Movie Review: Flight

I have certain actors, writers, and directors whose movies I follow.

Denzel Washington is one of those actors that I follow from movie to movie.

I'm pretty sure I could watch the guy paint a wall, and be touched and entertained by it.

Okay, maybe not, but you get my point.

I'm a little behind on this one, but my wife and I just finished watching Flight. Man, it was a good one. I'm not sure where it falls on my list of favorites for 2012 - maybe I should do a blog on that - but it met my expectations. Not sure if it exceeded them. I'm still letting it marinate in my mind. Whether or not it did may be a blog for another time. I just know I enjoyed the film.

Synopsis

(From IMDB)

An airline pilot saves a flight from crashing, but an investigation into the malfunctions reveals something troubling.

What I Liked

I did something I normally don't do while watching movies. I took notes. Not sure if that will make a difference in the way I write my reviews, but here's a few thoughts I noted.

The technical jargon in the first 15-20 minutes of the movie helped me as a viewer to get into what was about to take place. We all know that there's going to be a crash. The trailer lets you know that's going to happen. But listening to Denzel and bark orders, and communicate with the flight tower, put me on the edge of my seat. It's probably the first movie since Argo to have me so on edge that I was about to fall off the couch. There's an enormity to this situation and people are going to die if Whip doesn't save this flight. I read that Denzel took flight lessons to prepare for this role. It was evident. It seemed I could peak into the cock pit of any flight I was on and see Denzel in the captain's chair. 

Flight is possibly Denzel Washington's best performance since Man On Fire. 

Yeah. I just looked over his IMDB. This is his best role since Fire.

As Whip Whitaker Denzel is all over the map and wears a mask of so many different emotions. He commands the screen. In the captain's chair Whip is confident and at ease, but after the crash he's uncomfortable and awkward. Whip is an addict struggling to get his life together, and overcome his addiction, but fails time and time and time again. Denzel does a fantastic job portraying an addict. He's subtle and frustrating. You want to reach through the screen and slap the bottle from his sand. You want to see him overcome and conquer the alcohol and the drugs, but Whip isn't strong enough to do it.

I can't think of another actor who could embody this character and make this movie work.

There's another actor that steals every scene he's in. John Goodman gets outside his box in Flight, and gives us a performance that is one of his very best. There's a specific scene in particular. It's towards the end of the movie, and Whip has gone on a drinking binge. He needs a pick me up and there's one person who can help him out. This person is Harling. The hotel scene kept me laughing. I'm pretty sure there were a few times that I was leaning over the couch in laughter. It was more the absurdity of the situation than anything. You feel sorry for Whip. The guy is so weak. Props to John Goodman for bringing the laughs. He reminded me of Jeff Bridges in The Big Lebowski. I'd like to see a crossover film where The Dude's and Harling's paths cross. That'd be a riot.

There was another scene in the beginning of the movie. Whip is in the hospital and he meets Kelly Reilly's - someone else who left it all on screen - character for the first time. They share a smoke in the stairwell of the hospital and come across one outrageous character. The dialogue in this scene is the best of the whole movie. Even Denzel can't outshine James Badge Dale in this scene. What else has this guy been in? Nothing really. Not that I can tell from his IMDB. He's gonna need to be in more movies if he's as good as he was in this scene.

(Ah, he was in 24 and played Chase Edmunds. Knew I knew him from something.)

There were a few things I didn't like about Flight. Lets talk about that.

What I Didn't Like

At the beginning of the movie Nicole is being introduced and she's having an argument with her land lord, Ken. Here you've got a girl from the UK and a guy from New Jersey trying their best to pull off a southern accent, and it was so exaggerated it took me out of the movie. I was born and raised in Georgia, and spent my whole life around southern accents, and I thought this movie was going to slaughter the way I talk. Thankfully they didn't ruin the accent, and Kelly Reilly settled into the southern way of speaking as the movie went on, and I forgot that she was British. Brian Geraghty never got it though. For the short time he was on screen anyway. Boy, he was bad.

There was also a scene in the movie where Whip's co-pilot get insanely religious. For me this was meh. I didn't get the point of it. I understand how a tragic even can cause a person to have a "Damascus Road" experience, but as a viewer I felt like they were mocking Christianity. Maybe that wasn't the director's, or the writer's, intention but that's how it came off. Part of the problem was poor delivery on the part of Conor O'Neil and the actress who played his wife. Do better next time, guys.

The ending falls short of the high bar set by the first act.

Was it satisfactory? Yes.

Was I happy? Yes.

