Frozen

Just when I was starting to worry about Disney's success and the overall quality of this year's animated features, along comes Frozen, a complete knock out from beginning to end.

Anna (Kristen Bell) and Elsa (Idina Menzel) are as close as two sisters can be. That is until Elsa's power to freeze everything accidentally hurts her sister. She locks herself away from her sister for years, only to be seen by her sister during Elsa's ceremony of becoming queen. After panicking and causing more destruction, Elsa takes off to the mountains, locking out everyone and inadvertently causes her town to become a permanent Winter wonderland. Anna is determined to reunite with her sister and get her to break the icy conditions with the help of Kristoff (Jonathan Groff), his reindeer, and a jolly snowman named Olaf (Josh Gad) whose biggest dream in life is to experience the Summertime.

The music in Frozen is so catchy and wonderful it's one of the few movies with a soundtrack I would listen to from beginning to end. Every character gets a chance to belt it out, some noteworthy voices include Kristen Bell's and Josh Gad's. But the real knockout performer is Idina Menzel as Elsa who really knocks it out of the park with "Let it Go", the movie's peak of songs. It really represents everything Frozen is about and it's the music the academy should be taking notes on.

I really enjoyed all of the characters and their dynamics as well. You've seen versions of these characters before but these feels especially unique and heartwearming. The dynamic between the two sisters and the love they share for each other is shown in similar but contrasting ways; one wants to push the other away for her safety, the other wants to reunite for her safety. There's some good messages about true love in here as well depicted with Anna's shortlived engagement with another prince (whose intentions turn to be less then noble). And though Olaf's character seems to be just comic relief based on the previews, his later scenes will melt your heart as well.

Frozen is a beauty from the inside out. The animation is so stunning and involving you feel like you're in the snow with the characters. The movie has great humor with Anna's quirkiness and awkward tendencies to say everything wrong. And Olaf's pluck and joy is pitch perfect comedic relief as well. Frozen even manages to warm the heart with the bond of sisterhood. This isn't a movie with a ton of villians to overcome; it's acceptance with the differences of those that you love. Frozen is magic.

Grade: 4/4

We're the Millers

I wanted to enjoy We're the Millers a lot more then I actually did. There's great effort put here and you can tell the actors had a blast making it as the four playing the family gave it their A game, but sadly We're the Millers falls short due to inconsistent humor and a choppy tone.

David (Jason Sudeikis) is an amateur drug dealer going nowhere. He soon gets a chance from his boss to make bank. All he has to do is sneak across the country and transport back across a ton of weed. In order to avoid suspicion, he forms a "family" to join him, including the sassy stripper; Rose (Jennifer Aniston), sarcastic and homeless; Casey (Emma Roberts), and the shy virgin; Kenny (Will Poulter).

The four give it a valiant effort, but sadly the material they're given to work with isn't up to game. I found the humor to be quite luke-warm overall. Certain scenes are quite hillarious (the charades scene and weed baby battle) but a lot of others just don't measure up, especially when We're the Millers shoots for the shock/gross value (the wife-swapping & crooked cop scenes). They just don't work and it's a shame considering that We're the Millers can be quite hillarious when the humor hits the right note.

The tone is another big problem with We're the Millers. For about 85% percent of the movie, the characters overall couldn't care less about each other and can't seem to stand each other. But as most comedies with sitcom-ish tones go (seriously, all this one needed was a laugh track), it wraps up everything in a nice little package two seconds later but I never bought it. There wasn't a smooth enough transition or middle period as things start getting a bit warmer in attitude. This is one of the many comedies where the strength lies in the harder edged material.

We're the Millers wasn't a terrible movie. The performances are fun to watch and there are quite a few funny moments but sadly there isn't enough of them as We're the Millers doesn't feel like a feature length movie such as an overextended sitcom that tries to do to much at once. This can be admirable in some cases but in this case, We're the Millers just feels like a bumpy ride.

Grade: 2/4

Philomena

Judi Dench is so wonderful as Philomena that not receiving an Oscar nomination for her work would be as big of a screw job as the one her character receives. Dench plays Philomena, a good-natured, Catholic woman with so many questions about the son that was taken away from her by the Catholic church. She's spent 50 years wanting to reunite with her son, and when she meets a journalist named Martin (Steve Coogan) she just might get her chance to get her answers to who her son really is.

One of my favorite things about Philomena is the dynamic between Judi Dench and Steve Coogan's characters. Their dynamic is so perfect, natural, and charming you would swear the two characters (or even the two actors) have known each other forever, I certainly could have watched them forever. It's such a yin yang dynamic with Philomena's purity versus Martin's sarcasm and sting yet the two blend in a way you wouldn't see coming. They couldn't be more different yet their journey to the answers couldn't be more enjoyable. Dench is as stellar as being sweet as Coogan is as being sour.

Philomena's journey is so heartbreaking and involving you'll follow the two characters' path like a roller coaster. What they find out will punch the viewer in the gut yet also will hit your funny bone along the way. Philomena involves all senses in the journey due to the warmth, humor, and sheer fascination I had in her story. Philomena is a knock-out.

Grade: 4/4

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

Anyone going into this thinking, "Once is a blessing, twice is a curse" will be knocked back as The Hunger Games: Catching Fire is excellent. Things may be getting a bit shittier in Katniss' world but nothing has gone to Hell in the quality of this entry.

Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) and Peeta (Josh Hutcherson), the winners of the previous Hunger Games, are in for far from a welcome home after their victory. In fact, due to Katniss' rebeliousness towards the government, defiance towards the rules, and her and Peeta's combined effort to commit suicide to end the last games, things are much more chaotic on the home land as the hope spread from these players' actions is being spread to the towns who feel they no longer have to live this way. Long story short, President Snow (Donald Sutherland) and the Hunger Games' creator; Plutarch Heavensbee (Phillip Seymour Hoffman) want her dead, they plan to achieve this by sending the two victors', and two victors from every other district to a semi-finals battle of the winners Hunger Games. But Katniss is far from going down without a fight, even when she comes to realize that the scariest things out there are everything outside of the Hunger Games.

Jennifer Lawrence once again is on fire as Katniss. She's brave, heroic, humorous, rootable, and she feels like a very authentic character, you'll go with her through anything. Donald Sutherland and Phillip Seymour Hoffman (a great new addition) shine as the villians, their menace and devious plans are far more chilling then the actual games. Also noteworthy new additions are Finnick (played by Sam Clafin with a devious, mysterious charm) and Johanna (played with agression, fun, and grit by Jena Melone) as fellow competitors who team up with Katniss and Peeta. I can't say I was terribly impressed with Josh Hutcherson as Peeta. I can't tell if it's the performance or the actual character but I find his part a terribly bland piece in a stock romance. I would say the romantic element of The Hunger Games is probably my least favorite part and probably the only reason why I would say the first in the series was a tad stronger considering it featured less of it.

Catching Fire has a similar set-up to the first. The first half is dedicated to getting things ready for the battle and the tension is amped up in this one due to the events in the first. The political, moral, and social evil in the first half is actually quite chilling as everyone seems to act without a mind of their own; almost groupspeak.

