2013 Film reviews (Alphabetical)

• 12 Rounds 2 : Reloaded - 6.5/10 - I really enjoyed this film from the underwhelming WWE Studios. This is a sequel from the 2008 film starring John Cena. This film stars Randy Orton and doesn't include any characters or storylines from the previous film. First off, Orton is great for this role. He is a MUCH better actor than Cena, and can bring out the best of dramatic emotions when he needs to. I also enjoyed the vilain in this film. With the exception of one twist towards the end that makes no sense, i felt like we could relate to him a lot for the reasons he is doing the things he is doing. The film almost feels like an early Die Hard movie with the scavenger hunt that Orton has to go on to save his girlfriend. The only critques i have for this film are the normal for WWE Studios. Some of the camera angles they use are terrible and not the best shots for capturing the action sequences. They also don't always write the best of backstories for their characters. Orton's character in particular suffers from lack of a past. We don't really find out anything about his character, and i think that would add to the good storytelling. Overall, 12 Rounds 2 is a good film, and among the top 5 for WWE films. It's definitely worth a one dollar Redbox rental, so give it a shot
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  12 Years a Slave - 10/10 - There are very few words that i can say to express how amazing and disturbing this film was. Steve Mcqueen is back with another masterpiece which is his best work to date. He has an amazing way of shooting the expressions in an actor's face and it's those reactions that really bring out the story of Solomon Northup, a New York businessman who is captured and tortured as a a slave in Georgia for 12 years. Many films and series have done this premise and the story on racial inequality before, but none better than this film. There were times when i had to look away because the scenes were done so tragically. When a movie can reach through the screen and grab at my heart strings, that is when it will more than likely receive a ten from me. People always ask me why i don't give them out often and it's because it will mean more when one finally does come out of my mouth. If Chiwetel Ejiofor doesn't win an Oscar for his work in this film, the academy are a bunch of morons, plain and simple. I feel like Mcqueen is one of those directors who can push each actor to the peak of their performance, and that is evidenced in this film. Paul Giamatti, Sarah Paulson and the amazing Michael Fassbender give the best performances of their lives. I was even impressed with Paul Dano as i do not usually enjoy his work. 12 Years a Slave is one of those films that show us that our pasts should never be forgotten. Racial equality has come a long way in this world, but it also took a long time to get here. I don't feel incorrect at all in saying that this film doesn't have one thing wrong with it. It is the best film i have seen in a long time. I don't want to give too much away because the images are something that has to be seen to be believed. All i will say is that i totally recommend this film to everyone. If you have to pay 1,8,10 or 12 dollars to see this film, hand it over without questions. There are still a lot of Oscar contender movies to come out over the next few months and i cannot wait to see them. It just sucks for those films that 12 Years a Slave came out the exact same year.
•  2 Guns - 6.5/10 - Honestly, i was a little disappointed in this film. It's good, but it doesn't have a lot of substance. The trailer pretty much tells you everything about the film, and you can tell the direction it is heading with all of the predictions in the first 15 minutes of it. I really enjoyed the team of Mark Wahlberg (stole the movie) and Denzel Washington, and you can tell they had a lot of fun shooting this film. The action is pretty good, the storyline reminds me of 1996's Bulletproof, and they even manage to throw some great comedic humor into it. I guess i was disappointed because nothing out of the ordinary happened. Like i said, if you have seen the trailer then you have already seen 90% of this film. Bill Paxton is great as the bad guy. He is typically someone i am not a fan of, but he certainly fit well as a C.I.A agent searching for his 43 million dollars. I would only recommend this film at the dollar theater or to wait till DVD. It's not something that would require you to put ahead of other (better) films that are currently playing.
•   21 and Over - 6/10 - The biggest problem with this movie is it's unoriginality. It's a movie that tries to take parts from The Hangover, Sex Drive and Eurotrip, but never quite succeeds at it. There were a couple of good laughs in the film and the dialogue definitely sets a precedent for the future of profane comedy, but overall it is just too inconsistent to carry the comedy torch with the movies it tries to take from. The two main characters aren't even original. One is a mixture of Vince Vaughn, Shia Lebouf and Stiffler from American Pie. The other one has to be Justin Long's brother because he mocks him to a tee. If you do see this movie, one part in particular made me cross my legs in pain. The main guy gets a teddy bear........well you know what? Figure it out for yourself.