I just didn't feel like there was a full resolution here. Mainly because I didn't believe in the actions taken by Whip. I could never see someone in those same shoes do what he did. If you want to know what he does you'll have to watch the movie for yourself.

Should You See Flight?

Definitely. It's nice to see Robert Zemeckis directing a live-action flick. I loved The Polar Express and A Christmas Carol - two of my favorite Christmas movies - but there's nothing like human actors. And here you've got some people who are delivering some of the best performances of their careers. This goes somewhere on my list of favorite movies for 2012. I'm just not sure where yet. 

Get this movie, folks. You won't be sorry.

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Inception is a Dream Come True

This is probably one of the most difficult blogs I've sat down and tried to post. I've waited for this movie for around a year or more. I've hyped myself up so much about this movie that I would have told you this picture was the cure for cancer. Thankfully Christopher Nolan deliver. I believe this is his magnum opus. It sailed above every movie he's made previously. Niether Momento, Batman Begins, nor The Dark Knight can compare. Nolan has set the bar so high with this movie that it will be a long time before a sci-fi movie can compare. I do believe that the only competition that will be offered to Inception will a rival of Nolan's filming.

To try and articulate how I was near falling out of my seat because I was so far on the edge is difficult. Inception is aweing, mind bending, and genius. I've never seen a movie so breath taking. Scene after scene of cinematic risks - things that I can't call a comparison for. To try and compare this movie to James Bond, Oceans 11, or The Matrix is absurd. To try and box this movie in those terms is shallow at best. They cannot compare to Inception because they are nothing like it.

The movie is a spectacle from beginning to end, but my favorite scene of the movie was the ending. It was emotional and a great pay off for such an overwhelming movie. But in true sci-fi fashion Nolan leaves you with a moment that makes you think and say, "Hey, wait a minute!"

James Cameron should take note from Nolan. This is how movies should be made. You don't have to use gimmicks. Inception was made without 3D and I enjoyed it more than Avatar, it was an original movie, and had such a fantastic story. You need to go to the movie and experience it for yourself. I've not tried to break Inception down scene by scene with this review. It would taint the movie. Inception can't be explained. It must be seen. Go see it, please. You won't regret it.

Without a doubt Inception is my number one movie for 2010:

1. Inception

2. How To Train Your Dragon

3. Toy Story 3

4. Shutter Island

5. Despecable Me

6. Iron Man 2

7. Grown Ups

8. Predators

9. Date Night

10. Robin Hood

11. Killers

12. The Crazies

13. Kick-Ass

14. Alice in Wonderland

15. The Book of Eli

16. Remember Me

17. Valentine's Day

18. The Bounty Hunter

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Despicable Me Was Not Despicable To Me

Okay, in all honesty, I did not have high hopes for this movie. There were no particular reason that I set the bar low. It was just low by nature. From start to finish Despicable Me was some of the most fun I've ever had at the theater. Of all the movies I've seen this 2010 it's only rival, as far as fun factor goes, is How To Train Your Dragon.

Gru was awesome. I loved this character as much as Michael Scott. Whether Steve Carrel chose to play Gru by his own choosing, or was influenced to do so, I thank God that he did. One of his best performances.

Without hesitation I would say that the little girls stole the show. Of course they were animated, but they were so cute. I wanted to take them home with me. All day I've thought about my favorite line of the movie from Agnes: "IT'S SO FLUFFY, I'M GONNA DIE!"I can't remember laughing so hard except for when I watched (and re-watched) The Hangover.

How can I forget the Minions. I would not complain in the least if they started making animated shorts of the funny little guys to be played before any movie I saw. Really I would like to see a Top Ten Plays from Sportscenter dedicated to these guys.

I would love to see a sequels for this movie, and I don't say that often. They did not set it up for one, but it would not be hard to carry this movie into a franchise.

Go see this movie. You'll have so much fun you might die!

2010's Top Movies:

1. How To Train Your Dragon

2. Toy Story

3. Shutter Island

4. Despicable Me


5. Iron Man 2

6. Grown Ups

7. Predators

8. Date Night

9. Robin Hood

10. Killers

11. The Crazies

12. Kick-Ass

13. Alice in Wonderland

14. The Book of Eli

15. Remember Me

16. Valentine's Day

17. The Bounty Hunter

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Predators Ripped My Spine Out and Gurgled My Blood

When I first heard that they were doing a new Predator movie I was overtly skeptical. The Alien vs. Predator franchise was to Predator what Joel Schumacher was to Batman. Both nearly murdered their respective characters.

I began to change my mind when I saw the first trailer for the movie. The execution of the preview was perfect. It made me remember the first Predator: Arnold's muscle bulging as he fires his machine gun, Jesse Ventura's classic one liners, and the coolest movie monster. Ever.