The set-up leads towards most viewers' favorite half of the movie; the actual games. And they definitely don't disappoint. These scenes are amazing, thrilling as the tension feels amped up this time. The scenes with the violent monkeys, tear gas, and spinning platform are every movie junkie's amped up fantasy.

And though I'm usually not a fan of cliffhanger endings, Catching Fire ends with a bang. Though you don't know where this bang will lead, you don't care as Catching Fire effectively takes the viewer from one journey to the next heart racing and pulse pounding.

Grade: 3/4

The Way Way Back

I feel like the "lost teenager that finds their way over a Summer" types of movies are becoming more and more common but damn it The Way Way Back is so charming and funny I couldn't help but to love it.

Duncan (Liam James) is a severely lonely and unhappy teenager whose growing resentment towards his mother's boyfriend Trent (Steve Carrell), his mother Pam's (Toni Collette) either total indifference or blindness towards the unfair treatment are sending him further down a hole into depression. That is until he meets Owen (Sam Rockwell), a carefree and light-hearted water park owner who just wants to break Owen out of his shell. This is the Summer that will change everything for him.

All of the performances are spot on. Liam James is very likeable, rootable, and downright vulnerable as Duncan. Steve Carrell proves he can be quite the effective asshole, relentlessly bringing down Duncan like all of the typical douchebag stepdads do. Allison Janney was also quite hillarious as the oversexed and overdrinking neighbor who gets some of the best scenes thanks to her no bullshit attitude and insensitivity towards her son's lazy eye. Sam Rockwell is easily the best part of this movie, he's the heart and soul delivered perfectly.


There's such a sincerity to this movie and I loved it. It isn't the most original movie by far but the characters are great, the situations ring true and though things get serious there isn't a lack of humor due to the clever writing and pitch-perfect performances. The Way Way Back proves that even if you're taking a journey that has a predicted path, if it's solid, you'll have fun and love the ride no matter what.

3/4

The To Do List

It probably shouldn't have worked as well as it did, but damn it I loved The To Do List. It goes for the sexual gusto and more often then not it hits the sweet spot. Aubrey Plaza is perfect as Brandy, the academic nerd who knows about everything but anything physical, her sheer cluelessness is terribly endearing and often hillarious. Rachel Bilson also hits gold as her nasty, blunt, and unfiltered sister Amber, one of her many guides along her sexual journey. The movie actually reminds me of American Pie one those gone wild sex comedies with a hidden, sincere message about love and the opposite sex hidden a bit deeper. And though things start to get sappy when the moral realization occurs due to love triangle between the good natured nerd and the empty-headed stud, The To Do List has enough humor and fun to get you through the limp dicked moral epiphany.

3/4

12 Years a Slave

When I think of 12 Years a Slave, I think of fire. Everything from the screenplay, to the direction, to the tone, to the scorching performances reminds me of a flame being ignited.

12 Years a Slave is based on the depressing and horrifying true story of Solomon Northup (Chiwetel Ejiofor) a musician who is tricked into thinking he being offered a large job opportunity when really he is being sold into slavery. His journey takes him along with Patsey (Lupita Nyong'o) a slave in a similar situation of being yanked from her family as both are sold from conniving and heartless slave master to slave master until they end up falling into the hands of Edwin Epps (Michael Fassbender) and his wife (Sarah Paulson) who would make any terrorist seem generous by comparison.

Every performance in this movie is Oscar worthy. Chiwetel Ejiofor will break your heart as Northup, the amount of expression and sheer bewilderment will drag the viewer down into his journey of Hell. Ejiofor's performance is so moving and powerful a few scenes alone of the actor's facial expressions say more then many can say with a whole script. If he doesn't win the Oscar I call sheer bullshit.

Everything I said about Chiwetel can be applied to Lupita Nyong'o as Patsey as well. I can't say I've seen her in any movies before but she demonstrates a mastery of strength, heartbreak and conviction as Patsey.

Michael Fassbender and Sarah Paulson are persuasively nasty and repulsive as the least caring masters the slaves belong to. Fassbender more notably dominates his scenes with his foul resentment. Though his character Edwin Epps can easily be labeled as a monster, other scenes also are effective with showing the more caring and hidden side as well such as the scenes involving his consequences of giving attention to Patsey and his wife's sheer hatred for her due to those reasons.

I hate to label this movie as entertaining due to the cruelness, death, and despair that occur throughout but through Steve McQueen's direction this is easily one you will be holding your breath for from beginning to end. I couldn't wait to see what happened next even though at times I wish I wasn't watching this as several scenes involving whippings, rape, and hangings make me wish I wasn't watching. McQueen wasn't going for just a plain History lesson this movie, he was aspiring to hit the nail in your brain, your heart, and your eyes. It's a clear level of mastery.

And just when you're worried that 12 Years a Slave will end sappy, the movie steers clear from sap. The last scene of Solomon reuniting with his loved ones is one of the most touching and heartbreaking scenes from a movie I've seen in a while. I was almost crying like a bitch as the credits were rolling. Kudos to everyone involved. 12 Years a Slave is a masterpiece and is easily the best film of 2013 I've seen.

4/4

Fright Night 2: New Blood

I was hoping for trashy fun and all I got was a pain in the neck. Will Payne stars as Charley Brewster, an unlikable, obnoxious and bland lead that suspects his teacher Gerri Dandridge (Jaime Murray) is a vampire. Yes, this is one of those movies where no one believes the main character despite the obvious signs. This is one of those movies where the performances feel as if the actors were casted off the street, along with the writers, editors, and most certainly anyone involved in the makeup or visual effects. Bloodless indeed.

0/4

Gravity

The best movies aren't the ones that you merely watch. The best movies are the ones considered experiences due to the amount of involvement the viewer gets when watching them. This defines Gravity in a nutshell. If it were any more involving you would be spinning as you were watching it.

The first 10 minutes of Gravity are worthy of a trip to the theater alone. It's breathtaking art and what's the most intriguing is that this is before shit hits the fan. The visuals in Gravity are so stunning that an Academy award should have automatically been distributed right after the first showing.

Gravity is eye candy from beginning to end but luckily your eyes aren't the only body part that will be taken for a ride. After things immediately go wrong with medical engineer; Ryan Stone (Sandra Bullock) being immediately knocked off course your breath will stop. Things get even more horrifying as the scene continues with the realization that, in space, "No one can hear you scream". The claustrophobic situations and sheer silence (clever move to not include music) will increase your heart rate.

Your heart will melt for Bullock's character. Whether she's panicking, waiting for death, feeling completely hopeless, or ready to fight her way home you really get involved with her emotional, physical, and mental journey home. The most frightening situations are the ones where you feel helpless and Gravity's journey will lock her up and throw away the key.

This toll that Gravity's dark and frightening tone would have never been as effective if Bullock didn't hold her own. Not only does she hold her own, but her performance is so strong and unforgettable it's almost impossible to picture her typical fare in slapstick comedy. She could clearly do the physical humor but Gravity proves she can handle the dramatic material as well.

