved and unhinged nature of a mind lost. "The Cell" for it is time was very unique and today still stands as a groundbreaking film in the works of cinematography, visuals, art and set design. This film pushes the boundaries of how far the normal human mind can process a film like it will overwhelm you at times and at others it will awestruck you with its interesting and intriguing plot twist. "The Cell" is not for everyone it's a film meant for audiences with a passion and liking for films that challenge the imagination and go farther and deeper into madness that ever before. If you can handle films like that and are curious about the strange workings of the mind than ?The Cell" is the film for you It gives you what you want and so, so much more and in the end it doesn't disappoint.




Jennifer Lopez gives one of her best performances as a strung out child psychiatrist, Lopez has always been nailed as a room com girl and it wasn't until 1999's "Out of Sight" that she truly showed what she was really made of now she puts herself out there like never before. Pushing herself to be more than just a singer turned poor actress here she proves she is worthy of being called an actress. Vince Vaughn is not what you would call a favorite of mine he has never made a film that has truly earned a place on my top tens list but with "The Cell" Vaughn has earned my respect as an actor. Vaughn does not crack any jokes, he does not have a catchy one-liner in fact he does not have one single funny thing to say or one funny thing happens to him at all. Vaughn proves that he is a serious actor with his haunted performance as a troubled FBI agent trying to find a killers latest victim. It's not so much his style that is intriguing it is the way that his character unfolds on screen and how Vaughn gives him a real authentic feel making the character viable for you to believe what is happening to him and feel his pain. He shows that he can be funny but serious as well and that is why I tip my hat to him. Vincent D?Onfrio is phenomenal as the extremely disturbed killer D'Onfrio is pure genius in this film, although he does not say much he says everything he needs through his actions. D'Onfrio has always been unconventional and somewhat of an outsider and here, he shows with the rest of the main cast that he is a standout and a true "actor's actor". The rest of the cast is fantastic and help enhance the performances of the leads as well as make themselves look respectable in there own way.



"The Cell" may not give psychological thriller fans exactly what they hoped for, for those who like films that throw you head first into a twisted searing world of bizarre and breathtaking visuals and a story straight from the mind of a demented individual. "The Cell" is one of the best psychological horror thrillers ever made and it stands true to the fact a film of it's kind can defy the normal realm of human imagination.

Have you ever had a dream that was impossible to wake up from, you felt like you were falling and falling but you never seemed to hit the ocean below. Sometimes in our lives, we hit such a point in our lives that everything seems unreal to us that were just living a big dream day in and day out. Martin Scorsese's psychological horror thriller "Shutter Island" explores those ideas and how sometimes even when everything in our life may seem out of place, may seem like there is no you can trust, like everything and everyone is out to get you... welcome to your own nightmare.



"Shutter Island" is unique among other horror thrillers as while most try to evoke pandemonium and fear, "Shutter Island" doesn't take that path instead it creates a new one causing the audience to think while bring out the very basic essence of fear and paranoia. This film is breathtaking in its dark and morbid scenery, haunting with its flashy yet subtle visuals tricks. What really makes this Scorsese?s mind bender a twisted masterpiece is the fact that it actually scares you while keeping your interest focused on the story and not on how much blood is being splattered everywhere as many horror films do these days. "Shutter Island? is the most unconventional and unpredictable thriller to come out in the last year it is a testament that just because Scorsese is old he is never out. "Shutter Island" is a work of malicious and devious design it cast its spell on you from the time the ominous score starts to play your trapped and there is no way out until the credits roll.




Leonardo DiCaprio gives one of his best and most unhinged performances as U.S. Marshall Teddy Daniels, DiCaprio is know for playing roles that most actors would pass up and in them turning down the role he steps in and makes it more than just a character on the screen. Here DiCaprio once again proves why he is one of cinema's modern greats playing a part that for a normal actor would cause extreme difficulty to make it believable. But DiCaprio shows no fear jumping head first into the unknown and pushing himself harder than ever before, DiCaprio may come off as a little heavy handed when all is said and done but him getting there is just half the fun. Mark Ruffalo is a huge favorite of mine and here he shows that he can play with the big boys. Ruffalo is a class act in this and though his part is small it is pivotal and crucial to telling the dark story of the film Ruffalo doesn't cheat you he gives you the performances that you know you would expect from him and maybe a little more. Ben Kingsley is great and almost steals the show with his calm and collective performance but what ultimately causes him from calming the show stealer spot light is his grayed character and his almost lack of interest in showing his true commitment to this films story. But nonetheless Kingsley is exemplary and a truly worth opponent for Leonardo DiCaprio. Michelle Williams is the one who steals the show she almost tops everyone with her haunting and menacing performance. Without Williams in this role the film wouldn't have had thee same impact or effect it takes a very determined and skilled actress to play a part like this as it requires someone who is ready, willing and able to go so far out there that there's no way back and Williams does just that. The rest of the cast is fantastic, help add more effect to the creepy and ominous atmosphere of this film, and help make this one of the best thrill rides of this year.





"Shutter Island" is like someone trying to attack you from the shadows you don't see them but you feel there presences that effect is what this film has on the audience it leaves with that haunting feeling that there is something out of place, something missing. And you just cannot shake it no matter how hard you try; "Shutter Island" may not appeal to gore happy fans of blood soaked horror films. However, for those who are able to immerse themselves into the story this film will standout forever as one of the best of the best and prove once again that Scorsese is the master when it comes to psychological terror.

Good directors are like artist they know how to paint a masterpiece with a camera, great directors are like authors they can turn even the worst of script into something magical and wondrous. They are masters of so many talents in there own quirky way: Spielberg has a warm, sunny optimism that resonates in his films and really grabs the audience, Kubrick is bleak, dark and complex and his film while visual stunning don't always make sense but somehow remain good films. What I am getting at is that not all directors are the same; some may use style and substance from other directors to create their own atmosphere while still being able to create a film wholly and completely theirs. Rob Marshall?s "NINE" explorers the chaotic and tension filled life of a director seen through the eyes of Daniel Day-Lewis.



"NINE" is a whip smart and flashy musical that rivals "Chicago" in every way but amazingly is able to stay distant from that production. What makes this film unique is the fact that it doesn't try to be the 1963 classic "8 1/2", no "Nine" tries and succeeds to be its own film; it doesn't cheat you out of anything not even when it is in the middle of a really flashy and stylish musical number. However, what really draws you into this films world is its detail to its surroundings and to its character, Guido Contini (Day-Lewis); Daniel Day-Lewis has to carry this film mainly by himself. That makes it a more interesting production to see a man's once perfectly ordered life spin completely and utterly out of control. "Nine" may seem like nothing more than a slick exploitation of a classic film to many and to other it may seem like a wholly original and vibrant film. "Nine" may be chaotic but it is at best one of the great musical of the modern era.




Daniel Day-Lewis turns in a great and powerful performance as the lost director of this story, Day-Lewis is not exactly a perfect fit for a part like this seeing as you always see him in dramas but seeing him in a musical singing and having a good time is something new and fresh. This film's story requires Day-Lewis to hold up the film mostly on his own two feet that for any actor is a tough enough job to do even if you have seven women there to back you up. While they are seen, they are very rarely heard from seeing, as the story is not about them but more about how they fit into the life of Guido Contini (Day-Lewis). and though they are down played there work in this film is exceptional and they do add a certain flare and style to this film and really do at times help elevate the material above musical standards.




"NINE? Is breathtakingly beautiful, outrageously cool and vibrant it is a musical that is both dramatic and at times funny in its own way It's not a film for everyone as in its own way it is very complex and perplexing. "Nine" delivers the extravagant music and flashy visual style you would expect from Rob Marshal and then some, it may feel distant at times and it may leave you wanting more from it at the end but "NINE" doesn't cheat you out of the experience that you know that you deserve or want. In addition, if you are forgiving than I know that this film will deliver.

What if your superiors sent to the harsh dessert's of Iraq to do one thing and one thing only, hunt down a dangerous and elusive terrorist well for Roger Ferris (Leonardo DiCaprio) this is his mission. And while Ferris believe that is simple enough his boss Edward Hoffman(Russell Crowe) has other plans and he keeps mucking up the works for Ferris just to see how fast he can pull it all together before he gets killed. In addition, Ferris, much like Bond, is able to get himself out of situations that for most undercover agents would seem like too big of a feat but Ferris is resourceful, smart and cunning. However, even if he is smart, cunning and resourceful you can never be prepared for what the horrors of war will throw your way and Ferris learns that lesson all too well as in his line of work he cannot trust anyone and he must deceive everyone.




Ridley Scott's "Body of Lies" is not a traditional spy thriller it doesn't have wall to wall actions, gorgeous women left and right, impossible feats and implausibility?s. No, "Body of Lies" is what spy movies use to be before the 80's and 90 has ushered in the over the top action days such films like Mission Impossible (the title says it all.), the James Bond movies (Roger Moore and Pierce Brosnan days). This film sidesteps the cliché problems of the modern day spy flick and gives us a competent and ingenious look into the everyday life of a C.I.A. agent, Ridley Scott is know for films that are dark, brooding and distant from the natural realm of our time Alien(1979) and Blade Runner(1982) showed us that. "Body of Lies" just further proves that Ridley Scott is one of cinema's greatest directors and can turn a film like this into a standout in the espionage thriller genre, ?Body of Lies" is Scott at his best.





This film displays one of Leonardo DiCaprio's good but not great performances DiCaprio is always in top form but here he seems slightly out of place in this type of role. Liked the writers wrote it for someone else but DiCaprio got the job instead. Now I am not saying he cannot hold up this role and make it believable what I am saying is that he just does not seem he wants to put his whole heart into it. DiCaprio does not let you down and he never will, but here he is only working at half his usual strength, which for DiCaprio is a step below his usual. Russell Crowe is phenomenal as DiCaprio?s boss Ed Hoffman, Crowe is a step below an Oscar nomination his performance here is very close. Crowe's character is someone from the beginning that you have doubts about you do not know if he is the good guy the bad guy, or both. He keeps you wondering about his true intentions throughout the film and in the end, he leaves it up to you to decided weather or not he is good or bad and that, to me, is the sign of greatness. Mark Strong is fantastic as DiCaprio's contact, Strong doesn't falter in his performance he is more aggressive and tough than both DiCaprio, Crowe and justly so as his character calls for him to be that way and he plays it ever so smoothly and confident that you actually believe that he is the character he is portraying.



Ridley Scott's "Body of Lies? never lets you down, it doesn't cheat you and it gives you what you want and more it's a modern spy thriller for our generation infusing ripped from the headline stories with Ridley Scott's powerful and commanding style of film making. "Body of Lies" is the spy thriller that fans have been waiting for.

Ed Wood's "Plan 9 from Outer Space? was as dull uneventful and as worthless as any picture he had made, yet somehow it has established itself as the creator of the Sci-Fi spoof. Many films have followed it is footsteps but all have been labeled cheesy, uneventful, worthless and some of the worst films of all time. That is until a visionary director named Tim Burton put his spin on Ed Woods trademark trait for making bad movies, his film, a homage to" Plan 9 from Outer Space" and Ed Wood himself is as big as the galaxy and as audacious as any film can get.



Tim Burton's "Mars Attacks!" Is big bold, audacious and rude Burton has constructed an extremely unique and outrageously funny Sci-Fi black comedy that defies all beliefs and completely redefines the spoof genre. What makes this film such a treat is the fact that it's cast has fun with the corny material and the fish out of water type of story, but "Mars Attacks!" is not all fun and games it can get pretty serious if only for a few minutes at a time. It's the type of film that you must put your logic aside to truly enjoy or else you will find yourself having a very boring time trying to get the far out jokes and out of place story and technology. "Mars Attacks!" can entertain you but you have to embrace it on it's own level instead of yours and once you do strap yourself in for one of the wildest and craziest rides you will ever take.



The All star cast including Jack Nicholson(In dual roles), Glenn Close, Pierce Brosnan, Sarah Jessica Parker, Michael J. Fox(In his last big screen film), Joe Don Baker, Tom Jones, Jim Brown, Paul Winfield, Natalie Portman and Annette Bening all give good performances. Including standout performances from Jack Nicholson as the president and an idiotic con man, Jim Brown as a Family man and former boxer, Tom Jones as Tom Jones, Annette Bening as a recovering alcoholic and ditsy dame, Pierce Brosnan as Donald Kessler the pipe smoking, alien respecting professor and many, many more. They do not let you down [The Cast], they give you everything they?ve got and then some. There smart, edgy, funny and outrageous there the perfect comedy cast in a film that is far from perfect.




"Mars Attacks!" is not a film that everyone can enjoy it is a film that is for those who like quirky and strange films and can embrace this film as it is and if your forgiving it will deliver the crazy experience that you would expect from Tim Burton.

They say that sometimes when a person is isolated from other people or things he or she is familiar with you start to slowly loose your mind, you start seeing things that aren't real, hearing voices in your head, walking nightmares. It is called Cabin Fever and In Stanley Kubrick's psychological horror thriller explores what happens when a recovering alcoholic ex-teacher(Jack Nicholson) starts to literally loose his mind when isolated in a beautiful hotel during a blizzard. "The Shining" helped usher in a whole new era of horror with it's mind bending psychological effects, twisted story of a man's decent into madness, it's a film that set bold new standards for films and has since become one of the greatest horror films of all time.




Stanley Kubrick's "The Shining" is a film that at best embodies the true meaning of horror, it doesn't use boat loads of gore and sex to tell it story or evoke fear in the audience. It is conventional, smart and well paced those are the secrets to it's success. Most horror films today think they can get by using cheap thrills and flashy tricks, stock characters and a bland and uninteresting story. "The Shining", for it's time. pushed the boundaries of psychological terror making a lasting and horrifying impression on the horror genre that still last today. It's a film of endless possibilities and unfathomable imagination that makes you believe that what you are seeing is real and gives you a vision of terror and madness the likes that only Stephen King could create.


Jack Nicholson is know for being quite subdued yet wild in some of his performances, here he forgoes all that and goes hog wild let loose the inner maniac. Nicholson's performance is just how I would envision a Stephen King character crazy, manic and homicidal Nicholson embodies those traits and infuses them into his performance. Some may find Nicholson's actions in the film to be a little over the top an d other will find his performance and attitude is just right for a film of this caliber. Nicholson's performance is arguably the best and most powerful in the horror genre. The rest of the cast including Danny Lloyd, Scatman Crothers and Bary Nelson all deliver great supporting performances in this complex and handsomely mounted film.


Some may find "The Shining" lacks a cultural and ethical punch, while others will find that it is a horror film to end all horror films a movie of endless chills and horrifying visuals, it delivers what it promises and doesn't cheat you out of the chilling experience of this timeless film.

Once Upon a time in Nazi occupied France the German's were flooding the land, destroying everything and anyone who got in there path they plunder, pillaged, and ransacked a few villages while merrily laughing all the while. The Americans were furious and quite intuitive on how to send the German is a message. Therefore, they gathered up a team of rag tag Jewish-American soldiers and sent them behind enemy lines to cause the German's some mayhem. They came, they saw, they killed they scalped and sent the cold shiver up the German's spine's the Fuhrer was furious, the American's were laughing at his angry despair, through out the Third Reich they sent The German's a message that the were here to stay, to kill old Adolph and his heads of state. To bring down the German oppression and show them the ferocity of there strength and there drive and be know as throughout the German as "Inglourious Basterds".




Quentin Tarantino's "Inglourious Basterds? is audacious, rude and outrageously historically incorrect it's one of those great Tarantino films that just grabs you and throws you head first into a wacky and insane world of violence, brutality and allot of Nazi slurs. I liked this film allot more than I thought I would seeing as I am not a fan of Tarantino's at all, but there was something about this film that was just so good I really can't place it. I don't know if it was the outrageous liberties taken with history, the black humor that seemed to float around in almost every frame with Aldo(Brad Pitt) and his men, maybe it was Christoph Waltz's dry sadistic humor and his ability to screw up the most simple of American slang. I do not know but ?Inglourious Basterds" is one of those films that you just can't hate. It works on every level as a violent revenge film, a black comedy, a war movie and in some strange way a character study. "Inglourious Basterds? is Quentin Tarantino at his most ruthless and unrestrained.



Brad Pitt gives one of his best and most outrageous performances as the thickly accented, Nazi killing Lt. Aldo Raines, Pitt?s performance is solely based on his ferocity and shear star power. In most films Pitt is a miscast and his performance is very distant and withdrawn, here he is perfectly cast and delivers a fine performance under the direction of Quentin Tarantino. Christoph Waltz is the man that sneaks up on you in this film you does not expect such a strong performance from him and yet that is what you get and then some. Waltz looks like a choirboy but acts like a schizophrenic maniac, he never ceases to amaze and out of the entire cast he delivers the most daring and most wigged out performance. The rest of the cast including Mélanie Laurent, Eli Roth, Til Schweiger, and Diane Kruger are all phenomenal and deliver some of the best performances I have seen in a long time from a supporting cast.





"Inglourious Basterds" is one of those films that you may like more while your watching it than after and then again you may actually like it even like it more after it's over, it's just that good. Quentin Tarantino has created his masterpiece a film so audacious, crude and bold that it just leaps out at you at every turn and gives you a rip roaring, explosive adventure that you will not soon forget.

We all have choices we make in life sometimes they are for good reasons and sometimes the choices we make leads us down a path from wince there is no return. For Anakin Skywalker has walked this path and turned his back on everyone and everything he has ever known. But the biggest question that is lurking in everyone's mind is how did he choose the dark side over all that he knew and loved? Why would he help destroy everything that was so dear to him? Did he do it for power? did he do it for love? Those questions have always baffled Star Wars fans for twenty-two years. And now after all this time the answer to the greatest question in Star Wars history is about to be revealed.


George Lucas' "Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace" is a visual eye catching, mind bending spectacle that resonates with the heart and with the soul it catches the very imagination of the audiences and brings to life a world that has been missing from the screen for the better part of two decades. It's beautiful and mystifying, enchanting and endearing, heartbreaking yet breathtaking George Lucas has crafted a film that is true to the Star Wars mythology and true to the heart of a story that always has something to say, and something to see. "The Phantom Menace" is not a story of love, loss and war it?s an eternal struggle of good vs. evil of how your choices can lead you down a path of righteousness or down a path of evil, Lucas brings out the best of the characters and of the story. This for being so old has an amazing fresh and innovative revival in this prequel that gives new life to the Star Wars saga and shows you the rise and fall of Anakin Skywalker.


Liam Neeson is fantastic in this, Neeson doesn't let you down he gives you all he's got and then some he's bold brave and patient, yet subtle and fierce in his role as Obi Wan Kenobi's master. But unlike others who have played the part he does it better. Not only bringing a more fatherly and caring side to it he also adds an aggressive yet calm demeanor to his character which demonstrates Qui Gon?s skill as a Jedi Master and h is cool head in battle. Which is emphasized by Neeson calm acting, Neeson is perfectly cast. Ewan McGregor demonstrates here his skills as a character actor, he may falter, he may not fully convince you at times but McGregor never lets you down he gives you the performance you could hope for and then some. McGregor doesn't try to impress you or win you over in this first installment (He has two other films to do that.) But instead he does his best with what he is given and what he does is fantastic. Jake Lloyd is beyond terrible in almost every scene he is in he chews his words like they were some bad chicken and spits in the faces of the audience. Lloyd tries his best but he has not passion, no spark for the profession that is acting he just says the lines like they were nothing and has no respect for what he is doing, all in all Jake Lloyd is an eyesore. The rest of the cast including Natalie Portman, Frank Oz, Anthony Daniels, Kenny Baker, Ian Diarmid, Ahmed Best and Keira Knightly deliver knockout supporting performances in what marks the return of one of cinema most legendary sagas.




"Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace" may not win any new fans and it also may not impress the die hard but it is a visual and visceral treat for the eyes and the senses. It gives you the big bold out of this world adventure you could hope for from a Star Wars movie and then some. It works better as a visual extravaganza than as a story of galactic conflict, "Phantom Menace? doesn?t let you down it delivers on the big questions fans have been asking but on a level as a film it is far from being a classic but it never falters and never cheats you and gives you the movie going experience you want.

"Star Wars: Episode I- The Phantom Menace" opened a whole new chapter in the Star Wars saga introducing us to a young 9 year old Anakin Skywalker during a time of moral conflict in the Galactic Republic. "Star War Episode II- Attack of the Clones" is set ten years after the events in the previous films and while it is more stunning and visually attractive than "The Phantom Menace". But as a continuation of the great Star Wars Saga "The Attack of the Clones" falls short of the glory of the franchise and film making in general. It runs like a bad T.V. movie something that you would see on the Sci-Fi channel, it is hollow and bloated it squanders the limitless imagination and potential it shows in favor of being an extravagant, special effects action set piece.



George Lucas' " Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones" is like I said visually spectacular and is emotional gripping but it lacks direction and care, it lacks the labor of love Lucas put into the original trilogy and doesn't strive to push itself. It feels like Lucas didn't care to make it to please only to make money and tell Anakin Skywalker's story, which if it had a better script, more upbeat and emotional acting and a clear sense of direction this second installment of the prequel trilogy could have lived up to it's expectations, instead it falls flat on it's face and for 2hrs. 22min it doesn't get back up. It's not a terrible movie per say but it's not a good one either it sits in between mediocre and god awful leaning more towards mediocre. "Attacks of the Clones" is nowhere near good but what it is a visual action spectacle that has some amazing set pieces and action but nothing.



Ewan McGregor is good but not good enough to help lead the charge in this film McGregor falls flat in every scene that he is in "The Phantom Menace" he held his own very well but here the material, the direction and the script are not strong enough to help him boost his performances. Instead he comes out stale, bland and emotionless but still amazingly is not an eyesore. Hayden Christensen is not an actor I would call a favorite of mine, in fact I don't really like him at all. He's bland, emotionless, and lifeless and devoid of power in his acting he doesn't convince you at all that he is the character he embodies. In fact he does just the opposite he completely strips you of all belief that his character (Anakin Skywalker) is someone deserving of great character status. Christensen is incapable of drawing any feelings from the audience but I will say this in his favor he does try and that, in some minuscule way, is something. Natalie Portman is not good nor bad nor terrible but just plain alright in this, Portman has done better work and this film is not one of them. Portman exudes a certain charm, style and sophistication that mange to make her believable under overwhelming circumstances and even then she doesn't convince but she never lets you down and that is something I recognize and appreciate, Portman is one of the highlights of this film and also one of the heavy hitters. The rest of the cast including Christopher Lee, Frank Oz, Anthony Daniels, Temuera Morrison, Kenny Baker, Ian Diarmid and Samuel L. Jackson all deliver fine supporting performances in what can easily be called the weakest if the Star Wars series.



"Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones" is nowhere near the greatness of the first three original films or the first film in the prequel trilogy, it has it's high points but sadly there only visual and not emotional and moving the actors try there best with the material there given but they just can't seem to make it work. It lacks energy and delight it makes you feels patronized and kiddish. It can't lift itself beyond its legacy it tries to follow and for that it sinks under the weight of one of the most powerful series ever invented (The original trilogy). "Attack of the Clones" is not a Sci-Fi classic or a classic of any kind it?s only purpose is to serve as great rainy day entertainment when you have nothing else to do. Beyond that it?s only all style and no substance.

Once upon time in England there lived a young girl named Alice, Alice Kingsley now Alice wasn't like most girls her age she was a little impetuous and curious. Therefore, one day while roaming around the woods young Alice wanders off into the woods and there she sees a small white rabbit in a waistcoat with a pocket watch, Alice, curious about the strange creature follows him up the hill to an old tree where the rabbit mysteriously vanishes. Alice looks around for him and during her search finds a huge hole in the side of the tree, Alice leans in to see if the rabbit is inside but somehow she falls down the rabbit hole and ends up in a mysterious and strange world called Underland. There she meets a host of bizarre characters such as The Mad Hatter, The Cheshire Cat, The Smoking Caterpillar, The White Queen her sister The Red Queen, Tweedledee and Tweedledum and many others. Alice has one of the greatest adventures of her childhood but it comes to end all too soon, when young Alice must return to the bleakness of reality and leave her newfound friends behind.


