Inception: A Dazzling Vision. ****

"An an idea is like a seed, when it's planted it grows, it becomes a cancer." This movie is absolutely brilliant. When a giddy Christopher Nolan announced this movie at a press conference, I don't think anybody expected what was coming. This movie is Nolan's baby, he wrote it, directed it and produced it, he has been working on this thing since he started filming "Memento". If you are film nerd, (like me), you would know that means he's been working ten years on this film, has it payed off? What Nolan has produced isn't only a blockbuster action film but it's an endearing drama with amazing depth.

Leonardo Dicaprio plays Cobb, a man who's profession involves going into someone's mind while they sleep. He's a master at creating a world within a person's mind masking it as a dream, he's a spy that steals secrets from people without the person even knowing. This very idea is the most creative idea in film since Tarantino released "Pulp Fiction". Cobb also has lost the privilege of having a family and he's haunted by a lady named Mal, played by Marion Cotillard. This movie is driven by Cobb's guilt of what happened between him and Mal, and what happened has separated him from his children whom he's trying to get back to. This movie is about him getting back to his kids and grieving his wife, it's an emotional roller coaster of a movie as well has an impressive action flick. The supporting roles are impressive as well, Ellen Page plays Ariadne, a young brainiac who becomes Cobb's dream architect. Joseph Gordon-Levitte plays Arthur, Cobb's right hand man, Cillian Murphy and Ken Watanabe also join the already remarkable cast in this movie. The cast carries this movie so well, each bringing a different energy to the film but kudos has to go to Marion Cotillard and Dicaprio. These two are at the center of the movie and Cotillard is so haunting, she plays Mal with such tenacity every time she's on screen there is such a tension and fear driven within the audience. Dicaprio plays Cobb with determination and some sort of guilt that eventually gets figured out in the movie but there is something within Cobb that is filled with regret, something that he just wants forget and move on that is what this film is about.

Inception is the act of planting an idea into someone's brain and making it seem like it's their own idea. Arthur thinks it isn't possible but Cobb later says that it is, it's just highly dangerous because a single idea can grow and become a cancer. This highly lucrative mission is the key, for Cobb, to get back to his family again, planting an idea into a son of a dying tycoon to get rid of the company. What later happens is crazy, the movie slowly sets up the rules and universe that Inception is immersed in. Nolan has created a flawless world here, all the rules are believable and every idea going into it is just flawless filming and creative design. You can tell that this film took Nolan ten years to perfect. Everything is thought out and complete, Nolan has created a dazzling spectacle and when the action sequences take place we actually care about what actually happens to these people. It makes the action so intense and visceral and the deeper they go into the dream world the crazier things get. Visually, emotionally, and dramatically spellbinding. When this movie reach the end; the end sequence is so dramatic and intense, what Nolan has picked for a climax to this film is breathtaking. As Cobb gets off the plane and into the place he's been banned is so thrilling, and when he see's his kids for the first time in many years is breathtaking. Nolan's idea of redemption is so poignant and is a perfect ending for this movie. Nolan has created such a complete movie experience that should be adored by film buffs. His vision is complete, creative and bold, hopefully he sticks around.

Unstoppable: One Crazy Ride. ***

Tony Scott has never been the most remarkable director. He's brought us the crowd pleasing yet confused Man on Fire, to the dreaded Domino, he hasn't really hit a home run yet. His movies are generally slick and fast paced with quick jarring camera movements, and fast zooms both in and out. With Unstoppable, he has found material that was made for him, and finally he has hit his home run.

Denzel Washington plays Frank, a train engineer/ conductor that has been with the company for twenty-eight years. Chris Pine plays Will, a young brute of a man that made a terrible mistake and is seeking redemption. Plenty of support comes from Rosario Dawson, Kevin Dunn and Kevin Corrigan. The cast is stellar and they do exactly what they are supposed to do. Washington and Pine are perfect together, their dialogue is quick and snappy and the actors play their characters so well as they are comfortable sharing the screen with each other. This relationship between Will and Frank is what makes this movie a joy, that and the quick, snappy and thrilling camera work.

This movie is no holds bar, it's an adrenaline shot about a huge train that can't be stopped. It never lets up, it doesn't even stop to get to know the characters, the star of the movie is this Unstoppable train not Will nor Frank. Scott knows this, his films have never been known for amazing character development, it's always about the story and how it pushes these characters to do extraordinary things. Unstoppable is perfect material for Scott, it doesn't slow down for characters, it makes the characters catch up to the plot and what is going on, here it works. This is all about the plot and the very thin theme it holds, everyone gets a second chance. In this movie you won't get a chance to slow down and reach for your popcorn, you won't get to breath until the credits roll. It's so fast, so intense and Mr. Scott's filming is absolutely perfect for this type of film, you will gasp and cover you're eyes in intensity no matter how crazy things get. It's a throwback to the films from the nineties like Diehard and Speed, just crazy adrenaline filled entertainment, period.

This movie is just a crazy thrill ride and does a great job creating suspense and intensity with an ending that's very crowd pleasing. Sure there is nothing deep or extraordinary here, but the story is good, acting is charming and the filming is fast and fueled with energy. If you want to forget the world and not think this movie is perfect. It's fast, suspenseful and so much fun to watch. No awards here, just a good time at the movies.

21: Nothing More than Slick. ***

In a world of high stakes risk always have to be made, but how about making illegal risks? 21, asks that very question as the premise is a nifty little story about some harvard-wannabe's that cheat at the tables to win loads of cash. Jim Sturgess plays Ben Campbell, a young man that want's so badly to go to harvard med. The only problem is that he need three hundred thousand dollars to afford tuition. During one of his classes his teacher (Kevin Spacey) notices that he is a genius and reels him into a little club. This club has four other students, one of them is a cute girl (Kate bosworth). This club is special, they count cards at tables in vegas and beat the system, they get rich very quickly. Ben is not wanting to join but he wants to go to harvard; so he needs the money but a moral lesson is to be learned here.

This movie is fast, slick, and the cast is perfect for what they need to be. Sturgess and Spacey play well together and Spacey of course brings his sly charm to a very sick character. It almost feels like that Spacey is here to mentor young actor Sturgess, as Spacey plays his character with spunk and energy. Sturgess isn't terrible good but he plays the character the way he's supposed to be; and he's also a very likeable actor so the girls will love him. That is what brings this movie down, a superficial sense of life. The film brings up really intense moral issues, stealing, lying, cheating and backstabbing the ones we love. Just because these issues are brought up doesn't mean the movie has tons of meaning. It never really deals with the issues, things happen, characters feel bad, and the movie rolls right along has fast as it can. It never stops to bring real life to it's characters and the only two characters that matter are Ben and his teacher. Kate Bosworth is there to bring eye candy and a superficial love affair that has no meaning. The three others in the club might as well shouldn't even exist, they are there simply because they have to. Ben's two other friends he ditches are barely in the mix as well. I wish the writer and director would try to bring more flesh to these bare bones characters as they are all so very interesting. Laurence Fishburne plays the vegas boss who is in charge of security and he's just awesome. He brings an awesome tough as nails character to the screen, I wish the movie was about him.

This movie could have been a whole lot better than it was, but it was wasn't bad either. Sure the acting is surface level (Except from Spacey and Sturgess), sure this could have been way cooler, but the movie was a fun watch. It's fun, fast paced, sexy and very slick. Watching these people in action as they beat the system and deal with the consequences is awesome. The one moral they do deal with in full force is retribution and a long life criminal getting his due, you may run but you can't hide from your personal demons. This movie could have gone two ways, it could have been an engrossing drama with many moral questions and answers, or it could have been a slick fun good time. It took the lesser way, and it was a good time, nothing more and nothing less.