And though he isn't given as much to do as Bullock in her role, George Clooney also strives as Matt, the astronaut who is Stone's only aide as things get worse. He brings a charm to his character and a guiding force to get themselves out of this situation.

Gravity is a moving, beautiful and terrifying piece of art that will never be forgotten.

4/4

Rush

An action themed movie that manages to keep its' gusto on and off the track? Who would have ever imagined that? But Rush manages to prove you don't need explosions and crashes to keep the viewer entertained; you just need to be dynamic. And Rush far exceeds that. The visuals are stunning and considering how many movies over-do the CGI this year it's actually quite a feat for Rush to feel and look quite authentic. Never do you feel like you're watching someone's computer work. There's intensity between the two characters as well due to the strength in the performances of Chris Hemsworth as James Hunt and Daniel Bruhl as Niki Lauder. Hemsworth brings a charm to the typical cocky athlete with his head in the clouds until life comes crashing on his door. And Bruhl is also stellar as his rival bringing strength and determination to a character that couldn't be more different then Hunt. What's fascinating about Rush is that even though it's about the rivalry of two men, Howard's direction doesn't play favorites. There isn't a villain or a hero here, just two different types of men with strengths and weaknesses that we all have. Rush is an inspiring feature about how far we strive for our goals and just how much we will do to get them. Though a bit of trimming/tighter editing might have made Rush feel a tad less fluffy, the heart and soul will drive the movie through the end in success.


4/4

Captain Phillips

As he did in United 93, Paul Greengrass takes a true story, adds the Hollywood twist, and still manages to terrify the audience with the authenticity and pure terror as you watch the story unfold. It's quite easy to look up each tale and find out how they end out, but nothing can prepare you for the way Greengrass will makes things unfold in front of your eyes. This is easily one of Tom Hanks' best, if not the best performance of his career. He's unstoppable as Captain Phillips, coming across as strong yet vulnerable, sympathetic yet cunning. And matching each percentage of his power is Barkhad Abdi as Muse, the leader of the sea pirates who take Captain Phillips hostage. Every scene he's in keeps the viewer on their toes, as no one is sure what he's capable of ranging in his scenes as warm and sympathetic to cold and menacing.

There isn't one second of Captain Phillips that isn't full of tension. Unlike most Hollywood movies these days, Captain Phillips manages to stop your breathing without needing to drop an ounce of blood or CGI. It's the heart and soul of the movie that drives you until the credits roll. Captain Phillips is one of the best movies of the year.

4/4

Carrie

It's disappointing watching Carrie considering the consistent momentum it achieves throughout to watch everything crash and burn as everything in the movie actually starts crashing and burning. The scenes involving blood and guts ironically enough are the least gritty scenes in Carrie, stopping the movie from greatness.

What's up? Carrie White's (Chloe Grace Moretz) life is shit. At home, her overprotective, over-religious mother Margaret (Julianne Moore) prevents any freedom or independence on Carrie's end. She's the type of parent who would much prefer to put her child in a cage and watch her as opposed to releasing her into the real world where things can't be watched 100% of the time. At school her life is even worse. After a particularly embarassing attack led by Chris (Portia Doubleday), Carrie snaps, unleashing powers she never knew she had. One member of Chris' group; Sue (Gabriella Wilde) strives to make things easier for Carrie after feeling guilt on the bullying. She wants her boyfriend Tommy (Ansel Elgort) to take her to the prom for a night of fun, but Chris and the rest of the group are less then willing to give Carrie her time to shine.

What's good? A majority of the characters are brought to life by the performances. Chloe Grace Moretz is great as Carrie easily one of her best performances to date. As opposed the original where Carrie is just depicted as out there, Moretz gives her a deeper feeling, truly damaged, vulnerable and alone. She's great.

Julliane Moore shines as her mother as well. I would easily say her scenes are the most chilling of the entire movie. She's doing everything she does because of how much she loves her daughter but Moore makes her character terrifying as well. She owns her rendition of one of the more famous monsterous mothers in movie history.

Judy Greer gives some charm and fun with her portrayal of Ms. Desjardin, the only adult standing in Carrie's corner. Her scenes give a nice bit of comic relief and a warmth that the rest of the scenes and characters don't bring.

One of the bigger surprises is how deliciously evil Portia Doubleday is as Chris. She's so nasty and vile without an inch of regret you're waiting for her to grow horns. All of her scenes have a sense of entertainment in how much fun Doubleday has with throwing her venom on the viewers and on Carrie.

As I previously mentioned the scenes in Carrie involving the relationship with her and her mother are great. They're entertaining and very suspenseful, you never know what either of them are thinking or what either of them are capable of doing to the other one.

What the fuck? Unfortunately all the tension that Carrie builds up is dropped like a bucket of blood during the prom scenes. A cool death scene or two (most notably the one involving the wires and fire) can't shake a feeling of a nausea-worthy level of CGI involved. Carrie begins dropping so many special effects I was looking around for a controller to jump into the action. It just becomes silly and very far from scary considering how laughably overdone these scenes are.

As noteworthy as some of the characters are, I get a nagging feeling that some of them could have been written better, or maybe even acted with a bit more power. Wilde's performance comes across as rather tepid. Her character doesn't seem to be given much to do but look regretful and sad and I wish the Sue character was given more to do, or that Wilde should have done more with them. Same goes for Ansel Elgort as her boyfriend & Alex Rusell as Chris' boyfriend Billy, who feel like walking, talking cardboard cutouts of characters.

Overall: The final scene of the original Carrie is easily one of the most talked about scenes with the exception of the prom scene. And this version just seems to throw it all away at the end, resorting to cheap effects and a lack of an interesting conclusion. Carrie shot for Prom Queen and instead ended up as a solid RU.

3/4

The Bling Ring

Never in my wildest cinematic dreams would I like a pointless movie for being so pointless. There's really not so much to The Bling Ring but as you start to think about what the leads are aspiring to, you see that's the point; nothing is being achieved and yet people are trying so hard to achieve it.

What's up? Israel Broussard plays Marc, a new kid at his school who doesn't have any friends. He soon gets his first with Rebecca (Katie Chang) a girl whose head is in the clouds about the lives of celebrities and all of the things they do. Both have a shared love of breaking in and stealing things, which leads them to burglarizing several celebrities' houses such as Paris Hilton and Audrina Patridge. Along for the ride are Nicki (Emma Watson), Chloe (Claire Julien), and Sam (Taissa Fermiga from American Horror Story).

What's good? The Bling Ring oddly brings a lot of humor to a situation which isn't typically deemed as funny. The leads' desperation to get into a life of nothingness most notably Nicki is quite ironic and humorous. Emma Watson is the star as far as I'm concerned. She milks her character's vapid & over the top nature perfectly. Only she can deliver lines such as, "I could lead a country for all I know" in such a serious, deadpan tone.

All of the acting is actually quite strong. Though the leads aren't terribly well known they're all fair game here for a good time. Katie Chang is also noteworthy as the leader of the pack, easily deemed the most desperate and fame hungry of the group.

