The Rocketeer

Starring Billy Campbell, Jennifer Connelly, Alan Arkin, Timothy Dalton, Paul Sorvino and Terry O'Quinn as Howard Hughes

Directed by Joe Johnston

Animated Segment directed by Mark Dindal

Release Date: June 21st, 1991

Created by Howard Hughes and coveted by the Third Reich: the ability to fly without an airplane! Soon, this amazing device is in the hands of Cliff Secord and Peevy Peabody, a stunt pilot and mechanic who see the device as an opportunity! The duo create a new mystery man: THE ROCKETEER! They think that no one will come after their strange new device. That is, until mobster Eddie Valentine and Hollywoodland movie star Neville Sinclair are hot on their trail! Can the Rocketeer save the day? Will Cliff save his best gal, background actress Jenny?

If you read a lot of my reviews, you'll see I have a fondness for comic-book based movies, such as The Dark Knight trilogy, DC Animated movies, and The Avengers. So, it should come as no surprise I'd be interested in The Rocketeer, which is based on Dave Stevens' comic of the same name.  In regards to the comic, I've read occasional issues of the IDW 2011 volume, but have not yet read any of Stevens' original work; when I do, I'll type up a review later. In the meantime, let's discuss the film.

If the name Joe Johnston sounds familiar, he's the director of Captain America: The First Avenger, Honey, I shrunk the Kids, and Jumanji. Johnston is a great director (in my opinion) due to his great sense of style, great use of action sequences, and making great family friendly films. So, I think he was a great choice to direct this film. He makes the film such a joy to watch. Sure, the special effects haven't aged that gracefully, but Johnston gives the magic of seeing the Rocketeer such a joyful feeling, it's hard not to smile while viewing.

In terms of performances, they're good but cheesy. You'd think that would be a bad thing, but this is a movie about a man with a jetpack fighting mobsters; it's okay to be a little over the top here. Billy Campbell does a good job as Cliff; he makes the character confident, cocky and a likable protagonist. Jennifer Connelly is a good leading lady, making Jenny more than just a damsel in distress, and actually has a fun character arc involving her acting skills. My favorite character, however, has to be Timothy Dalton's Neville Sinclair. If you were to mix an arrogant actor with a spy, you'd get Sinclair.

Final Thoughts: I LOVE this movie. It's cheesy, but so much fun. The Rocketeer gets my full recommendation. However, I'm disappointed the 20th Anniversary Blu-ray has nothing to offer in terms of documentaries or retrospectives. Let's hope that gets corrected one day.

Rating: 5 out of 5 

The Bourne Legacy

Starring Jeremy Renner, Edward Norton, Rachel Weisz

Based on the character Jason Bourne by Robert Ludlum

Directed by Tony Gillory

Release Date: July 30th, 2012

Jason Bourne was only the beginning....

How do you talk about a movie like The Bourne Legacy? There's no Jason Bourne in this movie, so it's not a sequel; but for a spin-off, it relies heavily on seeing the last three Bourne movies. It's a quandary, if I can be  honest. So, I'll break it down as best I can. Is it a bad film? No. Is it a great film? No. However, it's a good start for an Aaron Cross series.

So, if you've never seen a Jason Bourne movie, here's the gist : Jason Bourne (played by Matt Damon) was a spy who once lost his memories and slowly regained his personality after being trained by the government. (That's the broad strokes of the premise). Now, a similar program to the program that trained Bourne, has decided to eliminate Operation Outcome, its scientists, and the operatives which includes Aaron Cross, as played by Jeremy Renner. Outcome differs from Treadstone as these operatives are given treatments of pills that increase physical and mental abilities. Cross, as an Outcome operative, must routinely take his green and blue pills or he will suffer fatal problems. As Outcome is now being systemically taken apart, Cross must find out how to cure himself of his medicinal need and outrace his handlers now trying to eliminate him.

This movie....requires an immediate prior viewing of the previous Bourne films. At times, I couldn't remember why certain events were important and felt this distracted from the story the film was telling. It was as if two screenwriters were working on two different stories: one dealing with a Jason Bourne story, and the other trying to set up a new character in that universe. Don't get me wrong, Aaron Cross is a really interesting character. But for the first 30 minutes it felt like he wasn't the main character.  Also, the ending is abrupt and disappointing. Still, the film has a lot of impressive performances from the cast and some great stunt sequences. If they can make a sequel that ties up all loose ends about Bourne and sticks with Aaron Cross from now on, I'll be satisfied.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 

The Dark Knight Rises

Starring Christian Bale, Tom Hardy, Anne Hathaway,  Michael Caine, Gary Oldman, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Morgan Freeman, and Marion Cotillard


Directed by Christopher Nolan


Release Date: July 20th, 2012


A champion returns. Evil plagues a city. Who will fall, and who will rise?


Eight years after the death of Harvey Dent,  Gotham City has experienced a lull in criminal activity. The people feel safe, and The Batman has been banished to whispers and speculation. Bruce Wayne (Bale), still reeling from all his loss, cannot move on now that Gotham no longer needs the Batman. Still, there are those like Officer John Blake (Gordon-Levitt), who still believe in the Batman. But there is a dark shadow looming in Gotham's path, a shadow known only as BANE (Hardy). Bane, a terrorist known for his unusual mask, is looking to take Gotham to its' knees. Will the Batman return? Can he?