The Fighter: A Triumph. ****

Only a few good movies come out during the course of the year and this movie is a gem to behold. A very special story is at the heart of this movie, a story about a broken family, a rough neighbourhood, and a dream of taking over the boxing world. David O. Russell has directed one of the most sensitive movie's I have ever seen and he doesn't take sides with any of the characters, he just shows us what their lives are all about.

At the center of the film is Mickey (Mark Wahlberg) ; a man that always had a dream of being a professional boxer and who held his older brother, Dickey (Christian Bale), up as an idol. Dickey used to a professional boxer and he fought sugar ray leonard and made the big man fall to the mat, he didn't win the fight, but he did knock Mr. Ray to the ground, this is why he's the pride of his town. Now he's a crack addict and very unhealthy, but he's making a comeback film so he can fight Mr. Ray Leonard again. This movie isn't about heroics or making epic comebacks from the dumps; this movie is about a broken family, two boys, a bunch of sisters and how they try to make their lives right. Mr. Wahlberg and Mr. Bale showcase their acting chops magnificently, finally Wahlberg has shown us that he really is a great actor and he deserves every award that is coming to him. He plays his character with such a gentle spirit and a crazy determination to do what is right for his family and his girl. He plays it perfectly and doesn't over do it, it's perfect. Christian Bale is absolutely brilliant, he plays with such tenacity, and his character is so believable that it's haunting to watch him in action, he is electric. These two carry the film beautifully as the director has the confidence just to put the camera in front of these two and watch them fly with their characters. The supporting roles are also amazing. Amy Adams sports her acting chops play Charlene, the tough as nails girl that works at the town bar, eventually she goes out with Mickey and teaches him how to stand up for himself. Adams goes from Julie and Julia to this hard town boston girl that would fight for her rights, literally. Awards are surely to be handed out to these three if not nominations.

This film is a roller coaster ride with a big heart; the emotions spread throughout this movie overflows the screen and will eventually win you're heart over. There are heartaches and troubles but also triumphs and defeats, a movie that truly cares about the human heart. David O Russell doesn't use big theatrics or crazy camera tricks; he just simply tells this amazing true story about a family and how they struggle to find a purpose to live, a story about addiction and how it ruins a life and a story about redemption because there is always a second chance no matter how old or young. This movie is a triumph of the human spirit filled with compassion and a showcase for wonderful acting. The Fighter shows us that a great story is all we need to be moved, and this movie will move you, it's impact full, wonderful, sensitive, troubling and simply great. This isn't a sport movie, it's a movie about life and all the trials within, but it's what we do when we face them that is the most important. Will you give in? give up? or will you run full face into them and fight them to the death? This is the true fighter in us.

The Book of Eli: Mr cool isn't enough **

The end of the world is a popular topic these days as religions predict it and people with faith believe in it. Some say the world will see a war, others say a cataclysmic weather pattern will torch the earth, and some think a viral attack will kill millions, but we are all fascinated with it. This year we've had plenty of films about the end of the world and most haven't made the cut. The Book of Eli, is a nice effort trying to bring us a new world and a hopeful message but it falls flat in many respects.

Denzel Washington as the lead in this movie is the smartest move The Hughes Brothers went with while looking on who to cast for the film, Mr. Washington is cool, collect and has plenty of charisma to share with the rest of his cast. He actually makes this movie watchable; every scene he's in has an energy and there are moments in this movie that are so cool. Watching Denzel dismantle a group of bad guys in such a cool fashion never gets old; there is one moment in the movie where he turns a gun on a shop owner after the owner threatens to shoot him, but stringing a bunch of cool parts together does not justify for the bland story line. Nothing really happens in this movie, the catastrophe doesn't ever get explained and Denzel just walks around this baron landscape as the audience continuously wonders what this movie is really about. We know there is a special book, which is easily predicted as the bible, and a whole lot of wandering that is never warranted.

There are moments in this film that could've have been really fascinating but the writer clearly skimped out and would rather try and make the movie roll from scene to scene rather than taking one idea and fleshing it out. The part: when Eli (Washington) falls upon a house and he walks in and meets an old couple. At first they seem nice, the old lady offers him tea, and the man makes easy small talk with him. Then things slowly turn ugly; this lovely old couple trap people and kill them so that they can eat their bodies and survive, they are cannibals, this is terrifying but as soon as suspense is created it all goes away when it turns and a shootout. Moments like these could have made the movie so terrifying and exhilarating but the writer and directors seemed to take the easy way out. The action scenes in the movie were cool but it wasn't anything new to the genre and there was only really two big fight scenes. In between the fighting and the pithy one liner dialogue is a really boring road story.

The movie rolls on and during the entire feature all I was wondering was, "where is this movie going", and it didn't go really far, it was cool at times, and Denzel Washington did the best job he could carrying this dead weight. He was cool, the action was the cool, the story was bland and the twist, well i'm not a huge fan of a movie made just for a cool twist. The ending of this movie is amazing and powerful, but it is a real shame the rest of the film wasn't as amazing as the ending was. This is truly a snore fest that really didn't have to be made. The ending makes this movie watchable as does Mr. Washington. The Hughes Brother tried their best trying to swing for home run with this film and they almost did; they brought vibrance and a cool look but the films pacing is dull and I really would never watch this one again, A nice try, but a bland story never helps.

The Road: Love Conquers All Evil. ****

11/10

Many films have tried to captivate our imagination by showing us a vast new world, Avatar was a huge success just because of the 3D and how we actually felt like we were living in this world, The Matrix was also a huge success because of the future that it took place in was so undeniably cool. These imaginings were cool and were attractive but the world imagined here in The Road is simply the polar opposite of these two films described. It's a bold and unique vision that will not be everyone's cup of tea, frankly I won't be watching this one multiple times, but this movie was incredible in more than one ways.

Let's start with the acting, Mr. VIggo Mortenson is one of the most compelling actors around, he picks rolls that most people would sneer at but he pulls them off with a subtle class and a whole lot of realism, in this film he plays the perfect everyman. He plays a father who has a small family but has lost his wife through and extraordinary event that has brought the world to it's knees. American has become a baron wasteland; it's grey, cold, foggy and the people you meet on the road generally attack you and take all of you're possessions along with you're dignity. He is forced out of his home when his wife commits suicide and raiders are coming to attack the house, he takes his son with him on a journey to nowhere. Viggo plays this role so confidently that his subtle breathing and movements show how this man of dignity has to do anything to keep his boy okay; sometimes that makes him the bad guy. As a later character states in the movie, "We have lost our humanity," this movie isn't a light one. The depressing imagery is the least dreary thing of the film, every time the heroes go into a house it's terrifying, every discovery has a dispiriting catch, and the raiders that eat and attack the innocent make The Road one of the most terrifying films of the year.

The only hope surrounding this movie is the love and compassion between father and son, "Do we still have the fire in us?", as the son asks his dad about this spirit of fire within them that keeps them going; the only hope in a hopeless and lawless world, a world without humanity. As disturbing and hopeless this movie is; this center is what the whole story and picture revolves around and it makes it all that more powerful. This story is so powerful, watching Viggo interact with his boy (Kodi-Smit Mcphee) is a joy and warms the heart as these characters are immersed in such a horrific world.