I wanted to see this movie so bad that I went to the first showing yesterday before work. I went by myself and was pleasantly surprised to find that a lot of people had the same idea that I did. It's always nice to go to see a movie and the theater be nearly empty. I like the solitude of the experience. But it's nice to be in a room full of people wanting to see a movie that deserves to be seen Predators deserves to be seen.

Now, if you're wanting a movie that's thought provoking and intelligent. Predators is not the movie for you. There are no deep concepts or moments that make you go, "wow."

However, if you're looking for a movie that's bloody and violent . . . Predators is the movie you'll want to see. Everything I hoped that Predators would deliver it delivered. Robert Rodriguez must be commended because he took the movie back to the roots of the first movie.

The only downside of the movie is the dialogue. Much of it was pretty cheesy. A friend of mine told me that RobRod intentionally has cheesy dialogue. Knowing that makes me appreciate the movie that much more. If you can get past the dialogue - which I was able to - you'll love this movie.

The best part of the movie: spine ripping, awesome guns, characters you end up caring about, etc.

Without ado here's 2010's movie rankings:

1. How To Train Your Dragon

2. Toy Story

3. Shutter Island

4. Iron Man 2

5. Grown Ups

6. Predators


7. Date Night

8. Robin Hood

9. Killers

10. The Crazies

11. Kick-Ass

12. Alice in Wonderland

13. The Book of Eli

14. Remember Me

15. Valentine's Day

16. The Bounty Hunter

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Toy Story 3 Brought Out the Kid in Me

The great thing about being a kid is your always in awe of the world, there's always new adventure awaiting your imagination to explore, and every new day is full of fun.

Sadly, growing up you lose awe for the grandeur of the world outside. Your imagination is replaced by school, job, and "real life". Becoming an adult takes away the fun of being a kid.

Not to be religious but I always liked that Jesus said, "To be a part of my kingdom, you've got to be like a little kid."

When you see Toy Story 3 it'll take you back to the awesomeness of uncharted world outside and inside.

The movie is just plain fun. I laughed a bunch from beginning to end. I was never the Toy Story fanatic, but I've seen them all. This by far is my favorite of the trilogy. I say hands down it's the best movie Pixar has released. I never really believed they could top The Incredibles. I think Pixar did so with this tale of Woody and Buzz. The beauty of this movie is it reveals the pureness of fantasy. It's a look at the fun-ness of a fantasy world. It's everything I love about the fantasy genre: Imagination, fun, and happy endings.

Go see this movie.

I've deliberated a lot as to where this movie should place. It was that good.

So here's the top movies for 2010:

1. Toy Story 3

2. Robin Hood

3. How To Train Your Dragon

4. Shutter Island

5. Iron Man 2

6. Date Night

7. Killers

8. The Crazies

9. Kick-Ass

10. Alice In Wonderland

11. The Book of Eli

12. Remember Me

13. Valentine's Day

14. The Bounty Hunter

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Kalifornia: A Moral Conundrum

Brad Pitt is one of my favorite actors.

The first time I knew he was a genius was when I saw Twelve Monkeys.

Twelve Monkeys has a unique plot. It's intelligent. However, when I think of TM I think of Jeffrey Goines. Man, Brad Pitt was awesome in that movie. Talking about it makes me want to watch it again.

But that's not my topic. A friend told me if I enjoyed Brad Pitt in Twelve Monkeys then I needed to see Kalifornia.

My friend has a stellar taste in movies so I put Kalifornia at the top of my To-See list. A few days ago I saw that it would be showing on Encore Mysteries. I set it to DVR and just finished watching.

Earlier today I read a blog from a favorite writer of mine, Dan Wells.

(Check out his debut novel "I Am Not A Serial Killer".)

Today he posted a blog entitled "Emotional Contrast". Click on the title and go check out the post or I'll some it up in these few words: Dan talks about art that causes you to feel two contrasting emotions at the same time. For example: A scene from a movie that provokes you to be happy and sad at the same moment. That's not something that's easy to do.

Kalifornia was not a movie that had a handful of scenes where I felt conflicted. From the moment Early Grayce is introduced to the moment he's no longer a part of the movie I was conflicted. There was something about him that I liked. I'm sitting here trying to pinpoint the reason that I liked him and not a single thing comes to mind. Brad Pitt portrayed Grayce in such a way that I just thought, I like this guy.

You find out early on that Earl has a secret that his acquaintances don't find out until later. Early is a serial killer. You never find out why Earl enjoys killing people, but he does. As the four main characters trip across the United States Grayce leaves a slew of bodies in their wake.