Thirteen years pass and Alice, now nineteen is still has the imagination of a child and her aunt does not approve, Alice?s aunt wants her to give up her childish dreams that her father had and embrace the real world. Alice doesn't like this idea and doesn't like the fact that her Aunt always tries to pair her off with a man she doesn't love, or like for that matter. So during a party Alice notices a little white rabbit in a waist coat with a pocket watch, little does she know is that it's the same rabbit she saw last time. Alice gives chase after the rabbit and it leads her to the same rabbit hole she fell down once before and as before Alice accidentally falls. Thus being her return to the magical world of Underland and once again becoming, ?Alice in Wonderland".




Tim Burton's update of the classic Lewis Carroll tale "Alice in Wonderland" is an inspired work it embodies everything that makes Burton a master and what makes him a genius at the art of dark fantasy. While this sequel ,or re Imagining, if you would like to call it, is a dark morbid fantasy film that while may lack the wide eyed child enthusiasm of the 1951 Walt Disney animated production it still keeps the adventure, the fun and the charm of the original production and book. What I liked most about it was the dry sense of humor infused into this classic story, but also I like the fact that it does not try to be more than what it is; it does not try to be some audacious fantasy film. Instead, it settles for an above average Burton film with a lighthearted side, while retaining the amazing visuals and stylish pace that is expected of Tim Burton. "Alice in Wonderland" may not impress everyone but for those who like some visually appealing dark fantasy films with a good-hearted story to them.


Mia Wasikowska delivers a very grand and stylish performance as the older Alice she is refined, beautiful, smart, resourceful, spunky and imaginative. But what I like the most about her is her subtle approach to the role of Alice Kingsley she doesn't go over the top or under average she instead settles for a more grounded and believable performance that works despite the complications of being a women taking on the role of a heroine Wasikowska pulls it off just fine. Johnny Depp is what you call a chameleon he can tackle any role and take on any type of film and with this, his sixth collaboration with director Tim Burton is not one of their best but definitely one of the more mainstream and enjoyable. Depp is superb in this film, the way he portrays the Hatter is just astounding you would think he is actually the Mad Hatter. Depp is unconventional and it shows here he is the scene-stealer and in almost every scene he takes home the gold, Depp is a must see in this dream production. The rest of the cast including: Crispin Glover, Anne Hathaway, Matt Lucas, Alan Rickman, Michael Sheen, Stephen Fry and Helena Bonham Carter all deliver great supporting performances in a film that has the feel of a drug induced hallucination but plays like an old time movie.



"Alice in Wonderland? may not appeal to every single fan of Tim Burton and the classic novel by Lewis Carroll, but it will amaze those who know nothing of the classic story. Tim Burton delivers a wild, trippy adventure that will charm and leave you with a feeling as if you just went a round with LSD. "Alice in Wonderland" is not one of the best of 2010 but it is one of the more inspired movies of the year and if you are forgiving, it will entertain.

Tim Burton is a master at constructing brilliant and unique films that boggle the mind and defy all beliefs there films that deliver a bold new twist each time but what makes Burton a master is his attention and devotion to his story. The detail and meticulous design of the sets, the costumes, the atmosphere of his films and how they all in some strange way impart a certain message of sorts that has a bizarre connection to real life. Tim Burton's 2005 adaptation of Roald Dahl's beloved children book "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" has a method to its madness and a meaning to its story. "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" is one of Burton's best films since Big Fish and Sleepy Hollow.


Tim Burton's take on the legendary tale of eccentric chocolate maker Willy Wonka and young dreamer Charlie Bucket is a film of meticulous design, it is meant to be a children movie but "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" plays out better as a quirky adult fantasy adventure with a PG rating. Burton doesn't spare any detail he uses all his style and energy to create the bleak world of Charlie Bucket and all his imagination and light hearted enthusiasm to make the beautiful chocolate factory of Willy Wonka, it's astounding how it works, how it moves along flawlessly telling it's story and just wowing the audience in each and every scene. It is not a cheap exploitation flick with a famous name slapped on it it is a story about a person, a place and a situation that comes to be fall that person (Freddie Highmore). Burton has not only updated a classic story for a modern generation he has effectively made a film that is both true to his quirky style and mainstream enough for modern audiences, It's one of the best films of the last decade and also one of Burton's very best.


The film only works whether you believe in what you are seeing; it succeeds on how you look at it if you look at it with a cynical point of view than this film will be a terrible time and a complete waste of money to you. However, if you keep your eyes open and your mind clear of any doubt than this film will work wonders on your soul, your imagination and your imagination. Tim Burton's "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory? is a one of kind film that only he [Burton] could have come up with and executed to the peak of perfection. "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" is as quirky as a Burton film can be, but, in it's defense it is also a poignant story of love, family, doing the right thing, not being spoiled or overly competitive and most of all, chocolate. Lots and lots of chocolate. This film is a must see for Burton/Depp fans and for fans how like their chocolate visually stunning and dark.



Johnny Depp has always been know for his dark, strange and engrossing performances there is only one film that comes to mind that Depp has taken a light hearted turn and that was in Marc Fosters biopic of famed Peter Pan author J.M. Barrie, "Finding Neverland". Here Depp once again displays his skills as an actor, he gives audiences a performance that does not come off as eerie but eccentric, quirky and strange which for a Burton movie that is not too had to grasp. Depp delivers every step of the way and he never falters for one minute in his audacious role as Willy Wonka. Freddie Highmore is fantastic in this he is so honest, earnest and cheerful that he lifts this film out of its dark style and brings some light into the picture. Highmore is very skilled and if he was taken seriously as an actor he would truly be great, and he is Highmore has all the makings of a fantastic actor and alongside Depp(For the second time) he holds his own quite nicely and silences the doubters(me being one) that he is worthy of being called an actor. The rest of the cast including Christopher Lee, David Kelly, Noah Taylor and Helena Bonham Carter all deliver fine supporting performances in this fantastic fantasy adventure.



"Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" is fun, wild, zany, outrageously enjoyable and delightful; it is a film that so hugely entertaining it does not feel like you are watching a movie more as if you are living it Burton has done wonders here and this film does not get as much praise as it should. It is a richly layered and well thought out film that exceeds all expectations it definitely exceeded my expectations. It shows how sometimes the thing you want the most is not always, what is best for you and how sometimes just because you?re down and out doesn't mean you?re any less fortunate than the next.

On February18,2001 Attorney General John Ashcroft made a public televised announcement that one of the FBI's highest ranking agents Robert Hanssen had been charged with selling American secrets to Russia for more than US$1.4 million in cash and diamonds over a 22-year period. On 6 July 2001, he pleaded guilty to fifteen counts of espionage. He was then sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. His activities have been described as "possibly the worst intelligence disaster in US history." Billy Ray's "Breach" tells the events leading up to the capture of Robert Hanssen and how one lone rookie took down one of the most infamous traitors in American history. Billy Ray's film is a masterful execution of design and brilliant execution that ask one of the most dangerous questions, in a world where you have to lie to survive and the truth is lethal how can you trust those you know with he truth?



Billy Ray's "Breach" is a film that works beyond the normal conventional trappings of other espionage thrillers it works like spy thrillers use to work before big explosive actions sequences, beautiful women, and mindless plot devices overrode ingenious plots twists, sharp writing, broad and haunted characters and compelling stories. "Breach" is a throw back to the brilliance of Cold War spy thrillers with a modern twist attached to it what makes this film work is not the story or the powerful intrigue, no. What drives this film what makes it work is the dark, complex interplay between the characters how they lie and manipulate one another for there own needs, Billy Ray crafts one of the most intricate and well rounded story of espionage, double dealings, treachery and deception. It is a story of how sometimes the ones you trust the most are the ones with the most secrets. "Breach" is a film that not only works on your senses it pulls you into a world, into a story that you could never have thought possible or even imagine was real it's a film so brilliant, so powerful that the minute it's over you'll want to see it again.


This film is not a story about espionage or intrigue it is a story about people, real people and the choices they make the choices that affect the people around them, the people they love. That to me expresses more of the story's power than the films actual investigation into Robert Hanssen. Ray focuses more on how this investigation affected O'Neill and his wife more than how it all affected Hanssen, you know it doesn't bother Hanssen what he's doing or what he is about to do. We see he has no remorse for what he did or the lives he cost. It is how O'Neill works this story, how he is affected mentally and emotionally by the events that are transpiring. "Breach" is beyond a thriller it is almost like watching real events unfolding in front of you on screen. Billy Ray has transcended the original story and put to paper and then to the screen a story that seems to terrifying to believe "Breach" works on every level as a spy thriller, a character study and a cautionary tale.


I have never really followed Ryan Phillippe career the only film I can remember I saw him in was in 1998's "Cruel Intentions", which was a good film mind you. Phillippe was likable in that film and I liked how he played the smug Sebastian but something about him just didn't sit right with me I liked him but I didn't consider him a good actor, until now. Phillippe's performance as young FBI employee Eric O'Neill is powerful and haunted Phillippe has proven himself worthy of being called an actor instead of a former teen heartthrob who went nowhere. He doesn't just try and play the role; no, he lives the role he becomes the role, he immerses himself into the role and gives a performance is not only masterful and skillful but it is also powerful and shows you this two hit wonder has got more acting chops than anyone thought, than I thought. Chris Cooper is an actor who can tackle any film, any role, and any genre you just give him the script and watch the sparks fly. Here Cooper dominates the film this is his film to own, to control he is the reason it floats instead of sinking, Phillippe and Cooper are both truly compelling in this film they work as if they've been going head to head for years and the payoff in the end is breathtaking. Cooper is so powerful there are times that he sometimes overpowers the audience and in most cases that would cause a less skilled actor to seem like he is giving an over the top performance. Cooper is a master and he overpowering the audiences means he is giving more credibility and power to an already influential film. The rest of the cast including Dennis Haysbert, Laura Linney, Kathleen Quinlan and Gary Cole all turn in strong supporting performances in this old school spy thriller.



It is a flawless movie of perfect design and execution; it works like a nasty little machine toying with you every step of the way while you try to put the pieces together in the end. Billy Ray does not only use every feeling and emotion a human has he uses it to it?s full extent spreading it out like butter on a piece of toast, this film does not only work as a morality play, a story so refined and perfected that it transcends normal cinema and enters the realm of modern film classics.

Do you ever wonder if the world you are living in is real? Do you wonder if it is nothing more than just a fabrication of your own insane imagination, or if it is happening for real? Donnie Darko is asking himself those very same questions as he travels down a mind breaking, insanity inducing journey that leaves you with a disturbing and haunting answer that will shatter everything you think you know about reality and also leave you with one nagging question, where does fantasy end and reality begin? Richard Kelly?s disturbing portrait of mental instability and suburban life in 80's America is a testament to film making, it is a film that relies more on the atmosphere and lead actor's skills to move the picture along, instead of CGI effects and bloody violence, which is almost mandatory in a film of this caliber. Instead, "Donnie Darko" transcends the normal psychological drama and pushes the boundaries of film making turning a conventional thriller into a full-blown decent into madness.



Richard Kelly?s trippy debut "Donnie Darko" is a daring and original vision of suburban America sent into total chaos how a torn mind can fabricate the greatest of fantasies or even bring forth the greatest and most disturbing truths of reality. For young Donnie Darko (Jake Gyllenhaal), who is just trying to find his place and work through his emotional issue, it is a tough world. Kelly does not use the typical flashy tricks you would expect from big budget films of this caliber. Kelly goes for a more subtle and cerebral approach using his actors to there full extent making the film as much a character study as it is a mind trip. Kelly masterfully pulls the strings of the characters and the story to twist and mold it the way he sees fit into a film that is so absorbing and yet so mentally unstable you start wondering what is real and what is fantasy. That is the mark of a true filmmaker, a born filmmaker with such skill and talent for his craft that he transcends the norm of first time directors and becomes a director to watch. Richard Kelly's "Donnie Darko" is the prime example of how sometimes life can take an unexpected turn for the worst and just keep on trucking.


I like the strength of this film I like how it relied on its characters or character to drive this picture to perfection to push the very fabric of this films dark story and take the genre to new heights. "Donnie Darko" is a twisted character study that is beyond comprehension, it is the kind of film you lose yourself too you become immersed in Donnie Darko's world the fantasy, the mind bending twist and turns and the story that seems more like something you would read in the National enquirer or hear from a local wacko. It works so well at leaving you unhinged after watching it that you will literally lose sleep after you see it. That is how effective it is at delivering its potent message.



I never really liked Jake Gyllenhaal he never really seemed like a good actor to me in fact the only Gyllenhaal movie I have ever seen was "The Day after Tomorrow" and now "Donnie Darko" the film that literally launched his career. Gyllenhaal is phenomenal he plays the part like it was nothing displaying talent and power that I didn't even think he had; he's so honest and yet so disturbed to me his performance as Darko is one of the greatest in modern cinema and should be acknowledged as such. Gyllenhaal is now a favorite of mine and I will be watching his career looking out for a performance that can top his career making turn in this film. The rest of the cast including the late Patrick Swazye (he will be greatly missed.), Drew Barrymore, Noah Wyle, Holmes Osborne, David St. James, Arthur Taxier, Daveigh Chase, Jena Malone and James Duvall as Frank all deliver stellar supporting performances in this brainy film.



How you view "Donnie Darko?, all depends on how open your mind is too the impossible if it's closed off then this film will seem like a colossal waste of time and extremely tiresome. However, if you are open minded this will be one of the greatest trips you will ever take without the influence of LSD (The film and Gyllenhaal are already on it so why bother). "Donnie Darko" is a can't miss , pitch perfect psychological horror drama that is as perplexing as it is intriguing it challenges you every step of the way, making you think, making you wonder and even making you afraid of what lies beyond our normal world. It is an American classic a film for our time and a film that will undoubtedly stand the test of time as a landmark motion picture.

Wes Craven in the past has given us some of the greatest horror classics whether they be "The Last the House on the Left"(1972), Nightmare on Elm Street" (1984), The Hills Have Eyes"(1977), "The Hills Have Eyes Part II"(1985), "Scream"(1996), "Scream II"(1997) and "Scream III"(2000). Craven has always delivered a new and terrifying twist on one of cinema's oldest and most revered genres the one thing about Craven I've always liked is that he doesn't try and do the same thing twice. Actually, I take that back he did do the same thing twice actually three times with the Scream series (It got ridiculous after two). Craven has always managed to give us a new and original look at horror, Craven has always stuck to the ground so the real question is what if the master of modern horror took to the skies.



Wes Craven's "RED EYE" is a smart and engaging economic thriller that while lacking the grounded terror of most Wes Craven films it does in fact evoke the oldest of all fears, the fear of flying. People fear flying for many reasons some fear it because they are afraid of heights like me. They fear flying because they are afraid the plane will have some kind of problem and crash; the reason for fear of flying is infinite and in this film it churns out a story that resonates well with modern audiences it is a story about one girl and one terrorist trapped on a red eye flight to Miami. Craven is a master of horror, has proved with this film that he can expanded past the trappings of the horror genre, and create an action thriller that works as a character driven story as much as it does as an action picture. The story of this picture in some ways lacks originality as it is reminiscent but not derivative of other films of it's type sort of like Wolfgang Petersen's "Air Force One" or George Seaton's "Airport " and don't get me wrong I enjoyed the story, I loved it but it could have worked out a little better in my opinion. "Red EYE" is one of the most engaging and tension filled films I have watched to date it works so much better than it should and even when it should sink, it floats.



It is not so much about terrorism as it is about conquering your fears and overcoming your doubt that is what Rachel McAdams has to do in the picture, she is pushed to the breaking point, figuratively speaking. The film is like being trapped in a giant tube 30,000 feet in the air with a lunatic (Talk about your stressful situation) and through shear will power, amazing direction and solid performances this film is worth the watch. it's a tension builder a potboiler that from the opening scene starts to build up and up and up until it finally boils over in the hot blooded finale.


Rachel McAdams I have never really been a fan of I mean she is a good actress and everything she just never truly made a film(Besides "The Notebook") that I liked, then came along "RED EYE", McAdams is so honest and so powerful in her performance that she just explodes onscreen. McAdams does not play the usual ?girl in a bad situation", no, her character Lisa Reisert is a tough resourceful young women who isn't afraid to kick some ass, and boy doe she kick ass. McAdams as it may seem is the one who steals the show but sorry to say that honor goes to the man who never gets the respect he deserves, Mr. Cillian Murphy. Cillian Murphy, I remember first seeing him in Christopher Nolan's reboot "Batman Begins" as the ever so menacing and yet poorly drawn out screen adaptation of Scarecrow Murphy was brilliant in that but sadly downplayed as a second rate villain next to Liam Neeson as the immortal Ra's al Ghul. Murphy demonstrated skill and craft in "Batman Begins" so much that I actually became a fan of his from just that film, now with "RED EYE" Murphy has solidified himself as one of my favorites and proved to me that he's more than just some bit player in a high profile film, Cillian Murphy is a true actor.




People expecting more chills than thrills will not exactly get what they want but those who are looking for an intelligent, tension riddled and intense thrill ride need look no further than Wes Craven's "RED EYE". Which shows the director?s craft and skill at much more than just horror and proves that a thriller can be much more than just big explosions and wall-to-wall action.

For as long as humanity has existed we have always been violent we may have not been created that way but somewhere down the line we found out that violence could save us or destroy us. It all depends on if we choose to use violence as a means of salvation or as a means of destruction in David Cronenberg's blunt yet very insightful film raises thought provoking and shocking questions about the true nature of violence and how it can affect some and change others. how sometimes a single act of violence can make all the difference, how it can change who you are and turn you into a person you told yourself you would never be. This is the story of one man, the story of one family and the story of "A History of Violence".



David Cronenberg's violent, brutal and extremely intelligent look into the nature of violence is nothing short of insightful, moving and at times shocking, shocking because it delivers a story so true and unflinchingly honest that turning away from the screen, turning away from the story would be near impossible. It is such a powerful and thought provoking film that just leaps out at you at every turn it shocks and amazes with its brutal violence, it's emotional and heartfelt story of family angst and how the past can sometimes catch up with you. Cronenberg know for his gory horror films and wigged out thrillers has created a stable film of right and wrong, good and evil, life and death. Cronenberg's "A History of Violence" is not a film for the squeamish or the faint of heart what it is a powerful film experiences that leaves you with a haunted and disturbed feeling making you wish you had not seen the film and at the same also making you feel glad you did.



This film calls you to watch a film that needs you to watch it to see the darkness of one man?s sins and the light of his redemption. Viggo Mortensen is a powerhouse of quiet ferocity he brings so much tops his character Tom Stall. Mortensen was the right choice to fill the shoes of this conflicted and morally correct character and with the masterful direction of Cronenberg this film and its star soars.


Viggo Mortensen to me was just another modern day actor who got lucky he got one or two big films and that shot him all the way to the top but after viewing ?A History of Violence" my attitude towards him has changed. Mortensen is a powerful but subtle actor who relies more on his own strengths than needed he gives his all and then some to make his character and this film work. However, there are some moments that you doubt he is the right choice for this picture, I know I did, and then there are moments where he proves to you he is worth the right to be called an actor. The rest of the cast including Ashton Holmes, Kyle Schmid, Maria Bello(In a Golden Globe nominated performance), Ed Harris and William Hurt(In an Oscar nominated performance) all turn in fine supporting work in this film that thinks instead of acts.


In its own strange way this film moved me, it moved me in how Tom Stall (Viggo Mortensen) tries to put his life back in order after it is turned upside down, how he wants to be accepted by them again and how he turns in one last act of violence to set everything straight. David Cronenberg has constructed such a tangled yet clear weave of deception, love, life, family and death that this film almost comes off like an operatic score of violence. But that is not all this film has going for it it's also an intense drama about how sometimes when you least expect it and when you hope that it will never happen the life you left behind comes knocking on your door asking to come back into your life. It is up to you to let it in or leave it out in the cold.

The Night is bleak heavy rain slams against the roof of an old Victorian styled home a young women is seen running, screaming for her life as an unseen assailant chases her. She runs down the stairs through the dining room chairs tables and a Grandfather clock is knocked over by an unseen force, the women runs into the kitchen. As the door slams behind her a figure appears on the door lunging at her, she runs around as objects and cabinet doors start slamming. Pots and pans start flying all over the place she dives under a table and the figure appears again trying to grab her. She runs from under the table and back up the stairs (The front door was by her on her way up, just to let you know) out of nowhere her scripture quoting schizophrenic mother comes out caring a shotgun. Her daughter runs up as the figure now revealed to be a ghost is using the carpet as a corporeal form the figure lungs at her right now the crazy mother blast it causing it to disappear. That is the horrifying beginning of Peter Jackson?s darkly comedic and utterly terrifying supernatural mystery "The Frighteners?. A film that plays better than it should and works wonders on the eyes and the mind.



What I like most about "The Frighteners" is how it swing almost flawlessly from dark comedy to full tilt horror, how it uses horror clichés to benefit the films story and atmosphere. It is funny but the jokes are limited as the film is more of a supernatural whodunit than your run of the mill ghost story. Peter Jackson knows what he wanted with this film and though I feel this film may have been slightly different than what he expected he none the less weaves an intricate tale of murder, intrigue, mystery and ghostly happenings. The script for this film is snappy, witty and full of great horror moments but the one grip I have is the fact that it did not have more comedy to it in the beginning. it busted loss all the jokes than it took a serious turn, but then again that was the point of the movie to weave in and out of dark comedy and full blown horror and Jackson does it with a masterful hand.


"The Frighteners is not a perfect film and it doesn't pretend to be, there are some moments in the film where satire is infused into the dark and macabre story it?s meant to try and lighten the mood and while it does in some places it just fails in others. Peter Jackson's "The Frighteners" live sup to it's title and to it's story even if it fails to generate scares at some points, but it is worth the rental or hell even if you want to buy it it's worth it. It is one of those films that even when it falls short you still view it as great entertainment and "The Frighteners" is just that.


I like Michael J. Fox I like his approach to acting, I like how he blends drama and comedy into each of his performance sometimes it works sometimes it does not. In the film it works wonderfully, Fox may not have been the perfect choice for this role but he certainly was a good one. Fox brings allot of darkness and subtle charm to the role of supernatural detective Frank Bannister he plays the character like he has done it a million times before and while he may fall flat at some moments. Fox delivers a worthy and very well rounded performance. The rest of the cast including John Astin, Trini Alvarado, Peter Dobson, Dee Wallace, Chi McBride, Jake Busey and an eerie Jeffery Combs all deliver fin-supporting performances in this surprisingly scary and darkly funny horror thriller.



It doesn't completely do it's job but for the most part it is a very effective whodunit that plays better than it should, sounds better than it should, look better than it should and entertains better than it should. Peter Jackson never lets you down and with this film; he proved to everyone that he had the guts to be a real filmmaker. He has constructed a film that plays like a satire, like a neo noir and works like an 80?s supernatural thriller ?The Frighteners" hits all the right note and sometimes a few wrong ones but thanks to strong performances, a witty script and brilliant direction this film surpasses all expectations.