I'm honestly sad this is the finale.  I have truly enjoyed Nolan's series and will miss his sense of direction in the Batman film series. Still, he has given us a fitting finale to the trilogy. He had brought a flagging franchise back into success and turned out stellar set pieces and striking character studies with Batman, The Joker, and Ra's Al Ghul (to name a few). His name has become a titan of visual storytelling similar to directors like Hitchcock, Spielberg, and Scorsese.  Now, onto the movie...


 Let's just get it over with quickly. I've already said how good Bale and Caine are in their roles. Despite the "Growl", Bale does a  great job at juggling both Bruce Wayne and Batman. As seen in the last movie, more focus is displayed on Batman's detective and tactician skills. So props to Bale. Also, Caine has less of a supporting role this time around, but still does a commendable job as Wayne's oldest ally who wants him to save Gotham as Bruce Wayne, not Batman. Also, there's Gary Oldman and Morgan Freeman as Commissioner Gordon and Lucius Fox. Both are good, commendable actors, but nothing they haven't done in the last two movies; not bad, just nothing new to add. Therefore, it's time to discuss the newest additions to the cast: Tom Hardy as BANE,  Anne Hathaway as Selina Kyle, Marion Cotillard as Miranda Tate, and Joesph Gordon-Levitt as John Blake. 


After a command performance of Heath Ledger's The Joker, how do you follow it up? Do you imitate and pattern it into another character? Do you run in a completely different direction? Nolan said, "Let's do it with more discipline". Bane is NOT JOKER. He's a ruthless terrorist with an agenda and a goal. Hardy makes Bane into a monster who is just as intelligent as Bruce Wayne/Batman. Hardy's Bane is nothing like Bane from Batman and Robin; this Bane is a leader of men whose goal is to destroy and terrorize Gotham City. While he isn't as charismatic as Ledger's Joker, I found myself captivated by Bane's dry sense of humor, or his cold, emotionless voice as he looms over someone. His fight scenes are tough, loud, and brutal. When Bane hits someone, YOU feel it. 


When I was a kid, one of my favorite movies was Batman Returns which co-starred Michelle Pfiffer as Selina Kyle/Catwoman. While many have reviled Pfiffer's performance as too weird or not faithful to the comics, I enjoyed her performance and thought it was the best live action Catwoman (the less said about Halle Berry, the better). Still, when photos surfaced of Anne Hathaway as Selina Kyle, many were unsure she could be the feline thief. What do I think? Since my younger days, I have gotten into the wonderful Catwoman Series during 2002-2007 that featured the likes of Darwyn Cooke, Ed Brubaker, and Adam Hughes. The series is a crime noir that makes great use of the title character and explores more of her character outside of her relationship with The Dark Knight. (If you're interested, the latest printing of Volume 1 is titled "Trial of the Catwoman"). What does this have to do with Hathaway? It's fairly obvious that Nolan (or his brother Jonathan) had been reading the more recent Catwoman as it makes her a more competent fighter and gives her the seductive personality that really works in her scenes with Bale. I just wish they gave her the whip. Meh. It's still a good part and Hathaway did a good with it.


Marion Cotillard as Miranda Tate and Joseph Gordon-Levitt as John Blake? In the words of River Song "Sorry, spoilers".


What doesn't work (as well)? Honestly, the film is a little slow at first. Then, there's the problem of secondary characters. While I may know that the young woman Selina Kyle pals around with is Holly Robinson (sidekick to Selina Kyle and one-time Catwoman herself), others may not know of her or other comic characters in the film. This is the same problem I had with The Amazing Spider-Man, where characters show up and no one says who they are. They're tertiary characters, but that doesn't mean I have to guess who their names. 


Final Thoughts:  Despite a slow build-up, The Dark Knight Rises is a rousing action film that makes for a thrill ride adventure. While admittedly the darkest of the three "Dark Knight" films, it's still really good. 


Rating: 5 out 5. GO NOW! SEE IT NOW! 

Justice League: Doom

Starring the voice talents of Kevin Conroy, Tim Daly, Susan Eisenberg, Nathan Fillion, Michael Rosenbaum, and Carl Lumbry

Based on "JLA: Tower of Babel" by Mark Waid and Howard Porter

Screenplay by Dwayne McDuffie

Directed by Lauren Montgommery

Release Date: February 28th, 2012 (Straight to DVD/Blu-ray)

Martian Manhunter coated in Magnesium. Wonder Woman fighting copies of Cheetah. Green Lantern paralyzed with fear. Superman shot with a kryptonite bullet. Who's to blame for these deadly traps? Batman, their ally in the Justice League.

Adapted from "JLA: Tower of Babel", JL: Doom takes the heavy hitters of the DC universe and tasks them with their deadliest enemies using their physical and psychological weaknesses. Who is the one leading the assault? The immortal Vandal Savage, who wants the Justice League out of the way so he can take over the world (yes, it sounds incredibly generic, but you'll see how it unfolds).

Sadly, this is the last DC film written by Dwayne McDuffie, who passed away February 21st, 2011. McDuffie was the creator of Static Shock (the original comic and its 2000-2004 cartoon), a writer for Teen Titans, Justice League Unlimited, and the screenwriter for All-Star Superman and Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths. He was a celebrated writer for both television and comics and I am sadden by his passing.  McDuffie's talents will never be matched again.

Now, onto the review of the film.