Props also go out to the way this movie was shot. The editing and cinematography is pitch perfect, though you're seeing places in California that are far from uncommon, never have they looked so perfect as The Bling Ring is almost like a postcard/dedication to the lifestyles lived in California.

What the fuck? My biggest complaint about The Bling Ring is that when it comes to the resolution I feel like the viewer was a bit shut out in the cold. I would have enjoyed seeing more scenes involving the courtroom drama/verdict of the leads' crime and maybe a few less scenes of them partying like rockstars.

Overall The Bling Ring is a fascinating, sad, yet comedic look into how celebrities and their lifestyles are glamourized to a point of obsession. Never has watching someone shoot for so much to earn so little feel so entertaining to view.

3/4

Prisoners

The scenes that I remember the most about a movie are the final scenes, the last moment. This is why I can't help but feel terribly disappointed with Prisoners, a movie that keeps the momentum going so steadily for two hours before dropping the ball to an immense degree in the last thirty minutes.

What's up? Hugh Jackman stars as Keller, a father whose daughter disappears on Thanksgiving. His wife Grace (Maria Bello) is devastated and unable to continue to function through life. Keller is frustrated that the enforcements, most notably Detective Loki (Jake Gyllenhaal) aren't moving fast enough and their lack of action is resulting in the death of his daughter. When the detectives' biggest suspect, Alex Jones (Paul Dano) is released for lack of substantial evidence, Keller takes the law into his own hands, going far beyond anyone's idea of cruel and unusual punishment to get the answers. Does Alex know where his daughter is located? How much involvement does he have in the disappearance? Is Keller going to far?

What's good? You don't boast a cast full of Oscar nominees/winners without showing the goods. Prisoners' cast thrives in this setting. Hugh Jackman is stellar as Keller, his scenes are full of heartbreak, terror, pure confusion, rage, and vulnerability all at once. He dominates every scene he fills up. Jake Gyllenhaal also gives one of his best performances, his character is the total opposite of Keller. Where as Keller acts with his emotions, Loki acts with his mind, Gyllenhaal gives a great contrast to the dominance through Keller.

Minus the last 30 minutes which I will mention more of in the last paragraph, Prisoners is filled with so much tension you feel like it's going to burst. The scenes with Keller and Alex are pure torture both figuratively and literally, you never know what's going to happen next and when it does Prisoners will stun you with how far it goes and how far Keller will go to get answers. The beautiful and haunting, yet grimy and dark looking visuals add to this tension, making you feel like you're really watching someone's nightmare come to life.

What the fuck? The final thirty minutes of Prisoners is so incredibly disappointing and thrown together you would swear you were watching some movie of the week Syfy creation. The motive behind the kidnapper feels terribly thrown together, said motive and kidnapper being involved also leave several questions unanswered making certain scenes now feel pointless. And what's worse is you never get any resolution here, as Prisoners' final moments bizzarely insinuate a sequel could be involved. There's no pay off here at all.

Overall: Prisoners had all the goods but just didn't know how to tie them up at the finale. It had the potential to be one of the year's best movies but instead of ending strong on all of the promise that you were viewing for the first two hours, Prisoners squanders this opportunity, locking the cell and throwing away the key.

3/4

The Kings of Summer

Like the lead characters, The Kings of Summer has such an indestructable spirit that you can't help but like the movie even when at times you feel like you're going in as many circles as the leads do. Part of The Kings of Summer's aforementioned spirit can be attributed to the 3 lead males; Nick Robinson (Joe), Gabriel Basso (Patrick), and Moises Arias (Biaggio). All three have an undeniable chemistry and relatability you don't feel like you're watching acting. Megan Mullally & Marc Evan Jackson also shine as as Mr. & Mrs. Keenan, Patrick's overprotective parents that mean well despite not doing anything well.

The Kings of Summer can actually be quite hillarious. Though Patrick & Joe's overbearing relatives provide humor, the three boys' relationship and interactions with each other are quite charming as well, most notably how they deal with Biaggio, a boy they invited just because "they were afraid to tell him no".

The Kings of Summer draws the audience in with an ever so common desire to live on one's own, without rules, society, curfews, or pre-cooked food (for the most part). It keeps your interest by never overdoing the material, the situation or how the boys react to the conflicts they run into. This believability helps keep your attention when at times you feel like The Kings of Summer starts to sink into the mud. At times The Kings of Summer does feel a bit repetitive especially with Biaggio's bizzare tics and sayings, they're entertaining at first but begin to wear thin after a while. And there does feel like a bit of dragging from one major event to another towards the end when you can feel the time ticking down.

Still despite its' flaws, The Kings of Summer manages to produce the goods thanks to the charm and wit of living on your own when you're not even sure how to live with others.

3/4

Insidious 2

Add Insidious 2 to the list of sequels that should have never been made, expanding on things for no reason and occupying over 90 minutes to accomplish nothing.

Insidious 2 picks up where the previous film left off, with a dead psychic (Lin Shaye), a husband who is looking more then a bit guilty for her death (Patrick Wilson) and a wife who feels her spouse has changed ever since he went into the other world to locate their son (Rose Byrne). The Lamberts are still being haunted by the spirits from the first movie and everyone is feeling like Josh (Wilson) may have brought some of them back with him.

My biggest problem with Insidious 2 is that everything just feels so thrown together and half-assed. The story feels really sloppy and patched together. Twists are thrown in here and there just to keep things moving and too many subplots are opened (do we really care that the lead demonic spirit has a fucked up son who can't keep a shirt on?). The scares feel lazy here, as opposed to The Conjuring where the scares were planned out with skilled technique and precision, Insidious just rests on the coattails of the previous entry and all of the talent involved.

As opposed to going for scares, Insidious feels oddly fixated on going for the laughs, it almost feels like a spoof of the first at times. Too many scenes are intended for comic relief and even a few which were aiming for thrills just are too silly and overdone to be taken seriously.

Even the actors don't seem up to par this round. Patrick Wilson has a large percentage of the material resting on his shoulders with his transformation to the dark side and he just doesn't seem up to game, instead of coming off as sinister/menacing he just feels grumpy and maybe needing a nap. Rose Byrne is a talented actress but here her role feels as if it were reduced to a look of fear in every scene she's in. To say it gets old is an understatement.

Even the visuals feels cheapened at times I feel like I was watching a poorly put together carnival ride based on Insidious.

To make matters worse, Insidious 2 couldn't possibly end any worse. It's bad enough that things end as expected as possible with the Lambert family but the final scenes expanding on a last second twist involving the ghost hunters just feels terribly cheapened. There's some true evil at work if a part three to this series is ever made.

1/4

Star Trek

Just as I was bitching about being an action movies hater in my review of Olympus Has Fallen, Star Trek comes along, making me want to jump ship if more action movies were of this standard.

Though being a Trekkie could definitely elevate one's liking of Star Trek Into Darkness, the movie isn't limited to just those in that cult as anyone could enjoy this movie, thanks to the stellar and involving performances, stunning visuals, humor, and massive excitement. It's a treat for anyone.