•   42 - 8.5/10 - It's funny to go from my earlier review to this because this is one of my favorite films of the year so far. This film shows the struggles that Jackie Robinson went through in his rookie year in pro baseball. One of the things i loved about this film was the fact that it didn't just show the struggles of Jackie, but the struggles of his family, friends and even his teammates. It was great to see this team come together as a band of brothers who had each others backs when they realized Jackie is their teammate. The only minor criticism i had for the movie was that it only covers his rookie year. I would've liked to have seen this story span over the first seven years of his career to the point of him beating the Yankees in the World Series in 1955. I felt that if you even had to make it a 2 and a half hour movie to get to that point that it would've been entertaining enough to keep up through that length. Other than that, it's a film that i highly recommend to any sports or non-sports fan. The performances of Chadwick Boseman as Jackie and Harrison Ford as Branch Rickey are incredible enough to give this film a gander. I also really thought the cinematography of Ebbits Field was amazing. They got everything down perfectly to a tee with the stadium design of a stadium that has been gone for over 50 years
•   47 Ronin - 7.5/10 - I cannot understand why this film is sitting at a 12% on Rotten Tomatoes. Simply put, 47 Ronin is a perfect film for someone who enjoys the fantasy genre. It's a samurai dream composed of 2 hours of excellent fighting scenes and a great story to make you care about the characters. Keanu Reeves stars as a samurai who is cast out of his family when he illegally competes in a tournament. Keanu was dealt the right hand for a film like this. I think he is really good because (And i'm not trying to sound mean here) he doesn't talk a lot. They keep his character very mute and let him show his actions with the sword. Keanu is someone who can show deep emotion without ever saying a word, so why do so many films ruin him with too much dialogue? In addition to what i listed, the fight scenes are excellent in this film. Some of the animation of the monsters can get a little cartoonish for me, but this film is well choreographed from beginning to end. It knows where it's going and it knows how to get there. The only other problem i had with the film was the 3D. I don't feel this is a film that is needed with the 3D experience. There are a couple cool tricks with a dragon's tail coming at your face, or a ball and chain being thrown in your direction, but nothing to write home about. 47 Ronin tells a true story about a group of men who paid the ultimate sacrifice by standing by a leader that they always chose to fight for. It's a tale of honor and sacrifice, and that is why i recommend the film. Fantasy genre fans will love it.
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  Admission - 7/10 - A pretty good film about a woman (Tina Fey) who works in the Princeton admissions office and finds out that her son who she gave up for adoption is a prodigy who will be applying there. Going into this film i expected it to be a comedy with people like Tina Fey and Paul Rudd, but i was very surprised to see that this is every bit the romantic drama films of the 90's. One thing i really liked about this film was the way it taught you about how hard it really is to get into these Ivy league schools. I also think this is a film that those schools don't want you to see, as the snob "we're better than you" reputation is presented in a crystal clear light. I also enjoyed Rudd as he has shown the ability to pull of comedies and romantic films. At this point in his career, i am a big fan and will usually watch anything he is in. The only thing i didn't like about this film was it's dragging at parts. It does take this film a good 30 minutes to finally get you into it, but once you get there it does present a very original story. If you know me, you know originality gets extra points in my book, and that is why i recommend giving Admission a shot. The ladies will love it.
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  After Earth - 7/10 - I was very surprised with how much better this movie was than i thought it would be. Will and Jaden Smith are father and son (Big stretch i know) who crash land on Earth 50 years after it is deemed unlivable. From there, the movie tells a tale of boy becomes man in the form of Jaden Smith stepping out and making this movie his own. I was really surprised that Will took a backseat on this one. This is clearly Jaden's movie and you know it from the opening 5 minutes. This film featured a lot of excellent fighting scenes with the creatures that inhabit the earth. The only negative i really had for this film was the annoyance of the accents that the main characters had and the lack of acting from Jaden Smith. I know he is a teenager, but he doesn't even come close to inheriting his father's range. Overall, a good movie that i would recommend to anyone who liked Will's 90's films.