Raw power is what defines this movie, the set is absolutely breath taking, we don't have to imagine a world here but the filmmaker has taken us there which is a huge break through and it's a simple reminder that film can really do without 3D. This is a world that we don't want to see, a baron wasteland, with canballistic clans that feed on the innocent, and no hope in sight of rescue or a better life, but as an old man says "Now that I've seen you're boy, I've seen God's angel, his gift to man, he is our hope," These words are so powerful, this movie is a triumph, it's bold, unique and compelling and tells a story most people would be scared to tell.

This Is It: A Legendary Tribute for a Legend. ****

I am a huge fan of Michael Jackson. His status is iconic, his music is catchy, his talent is awe inspiring, he is the king of pop and getting a chance to see a glimpse of what he had planned for his very last tour is an amazing privilege. Any fan of music, any fan of music dvd's, any fan of michael, should watch this movie at least once because this film shows the man that loved the stage. It doesn't show that weird Michael that media exploited; it shows the raw talent that made him a star, it shows his loving heart, and it shows a man who loves music and this world.

The premise of This Is It simple; these are the last dress rehearsals of Mr. Jackson's last concert he was planning on putting on for the world. It features all of the songs that were planned to be shown; it shows CG models of the stage and what was going to happen on stage, it shows mini-music videos that were shot and that was going to be shown while he was dancing and singing on stage. We get to see the almost-full scope of the greatest concert that a man could possibly put on for the world; and my goodness, it left me in awe. The mini-music videos were incredible and artistic, the pyrotechnics were awesome, the dancing was legendary, and Michael's breathtaking talent for music and singing is just so real and raw in this footage. This is Michael behind closed doors.

This is also a very sad movie because we know that just days after this was done shooting he would soon pass away; but as the movie professes, his love lives on. This is a very special movie, as an MJ fan, I was blown away, singing along to some of my favorite songs and just letting my jaw hit the floor time after time because of the set production and the incredible dance sequences. My favorite part though had to be Michael and a girl (nameless) singing a duet and at the end of the song Michael and her keep singing and his voice is extraordinary. These little moments show a Michael that's human and real; it also shows the very love he has for people and especially for music. Yes he lead a sad life, but he achieved remarkable heights on the stage and creating some of the greatest music my ears have ever heard, this is a remarkable movie. EVERY music fan should watch this movie.

R.I.P. Michael, Thanks for blessing the world with your music, God Bless.

The Lovely Bones: The Human Spirit is Very Strong. ****

Peter Jackson is one of the most celebrated film makers of our time making such movies as, Lord of the Rings, King Kong, and has produced one of the best sci-fi movies of this time, District 9, and with his latest outing he has changed his scope quite a bit. He goes from epic battles between the evils and goods of middle earth to an emotional story about a family losing a child and how the child and the family move past it. Just because his scope has just been shrunk down significantly doesn't mean this movie is any less significant or a poorly made movie; in fact this is Jackson's strongest movie as a director and his most important film.

This story is truly heartbreaking and very hard to watch, especially if you are a parent, so the sensitivity of this film was very important. The story begins with the introduction to the main character; Susie Salmon, she has a warming and calm voice and she begins the film with a lovely introduction. We see her life, meet her family, meet the boy of her dreams, and meet her neighbor, Mr. Harvey. Then we see Susie getting coaxed into getting into an underground shed that Mr. Harvey built and we see how much of a creep Mr. Harvey is as he takes advantage of the young girl and he eventually kills her, okay this sounds more brutal than it is because you actually don't see her being killed or anything, Jackson keeps that a mystery. This story is fantastic because it's about how Susie's life was stolen from her but she still gets the fullest out of it as her spirit lives in a world in between heaven and earth and she looks back into her life and her spirit is felt by the ones she loves. This story is really not about her death; it's about the celebration of her life, it's about how a family overcomes tragedy, and it's about how a human can't take away someone's spirit, it's a beautiful story.

Jackson takes this little story and amplifies everything; this movie is so powerful as he successfully conveys beautiful emotion out of his actors and he uses the effects so brilliantly. My favorite scene is when Susie`s father, (Mark Whalberg) , is helping Mr. Harvey (Stanley Tucci) build some sort of trap and he senses Susie's presence. This scene is so patient and so sensitive we see Mark grab a dead flower and Susie breathes onto it and it becomes alive and beautiful, then mark is teary eyed as he looks at Mr. Harvey and he knows something about this man is wrong, he knows that he killed his daughter. This was such a beautiful scene and pure, visual poetry, this is why films are made.

Jackson's Netherworld was beautiful and creative as well; the effects he used were beautiful and artistic and just really breathed a visual grandeur into the film. Susie, played brilliantly by Saoirse Ronan, carries the movie so wonderfully and every time this young actress speaks there is such a sensitivity in her voice, she is a wonderful actress and a warm and bright center of a heartbreaking story.

Overall, The Lovely Bones, is a little story about a big life and how it was stolen away by a very sick man. The camera work of this film creates some riveting suspense, beautiful moments, and moments of pure inspiration and sensitivity. Jackson uses his effects to create a world and bring emotion and life out of the characters and story; and he uses his actors to make sense at the effects. The acting is done very well by a different cast as Ronan shines and Tucci creeps wonderfully; yes this is a story about a man killing a child but it's also about how that child changed the lives of everyone she loved even after death, it's not about revenge, it's about moving on and always remembering the lovely Susie Salmon. As the movie ends we hear the lovely voice of Susie saying this, "This is the story of my life and I wish you a long, happy and prosperous life", this is the very heart of The Lovely Bones, this is a must see.

Most Anticipated Movie of 2010.

Well there's a good line up this year for movies, there is everything from action, to romance, to sci-fi, to animated and it's all looking pretty good. Here's the list of the most anticipated.

5. Iron man 2 - Robert Downey Jr., Mickey Rourke

4. The Green Hornet - Seth Rogen

3.The Last Airbender - M. Night Shyamalan (Director)

2. Robin Hood - Russel Crowe, Cate Blanchette, Ridley Scott (Director)

but the most anticipated film for me has to be the reboot of a disney classic done by Tim Burton: Alice in Wonderland. I'm the most excited for this film simply because I loved the original and I've always said that the only man that could pull this movie off is Tim Burton and they listened. Best part about it is that this film is coming out on my birthday; thanks Tim for giving me an awesome birthday gift. This film is starring, Johnny Depp, Anne Hathaway and Helena Bonham Carter.

Runner Up: Toy Story 3.

Fantastic Mr. Fox: Truly Fantastic. ****

Wes Anderson isn't my favourite director but once in a while I do believe that anyone who makes a film has a shot at greatness at each one he attempts and Mr. Anderson has hit the mark (finally) with his latest entry, Fantastic Mr. Fox. This is truly a remarkable film and a sight to see, Anderson's stop motion is so different and fun to watch that this is truly an art and the set peices are ground breaking, this is an awesome film.

The story is pretty simple and something to behold; it opens with the two main foxes falling in love as Mr. Fox loves stealing things and his partner gets upset at him especially when they get stuck in a fox trap, but when the trap springs Mr. Fox looks at his wife and she says, I'm pregrant, talk about timing! So they escape and thus begins the ambitions of Mr. Fox as he wishes they could live in a nice tree because that would make him feel rich. When they finally move in, Badger, warns them that this neighbourhood is not the safest because the three most notorious farmers live across the river. Then Fox starts stealing things again from the farmers and his possum sidekick, Kylie, joins him and this partnership is something special.