Doom is yet another 75-minute animated film produced by DC comics. For the most part, I've enjoyed these films (the only ones I didn't enjoy were Batman: Gotham Knights and Green Lantern: First Flight). To get this out of the way, it does deviate from the original comic:

A) Aquaman and Plastic Man aren't in the story
B) Green Lantern Kyle Rayner is replaced by Hal Jordan
C) The Mastermind behind the scheme is Vandal Savage in the film and Ra's al Ghul in the comic
D) Wally West in the comic is replaced by Barry Allen
E) Cyborg is not in the original comic
F) The League of Doom is not involved in the original comic
G) some of the traps against the Justice League differ from the comic

Pros: The film has a lot of great action beats and the overall plot is in tact and works very well. I liked that they recast most of the original actors from the Justice League cartoon, such as Kevin Conroy as Batman, Tim Daly as Superman, Carl Lumbly as Martian Manhunter, Susan Eisenberg as Wonder Woman and Michael Rosenberg as The Flash (he played Wally West in Justice League whereas he plays Barry Allen in JL: Doom). Also, they cast the BEST POSSIBLE voice actor as Hal Jordan: Nathan Fillion a.k.a. Captain Hammer, Capt. Malcolm Reynolds, and Richard Castle. Fillion does a great job with the part and I hope to see him cast as GL in more DC films and TV shows.

Cons: Some of the traps are dumb. Superman is shot. Really? That's how you stop the Man of Steel? In the comic, he was given a new type of red kryptonite that overloaded his powers and nearly killed him. The Flash has a bomb strapped to his wrist that makes him keep moving. Perhaps someone could have retooled these into more creative approach to these situations.

Final Thoughts: JL: Doom is an energetic and exciting adventure with a few flaws, but does have a lot of talent and creativity thanks to the great Dwayne McDuffie.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Limitless

Starring Bradley Cooper and Robert De Niro

Based on The Dark Fields by Alan Glynn

Directed by  Neil Burger

Release Date: March 18th, 2011

Eddie Morra is not living up to his full potential. Currently, he's a writer with Writer's Block, his girlfriend just dumped him, and he's going to be evicted out of his apartment soon. What should happen next is that he runs into his ex-wife's brother Vernon, a drug dealer with the opportunity of a lifetime.  Vernon offers him the drug NZT, a chemical that unlocks his brain to "100 %" usage. Soon, Eddie's using brainpower like never before, sweet talking his landlord's wife, breezing past his novel, and mastering several languages in no time at all. However, his new found skills also come with blackouts, and those land him in a world of trouble.......

This needs to be said; In the film, the "100%" they talk about, it's an urban legend. The film claims that NZT "stimulates receptors" and makes the brain work faster (Just wanted to get that out of the way).

A lot of people remarked that this is a "roller coaster of action" and "Bradley Cooper gives a command performance", then "De Niro's back in form". Well, some of these things happened, and some did not. Yes, while agree that Bradley Cooper does a great job in the film, De Niro......is good, at best. While many remember De Niro from Raging Bull or Taxi Driver, he's been slumming it far too long with the Meet the ..... films. So no, I wouldn't praise De Niro for going back to giving an effort in a performance.

Also, I never felt that the film truly takes off to a full effort. Too often, it just feels like wish fulfillment: be the smartest guy,  be a millionaire, etc. Honestly, the best parts of the film are when Eddie has to use his new abilities to outwit opponents.

Final Thoughts: Limitless is a decent thriller. If the trailer interests you, I'd give it a rent.

Rating: 3 out of 5 

The Grey

Starring Liam Neeson, Frank Grillo, Dermot Mulroney, Dallas Roberts, Joe Anderson, Nonso Anozie, and James Badge Dale

Based on the short story Ghost Walker by Ian MacKenzie Jeffers

Directed by Joe Carnahan

Release Date: January 27^th, 2012

After crashing in the Alaskan wilderness, the survivors of the plane crash band together to not only brave the elements, but a wolf pack out to kill them.  It will be harsh, cruel, and treacherous…..

Action junkies, I need to get this out of the way: yes, Liam Neeson fights wolves. But that doesn’t mean it will be the action-exploitation of his other films like Unknown or Taken. This is a more gritty and thematic film that explores the concepts of faith, man versus nature, and life and death, not “NEESON FIGHTS WOLVES!”

Now, on to the review….

The Grey is a minimalist drama that explores just how awful and harsh it can be to brave the elements with the odds against you. The first thing of note is that there is no B-plot, no side-story where the oil company sends a rescue team, or flashbacks to what Liam Neeson does in his spare time. The only plot is the survivors of the plane crash determining a) what their next step is b) how to survive and c) if they WILL survive the night.  However, this does work against the film due to the fact that we know very little about the other survivors and even Neeson himself. During the film, certain relationships do come to light, but it does feel disappointing that the majority of the survivors come across as little more than “Red Shirts” a la Star Trek.

On the positive side, the film does contain a great use of atmosphere, dread, and chilling isolation. Much of the film is without a score, showcasing instead the chilling winds, snarling wolves, or just the soul-crushing silence of the wildness. When music is used, it is to highlight the tension either when the wolves attack, or when of the men is in mortal danger. In terms of direction, Joe Carnahan does an excellent job of showing how vast and dangerous the woods can be, while on the flipside he uses the same location in a beautiful scene that makes the same chilly forest into a marvelous final reward. Some may complain about Carnahan using CGI wolves (there are also animatronics and wolf carcasses in some instances), but I feel that the CGI wolves can be used well; since the men are fighting against inhuman creatures, I feel that the liberal use of CGI can make the wolves into unrelenting monsters with no remorse rather than train a live animal than audiences could relate to. The cast is good, despite the lack of character development for many of them, and Neeson makes a stellar performance as Ottway.