•   A Good Day to Die Hard - 5.5/10 - A problematic action packed film that will easily be forgotten in the Die Hard series. While i don't think this is the worst Die Hard of the series (Die Hard 2), i do feel like this is going to be the one that people will have the hardest time remembering. This is because nothing amazing happens in the film that will define the series. The action was great as always and there was a great twist towards the end of the film, but it doesn't go much further than that. I enjoyed the work of Jai Courtney when he wasn't being a sniveling crybaby whining about his dad never being there. The setting for the final shootout is so unbelievable even by Die Hard standards that it's hard to take seriously. I would recommend waiting for DVD on this one for all of you Die Hard fans. I still think 1 and 3 are the only ones i truly enjoyed of the series
•   A Haunted House - 4/10 - A very funny first 35 minutes, but then it flattens. I really don't have a lot much more to say about it because i felt dumber after watching it
•   All the Boys Love Mandy Lane - 3/10 - What a horrible piece of mess. This 2006 shelved film just came out this year and stars Amber Heard as a teenage girl who goes on a weekend getaway with the popular crowd. I can only imagine that the reason this film was on the shelf for 7 years is because it is a complete failure. I appreciate the original idea they were going for with this film, and some of the deaths are cool, but this film has a lot of problems. First of all the acting is terrible. Even for a straight to DVD horror film, the acting is some of the worst of the year. With that acting comes awful dialogue. Even for stupid teenagers, i can't picture them saying some of the conversations that are said in this film. Not one character you give a single bit about. They are all expendable and a waste in the truest form. The film is a whodunnit? which takes us back to the horror films of the 90's, but you realize who the killer is within the first 25 minutes. It is during the 40th minute when the killer reveals themselves, and 50 minutes still to spare. The thing that the director didn't realize is that there is nothing left after you give the big reveal, so it struggles for the rest of the movie. The remainder does include a swerve that i can say i did see coming, but it does work. It's just too late by this point. The close of the movie shows possibly the worst 10 minute fight scene i have ever seen. Neither person work well in a fighting angle, and it looks like a teenage girl slap fight. This is dead and useless film here people. Do yourself a favor and pass on this one when you see it on the movie store shelf. You will be glad you read this review first
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  A Madea Christmas - 4/10 - 93 Minutes has never felt longer. I shouldn't say that this film was a total waste, there are a few laughs. I hate saying this but Larry the Cable Guy was by far the best part of the film as the father of the husband in this story. Madea goes on vacation with a friend to the country to visit the friend's daughter. Throughout the weekend, they find out that the daughter is married to a white man. This film does pack a decent message with the point of us all bleeding red, but at what a price. To sit through Madea's loud rude and crude humor is just not worth another glorified Hallmark movie. Take away the rude jokes and that's exactly what this is. Cheap acting and a story that totally doesn't make sense. The people of this small town supposedly invested all of their money in this jubilee, so they all go broke. Sounds like a pretty stupid place to me. By the end of the film, the town gets their money back and some more ($100,000 a year for four years). It's said that the school will be able to buy a couple computers with that money. How much do they think a computer costs? For that much money, they could build a new building than the town hall building that the kids currently go to school at. I also feel like the reason for some of the racism in the film (Both black and white) are some of the dumbest reasons i have ever heard. A Madea Christmas is the best of the three Madea films i have seen, but it still has a long way to go. This kind of film only appeals to the deepest Tyler Perry fans, and from what i have heard, that isn't many. I don't need to tell you this, but pass on this one
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  American Hustle - 9/10 - One of the best films of the year that delivers some amazing performances. Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence give their all in roles that carry this movie to the top of the best films list. Bale and Adams are recruited by Cooper to take down some big corrupt city officials in a plan to save their own lives after being caught by the FBI during a scam they ran. While the four actors i named were equally great, it's Amy Adams who totally steals the movie. She has those scenes that make you feel what she is saying before she even opens her mouth, and that is the sign of a great actress. I was amazed with how much comedy was in this movie. I laughed a lot at mostly Cooper. He is semi-psychotic as an FBI agent who is definitely on his last ring of sanity. The film has a couple small problems that keep it from being a perfect film. First of all, some of the scenes are filler. They serve as nothing more than to create another funny scenario for the audience. These times in between will make you look at your watch and wonder how far along in the film you are. I almost wish they would've left those on the deleted scenes list. There are also a lot of swerves in the film, and that is good and bad. It is good because the swerves were so great that i didn't see any of them coming (especially the last one). But it's bad because after a couple of swerves it gets a little difficult to fully comprehend what is going on. This is definitely a film you are going to have to pay attention to. Many people will see it in theaters, but i almost advise to see it on DVD so you stop and rewind when you need to. It's a great film and one minute should definitely not be missed. David O Russell is definitely turning into a favorite director of mine for his great work on this, Flirting With Disaster, The Fighter and Silver Linings Playbook. Check out this film and enjoy some real Oscar contender performances
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  Anchorman 2 : The Legend Continues - 8/10 - This is going to be blasphemous to some people, but i thought this sequel to the 2004 original was even better. The film definitely steps it up in the laughs department, and i consider the original one of the 40 funniest films of all time. I now understand completely why it took almost 10 years for a sequel of this magnitude; everything is better. Besides the laughs, the movie tells a more epic story of Ron Burgandy and his news team. Some of the scenes will have you scratching your head in absurdity, but that is the kind of movies Will Ferrell is usually a part of. I have to admit that i was worried about this film with how much it has been pimped out on TV. I have seen Will Ferrell as Ron Burgandy everywhere over the last three weeks, and i thought it would be overdoing his best character. Some of the best scenes of the movie involve Ron's interaction with an African American family, a severely awkward sex scene and another news team war that is twice as good and star studded as the original. I don't want to give away a lot of spoilers, so this is one of those films you are going to have to see. I think even Ferrell haters will love this movie. It's got something for everyone. Brick Tambland (Steve Carrell) is the best part of the movie for me. He has more lines with longer screen time in the sequel and that is a great thing. Sometimes Burgandy can get a little overdone with audiences because they know his humor too well. This is when it's great to have someone like Carrell or Paul Rudd take the reigns and give their humor. The final ten minutes is some of the craziest things i have ever seen in a comedy, but i was laughing the whole time. Anchorman 2 brings back every great character from the first film and gives them more to do in the sequel. I recommend checking it out as it is the funniest film of the year (my opinion).
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  Bad Grandpa - 6.5/10 - This film can best be described as shock-comedy. With that said, i really enjoyed this film from the producers of the Jackass TV show about a widowed grandfather who has the task of driving his grandson back to his father across the country. This film definitely made me laugh and gave the viewers a lot to talk about for years to come. It didn't give me the same satisfaction as watching an actual Jackass movie, but the little boy (Played by Jackson Nicoll) is pure gold. He totally steals the movie with the things that come out of this child. My favorite scene of the film takes place at a ladies night dance club where Irving realizes it might be easier to pick up chicks if they are already hot for buff bodied male strippers. The only complaint i had from this film is that it's too short. It clocks in at about 85 minutes with credits included, and by that point i felt like the film could run another 10-15 minutes and be entertaining. The 2nd half of the film is definitely the better act because it spikes up the storyline with the comedy that is already present. I recommend this film to lovers of the TV show and Johnny Knoxville fans. Johnny is his same charming weirdo self, so you won't be disappointed
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  Beautiful Creatures - 7/10 - A pretty good film that definitely has it's good and bad points. I would first like to praise the performances of Jeremy Irons and Viola Davis for making the most out of a story that (in my opinion) was pretty bland. I enjoyed the amazing visuals during the dinner scene and the Civil War tornado was pretty cool. My problems with this film is the heavily-influenced Twilight story that they were so obviously trying to go for. I wouldn't have had a problem with it if they didn't make it so obvious. I also didn't like the main character of Ethan. I felt that the kid was borderline stalker and if the people who see this film are too blind to notice, then i can't help them. Overall, i would recommend the movie to the female audience for sure, but i think it would be very hard to imagine that the male audience will take anything away from it. That's not saying anything insulting, it's just that this love story is definitely made more for females