This film has some of the greatest comedic timing I've seen in a film, now this film was meant for kids, but it really isn't a kids movie. The humour is adult humour about things kids wouldn't understand and kids would be simply bored, but adults could take great delight in this film. There are jokes about marriage, bullies, ambition, existentialism, and popular girls at school and they even poke fun at swearing in films. Instead of swearing these loveable characters say "cuss", yes that's they say "cuss" in place of a swear word, it's absolutely hilarious. Anderson's off beat timing makes this comedy fresh and very funny. When the characters murmur things under their breath or Kylie's super high voice always makes things a treat to listen too.

The animation in this movie is something to behold; yes it's stop motion but it's Anderson adds his touch and makes things fresh as the environments are beautiful and a character in it's self. If you don't like the humour then you'll like the way this film looks.

Overall this movie something special, Anderson has hit the mark finally, making a movie that's so loveable and wielding a cast that is full of raw talent, he has finally made a masterpiece. I don't think there's one thing in this movie that I disliked other than the fact that it was too short. All I have left to say, get the cuss of your cussing cuss and go and watch this cussin' movie!!! Cuss.

Time to Get Interactive!

Hey people!

so I really want to start reviewing more movies but I don't really know what to review so that's where you come in!! please comment on this page or my facebook page and let me know what movies you would like me to review, I'll review ANY movie. so please comment!!

Sherlock Holmes: Holmes Sweet Holmes. ***

I remember very clearly seeing the first preview for Sherlock Holmes at the beginning of the year; it was an amazing trailer and the fact that Guy Ritchie and Robert Downey Jr. were working together made me very excited. Ritchie's last two entries weren't his strongest but as this film panned out, he's returned to better form with his latest enstallment, Sherlock Holmes.

This film begins with such a stunning energy and this doesn't surprise me because Ritchie's caper films (Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, Snatch) boast some very high energy antics and the director has revived Mr. Holmes with this energy. This high energy makes this a very fast moving film and at times this is hard to follow. The dialogue is full of wit and fun but sometimes the audience really has to sit and listen to know what exactly is going on and why; Ritchie has a hard time controlling this energy in this movie so some things may be lost in translation. There is good that comes out of this though; this makes this detective story fun and fast, with plenty of action to spare, and many more laughs along the way and the two leads are something to marvel at.

Robert Downey Jr. has a brilliant turn as Mr. Holmes in this film; he has such an uncanny wit and nailed down the whole antisocial attitude that Sherlock has always possessed, plus he's a blast to watch. His humour is fully utilized here and Jude Law only compliments this as Sherlock's counterpart, Watson. These two are so much fun together and both actors have brought new life into the franchise. Rachel Mcadams is always a treat and she does a good enough supporting role in this film even though her character gets stuffed under the shadow of the two leads almost every time she's in the movie. Downey Jr. has also brought a rough and toughness to Holmes as he's featured fighting in the film many times and when there's fighting it's very cool in this movie. Ritchie utilizes high speed camera many times in this film to catch the slow mo punches and excitement; this makes for gritty and exciting entertainment. Mark Strong as Lord Blackwood was decent enough; I felt that the director could've gone a little more into this awesome Holmes villian but he seemed like a mere puppet in this movie but he was done well enough to make a decent villian.

Overall this movie is a fun, upbeat, high energy, and also very dark turn by Guy Ritchie. Finally Sherlock Holmes isn't a fun kids story but it's a dark and mysterious franchise that has been breathed new life into. Downey Jr's. character was stellar and fun to watch and Jude Law did a fantastic job as well bringing two of the most beloved characters back to life. Lord Blackwood could've been more thought out and Ritchie could've layed the story out a bit clearer but what we get is a fun, cool, classy, mystery story made for pure entertainment and yes it was entertaining, but if you're looking for something a little more than fluff and fun then you might be disappointed. All I can say is, Holmes sweet Holmes, it's good to have him back.

Avatar: A beautiful Vision ****

This year was pretty decent for movies, once again we've had some masterpieces and we've had some heaps of crap but James Cameron wanted to end the year off with a massive entry into the film industry. It took him fifteen years to make this movie, as he had to invent the technology possible to make a movie like this and he'd promised some big things in the last couple of months. Now this film was hyped up pretty good and Cameron is good at hyping things up and he was just coming off of the biggest film ever made (Titanic) so how did this one measure up? Well let me say this film is something different and is a new kind of film that took me by surprise.

Avatar has a simple core story that is easy to follow, the story is the most lacking part of this film, it's so simple but at the same time Cameron manages to involve us emotionally so that we care what happens. He is a master of emotion and bringing emotion out of his characters and actors and here he does just that; this movie is filled with life and emotion, there are times where it's heartbreaking and gut wrenching but then there are times where you want to stand up and fight with these aliens because it's so epic in scale. Cameron approaches storytelling in a totally different way here though, he doesn't use dialogue to drive the story, but he uses his effects and the world he's created to tell the story and the 3-D element helps drive the story too. We have a classic story of humans expanding and endangering the Navi, and we have a classic villian who's just always badass, and we have a conflict that builds and builds until the exciting conclusion.

This movie is absolutly stunning; I've never seen special effects like this, the 3-D just immerses the viewer into this world, you feel apart of this world as you watch it, and this movie is pure imagination. Watching this film is like watching a moving piece of artwork, it's such a beautiful motion picture, frankly this movie could've had no story at all and crappy actors and I still would've watched it just because of it's beautiful colors, creatures, and environments. There are so many colors to wonder at, so many creatures to marvel at and the landscapes are truly breathtaking, there were times when my jaw hit the floor just because what I was watching was marvelous. The last 40 minutes features a massive fight between the humans and the Navi and this fight was amazing, breathtaking, and thrilling cinema, Cameron has delivered on multiple scales.

The acting was great, Sam Worthington was an excellent lead and the supporting actors were awesome as well, sci-fi great Sigourney Weaver was in this as well as some others and they all complimented each other greatly. Cameron used video logs to drive Worthington's character and I thought this trick worked great, it's something new, and it did drive the movie very nicely, the plot was predictable and the character's could've been a bit more dynamic, but they were easy to get attached to emotionally which is one of Cameron's big successes as a director. This movie had stellar action as well, the special effects are the best I've ever seen, and the fights were just huge, epic and breathtaking, everything you could ask for in a movie.

Overall this movie is extraordinary; it's huge and scale and exactly what we were waiting for and expecting from James Cameron. Sure the plot could be a bit better and the characters could be a bit better but this movie is a masterpiece in terms of technicality. The special effects were jaw dropping, the characters were beautiful, the environments were breathtaking, and the action was just awesome. Finally, Cameron has used his full imagination and we get to see it in action and it's beautiful, this movie is so captivating and fun to watch, this movie is a piece of art and a truly realized vision, it's a beautiful vision. What a great way to end the year.

The Twilight Saga: New Moon : Yawn...**

The Twilight Saga: New Moon has reached new popularity and has broken box office records (well the unimportant ones anyways) and has taken it's young stars to new levels but it comes in a package that is an improvement on the first movie but it still gets bogged down with it's major flaws which makes it a totally unmemorable movie.

Director Chris Weitz came on board the twilight train after the horrendous first movie was a sham in the view of the studios but people still loved it. The studio fired the first filmaker and hired a new one that has a great history in film; he's directed some classics like About a boy, The Golden Compass, just to name a couple, so I actually had high hopes for this one. The story with this film was way better than the first one; we have a firey love triangle and and emotional Bella as she contemplates losing her life because her beloved Edward left her and we also get to meet some nasty vampires (finally). It also takes us to new locations other than dumpy Forks, we go to Italy and see the lovely sun, and even spend a little time cliff jumping too. This movie was obviously visually more appealing than the first outing.