Even thought Earl (very) brutally people throughout the movie I still liked him, but I began to dislike him. It was strange. Early seemed like a guy it'd be cool to sit back, smoke a cigar, and drink a beer with. You could shoot the bull until sunset and not run out of things to talk about. Earl would have story after story to tell. Most would be exaggerated or out right lies but you wouldn't care. When Earl gets a little intoxicated he likes to stretch the truth, but he keeps you laughing.

However, he murders people. For fun. He takes their money and other valuables when he's done.

You're not supposed to like this kind of person.

You should want to smoke a 'gar with this person.

You shouldn't want to share a six pack with a serial killer.

But . . . he's a cool guy.

But . . . he murders people.

But . . .

But . . .

. . . It was fantastic art. I can't say that I'll ever watch Kalifornia ever again. It was not that type of movie. As Kalifornia progresses and moves towards its ending the intensity rises until it's hard to watch, and becomes tragic.

When the credits rolled for Kalifornia I was left feeling sad but still liking Early Grayce. I can't say that any movie has ever made me feel that way about a character. As a writer it's my goal to create antagonists like Early.

If you want to watch one of the best performances Brad Pitt has ever given. Check out Kalifornia. If you're a writer and want to watch a character that creates contrasting emotions. Watch Kalifornia. You may not feel the same way. If you don't. It's still a damn good movie and should be required watching.

Until next time,

Adios and via con dios.

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Killers Didn't Kill Me but Was Still Pretty Funny

Killers was pretty good.

It was exactly what I expected.

I wouldn't go back for a second viewing. But the few laughs that I wanted to get out of it I got. That made it worth the five bucks I spent to see it. Early bird special, baby!

There were a two irksome moments for me:

1. During the fight scenes they used to shaky cam technique. I hate the shaky cam technique. You can't tell what the Sam hill is going on. Besides being totally lost to the action you're made dizzy.

2. Ashton Kutcher did not make realistic decisions as a spy.

*Spoilers Ahead*

When everyone you know is out to claim a $20 million bounty on your head. What spy is going to say let's stop by the house so we can get the go bag and the guns? Really? No. You would've never seen 007 make some kind of asinine decison. Ethan Hunt would've made do without the frickin' go bag. You're a spy for chrike's sake. Make MacGyver without the go bag. That's what you were trained for.

*End of Spoilers*

The best part of the movie were the parents. Tom Selleck's mustache is always impressive. He was funny, too, in case you were wondering. Catherine O'Hara made me recall all my childhood memories of Home Alone, and as she devoured glass after glass of alcoholic beverages I laughed my memories away.

Good movie. You can see it in theaters or just wait for it to be distributed your nearest Red Box container.

Killers doesn't make the top ten. It nearly missed it.

Top Movies of 2010:

1. Robin Hood

2. How To Train Your Dragon

3. Shutter Island

4. Iron Man 2

5. Date Night

6. Killers


7. The Crazies

8. Kick-Ass

9. Alice in Wonderland

10. Book of Eli

11. Remember Me

12. Valentine's Day

13. The Bounty Hunter

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Iron Man: Flash, Glitz, and Rust

I'll be frank. I went into Iron Man 2 expecting to be disappointed.

Let's be honest. Sequels aren't always what the originals were. There are few exceptions. To name a few sequels that are better than their elders I can name off hand: The Dark Knight, The Empire Strikes Back, The Two Towers and Return of the King. That's barely a hand full. It is a rare occasion for a sequel to out shine its predecessor.

Thankfully, I was not wholly disappointed by IM2. But it didn't live up to the first.

The pacing of the movie was nice. It moved along fast and kept me ready to see what would happen next.

Tony Stark dying was unnecessary. I didn't like the direction of the plot, but I saw why they did it. I just didn't like it. Seemed like a cop out to make him discover a new technology. I think they could have taken a more creative direction. Oh well, it was what it was.

My biggest let down of the movie was that there was not enough of Scarlett Johansson. She was smokin' as Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow. The only bone I have to pick with her performance is the lack of a Russian accent. I mean the character is Russian for Pete's sake. I'm going to assume this dropping of the ball is due to Jon Favreau, and not Ms. Johansson.

Here are a few things that I enjoyed about IM2:

A) Gwyneth Paltrow rocks a pair of heels. I don't think there's anything more sexy than a woman strutting in a pair of stiletto heels. They make my heart thumpety-thump-thump just a little harder than normal.

B) IM2 was a visual spectacle. I enjoyed the final scene where Tony and Rhodes team up for the big battle. The chase scene was especially enjoyable. Great special effects. You get your moneys worth.