Mel Gibson is a fantastic director, actor and producer he is uncompromising when it comes to his films such as" Gallipoli"(1981), " Lethal Weapon"(1987), "Ransom" (1996),or his Academy award winning film " Braveheart"(1991). Gibson has proved repeatedly why he is one of Hollywood's best and most powerhouse actors, after having a career that spans almost thirty years Mel Gibson had seemed to slip into obscurity after making his two last films. One of them being the massive box-office success "Signs" the other the Vietnam ward drama "We Were Soldiers" both coming out in 2002. It seemed like Gibson had had his finally hour as a Hollywood leading man. Until it was announcer back in mid 2009 that Mel Gibson would be heading a new film called "Edge of Darkness? based off the 1985 television series of the same name directed by Martin Campbell who also directed this big screen adaptation which features the come back of Mel Gibson doing what he does best.



Martin Campbell?s adaptation of his 1985 miniseries, of the same name, "Edge of Darkness" is a nasty big, old truck that all gassed up and ready to tear apart anyone and anything that stands in its way. And that is exactly what this revenge/conspiracy thriller it rips apart the competition with it's deep rooted and emotional story of loss, love, redemption and sorrow Martin Campbell has hit all the right notes here and let me tell you this film is absolute music to my ears. It is like punk music mixed with the soft depressing melody of a beautiful symphony orchestra score this is a film that flows so beautifully and so gracefully that by the time it kicks into high gear you are already completely and utterly immersed in the dark and macabre world of Thomas Craven (Mel Gibson). Martin Campbell is a master at crafting careful and deep stories much like he did on The Mask of Zorro(1998), Casino Royale(2006) which is praised as the greatest Bond film in the franchises history and now the equally complex and even more impressive "Edge of Darkness ". A film so immersed in its plot and story and so deeply rooted in its emotions this film just does not take to the skies it goes beyond it and reaches the stratosphere setting a course for the stars.


It is one of the best films of 2010 so far and though it is a revenge thriller and audiences have seen it dozens of times before. I can say this much for "Edge of Darkness" that this film is much different from others of it's type It defies all expectations and predictions of the story dishing out twist after twist till it comes time for the explosive finale.


Mel Gibson is know for roles like this he made a career of playing revenge driven individuals such as Porter in "Payback" (1998), Tom Mullen in Ron Howard's "Ransom(1996), Martin Riggs in Lethal Weapon(1987) and now Thomas Craven in Martin Campbell's "Edge of Darkness(2010). Gibson is like I said, uncompromising in these types of roles he does not give into just playing the part like it has played in countless other revenge thrillers. No. Gibson takes the roles studies it and makes it into a powerhouse of anger and aggression he turns into his role, his character and makes Thomas Craven stand out above many of Gibson's other character turning him into a stand out in the crowd and solidifying the return of Mel Gibson. The rest of the cast including Bojana Novakaovic , Shawn Roberts, David Aaron Baker, Jay O. Sanders Denis O'Hare, Damian Young and Ray Winstone in a fantastic supporting role; all deliver fine supporting performances in this edgy and dark thriller.


"Edge of Darkness? is powerful in its story, moving in it's portrayal of a fathers quest for revenge (how many of you wouldn't want to get back at the person who hurt your child?) and just down right bad ass. Martin Campbell has proved once again he has what it takes to be one of Hollywood's great directors with this film that is both a dark look at the nature of revenge and how sometimes some of our worst secrets can take us to the edge.

When Alex Proyas adapted the independent comic book "The Crow" to the screen it was one of the few and the only other big comic book adaptation of the 90's. The other being the widely popular Batman films that came out from 1992-1997(One directed by Tim Burton, two directed by Joel Schumacher.) but since "The Crow" massive commercial and critical success no other independent comic book has stepped up to the plate to fill the shoes "The Crow" left behind. That is until a little know director Sylvain White and his writers Peter Berg James Vanderbilt adapted for the screen an extremely little know comic book published by Vertigo X tentatively called "The Losers ". While this film may seem like another A-Team let, you tell you right now that you have never meet a team quite like "The Losers.


Sylvain White's hilarious and audacious comic book adaptation is a work of art, well it is more like a grunge band song mixed with some good old action values, and revenge is a dish best severed cold. This film dish out some seriously cold justice to the baddies with ultra style and flare although films like "The Losers" lost there following at the end of the 90's. director Sylvain White knows this and while he has knowledge that some will not take kindly to a throwback action film, others will embrace it with open arms feeling nostalgic for the days of "FACE/OFF"(1997) and "Die Hard"(1989) and all the other great action films of the 80's and 90's. Some may find "The Losers" well a loser and others will find it to be an extravagant and very well executed action comedy with some serious intellect, it's the kind of film that is just too good to resist and even harder to hate.

What I like most about "The Losers" is the care that was taken into telling the story it is quite well crafted and played out on screen, how all the characters seem to bounce jokes and witty dialogue off of each other. It gave the film a sense that these group of actors had worked together many times before and know how each other tick and that to me is something special it gives the film a better more buddy, buddy type feel instead of a stark military action picture type feel. What makes it feel this way is the joke filled script by Peter Berg and James Vanderbilt they lay on the jokes, the charm, the cool hip vibe and the intelligence to make this action picture stand out amongst the crowd, while it may not seem like "The Losers" should work, it does. It is an action film I am proud to say that I laughed so hard it hurt and was completely riveted by this film.


The well know ensemble cast including Jeffery Dean Morgan, Idris Elba, Zoë Saldana, Chris Evans, Columbus Short, Oscar Jaendada, Holt McCallany and Jason Patric(who this film could have seriously done without.) deliver fine performances in a film that is better than it should be and allot more keen and intelligent than we would have thought. There performances that including Chris Evans, Jeffery Dean Morgan and Zoë Saldana are three that must work so that the others can survive if any of theses three fail than the whole film comes crashing down with the rest of the cast. It is only to them and the quick-witted script that this flawed but extremely worthy film can gain that title, it succeeds on the actor alone.



This film is not perfect it has its flaws and has its holes but the holes in this film are relatively minor ones that you do not really notice unless you are looking for them. From an action fans viewpoint this film is everything you could hope for in an action picture, and I know I have said that a few times but for some films it is mostly true and for "The Losers" it is spot on. I will admit that there were some moments where I questioned this films intention and then someone cracked a joke pr something very intriguing happened and I suddenly did not care anymore. It is a throwback essentially, a throwback to the days when films were entertainment and not super intelligent, scientifically accurate like all films must be today or they will rip it up and burn it. "The Losers" doesn't care it's here to entertain and give you some good laughs with your explosions along the way and if your forgiving I can promise you "The Losers" will deliver.

This movie was good for a number of reasons, my top one was that Keanu Reeves was in it my other was that it was Sci-Fi ,I love Sci-Fi . This movie had a certain appeal to it it was very dark and intense, it was smart and intimidating.It was all around a great film.


This remake of the 1951 Sci-Fi political inept classic is nothing short of brilliant. It brings so much more to the table than the original and it does great with all the new technology and upgrades in the story and plot. The one thing I did find that I didn't like was the lack of background into Klaatu's past that was the only thing I found I did not like. This 2008 update brings a certain feeling of moral sense about what is going on in the environment it's a story that tells us that if we don't change our ways we'll all die. Which is partly true but what really drew me to this film was it's dark nature, I mean one alien has come to our planet to deiced our fate by judging whether or not we are fit to continue to live on this planet.


It's a great "change your ways" story that seems to leap off the screen and drag you into it's world of chaos and destruction. But ti did have a righteous pull to it as well I mean it was trying to tell us that we've got this one world and this one life and we need to cherish as best we can and to mean that made it great to watch.


Keanu Reeves turns in an amazing performance as the otherworldly hit man/ judge and he brings a dark forbearing and boding sense of justice and style to a very old character, Jennifer Connelly does well here as the widowed scientist Helen Benson. Jon Hamm showcase's he's got some good acting chops outside his Mad Men role and Kathy Bates is fantastic as always. The only weak link in the group was Jaden Smith, son of Two time oscar nominee Will Smith, He gave such an annoying and bad performance that it made everyone else look bad he was bratty and crass and didn't really show off any real talent at all. But besides that the cast held up pretty well and did good with the material that they were given.



This film is what you would call a dedication to the environment, an Eco friendly Science Fiction movie( which is very rare.) and that gives it more of an appeal to Eco fanatic's and regular moviegoer's. But what really takes it outside the conventional Sci-Fi thriller genre is it's force and undeniable strength, it's will is unstoppable and it's grand and almost detailed way of telling the story makes it all the more powerful and amazing.


The Day the Earth Stood Still is a force to be reckoned with it's powerful, ingenious and oh so entertaining to the point that the passage of time is meaningless. All in all T.D.T.E.S.S. is an enthralling and mesmerizing Sci-Fi adventure to see it's wild fun and the fans of the original will love it if they give it a chance. This film rocked my world and I know if your forgiving it will rock yours as well. The day the earth stood still is an event you don't want to miss.

Film noir was one of cinemas most popular and most profitable genre or it uses to be back in the last stretch of the golden years in Hollywood (1940-1950). The last neo-noir the golden era pushed out was Orson Welles "Touch of Evil"(1958) while during its release, it was well received but it sadly failed to reignite the flame of a fading genre. Noir seemed almost dead until an up and coming director named Roman Polanski took on the dangerous task of trying to breathe new life into the deceased genre. I never thought it could be done someone being able to bring back one of cinema's most beloved genres but Polanski did it and his film "Chinatown"(1974) was the film that restarted the film noir genre. Launching a whole new era of Neo-Noir?s (as they are called now) and changing the face of cinema forever. Many other films followed that tried and mostly on there part succeeded in creating a viable atmosphere and a plausible noirish story a few were Carl Franklin's "A Devil in a Blue Dress"(1991), Curtis Hanson's ?L.A. Confidential"(1997). Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller's "Sin City"(2005) and the film that brought back the true style and feel of 40's and 50's Rian Johnson's "BRICK" a neo-noir that works better than it should and plays much older than it is. A noir that perfectly and effectively blends two of cinemas most potent genres teen films and film noir together to create a completely new sub genre the teen-noir.



Rian Johnson's "Brick? was recommended to me sometime lat year by a friend I remember her saying that it is a fantastic film and was definitely worth the watch. Well I procrastinated as I usually do and put this film on my watch list with about 200 hundred other and it just sat there waiting for the day that I would actually remember it and give it a watch, well today was that day. "BRICK" is a film so original and so old school you feel nostalgic from the opening of the film until the end. What makes "BRICK" a truly inspired piece of filmmaking is the dialogue, in a film the dialogue is everything and this film is no exception. Here the dialogue and the characters are driving this rather complex tale of murder, drugs and deception it?s the kind of film that transcends its territory, setting itself amongst the keener and darker films of noirs past. "BRICK" is the perfect example of why a good genre cannot stay buried forever.


I loved its tenacious attitude, it dogged determination to its story and to its atmosphere and dialogue, I have watched many films and even more noirs but few have ever impressed me as thoroughly as Rian Johnson's "BRICK.? It works despite obvious designs flaw taking on a genre that most directors would stay away from, but Rain Johnson is fearless and with that, he constructs a film that is homage as well as a new frontier in filmmaking.

I like Joseph Gordon-Levitt I think he has some very serious potential to be a fantastic actor he already is but he is young and still has not gained the recognition he deserves and "BRICK" is the perfect example of his talent being severely overlooked. Gordon-Levitt is tough, smart, witty, and cynical as the Shamus of our story Brendan Frye. Gordon-Levitt with the help of director Rian Johnson's direction and script evokes the old school traits of famous P.I.'s from the past such as Sam Spade and Philip Marlowe in fact his character Brendan Frye is a mash of both of those famous characters while also using a little of Bogart's style to make it even more believable. Gordon-Levitt is the perfect fit for the part as he slips into his role like putting on a pair of gloves or his favorite jacket. He does not over act and he does not under act he is just perfect, he glides through the role as he has done it a million times and comes out as a noir hero and a tough actor.


"BRICK" may not impress all due to the fact that it is so old fashioned in every aspect of its production. Then older moviegoers roughly between the ages of 45-60 may actually like this film as it may remind them of the old noirs of the past. It is the kind of film that is mainly overlooked due to the fact so few know of its existence and that keeps "BRICK" from being a true full-blown cult classic it gives you one of the most exhilarating and deeply rooted noir stories of the modern era.

Not too long ago on the eve of the release of the remake of "A Nightmare on Elm Street" (2010) I sought to watch the original 1984 horror classic that had inspired it. Needless to say I was less than impressed, know don't get me wrong Craven is a genius and his idea of a mad man stalking and killing people in there dreams was and still is extremely original, but the film lacked a certain pace and direction that was necessary to tell a story of that caliber. Therefore, I went in hoping to have the living daylights scared out of me and instead I was almost bored. Wes Craven's unique horror film was brought down by the simplest of means poor acting, a poor script and terrible pacing all unraveled one of the 80's most promising films and turned it into what we call today a teenybopper horror flick. After the films initial success, six sequels followed all making Freddy more and more less of a horror villain and more of a punch line then in 1994 Wes Craven released a film that brought Freddy out of his slump and gave audiences a true dose of terror and brought Freddy out of the movies and into reality.


Wes Craven's "New Nightmare" is what I like to call the true "A Nightmare on Elm Street" what that film lacked this film made up for with it's eerie and foreboding atmosphere, it's stark and gloomy dialogue it's haunting musical score and Robert Englund. Craven has constructed a horror film that not only serves as a film within a film but also as an outside the box horror thriller, so to speak. What I like d most about it was the way Craven blends reality and fiction together to create a film that takes place in a real place and a real time with real people mostly playing themselves, Robert Englund and Wes Craven included. The film is so gloomy and macabre that it almost feels like a movie but then when you hear the actors called by there real names and you see real locations you start to feel a sense of realism. With that, Craven locks you in his world and throws away the key, at least until the film is over. "New Nightmare" is too me the true sequel and ending to the Freddy Kruger series and while some may find the other sequels good I can promise you after you seen Wes Craven's "New Nightmare" you will look down on then as pointless and poorly constructed films. "New Nightmare" is a truly mind blowing nightmarish ride.



I liked all aspects of this film, my only grip was the ending the ending nearly destroyed this film it was similar to how Nancy defeated Freddy in the film but beyond that this film is one wild and trippy ride that makes other horror films look like episodes on Sesame Street. Craven is in top form and he pulls out all the tricks he has up his sleeve and turns what could have been another horrible sequel into a film that surpasses the original and anything Craven has ever done. It shows with each eerie and horrifying moment, "New Nightmare" does not just live up to its title it makes it real.


Heather Langenkamp was utterly awful in the 1984 film and while she has gotten some serious acting skills since then she still lags once in a great while. However, Langenkamp delivers a disturbed and haunted performance as herself. Nearly 10 years after the original film Heather Langenkamp is still haunted by nightmares of Freddy but now it seems that her young son Dylan(Miko Hughes) is having the same nightmares as well and may turn out that he worst fear may be real after all. Langenkamp is fantastic and really shows she has talent although she is just playing Nancy under a guise she is mostly playing herself which is easier said than done in a movie within a movie, but for the most part Langenkamp does a first rate job and helps elevate the film from standard Freddy movie to full blown horror masterpiece. the rest of the cast including Bodhi Elfman, Claudia Haro, David Newsom, Gretchen Oehler, , Jeffrey John Davis , John Saxon , Lin Shaye , Marianne Maddalena , Matt Winston , Miko Hughes , Rob LaBelle , Robert Englund , Robert Shaye , Sam Rubin , Sara Risher , Tracy Middendorf and Wes Craven all turn in fine supporting performances in this definitive contemporary horror classic.




"New Nightmare" is what "A Nightmare on Elm Street" should have been it has all the real true blue horror trapping that shot Wes Craven to fame in the 80's and 90's and to me stands as how a how a smart and efficient horror film should be made. Mind you, it is not the "Chinatown" of horror films it is more like "Minority Report" mixed with "The Sixth Sense.? It does not waist your time and delivers the thrills, the chills and the grim and eeriness you would expect from Wes Craven. "New Nightmare" is one of Craven's best and most complete works he is ever made and next to the original "A Nightmare on Elm Street" and his teen cult classic "SCREAM" "New Nightmare" makes them look like Child?s Play.

Comic Book adaptations back in the late 70's, late 80's and early to late 90?s were very rare and if one by chance was made well enough. it was one of the biggest films of that year in 1978 acclaimed director Richard Donner(Director of the "Lethal Weapon" series) directed the first ever critical and commercial successful big screen adaptation of the beloved and ever looked up to superhero. Super-Man. "Superman" was one of the biggest films of the 70's and still today remains an immense classic amongst comic book fans and moviegoers alike and left a mark on the comic book genre and films that still last today. than in 1989 an up and coming director by the name of Tim Burton stepped up to the plate to direct the biggest film of the late 80's, "Batman".

Tim Burton's adaptation of the most beloved anti-hero in comic book history was and is still today the darkest of the original Batman series taking The Dark Knight out of his campy comic book roots that he had been trapped in since the 60's television series and the 1964 camptastrohpe adaptation of the series which I severely look down on. Burton saved the dark knight and pushed the comic book genre into the future: after the humongous commercial success of Tim Burton's "Batman? he went on in 1992 to direct the even darker sequel which today stands as one of the best comic book sequels of all time. "Batman Returns" marked the second film in the 80's-90's Batman film series which was followed swiftly in 1995 by Joel Schumacher's "Batman Forever? which topped Burton's Batman sequel "Batman Returns" at the box-office, but failed to garner favorable reviews. Schumacher returned in 1997 to direct the worst (And I mean that wit absolutely no respect) Batman film in the franchise history and the subsequent end of the Batman series, a commercial and critical failure "Batman and Robin" nearly doomed the dark knight from ever returning to the big screen. Where the franchise laid dormant for nearly 8 years. during that time other famed comic book heroes hit the screen in 2002 Sam Rami brought to life the wall crawling arachnid "Spider-Man", than returned to direct tow more films(apparently his last for the franchise.) the huge critical, commercial success and one of the greatest superhero sequels of all time, "Spider-Man 2" and the movie that doomed the franchise "Spider-Man 3", "The Punisher"(2004), The terrible "Fantastic Four" and its juvenile sequel "Fantastic Four 2: Rise of the Silver Surfer"(2007). Prior to " Spider-Man 3" and "Fantastic Four 2" young up and coming director Christopher Nolan made his mark on the comic book genre and Hollywood by directing the reboot of the fabled Batman franchise and taking the story all the way back to it's roots with "Batman Begins". It was not until 2008 that two heavyweights would go neck and neck at the box-office making not only a mark at the box-office but in the genre's history quickly and swiftly solidifying themselves as the top dogs amongst comic book adaptations. Those two films are Chris Nolan's Batman sequel "The Dark Knight" and Jon Favreau's "Iron Man.?



Jon Favreau's "Iron Man" was a film no one I knew believed in mainly due to the star of the film Robert Downey, Jr. playing the lead as the eccentric and ever so quirky hero Tony Stark. But after hearing much hype and seeing the praise it received from critics and audiences my dad and I went to the theaters to the see the much hyped " Iron Man", I walked in slightly skeptical of the film not knowing of the talent of Robert Downey Jr. or Jon Favreau. I remember sitting there as the lights dimmed wondering if this film is going to live up to the hype it has established or even be worth the sixteen bucks. As the film rolled on, I sat there in awe of this magnificent and glorious science fiction/superhero thriller. "Iron Man" is a fast paced, outrageously funny, dark, complex and witty thrill ride that not only single hand revive the career of Robert Downey, Jr. but shot him straight up into the stratosphere of fame It's the kind of film that the minute it's over you want to see it again. Then when it ends a second time, you want to see it a third time and then a fourth. Hell you will want to see it as many times as you can it is just too good to ignore or hate. "Iron Man" takes off at a thousand miles per hour and pulls the audiences in on the ride of a lifetime with breathtaking special effects, mind-blowing action, outrageous plot twist and RDJ. leading it all the way to the number 2 spot amongst comic book adaptations solidifying it as one of the best and showing the world Robert Downey Jr.'s talent.


I loved the wit and charm of this movie, I loved the grittiness and dark complexity of the characters it seems everyone of them has there own problems in one way or another they all are dealing with emotional problems which makes them a real class act of complicated characters. The film draws it strength from its characters it feeds off there power , there emotions it uses them not only as actors but as the main power source for the films ferocity and drive there crucial to it and the with the wrong actors this film would have fallen apart faster than those boy bands from the 90's. Thanks to brilliant casting and phenomenal direction from Jon Favreau ?Iron Man" flies high instead of crashing hard.



Robert Downey Jr. was never a huge favorite of mine when I was younger my favorites were Keanu Reeves, Clint Eastwood, Jeff Bridges, David Duchovny and Denzel Washington, the list goes on form there out. But the point is RDJ was never anywhere to be seen on my list of favorites that is until I saw "Iron Man", "Iron Man" showed off RDJ's comedic side and his side for being totally out of control as the jet setting billionaire hero. RDJ doesn't go completely out of range from mainstream audience he instead makes Stark a more narcissistic and self-indulging character than what he was in the comics but you know we still think he's cool anyways. RDJ is fantastic and goes far and beyond the call of duty of an actor and proves tot he world he is back and here to stay. The rest of the cast of including Gwyneth Paltrow, Jeff Bridges and Terrence Howard all deliver strong supporting performances in this film about a hero that is built instead of born.




Its a film that should not work in fact this film should not even succeed but it does, "Iron Man" is much better than the standard comic book adaptation the standard being The Fantastic Four films(both juvenile and dumb),The Punisher films( The first was actually very good the second not so much). But "Iron Man" is the kind of film that no matter how you look at or what you think there is some part of you that is either going to love this film and for those who say they don't like it secretly do(guilt pleasure). Jon Favreau has created a strong, smart and engaging superhero film that explores the technical side of being a hero and the story of a man who initially was happy with zero accountability and in the end became the most unlikely hero in comics and now in films. "Iron Man" is a high flying adventure that does not pull any stops at giving you the wild outrageous film that you could hope for it's not like any comic book adaptation you have ever seen or ever will see "Iron Man? is a one of a kind.

Obsession is a disease, a dark fleeting sensation that can drive one person to do things that they normally would not do, driving the individual to the brink of insanity that can destroy the person?s life and turn them into a monster. In Joel Schumacher's grim psychological noir delves deep into the physical and mental damage of how one man's obsession almost destroyed everyone he loved and cared for and how he suffers at the hands of a decade old mystery that seem to be connected to a single number, "The Number 23". However, will his quest for the truth lead him to the answer he wants or take him down a dark path from which there is no return. This film has created such a strong air of mystery and a grim atmosphere around the plot and story of the film that while you are watching it sucks you into this dark world of dreams, desire and compulsive obsession. However, be warned if you are not careful this films obsession could become yours as well.



Joel Schumacher's "The Number 23" is another one of those films that I heard of some years ago mainly around the time it was making it's run in theaters I was much younger than and the films story did not really appeal to me. In addition, after I heard of what extremely poor reviews it received I stayed away from this film, I stayed far away. After almost three years since this film theatrical run I finally became interested enough to see it after watching a documentary about this film 23 enigma and how the number can appear almost anywhere you look, it was very strange but intriguing enough for me to stop what I was doing and sit down to see this film. Joel Schumacher has created a world of chaotic and macabre fantasy put into a box and wrapped up like a nice little Christmas present in a beautiful wrapping paper and a nice little red bow. But what is inside is not what you expect or could imagine for that matter, it?s like taking a hallucinogenic and having these weird visions and nightmares appear right before you in vivid detail were every single vision and every single piece of your nightmare can hurt you if you?re not careful. Schumacher is brilliant at not only masking the shocking revelation and truth to the mystery at the climax of the film but also telling a very vibrant and engaging story of one man?s struggle against his own darkness. It works so much better than it should and plays out allot smoother and darker than you would hope for and proves that Joel Schumacher may not be the best of directors but he does know how to make one hell of a movie.