•  Birth of the Living Dead - 6.5/10 - This documentary about George Romero's original zombie masterpiece shows us the struggles of introducing the world to zombies. It's hard to understand today just how much Romero went through with trying to get this film into theaters and drive ins because the world as we know it today loves zombies. What i loved about this film was all of the stuff i learned about the cast, what it took to purchase the equipment and the copyright mistake that led to a horror classic possibly losing millions of the take it brought in. This documentary gives us some great in depth interviews with Romero. The master of zombies tells us that no one wanted to give a first time 27 year old director a chance, and how that was his motivation to get the film released. The only thing i didn't like about this film was how many films outside of the horror world that it took credit for. I don't exactly think The Godfather trilogy was made because of the negative ending in Night of the Living Dead. It's a bit of a stretch to claim many cinematic classics, but i see what they were going for. Check it out if you are like me, and a big fan of the Romero zombie epics
•   Broken City - 7/10 - Russell Crowe is at the top of his game as a crooked politician who is hell bent on winning the election at any cost. This film had a lot of great interaction moments like the one near the end with Crowe and Mark Wahlberg. They are two veterans of the action/drama genre that have perfected their craft. The only thing i probably would've cut out of this were a couple of the characters as i feel they weren't needed. I would recommend a DVD viewing, but you won't be lost if you don't catch this one in the theatres.
•   Bullet to the Head - 7/10 - A truly gritty action packed thrill ride. Sylvester Stallone is amazing as a trained killer in one of his best roles of the last ten years. I truly enjoyed that this movie didn't try to be anything that it wasn't. You want action? Then this is the movie to see. There were also great villain roles in this movie that added to the fast paced storyline. I definitely recommend it to anyone who is a thrill seeker for action and great fights.
•   Captain Phillips - 7.5/10 - Tom Hanks gives his best performance in nearly a decade in this film about a ship taken over by African pirates. I didn't expect too much from this film, but boy was i surprised. The film does a great job of telling the 2009 story of merchant mariner Richard Phillips and his amazing rescue. What i like is that i knew most of the events that happened in the film, but there were some things that even surprised me. That's not to say that this film is 100% true, but we as a public are not privy to that kind of information, so i will take anything. The only thing i didn't like about the film is it's length. It is too long of a film and does drag at certain points. It would be easy to trim a half hour off of this film, but i kind of understand what they were going for. As i said before, Hanks is brilliant. This role is kind of different for him because he doesn't often play a victim. I was really rooting for him and hoping for the best in every situation he was put in. Just when you think he may be safe, he was put into an even worse situation. I have seen six films this week and this is definitely the best one. The way it is shot is brilliant with a minor shaky cam that doesn't go to extreme annoyance levels (See Die Hard 5). The cast is perfect, including the pirates themselves. I definitely recommend this film to everyone, but i would save it for DVD. It's over 2 hours long, so you will appreciate those times when you can pause the film to go to the bathroom or do something around the house. Either way, definitely worth a look.
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  Carrie - 6.5/10 - Chloe Moretz and Julianne Moore star in this remake of the 1976 thriller about a girl with telekinetic powers. This film wasn't as bad as i thought it was going to be. The dialogue was awful, the high school kids were a little over the top with their villain hatred, and it's a little hard to believe Chloe Moretz in this role. Moretz is a great actress and a great pick for the role of the prom scene, but it's every thing else that i have a problem with believing her in the role. Moretz is too beautiful to play a role that was described as an "Ugly duckling" in Stephen King's book. The prom scene is pretty badass though. They modernized it to make some pretty gruesome deaths that much more interesting. Julianne Moore and Judy Doyle were amazing as the mother and gym teach of Carrie White, respectively. Moore is one of those actresses that can play any role you put her in. She is just that damn good. I sort of wish the film were a little longer than the 91 minute cut that we received. I can imagine there are some decent deleted scenes as there was a good chunk of the story left out. Still, Carrie isn't a bad little film. I would recommend it for the dollar theater if you want to get out of the house. We don't really learn anything new in the story, so the only reason to see it is to see the performances by the different actors at the helm.