C) Mickey Rourke. Even when he looks like trash his talent shines through. I can't really imagine anyone other playing the part of Whiplash.

**Spoilers Ahead**

D) I could really care less for the Avengers movie. I'm very doubtful that I'll even see it when it comes out. However, I did like the homage to Thor after the credits. It makes me look forward to the movie debut of the Norse God of Thunder.

**End of Spoilers**

Despite the things that let me down about IM2 I enjoyed myself. The movie makes my top five. Here's my top movies for 2010:

1. Robin Hood

2. How To Train Your Dragon

3. Shutter Island

4. Iron Man 2

5. Date Night

6. The Crazies

7. Kick-Ass

8. Alice in Wonderland

9. Book of Eli

10. Remember Me

11. Valentine's Day

12. The Bounty Hunter

***If you'd like to enlarge the picture of Pepper Potts just click on it.

Next in line on my To-See list:

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A Date to see Date Night

Hope all mother's reading this have had a nice mother's day. The wife and I took my mom and sister to Baker's St. Pub and Grill. 

We discovered this place a little over a week ago and we've been there three times since. Fantastic food and drink. Our first go round I had the Black and Bleu Burger. No lie, one of the most delectable burgers I've ever had. Just thinking about it now I begin to salivate.

Our next visit Sunny D and I had drinks and an appetizer. The name of the appetizer has just slipped my mind, but trust me, it was hella good. 

Today I had the Baked Potato and Cheddar Soup. I'm already planning for my return visit so's I can devour the soup. Forever and ago I discovered the broccoli and cheddar bread bowl at Penera Bread. I have since been faithful to this soup and have not strayed to others. Now, I have found a companion for my broccoli and cheddar and the two soups shall enjoy a holy matrimony in my belly.

Afterwards, we hit up Barnes and Noble - my own Fortress of Solitude - and I bought The Regulators by Stephen King. Every time I stop by BandN I browse through the Cormac McCarthy books and drool. I want to read All the Pretty Horses like I want to breathe.

Onto my movie review.

Unplanned and a departure from my To See list Sunshine and I checked out Date Night. I swear to Betsy that Steve Carell is the funniest s.o.b alive. If you haven't seen this movie finish my review, leave a nice comment, and check it out. Take a belly of laughs with you because you're going to need. Hang around for the blooper reel too. 

I look forward to any creative endeavors Steve Carell and Tina Fay may join in. Date Night sky rocketed to the top three of my 2010 Movie Rankings. 

Understand that my ranking system is solely based on entertainment value, and whether or not I would consider a reviewing.

Here's how this year's rankings stack up:

1. How To Train Your Dragon

2. Shutter Island

3. Date Night

4. The Crazies

5. Kick-Ass

6. Alice In Wonderland

7. Book of Eli

8. Remember Me

9. Valentine's Day

10. The Bounty Hunter

I still plan to see Iron Man 2 this week. Honestly, I don't foresee it cracking my top five. The only thing that could heft it towards the top is this pretty lady . . .

*gasp*

*pant*

*sigh*

Until next time, ladies and gents,

Adios and via con dios

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Did Kick-Ass Kick Ass?

Yesterday I had two of my wisdom teeth pulled. I'm not hurting as bad as I thought I might be. I haven't even had any swelling. The doctor provided me with some handy drugs. That's nice. I was awake for the procedure, and no lie, it was pretty cool. The only thing I didn't enjoy was having needles stuck into my gums and my tongue. That sucked.

So . . . I took yesterday and today off. I slept most of the day yesterday. Four hours total. It was pretty nice. Today I woke up and didn't do a whole lot of anything. That's what made me decide to go catch a movie. I've been planning on seeing Kick-Ass for a couple of weeks but hadn't got around to it. I finally did.

My thoughts.

I'm kind of disappointed. Wasn't what I was thinking it would be.

The highlight of the movie was Hit Girl. Watching a foul mouthed twelve year old kick the crap out of a bunch of men was fun.

McLovin' a.k.a Red Mist was not so fun. Sadly I think Super Bad may have type cast Christopher Mintz-Plasse (for me).

The protagonist Kick-Ass/Dave Lizewski was somewhat boring.

Nicholas Cage gave one of his best performances in a long while. Cage is a comic book lover and seriously shamed himself with his Elvis impersonating Ghost Rider. Gladly he redeemed himself with Big Daddy.

I wish the movie had been more about Big Daddy and Hit Girl than Kick-Ass. They're where the movie is at.

Where does Kick-Ass come in on the rankings . . .