I liked the dark nature of this film; I liked how it set itself firmly in reality and then shifts between two points between the story of Walter Sparrow (Jim Carrey) and the fictional reality of the grim detective Fingerling (Also Jim Carrey) both are in some strange way connected to one thing, the number 23. The whole films plot revolves around that single number and our hero, Walter Sparrow is trying desperately to find the answers to his question. What is the meaning of twenty-three? The whole film is based on just that number and the multiple meanings it can have and Schumacher plays this out fully never leaving the audience with a fleeting question at the end or leaving them to figure out the whole film themselves as most films of this caliber do. What I did not like about this film was the uneven pace; the film just could not quite find a beat to stick with on top of it all the solid ending, intriguing setup, Carrey?s performance and Joel Schumacher's direction save this film from crumbling under the weight of the premise thus elevating this film far above its pedigree.



Jim Carrey is best known for his zany and wild comedic performances and not much else. But over the years Carrey has proven to be a sharp dramatic actor in a number of films such as "The Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind"(2004)," Man on the Moon"(2000)(Which is a mixture of both comedy and drama), "The Majestic"(2001) and "The Truman Show"(1998). But here Carrey using a side of himself that I didn't even know he had, his dark side, Carrey taps into unrelated territory for himself and elves deep into his inner core to find a more sinister side to himself (And I'm not talking "Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events" sinister). He brings all he has got to the table in order to make this role work and help make the film work. Carrey doesn't completely succeed in his role he falters due to the lack of his inexperience with this genre but the film's premise saves him and Joel Schumacher helps him elevate his performance from average to good. The rest of the cast including Rhona Mitra, Logan Lerman, Lynn Collins, Virginia Madsen and Danny Houston all deliver good supporting performance in a film that seems to become the audience?s obsession.


"The Number 23" is not a film everyone will agree with or even find time to see it will be mostly overlooked by fans of Carrey hoping for a comedic performance and will be shunned by others. This film does not ask for your forgiveness and it does not need it all that it ask is you watch it with an open mind and see it for what it is an engaging, mind-bending psychological noir.

When "Iron Man" was released in the early summer of 2008 it took the box-office and critics for a ride they would soon never forget, its huge critical and commercial success and Robert Downey Jr.'s natural charm and appeal as the hero Tony Stark landed this larger than life comic book adaptation amongst the ranks of greats such as Tim Burton's "Batman" and "Batman Returns", Christopher Nolan's "Batman reboot "Batman Begins" and the number 2 greatest Batman film of all time, "The Dark Knight", "Richard Donner's "Superman" and "Superman II" and many other great comic book films. "Iron Man" also brought back to life the fledgling career of Robert Downey Jr. Shooting him straight to the top of superstar status after "Iron Man" finished it's run in theaters everyone had one question on there minds, when is the sequel coming out? Moviegoers waited anxiously to hear any news at all of a sequel to Jon Favreau's smash hit film. A few months after the closing of ?Iron Man" news surfaced that the sequel would be releasing some time in the early summer of 2010 People all around the world waited with anticipation for this sequel. And when the time came ?Iron Man 2" flew into theaters and took the box-office by storm proving that the iron avenger still has what it takes to be cinematic gold and proved that once and for all that RDJ is Iron Man.



Jon Favreau's high flying, action packed sequel to the smash hit not only improves on the story of Tony Stark/Iron Man he sends the film soaring to new heights with bigger action sequences, a bigger cast and even more jokes just to add some comedic flare to it. But the film is not all action and comedy there are some very serious moments where Tony must choose which path to take the path that leads him right back to where he was before he became Iron Man or the other path that leads him where he wanted to go after he created the Iron man suit. Jon Favreau improves on the characters and expands the story by introducing a few new characters namely Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), the weasel Justin Hammer (Sam Rockwell) and Natasha Romanoff AKA The Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson). But just because it has more big name stars doesn't mean this sequel is a step backwards for the franchise, in fact "Iron Man 2" is a massive step forward for not just the franchise but the whole cast there better than ever before and most noticeably Mickey Rourke has never been so good at being so bad. "Iron Man 2" may be looked done on as being weak on story and heavy on action and also extremely inferior to the original, when it reality this film is right up there with the original. There both of the same brew ?Iron Man" was phenomenal but "Iron Man 2" is outstanding hell my dad and I would have given the film a standing ovation if there were no other people around. "Iron Man 2" is the beginning of one of the biggest summers films have had since 2008.


I liked the fun nature of this film, I liked how laid back this film seemed in some parts and how in others it was very serious which saves the film from being an action comedy which in some scenes you can seen it leaning towards and in others it takes on the same tone from the first film. What Favreau was trying to do was make the sequel more fun he already proved himself thoroughly with "Iron Man" so with "Iron Man 2" he just wanted to make it bigger and better than before and he succeeded. I loved this film more than I thought I would. You see I figured this would be a standard sequel and would not even come close to measuring up to the original but, by either luck or a miracle Favreau is able to make "Iron Man 2" just as good if not a little better than the first.


Robert Downey Jr. proved to me in "Chaplin" he had what it took to be great but it was "Iron Man" that won me over with his quirky and eccentric performance as the billionaire industrialist/superhero. RDJ brings the style and charm to the larger than life comic book adaptation that pits Tony Stark against everyone Pepper, the government, a crazy Russian, his best friend. It seems everyone wants the Iron Man either suit or out to kill him. RDJ makes it seem like none of these problems apply to him as he easily breezes through the role as if he has done it a thousand times before. RDJ may be more out of control in this film that the first but he still has the unshakable ability to make you laugh and entertain you at the same time. He does not fail to deliver and most of all he does not fail the audience at giving them the performance they want and the hero they always have had a soft spot for. The rest of the cast including Don Cheadle, Clark Gregg, Sam Rockwell, Samuel L. Jackson, Gweneth Paltrow, Scarlett Johansson, Mickey Rourke and Jon Favreau with Paul Bettany as the voice of Jarvis all turn in fantastic supporting in a film that shows you that a sequel can be just as good as the original, maybe even a little better.



"Iron Man 2" may not impress all fans of the famed hero or the film but ?Iron Man " is nothing short of pure cinematic brilliance an comic book film, a science fiction thriller and an action comedy all blended perfectly into one to create a movie going experience that is sure to blow you out of your seat. It's one of the best sequels I have ever seen, it lives up to the first film and then with it's witty dialogue, fast pace, high octane action and hilarious jokes "Iron Man 2" proves to be one of the years most entertaining films.

For the last 588 years, a legendary story has been passed from generation to generation about a man, a man who stole from the rich and gave to the poor wit not thought to his own actions. This man is the most legendary of all folklore heroes in fact the most legendary of all heroes he is the man who inspire comic book like Batman, The Spirit and most notable of them all The Green Arrow. This man is called Robin Hood a fabled hero, a legendary archer who gave up his position in the high life to help the less fortunate. However, we do not know that for sure. Many people do believe that an archer who went by the name of Robin Hood did exist while others deny the fact that the man ever did exist and believed him to be nothing more than a folklore tale meant to scare the king's soldiers and the sheriff of Nottingham. Ridley Scott (director of Black Hawk Down, Gladiator, Kingdom of Heaven, Thelma and Louise and Blade Runner) takes the oft-told tale of one man and his band of merry men and how they took on the system, how they became legends. How they took the country of England by storm and made a lasting impression on the history books and time itself this film is the story of that man this film is the origin of "Robin Hood.?



Ridley Scott is a director know more for his epic adventure films such as "Black Hawk Down(2001), Kingdom of Heaven(2005), Gladiator(2000) he is also know for dark films such as Thelma and Louise(1991), Alien(1979) and one of the most influential Science Fiction films of all time "Blade Runner"(1982). Scott is a fantastic director he knows what he wants and he sets out to make it. With "Robin Hood" Scott returns to what truly made him famous epic adventure films "Robin Hood" is a classic medieval war movie wrapped in Scott's typical grit and violent style that has worked for him so many times before and has brought in allot of cash for him as well.? Robin Hood" is so much more than just your typical adventure film; in fact, this picture is several type of films rolled into one. It is a love story, a revenge thriller and a war drama all of these different types of genres, or sub-genres as you would like to call them. Are combined effectively into one to create a daring new and original vision of the legendary figure that only the likes of Ridley Scott and Russell Crowe could deliver, "Robin Hood" proves that just because Scott is old doesn't mean he is out.


I liked the atmosphere of this film it is soaked in grit, blood and grim and it gives the legend of Robin Hood a darker and more palpable feel than the previous incarnations in the past it's a rougher and more gritty Robin Hood adventure than a mainstream audience is use to but for fans of Scott and Crowe this is movie heaven(Much like it was for me) but even though I am massive, massive fan of both Scott and Crowe it did not affect my opinion of this film at all it just gave me a reason to see this film. It is not as silly as most Robin Hood adaptations have been in the past in fact Ridley Scott's interpretation cuts out the silly (which in most films can be called the intermediary) and takes it down a more serious path. This film is not without its lighthearted moments and to me that lift the mood form the dark and macabre feel of this adventure film giving it just the right touch of comedy mixed in with the action makes this new adaptation of Robin Hood a merry old time.



Russell Crowe is an actor who is not afraid to try anything he has taken on almost all the tough roles from playing a volatile cop in " L.A. Confidential" to playing a Roman General turned Gladiator in "Gladiator", to playing a selfish stoke broker who finds love in "A Good Year". Crowe is fearless and that is why I love his movies he does not hold back on you and gives you his all that is why no matter what Crowe movie you are watching you know you are going to get far better than you would expect. With "Robin Hood" Crowe delivers a performance that is both powerful and commanding, he literally owns the screen. Moreover, if anyone else was in the title role say Orlando Bloom (Kingdom of Heaven, he was reasonably good in that one) this film would fall apart you need someone of Crowe's stature to play a role like this because only he can make it work. With Scott's sharp direction Russell Crowe and the rest of the cast including Max Von Sydow, Vanessa Redgrave, Gordon Pinsent, Cate Blanchett, William Hurt and a devious and cunning performance from Mark Strong as Sir Godfrey all deliver strong performance in a film that exceeds all expectations and puts a new, fresh, gritty and brutal spin on an old legend.



This film is not perfect and it does not pretend to be instead Ridley Scott and his team aim for near-perfection without actually coming close to being perfect. "Robin Hood" is what you would expect from Scott a brutal, vicious and dark medieval war drama with a hint of inspirational meaning thrust into the midst of all the ensuing action. What you can take away form this film is that you came out entertained and enthralled b y this sprawling epic film that may have less heart that "Gladiator" but more soul than you could ever imagine.

Horror, a genre that has terrified millions for the better part of 114 years this fabled genre took its first leap in 1896 with Georges Méliès' "Le Manoir du diable"(The House of the Devil) which is cited as the very first horror film. another more influential film that is now lost to time is Paul Wegener's "The Golem"(1915) taken from an ancient Jewish legend, Than there came Robert Wiene's The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari" with its dark themes and expressionist style would later inspire other filmmakers such as the great Orson Welles and Horror/fantasy legend Tim Burton. in the same era a German filmmaker F. W. Murnau's "Nosferatu"(1922) is cited today historically as the very first Vampire themed feature film that later would be the stepping stone for all other vampire films to follow; the first Hollywood horror films. Included The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923), The Monster (1925) both Starring the late great Lon Chaney Sr., His most famous role was in The Phantom of the Opera (1925), perhaps the true predecessor of Universal's famous horror series. Theses films paved the way for other great horror films to follow including 1931's "Dracula? the first and perhaps the greatest vampire film and adaptation of Bram Stoker's Gothic horror novel, the same year Universal also gave birth to two more great horror icons. Who today are widely known as 'The Big Three" James Whale's "Frankenstein"(1931) and George Waggner's "The Wolfman"(1941)? These three films not only set the standard for horror they redefined it made it what it is today and turned a little known genre into one of the biggest cultural phenomenons of all time. Throughout the 20's-50's great horror classic were born weather it be "The Invisible Man"(1933), "The Mummy"(1932), "Invasion of The Body Snatchers"(1956), "Horror of Dracula"(1958) 20's, 30's 40's and 50's were the deifying eras for a genre that today is consider one of the biggest jokes in the film industry.


Now in the days of remakes the legendary Big Three have had there fair share of re-imagining or remakes(which ever term you prefer) The first of The Big Three to get a true Gothic makeover is the most famous of them all, Dracula with Francis Ford Coppola's "Bram Stoker's Dracula"(1992). Coppola(most famous for directing 'The Godfather Trilogy') breathed new and horrifying life back into the dead corpse of Dracula after years of campy incarnations taking the fabled vampire back to his dark roots. Than nearly tow years later the second of the big three got his remake in the grand tradition of Coppola's "Bram Stoker's Dracula" is Kenneth Branagh's adaptation of Mary Shelly's classic horror novel "Frankenstein", Kenneth Branagh's vision of Frankenstein is much closer to the source material than the 1931 cult classic. Now I am not saying that Branagh?s version is superior to the 1931 version (but in some ways Branagh's vision is superior and in other ways it is not) Branagh created a twisted and chaotic tale in the true fashion of Mary Shelly's dark Gothic horror novel. Successfully outgunning John Whale's beloved classic but too no avail it was looked down on as inferior to the 1931 film and was panned by critics and horror fans and fans of Mary Shelly's original vision of terror but too me it lives up to it's name. Out of The Big Three, the most feared and most beloved is not Dracula, it is not Frankenstein's monster the most feared out of the three is the Wolfman. After almost seventy years, the most feared out of the big three has finally found his way back to the silver screen after years of being absent, but never far from moviegoer?s minds. Joe Johnston's " The Wolfman" resurrects the fallen beast after nearly 7 decades it brings the werewolves out of their campy incarnations(An American Werewolf in London, An American Werewolf in Paris, Twilight Saga: New Moon) and turns them back into a fearsome horror icon once again.


Joe Johnston's "The Wolfman" is a film I had been dying to see when I first heard news about it back in the middle of 2009 although there was not much information I had high hopes for this film. After the new year rolled around I was informed that "The Wolfman" would be releasing theatrically on Valentine's day weekend(Who's bright idea was that?) and I also heard that Joe Johnston(director of Jurassic Park III, Rocketeer and October Sky). Would be directing the film naturally Johnston does not have a solid reputation for making high-class film?s. Therefore, my extreme excitement for this film dwindled and I almost gave up going to see this film but for some strange reason I still went to go see it. Maybe in some way I knew this film would be much better than it was being made out to be and in a way, I was right. "The Wolfman" is in some way an inspired piece of work it evokes the true essence of the legendary figure bringing him back into the dark depths of tragedy and sorrow from wince he came. Johnston and his team probably had amazing ideas on which way to take this film and if they had used them this film would have been elevated from good to phenomenal. "The Wolfman" settles for good too soon it does not try to expand on the tormented story of Lawrence Talbot (Benicio Del Toro) it stays in its comfort zone and does not try to extend its reach, which in my opinion is very smart and also very foolish. By not expanding the story and delving deeper into the characters and the story of the wolf-man, the filmmakers limit themselves to such an extent that the film almost falls flat when it should soar high. The only saving graces in this film are the amazing makeup done by six time Oscar winner Rick Baker, the amazing special effects and the dark moody atmosphere that enshrouds this film like a thick layer of fog they all help keep this film from sinking to the dark depths of the abyss that is movie hell. Johnston and his crew have constructed a film that works far better than it should and plays less impressive than you would have hoped.


I liked its gloomy, clammy, dark and dismal atmosphere hot it uses those elements to draw the audience into its dreary world of mysticism, ancient cruses and human turmoil. "The Wolfman" works its limited charm on the audience but with it's limited charm it exudes some very effective and horrific scares although they are almost boiled down to flashy jump out at you moments, they work none the less but this film works even less. Its effective there is no doubt about that and the story they have is very convincing and actually quite good. But it lacks refine it lacks the touch of a caring hands the caring hands that would turn this conventional monster story into a tragic tale of one mans curse. However, I will admit that what they have here is good enough to keep any gore happy horror nut satisfied. However, it could have been so much more.



I do not much like Benicio Del Toro although I think he is an excellent actor there is just something about him that I just don?t like. In Joe Johnston?s ?The Wolfman" Del Toro is not actually quite good although he is a slight miscast he is able to make the role believable under the enormous restraints and qualifications for this role. Somehow he comes out on top and give a very convincing performance as the tormented Lawrence Talbot but the blandness of his performance holds him back from making us truly believe he is actually a werewolf(but look on the bright side at least he is more convincing than Taylor what's his name). Nonetheless, Del Toro gives a very adequate performance that at least proves he can carry a film of this caliber and make it work. The rest of the cast including Anthony Hopkins, Emily Blunt, Art Malik, Catherine Balavage, and Hugo Weaving all deliver fine supporting performances in a film that may have missed the mark by a hair but still mange's to hold itself together.


I am recommending a film that I truthfully did not like entirely the only true recommendation I can give this film is that this film is worth the watch despite the obvious design flaws in this film it mange's to overcome them and succeed as palpable entertainment that aims low but soars high. "The Wolfman" is a complete film or a very effective one in the means of storytelling but what it does have is a plausible air of terror surrounding the well thought out story and plot that were brought down by poor direction from director Joe Johnston and a mildly well written script. "The Wolfman" could have been so much more than what it was but for what it is, it is good enough for me, but I still wish it could have been more.

George A. Romero is credited all over as the king and father of zombie films for years he has given moviegoers some of the most frightening and definitive zombie films ever made and it all began in 1968 with a little know black and white independent film called "Night of the living Dead"(1968). Which is cited as the films that jump started the zombie sub genre (and officially began the zombie craze that has lasted far longer than it should have). Then in 1973 Romero came out with his second zombie another little know for film for its time tentatively entitled, ?The Crazies".



George A. Romero's 1973 original did not garner much acclaim on its release it instead fell to the wayside and was just written off as another bad low class horror film I have seen the 1973 original and let me say this I was not impressed, it lacked soul and heart to its story and to its characters. The no name actors he hired were lagging and lacked any real talent for a film that is suppose to leave us petrified with fear(hmmmm.... Sounds like the horror films today no character, no story, just graphic sex and buckets of blood). That was almost a year ago I saw the original, it was strange that about the same time I saw it I also heard that Overture films had green lighted a remake of "The Crazies? with Breck Eisner to direct with Timothy Olyphant and Radha Mitchell as the leads. Naturally, I was skeptical, how can you turn an already bad movie into a good one? That was the question I was asking myself, that is until I saw the remake and all my doubts and fears were quashed.



"Breck Eisner?s ?The Crazies"(2010) at first glance may seem like your standard ordered, cliché epidemic/zombie horror thriller when in fact this re-imagining is something far more complex this film is just as it sounds. Town?s water supply is infected with deadly virus that turns them into homicidal maniacs who go on a rampage and destroy everything and everyone they meet. ? The Crazies" is a dark, menacing, horror thriller that brings back fond memories of the good old days of horror when theses types of films were actually frightening and not comedy. What makes this film so effective is the care taken to the dialogue it flows so effortlessly it is as if the writers have done this a thousand times before, the dialogue is everything in this film it is what drives it. Now your probably thinking that is what drives most films when in fact most films are either driven by emotions(The Green Mile, A Walk in the Clouds and Titanic) or atmosphere( Sin City, BRICK, Blade Runner, Solaris).? Its atmosphere drives the Crazies? if that fails the movies fails, the other elements that hold this film above water is the sheer intensity of the film. They are all on high gear and pushing it to the limit with a simple premise to create a film that substantially surpasses the original.


I ma not a huge fan of the zombie genre, I really do not admire the films that have come out about the living undead the infected none of it seems to interest me very much. That is until I saw this film, ?The Crazies" changed my whole opinion on zombie movies. It moves so swiftly and carefully across the screen it succeeds to entertain and thrill despite the obvious design flaws.




Timothy Olyphant is not a favorite of mine I like him but I do not think he will really go anywhere you may know him best as the villain from "Live Free or Die Hard" or as Rayland Givens on FX's gritty modern western drama "Justified.? He ha shad some very good film roles but he just does not seem to fit he profile of a great leading man he seems to fit more like a villain or supporting actor but not as the lead. In "The Crazies" Olyphant gives a very convincing performance but it lacks conviction and power. Olyphant isn't bad but he isn't great either he is more good than above anything else his performance is far more superior than many others actors who have taken lead in other horror films Olyphant proves he has the acting chops to pull off a role like this. Nevertheless, lacks the deep emotional conviction to make it work all the way, for what it is worth he did an excellent job. Radha Mitchell is a terrible actress and one movie at a time she is proving it with flawless precision and this film is no exception. Mitchell lags along and drowns out almost every scene she is in she is just a major eyesore and the sad part of it all is she is not even easy on the eyes that would have made it so much easier to bear but sadly, it would not have helped her much. The rest of the cast all deliver good supporting performances in this tense horror thriller.


"The Crazies" will not appeal to every horror or every moviegoer as it is something they have seen before however, ?The Crazies" does serve up some nicely shot scenes of madness and chaos in the upheaval of a pandemic. This film is not all the way original but compared to most horror thrillers and remakes that are released today it is a breath of fresh air and to that is something of a relief to see such a well made film put up on the screen. "The Crazies" may not have everything you could want but for what it is, it is spectacular and to me one of the finest examples of how a remake should be done.

The year is 1794, Captain Robert Walton and his crew are attempting to sail there ship to the top of the world and by doing so sail there way into the history books. However, unforeseen events traps Walton's ship in a block of ice and with no way out Walton must wait it out with his men. As he and his men try to break up the ice faster they hear a strange howling sound coming from the dense blizzard before them, the dogs start to stir and run in circles. Out of the blizzard a strange man emerges, Captain Walton takes him inside Walton asks him what is out there and the man tells him that it is something he created. An abomination that he brought to life to find a way to cheat death Captain Walton ask who he is and the man says his name is Victor Frankenstein. Therefore, sets forth the tragic and horrific tale of one man's obsession to find a way to cheat death and bring the dead back to life, this is the story of "Frankenstein.?


Kenneth Branagh's more faithful adaptation of Mary Shelly's classic tale of loss, love and horror is a beautiful Gothic tragedy that is reminiscent along the lines of Francis Ford Coppola's "Bram Stoker's Dracula" and David Lynch's "The Elephant Man"(1980). This 1994 re-imagining is nothing like the beloved 1931 cult classic as the John Whale "Frankenstein? takes a more monster movie type of an approach while Kenneth Branagh?s ?Frankenstein" is more tragic than it is horrific making it more of a drama than a horror story. Which in turn is not what Mary Shelly had in mind when she originally wrote the story back in the 1800's it was intended to be a modern tragedy sadly, over the years her story started to degenerated into nothing more than a common monster movie. This to me is such a sad sight to see for such an amazing story however, Branagh saves her groundbreaking story from years of campy and inaccurate incarnations and brings to light the true Frankenstein. The Frankenstein that fans of the original novel(the few who have read it) and the fans of the original 1931 classic have really been waiting for the real version of Frankenstein and the true vision of Mary Shelly's tortured creature realized for the first time as he should be. Not as some flat headed, lumbering monster but as an intelligent resourceful creature with unparalleled strength and vengeance in his heart, Branagh brings to life the very basic essence of the characters from Mary Shelly's novel. While still taking some liberties of his own he crafts a dark, lurid Gothic tale of one man's quest for the secret of cheating death and his mistake that claimed everything he ever held dear.


"Mary Shelly's Frankenstein" is all atmosphere that is how this film works you over using its stark but beautiful cinematography to lure you into this fantastic and tragic world that Kenneth Branagh and his team have created a world that if Mary Shelly were alive today would have made her proud. This film is also a homage to the classic Universal monster movies of the 30's and 40's using barren but gorgeous set piece like the ones in Frankenstein manor or his laboratory which is reminiscent of the mad scientist labs in the Golden era films. It gives the film an air of nostalgia while still maintaining a modern appeal for a new generation of horror fans.