Final Thoughts: The Grey is a dark and violent drama situation with hard choices and punishing opposition.  While I would have liked to know more about Diaz, Hendrick and Flannery, the film is still an engaging and energetic story with a chilling visual style and great moments of tension.

Rating: 4 out of 5. 

The Secret World of Arrietty

Starring the voice talents of:


(UK VERSION)
Saoirse Ronan................. Arrietty
Tom Holland....................Shō
Olivia Colman....................Homily
Phyllida Law..................... Sadako Maki 
Luke Allen-Gale................ Spiller
Mark Strong...................... Pod 
Geraldine McEwan............. Haru 


(US Version)
Bridgit Mendler.................Arrietty
David Henrie        .............Shō
Amy Poehler   .................. Homily
Gracie Poletti     ............... Sadako Maki 
Moises Arias     ................ Spiller
Will Arnett      .................. Pod 
Carol Burnett        ............ Haru


Directed by  Hiromasa Yonebayashi






Release Dates:

Japan                              July 17, 2010
United Kingdom              July 29, 2011
United States                   February 17, 2012

Note: I saw the UK version, which has Mark Strong, Saoirse Ronan and Tom Holland in the voice cast.

Adapted from Mary Norton's Novel "The Borrowers" from the illustrious Hayao Miyazaki, The Secret World of Arrietty looks at a fantastically microscopic view beneath our very feet.

In the country, Shō is a young boy awaiting heart surgery at her mother's childhood home.  Shō  has always been very weak, never having friends to play with due to his poor health. But one day, he spies something out of the corner of his eye: a little girl no bigger than a doll. Her name is Arrietty.

As is standard with Studio Ghibli films, the animation is absolutely stunning. There are many gorgeous details put into the flora and fauna in the yard, such as when Shō sits in the field in the afternoon or seen in the immaculate detail of water droplets during a rainy day. also, since much of the film takes place from the point of view of a 'borrower', there is a great deal of scale when looking at objects both big and small. One of my favorite moments is when looking at the objects in Arrietty's home, such as how her family uses stamps for pictures or how her father uses double sided tape to walk up a dresser. So yes, from a visual standpoint the film is absolutely stunning.

Unfortunately, the film does suffer from two major problems: a slow pace and character development. First, the film does have a slow pace which may detract many but will also bore children due to their being many scenes of pretty visuals like the dollhouse but nothing visually exciting like other Ghibli films. Second, due to this pacing and emphasis of visuals, there is little attention to character interaction. That is to say, you want to see more of the characters interacting, growing, doing more than is seen on the screen. For example, there is a fourth borrower introduced in the second act; his name is Spiller and is more of an outdoor borrower, someone who lives in the yard and is seen as a hunter. Then....he disappears until the last 10 minutes.

Final thoughts: The Secret World of Arrietty is a visually enjoyable movie with good characters and first-time director Hiromasa Yonebayashi does a good job with this movie. Still, the movie is a bit slow and doesn't offer as much character development as one would hope. Still, for fans of Studio Ghibli and animation, it gets a full recommendation.

Rating: 3.5 of 5

THE AVENGERS

The Avengers

Release Date: May 4, 2012 (US)

Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Clark Gregg, and Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury

Co-Written and Directed by Joss Whedon

This was a huge gamble. In 2008, Marvel Comics created their own in-house movie studio so that they could have different characters show up in another’s movie, such as Tony Stark appearing in The Incredible Hulk or Hawkeye making a cameo in Thor. What was the purpose of these appearances? To eventually get to a team-based movie, where Iron Man, Captain America, The Hulk, Thor: God of Thunder, Clint “Hawkeye” Barton, and Natasha “Black Widow” Romanov come together to form THE AVENGERS.

If you’re wondering, I will review the other Marvel Studios films next; but in the mean-time, let’s talk about The Avengers.

When I first saw the post-credits scene in Iron Man where Nick Fury (Jackson) mentions the “Avengers Initiative”, I was both excited and nervous.   I was excited because as a comic fan, I knew that it would be a huge action movie with several of my favorite characters that may happen one day. I was nervous because having a team-based movie doesn’t always mean each character will get “their moment of glory”: then came Joss Whedon.

For those who aren’t familiar with Joss Whedon, he is the creator of the hit cult TV shows Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Firefly, and Dollhouse. He is also responsible for directing Serenity and Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog. Whedon is also a comic book writer who has written Astonishing X-Men, Runaways, Buffy: Season 8, and Serenity. Whedon is well known for his snappy dialogue, quirky humor, and great use of both action and comedy to form great stories. For example, many of his shows revolve around multiple characters who all have a unique voice and do not overshadow one another.  In short, he was the right man to write and direct a movie where several big name comic characters come together for one team.

The Cast: Returning from their own individual movies, we have Robert Downey Jr as Tony Stark/Iron Man, Chris Evans as Steve Rogers/Captain America, Chris Hemsworth as Thor Odiinson, and Tom Hiddleston as the villainous Loki. There were also several supporting characters who showed up in those films, now seen as SHIELD agents willing to back up our heroes: Jeremy Renner as Clint “Hawkeye” Barton, Scarlett Johansson as Natasha “Black Widow” Romanov, Clark Gregg as Agent Phil Coulson, and Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury, Head of Shield. Finally, we have a cast change: Dr. Bruce Banner, who was first played by Edward Norton in 2008’s The Incredible Hulk, is now played by Mark Ruffalo.  So, what do I think of their portrayals as seen in The Avengers?