1. How To Train Your Dragon

2. Shutter Island

3. The Crazies

4. Kick-Ass

5. Alice In Wonderland

6. Book of Eli

7. Remember Me

8. Valentine's Day

9. The Bounty Hunter

Next week I may check out Iron Man. Not because I'm excited about seeing but because Scarlett Johansson is in it.

Until next time,

Adios and via con dios.

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Can I Have A Dragon, Please?

Before I review How To Train Your Dragon we have a new member to the Madhouse. Welcome my sister-in-law Jenifer. To check out her blog click on these words *Our Life Together*

How To Train Your Dragon has debunked Shutter Island, and now rules the top spot of my 2010 Movie Rankings. We'll get to that in a minute.

The animation was great. I think it's some of the best I've seen. It really shows how far the technology advance with each movie.

Besides the dragons what made the movie for me was the voice acting. That can usually make or break an animated movie. Gerard Butler speaking with his natural accent pleased my ears. Strange as it was to hear vikings speak with a Scottish accent it suited the movie.

I love the tale of the unexpected hero. I'm working on a novel now where the hero is someone the other characters wouldn't expect. I could relate to Hiccup. That hooked me and reeled me in before we had any interaction with Toothless.

The world was beautiful. A big part of fantasy tales are the worlds. More often than not you're creating one from scratch. The aerial shots with Hiccup riding Toothless were as breath taking as Avatar, and honestly, I found them more enjoyable. Instead of discovering a world I was on an adventure. Avatar didn't feel like an adventure, it felt alien. I felt at home in this movie. It made me want to stay, and by the end of the movie I thought, "I can't wait for the sequel."

Now, the dragons. The were a gas! Beautiful. Imaginative. Scary. Awesome. After watching the movie it made me want to go and buy the book. A good movie will do that. My favorite dragon - hands down - was Toothless. He was unique from the other dragons and filled me with wonder. I sat there imagining what it would be like to really fly on one of the winged creatures.

My final words: Go see this movie.

2010 Movie Rankings:

1. How To Train Your Dragon

2. Shutter Island

3. The Crazies

4. Alice In Wonderland

5. Book of Eli

6. Remember Me

7. Valentine's Day

If you notice the list has expanded. Eventually we'll turn it into a top ten, or twenty.

Next week I plan on seeing Clash of the Titans. I hope to God it doesn't shame the original.

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A Few Thoughts On Remember Me

Tonight the wife and I saw Remember Me. The first things that come to mind are this:

1. Had the most realistic puking scenes, ever. They grossed me out. This is good. A person retching should never be a pleasurable viewing experience.

2. Edward Cullen -- Wait, ummm, I mean, Robert Pattinson. Yeah, that's right. The fact that he's the lead man from Twilight didn't turn me off. I've seen the first Twilight movie. Not my cup of tea, but nonetheless, he's a talented actor. I only hope he doesn't type-cast himself as the introvert emo with sad eyes. I enjoyed his screen time and find him compelling. Next Leo DiCaprio? I don't think so, but a talented up and comer.

3. Emilie De Ravin (Claire from Lost). Easy on the eyes and an accent that makes your ears smile. I'll watch every time. Not to mention she holds her own acting wise.

4. Irina Derevko. Well, that was the name of the character Lena Olin played on Alias. There's nothing bad about her performance, but she's a lot more fun to watch tormenting Sydney and her dad.

5. Ruby Jerins stole the show. Hands down a cuter kid than Dakota Fanning. What happened to her anyway? Glad to see someone was there to fill her shoes.

*Spoilers Starts Here*

Okay, the part that pissed me off. The ending. Tyler dies September 11th, 2001. You got it . . . In the World Trade Center. Honestly, the only thing I could think was that America has become a castrated Jew enslaved by Babylon. Can I please get Quinton Tarantino to make a movie set in an alternate universe, like Inglourious Basterds, where we're scalping Towel Heads. Dammit, I'm tired of all the pissing and moaning about it. Fill those frakkin holes and build a structure twice as high. Then I dare a Muslim to bring it down. I fear we've become the land of the cowards instead of the land of the brave.

*End of Spoilers*

Overall it was an enjoyable movie. My wife disagrees, but Remember Me seemingly had no plot, and pulled it off successfully. The end left me unsatisfied, therefore, I give it a B.

However, Remember Me does make my Top 5 for 2010. New rankings . . .

1. Shutter Island

2. The Crazies

3. Alice In Wonderland

4. Book of Eli

5. Remember Me

If I can talk my wife into it we may go see The Bounty Hunter . . .