Kenneth Branagh is not a favorite of mine in fact I don't really like him at all, the man just comes off too full of himself and too much in love with making himself look good in a film instead of really focusing on everything else around him. However, here as the tormented scientist Victor Frankenstein Branagh is at the top of his game and gives a performance that I can proudly say is worthy of being called fantastic and daring. He puts not everything he has but all that is needed to play the role of the creator of the creature immersing himself in the role of this mad man hell bent on finding a way to cheat death; Branagh is not a 100% in this film he gives more of 88% to the performance. And to me that is enough to credibly and honestly say he did very well(Even at some points that is a gross understatement).Branagh delivers the performance that is needed it may not be full proof and he may lag from time to time but he stays strong throughout the film until its almost tearjerker of an ending. The rest of the cast including Ian Holm, Tom Hulce, Richard Briers, John Cleese, Robert Hardy, and Helena Bonham Carter also with Aidan Quinn and Robert DeNiro all deliver fantastic supporting performances in this faithful and shocking horror drama.


"Mary Shelly's Frankenstein? is a good film I do not know why it is not great but for what it is it is very good it brings back to mind the early days of horror before graphic violence, strong sexuality, and clichés became part of the routine for horror films of today. Its beautiful set designs and dark, gloomy atmosphere emphasizes the true nature of the story of Frankenstein?s creature, the kind that Mary Shelly dreamed up when she originally wrote the novel. In addition, with Branagh's sharp direction and DeNiro's strong performance lead this film into deeper waters than John Whale's 1931 classic delivering a more thought provoking and shocking portrayal of the fabled creature that makes this version of the classic tale a literal near horror classic.

Billy Wilder was a genius when it came to creating a story, he never leaves a stone unturned or a single character with out his or her own voice. Wilder for years has been giving moviegoers and film lovers movies that not only live up to there status but also there name, he has created some of the most memorable characters such as Sgt. Sefton(Stalag 17), Norma Desmond(Sunset Boulevard), C.C "Bud" Baxter(The Apartment) and many more. Wilder was not just a visionary he was a master of the art of filmmaking he can make the simplest of story into a cinema classic such as "The Lost Weekend"(1945), "The Apartment"(1960), "Irma La Douce"(1963).? The Seven year Itch"(1955),"Some like it Hot"(1959) and one of his greatest films and a true cinema classic, "Sunset Boulevard"(1950). A film that was ahead of its time and showed that no matter what the story or no matter what the situation Wilder would always come out on top and deliver a unique and engaging film experience you will never forget.




Billy Wilder's "Sunset Boulevard" is still considered today one of the Golden Eras defining movies and one of film noirs most complex tales it is a film that not only leaves you shocked by the ending leaves you with the feeling of great sadness. "Sunset Boulevard' is the kind of film modern day moviegoers would call playful and manipulative when in fact hat is very true. This is the kind of film that grabs your attention with a dark and moody opening on a murder and then swiftly jumps back in time to tell you the story of how this all came to be, classic but also brilliant. Wilder uses many of his methods however, for a film considered a film noir there are not very many dark touches some of the scenes are usually bathed in sunlight or take place in well-lit rooms. What makes this picture a film noir is not its atmosphere or its lighting but the dark nature of its, the Gothic flare of the films main set Norma Desmond's 1920's mansion which looks more like a mausoleum than someplace you would live. That is the point of it Norma Desmond(Gloria Swanson) is a has been star a feeble old woman who still has big dreams of once again being up on the silver screen, of bring a star again like she was back in the 20's. Which can be said of Gloria Swanson who prior to making this film had not acted in nine years Swanson makes this film what it is she gives it its electric flair, its dark looming atmosphere of how a faded star wants to shine again. "Sunset Blvd.? is as perplexing as it is thought provoking as the film closes and the unforgettable final scene has just ended you leave this film wondering if you were a star and you fell from the public eye how would you want to be remembered?


"Sunset Blvd.? begins with such a captivating prologue that when it is over you are left feeling unnerved and yet at the same time riveted you are on the edge of your seat just sitting there as the mystifying drama of this thoroughly woven tale unfolds before you. However, you are not on the edge of your seat with excitement or on the edge of your seat because your adrenaline is pumping and you cannot seem to sit still, no you are on the edge of your seat because this film is so damn intriguing and addicting, it is like crack for the classic film lover. How it plays out is the most intriguing element how the characters interact with each other and play off each other is what makes this film work if the characters were not interesting the film would not be interesting, in a story character is everything and the ones in this dark and at sometimes-gloomy film are no exception. They are the most intruding bunch you will ever see put to film every one of them has some agenda or some hidden ulterior motive much like Erich Von Stroheim's character Maximilian "Max" Von Mayerling from the first time you meet Norma Desmond's butler you instantly get the feeling that there is something not very right with him. That is where Wilder draws the foreboding outline of his characters he uses the mystery of human nature, how we work to drive the mystery and drama of the film to the shocking climax.


William Holden was one Hollywood's most talented and beloved stars starring in such classics such as Billy Wilder's "Sabrina"(1954) and "Stalag 17"(1953) for which he won his first and only Academy award. in Billy Wilder's dark vision of Hollywood Holden gives one of his finest performances as a hack screenplay writer trying to make it to the big leagues, Holden is much more reserved and cynical in this film than he is in his other films exuding a kind of hatred and pity towards Norma Desmond. He hates her because she wants to give him everything he could ever want and he pities her because she lives all alone in her massive mansion with disillusioned dreams of being a star once more. Holden's character Joe Gillis has big dreams too but nothing to show for them and Holden draws his strength from that, he draws his strength from the fact that his character wants it all but does not want it handed to him on a silver platter the way Norma Desmond does to him. There is more to Holden here he plays it calm, cool collective as he tries dealing with Norma's arrogance and fits of deranged anger. There is only so much a man can bear and if it were not for Norma?s loyal butler Max, he would have to bear it all. In addition, Holden does bear it all he bears the burden of being the one with the misfortune of running into the crazed former movie star. Gloria Swanson prior to this film had not made a movie in over ten years and in the yes of the Golden Era public she was all washed up, a has been. However, to Billy Wilder she was a revelation his salvation to this film and in turn what made "Sunset Boulevard? what it is. If any other actress had taken the role, it would not have been so memorable or so grand, in real life Swanson was a former silent film star who found it hard to find a job when the pictures incorporated sound. Moreover, for the part of Norma Desmond she is perfectly suited for a role that some would call impossible to play however, Swanson pulls it off with excellence and proved to everyone that she was still a star. The rest of the cast including Erich Von Stroheim, Nancy Olson, and Jack Webb all deliver excellent supporting performances in a film that shows you the true dark side of one of the most glamorous business in the world.



Upon its original release, "Sunset Boulevard? fell under extreme controversy over its themes and how it pointed its finger at Hollywood. One of the main people who was most appalled by this film was the head of MGM studios Louie B. Mayer saying to Wilder in front of the crowd of celebrities, "You have disgraced the industry that made and fed you! You should be tarred and feathered and run out of Hollywood!? During its original run ?Sunset Boulevard" was one of outside films much like Frank Darabont's "The Majestic" was when it was released almost 51 years later. Even after almost 60 years, "Sunset Boulevard" is considered one of Hollywood's greatest films and the greatest film about Hollywood and while you may be on top for a little while, you will not stay on top forever.

Paul Greengrass up until around 2001 no one knew whom this Irish up and coming director was that is until he directed the second of the three Bourne films "The Bourne Supremacy"(2004) that became the highest grossing film for the series at that point. one of Greengrass' most critically acclaimed films following on the heels of his universally acclaimed "Bloody Sunday"(2002). Three years later Greengrass directed one of the last decades most acclaimed and most controversial films "United 93"(2006) based on the true story of the heroism of the passengers and there tragic death when they forced the plane into a nose dive causing it to crash near Shanksville, Pennsylvania. The film was a massive critical success but meet with extreme criticism form audiences alike over its touchy source material. The year after Greengrass and actor Matt Damon re-teamed to star and direct the third(and possibly final installment) of the hugely successful Bourne series with the "Bourne Ultimatum"(2007) which proved to be the highest grossing and biggest critically acclaimed hit of the series bringing a crashing final close to the saga of Jason Bourne. For nearly three years Greengrass was working on a new project that while may lack the enthusiasm of his early works is no less thought provoking or thrilling as his earlier works. This film is one of his best and a film that not only gives you the views of why we go to war but if the reasons we do go to war are really for the right reasons.


When I first heard of Paul Greengrass' "Green Zone" back in late 2009 I can say that I was extremely excited to see Greengrass and Damon back together again making a big action picture again I could almost picture how this film would have played out in my head(no thanks to my limitless imagination). I saw Damon playing a solider fighting against another Government conspiracy involving some sort of political assassination or cover up that he exposed. I was eager with anticipation however, when I found out the release date of this film my anticipation dwindled. It dwindled not because I found out the film might not be as good as it appears but it dwindled because I would have to wait three months into 2010 to see one of my most anticipated films of 2010. After nearly two months of waiting I finally was able to see Paul Greengrass' "Green Zone? and let me tell you there is more to this film than meets the eye. "Green Zone" is a political war thriller set during the early days of the Iraq War where a lone solider named Roy Miller (Matt Damon) slowly pieces together that the reasons he and his fellow soldiers were sent to Iraq may actually be false. Miller sets off on a mission to exposes the lies behind the real reasons he was sent to war. "Green Zone? is as intelligent as it is thought provoking it is the kind of film that classics are made from and this film is sure to become a classic in time. What makes "Green Zone" so effective is not who directed it or who wrote it, or who starred in it but how it plays out and how it imparts its message to the moviegoers if you do not feel like there is something else there besides action you leave the movie feeling unfulfilled and disheartened. Wishing you had spent your money on something else except this movie is not that kind of movie. It is the kind of movie that when you walk out your saying "Wow!" instead of "That could of been better.? "Paul Greengrass' intense, bold, and gutsy political action thriller doesn?t pull any punches or any stops in one of the years most under appreciated films.


What I think is most impressive about this film is not its energy but its story the story in a film is one of the many ingredients to a great film and this one has one hell of a story. While some may find the story a little, to familiar and others may just flat out hate it, there may be a few that may find this film fresh, thought provoking and original, which is how I stand when it comes to this film. "Green Zone" is an engrossing experience from the flashy opening scene to the politically infused climax Paul Greengrass' tense war drama does not disappoint for a minute and it you never know this film may change how you view the reasons we do go to war.


Matt Damon has always been one of my favorite actors from during his early years up into until only making a few not so great films in between and those are in short supply when it comes to Damon. In "Green Zone" Damon gives a more restrained and emotionally distant performance that he has in the past I can say that it is most like how he played Jason Bourne in the Bourne trilogy and then it is not. Damon's performance is much like how a solider would act very restrained in control Damon's character Chief Warrant Officer Roy Miller is an extremely intelligent character. With Damon as his host the character just seems to flourish under the grit and grim of this film hostile nature and so does Damon. This movie works only because Damon is as capable an actor as he is and if it were anyone else in the part it would not have felt as convincing or as powerful as it did. It may not be the finest work Damon has done but I can say this it is one of his best performances to date. The rest of the cast including Jason Isaacs, Greg Kinnear, Khalid Abdalla, Brendan Gleeson, Said Faraj, Antoni Corone, Igal Naor, and Amy Ryan all turn in fantastic supporting performances in this no holds bar thriller.


Upon its initial release "Green Zone" fell under heavy controversy for its themes that the reasons America invaded Iraq was under false pretenses concocted by the C.I.A. Paul Greengrass' film has been called un-American, politically inaccurate and the list goes on and on and on. However, I don't think that at all I think "Green Zone" is like many books that have controversial themes(naturally I am not going to open that can of worms) it makes a statement and stands before the judge and juror defending it. In this case, the judge being the critics and the juror being the moviegoers, this film was pardon by the judge but was sentenced to two life terms without the chance of parole by the juror. What I mean by that is that this film met with favorable reaction from Critics but did not fare to well with audiences, as it was a massive domestic failure. Only generating 30 million dollars and it did not fare well over seas as well only being able to generate 96 millions dollars worldwide making Paul Greengrass' "Green Zone" a box-office disappoint. ?Green Zone" however, comes out a winner despite its failure to generate money this is one hell of a war film and a movie that deserves to be called great.

Picture it you have a beautiful wife a loving and sweet daughter a great job that you love and every night you come home to your family knowing there will be a great dinner waiting for you so you can sit around the table and just share some quality time with the ones you love. It is essentially the American dream, the dream that all want and most get but what if one day that dream was taken away from you? What if some punks from off the street broke into your home rob you and murdered the ones you love? Now say that the police were able to find and capture the men who murdered your family there are about to be prosecuted for the heinous crime they have committed but the Executive A.D.A( Executive Assistant District Attorney) cuts a deal with one of the murders meaning one spends five years in jail and is free while the other is sent to death row. There is one person who shares this horrifying story and that person is Clyde Shelton(Gerard Butler). His family were murdered by two thugs looking to loot the place but instead one of them decided to take it a little further and rape and murder both his wife and daughter, after one man is un-officially set free by a slick Executive A.D.A. and the other on death row Sheldon plots his revenge against all who have wronged him. The men who destroyed his life and the Justice system who let one of them get away.


F. Gary Gray and Kurt Wimmer's "Law Abiding Citizen" is one of those films that came out last year slipped under the radar for me I had heard things about it albeit nothing good. Mos critics and audiences members turned there backs on "Law Abiding Citizen" in favor of worse movies. However, compared to other movies that came out around the same time as "Law Abiding Citizen" this film is one of the better ones. "Law Abiding Citizen" is a smart merciless thriller that works its grim, macabre sequence of events on the audience like a symphony orchestra works you over with there overpowering music it flows so swiftly and confidently onscreen and with the suitably cast and semi-convincing performances from Jamie Foxx and Gerard Butler it almost over shadows the massive implausibilities in the script and plot. What makes this film so interesting to watch is not about the story but what is most intriguing about this film is how Clyde Shelton(Gerard Butler) is systematically killing everyone while amazingly being locked up in a maximum security prison throughout the whole film. I is the biggest mystery of this film and also its biggest flaw, it is it biggest flaw becuase it requires a huge suspension of disbelief requiring you to actually believe you do not know how he is pulling off these elaborate and ingenious murders. However, when it comes down to it you either accept the implausibility of the films plot or brush it aside as completely absurd, I choose to embrace its implausibility even when in the end it turned out to be as absurd as it is.


I did not completely like this film as I said it is highly implausible but also entertaining this film is the kind of film that you like more when your watching than afterwords. But even if it is very flawed and at sometimes half baked "Law Abiding Citizen " works better than it should and plays out far better than you could ever expect even if at times it is extremely absurd.


Jamie Foxx is another actor who is not a favorite of mine Foxx in his entire career has only made two films that in my opinion are worthy of being called his Oscar win for "RAY")2004) and his performance as Max the cabbie in Michael Mann's "Collateral"(2004) for which he also received an Oscar nomination, don't ask me why I just don't like him very much. In F. Gary Gray and Kurt Wimmer's "Law Abiding Citizen" Foxx plays slightly outside his comfort zone portraying Nicolas "Nick" Rice the sort of hero of this films story to Gerard Butler's anti-villain Clyde Shelton. Foxx's performance does not have much range and lacks almost if any, effort at all it is like he read the script and just decided to go with that not even trying for one instance to push the envelope and make his performance somewhat more believable than what it is, I will give him the benefit of the doubt for at least attempting to try his hardest although he could have done so much better. Gerard Butler is perfectly suited to play the role of the cool and calculating villain he has the right look for it and the style to play this kind of not so complicated role. Utilizing only the most basic elements from the direction fro Gray to Kurt Wimmer's script Butler is able to build a capable and vicious anti-villain when he is surround by the sometimes mediocrity of the plot and pure absurdity of the premise. Butler is not the perfect choice for a role like this but he certainly proves he is a very capable one he is able to help the audience ease there way into this film even when sometimes the acts defy the logic and in the end comes out clean as a whistle. The rest of the cast including Bruce McGill, Colm Meany, Regina King, Gregory Itzin, Michael Irby, Viola Davis and Leslie Bibb all turn in strong supporting performances in a film that could have been so much better than what it is.


This film will not become a classic and it sure as hell does not have the makings to become a cult classic but what it does posses is a certain charm and sense of dread that works the audiences over enough to come out as a convincing and gripping revenge thriller but due to a mild script and mediocre direction "Law Abiding Citizen" is left in the average area of films instead of resting in the more well deserved good area however, then again considering the ideas imposed in this film average suites this film perfectly.

In this day and age in this era of films spy movies are literally a dime a dozen they are one of the action genres most common uses for an action/ adventure picture and have spawned many franchises, T.V. series, video games. You name it the spy genre has left there mark somewhere to make sure that you never forget them the spy game has had a very successful run in the films. Although never quite commanding the respect they deserve from moviegoers who are now a days more interested in seeing dull overdrawn teen romances than good spy thrillers with smart ideas and compelling stories but that is just the way things go theses days. James Mangold's romantic action/comedy "Knight & Day" is the perfect example of a spy movie that has all the right ideas the right set ups and a story good enough to make me want to actually sit through the whole thing without checking my watch every ten minutes or so asking myself when it will be over.
"Knight and Day" is the first great film of the summer.



James Mangold's "Knight and Day" is one of those films that flew under my radar until almost two months before its initial release, which for a film with such a high-class director and stars I expected to hear more about this film. Instead I only heard that Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz were working together again after almost 9 years. There last collaboration being Cameron Crowe's bizarre hit "Vanilla Sky"(2001) truthfully that is the main reason went to see this movie. If there were anyone else in the lead roles, I would not have bothered with and gone to see something else instead now I am glad I did not decided to skip this one after all. "Knight and Day" is a pure formula film right down to its story and plot even most of its dialogue is formula the most formulaic parts are concerning Cameron Diaz when she is being briefed about Roy Miller(Tom Cruise) and how he is dangerous and crazy and a traitor, moviegoers have all heard it before. The only thing that saves this film from being nothing more than just a run of the mill rehash of other better spy movies is the breezy pace, snappy dialogue and a pair of winning performances from Cameron Diaz and Tom Cruise help bring this film out of its familiar territory saving it from a dark and dreary failure.



James Mangold is know for making high quality films most notably being "Walk the Line"(2005), "Cop Land"(1997)," Identity"(2003), "3:10 to Yuma"(2007). "Knight and Day" may not be one of Mangold best it certainly is better than his other comedy type film "Kate and Leopold"(2001) which wasn't bad but than again it was not quite that good either it is somewhere in between "Knight and Day" is far above "Kate and Leopold" but it is less imaginative than that film. What I found most impressive about this film and I think moviegoers will as well is the skill and design of this film it uses the clichés of its simple formula and story to turn what would have been a routine action/adventure/ spy thriller. Into an exceedingly enjoyable film far more enjoyable than could be imagined too enjoyable for its own, good "Knight and Day" works.


Tom Cruise is one of my favorite actors as a child one of his films that stood out is "Mission: Impossible"(1996) it is the first Tom Cruise movie I ever saw. It is also the movie that changed the way I viewed action films (but I am not going to go into that) and cemented me as a long-term fan of Cruise. In James Mangold?s ?Knight and Day" Cruise takes an extremely different approach to his acting, he actually tries to give comedy a shot and he pulls it off swimmingly. Cruise is serious but here is he is laughing at himself more than being serious I like that, I like the way he is laughing at himself the whole time and even though you do not hear him, you know he is laughing. And that is what makes this film so good and what makes Cruise such an asset to it the film is laughing at itself and so are the leads they are in on the joke and know that this is not serious this is all just good fun. Cruise, Diaz know this they know what they are doing is not serious its a joke and what makes the performances and this film so good is that they are letting us in on the joke. Cameron Diaz is the one who steals the show, her performance is one of the most skilled, and most likable in the film next to Cruise, what makes Diaz performance so good is that she usually has a smile on her face she is always giving the audience her million-dollar smile throughout most of the film. This is a constant reminder that she is loving this and having a good time. I like that, I respect that, and that is the reasons why this film is so good and why "Knight and Day" is necessary see. The rest of the cast including: Peter Sarsgaard, Marc Blucas, Oliver Martinez, Paul Dano and Viola Davis give great supporting performances in a film that may not be wholly original but delivers fine middle of the summer entertainment.




What I wanted form this film I did not get completely I wanted to get Cruise and Diaz laughing it up and cracking jokes like it is going out of style but instead I got rudimentary action, cliché plot twist. After hearing all this you start asking yourself this question: is this film wroth seeing? Most definitely, I wish there would have been more to it than just action and a pair of good-looking leads falling for each other, running around trying to find a very valuable object it just all seemed too... Familiar and that is okay I like familiar and while "Knight and Day? may not work for everyone this film delivers on what it promises, great summer action.

Everyone has dreams some people dream of being a rock star and taking the world by storm, some people dream of being huge movie stars and have fans scream there name as they walk down the carpet to the premiere of their movie. However, for some they are just dreams and Aaron Green (Jonah Hill) is no exception you see Aaron is like most people he dreams big however, his dreams never can fully come to fruition due to his place on the totem pole of life. What Aaron wants more than anything else in the world is to be just like his rock star hero Aldous Snow(Russell Brand) he wants to live like Aldous, he wants to party like Aldous, he wants the women that Aldous can get. Essentially Aaron Green wants to be Aldous Snow and he may get his chance when he comes up with an idea for his record label to put on an anniversary concert for the rock star at the Greek theater. Hoping to meet his hero and at the same time revive the long dead rockers career bringing him back into favor with the public. Now all Aaron has to do is "Get him to the Greek.?



When Nicholas Stoller and Jason Segal?s smash hit comedy "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" hit theaters the spring of 2008 I did not think much of it, I mean the film was short on laughs and heavy on sexual innuendos and raunchy jokes and it was just repetitive. The only thing that kept me from truly hating it is the crisp witty dialogue from Jason Segal, the romance between Peter(Jason Segal) and Rachel(Mila Kunis) and the oddly serious and adult behavior of the film it caught me off-guard but that is the point of "Forgetting Sarah Marshall". It is the kind of dramedy that catches you off-guard and leaves you kind of dumbfounded in the end. it is not a great movie it is the kind of movie that you have to take at its own level slightly juvenile. Now almost two years later Nicholas Stoller returns to direct this un-official sequel to his and Jason Segal?s comedy hit. "Get him to the Greek" is the kind of movie that when it starts you sit there wondering how it is going to turn out; is it going to be funny or just plain and utterly stupid? On the other hand, is it going to be smart and outrageously funny? If you choose the second one then you are correct sir! "Get him to the Greek" is a flat out non-stop laugh machine that does not quit cracking you up until the very end this film plot is funny, its premise is funny, its set up is funny hell the whole damn movie is funny I loved it!! I loved everything about the film it is not just one of the best comedies of the new decade it is one of the best comedies of the last ten years. It is the kind of comedy that you just want to see not because of what you heard but because you were laughing so hard at the previews of this film that it looks so stupid that, it actually might be good "Get him to the Greek" has its moments of completely and utter stupidity. Then it has its moments where it just comes out from behind and sideswipes you with its witty humor and catchy one-liners (and there are some catchy one-liners). It is actually quite an engrossing film, engrossing in the way that it keeps you laughing throughout to keep your attention focused on what is being laid out in front of you onscreen that to me is a sign of craftsmanship and also a sign of genius(and I use that word loosely when it comes to comedy). "Get him to the Greek" may not win many over and it will severely disappoint and offend many however, that is the point of the movie, if you are a fan of "Forgetting Sarah Marshall? and you have a taste for outrageous comedies than this film is the movie for you.