Captain Kirk (Chris Pine) is often not taken seriously by his fellow crew most notably Spock (Zachary Quinto) and others under his lead, but after the one-man machine Khan (Benedict Cumberbach) creates a reign of terrorism, death, and destruction, Kirk will get his opportunity to prove that he is one to be taken seriously.

There's much more to Star Trek's plot, but a big portion of the fun is watching the twists as they unreal, as no one can be trusted, no one's motives are as one-note as they seem, taking the viewer on a wild ride as all of the Enterprise's secrets are revealed.

Part of the magic watching Star Trek is seeing all of these actors morph into the roles they are given. Chris Pine gives a realistic and natural performance as the man that is the glue holding everything down. Zachary Quinto steals the show as Spock, with all of his odd quirks, lack of emotion, and unintentional sarcasm. And Benedict Cumberbach is as menacing as they come, you get a feeling of Darth Vader-ism (I know that's not a word) just by the mere looks he gives on screen, he's as chilling as they come.

Star Trek also manages to be quite funny. Watching Chris Pine's interactions with his fellow crew members such as Spock and also Scotty (Simon Pegg, who seems to be on quite the roll lately) really elevates the material considering this really wasn't a movie that needed to provide as much humor as it does.

If Star Trek doesn't get nominated for some of the more technical categories there is clearly something wrong with this year's nominations. The hair, makeup, cinematography and visual effects are out of this world (pun intended). You feel like you're watching a dream world unfold on screen. Even the opening prologue of the Enterprise attempting to rescue the foreign planet from volcanic destruction is worth a nomination.

Another way I felt that Star Trek really gets it right is the decision to involve the audience in what is going on. J.J. Abrams does this by giving his characters a pulse and heart, really adding suspense when things go terribly wrong. You're not just watching Star Trek, you're almost living Star Trek due to the brain the material uses from beginning to end. Star Trek is a cinematic dream come true.

4/4

The World's End

When it comes to good humor in the face of danger and the end of the world, I must say that the Brits have a slight lead over the Americans (This is the End), proving that if your material is solid, just about anything can be funny.

Though The World's End falls short of Shaun of the Dead's brilliance, it's a worthy addition to the Cornetto Trilogy, far surpassing Hot Fuzz.

Simon Pegg stars as Gary King, a man living the past determined to revive some old fun, taking his friends on a journey in their hometown to go drinking through 12 pubs, ultimately ending at The World's End. To say Gary is the only one with any interest in this goal would be an understatement.

Slowly (very slowly) but surely, the old gang realizes that no one from their town is acting normal as no one recognizes or really gives a shit about them. And when some of the members of the town begin leaking blue goo as their heads are ripped off, it's clear something is up.

I've said many times that you can only have as much fun in a movie as your main stars allow you to, and The World End's cast is clearly on board for a party. All of the performances are full of fun. Simon Pegg is stellar as the lead has-been who wants nothing more to bask in former glory despite no one else being in his boat. All of the opposite stars are great yings to his yang, most noteably Nick Frost as Andy, the leader of the IDGAF crew.

Though end of the world/disaster movies feel far from fresh right now especially considering This is the End was just realized two months earlier, The World's End manages to work the material in an inventive way. Part of this could be due to the effectively used sense of ignorance throughout. Everyone else in the town has been overtaken by alien robots and yet the leads are clearly the ones with their heads the farthest in space as it takes forever for them to get a clue. Like in Shaun of the Dead, you can always have a blast even when fighting for your life and luckily The World's End despite having themes of growing up, moving on from teenage escapades, and fear of commitment, never seems to take itself seriously.

My only fault with The World's End is that similar to This is The End, after a while, you start to feel the burn and stretch of some of the material. After the climax hits and all hell breaks loose, there seems to be a bit of meandering until both hit the home run (which both achieve in might I add). At times though, The World's End makes you feel like you're getting nowhere and running in as many circles as the leads do.

Despite some nitpicks, The World's End is still a solid comedy well worth a view. If the world ever were to be overtaken by aliens and robots I would only hope we would have nearly as much fun as The World's End makes the situation seem.

3/4

Olympus has Fallen



I really try not to be biased against action movies and give them a chance, but when they're as painful, bland, and bloated as Olympus Has Fallen I find it really hard to jump ships into the action genre boat.

What's up? Gerard Butler plays Mike, a bodyguard whose decision on the job results in the death of the wife (Ashley Judd) of President Benjamin Asher (Aaron Eckhart). It's clear the president isn't happy as Mike receives a huge downgrade in jobs, but he soon gets a chance to redeem himself as the White House is overtaken by terrorists from North Korea.

What's good? Olympus Has Fallen was clearly casted to impress. Gerard Butler is rootable and believable as the hero, Aaron Eckhart gives good likeability and credibility to the presidential role and Morgan Freeman also delivers a solid turn as the Speaker of the house.

The early scenes of chaos in Olympus Has Fallen are so ridiculously authentic looking it's horrifying. Some of the early scenes of distruction are so frantic and frightening that they look as if they came out of 9/11 footage tapes. It really draws the viewer in as to what is to come.

What the fuck? Sadly, after these initial scenes of horror, you're left yawning more then anything else with Olympus Has Fallen. The villains are given no personality so it's really difficult to care when the material starts moving in their focus more then anyone else.

The action scenes feel terribly repetitive as if you're stuck on the same level in a video game for two hours. There really isn't enough going on of intrigue to justify this ridiculously unneeded running time as you're often wishing a terrorist would strap something to your head to end what you're viewing.

Olympus Has Fallen just feels so stock and routine, every you think will live ends up living and vice versa for those who you think will die. How can a tragedy leave you so unmoved and catatonic?

Overall: Olympus Has Fallen had the cast and the visuals in its' favor but chose to throw them away and torture the viewer with the world's longest and most tedious video game. At least those that are shot down quick receive a quick finish as you're envious due to the billion hour length of film that you have left to go.

1/4

V/H/S 2

Contrary to the popular opinion I'm going to against the majority and say that V/H/S 2 is so ridiculously amateur and unscary it makes the first entry feel like a masterpiece. All of the fun and thrills seem to be sucked away from the franchise and we're left wondering what the point of a part two was.

What's up? V/H/S 2 has the same set-up as the original. Several people break into a house that they shouldn't be in. While doing so they view several peculiar and creepy videotapes that make them wondering what the hell they're watching and if they are the only ones in the house where they are watching them. This time there is four stories; the first about an eye surgery gone wrong, the second about an uneventful bike ride in the park turning into a life-changing experience, the third about a cult and all of their sadistic rituals, the fourth about a sleepover ending in an alien attack.

What's good? V/H/S 2 starts out strong. The video about the eye surgery gone wrong is a blast. The effects of what the eye allows the main character to see are great, it's an interesting idea especially when compared to some of the bland messes to come, and the whole thing just gives off a Twilight Zone-ish feel which can never fail.