Not only did Whedon know how to balance each character, but made sure that every character was developed and worked well as a team. I also think that Whedon knew how to use his trademark snarky humor in small doses, such as when Iron Man calls Thor “Point Break” or when Bruce Banner dryly jokes how badly an idea it is to put him in an enclosed area in the sky. The cast works great together, particularly Downey and Ruffalo; the two of them bounce well off each other and have a lot of good jokes about Banners’ “other guy”. So yes, I like Mark Ruffalo's portrayal as Bruce Banner; it fits well in this movie, and does have a really sweet development in his relationship with the Hulk. Then, Hiddleston is slimy and cruel as Loki, making him into a better villain than  he was in Thor.

A lot of people will say ‘oh, this was my favorite scene’, but I won’t do that in fear of spoilers. I will say, however, that this film is MADE of great moments, such as epic fight scenes and character developing moments, and exposition from previous films that never feels forced or clunky.  The fights in this movie are glorious; Whedon knows how to make these characters look like Titans battling to the death, making each and fight look momentous, even before the final battle in New York.

The only thing I didn’t like: Captain America’s new battle outfit.  If you didn’t see Captain America: The First Avenger, go watch that and look and how amazing Cap’s wartime outfit looks. In that movie, the red-and-blues look like combat fatigues fit for a soldier on the battlefield.  In The Avengers, it looks too thin, too cheesy looking. If you wanted a more “comic accurate” Captain America costume, I suppose you get what you wanted. But for me, I was hoping for the WWII costume to return.

When I walked out of the movie, I truly believed this was one of the best blockbuster movies I’ve seen in the last 5 years. Simply amazing.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars 



AVENGERS Movies:
Iron Man
The Incredible Hulk
Iron Man 2
Thor
Captain America: The First Avenger

The Hunger Games (The Film)

Starring Jennifer Lawrence, Woody Harrelson, Wes Bentley, Liam Hemsworth, Josh Hutcherson, Lenny Kravitz, and Donald Sutherland


Based on the novel by Suzanne Collins


Directed by Gary Ross


Release Date: March 23, 2012


America is gone; now a new nation known as Panem is divided into 12 districts and a Capitol that controls them. Each year, the Capitol requires that each District have a lottery to send off one boy and girl to compete to the death in a competition known as THE HUNGER GAMES. In District 12, Katniss Everdeen has volunteered to take her sister's place in the games. May the odds be ever in her favor.......


Adapted from the popular novel of the same name by Suzanne Collins, The Hunger Games is both praised by fans and seen as plagiarizing other authors, such as Stephen King and

Koushun Takami (author of Battle Royale). I, howver, only see a great dystopian story with similar themes and concepts. When I read the novel, I was fascinated with a world built upon send children not only to fight one another, but "dance" for the amusement of the rich and powerful of the Capitol. So, with a novel that is both popular with both children and adults, a big budget adaptation was inevitable. 

Before I continue reviewing the film, please be aware I will be comparing it to the novel and THERE MAY BE SPOILERS. 

Since the movie is PG-13 in America, the violence seen during The Games was toned down or done off-screen, only to show the horror of what was happening by Katniss's reaction. Sure, The Hunger Games movie won't be as visually bloody as Battle Royale, but it's not really meant to be. The violence is only used to showcase the brutality and shock of children fighting to the death, and I believe the screenwriters and director did a successful job of getting their action without overly disgusting the audience.  A

As the novel was originally written in a first person narrative with Katniss relaying the story from her POV and her thoughts, the film obviously had to adapt so that Katniss is more of an active character. The movie eliminates some small moments and one-or two characters, but the overall plot remains in tact, In fact, one of my favorite additions is using the Game Room to showcase what Seneca Crane (played by Wes Bentley) and the Gamemaker's do to record the games and influence the action to challenge the Tributes, but to entertain the audiences of Panem. In a way, it reminded me of the Moon Room of The Truman Show, another great movie about "reality television". 

There are only two minor problems I had with the movie. The first is the casting of Donald Sutherland as President Snow; in a word, he's not terrifying. In the novels, Snow is meant to be seen as a dictator, someone who is bright and happy in front of the world, but deadly and threatening to his enemies. However, Sutherland just can't showcase Snow as nothing more as a minor nuisance. His character made me chuckle more than fear for Katniss's life. The second are the terror dogs. They're CGI, and not particularly good computer graphics. 

For Hunger Games fans, you'll love this movie. Everyone else, this is a great commentary on reality television, the deception and control of media, and a great science-fiction film.

Rating:* * * * of 5 stars

21 Jump Street (2012)

Starring Jonah Hill, Channing Tatum, Brie Larson, Dave Franco, Ice Cube and Rob Riggle

Directed by Phil Lord and Chris Miller

Release Date: March 16th, 2012
WARNING:THIS IS NOT A MOVIE FOR CHILDREN. IT CONTAINS MUCH VULGAR LANGUAGE, DRUG USE, VIOLENCE, AND NUDITY. 


Based on the 1987-1991 drama starring Johnny Depp, this reboot comedy takes a humorous take not only on the original series, but on cop "action" shows, high school dynamics, and youth culture. No, seriously.