There are few comedies I like the reasons for this is that most comedies rely on gross out humor, stupid scenarios, dull and un-funny one-liners, and outrageous amounts of sex jokes. "Get him to the Greek" is one of the few comedies that I like the others are "The Mask"(1994), "Liar Liar"(1997), "I, Love you Man"(2008) and ?Intolerable Cruelty"(2003). Now "Get him to the Greek" has been added to the exclusive list of comedy what I liked most about this film is everything absolutely loved everything about this film. I loved the set up, the outrageous raunchy humor and the semi- prophetic end, "Get him to the Greek" is the kind of comedy that entertains despite its flaws and comes out an outrageously entertaining comedic farce.


Up until a few years ago, I had never heard of Jonah Hill I had heard things about him however, I never really knew of his work or him for that matter. Hill has become famous for working in a number of highly successful comedies namely "Super-bad"(2007) his breakout role, ?Forgetting Sarah Marshall", "Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian"(2009) and now "Get him to the Greek"(2010). Hill is a very highly skilled comedian Hill can make you laugh without trying he is what you call a phone-book comedian, it means that he can read from a phone book and make you laugh much like Paul Rudd who is another phone-book comedian, and the secret to Hill's comedic skill comes from his timing. He has amazing timing and always either delivers the joke to early or too late that is how he comes out funny he purposely delivers the jokes that way. However in "Get him to the Greek" he delivers all his jokes and catchy one-liners with pin point accuracy and lightning fast procession which makes it all the more enjoyable to watch in comedy the trick is not in the delivery of the joke but the timing, the timing is everything in a comedy and this ones timing perfect. Hill does not have to do allot of real acting it is almost all jokes and comedic farce there are a few moments that come to mind where Hill really shows some dramatic depth however, it is all lumped into the end of the film nevertheless it still works and so does his performance. I never liked Russell Brand and the fact is I still don't he just comes off really annoying and here is no exception his character Aldous Snow is the epitome of obnoxiousness and it shows throughout he whole movie in the stupid, reckless and at sometimes completely baffling things he does and what coheres Aaron into doing. It is sad and at the same time, actually quite funny Brand?s sense of humor is more insulting and irritating than anything else. Nevertheless, you end up finding yourself laughing your ass off at all his jokes in spite of his obnoxious behavior throughout the film. Brand is a great comedian he is not a favorite of mine in ?Get him to the Greek? he delivers a winning comedic performance in a comedy that works far better than it should. The rest of the cast including Colm Meany, Rose Byrne, Elizabeth Moss and a show stealing Sean Combs give amazing supporting performances in a film that plays better than it should and works out far better than you could ever expect.


"Get him to the Greek" may not impress everyone and it actually may offend many however you choose to view this film is your own. In my opinion, this film represents how modern comedy is its rude, raunchy, crude at times disgusting and even most of the time overtly offensive but that is the point! Comedy is not meant to be just slapstick funny it is at some points meant to offend you in ways that most of the time makes you laugh so hard you bust a gut. "Get him to the Greek" is that movie, a movie that not only makes you laugh but also gives you a look at how sometimes our heroes, even rock stars, are not always what they are cracked up to be.

Have you ever lost someone you love? Have you ever felt like loosing that loved one was so hard you would never get over it and you just spent the rest of your days mopping, mourning that said loved one feeling like no one in the world understands you. No one understands what you are going through the kind of pain your feeling for the loss of someone you care for with all your heart and soul. No one understands this better than young Tyler Hawkins who is going through a long-term bout of depression after the loss of a loved one he mopes and sulks around New York like no one in the world care about him. Harboring a deep hatred for his cold and workaholic father who he blames for all the troubles in his life Tyler is about to have his life altered not by self reflection and self discovery but by the one thing he never thought would happen to him, love he finds love with a young girl who is living with he same pain as he is with the same bottled up anger and sadness he is going through and together learn to overcome there grief and find happiness and solace in each other and slowly learn to move on from there personal woes. Allen Coulter?s ?Remember Me" is a dark and searing look into the lives of two families as they deal with the loss of loved ones and a look into the lives of two young people who find love amidst each others pain and sorrows.





When I heard that Robert Pattinson (one of my least favorite actors) was going to loss the fangs and the pale skin to play a regular human being in a movie that has actually moral meaning and a story not half-baked and dull to unlawful extremes I nearly fell out of my chair it was just too unbelievable, too unfathomable for me too comprehend Robert Pattinson is not the type you would exactly associate with a movie with this kind of deep subject matter the films story revolves around death, loss, suffering and violence all of which are very heavy themes and echo sadly throughout the film. I had no interest in seeing this even if it did have some of my favorite actors in it namely Chris Cooper and Pierce Brosnan (both of which are phenomenal in this film) it had almost been two maybe three months into this film release that I started to become interested in it. Especially after a news article surfaced about the film talking about the films twist ending my interest in this film soared. You see controversy surrounding a film always for some reason or another intrigues me. Allen Coulter's "Remember Me? is not your typical romantic drama it does not have a straight forward story like most as in most romantic dramas you are able to tell how it is going to end. Which takes the fun out of watching the film however, that is not the case with "Remember Me" you don't know how it will end you don't know what will happen to the two young lovers will they live or will they die? Will someone else die in there place? You keep asking yourself theses questions in the hopes that you may be able to discern how this film will end and when the end comes, you end up with your jaw going through the floor. The ending is the most shocking part of this film and possibly the most heartbreaking thing about this film it just leaves you so distraught and in a complete state of sadness; you do not know what to think about this film it just leaves you in a complete state of shock. This is the kind of film that most will enjoy some will find it either overly offensive or extremely sad how you choose to view it is your own opinion. "Remember Me" is a well-made movie with deep meaning, real emotions not cheap Hollywood emotions, but real true human feelings. I felt for the characters I felt like I got o know them as the film moved along I felt like they were people I had know for not too long, long enough for me to be able to care for them and feel there pain. This film does not cheat you it may at sometimes feel that way nevertheless, it delivers what promises or so it seems.


"Remember Me" is a very touching and at sometimes very heartbreaking look into the subject of life, death, love, betrayal and hardship. It is not a cheap movie it does not pretend to be something that it?s not it does not try to sugar coat real life to make it look easy simple and death free as most romantic dramas do. They usually portray the difficulties of the two lovers never the people around them. Some romantic drams are based just around two people and the rest of the people in there lives there mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, uncles aunts etc. are just side characters or dead to add a certain flare to the film to keep the drama flowing strong. Most of the time it works and other times it just feels stale and just thrown in there for good dramatic effect. That however, is not the case with "Remember Me" it is a real film not a slick exploitation of one it does not sugar coat life or use it as a gimmick for the romance it fleshes out the deepest and darkest parts of life, it puts them to use like more films of this caliber should. "Remember Me" is a truly enjoyable film that that brings to life the dark side of life and the joys of romance this is the rare film that works on all levels.



I really do not care much for Robert Pattinson he is one of the most over hyped actors of this generation thanks to no less than the Twilight films from which he skyrocketed to fame faster than Tom Cruise. Which I thought was impossible until I saw the amount of crazed fans screaming his name and the amount of fan sites he even has a documentary about his popularity it is unbelievable. I never thought that Pattinson would go anywhere beyond the twilight films I figured he would be like the kids from Harry Pothead oh, sorry I meant Harry Potter. However, Pattinson has not found much success outside of the "Twilight" series until now. Pattinson performance in "Remember Me" is not half-baked or lagging although in some scenes, he tends to drop off into the whole Edward Cullen hoarse whisperer thing in some scenes. His performance is very subdued yet intense, succeeds in fulfilling his duty to this films deep story, and comes out on the other side as a very competent and convincing dramatic actor. I liked Pattinson in the role I felt for his character I sympathized with his character and in a film that is one of the major parts in filmmaking if you do not care about the characters or if in some cases despises them then the film, itself has failed miserable here all the characters have hearts and souls. They cry they feel and most if not all of them are in pain Pattinson has the task of carrying the most baggage and he effectively gives a performance that is worthy of being called good. The rest of the cast including Emilie De Ravin, Lena Olin, Tate Ellington, Gregory Jbara, Ruby Jerins, and Pierce Brosnan with Chris Cooper all deliver fine supporting performance in this heartbreaking drama that proves to be much more than you could ever expect.





Many may call this film overwrought, overly offensive, half baked and dull, I call it a fine piece of filmmaking its a movie that no matter how you view it still manages to entertain in some way. "Remember Me" is not a perfect movie it ha sits flaws and parts where it lags a little and the drama shifts to over the top melodrama but the movie never strays from its dark and lurid tone of loss and despair. What I admire most about this film is what I think most will as well it is a very touching romantic drama as well as a look into the trials and tribulations of one man trying to find his place in this sometimes bleak and lonely world. In addition, ends up finding it in the loving arms of a young woman who is just as emotionally scarred as he is. For what it is it is this film is very well done and well played out it leaves you thinking of how short life can be sometimes of how in the blink of an eye you can lose someone so dear and in some rare instances find someone new to love.

In his day Roman Polanski was and still is one of cinema's top directors directing such revered classics such as "Nó w wodzie"( Knife in the Water) Polanski's directorial debut, "Repulsion"(1965), the noir classic "Chinatown"(1974), "Tess"(1979), "Frantic"(1988)," Cul-De- Sac"(1966), "Le Locataire" (The Tenant), "The Pianist"(2002) and "Oliver Twist"(2005). Over the last forty-eight years, Polanski has established himself as one of cinema's greatest and most controversial directors he has left an impression on Hollywood that will live on long after he has died and some will stand up and cheer when that day happens I might be one of them. There is no denying that Roman Polanski is a director of monumental skill he puts a certain flare and style to sometimes overused plot devices and stories making them viable daring pieces of filmmaking that surprisingly surpass anything Hollywood could possibly throw out of their shops. With his latest effort, "The Ghost Writer? Polanski proves to everyone that although he may be down but he is never out.



Roman Polanski's "The Ghost Writer" is a film that relies heavily on atmosphere the atmosphere is everything when it comes to a thriller of this caliber if you do not feel the tension then there truly will be no tension. You see in theses days with high gloss action thrillers like "Mission: Impossible" series, The Bourne trilogy all the thrillers are turned into high octane action pictures with wall to wall action and inane dialogue, The Bourne trilogy being the exception in this case. "The Ghost Writer" is not an action thriller it is suspenseful but not in the conventional way. It does not have huge explosions tons of armed men shooting at the hero chasing him through some small jungle country no, this film does one better it is a calm thriller, a steady thriller an intelligent and engrossing thriller that keeps you invested in what is going on with theses colorful and dark characters. What they are doing is extremely interesting how the unnamed hero goes upon solving the complex mystery he has found himself tangled up in this complex and ever-intriguing film that never lets you down even in the face of a less than riveting ending. What I like most about this film is the tense and present moody atmosphere that seems to possess every scene, this film is a conspiracy thriller but it is also part noir and the key elements of both are very visible throughout the film that makes this movie a deep and enveloping film. The dark cinematography, the electric direction and the sharp, highly intelligent script by Polanski and Robert Harris helps make this seemingly conventional conspiracy thriller a cut above the rest.



This is the kind of film that keeps you guessing all the way to the end that is hard to come by theses day where almost every thriller ends with a huge fight between the hero/heroine and the villain, a bloody shootout or the hero being killed in the end for what he/she knows. The thing with "The Ghost Writer" is that there is no villain. There is no hero, there are only real people a corrupt politician, his wife, his secretary, and the ghostwriter who is at the center of all the corruption, murder, and deceit is the focus of this tightly bound film a film that proves to be far more than it is appears.




Ewan McGregor is another actor I am a fan of sadly I have not seen many of his films besides the Star Wars prequel trilogy, "Angels and Demons" (2009), "The Island'(2005) and now Roman Polanski?s ?The Ghost Writer". McGregor's gives one of, if not the best, performance of his career as the anonymous ghost writer who gets wrapped up in a dangerous web of deadly secrets and sinister truths. McGregor plays this role with a subtle yet fiery sense of duty he gives everything he got to this role and in the end it pays offs big time. Pierce Brosnan has given some great performances and then some not so great performances in this film Brosnan gives one of the very best performances of his long career as the seemingly corrupt former British Prime Minister Adam Lang(who is a thinly disguised mock up of Tony Blair). Brosnan is not as subtle as McGregor he gives a fiery and powerful performances that is steeped with anger and resentment that is neither over the top or poorly acted it is perfectly suited for this kind of film the kind of film that needs actors that are calm, cool, collected and totally in command of there said role. Brosnan is in top form in a thriller that is far superior to others. The rest of the cast including Olivia Williams, Kim Cattrall, Robert Pugh, Jim Belushi, Eli Wallach and Timothy Hutton all deliver stellar supporting in this film that proves that Polanski still has what it takes to tango with the fat cats.




"The Ghost Writer? is not a film that everyone will agree with some will call it overly political and bland. Others will find it an engaging and absorbing political/conspiracy thriller that just keeps throwing out twist after twist after twist and never lets you figure out who is lying to who, who is behind what and what is going on with theses shady people until the shocker of a finale. "The Ghost Writer" is an inspired piece of work a brilliant and enticing thriller that is neither boring nor dull and puts to mind what really goes on with theses politicians when the camera is not on them.

What is a dream? Is a dream fragmented memories from your life that appear in a disjointed sequences of events or is a dream things you have done over the course of day or things you have seen that are lumped together to create a strange and at sometimes puzzling world that springs forth from the inner most reassesses of the human mind. Some will tell you the answer to why we dream and others will say that we dream because it is how our minds are constructed to keep us active even when we sleep, (at least that is how I see it). The truth is that we as an advanced race will never truly know the reasons for dreams. The Human mind is the most complex and powerful thing we as humans posses and our ability to dream gives us something much more than just to keep our minds active it is a way for us to draw inspiration and to recover memories that we thought were long gone. Christopher Nolan(director of Memento, Batman Begins and The Dark Knight) gives us a glimpse at the power of the mind the wonders of dream and a story that is as complex as the dream world it weaves a crime that does not take place someplace a place where the mind is the scene of the crime.



Over the course of 11 years, Christopher Nolan has become one of modern cinemas greatest directors delivering one amazing film after another after another after another, Nolan has achieved a certain level of success at such a young age that is only matched by one other legendary filmmaker Steven Spielberg. Nolan's films are as complex as the next he never strays from focusing on the events of the story or the characters as they shift through theses dark and at sometimes lurid sequences of events that befall them. That is his style and that is the reasons I love his movies there is so much to them not just what is on the surfaces but what is beneath the surfaces the deep rooted anxiety of theses characters. There dark painful pasts, the non linear story telling that is almost ever present in all of his films his latest endeavor, "Inception" is no exception. "inception" is a twist a minute, mind bending brain teaser it is the rare kind of summer blockbuster that thrills you while at the same time making you think about the boundless possibilities that the dream world that our minds create. The only other movie, actually I should say movies, I have ever seen that posses such powerful questions are "The Matrix"(1999) and "Vanilla Sky"(2001) although "Vanilla Sky" is far more like "Inception than "The Matrix" they both are up there as two of the most mind bending Science Fiction films I have ever seen. Both films using the ideas of reality to further along there sometimes-confusing plot and "Inception" has one hell of a perplexing plot. This kind of movie is a thinking persons movie someone who has the attention span to keep there focus pinned on Nolan's bleak and stark vision of a dark visually stunning dream world that is amazingly not to different from our own. I know there will be people walking into this movie expecting a run of the mill action thriller that is just covered up by a premise that takes place in the dream world, they will sadly walk out upset that they did not get the mindless action that they expected or even wanted. A more perceptive experienced moviegoer will know what to expect from this twisty Nolan film and if you know that, you can never predict how it will end or what will happen then you have all they need to watch this brilliant piece of filmmaking.



"Inception" took me by surprise I expected this film to be something similar to "The Matrix" and yet I got something far more complex and daring a wholly original and jarring Sci-Fi Noir that boldly puts itself out here and challenges the horrendous summer blockbusters by doing what they failed to do. Deliver a solid and thrilling piece of entertainment that surpasses anything that mainstream Hollywood has put out in the recent months. Nolan not only blows away the competition he crushes it leaving nothing but rubble of the films that should have been winner but instead were failures. "Inception" is one of the best if not the best film of the summer and one of the films of the year.




Leonardo DiCaprio has turned in some powerful and risky performances in his career from "What's Eating Gilbert Grape?? (1993) to "The Aviator"(2004) DiCaprio has proved he is one of Hollywood's greatest talents and now he is taking on a role much suited to his style. In "Inception" DiCaprio is cool, calm and collective as Dom Cobb the head of a team of dream thieves who have entered the mind of a lucrative business man to not steal an idea but to plant one a very dangerous feat that has been named Inception. DiCaprio is in command in all his scenes and never falters not even for a second in this tou-de-force performance in one of the best films of the year and the new decade. DiCaprio is not a conventional actor and he will never succumb to the big action thrillers that have been coming out in theses recent years and he never will that is what makes DiCaprio such a great actor and that is what makes his performance in this film something to see. The rest of the cast including Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Tom Hardy, Ken Watanabe, Tom Berenger, Marion Cotillard, Cillian Murphy, Ellen Page and Michael Caine and Pete Postlethwaite with Lukas Haas all turn in phenomenal performances in this film that proves to be far more than it appears.



"Inception" is going to keep people guessing and talking about it for week?s maybe even years to come this film is complexly woven and daringly told that even if you do not completely understand it moviegoers will be enthralled by every single minute of this unique Science Fiction thriller. That proves there is far more to the mind than we could ever know Nolan brings to life what most people would never have figured could be put on the screen, the world of the dreams.

When Bob Kane created the comic book character know as Bat-Man in 1939 he probably had no idea how big and how famous his little creation would become. A dark and haunting story of a man who by day is a wealthy and powerful business man by he night strikes terror into the hearts of the criminals and low life's that in fest the streets of the fabled Gotham City. From 1940 to 1964 Batman remained a popular and ever present icon in serial films his character was even featured in a popular 1960's T.V. series starring Adam West as the ominous Dark Knight. Sadly his show was more campy & cartoonish than it was dark, eerie and haunting his show even spawned a even campier 1964 film that kept all the bells and whistles from the horrendous series the film was a substantial failure at the box office and stand today as one of the worst comic book adaptions of the Batman character. For almost 25 years Batman lied dormant absent from the public eye it wasn't until 1989 that The Dark Knight returned to the silver screen for the first time in nearly a score to bring the comic book genre out of its slump and re-introduce to the world a hero the way he is meant to be seen.



Up until around 1989 very few people knew the name of grim director Tim Burton he had only two films to his name his first was the 1982 stop-motion film"Vincent" that he personally directed, designed and wrote himself thus followed in 1984 by the stop-motion, Disney produced film "Frankenweenie" a parody of and a homage to the 1931 film Frankenstein based on Mary Shelley's book of the same name. From 82 to 84 Burton stuck to making short stop-motion films it wasn't until 1985 that he finally made his big feature film debut with the big screen T.V. adaptation "Peewee's Big Adventure" the film was a huge success grossing more than over 40 million worldwide on a 7 million dollar budget. This film marked the beginning of a career that would span nearly 30 years after the success of "Peewee's Big Adventure" Burton went on to direct the cult horror-comedy classic "Beetlejuice"(1988) a film that shot Burton up towards the stars. 1989 was the year that changed everything for Burton, becuase in that year he directed the film that would literally be the father to all modern comic book films a film that made Burton the director he is today that film is called "Batman".

Jon Turteltaub's "While you were sleeping" has all the trappings and familiar ingredients that make up a standard romantic dramedy it has the all too familiar set up. The girl is in love with the person but he does not notice her or she does not make herself know, something happens and she either is thrust into his life or ends up lying to be close to him. In this case, Lucy Moderatz (Sandra Bullock) lies to the object of her affection (Peter Gallagher) family in order to get close to him and be near when he wakes up. You see Lucy saved Peter Callaghan(the first object of her affection) after he fell on the tracks and is subsequently knocked into a coma they take him to the hospital with her in tow and the case of mistaken identity ensues his family thinking he is Peter's fiancée. If you think this sounds conventional and familiar well then you are wrong the only thing conventional about this picture is the set up to this touching and very deep romance story. At the very center of this film "While you were Sleeping" is the rare romantic dramedy that takes you by surprises not by the fact that you can see what's coming a mile away but by the fact that you did not see it coming makes all the difference.


Jon Turtltaub's "While you Were Sleeping" is a film at first I did not expect to like at all it seemed like nothing more than a standard, run of the mill romantic dramedy that would do nothing more than just provide the usual story of a lonely love struck girl getting the man of her dreams. However, after seeing this picture my opinion of this film completely changed I started seeing it for what it is an extremely charming, touching, heartfelt and funny film that is far beyond the standards of Romantic comedy flair. "While you Were Sleeping" is intelligent and daring it is not afraid to show its human side to show how vulnerable its characters as regular people can be. How they easily are hurt, you see in a typical romantic comedy the characters insult each other like there is no tomorrow they hurt one another repeatedly until they finally concludes that this is not how love works in fact it is the exact opposite its called hatred. The characters in this film do not overtly insult each other sure there are moments where they tease one another but for the most part they are a caring bunch of people the most caring would have to be 0x Callaghan(Peter Boyle) who is one of the few Callaghan's that embraces Lucy from the get go. Boyle's character is a sweet yet feisty fellow who is not afraid to defend the ones he loves when needed, that is the key to this films excellence that is what makes it so real, so human, so warm and loving it is the vibrant characters. Without theses colorful cast of characters this film would sink into the low standards the sub genre is recognized. "While You were Sleeping" is a film that can not be missed or ignored it is just too good to be true and to funny and sweet to resist and even though I knew this film was going to have a happy ending, even though I saw where it was headed I still found myself enjoying and loving every single minute of this beautifully drawn film.



This film is built from familiar ingredients but this film has such charm and such spirit that no matter how much this film comes off as another rom-com dished out. You will love every single frame and every single minute of this film, the only other thing that saves this film is the magnificent performance from the ever-lovely Sandra Bullock. It is her performance that elevates this film that and the skill of director Jon Turteltaub and his team together they create a film that works better than it should and plays out far better than you could ever expect. The filmmakers do what seldom few directors do in theses films they put a human soul into it, they put real emotions and real feelings into this film that not only affects the mood of the movie but also affects the mood of the audience. If the characters are, arguing and fighting all the time than the audience can become agitated by this and turn there backs on the film. That however, is not the case with this film you feel for the characters you sympathize with the characters you even grow with them as they find there sense o belonging in this world , or in the case of Lucy Moderatz, her sense of belonging. That is what makes a good romantic dramedy and that is why others fail they do not capture the heart and soul the trials ad tribulations that come with the feelings of love. "While you Were Sleeping" hits all the right notes.


I have been a Sandra Bullock fan since I was very young the first film of hers I saw would have to be Miss Congeniality and ever since then I have been a die hard Sandra Bullock fan. I have survived her lows("Premonition", "Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous", "The Proposal" ," Speed 2:Cruise Control" and "All about Steve") and I have enjoyed her highs.("The Lake House", "The Blind Side", "The Net", "Miss Congeniality", "A Time to Kill","28 days?, ?The Prince of Egypt" and "Crash"). She is both an icon and a beloved figure of cinema. Sandra Bullock is one of the few actresses that have not fall from fame after the 90's like so many others most of whom either work on T.V. now or rarely do films anyone sees but Sandra has always hung in there and come out on top no matter what the obstacles. In "While you Were Sleeping" Bullock turns in one of her finest performances as a lonely subway ticket seller who loves a man from afar, her performance is no based on her skills as a comedian but it is built on her ability to play off the other actors she is working with. Bullock works hard in this film to be convincing as both funny and serious and she does it so beautifully. This is the kind of performance that any other actress had taken it I would have to say this film would not have worked as well as it did this kind of film and this kind of performance requires and actress that can be both humorous and commanding Bullock is both and then some. The rest of the cast including Bill Pullman, Peter Gallagher, Mike Bacarella, Jason Bernard, Glynis Johns, Jack Warden and Peter Boyle all turn in fantastic supporting performances in this enchanting tale of mistaken identity and new found love.