The third story is also great, the one about the cult named Paradise Gates. At times it feels like you're watching a documentary of Hell. Just when you think the short film can't get even wackier or more sinister it will prove you wrong. And what I really appreciated in this entry is how the terror starts early even before the monsters come out to play, thanks to some effectively ominous performances and a dreadful (in the good way) location.

What the fuck? What really is depressing about V/H/S 2 is right after the good story a bad one immediately follows. The second story about the zombies in the park is ridiculous. There's no point or method to the madness, it's not scary, it's not clever or funny, the makeup looks poor and it takes forever to end.

Though it's not nearly as awful, the story about the alien slumber party feels really lackluster as well. It's hard to tell what's going on due to a strange decision of filming this entry through the dog's perspective, you can't really see anything except yourself getting a migraine, and the ending leaves you speechless.

The wrap-up scene with the characters discovering the tape feels incomplete as well. You're left with more questions then answers about the missing character whose house is being raided by the detectives and the ending scene is completely ridiculous.

Overall: V/H/S 2 feels terribly unneccessary and unsatisfying. A good portion of the material is pointless, bland, blah. V/H/S 2 is the equivalence of watching a tape's good moments so many times that they eventually feel skipped over, leaving you with the leftover scenes that you wish were erased instead.

1/4

Spring Breakers

If the energizer bunny directed a movie, played the lead character, consumed a ton of alcohol while having sex, partying, and robbing, the final product would feel something similar to Spring Breakers, a movie which goes from 0 to 90 within seconds.

What's up? Selena Gomez, Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Benson, and Rachel Korine play the lead partiers who after getting in trouble with the law, are bailed out by a mysterious unknown man named Alien (James Franco). To say Alien has a few tricks up his sleeves and skeletons in his closet is an understatement as the girls get dragged down into an area of "the good life" that they had never imagined themselves in before.

What's good? Whoever did the cinematography for Spring Breakers deserves a high five. Generally when someone would describe a movie as having a similar look to a music video I would be turned off but that type of surreal, colorful, dream-like look works well with the unusual, unorthodox strange world that these characters are put into. Looking unreal has never looked so good.

This is easily one of James Franco's best performances to date, easily making his bland turn in Oz forgivable. Funny that the two characters have that scheming, dishonest leadership attribute in both movies yet Franco is giving it his all in this one as opposed to Oz where his portrayal felt terribly phoned in and lazy. Whether he's thugging or singing a Brittany Spears' song, Franco is in it to win it. The four girls aren't given a ton to do, but they do it well. It's a shame that the one that makes the most impression (Selena Gomez as Faith) bones out early just before things get even crazier.

I also admired the weird lovechild of Scared Straight and Girls Gone Wild that Spring Breakers emulates. It's like the world's most colorful and violent lesson about avoiding the dark side, staying in school, not riding with strangers or getting into gunfights with their enemies. Somewhere a parent's secretly thanking Spring Breakers for not beautifying the bum life.

What the fuck? As wild as Spring Breakers gets, at times I wish it did a bit more with the material. I found it quite original and entertaining to watch but after a while Spring Breakers seems to feel quite complacent with itself, not pushing the limits and instead coasting on what the film had previously set up for the viewers. Luckily soon after Spring Breakers makes you wonder when it's going to end, it actually DOES END. I just wish at times that it had taken as many risks throughout as opposed to setting them all up in the beginning.

Overall Spring Breakers is a fun ride that certainly won't be winning any awards but it's a colorful, funny, and fresh film that leaves an impression and also gives James Franco cool points and a half for going as far out of his norm as he did in this movie.

3/4

Trance

If Danny Boyle is involved, I'll always be interested. And though Trance can be accused of being many things, I can never say boring was a word that came to mind.

James McAvoy plays Simon, an art auctioneer turned thief involved in a robbery gone wrong. In the process of stealing a highly coveted painting named "Witches in the Air", Simon is hit in the head, disabling any memories of where he put the painting. The other criminals involved in this plot, led by Vincent Cassell as Franck, are far from happy about Simon's recent memory loss and will do anything to help him recover where the painting in. This desperate time brings them to Elizabeth (Rosario Dawson), a hypnotist who might be the only hope in recovering this painting. What she brings to the table, her true intentions, and what Simon will remember are things that will take everyone for a spin.

Trance's visuals are a dream come true (pun intended). All of the scenes involving Simon's inner most thoughts look amazing, very reminiscient of Eternal Sunshine where there's almost an animated quality to the live action scenes you're viewing.

Though everyone gives a sturdy performance, once Rosario Dawson shows up, you won't be able to take your eyes off her. Her performance here is stunning. Every scene she keeps your mind going, your attention never drifts off and she really gives a strong base into her character. Her character is the best spell this movie will cast on you.

Unfortunately, Trance struggles in the execution. About halfway through, you know a big twist or two is coming. Which is really quite the understatement of the year. Trance takes so many spins and then more spins on those spins you feel like you're on Roger Rabbit's Wild Ride which is fun but also might make you queasy. Too many surprises and turns were added it feels like overkill. Trance is an unforgettable ride that might leave your brain in a permanent trance.

2/4

You're Next

I'm doing a revision on my original review of 2.5 stars, because after a second viewing, I fucking loved every minute of it. I loved the 80's feel watching it, I loved how wickedly nasty every character was and how most of their deaths matched it. I loved how even in the middle of bodies hitting the floor that didn't stop them from giving each other Shit and calling each other out (the scene with the slo mo run out the door is everything). One of the most underappreciated horror movies of the decade by myself included.

3/4

The Conjuring

If there's a more fun and effective way to get your blood pressure raised then The Conjuring, I sure as hell haven't heard of it. The Conjuring is a blast and easily one of the best horror films of the last decade.

Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson play Ed and Lorraine Warren, two charismatic ghost hunters who work with truth and logic on their side. Rarely is a case so bizzare or malicious that the two can't offer a reasonable explanation for it; until they meet the Perron family, a group whose signs of being haunted range from creepy sounds and things being moved, to dead pets and unexpected guests. And surely enough, it even manages to go downhill from there.

The Conjuring has such an authentic nature you never really feel like you're watching a movie. I could watch the leads play the Warrens all day long and never believe they weren't real people on screen, the leads manage to give their roles some charisma and personality as well. They aren't your typical stiffs. The Perron family led by Lili Taylor as Carolyn Perron will make your bones shiver portraying a sense of compassion in their roles as each are haunted to death.

It's refreshing how James Wan has proven his versatility as a horror director I must say. After watching movies like Saw, I knew he could do the gory shit well but I never knew he could do the suspense well and he nails it. Every scene is milked to its' utmost potential, sometimes resulting in a false alarm, other times resulting in pure terror. Every set piece, character, doll, situation is used perfectly to nail the feeling of terror. The Conjuring is a roller coaster ride of a movie.

One of my other biggest compliments about The Conjuring is its' look. It takes a lot for a piece of scenery to make you feel spooked but even the scenery in The Conjuring is made to frighten. Every set piece looks amazing it reminds me of something you would see in The Haunted Mansion.