The special effects were one of the biggest improvements in this movie. The First Twilight the special effects were horrendous and laughable; it was like watching a really bad soap opera, that's how horrible the action and effects were but what we get here is much different. New Moon boasts some slick directing and awesome action and the special effects are beautiful, I could watch Jacob transform into a werewolf all day, it is noticable that the special effects were apart of the directors mind this time around. There wasn't enough action though, there is a sequence where Jacob is fighting his brother werewolfs and it begins but Bella runs off and we follow Bella and never see the end of the fight. I thought this was a little stupid but it's a very minor complaint. Overall this movie boasts some impressive effects and action.

The direction and plot of this film were very good, well as good as you can do with a story like Twilight, it was noticable that there actually was a skilled director behind the camera, the action was slick and thrilling, the vampires were a little darker and scarier, and some of the scenic shots in this film are beautiful. One of my favourite parts was a time lapse shot of Bella sitting in her room, as she sat the camera panned around her and when it reached the window there was a different season everytime, stuff like this really surprised me but the direction was a little sloppy in areas, there was stuff happening that I didn't know about and it just felt like a mess, I guess I have to read the book.

One thing that didn't improve and that killed this movie was the acting; it was horrible, Robert Pattinson had the weirdest expressions and was stumbling over his lines everytime, I couldn't even hear him sometimes, it was horrible. Kristen Stewart was actually worse than him though, she looked constipated throughout the film, she was mumbling her lines, she had no reaction to anything what-so-ever and I just didn't care about her mopy annoying character or lack of character. She was brutal. These two cannot lead a film, I'm sorry, but this film died and lost steam everytime these two shared the screen, there were times when they were having dialogue and I tuned out because I was embarrassed for them and I just didn't care about either of them because these two were brutal. Once again, no chemistry at all, this is not a romantic film at all and it feels like I'm watching an arranged marriage. The supporting roles were a nice surprise though, Taylor Lautner was a nice surprise, he played a dumb character but he had the fire and ferocity of it and he can actually act, there could be a nice future for him in film. Dakota Fanning was an awesome vampire (probably the best in the film), she was so creepy and awesome, and Michael Sheen as the head vampire was awesome, these people were a nice surprise in this film.

Overall, this movie wasn't horrible, the directing was decent, the action was thrilling, the special effects were awesome, but the acting just killed this movie for me and there were times when the direction was sloppy and things seemed everywhere, and for a romance this movie sucked simply because there wasn't any chemistry between the leads simply because they cannot act if their life depended on it. This movie just proves that if you're good looking people don't care how quality you are or if you're good at what you're supposed to be at, Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart are nice looking therefore the world sees them as good actors. They aren't and it's a shame that they play these roles because without them, The Twilight Saga could've been a lot better. Oh well. I won't see this one again. Next...

2012: Fun Junk **

When director Roland Emmerich first read about the mayan's stopping their calendar in the year of 2012 I could imagine that it was like christmas for him; predictions of the world ending in this year have just risen and what an excellent way to make the grandest of all disaster movies. Roland Emmerich has a knack for blowing the world up but not a knack for film making and it really doesn't get any better with this picture but there are a few surprises in 2012 that made it a bit of a fun experience.

This movie cannot be taken seriously; when you have Danny Glover playing the president and Woody Harrelson playing a crazy bush wacker that can't wait for the world to blow, you know this is a special movie. There is a sense of the director making this movie so utterly ridiculous just to have fun and this makes this movie fun, even the director didn't take this seriously, well I hope he didn't. This story is just ridiculous, it's laughable crap, but it's a ton of fun. The special effects are awesome and the sequence when John Cusack is driving his limo through a falling building is just awesome; the action in this film is sweet, I recommend seeing this movie in the theatre otherwise it could be lame.

This movie proves that there are only two good actors on staff in this cast, John Cusack and Woody Harrelson, and this movie also proves that Amanda Peet cannot act if her life depended on it. The acting is stereotypical and static; these characters are just there so the special effects can be showcased. These special effects are wonderful; it's big, loud and epic as this movie shows that the earth can look good when destroying itself.

Overall this movie isn't the greatest tool in the shed; it's like that really annoying kid that shows up to the party but everyone likes him around because he constantly makes a fool out of himself. This is what 2012 is; it's annoying, dumb, loud and obnoxious but what makes it fun is that it embraces all of these attributes and runs with it to the fullest degree, plus the special effects are awesome. Don't expect much from this junk pile.

I Love You Man. How could you not fall in love? ****

Well I've been waiting to see this movie for a very long time and I had the pleasure of finally watching it the other day. I was excited for this one simply because of the leads that were in it; we have Paul Rudd who has played some great roles alongside the Judd Apatow vehicle and the same is with Jason Segel so I went into this movie hoping for greatness.

The Premise is so simple, sweet, and simple. We engage with two characters who have fallen in love and Peter has just proposed to his girlfriend, now the marriage isn't the problem in this movie but the problem is that Peter doesn't have any guy friends, therefore he will be without a best man on his wedding day. See Peter's character is so hilarious and Paul Rudd plays him absolutely perfectly, everything he said was hilarious, his little quirks were fantastic, if this movie didn't have a plot I could just sit there and watch this character live out his life, it's because of Rudd that this movie truly succeeds.

This movie is riddled with cliches that you're typical rom com would have but it's done in fresh ways that makes this an enjoyable flick. Segel's character is another purely opposite yet funny twist in this movie, when he's introduced there is a sign of fresh air, something new to laugh at and when these two ridiculous characters get together who knows whats going to happen? lets just say the fiance doesn't stand a chance.

Overall this movie is purely enjoyable fluff, lets chill with the dudes, or with your girl and have a great time at the movies, this is that movie. Yes there's a little bit of raunch in it but just enough to satisfy that type of movie goer, I call this the water downed version of a Knocked up or 40 year old virgin, but the performances make it a charming little flick, this is simply a good time.

I Am Legend: A bit of an overstatement. ***

A movie about a man living by himself in a monster infested city is nothing new these days; we've been blessed wth 28 days later and 28 weeks later and a number of T.V. shows to boot that hold this same notion, but that doesn`t damage the hype that was set around this flick. The first trailer for this film featuring a scared Will Smith walking into a dark room and having creatures running in the dark is bound to stir up some hype but the marketing fell through when they showed the monsters a bit too early and it leaked all over the internet, but oh well, lets get to the movie.

This movie opens brilliantly; there is no music at the beginning just some talking, actually a news program and as the opening titles roll through we finally get to an interview. A woman is being interviewed and it's amazing because it shows that a doctor has cured cancer. It's a triumphant moment that's tenderly acted and brilliantly conceived, it's so powerful that it will give you shivers, then the screen goes black and we are introduced to something very different. We see New York, three years later, no one is there and it's way too quiet, then we see Will driving a mustang through the empty streets. This part is so eerie and the special effects are really quite amazing; this part is so haunting that it builds a creepy edge to this movie. We finally tag along for the ride as Robert Neville searches for a cure. The suspense in the first half of the movie is phenomenal as it builds up so nicely and the eerie quiet gets creepier and creepier. The flashback system works well too here as the director is hinting a something that's very dangerous and looming, he has a surprise for us. The filming is uncanny and fresh but what's even greater is the acting of Will Smith. Will Smith does an amazing job at finding a character and reacting to his surroundings and he's so fun to watch. This movie is really a showcase for his great acting ability and if an actor can make a man talking to a mannequin seem emotionally empowering, then, he is a good actor. Simply brilliant. Once the monsters get introduced is when this movie becomes crippled and the director loses steam.