If we do a review shall be posted. Go harass her at Keeping Up With the Westmorelands. Comment and let her know, she should be willing to see a movie I want to see, since I saw one she wanted to see. Until next time,

Adios and vaya con dios

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2010's Top 5 Best Movies, So Far . . .

I meant to give a review of what I thought about Alice In Wonderland days ago, but I haven't done it. There's no real reason for the delay other than I haven't felt like it.

On my list of favorite movies for 2010 Wonderland comes in at number 3. Here's a few quick thoughts . . .

The movie was beautiful. Tim Burton movies always are. One of his best looking movies since Sweeney Todd.

I expected a more over the top performance from Johnny Depp. I thought it was reserved but still enjoyable.

Helena Bonham Carter was great with a huge head.

I didn't like Anne Hathaway with white hair. Looks better as a brunette.

Mia Wasikowsa stole the show. I thought she was great.

I think my wife and I are talking about seeing Remember Me today or tomorrow.  Let you know how that one turns out.

Here's my standing for this year's movies so far. This list will probably change from week to week, and may expand as I see need. Right now it's just a top 5 . . .

1. Shutter Island

2. The Crazies

3. Alice In Wonderland

4. The Book of Eli

5. Valentine's Day

I would say that 2010 is off to a good start. I think that it can only get better. There's some great movies coming out. My most highly anticipated movie is Inception. I'll be raving about this movie until it comes out, and probably until after I see it. The movie is studded with amazing actors and Chris Nolan is behind the camera. CNol is my favorite director. Memento is one of the greatest cinematic achievements I've seen. Nolan gives me hope that good things still come out of Hollywood.

I read that they're considering doing a remake of The Wizard of Oz. My things is . . . why the hell would you want to do that. How can you replace Judy Garland. She's Hollywood royalty. Besides, who could ever fill those red slippers? Can't happen, people!

Also, a prequel to the original Planet of the Apes is in the works. God, shoot me now! Why?! Charlton Heston is one of my favorite actos, ever. He and Clark Gable are my two favorite classic actors. 20th Century Fox has already tried to resurrect the franchise with a Tim Burton remake. And. It. Was. Horrible. Please, just leave one of my favorite movies alone. Get out there and find something original. There are good ideas out there. Look at District 9. It was one of the best Sci-fi movies in recent years. Don't rehash old things. Especially when they're classic. *sigh*

Until next time . . .

Adios and vaya con dios.

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The Crazies . . . Crazy

My brother and I just left the theater after seeing The Crazies. I must say it had me twitching, jerking, and watching with one eye closed. Was it the scariest movie I'd ever seen? No. But, it had me on the edge of my seat. And that's why I went!

There were parts of the movie that were cheap scare tactics. You know, where the camera is on the protagonist and all of a sudden the camera jerks and there's the boogey-man. That's not scary. That's just a trick to get you to jump in your seat. I'm an aspiring writer. When I read, and watch movies, I look for what works and what doesn't. Whatever works, I want to incorporate into my writing. What doesn't work I want to avoid. Throughout this movie I kept thinking, "What's really scary?" My answer . . . Emotions.

There's a particular scene in the movie where emotions are used to terrify the audience . . .

*Spoilers Start Here* . . .

Judy Doton is starpped to a hospital bed. She can't move. She's tried to get free of her restraints, but all her effort is to no avail. Her assistant is also strapped to a bed. The begin talking to each other when they hear a noise. When we find out what the noise is it's a man, who has gone crazy, and he has a pitchfork. The noise happened to be the crazy man dragging the pitchfork on the tile floor. This man is going from bed to bed stabbing people with the pitchfork. One of the scariest parts of the movie is the feeling of helplessness you get from Judy. She can't escape. There's a man with a freakin' pitchfork killing people. Radha Mitchell did a great job expressing her feelings of helplessness, and making the audience sympathize for her.

*Spoilers End Here* . . .

There are many such scenes where I was amazed by what the movie was causing me to feel.

I must say, when I saw Michael Bay's name attached to the movie, my stomach dropped. The guy is nothing more than a block buster tool. He has no other purpose in Hollywood. Thankfully, the movie was quite good despite Bay being attached. I applaud Breck Eisner for directing a terrifyingly enjoyable movie.

Now, I need to see George A. Romero's original.

This week I'll be seeing . . .

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Shutter Island - A Shuttering Review

Going into Shutter Island I wasn't sure what to think. I was looking for a movie to make me shutter in fear. Not so, I say, not so.

Shutter Island is more of a mystery/thriller. Although, the mystery turns out to be something else entirely.