And unlike most horror movies which tend to fizzle out towards the end, The Conjuring stays strong until the credits roll. The exorcism scenes are spectacular (The Last Exorcism...take notes) the make-up is astounding. Everything works in The Conjuring, I loved every minute of it.

3/4

Admission

I was completely on board to enjoying Admission, I was really hoping the formulaic previews weren't an accurate display of how Admission would play out. Sadly, I was wrong, Admission is even more predictable and sitcom-y then the previews indicated I was waiting for the laugh track to come on at any second.

I don't think Admission's disappointing streak can be blamed on the cast. Tina Fey's always on board for a good time, once again proving that in disappointing movies like this and Baby Mama, she can ALMOST elevate anything. She makes you root for her character even though you pretty much know how she will start up in the movie and where she will end off. Paul Rudd also fares well as her romantic interest, though he isn't given much to do, he does it well.

Tina Fey stars as Portia, a college admissions officer sent to a quite unusual school to look for recruitments. She meets up with Paul Rudd's character John who introduces her to an aspiring student who might possibly be the child she put up for adoption many years ago. The only issue is that he's unlike any other student on their acceptance list, getting him in seems almost impossible (but you know rules will be bent to get him in).

Every situation in Admission can be seen miles away. Though some of them are enjoyable (thanks mainly to the cast's charm) it's impossible to really enjoy it when you feel like you've seen it so many times. The last half definitely falls flat on its' face, as the comedic tones have been replaced by hum drum dramatic themes that never feel authentic. Admission is a by-the-books bore that could have been stronger if someone had taken a chance instead of phoning it in.

2/4

Hatchet III

It saddens me how ridiculously terrible continuations like Hatchet III make people forget about how awesome the original Hatchet was in every way. It was hillarious, the performances were full of fun, the characters actually had personalities, the gore looked great and it was actually quite jumpy as well. Movies like Hatchet III should be banned from anything having to do with such a high quality.

There's such little plot here it's impossible to stretch it out. Marybeth (Danielle Harris) thinks that she killed Victor Crowley, of course (due to some inane logic about Victor returning to his former self every night) he isn't dead, ripping through a new group of people in a matter of minutes, it's up to Marybeth to stop him and blah blah blah.

It's hard to say what's the biggest reason is why Hatchet III makes you wish the hatchet would go through your head instead of the characters on screen. Could it be the ridiculously terrible performances? (Even by straight to DVD standards...this shit is beyond belief. Could it be the laughable death scenes and awful makeup (see how Crowley looks in this entry for further proof)? Could it be that there isn't a single scare, laugh, or surprise from beginning to end? Regardless, the scariest part about Hatchet III is the poster where the tagline "This legend never dies".

The very thought of there being a 4th Hatchet entry is far more sinister and terrifying then anything Crowley will ever be able to do with his infamous weapon.

0/4

Stoker

Easily one of the biggest disappointments this year along with Great Gatsby and Oz, it's depressing how much better Stoker really should have been. The previews made it look so intriguing and sinister but in the end I felt like I had watched the slowest running episode of Scooby Doo in existence, that wears its' welcome out long before the grand finale.

Stoker's lack of excellence can't be blamed on the cast though; they're all top notch here. Nicole Kidman, Matthew Goode, and Mia Wasikowska are all giving it their A-game. The trio all know where the creepy is at. If the material they were given had matched the strength all of them are giving with these messed up, fucked up characters, Stoker would have been a knock-out.

One of the biggest problems with Stoker is that it's just lazy. Right off the bat after India Stoker's (Wasikowska) father dies and her uncle (Goode) mysteriously shows up, you know he's up to no good. You know that India's mother Evelyn (Kidman) has the hots for him. You know that by the way India stares at her uncle...that she will eventually have the hots for him. Stoker takes an idea about the deception in one's one family and just sits on it. All of these twists are obvious and you keep waiting for something else to arrive that never does.

Stoker is definitely eye candy, meticulous is easily the word I can think of when describing the visuals. But sadly, I feel that the visuals were emphasized to overcompensate for how empty the movie is (ironically this is the way I felt with Great Gatsby and Oz also). I mentioned before you keep waiting for an actual surprising twist to occur but the truth is, Stoker will leave you waiting for ANYTHING to happen. There's so many chances for a great thrill or exciting climax and you're left holding you're breath for no reason. Stoker is terribly dull.

Throughout the movie, Richard Stoker is mourned by all, but I feel the most deserved mourning should go out to everyone that makes it to the end of Stoker, a beautiful looking yet awfully ditzy disappointment.

1/4

Tyler Perry's Temptation

Temptation is a movie I question on how one would be able to consider it as a serious film. Between the laughable dialogue and over the top drama, unlikeable and ridiculously wooden characters, Temptation has such a ridiculous feel of camp I kept waiting for Madea to pop out and say "Just kidding guys".

What's up? The movie begins with a marriage counselor telling a patient her "sister's" big mistake that she made with a decision to put lust and excitment over true love and stability. Her "sister" is Judith (Jurnee Smollett) a dating therapist who is stuck in a rut. She's not on the career path she would like to be (who could blame her with Kim Kardashian and Vanessa Williams with her terrible French accent as coworkers) and her marriage to Brice (Lance Gross) seems to be stuck in a tedious rut. She soon gets a chance to spice things up with Harley (Robbie Jones), a coveted man who is everything that Brice is not. At first, Judith is appalled by Harley's blunt flirtations with her, but soon can't resist this mystery life, to the dismay of her loving husband and family. Judith soon learns that if something is too good to be true, there's probably good reason.

What's good? It's a shame that such talent is wasted in such a bizzare soap opera like Temptation because minus a few exceptions I felt the cast was pretty strong. Jurnee Smollett will catch and keep your interest as Judith even when she begins to turn to the dark side. Lance Gross does well as Brice as well, effectively gaining sympathy as Judith's betrayal brakes his heart. Robbie Jones does the bad boy role as well and I also enjoyed Brandy as a side character working at Brice's pharmacy, though I really do question what her character's purpose in being in the movie was in the first place.

What the fuck? I feel like Tyler Perry forgot to make any of his characters likeable in this movie. Judith cheats on her husband and breaks away from everything and everyone that she loves for a man she barely knows. Brice forgets about his wife and is written as someone who is to say the least...a bit vacant. And Harley is an asshole. Not to mention Kim Kardashian and Vanessa Williams' characters who honestly make the first three seem like saints. Who gives a shit what happens when everyone is so nasty?

Life and love can definitely be dramatic and trying times, but Temptation takes it to such an extreme level you would swear you were watching a spoof or a children's play. Nothing or no one feels authentic here, it feels like Perry might as well have put in subtitles at certain points, "LOVE CAN SUCK, AND MIGHT MAKE YOU CHEAT, WHICH WILL CLEARLY HURT BUT YOU'LL GET YOUR ASS BEAT" literally. I felt like at times I was watching a public service announcement about the consequences of being unfaithful. It feels silly, most notably being scenes involving the climax, and a an early scene with Judith trying to spice up the sex life in her marriage is flat out painful.