The beginning is amazingly suspenseful and builds up to what should be a rousing movie that will stand the test of time but when the monsters get introduced is when the movie simply falls short of movie greatness. First of all the monsters are not monsters; they are infected humans and they are done with CG, yes CG, not actors who are in make up but CG and if you don't know what that is it's computer generated effects. This CG wasn't great either at times these monsters really aren't all that convincing making the beginning look like a gimmick. There were great moments of intensity and suspense; walking through a dark building flashing a light in different places making every moment jumpy, this scene was brilliant or even when Neville gets tangled in a trap makes for a great run and gun scene. This movie loses steam in the middle as new characters are introduced and the monsters just become more and more irrelevant. The ending to this film is passable and predictable and borderline cheese-ball but it works and makes sense for the movie but you can tell a studio made it.

Overall, this movie wasn't horrible the beginning was amazing and ingenious but the director gets muffled has we hit the middle of the movie and he loses that vibrancy that was in the first half. This movie is the best acted movie by the star actor and a reason why any movie lover should watch this flick. The ending also contains the biggest cliches and dumbest allusions that are stolen from The Matrix and any originality that was found in the first half of this movie was lost by the end. Although the ending was predictable it was pretty epic and profound and it worked with the movie making this movie a good, solid watch. The monsters could've been better but the skilled filmmaking made for some pretty creepy and intense moments. This is a package that doesn't fully work as a whole but it has moments and parts that shine so brightly and that made this not a wasted watch. This movie is good, not amazing, and a bit of an overstatement but it works.

Invasion of the Body Snatchers: Pure, creepy, classic sci-fi. ****

This remake of the 1956 original scared a lot of people at first because it was treading into a territory that easily could've made this movie something less than the original, but, this movie simply is better and an extraordinary addition to the sci-fi genre.

This classic theme that hasn't aged what-so-ever is a great idea and leaping point for this movie, this is a commentary on how we live our lives, and how media dictates our lives so that we lose our individuality. The story is simple, we meet some scientists and health department investigators who discover some strange happenings going on in the city of san francisco. They then have to survive these biological attacks brought on from outer space through weird plants or pods. Basically these main characters try to avoid these parasitic attack and what we get is a very smart but very entertaining piece of film that is chilling right to the bone.

This film pays tribute to that old style of film noir as each frame captures a particular classic moment in film history, we have hitchcockian moments, cameos from the story's creators, an ageless Leonard Nemoy and simple yet effective camera movements. We have sequences with incredible shadow effects and running sequences that are as thrilling as a high speed car chase and even some of the city walks will make you're head spin and make you believe in the paranoia that this movie emplies. The acting is top notch too featuring a rather young Donald Sutherland and a more chill, sympathetic Leonard Nimoy that is a joy to watch during this flick, until the end that is. The story of this movie is very plausible too as the aliens represent something more than extra terrestials; like I said earlier this movie is a direct comment on how we need to keep our individuality otherwise our world will turn into a creepy sensational world that is rather dull and scary.

Overall, this is a classic film that has made it's mark and is still continuing to make it's mark in the lives of viewers old and new. It's a creepy revelation and comment on our lives but it never ceases to entertain or even show us some heart. The characters are believable and well conceived, and the sound design and visual design makes this movie all the more creepy. This sci-fi flick has stood the test of time and will for a very long time simply because it's a poignant film that scares us with very simple ways that can affect anyone and are not dated. This is a classic film noir and every movie lover should have this in their library. Movies aren't made like this anymore, it's a shame.

Kill Bill vol 2: Speechless is what I am. ****

We've seen the glorious first entry to this sprawling two part epic and I have to say it was very entertaining but I didn't know what to expect with the new entry from Quentin Tarantino.

The movie begins in a brilliant manner giving The bride the honor of letting us know what has happened in the first movie and this is one of the most brilliant monologues I've ever seen on film. It's shot in a black and white film noir style and is a fitting tribute to everything Tarantino grew up on and loves. Then we get into the movie after an epic beginning that promises a new type of film and not everyone was expecting that. The movie carries on with the last remaining members of the Deadly Viper Assasination Squad and quest to kill them all just for sweet revenge but this movie is so very different than it's predecessor. This movie doesn't have flashy action or gory anime sequences or a group of crazy 88's either but it has something different and something that makes this movie soar above it's predecessor. This movie slows down and moves the action out of the way and replaces that void with heart and emotion, for the first time we see The Bride get emotional and start to waiver on her path, we see a motherly side to her and this inspires a connection from the audience to the bride, Tarantino is breaking new ground here. This is the first time in any of his films that an emotional connection has been established and he threatens to sacrifice his style for this connection, but his style still remains in full force here and this has evolved his film making.

We still get homage to all of Tarantino's favourite things in this film, everything from the classic villian "Pai Mei" to his fetish for comics, to his love for B-movies everything is in full scale in this flick and once again it's weaved together so brilliantly. This movie is more dialogue ridden than the first one but the pay off from this film is all the more worth it. Tarantino has started his series with a bang and a statement and he kills is vicious villian off with a simple pound on the chest. The most climatic part of this film isn't when Bill fights The Bride but it's when the Bride finally see's her daughter and has a conversation with her arch enemy Bill. This is totally ironic and yet brilliant on the director's part as he's weaved a sprawling epic, Tarantino style.

Overall, this movie rises above the predecessor simply because it delivers a different kick, an emotional one, it's a matured adaptation of the revenge policy that the first one established and he does it in such flair and style, a different style, but in style nonetheless. This movie is so so good, the direction is controlled, and the pace is not as fast as the first but it pays more attention to the heart of the characters. These are violent and vile characters but we can sympthasize with them in this movie and this only because of the writing and directing of the film. Even if you don't connect you can pay attention to the incredible style that this film has and marvel at it's brilliance. This is an amazing piece of film and appreciating it is an understatement, Speechless is what I am, I am Speechless.

Black Hawk Down: War is hell ***

War movies have become a huge part of North American culture and many filmakers, actors and producers have jumped onto this bandwagon to reap the benefits and of course the fans love them too. America has been accused of loving these war movies a little too much making every single movie about war successful at the box office. Some of these films have prevailed as excellent movies but some have just floundered in the midst of junk film making but Black Hawk Down is a surprisingly awesome movie that criticizes war but also pays tribute to America's hero's and yet it never glorifies the violence.

Well first and foremost, you know that whatever Ridley Scott directs is going to be special, the man behind some of the most classic films in the history of hollywood was sent to direct this war epic and that was a very interesting choice. This film is the most graphic war flick since Saving Private Ryan and filled to the top with sprawling action from start to finish. This film starts with the audience meeting a group of American soldiers and we see how they live in the country of Somalia as they try to capture an infamous warlord that has caused the country extreme famine and yes of course this is all based on actual events. The direction of this movie is simple and straightforward, we meet the soldiers, get to know them a little bit, then they fight for their lives, but it's the way we connect with the soldiers and the reality of their situation that makes this movie hit home.