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  Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2 - 7/10 - The laughs are brought with a very cute movie for the whole family. I really enjoyed this film that is a sequel to what i thought was the best animated film of 2009. All of the best characters are back with Terry Crewes filling in for Mr T. I personally preferred Terry Crewes as i feel he is comic gold in anything that he does. Steve the Monkey has always been my favorite character in this franchise, but i thought Berry was a much welcome addition. There was something about this film that was more adorable than funny. Don't get me wrong, the laughs are certainly there, but this film was just more of a feel good story for me. It doesn't match the greatness of the original, but it is still a very good film. I have been real pleased the last couple of years with animated films. I think they are reaching an artistic peak with the technology available. I would welcome a 3rd film in this franchise as i feel they kept it very entertaining in the 2nd film. I personally preferred the egotistical mayor of the first film as opposed to Chester V, but that is a nit pick. Take the whole family to see this film. The kids will like it for all of the adorable and funny characters, but the adults will love it for all of the puns the kids don't understand.
•  Curse of Chucky - 7/10 - The moral of this story is to never judge a book by it's previous covers. The Child's Play franchise isn't one one of my favorites in horror, but i did enjoy the first one. I think it's a pretty silly premise, but has it's charms with some great death scenes and a story that is good but never gives us a full history lesson. That is all multiplied by 5 with Curse of Chucky. This is the best film in the franchise by far. It's got amazing death scenes, an amazing story that i will get to later and a cast of great characters. Brad Douriff dons the voice of the knife hurling doll known as Chucky. It was great to also see his daughter, Fiona Douriff as the lead of the film as a wheel chaired victim who must overcome her situation. The film is filmed with other amazing cameos that i am not going to spoil for you, and we finally get to find out the back story of the killer who possesses the Chucky doll, Charles Lee Ray. Brad Douriff had a lot to do with writing this film because he wrote a very clever way to bring Chucky back which none of the other sequels have figured out. Chucky is also menacing in this one like he was in the original. Sure, there are some comedic lines, but it's not overdone. Chucky became a literal joke to everyone with the last couple films and this rightfully brings him back as a legend in the horror genre. The acting was terrible as usual with this film and some of the characters are dumb by actions, but i don't think the film suffered as a result of it. Curse of Chucky is one of the biggest surprises of the year in my book, and it definitely reaches the top 5 in horror for the year of 2013. I recommend this film to fans of the franchise or anyone who thought that last few movies were crap. I think this is a film that likers and haters of Chucky will all enjoy.
•   Dallas Buyers Club - 9/10 - Such a great film with the performance of a lifetime from Matthew McConaughey. I have been very impressed lately with Matthew's roles as i feel he has taken on some films that have brought out the real actor in him. The film stars Matthew, Jared Leto and Jennifer Garner as pawns in a new Aids world. McConaughey is a live fast rodeo bull rider who hits a speed bump when he finds out that he has aids. The transformation that he takes is what really makes the movie. McConaughey's Ron Woodruff is a rugged homophobic jerk who doesn't care what he does and who he offends as long as he isn't interpreted as gay. It is in that role that Woodruff becomes a pioneer for these people who are affected by Aids, but have to wait until the right medicine is passed by the FDA in America. Ron travels all over the world to get his clients the drugs that they need to fight the unpredictable disease. He gets closer to Rayon (Leto) as he finds out that there is more that meets the transexual eye. I love Leto in this performance, but i don't feel it is Oscar worthy like everyone says. Leto isn't given enough screen time to even make a claim at a Best Supporting Actor nomination. The only real problem i had with the film is that there are times when it drags. The film is nearly 2 hours, but isn't filled with enough drama to keep you from wondering when the film will end. Even that is a little nitpick, as the film is one of my top ten for 2013. The film kind of surprised me with how funny it was in parts. The dialogue is very entertaining for asshole characters you wouldn't normally give the time of day too. Dallas Buyers Club isn't playing in many theaters, but i definitely recommend you give it a chance and see it for yourself. You will understand how the FDA in the country is nowhere near the point we need it to be to give our suffering the treatment that they need
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  Dead Man Down - 8/10 - Tons of thrills in this crime drama starring Colin Ferrell and Noomi Rapice. This film really amazed me considering it is produced by WWE films. It's easily the best thing that company has ever produced. The best thing about this movie is the fact that it is a completely different film than what it represents in the trailer. Colin Ferrell's family is murdered by a crime group led by Terrance Howard. He lives on to join their group in order to get back at them and what follows is a great story. This film does have a lot of action, but i think it's the story and the wonderful characters that really brings it together. Some of the weaknesses was the ending. I didn't feel that it was the right kind of justice for the bad guys, but that is nitpicking. I also felt some of the scenes were a little comical at times. Like the scene where Noomi Rapice has rocks thrown at her by small children. That's a little extreme for kids picking on her. Overall, a great film that i recommend to everyone. Not a lot of money went into this film and sometimes it is better that way. Dead Man Down proves that good action mixed with a great story is always a winner.