Marin Scorsese is one of my favorite directors. The first movie I saw by him was The Departed. After that I watched all the movies he's made. That I could get my hands on, anyway. What I enjoyed about Shutter Island is that I didn't feel like I was watching Scorsese. A friend of mine said it felt more like a movie Stanley Kubrik, and it did, very much. Kubrik is another favorite of mine. 2001: A Space Odyssey is the greatest Sci-Fi movie made. That's beside the point. It was nice to see Martin Scorsese depart from his normal style.

The movie is set in the 1950s, and I must say, I did not feel like I was watching a movie set in the 50s. The movie made me feel like I was in the 50s. Masterful movie making.

A third thought about Shutter Island . . . Leonardo DiCaprio is the greatest actor of the last 20 years. The first movie I saw with Leo was Titantic. I was a teenager at the time, and didn't care for him. Thanks to The Departed I was convinced of DiCaprio's talent. Shutter Island is no different. Leo shines throughout the movie. His performance, in this movie, is my favorite I've seen. The great thing is that DiCaprio is not alone in his talent. Mark Ruffalo stood shoulder to shoulder with Leo. Another actor, who's performance I enjoyed, was Ben Kingsley. I can't forget Max Von Sydow. He put forth quite an enjoyable performance. Watching him throughout the movie I kept thinking I knew him from another movie. After looking up his IMDB I found he played Judge Fargo from Judge Dredd. Shamefully, Judge Dredd is in my top 5 "Guilty Pleasure Movies." Max Von Sydow is the most admirable performer in the movie. Great actor.

Shutter Island receives an A.

Check it out . . .

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Valentine's Day

About a week ago I said I would review Valentine's Day. Needless to say I've been pretty lazy. I'll start by saying it was enjoyable. Actually, it was much better than I thought it would be. Usually I wait for rom/coms to come out to dvd. I won't lie, I was reeled in by all the stars in the movie, and I felt it had promise. I'm glad it lived up to my expectations. The last rom/com I saw that I found quite enjoyable was The Ugly Truth. Gerard Butler and Katherine Heigl had great chemistry. Valentine's Day is like a menage trois of chemistry. I was surprised with how well the movie worked with the combination of stars.

My favorite story line was the Bradley Cooper/Julia Roberts pov. Didn't go in the direction I was expecting, but the payoff for both was satisfactory. The movie is also worth seeing for a good laugh. My favorite performance had to be a draw between Anne Hathaway and Taylor Swift. Both were well acted, and very funny.

Check it out, it's worth your time.

Next movie on my list. Shutter Island. Hope to see it next weekend . . .

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The Lightning Thief Review

It's Sunday morning, I've just gotten out of church, and I'm watching The Sandlot. This movie brings back many childhood memories. I've watched it over and over throughout the years, and I never grow weary of it. My absolute favorite line from the movie is when they're in the treehouse, telling ghost stories, and Squints says, "For-ev-ver, for-ev-er, for-ev-er." Man, great memories.

I'm pretty frustrated with my blog layout. It looks like a gigantic mess. The pictures are oversized and the text is a-jumble. My wife hasn't got around to fixing it for me yet. Until she does, a mess it shall remain. I know nothing of this stuff, and have to get her to do it for me. "Learn yourself," you say? No. If I could find a way to resize the pictures it wouldn't be so bad. But I can't.

Anyway, yesterday my wife, and a couple friend of ours, went to see Percy Jackson and They Olympians: The Lightning Thief. I read the book a few months ago, and though it was nothing that would cause a literary revolutionary, I found it to be quite enjoyable. Percy is a boy that I could relate to. Who hasn't enjoyed Greek mythology at some time or another. The movie, however, I can't say the same for. Don't get me wrong it was enjoyable. I would have enjoyed the movie more if I hadn't read the book. Though I'm no fanboy of Percy I guess I'm having somewhat of a similar reaction.

I can see why it would be difficult to transition from book to film, though. The book is in all first person. I think communicating a first person story in third person would be quite difficult. The problems don't end there. Some of the acting is pretty cheesy. To me that breaks the fourth wall. All believability goes out the window. Besides that, it was choppy. I think it was a problem with the editing. The scenes didn't transition very smoothly for my liking.

The best thing about the movie is the action. You can tell the kids put in a lot of hard work. The sword fighting look natural and skillful. It made me wish that I could have been at Camp Half-Blood as a teenager.

Out of four stars I give it two and a three-quarters. That means it's good enough for a dvd, but not worth a matinee, or taking an evening to pay $8 or more. Tonight, for V-Day, my wife and I will be seeing Valentine's Day. Let y'all know how that is tomorrow.

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