Scott uses his huge ensemble cast to his advantage giving them all unique characters that share the same passion for war and some even have a bigger passion to help this poor country from killing itself. This cast is lead by Srg. Everson (Josh Hartnett) and Josh barely pulls through this one; he acts the most stereotypical way he can but it works and he squeezes out a little bit of emotion at the end that makes his performance passible. As actors go, he's the weakest link in this film, and the movie as a whole is everything but passable. This film takes a little mission and little situation and reaches for the stars and what we get is a rather gruesome and intense depiction of war that pays tribute to those men that lost their lives that day.

The action is stellar, it's gritty, sometimes repulsive and it's electric as bullets whiz around the screen and explosions are numerous. There is a build up to the start of the mission, this build up is rather intense and sweeping shots of the black hawks makes Michael Bay's films look rather lame. When the action hits the screen its awesome and rough around the edges; you're not going to get glossy Bayish crap here, what you get is rough, brutal, war that is rather intense and emotional.

Overall, this movie isn't a sprawling epic like some other war flicks but it achieves what it has strived for bringing brutal and awesome action to the screen and we can sympthasize with these characters as well. The only downside to this movie was giving Josh Hartnett the leading role, maybe getting Ewan the main role would've been a little smarter but Hartnett gives a passable performance. Well Black Hawk Down is a war movie that rises above the crowd because of it`s tribute to war veterans and it`s interesting look at how war never really changes, yeah maybe weapons and commands change, but the art of war has never changed just like Plato said "only the dead have seen the end of war". War is hell.

Kill Bill vol 1.: A bloody good show. ****

Quentin Tarantino has a knack for making a lot of people angry with his films because of the violence, suggestive dialogue, and criminal or juvenile things his characters do. Well, he isn't stopping with this one, Kill Bill is probably one of the most stylish films I have ever seen and yes one of the most violent ones too but once again Tarantino has created a world that is superbly crafted and very entertaining, Kill Bill is his fourth film and it's a worthy entry into his forray of movies.

Well the title of this movie says it all; Thurman's character, The Bride, get's killed at her wedding but one thing hinders that from being a possibility, she isn't dead. She's actually very much alive and very angry because her daughter is dead so she's going to seek revenge on the people who did this. Now this plot is super thin and not all that eventful but what makes this movie soar is the style it's done in, Tarantino is making a tribute to all of those kung fu classics that he absolutely loves, and yes he does it in Tarantino style. We get a plot line that's scewered, funny and witty dialogue, and a whole lot of cool kung fu. This movie doesn't slow down for plot development or even character development it's just straight up a cool ride. I think this director is one of the only directors that could get away with making a movie that doesn't develop; this movie is just too much fun.

Tarantino films in a couple of styles throughout this movie, we see an anime sequence that's about twenty minutes long that tells the story of O-ren Ishii (Lucy Lui) and yes it's ultraviolent as well, there's the classic villian just like in the old movies where we never see Bill's face, we hear his voice, see his sword but never see his face. There's the whole film noir piece where The bride is in the hospital and Elle Driver (Darryl Hannah) comes walking down the hallway whistling a really creepy song; we then get a split screen view of the reason why she's at the hospital, simply brilliant. Then we have the epic samurai sequence where we learn how important these swords are in Tarantino's world and then we get to see why they are so important in a classic kung fu ending, Tarantino style. Now when I say Tarantino style I mean this; this sword rips through eighty-eighty bodyguards and we see every bit of it but when the sword cuts someone the blood sprays out like a supersoaker spraying everything in sight. This last sequence is ultraviolent and a brilliant tribute to everything the director loves.

Overall this movie won't change you're life but it's such a fun ride filled with incredible style. We get a classic revenge flick that quotes klingon proverbs and has blood spraying across the screen. At the center of it we have a man who has grown up on kung fu movies and finally has made a tribute to all of them. We get a bloody good show, Tarantino style, with funny dialogue, cool characters and some very deranged characters as well. This movie is a blast for many different reasons and you will be thoroughly entertained. Now if only we could see the second half...

Inglorious Basterds: Cinema doesn't stand a chance. ****

In the month of november of 2008, a good friend sent me a trailer to watch containing a moustached Brad Pitt and of course my favorite director Quentin Tarantino at the helm, let's just say it was an early christmas present. Now it's finally here; I wasn't getting to excited, just in case it wasn't living up to expectations but what I got was something special, something more. Remember that little movie, I think it was called Pulp Fiction? Yeah well Quentin basically redefined cinema and pop culture with that hit and quite frankly, he has done it again. Wait a second, okay, I'm not comparing this new flick with that old one, I'm saying that this one is a new breed, something that this world of cinema hasn't seen yet, Tarantino has done it again.

This movie begins so brilliantly, it's unbelievable, we open to a lovely countryside and we meet a lovely family and the evil Nazi regime shows up; but you would think there would be guns a blazing right away right? Remember Tarantino has written and directed this so instead of having a showdown with their guns they have a showdown with some good ol' suspense and brilliant dialogue. This scene has the most incredible suspense and build up as we sit in on this conversation and we get some french, some german, and some english being spoken in this scene, it's a brilliant opening for a very brilliant film. We meet an evil general; that will soon see the wrath of the Bast*rds, yes the bast*rds, the 12 famous, angry, jewish, Nazi killing machines that only exist for one reason, killing Nazis. Brad Pitt plays the leader of this crazy clan and he only wants one thing, Nazi scalps, and "he wants his scalps." This clan is crazy and very violent; yes there is a scene where Eli Roth bashes a general's head in over and over and over again, like I said the casting was perfect.

Tarantino's play on language and dialogue is so perfect and at times satiracle; there are moments when subtitles don't match dialogue and times when we have no idea what anyone is saying and times when the characters refer to famous cinema as historical events. The director's love for cinema is at the very center of this movie as the characters use a movie premiere to kill the Fuhr, sorry, Hitler and there are many references to european film and even Tarantino's own films. Now this movie contains elements of every Tarantino movie known to man, we see classic fonts from Pulp Fiction, music from Kill Bill, random cameo's and cop references to Resevoir Dogs, and yes there is a moment for Sam Jackson to give a pleasant narration, but it is brief. This movie contains everything the director loves and he weaves it all in a very entertaining package. This movie is so charming and funny and it is also terribly violently and gleefully cavalier. I could tell as Tarantino wrote this he had a giant smirk on his face.

Well this movie is something new; it comments on a war that was brutal and violent and mocks a leader who loved himself, it also shows Tarantino's hatred for germans and pays tribute to all of cinema no matter what country it's from. The writing is uncanny and full of pop references that people can laugh at and the dialogue is witty and full of life and there is so much to listen to. Tarantino also weaves brilliant suspense throughout the film and rewards us with brutal and gleeful violence and you can really tell that this film is close to his heart. As Aldo Raine puts it at the end after carving the Nazi symbol into a general's head: "I think this is my masterpiece." Yes Quentin, I have to agree, thank you.

District 9: Finally...****

Usually the summer is the best time for movies; these couple of months are known as the blockbuster months as movies that excite us and make us love movies generally hit the screen. This summer has been the most disappointing summer for movies in a very long time; the best movie so far has been Star Trek and that came out before the summer. I remember seeing a little trailer about this movie and being for excited especially after seeing the junk that has hit screens so far this summer; but I didn't want to get my hopes up, finally a summer worthy blockbuster has found it's way into our theatres and boy is it ever wonderful.