Overall Temptation is a painful, ridiclously overdone try on the difficulties of romance and the negatives of being unfaithful. It tries to eliver a message with all of the subtlety of a hammer while delivering laughable situations and ridiculously unlikeable characters that really make the movie drag. It's not a fun movie to watch, it's certainly not something I would take seriously and it's capable of being forgotten within a matter of days. The most meaningful confession you could hear by the finale is that this movie was created for the sole purpose of sucking up your money.

1/4

Safe Haven

 

I despised just about everything that happened during Safe Haven. It's so awful and wretched you would swear you were watching the devil's valentine's day card. It's so gooey it would melt through your hand.

What's up? Julliane Hough stars as Katie, a woman who has just fleed her abusive relationship, ending up in North Carolina. Things are looking down, but with the help of Alex (Josh Duhamel) and her new neighbor; Jo (Cobie Smulders from How I Met Your Mother) things are starting to look up, which is always a sign that something is bad is coming, such as Katie's boyfriend/husband whatever he was, who isn't done with her just yet.

What's good? I would be greatly lying if I really enjoyed much about Safe Haven at all, but there is a nice last minute twist involving Alex's wife that I actually thought was a bit surprising. If the movie had done more with the twist for the first 15,000 hours of the duration, I might have enjoyed it more. The scenes in North Carolina are beautiful as well, if the movie was 2 minutes long without any dialogue I would recommend it in a heartbeat.

What the fuck? This is one of those movies that is a complete disaster to me, but one of the biggest issues I had is the romance itself.

For one, there isn't a consistent flow to this movie at all. I feel like editing needed to be tightened here. This is one of those movies that makes characters change their actions and motivations within a matter of seconds. For example, when first arriving in North Carolina, Katie can barely stand even looking at Alex, but in the next scene she's making googly eyes at him as if they had been married forever? The leads display 0% chemistry and both share as much excitement in their personalities as a bag.

But then again, it's hard to display a convincing romance with dialogue like this. Safe Haven is one of those movies that throws every romantic cliche at the screen in the hopes that fans will eat it up. I was very unmoved to say the least, everything feels forced and unconvincing, almost like no one was trying to actually make a quality romance.

And for a movie with themes involving murder, spirits, abuse, and domestic violence, Safe Haven plays it as tame as possible it's quite bizzare imagining who this movie was intended for. Those in the single digit ages probably wouldn't be allowed to see it and anyone over 12 would be in a coma by the end. Safe Haven is 115 minutes long but the ideas can be wrapped up on a post it.

Overall Safe Haven just feels incredibly lazy. It does nothing with the story, nothing with the actors, it drags, it lags, the editing feels schizophrenic and the whole thing feels like it was being sold by a bad telemarketer. It's a common belief these days that romance is dead and movies like Safe Haven will never stand up to prove otherwise.

1/4

This is the End

This is The End isn't so much a movie much as it is a feature length skit, providing a chance for the actors to poke fun at themselves the entire time. Luckily, most of this works thanks to balls to the wall, outrageous and often hillarious material used.

What's up? James Franco, Jonah Hill, Seth Rogen, Jay Baruchel, Michael Cera, Danny McBride and Craig Robinson play themselves as victims during an apocalypse in Hollywood forced to fend for themselves against the natural disaster, creatures, and sometimes themselves.

What's good? This is the type of movie that would completely fail if the commitment level isn't at 110% due to the ridiculous material but luckily everyone's fair game and at equal expense for a laugh. You really get the sense that all of the actors had a blast making it and most of the time you feel like you're involved in the fun.

For a movie whose focus is mainly on the comedic aspect, This is the End features effects that look like they came from nothing less superior then a Speilberg effort. The look of the movie is outstanding, watching Hollywood break apart looks terribly realistic, and even the monsters and death scenes have an odd touch of authenticity.

This is The End also features some of the funniest scenes I've seen so far this year, mainly thanks to Danny McBride and Craig Robinson. The scenes alone of the decapitated neighbor and the masturbatory battle (I kid you not) are worth giving the movie a watch.

Also to This is the End's credit, just when I was feeling like things were going to fizzle out towards the end, it proved me wrong, proving that commitment was given from beginning to end, it's nearly impossible not to smile with the end musical number/cameo appearance.

What the fuck? I don't have a ton of issues with This is The End but I will say that I feel it could have been shorter. Right before you're reaching the grand finale, the humor starts to hit a drout and I feel some scenes could have been trimmed/cut out a bit.

Overall This is The End is a blast from beginning to end. Granted, a bit of tightening could have made it even stronger but still it's a movie that would never make you feel like the end of the world could feel like such a party.

3/4

World War Z

I had a ton of anticipation before World War Z and sadly the movie never lived up to what I had imagined. Sadly, the entire movie feels like it's allergic to any type of risk or surprise, failing to inspire anything out of the viewer except for sighs.

What's up? Brad Pitt stars as Gerry Lane as a man determined to do anything to save his family. And when the world is overtaken by a massive amount of zombies, he will get a chance to prove his strength, needing to involve himself in first-hand combat against the enemies in order to provide consistent protection for his wife and kids.

What's good? World War Z is eye candy all the way, you can tell it took about 100,000,000,0000000 billion dollars to make and it shows. Several scenes are breathtaking. My personal favorites were the opening attack, the scene with all of the zombies piling up on each other like a chain (ruined in every preview) and the plane attack, where things reach their highest boiling point. I also thought the zombies themselves were rather impressive looking (for once they aren't blood stained or missing chunks) and I give kudos for this movie, unlike most zombies flicks, being able to keep them offscreen for some time, making it even more exciting when you were able to see one up close.

This is pretty much the Brad Pitt show, and luckily, he's a strong enough actor to pull it off. Not a lot of actors can shine on their own (for a majority of the movie it really feels like he's the only one around), but Pitt manages to keep the viewers' interest with his believability and strength in the lead role.

What the fuck? The irony of World War Z is that the PG-13 rating reduced the movie to being bloodless and that would be my biggest complaint about World War Z's tone; it's bloodless and gutless. Being PG-13 doesn't mean you need to take the shock out (see The Ring, The Others, 1408, The Skeleton Key for chilling PG-13 movies), but World War Z takes the gore limit needed and plays it safe. There's no surprise, genuine thrills, or even fun here. It's like a Disney channel zombie movie.

World War Z has the tendency to drag like a corpse. The opening scenes of hysteria are great but there's a giant chunk in the middle that just kind of paces in circles without ever going anywhere or arriving at a point. Evenually things pick up, the last 30 minutes is pretty fun to watch, but you have to make it through so much mud just to get somewhere. It's like the director would tease the viewer with an occasional awesome scene just to put them back to sleep 5 seconds later.

Overall World War Z had all the chances to succeed with a budget as limitless as the sky and a great cast, but sadly it takes the easy and safe way out, often resorting to bland zombie movie characteristics that have been done in much scarier and more memorable movies. There's a war going on between the living and the dead but a bigger battle that will occur is the struggle you will endure with staying awake.

2/4