 Schmidt and Jenko (Hill and Tatum, respectively) were once high school students with little in common; one an unpopular geek while the other is a meat-headed jock. Soon, these mismatched pair become police officers looking to stop bad guys while not adhering to basic rules, like reading a suspect the Miranda Rights correctly. Once they fail to stop a drug bust, they become the latest officers in an undercover squad designed to infiltrate crimes committed in the local high schools. Their first assignment: find the maker and supplier of a new drug with fatal results. Schmidt and Jenko may not be the best cops, but they'll do the job their way.

To be completely honest, I had low expectations of this movie. The trailers were lack luster and I had never seen the original series. However, I am a fan of farcical cop shows like Reno 911 and I did see that Hill was credited as a screenwriter and had faith due to his talents as a comedian. So, what did I think about 21 Jump Street?

21 Jump Street  surprised me, in that I enjoyed its crude and yet hilarious sense of humor. Instead of making the movie into a humorless, straight adaptation of the TV series, the film acknowledges its roots but still pokes jabs at the source material in a harmless way. In addition, the film does a lot of great scenes that showcase the mindset of what high school was for those out of it and what high school is like now. For example, Schmidt and Jenko start identifying the different cliques in the high school parking lot, but are soon dumbstruck when trying to label a group of hipsters. Then, we see our bumbling heroes try to relieve or outdo their own high school experiences. Obviously, it's not a major factor of why audiences will like the movie, but I enjoyed these moments in the plot. In terms of funniest moments, one of the best for me is when Schmidt and Jenko first try HFS, the new drug.

Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

Gulliver's Travels

Starring Jack Black, Jason Segel, Emily Blunt, Catherine Tate and Billy Connolly

Directed by Rob Letterman

Release Date: December 25th, 2010

UGH..........where do I begin? Gulliver's Travels is a novel originally written by Johnathan swift and has been adapted several times with varying degrees of faithfulness to the original text. This 2010 adaptation, where Gulliver is a portly Jack Black, may be the most foul, offensive, and moronic adaptation one may ever see to insult the intelligence of children.

Usually, I like Jack Black; he's a talented actor with a lot of manic energy who also sings and performs as part of the musical duo Tenacious D. Black has been in such great movies as High Fidelity, King Kong, School of Rock, and Tropic Thunder. The point being, he can be a very fun and charismatic actor with a slightly goofy charm. However, in this critical failure, he's a liar and very, very annoying. He brays every line, never giving a genuine reason to like him other than he's the main character and we have to like him.

But the biggest offenders are the unnecessary pop culture references and the sophomoric humor. Look, I get that the film was intended for families with young children, but does that mean it's okay to have a PG rating with Black pulling down his pants, and urinating to put out a fire? Then there are the product placements/pop culture, such as Gulliver's life is Star Wars or that he uses an iPhone and drinks Coca-Cola; seriously? Did I need an Avatar references in Gulliver's Travels?

On the positive side, the supporting cast are good, such as Billy Connolly and Catherine Tate as the King and Queen of Liliput, Jason Segel as Horatio, and Chris O'Dowd as General Edward, but they are not worth sitting through this turkey.

Rating: 1 out of 5 stars .

Batman: Year One/ DC Showcase: Catwoman

Starring the voice talents of Bryan Cranston, Ben Mckenzie, Eliza Dushku, Jon Polito, and Katee Sackhoff

Adapted from the story line "Batman: Year One" by Frank Miller and David Mazuchelli/ Written by Paul Dini

Directed by Sam Liu and Lauren Montgomery

Batman: Year One 

Adapted from the highly influential story arc that inspired Batman: The Animated Series and Batman Begins, DC animation explores the first year of not only the Batman, but Detective Jim Gordon in Gotham City. Initially, both men are adrift with how corrupt the city is: dirty cops, petty theft escalating to violence, children walking the streets and no one willing to stop it any of it. Soon, one dons a cape and cowl while the other becomes a pariah to set straight the Gotham police department. However, when evil men are threatened by change, they set their sights to kill the vigilante and the hero cop....

Sure, some people will feel that without a villain to fight, the film is too slow or that this story feels too familiar. First, this is the story of how Batman started: he wanted to fight the mob, the corrupt cops, not men in refrigerator suits. I enjoy seeing the rookie crime fighter fight the mortal man for a change. Second- yes, it's true, the story is familiar. That's because portions of the story were adapted to previous films, such as in Batman: Mask of the Phantasm and Batman Begins.

Finally, as per usual, voice director Andrea Romano gets a varied and talented cast of actors, from Bryan Cranston as Jim Gordon to Eliza Dushku as Selina Kyle/ Catwoman

Rating: * * * * of 5

DC Showcase: Catwoman


One of the best DC shorts yet, right up there with Jonah Hex and The Spectre. Changing up Selina's costume from B: Year one  to Ed Brubaker's 2002 update, this sees Selina on the hunt for a criminal named Rough Cut. A good short with catchy dialogue, stunning action, and a little risque behaviors, this is a short more for older comic fan than for the kids.

Rating: * * * * 1/2 of 5

Total: * * * * 1/2 of 5

The Walking Dead: What Lies Ahead

Directed by Ernest Dickerson and Gwyneth Horder-Payton

Written by Robert Kirkman and "Ardeth Bay" (a.k.a. Frank Darabont)

Season 2, Episode 1

Original Air date: October 16th, 2011

Picking up after Season 1's finale "TS-19", we see the remainder of Rick's group deciding to leave Atlanta behind for Fort Benning. Soon enough, there are new troubles for the group as they stumble across a church......