I am a sentimental person and this film is the kind of film that I have a soft spot for but even though I may have a soft spot for a film, I can dislike it as much as I like it. That is not how I feel about "While you Were Sleeping" I loved this film I loved every single thing about it; I loved the warm and charming atmosphere this film produces, I love the funny witty characters(especially Ox and Lucy. There are not enough words in the English dictionary that can describe my love for this film and if I tried, I think it would fall flat. So I am just going to say this "While you Were Sleeping" is a can't miss film that is not just a romance but an examination of family and how even though you may not have family you can find one in the oddest of places.

All guys have girl troubles at some point in their lives most of the time those troubles go away after the teenage years end but in some instance our girl troubles can cross over into our adult years and destroy our dreams of having a real love life with a beautiful woman. Kirk Kettner embodies the truest meaning of girl trouble he has recently broken up with his ultra-mega Galactus super skank girlfriend Marine who left poor old, nice guy Kirk feeling like he got hit by a flat bed truck going a 100 miles per hour(In lames terms he got screwed royally). To add insult to injury Kirk?s dim bulb parents have kind of taken Marine in as a surrogate daughter and her new boyfriend Ron (WTF!!!) Kirk tries his best to get Marine back he even gives her a gift of a picture of them two years ago before there break-up nothing special just a little trinket to hold her earrings and stuff. His friends hate her his parents love her and he wants her so what is wrong with this picture? The fact that he meets another girl named Molly that is hotter than Marine, nicer than Marine and to top it all off a hard 10 and she actually likes Kirk the way he is. However, things don't go as planned and Kirk has to start reevaluating his relationship with Molly and asks himself if she is really out of his league.




Jim Field Smith's directorial debut "She's out of My League" is a conventional rom-com that lifts it from the pits of rom-com hell by the amazing humor, charm, and lowbrow wit of its script and of its characters (most especially T.J. Miller as Stainer). "She's out of My League" is the kind of comedy that hits hard than lets you relax than hits you hard again than lets you enjoy the rest of the ride without being smack over the head all the time with vulgar and immature behavior. On the part of Kirk's friends however, this movie is very insightful into the life of an utter and complete loser (much like I use to be). Who by luck or an act of God ends up with a gorgeous and voluptuous blonde-haired woman (every man's dream, don't deny it). What makes this film so good and so much fun to watch is that you are not routing for a guy who can bag gorgeous babes. You are routing for a loser who has just bagged his first gorgeous babe in his entire life that is why you are routing for him. You want Kirk and Molly to be together you want them to do something romantic like drive off into the sunset or fly off into the sunset, or walk towards a sunset oh hell I just want them to walk towards something luminous setting in the distance. I don't know why it just seems it would fit with this films theme of finding love in strange places and looks do not really matter. Kirk is like my best friend Nathan mixed with allot of me to make one very shy, nervous, apologetic little man you like Kirk from the very start and form the very start you also hate his friends who vast knowledge of women is easily a 1.1 on the female knowledge scale and that's if you add up all three of theses ignorant fools theses dung sacks wouldn't know a good women if she walked up to one of them and bitch slapped them square across the face It's very sad so sad is the fact that one of them is married and still and some comes out a bigger loser than Kirk was in the beginning(Nate Torrence as Devon). The main point of this movie is love cannot be determine by what number you are or by what you look like, in my opinion, is the truest statement of love. Love is fair, love is unfair, and love is tough. Love is soft love is many things. However, rarely if ever is love judgmental or unforgiving. That is the message that this film is trying to get across and thanks to careful writing, solid performances from the cast of talented actors and sly direction "She's out of my League" is not only one of the best comedies of the year but also one of the sweetest films of the year. Even if at some points, it does not seem that way.


I loved this movie I loved everything about this movie even the vulgarity and immature behavior of Kirk's friends they grow on you and there not much different from my own friends so I am use to there behavior. This is such a heartfelt film even if it masked with constant vulgarity and cartoonishness the heart of this film shines through the grit and the grim and glows brightly. "She's out of my League" is one of the most hilarious comedies I have seen since "I, Love you Man" and in the ways of comedy it takes allot to make me laugh I am very picky about my comedy I hate almost all of Adam Sandler?s work. I love almost all of Jim Carrey's except for the Dumb and Dumber movies. Comedy is a special thing; you see the trick to making a good comedy is that the characters cannot know that they are in a comedy if they do then it just makes the film just all around bad. This film is not aware that it is a comedy, the characters are not aware that this is a comedy ergo; the jokes and the people telling them come out unscathed and outrageously funny. This is a comedy gem that should not be missed it may not be "The Hurt Locker" perfect or even close to that but for what it is this is one of the most enjoyable and most poignant comedies I have seen in a long time.



I do not particular like Jay Baruchel the guy sounds like a six year old and looks like he?s fourteen for a role like this Baruchel is perfectly suited for the part. The part of Kirk calls for a gangly looking loser, Baruchel is perfect for the part, and to top it off he can drop an uneasy joke like nobodies business. Baruchel acting skills are very mild, he is almost upstaged by newcomer Alice Eve, and especially Krysten Ritter?s bitchy performance as Patty Baruchel is able to hold his own and deliver a few great comedic lines. However, the bulk of the main comedy comes from his friends played respectively by Mike Vogel, Nate Torrence, and T.J. Miller with Krysten Ritter throwing in a few zingers and one-liners here and there that make the guys look bad. Baruchel is the consummate go to guy for geeks and losers he has the voice the face and the mannerisms down pat to play a part like this he played the geek and loser in the biggest flop of the summer "The Sorcerer's Apprentice"(2010), here he is perfectly suited. In "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" Baruchel seemed a little mismatched and out of place in "She's out of my League" he is a near-perfect casting choice for the part not just because he looks the part but because he can play the part to its fullest and he does play Kirk well making him one of comedies more likable characters. the rest of the cast including Mike Vogel, T.J. Miller, Nate Torrence, Geoff Stults, Lindsay Sloane, Debra Jo Rupp and Krysten Ritter all deliver fine and in there own way funny supporting performances in this comic dazzler.




"She's Out of my League" is the kind of comedy that is intended for one audiences Males from ages 15-20 any older and you still have the same problems that Kirk has then, truth be told, something has gone terribly wrong . This is an all around funny movie with a big, big heart powering its central story of a loser finding love and happiness with a beautiful women. She's out of my League" is not just an outrageously funny movie but it is also a touching romantic comedy and quite possible one of the funniest films of the year and one of the funniest I have ever seen.

From 1575 to the present, there have always been those who have opposed the use of tobacco from Mexico to the Ottoman Empire to Bavaria, Kursachsen, and certain parts of Austria in the late 1600s. Some form of Government in some part of the world has always tried to ban or outlaw the use of tobacco. In the 1500s the Catholic Pope Urban VII in particular threatened to excommunicate anyone who "took tobacco in the porchway of or inside a church, whether it be by chewing it, smoking it with a pipe or sniffing it in powdered form through the nose". The Ottoman sultan Murad IV prohibited smoking in his empire in 1633 smoking was also banned in Berlin in 1723, in Königsberg in 1742, and in Stettin in 1744. These bans were repealed in the revolutions of 1848. The first building in the world to have a smoke-free policy was the Old Government Building in Wellington, New Zealand in 1876 this was due to the fact that the building is the second largest wooden building ever constructed and it was out of concern that smoking may cause a fire. From then to now there are groups that fight to have cigarettes removed from gas stations, supermarkets etc. Then there are those who promote Big Tobacco and there products. They lobby s to speak on behalf of some of the worlds most powerful tobacco industries men like Nick Naylor(Aaron Eckhart) the protagonist of Jason Reitman's feature film debut "Thank you for Smoking" where as some people, in Eckhart's biting narration states, "Michael Jordan plays ball, Charles Manson kills people I talk" and indeed he does. "Thank you for not Smoking is not only a dark and searing satire on the anti-smoking issue it is also an intelligent and thought provoking film that asks you to ask yourself and ask others the ideas surrounding the big tobacco business and there so called merchants of death. However, ask yourself this, is it truly right to take away a persons right to smoke?



Jason Reitman's feature film debut "Thank you for Smoking" is a cynical, searing, hilarious, and thought provoking look into the world of politics and the men and women who occupy the seats on both sides of the table, so to speak. Reitman(Son of veteran director Ivan Reitman) adapted screenplay from Christopher Buckley's 1994 satirical novel of the same name is a film that is as intelligent as it is biting this film is a deeply funny look at how one man(Aaron Eckhart) seeks to promote cigarettes. Reitman shows he has a real true talent for writing and directing, something his father Ivan lacks. Reitman is an intelligent director and an even more intelligent writer he knows how to flesh out each and every character at there duly appointed time he knows how to write smart, engaging, thought provoking dialogue and cheerfully offensive dialogue that makes you laugh as well as think. Satire is a tricky territory and Reitman is a genius when it comes to this tricky territory he knows how to play out the ideals on the anti-smoking issue to its full extent while still maintaining a strong sense of humor and political reason all the while the audiences is sitting there thinking and laughing . As it should be "Thank you for Smoking" targets two specific audiences the political opinionated and everyone else those who have strong political opinions(much like me) will either love this film, hate this film, or just downright despises it(I know some politicians who would really dislike this film). For those who are not politically opinionated will love this film in its entirety with its Delightfully unscrupulous characters, witty and intelligent dialogue and abundance of laughs this is the right ticket for anyone who likes to see people make fun of other people make fun of the people who run the country.




I love this film, I love everything about this film I love the characters, the cynical sense of humor and the gloriously unscrupulous cynicism that this film unleashes on the anti- smoking issue. "Thank you for Smoking" is one of the best political satires I have seen since Stanley Kubrick?s? Dr. Strangelove or how I learned to stop worrying and love the bomb"(1964) or read since Joseph Heller's "Catch 22". "Thank you for smoking" is a political satire for our times just like "Dr. Strange love or how I learned to stop worrying and love the bomb"(1964) was for its time. "Thank you for Smoking" is a film for the times a film for the moment, a film for the ideals of the 21 century and quite frankly one of the best films of the last decade. This is the kind of film you have to see with an open mind and strong ideals and expect not shallow, vulgar, and raunchy humor but smart, politically perceptive humor that accentuates the films already high intelligence. Reitman and his all-star cast not only help make this film one of the funniest satires in years but one of the best films of the last decade.



Aaron Eckhart is one of the most underrated actors I have ever heard of he is also a very talented actor as well. Eckhart plays Naylor as a smooth charismatic charmer who thinks he has everything figured out when he obviously does not and that is what makes it so interesting to watch. Naylor is one of those guys who thinks he has nothing to fear and that no one I mean no one can get in his way until he meets with a series of uncontrollable and unfortunate events that change his views on what he does and how he should live his life. Reitman has a perfectly cast star in Aaron Eckhart, Eckhart gives this role his all his everything and in doing so he gives a performance that has to be noted as one of the best of 2006 and of the last decade. Eckhart is a fine actor and thanks to Reitman?s amazing direction and screenplay he delivers what could possibly be one of his best performances since he play Harvey Dent/Two-Face in Christopher Nolan's "The Dark Knight.? The rest of the cast including Sam Elliot, David Koechner, William H. Macy, Rob Lowe, Katie Holmes, Cameron Bright and Maria Bello all turn in fine supporting work in one of the most ambitious and intelligent films of the last decade.


"Thank you for not Smoking" is not a political satire that everyone will find amusing. Some will call it pretentious, dull, self-indulgent, self-centered, loathing of politics, and a sheer insult to heavy politically inclined people. If you hate this movie then that is alright not everyone is going to like this film and everyone has there own opinion but if you use your political views as a reasons to right this film off as a bad film then you are missing the crucial point of this film. This film is not mean to glorify politics. This film is meant to poke fun at the people who run this country it is meant to make a statement that says it stands firm for what it believes and that everyone, whether it be there choice or not, should have the right to smoke if they want to and no one can take that away. They can try but you cannot take cigarette away from someone unless they want to get rid of the cigarette. ?Thank you for Smoking" is the kind of film that makes a point and does not hesitate to take it to the next level. This is a vicious film, an uncompromising film, a hilarious fun filled film and a movie that gives you an inside look at the world that you only get to read about and the people who are part of those articles.

Action thrillers have always had a special place in the hearts of esteemed moviegoers of all ages they share not only the joys of having something blowing up in your face every ten to 40 minutes but they also give you great and memorable action sequences and characters. Such as "Die Hard"(1988), "Minority Report"(2002), "Mission: Impossible"(1996)," Mission: Impossible III"(2006), "Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark "(1982), "Jaws"(1979), "HEAT"(1995) and many more. They all in some way have contributed to the growing popularity that is the action movie and why the genre stands tall and proud as one of cinema's most popular and most prominent genre. Phillip Noyce, Kurt Wimmer and Brian Helgeland's "SALT" an action-packed, rip roaring, fast-paced action/ spy thriller is not only the epitome of what a great action thriller is "SALT" demonstrates the reason why action thrillers are the most popular form of film in the first place and why today they live on as the most prominent films in the industry.



Phillip Noyce, Kurt Wimmer and Brian Hegeland's "SALT" was one of the year's most hotly anticipated films everywhere you looked you saw the promotions for this slick and over-the-top action thriller from director Phillip Noyce(Rabbit Proof-Fence, The Quiet American), screen play writers Brian Hegeland(L.A. Confidential, Robin Hood) and Kurt Wimmer (Equilibrium, Law Abiding Citizen). "SALT" is a kind of ripped form the headlines type of action thriller seeing as it is taking its main plot and premise from a news story about a women who accused of being a Russian spy. "SALT" is a standard order thriller with amazing action sequences and death defying stunts the only thing that sets this film apart from other action movies is the fact that it has a seasoned and highly professional star in the lead role, a veteran action director who knows his way around action sequences and conspiracy thrillers. But the plot to this movie seems to be mired in an over abundance of action sequences and chase sequences and to add on top of all that the film clocks out at a measly 1hr. 39 min which leaves little for character development or story development but truth be told does a movie like this really need all that? I don't think so. This film is more reliant on its action, stunts, chases, and Angelina Jolie's excellent performance as Evelyn Salt. This film has so many plot holes that you could drive a semi truck through it is the epitome of over the top action with each and every sequence delivering one brilliant filmed yet outrageously implausible stunt after another. All the while, the audience is sitting there in awe at the stylish and gritty action that laid out for the audience. "SALT? is a work of technological mastery, sharp writing and fine acting all combined together to create a thriller that is just as effective as it is daring.


I am not a very opinionated person. Grant it I do have strong political views but there very muted because the people around me do not feel as strongly as I do about politics. "SALT" has strong political overtones that almost muted by the constant action, albeit the political notions expressed in this film are nothing new to moviegoers. Truth be told we have all seen something like this before but it is rarely done on such a level as it is done in "SALT.? Its over the top, boundlessly energetic, intelligent, thrilling and absolutely absorbing the way this film is able to grab your attention from the get go is just amazing your attention does not stray for a minute you are completely involved in the story, the plot and the mission that Salt must go on. I will admit that this movie has holes in its plot and its story and at times the short running time does not give the audiences enough time to really truly get to know the characters then again whenever did you care about the characters in an action movie? It's all about the action things blowing up people getting blown up the hero round house kicking a bad guy out a window or through a door you don't want to think while your watching an action movie, you don't want some kind of philosophical message inserted into your film you want action! Adventure! Big explosions!! If you crave all those things and more than this movie is the right movie for you with enough intelligence in its action and its dialogue to keep it from sinking to the level of Transformers: Revenge of the stupid. "SALT? is one of the best action films of the years and personally one of the best action thrillers I have seen in a very long time. It has its head in the right place and does not over use the action to burn up time on screen like Michael Bay did with his horrendous money making train wreck "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen". This film has a brain and it uses it mind you this film does not do allot of deep thinking but the amount of thinking it does is just enough to keep this action/conspiracy thriller a success.



Angelina Jolie is not a massive favorite of mine like Nicole Kidman or Charlize Theron or Anne Hathaway she ranks pretty close to the top of my list. Jolie is known best for her action roles and for playing women who are either mentally unstable or are going through a crisis of conflict. As Evelyn Salt Jolie demonstrates why she is one of the few actresses that can convincingly handle hardcore action just as well as any man and she does with such style and skill, her performance is not just reliant on how well convincing she is knocking out a guard or jumping off a building. Her performance is reliant on her skills as an actress, Jolie is a very talented one at that, it depends on whether or not you are convinced she is believable in the part whether she is believable as a tough as nail CIA operative. Let me tell you now I believed ever moment of her performance and I believed every moment of this film even when it took a turn down the road of implausibility. Jolie and director Phillip Noyce and his team are able to blend over the top action with a rip form the headlines story to create one of the year?s best action films. The rest of the cast including Liev Schreiber, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Daniel Olbrychski, August Diehl, Andre Braugher Olek Krupa all turn in fine supporting performances in this vibrant and audacious action thriller.




"SALT? I can assure you will not win over very many people in fact it may turn people off form seeing it. Seeing as films like this have been made many, many, many times before the only saving graces in this film is how outrageously entertaining and exciting it is lets not forget Angelina Jolie she helps save this film more than anyone else. Thanks to in part to her massive star power and her skills as both an action star and an actress she brings this film status from seen it to must see. "SALT" is one of the most enjoyable and most entertaining films to come out this year and a true testament of how a women can do anything a man can do.

In my eyes, Antoine Fuqua is a one hit wonder, much like Carl Douglas? song "Kung-Fu Fighting.? Fuqua's one hit wonder and his career making film "Training Day" established Fuqua as a possible rising star amongst directors thanks to in part of his film being nominated for two academy awards Denzel Washington won his second Oscar for his over the top portrayal of a mad dog rogue cop in Fuqua's breakout film. Sadly "Training Day"(2001) and "Lighting in a Bottle" (Fuqua's most acclaimed film) were his best works ever since then it has been touch and go for the talented yet extremely misguided young director who has a vision of telling the pain and anguish of people and the dangers and dark power money can hold over the best of people. Fuqua?s newest and to date his finest work is a searing gritty tale of corruption, greed, power in some strange way redemption. "Brooklyn's Finest" is a dark morbid film that not only boldly takes the occasionally walked path of a police drama but it takes the police drama all the way back to the days of one of cinema's finest crime films namely "Serpico" and "Prince of the City" and while "Brooklyn's Finest" is no "Prince of the city" it is one of the best and most complex crime dramas I have seen in a long time and proves that Fuqua maybe have what it takes to play with the big boys.


"Brooklyn's Finest" walks the well-worn path of many cop and crime dramas that have followed before it namely "Prince of the City"(1981), "Serpico"(1973),"The Departed"(2006), "Mystic River"(2003) and the list goes on. The only thing that sets this interlocking crime drama from others is its intense and sometimes absorbing one on one's between the lead characters and the people around them. The most notable would be Sal Procida (Ethan Hawke) and the interaction between his family and him or the one on ones between Sal and his partner Ronny Rosario (Brain F. O?Byrne). Those individual scenes work better than most of the films most intense confrontations or the grittiest of shootouts or the most profound speech about the line between right and wrong. Theses scenes between the actors are the heart and soul of this picture the thread that holds the sweater together if theses scenes did not work or faltered even for a second the whole film would crumble and collapse on itself. The main reasons this film is able to succeed in due to the fact that there is a skilled director behind the camera and a cast of fantastic actors leading this film along to a smashing and gut wrenching climax that is worthy of this film. Fuqua does not cop out he keeps on the straight and twisty path that all dirty cop dramas follow and while this one is nowhere near as good as his earlier effort it certainly is one of his most polished and engrossing films to date albeit not all that compelling. "Brooklyn's Finest" is a taunt, tense and absorbing police drama that takes no punches but does dish out a few of its own, this is one of the best dirty cop films I have seen in a good long time.

I have a strong love for police dramas I have been watching them for the better part of 12 years and each one that I have seen has either failed to impress me or has left a lasting impression on me much like Martin Scorsese's "The Departed"(2006) did when I first saw it. ?The Departed? blew my mind with its daring plot twist and diverse group of flawed character. Fuqua's "Brooklyn's Finest" is like that. It has flawed people, human people who are trying to find out what they should do or even if they should do it. This film is not perfect and it does not pretend to be.



The actors in ?Brooklyn?s Finest" are all in top form they each deliver a fine diverse group of performances that not only enrich the material but make the film itself more human and more dark. The best performances in the film come from Don Cheadle, Ethan Hawke, and Richard Gere the three leads they are all at the top of there game in this tightly wounded film. Each of them deliver amazing performances that draw the audiences deeper and deeper into the violent world of the police, theses actors may not always be on key but they never fall short and each of them help boost this overly standard cop drama above its familiar story and plot. The rest of the cast including Brian F. O?Byrne, Vincent D'Onofrio, Wesley Snipes, Lili Taylor, and Will Patton all deliver fine supporting performances in this gritty crime drama.



For Many this film will come off as too familiar or too standard for most experienced moviegoers but for a select few "Brooklyn's Finest" will play-out like a finely tuned police drama that were so popular in the 70's, 80's and early to mid 90's. "Brooklyn's Finest" is not one of the best films of 2010 however; it is one of the most underrated and most engrossing films to come out in the early months of the new decade. While this film may not be the best of its genre it certainly is one of the more entertaining it proves that Fuqua still has what it takes to be a big name director and play with the fat cats and big wigs of Hollywood society.

No one really quite knows the exact reasons why there relationship ends or how it ended in the first place or why it came to end the way it did. All we know is that the relationship is over and there is nothing we can do about it they have moved on so should we however, that is sometimes easier said that done. Tom Hansen (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) knows this all too well as h e has just broken up with his loveless, girlfriend Summer Finn (Zooey Deschanel). He is wreck after there break-up he has lost his kind nature and feels disjointed and lost in the world like he has had his heart ripped out and had her do the Mexican hat dance all over it. Tom is depressed and lonely but thanks to his friends (Geoffrey Arend and Matthew Gray Gubler) and an extraordinarily smart little girl who seems to be an expert on relationships (Chloe Moretz). Tom looks back on the 500 days of his relationship with Summer trying to find out what went wrong and what he could have done differently if he only had a second chance.




There is a scene of dialogue that opens this film stating, "This is not a love story, this is a story about love" and that is the entire basis for this film story. This is not a love story a love story is where you see a sequences of events and happenings that lead two people to find one another. Then in a big mush climax they admit there love for one another while the poignant and very sappy music plays in the background while the girl finally finds her knight in shining armor or the boy finally finds his princess. It is a tried and rundown formula that has plagued the romance genre for the last 30 years, now here we are in the 21st century and we still get theses sappy and at some points very cringe inducing conclusions to theses cliché love stories that makes audiences scoff, scoff because they have seen it hundreds thousands of times before. "(500) Days of Summer? does not suffer from those worn out clichés It instead does something daring, something that few romantic comedies would never dare to do it takes a wholly original story, premise, plot and an excellent and highly intelligent script and puts them together to form one of the greatest romantic comedies ever made. Trust me when I say this I never have said that about a movie from this genre I am proud to say that "(500) Days of Summer" is the romantic comedy I have been waiting for all my movie watching days. Better yet, it is the film I had really no idea I was waiting for. "(500)" Days of Summer" is a glorious film a beautiful that exemplifies the nature of love with all its high and its lows. This is a beautiful film, a touching film; a film that never seems to lie to you as if most romantic comedies do. Its straightforward and honest which is surprising at times due to the fact that most films of this sub-genre are never honest about love they lie to the audience about what love really is and try with all there might to make us believe that the two arguing bickering sorely mismatched couple we are suppose to believe are in love with each are actually right for each other case in point being "Sleepless in Seattle"(Meg Ryan plays a woman who stalks Tom Hanks because she thinks he is the one after hearing him on a radio talk show), "The Ugly Truth"(Katherine Hiegl plays an annoying control freak daytime talk show producer who clashes with a chauvinistic talks show host play by Gerard Butler). "(500) Days of Summer" is the answer to this sub-genres prayers and to moviegoers prayers its a real romantic comedy that forgoes all the idiotic ways previous and far less impressive films have tried to pull off "(500) Days of Summer" does without a hitch and makes seeing the ways of love onscreen enjoyable once again.