As this movie opens we get introduced to the world of District 9 and we see a man that is so excited to get promoted to the ranking officer in charge of the clean up of the alien district. We see aliens like we've never seen them before; coexisting with humans on earth. We get introduced to offensive alien terms, humanitarian rights regarding the aliens, and why the aliens are here. This sets the stage for something that is very special and very original. The rest I cannot tell you; you'll have to go and see it for yourself but I can tell you this, it'll blow you away and you will be pleasantly surprised. This movie has heart, action, originality, and is filled with emotion as we see into the lives of humanity and aliens as well. This is a true science fiction masterpiece that weilds violence and action together. This movie is rated 18A for a reason; humans explode, aliens are shot, and blood hits the camera plenty of times. This is cloverfield on drugs.

This movie was so exciting to watch and at the same time it hit hard on the emotion without losing that excitement. It was pure action heaven, yes better action than the two action movies of the summer so far, and a throwback to all of the classic science fiction tales of the last couple of decades. This movie is powerful as well with emotionality unlike anything I've seen before in a science fiction movie; I fell in love with everything about this film.

Overall, this movie is the best movie of the summer so far, maybe even the best of the year, it is powerful, fun, witty, original, and filled with eye popping action. If you want something new and exciting; watch this, but if you want the generic hollywood blockbuster you can go watch Gi: Joe instead. This movie is a classic.

Eagle Eye: Watch out! **

The latest actioner from Shia Labeouf has promised to be a satisfying thriller that will take our minds off of the worries of this world. What we get is a movie that not only has a soul but is simply overdone and not all that surprising but there are elements of this movie that are special and that make it watchable; one time through that is.

The premise of this movie is stellar; as the preview showed us Shia walks into his apartment and finds a wack load of weapons and ammunition that was placed there and yes just in time the cops are there to catch him "red handed." What makes this special though is that a girl calls him on his cell phone telling him to run for his life. Now this girl does the same thing to Michelle Monagon's character as well and the two are forced to work together to figure out what is happening and how to fix it. Good premise right? The execution is rather lackluster instead of blockbuster though. The thrill of this movie is simply trying to figure out what's happening and for the first half it works well; there is suspense and excitement but as the movie progresses the lack of direction potentially ruins this movie. The major twist of the film is pretty easy to figure out; and this movie never tries to come up with new ideas it just tries to run on the steam of the twist that comes just about halfway through the movie and this makes it suffer. The audience is taken right out of it because we know what's happening, why it's happening, and how it's happening before the characters do; this is amateur directing. There is good in this movie though.

This movie has plenty of cheap thrills to make it fun; and Shia is very funny as he spurts out random lines that are funny and charming; seeing these two actors together is great but the director never utilizes the talent he has here and these actor's simply become puppets for this movie. It seems these characters are never paid attention to for the entire film until one moment where these two characters are stuck in a box together; we see a very special and tender moment that is emotionally charged and well acted. For the first time in the movie we care for these characters; just a little bit and that is what makes this movie bearable to watch. It's just a shame that this movie couldn't pack that emotional punch throughout the entire film as that would make this movie so much better and more memorable.

Overall this movie isn't brutal; it has moments with awesome action, creepy stalkerish type stuff, funny lines, and charming characters but the movie itself gives everything away way to fast and therefore it makes it hard to sit through this one without falling asleep. There isn't anything new and inventive here and quite frankly if you want to watch a better movie about this sort of thing; watch Enemy of the State . For entertainment, this movie passes, barely, and for anything more than just throw-away fluff, look somewhere else.

GI Joe: Rise of Cobra: is it over yet? *

Well I was excited for this movie. I really was because it got so many excellent reviews and looked like the ultimate summer movie flick and after the disappointment of Transformers: Revenge of the fallen; I was so excited to see a good, fun, solid action movie. What we got was something very different.

This movie was so bad I don't even know where to begin and this review won't be too long; I won't want to wast my time on this movie any more. The story was totally non-existent and if it was it was so poorly told; I didn't know what was going on at all. The action was just so poorly filmed I couldn't even see what was going on; what looked like it could be cool wasn't because the filming was so poor. The special effects were brutal as well. I've never seen special effects that were this bad; it looked so horrible everytime the action was taking place I couldn't even watch because I was so embarrassed of the special effects. The writing was stupid too, nothing smart being said here, and the acting was just so so poor; like watching an amateur film at a cheap festival, such a trashy movie. There was nothing redeeming about GI Joe, well actually there was one good thing about this movie:

Sienna Miller; she is very good looking and I love her. Other than this the movie sucked. The biggest piece of crap I've seen all summer long. I was very disappointed. and bored.

Resevoir Dogs: Something Special ****

Little directors come out of the starting gate by doing exactly what they want and quite frankly, they don't care if you don't like it. This is the attitude that Tarantino had when he started his film career with this little movie. Now, his newest film, Ingloroius Basterds, comes out on August 25th and to show my excitement I'm going to review every movie that Tarantino has written and directed. This movie is special.

This movie is little, low budget, and all about the characters and how they will make the most important decision of their lives: who do I trust? This is one of the best crime movies made; yes I would even say that this movie if not succeeds it, but is at the same level as The Godfather. This is a form of filmaking that no one had ever seen before and no one has duplicated this very special vision that Tarantino has unleashed. This movie makes the plot totally irrelevant by showing you the middle first, then the beginning, then flashback, then a bit of the end, then the very beginning, then the very end, and as this is happening the story is told so well and the direction is so perfect that we know what's going on the entire time.

The acting is very good in this movie, featuring a cast of Tim Roth, Michael Madsen, Harvey Keitel, Tarantino, Steve Buscemi and many more, this cast is so much fun and simply a blast to watch. But when the acting is top notch there is another aspect that simply will help any movie succeed, writing, and not just how the writing is good but the writing in this movie is absolutely brilliant, Tarantino as a scribe has a rythym to his script and the language is pop culture language as well and many complain about swearing in his movies but Tarantino uses this way of speaking to comment on how people swear a lot. This is simply a comment on society and he simply has hit the mark on this topic spot on, absolutely brilliant. Seeing this movie play out is a joy everytime as you'll laugh, and take part in some very intense drama, and just laugh at some really different characters.

Well this outing by Tarantino is bold and new and something that no one has ever seen. This film has some classic lines and scenes in it and contains a story that is so simple but with the direction and flair makes it so much fun to watch. This was the start of something special as Tarantino was introduced to America and simply put, America will never be the same again. This is a classic.

An American Crime: A Righteous Anger

As you read the title; you notice that this movie has no stars and yes there is a reason for that. I'm not going to critique this movie because I finished watching this; I had so many emotions running through me. I'm a christian, I know that God is real, I know that Jesus is real, and I know that the bible is the word of God and it is truth.

"Whoever welcomes a little child welcomes me(Jesus). But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large milstone tied around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea" Matthew 18:5-6

This verse is dubbed "The Greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven" Kids are valued by the God I worship.

Watching this film was so hard. I do think this film is very important because it exposes child abuse and how easy it is to get carried away really fast; I think people should watch it and learn from it. I'm glad the lady who was guilty of this died. She was selfish, inconsiderate, and she playfully tortured and killed an innocent girl.

I think God has given me a righteous anger because I love kids and watching someone playfully destroy one just isn't my type of thing. I hope she's in hell. Sorry God, I know I'm judgemental, please forgive me. How can people be so evil? Not only was she violent but she facilitated violence towards an innocent girl and encouraged her kids and others to "punish her" so not only did she ruin one life (literally) but she ruined a whole slough of lives. These kids never recovered; one even died of lung cancer at 21 because she got him into smoking.

Let's watch this and learn and never forget Sylvia's story. I will never watch this film again; but I will always fight child abuse and abusers because of her.

I have a righteous anger brewing inside of me.