Some people I have noticed do not favor Rick using the walkie-talkie as a means for getting across exposition or vocalizing his inner thoughts, as this is awkward or monotonous to them: I have to disagree. I find that this means of relaying information to the audience is a good way to tie-back to Morgan and Duane (even if, as of this review, they have yet to reappear in their own separate plot lines), a way to make internal monologues work for the televised adaptation of The Walking Dead and to catch-up anyone who may have missed out on Season 1. That being said, let's take a look at the season opener.

* WARNING: SPOILERS BELOW*



For the most part, the episode has 3 major locations: an cluttered highway, a church, and a forest. Thankfully, the episode's directors  use the highway to his advantage, making it into a dangerous maze our group must dodge and overcome after being attacked by a pack of Zombies. There is a great deal of tension as the group hides under cars and in the motor homes rather than take a flashy and ill-fated battle against the zombies. That is what works about TDW as a comic: the group learns how to better avoid the zombies by using their minds rather than take a 'John Rambo' approach to the situation. Also, there is a great deal of discussion about the topic of faith in the episode, which I assume will be a major theme this season.


Rating: * * * * of 5 

The Ides of March

Starring Ryan Gosling, George Clooney, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, and Paul Giamatti

Directed by George Clooney

Release Date: October 7th, 2011

 Beneath the handshaking and campaign day promises there is more betrayal and deception than most people know about political campaigns, particularly in America. Director George Clooney adapts the play Farragut North into a political thriller about a political strategist who has to struggle through moral grays and shady decisions.

Clooney does a masterful job of creating tension with how the characters deal with how they undermine each other, and how often such ideals as trust and dedication to one's political beliefs. In fact, I think this is the type of film that should be shown in a politics class for students to see that politics is not cut and dry, that people try to destroy each other simply because they can.

Ryan Gosling does an impressive job of making Stephen Myers into an idealistic and likeable protagonist, someone who understands the business of politics but has yet to be sullied by mudslinging or empty promises. George Clooney does a competent job of playing the candidate Mike Morris, a politican who's all smiles for the press, but has a darker side. Clooney definitely looks the part of a politician, but I feel that his part may have been better served as a character in the background, someone the audience sees from time to time while the focus is on Myers and the other campaign workers. Hoffman and Giamatti play senior advisers, both of them making powerful monologues and getting some fantastic performances opposite Gosling.

Rating: * * * * of 5

Moneyball

Starring Brad Pitt, Jonah Hill, and Philip Seymour Hoffman

Directed by Bennett Miller

Release Date: September 23rd, 2011

Based on the book Moneyball: The art of winning an unfair game by Michael Lewis, the film stars Brad Pitt as GM Billy Beane and Jonah Hill as "Peter Brand", a fictional character created for the film. Beane worked against the budget given him and used a system known as "Moneyball", using player statistics rather than try to break the bank for the best players available. Soon, members of Beane's own team and A's fans begin to question his decisions and whether he should still be manager the following season.

I had heard that Moneyball would be The Social Network in 2011. Would I agree to that? Yes and no. Yes, in that both films take a relatively complex subject and summarize them for a general audience. No, in that Moneyball isn't as entertaining or well acted as The Social Network was. Brad Pitt is fine, but he really doesn't do anything memorable; it's just a very standard performance from him. Philip Seymour Hoffman, playing manager Art Howe, is just wasted in this regard. Hoffman is an award-winning actor, showcasing a wide range of talent in such films as Red Dragon, The Savages, and Charlie Wilson's War. Sadly, there's nothing for him to work with, as anyone could have played this part.

Rating: * * * * of 5 

Drive

Starring Ryan Gosling, Carey Mulligan, Bryan Cranston, Ron Perlman, Christina Hendricks, and Albert Brooks

Directed by Nicolas Winding Refn

Release Date: September 16th, 2011

Stunt Driver by day, Getaway driver at night. A young mechanic (Gosling) makes a living working with cars and keeping to himself, until a budding romance with Irene (Mulligan), has him involved with the robbery of a pawn shop. Soon enough, events get darker and more violent as the masterminds of the caper are local gangsters Bernie Rose (Brooks) and Nino (Perlman). The stakes are high, and the road is all he needs to settle the score....

Adapted from the novel by James Sallis, Drive is a character study on the lives of criminals in Los Angeles, such as the nameless Driver or his boss, Shannon played by Bryan Cranston. Unlike big budget action movies, Drive is more focused on the monotony of crime, such as setting up meetings or waiting for the "customers". Also, Drive is a visually stunning film, with little dialogue spoken, especially from the unnamed protagonist. Many will be reminded of "THE MAN WITH NO NAME" trilogy in this regard, using the facial expressions of the characters and the body language on screen to get across what the characters are thinking, rather than use redundant dialogue.

Drive also has a stellar cast, especially with such stellar actors as Albert Brooks, Ron Perlman and Bryan Cranston. Albert Brooks and Ron Perlman get a lot of great scenes, such as Brooks giving a menacing monologue about meeting Cranston's character for the first time. Many know Brooks as a comedic actor, in such works as Finding Nemo and TV's The Simpsons; I think Brooks walks a good line between menace and charm, making Rose into a believable criminal rather than a cartoonish villain.