"(500) Days of Summer" is a beautiful film not only works as an effective romantic comedy but also as an absorbing drama and character study of theses intriguing people and I don't just mean the main characters. The supporting characters are also intriguing as well Particularly Chloe Moretz as the kid psychiatrist who helps Tom sort out his troubled past with Summer. This film is fresh, original and hip not because it has an original story but because it takes it time to develop its group of very diverse characters and at sometimes strange imagination scenes when Tom just drifts off into his own dream world. in one instance in particular when Tom finally admits he is in love with Summer he goes outside and engages in an 80's styled dance sequences to Hall & Oates "You make my dreams come true" its a fantastic sequence that shows Tom's love(at the time) for his new girlfriend Summer and also establishes the film's tone and mood throughout. Director Marc Webb's bright, clever, funny, touching offbeat look at love is a film that not only defines expectations it leaves the audience feeling all warm and fuzzy on the inside making you leave this movie with a smile on your face.



Joseph Gordon-Levitt is one of my all time favorite actors he is one of the very few actors today who is still interested in masking good films instead of just making movies to get a paycheck. Levitt never cops out he stands his ground and stars in films that matter and actually have merit to them much like Rian Johnson's "BRICK"(2005), Scott Frank's "The LOOKOUT"(2007), Christopher Nolan's "Inception"(2010) and Marc Webb's "(500) Days of Summer". Over the course of a decade Levitt has amassed a very respectable and admirable line of work, grant it some of his films are not that admirable, but Levitt is one of the few remaining actors who never gives into the Hollywood mold and strives to make movies that he feels are worth his time. In Marc Webb's "(500) Days of Summer" Levitt turns in what can possible be called the best and most honest performance of his career as hopeless romantic Tom Hansen. Levitt is honest, caring, and straightforward and his character Tom believes in love with all his heart and soul while his newfound love Summer Finn (Zooey Deschanel) thinks love is for kids and thinks Tom is naive for thinking that love has any place in this rational world. Levitt does not play Tom like the typical archetype rom com male lead, he instead plays him as if he is a regular guy not some macho chauvinistic jackass who thinks he is Gods gift to Women (Gerard Butler in "The Ugly Truth,? Mel Gibson in ?What Women Want"). Tom is a normal guy that any guy could relate to his problems are real so that is why the film feels real if Tom's troubles were like they were in an A typical rom-com than this film would fall apart at the seams. Thankfully it doesn't thanks to in part to a wonderful award worthy performances from Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel, magnificent writing from Scott Neustadter & Michael H. Weber and on the mark direction from Marc Webb helps make "(500) Days of Summer" the most offbeat gleefully enjoyable comedy of 2009. I love Zooey Deschanel I love everything about her in this film (except the fact that her character Summer does not believe in love). Deschanel I always overlooked as an actress she just seemed like another pretty face in the roster of not so talented actress that have been coming out of the wood works lately. Deschanel is a breath of fresh air in this genre and her performance in some ways makes me think of Diane Keaton in Woody Allen's "Annie Hall"(1977) (which in actuality this film has been compared to). Deschanel is beautiful, mysterious, and somewhat mystifying as the loveless Summer Finn. The greatest parts of theses films are the ones where you see the crucial and more romantic points in Tom and Summer's relationship and also how the audience is show the lows of there relationship as well the writing allows for Levitt and her to roam freely in this quirky world of there. It gives the film an added sense of joy and sadness that works well with the films subject matter. The heart and soul of this picture are the stars if there have ever been more perfectly cast stars than look no further than this pitch perfect film. Deschanel and Levitt are at the top of there game in this sweet and deliciously entertaining film. The rest of the cast including Clark Gregg, Chloe Mortez, Patricia Belcher, Matthew Gray Gubler, and Geoffrey Arend deliver fine supporting performances in one of the best films of 2009.




Some may find "(500) Days of Summer" pretentious, too offbeat, cynical and too colorful and fantastical to be taken seriously but I am here to tell you that this is the kind of film that can be taken seriously due to the realistic nature of its subject matter. Director Marc Webb and his writer weave an entertaining, funny, and at times dramatic look into a story about love and how painful at times love can be. This film is not one to miss by those who love a good laugh, a good one-liner, or a good dramatic moment ?(500) Days of Summer" is just the movie for you.

in 1985 top dog investor, arbitrageur Gordon Geckko(Michael Douglas) was indicted on charges of security fraud and insider trading tricked by his somewhat portage, Bud Fox(Charlie Sheen who makes a cameo appearance). Geckko subsequently sent to prison where he served out an eight-year sentence. On October 22, 2001 a much older and wiser Gordon Geckko is released from prison into a world he use to own and that now has forgotten that he even exists. Seven years later, the financial system is in grave peril stocks are plummeting, banks need national government bails outs just to stay afloat. The whole nation is in a dire state of panic. Massive investment firms are crumbling (AIG 2008 liquidity crisis, which is the basis for this films main plot line). "Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps" is a daring, bold, and highly charged melodrama that takes what we know and turns it on its heels.




Oliver Stone's "Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps" is one of those rare non-consecutive sequels that works. In fact, it is one of the very few non-consecutive sequels ever been made; "Money Never Sleeps" picks up the story of "Wall Street." A full generation later Geckko been sent up state for security fraud and insider trading, Bud Fox became the hero but might have also gone to jail the details of his situation are never fully revealed. This sequel takes place in 2008 at the very height of the financial crisis after the collapse of the housing bubble, which peaked in the U.S. in 2006, causing the values of securities tied to real estate pricing to plummet thereafter, damaging financial institutions globally. "Money Never Sleeps" is as entertaining as any sequel can be and that is a godsend due to this films premise about big money may not appeal to action hardened fans or moviegoers who like a film that are as dumb as a stone or has enough action to blow the roof off a theater. Which in films is never a good thing? "Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps" is a quintessential movie for our times it deals with themes that hit home like the fallout of AIG (in the film Keller, Zabel), security fraud, embezzlement and insider. This film knows where it headed and it knows that most people will not understand a single word of the corporate jargon I certainly did not. This film however, does not bog down its audiences with numerous boardroom scenes or scenes of corporate mumbo jumbo it is a straightforward story of power, corruption and most of all greed, a story about the men and women who work to gain money and keep this Nations economy afloat at the same time. This is not a film for mainstream moviegoers this is a film for moviegoers who know quality entertainment when they see it and do not go for the big budget, loud and absurd action films. "Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps" is one of the year's best and most engaging pictures a film with ideas, ideals, and intelligence This is the film for the moment, the film for the decade the film for the century.







Stone's films usually spark extreme controversy over the subject matter of some of his films most notably are "Platoon"(1986). "Platoon" sparked controversy over the use of actually battles that took place during the height of the Vietnam War some of the battles of which my father fought in. Until this day he can never watch this film without puking, "JFK"(1991) his film based on the many theories surrounding the assassination of President John F. Kennedy this film fell under massive controversy many powerful people tried to have this film banned from movie theaters. However, the film still ran in theaters because by banning the film they would be violating Stone's freedom of speech, which stated in the first amendment. "JFK" went on to become a sleeper and critically acclaimed hit to date one of Oliver Stone's best films. "Natural Born Killers"(1994) is still today considered one of the most controversial films ever made due to its theme showcasing how the media glorifies serial killers and criminals of all kinds. Also from almost the very moment of its release, the film been accused of encouraging and inspiring numerous murderers in North America "World Trade Center"(2006), "W." (2008). Stone has been known to never back down from what he is trying to say through his films whether it be that war for the wrong reasons is a terrible thing(Platoon, Salvador). Sometimes our own Government lies to cover up the mistakes it has made or the major crimes they have committed (JFK), or how the media makes criminals into superstars (Natural Born Killers). Stone always sets out to make a bold statement even if that statement sometimes gets lost in his over eagerness. "Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps" is one of Stone's more grounded films. It has no bold or outlandish political statement to make it instead tells a story about people, people that you normally would not even care about puts them at the center of an engrossing, absorbing film experiences that cannot ignored. "Wall Street: Money never sleeps" is as intelligent as it is ferocious in its wheeling and dealing of money and power. This is the kind of film that people who love money and love making money will enjoy or, this is the kind of film that certain moviegoers will just love for its craftsmanship, its timely story and its terrific cast this film proves to be one of the years most impressive and dynamic films.




Michael Douglas is one of cinema's most powerful and commanding actors and in Oliver Stone's "Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps" he proves that just because he is old he should never be put out to pasture. Douglas performance in this film is much like his performance in the 1987 original however, there one big difference, this time around, Gordon Geckko is no longer the villain he is the anti-hero. To watch Douglas slip into a 25 year old role is like slipping on an old pair of shoes you know there is a 50-50 chance that they still might fit or that they might not with this role Douglas fits perfectly. He doesn't aim to make Geckko some kind of sorrowful man looking for redemption. After committing major crime and paying the price for it, no, Douglas plays Geckko as if he is a man who still wants to be on top like someone who still wants to win no matter what to be the man who has everything. The real question that you are asking yourself through out this film is that can a man whose motto is "Greed is good" really change? If you have seen the 1987 film than your answer might be clear but if you think that everyone deserves a second chance than your answer might not be so clear nevertheless, Douglas delivers a fine Oscar worthy performance in one of the best films of the year. I will admit that I am not a huge fan of the rising super star Shia LeBeouf, in fact I find him quite annoying in his comedic roles and particularly in the Transformers franchise. Now don't get me wrong LeBeouf has done some fine work in the past like Andrew Davis' "Holes"(2003). Dito Montiel's autobiographical film "A Guide to Recognizing your Saints"(2005) and then he has done some not so fine work like in "Constantine"(2005) when he played the slightly annoying Chaz Kramer, or "Transformers"(2007) with his hyperactive over acting that nearly killed the film, "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen"(2009) or as I like to call it "Transformers: Revenge of the Idiots", LeBeouf takes overacting to a whole new level in Michael Bay's moneymaking train wreck of a sequel. in "Money Never Sleeps" LeBeouf delivers what could possible be the finest performance of his young career, LeBeouf plays Jacob "Jake" Moore a brilliant and highly ambitious young stock broker who teams up with Geckko to get revenge on the man who brought down his mentors company. LeBeouf performance in this film is just astounding after years of having my doubts I can finally say this, Shia LeBeouf has finally won my respect. LeBeouf's performance is one of the key elements that keep "Money Never Sleeps" from collapsing into a pile of corporate jargon and stylish set pieces Douglas and LeBeouf hold the film together Douglas is the powerhouse who lights up the screen LeBeouf is the generator who keeps things going when the power goes out. Grant it he may not be able to power the entire film but he gives it his all and comes out shinning bright LeBeouf may seem out of league and far from his comfort zone, you would never know it by watching him onscreen. He may fall flat, he may lag a little and at some points he may be less than convincing but LeBeouf pulls off a role that is clearly meant for a more experienced actor, he pulls it off with flying colors and proves he has what it takes to play with the big dogs. The rest of the cast including Josh Brolin, Carey Mulligan, Susan Sarandon, Frank Langella and Eli Wallach(God Bless him) turn in phenomenal supporting performances in one of Stone's best films in years.





Most will avoid this film that most people will avoid due to its themes of big money, corporate politics, corruption, and power. This will film that will attract hoards of moviegoers. No sorry those crowds are reserved for the fans of the horrid Transformers franchise (I hate it!) and the unbearable Twilight films. The most recent one was a bore but not as big a bore as the insufferable "New Moon"(2009). "Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps" is the kind of film that is about something, it is about the hardships of our economy and it shows that it tough times anyone will do anything to get ahead no matter what the cost. This is the film for our generation just as the original was the film for its generation. "Money Never Sleeps" is a powerful and thought provoking film that takes the stories that we know and gives us an inside look into a world that seldom few would like to see. Because when it comes down to it, and I know a few of you will agree, that sometimes in rare instances "Greed is good."

We are already half way through the year and that means we are already half way through the movie season, now I have pretty much seen all the major releases that have come out this year some great like "The Social Network", "Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps", "Brooklyn's Finest" , "Salt". "She's Out of my League", "Inception", "Ghost Writer" and many more. What has been most prominent this year are movies involving teams, out of this whole year I have seem maybe four films that have some kind of elite task force or mercenary group involved. From Sly Stallone's over the top explosion extravaganza "The Expendables" to Joe Carnahan's adaptation of the cheesy 80's television classic "The A-Team"(Which I like to call them the C-Team) to the adaptation of a highly unknown comic book series "The Losers". These films have portrayed some kind of elite force that either has to clear there names(The Losers, A-Team) or battle some kind of greater evil afoot(The Expendables). Out of all three of these films the one I had the most fun while watching is the new action/comedy "R.E.D." This new film is about a group of retired assassins who have been marked for death and now must find out who is responsible and why. "R.E.D." proves to be one of the year's most unexpected surprises, a rare blend of high octane action, wry and outlandish humor and spy thriller clichés that all are done so well and with such flare and style "R.E.D." proves to be one of the most satisfying surprises of the year.





"R.E.D." is the kind of action/comedy that sneaks up from behind and takes you by surprise you do not expect anything good to come out of the mashing of comedy and over the top action, trust me when I say this there was some over the top action in this film however; it been very tastefully done. Nonetheless, in this film the action takes a backseat to the intrigue of the story and the audacious humor of the script. The good thing about "R.E.D." is that it is not flat out comedy or flat out action It is a very effective meshing of both with some very serious, tension filled moments spread throughout to give the film a more realistic and more convincing feel to it. Now I know I am being overly generous with this film, but can you hate me for it? I had a good time watching this film, in fact out of all the action thrillers and action comedy films this year, "R.E.D." ranks as one of the best. This is a witty, edgy and outrageously entertaining film that works despite the obvious design flaws and the clichés that envelope this film "R.E.D." treads down a very, very, very worn path with numerous hits and critical grand slams littering the way to the end of the path. Coincidentally, "R.E.D." has picked up ideas from other great hits before it while in some instances that can be viewed as a bad thing with this film it is a good thing, people like seeing things that they have seen a thousand times before only if it works and with "R.E.D.", it works. This film works because it does not bog the audience down with loads of action and explosions it gives the audience something to watch, something to enjoy , something to laugh there asses off at. This film is everything and more an enjoyable action thrill ride, a hilarious spy comedy, and a tension filled conspiracy thriller that proves that just because it has been done before that does not mean it still cannot be one hell of a film.
I have been informed recently that this adaptation based on the three-issue comic book limited series of the same name created by Warren Ellis and Cully Hamner , does not quite live up to its name. By that I mean that I heard that the limited series was much darker, bleaker and more to the point that its film adaptation. That is okay with me I like this film just the way it is. I didn't want this film to be darker, bleaker and more of a routine spy film I wouldn't have liked it as much as I did if it was all work and no play can make "R.E.D." a dull film. Instead of going down the more serious path Director Robert Schwentke and screenwriters Jon and Erich Hoeber(You may know them best as the writers of the disastrous comic book adaptation, "Whiteout") take a more humorous approach. Packing this stoke action comedy with enough laughs and wit to make it more of a fun thrill ride than just a serious one. "R.E.D." easily could have been one of those self serious spy thrillers like The Bourne series or "SALT" however, thanks to clever writing, straightforward direction and fine performances from its ensemble cast(including show stealing performances from John Malkovich and Helen Mirren) "R.E.D." proves to be one of the most satisfying action films out there.



The Ensemble cast, which includes Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, Helen Mirren, and John Malkovich in the lead roles the supporting players, includes Julian McMahon, Karl Urban, Brian Cox, and Richard Dreyfus. Now to me that sounds like a pretty damn good cast for an action/comedy but the one thing that makes these actors stand out is that almost all of them are playing in there comfort zone. Bruce Willis is the king when it comes to playing reserved, emotionally restrained characters he known for playing very charming likable guys the kind of guy who can get you to buy a crappy used car without much effort involved. Here Willis plays Francis "Frank" Moses (Paul Moses in the original comic book series) stoke and highly reserved former black ops agent living a very dull retirement, Frank is a nice guy on the outside but on the inside he is a hardcore killer who will kill you at the drop of a hat. Moses is what you would call the brains of the operation he is the leader the one everyone will follow into hell and back he can get them out alive and well. Willis plays this character like he plays all these types he plays Moses like a man who had a mission but has lost his resolve, like someone who now only wants to live his life with someone, preferable the beautiful Sarah Roses(Mary Louise Parker in an outrageous comedic performance). The girl who works in his pension office in Kansas City who inadvertently thrown in the middle of a bad situation when it turns out the person she is talking to is a retired C.I.A. assassin who is now marked for death and sadly, the same could be said of her. Willis is a very capable actor and in this film his time onscreen is never wasted he delivers some great one-liners and has just all around fun playing a guy his own age instead of trying to be young. Willis' performance may be too emotionally devoid for a film of this caliber but in my humble opinion, he does just fine. The rest of the cast including Morgan Freeman, Helen Mirren, Brian Cox, Karl Urban(Bruce Willis younger version), Mary Louise Parker(in one of her best performances) and John Malkovich the man who stole the show. They all deliver fine supporting performances in this high octane, big laughs thrill ride.





"R.E.D." may not follow the source material that inspired it very closely but for what this film has done with a small-unknown graphic novel series is a true stroke of genius, well maybe not genius more like luck and a well written script. "R.E.D." saves itself by the power of its cast, the wit and charm of its hilarious script and the straightforward pulp fiction styled direction of Robert Schwentke helps make this film one of the more enjoyable motion pictures to come out this year and quite possible one of the best team films to come out since "The Losers." It may not be new or inventive; it may not be fresh for what it is, this film delivers something the 2010 summer was missing. Good old-fashioned entertainment instead of dumb action thrillers (The A-Team, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time) moody romance (Twilight Saga: Eclipse) this year has been the year of some of the most uninspired and dull films I have seen yet. Luckily, "R.E.D." proves that the action/comedy genre still has some oomph left in it.

There are some things in this world that humanity was never meant to understand, never meant to find out the truth, never meant to grasp the reality of something more than the world that we have built for ourselves and the prefabricated lies that we have been feed to make us believe the singular truth. The one all consuming truth that in this world, in this universe we are the only life that exist, we are the only thing that lives and that Earth, our home is the only planet in this universe that can sustain life. Now let me as you this, what if the prefabricated truth that you have always believed turned out to be the lie that you so justly dismissed. What if the lies were the truth and the truths were the lies, what if everything you thought about there being life out there in the universe was right. What if the truth about all of this was not only within your reach, but also in your own backyard, the answers to these questions may seem insurmountable or even irrefutable at best but to find the truth you first must have to find your belief in the truth, because the truth is never what is seems and the lies are always what they appear to be.


As the lights dimmed in the theater at my viewing of J.J. Abrams' new Science-Fiction film "Super 8," I didn't know what to expect. I had heard very little chatter about this mysterious film and knew little to nothing about its story which was shrouded in mystery so with my limited knowledge I walked into this film blind, not knowing what to expect, and as I sat there marveling in the beauty and grandeur of this spellbinding and hypnotic film. I realized that not knowing what to expect made the experience all the more extraordinary. J.J. Abrams(Lost , Alias, Fringe, Star Trek) has crafted a touching, wonderful and gorgeous tribute to small town America and to the great classic summer blockbuster's of Steven Spielberg namely "Close Encounters of The Third Kind", "Jaws" and "E.T. : Extraterrestrial". "Super 8" evokes a sense of time and place when things were a little simpler and people were not as hostile or as violent as they are today, it evokes the small town appeal present in many Capra and Spielberg films. The kind of small town appeal where everyone knows each other by name, where the people are friendly and the skies are as blue as the ocean. This is a film for the film lover inside of all of us, a true film that is not only frightening, emotional, action packed and humorous but has the scope of and ideals of films from the Golden Era that have been lost on most modern filmmakers. The emotional depth of this film is what makes it the most shocking, it took me by surprise because naturally I did not expect those kinds of feelings to be present in a film with such an obvious premise, this at its surface is and foremost a monster movie. If you walk in expecting some big budget, over the top, shoot'em up than I must kindly point you in the direction of Mr. Michael Bay because this is not the film for you." Super 8" is a film with a heart, with a soul it just doesn't go for the action it goes for something much more meaningful and deep, it makes a connections with its characters that the audience can feel, can understand. The characters are not just in service of the plot and the special effects but rather the special effects and the plot are at the service of the characters, and what fine characters they are at that. J.J. Abrams has surpassed all that he has done before to create and affectionate and heartfelt as well as scary Sci-Fi drama/thriller that not only pays homage to classic films but also proudly flaunts its humanitarian ideals on how even a creature form another world should be treated as an equal.


What I found most profound is how this film was skillfully able to balance the thrills with the human drama. So many films these days try and fail miserably to balance the human complexity within their story with the hard, edgy thrills and chills of its plot most films try and most of the time they fail, mainly due to the fact that they are more focused on the thrills and chills instead of the human condition of the characters. "Super 8" balances all three with sure hands, intelligence, and grace; this film takes pride its story, in its characters and most importantly in itself. This film takes joy in its story and in bringing it to life; it just does not go through the motions like most films of recent years. This is a movie made by an intelligent man who not only knows what movie making is about but understands it is more than just special effects, beautiful women, big explosions and loud action sequences. It's about the plot, the story and the characters and Abrams knows this, he knows that movies can not all be just superficial they have to have some life to it, they have to have a heart a soul to call it's own and "Super 8" has a rather large heart that is three sizes bigger than it should be and all through out this affectionate production it shows its love for the cinema, Spielberg and for life, whether it be human or not.



Joel Courtney turns in a strong performance as Joe Lamb the obligatory geek who has to step up to the plate and become the savior of his hometown. Courtney shows much potential as the hero of this story and while he may lack depth as an actor due to his age he shows strong potential throughout that, he may become a fine actor one day. Courtney gives some added innocence and childlike delight to a rather dark film, his presences is a reminder of that of Henry Thomas' Elliot from Spielberg's timeless classic "E.T. ", and while "Super 8" in its way feels like "E.T." it has the distinction of having a hero who is as brave as he is selfless. Courtney's Joe is a brave, smart, shy, and geeky eleven-year-old boy who is somewhat of an outsider amongst the other kids of the town, mainly due to his father being a deputy in the local Sheriff's office. Joe is a more complex character than you would think, he just does not run around in service of the plot, he is an integral part of the plot; he is what makes the story what it is. Without a strong lead performance, this film would have fallen apart at the seams and disintegrated into a regular old monster film. Thanks to him and strong supporting work from a young cast elevates "Super 8" to greatness that would have been lost on it if in other less talented hands. The rest of the cast including Kyle Chandler, Ron Eldard, Noah Emmerich, Riley Griffiths, Elle Fanning, Zach Mills, Ryan Lee and Gabriel Basso all turn in stellar supporting work in this masterful Science-Fiction tale.





"Super 8" is not only one of the first great films in many a summer, but it is one of the best Science-Fiction films to come out in the last ten years. This bold, big, and heartfelt film has the feel of an indie gem fused with the technological wizardry of modern day filmmaking to create a masterpiece that not only evokes the classics films of old, but also sets itself firmly as one of Sci-Fi's best and brightest films. A true testaments to how the genre is suppose to be done.