Rating: * * * * * of 5 

The Help

Starring Viola Davis, Emma Stone, Bryce Dallas Howard, Octavia Spencer, and Jessica Chastain

Written for the screen and directed by Tate Taylor

Based on the novel by Kathryn Stockett

Release Date: August 10th, 2011

In 1960s Mississippi, the maids working for Jackson wives deal with persecution and bigotry while on the job and underpaid. Maids like Minny and Aibileen care for their children and make their food as these same women call them names and demean them at the weekly bridge club. Soon, Eugenia "Skeeter" Phelan (Stone) is looking to make  her mark as a writer and stumbles upon a startling discovery: write a tell-all book about life as an African-American maid for white families in the South. It will take a lot of courage and strength to stand up for what's right, and it may take everything to stand up to people like Miss Hilly Holbrook (Howard)...

Adapted from the novel by Kathryn Stockett, The Help is a deep and profound look back into race relations in  the 1960s. Tate Taylor does a commanding job of making such a stellar best-seller into one of the best films of 2011. He does a great job of balancing several stories at once, making them flow into each other easily and tie into the main plot of Skeeter publishing her book. Speaking of, the cast is full of great performances from the mainly female cast, with the main standouts being Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer. As Emma Stone's character begins  the events of the story, Davis and Spencer are largely the focus of all important events. Davis is certainly a powerhouse actress, seen in such films as State of Play and Doubt, certainly deserves to be nominated for an Academy Award this year, as her performance as Abilene is a strong women who carries a sense of compassion within her despite a sea of hatred around her. Octavia Spencer, as Minnie, gives a hilarious performance with a lot of snappy dialogue when Minny goes to work Celia Foote, as played by Jessica Chastian.

While the film is unsettling in its depiction of race relations, it is certainly a recommended drama that fans of the novel will certainly enjoy.

Rating: * * * * * of 5 

Minority Report

Starring Tom Cruise, Colin Ferrell, Samantha Morton, Tim Blake Nelson, and Max von Sydow

Directed by Stephen Spielberg

Release Date: June 21st, 2002

In a world where psychic humans known as "Precogs" can determine the events of a murder before they occur, how can Tom Anderton be guilty of killing a man he doesn't know?

Adapted from a short story by Philip K. Dick, Director Stephen Spielberg crafts a world based on the belief of fate and predetermination rather than free will. The entire world seems to have given into a system of structure and order just to make the world a safer place.  Everything is done by machines: all transportation is achieved through cars that can move up buildings, doors are opened by eye scanners, and the "Precogs" keep Washington DC free of murder.

However, the film does have a few plot holes regarding technology and there were a few too many product placements (good to know Tom Cruise shops at the GAP, I guess). But, the film has a great balance of suspense, sorrow, action, and drama. If you're a fan of Dick or Spielberg, you'll enjoy Minority Report.

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Rating; * * * * of 5 

Captain America: The First Avenger

Starring Chris Evans, Tommy Lee Jones, Haley Atwell, and Hugo Weaving

Directed by Joe Johnston

Release Date: July 22nd, 2011

Before we get the team assembled for THE AVENGERS movie, there's one hero left to include in the pantheon of silver screen stars: CAPTAIN AMERICA. Sure, there were 2 television movies starring Reb Brown and a direct to video adaptation starring Matt Salinger, but those three stories were either too goofy or unfaithful to the source material. Therefore, it's very encouraging to see such an inspiring adaptation of the WWII icon.

Boy is this movie a lot of fun! After we left the theater, some friends and I were discussing how entertaining and exciting the exploits of Cap (Evans)  fighting the Red Skull (Weaving) in the European Theater were! Speaking of, the main leads of Evans and Weaving each get some great moments with their characters. For example, Evans really understands the need for Steve Rogers to be a man dedicated to protecting the people, rather than wanting power for power sake. Weaving , on the other hand, gets to glower and grit his teeth as the villainous Red Skull. Finally, there's a lot of care and attention to detail such as using the Comic accurate costume, or answering where Cap really got his shield.

Rating: * * * * * of 5 

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2

Starring Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Helena Bonham Carter, Ralph Finnes, Michael Gambon, Alan Rickman, Robbie Coltrane, Bonnie Wright, John Hurt, Timothy Spall, Tom Felton, Jim Broadbent, and Jason Issacs

Directed by David Yates

Release Date: July 15th, 2011

(NOTE:  I did not see the 3D version. I do not support 3D at this time and rarely review movies in 3D)

It has come down to this: Ten years in the making, seven previous films for one epic event.

Continuing directly where Part One ended, this is the ground breaking, heart-stopping action upon action scenes where not every character survives to the finale. There's not a lot of character development in this movie, as that was covered more in Part One. In all seriousness, most of Part two is running upon running with characters fighting one another and very few moments to catch your breath. There are many impressive stunt sequences, such as the trio fighting a dragon or Neville Longbottom taking out hundreds of dark wizards with an exploding bridge. I really must compliment the stunt people and Special effects team for working so hard in this installment to make these incredible sequences feel chilling and so great to look at.

That being said, the movie does have a few problems, but they're minor quibbles. First, there's a slight weirdness during a conversation with Harry Potter (Radcliffe) and Dumbledore (Gambon); it's nothing about the conversation they have, the performances the actors give, it's just I find the situation in which the characters speak is just odd. Second, I did' find the story's epilogue to be weak, which I've heard is also criticized by fans of the novels. If you're a diehard Potter fan, stick around for the epilogue. If you're satisfied with the film's finale, skip the epilogue.

Now that the Series is over, I am sad to see the adventure end. Still, it was a fun ride and am glad to have seen such a grand tale.

Rating: * * * * of 5