•   Delivery Man - 6/10 - Definitely the most i have enjoyed a Vince Vaughn film since 2011's The Dilemma. With that said, it is far from a perfect film. Delivery Man goes through an identity crisis not knowing if it wants to be a comedy or a drama. It is because of the drama scenes that tug at your heart strings, that the crude humor does not work in a picture like this. Vaughn is ok in the role of a man who has fathered 533 kids through clinic donations. I feel like since the role doesn't ask as much as the original version (2011's Starbuck), Vaughn is an ok choice for the role. If they were trying to keep it like Starbuck, it would demand another actor because Vaughn is unable to push those dramatic scenes to the limit. Vaughn stars as Dave Wozniak, a man who is on the verge of starting a family with his girlfriend when he comes to the discovery of this secret. It's no secret that i wasn't a fan of The Internship, and i hated The Watch. Delivery Man is different though because it pits Vaughn in a role that is completely different for once. It was nice to see him not go for the cheap laughs and actually put back on his acting chops like he did in Clay Pigeons or A Cool Dry Place. The film gives us a somewhat unbelievable ending, but it's forgivable in the fact that Wozniak is made a better man. I recommend this film to all Vince Vaughn fans as i feel if you loved The Internship, there is absolutely no reason you won't enjoy this. Wait till video though. No reason to jump off the couch to see this film.
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  Despicable Me 2 - 7.5/10 - This film was really entertaining and almost comes as close as the laughs it had in the first film. Gru and his minions are back in this sequel to find Gru a wife. It's obvious at about 20 minutes into the film that this is going to be Lucy (voiced by Kristen Wig). While i normally love Kristen Wig, i found her role to be the only thing about the movie i didn't like. Her character is annoying at times and doesn't have a lot to do. The Minions are better than they were in the first film with such bits as singing 'I Swear', and rowing boats with their funny sounds. I enjoy the Dispicable Me franchise, and it seems like a spinoff with the minions is right around the corner. One of the better things with franchises like this is that the whole family can see it. There are enough grown up jokes involved in this film that Mom and Dad can take the kids and not worry about being bored for 90 minutes. Side note - I am strongly debating being Gru for Halloween. I guess i will just have to see what i can do about it. Overall, a really good film that i recommend everyone sees in a theater. Really, there isn't much better out in theaters right now. Probably Man of Steel is the only thing i would see above this.
•   Django Unchained - 7/10 - I had to watch it a 2nd time to decide how i truly felt about this movie. The positives for it are the performances of Leonardo Dicaprio, Christoph Waltz and Samuel L Jackson. It also has a lot of Tarrantino dialogue. The negative for me was the running time of 2 hours and 45 minutes. I could've easily shaved a good hour of this movie and had it still be just as entertaining. My overall opinion is good, but far from Tarrantino's best.
•   Don Jon - 7.5/10 - To see this film's trailer is to only see half of the film. This comedy starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt is a lot more than a young man's addiction to porn. It is about his transformation into becoming a better person which makes his sexual experiences that much better. Tony Danza totally stole the movie as Levitt's father who is a shining example of most hard assed parents who want the best for their kids. I always say that Requiem For a Dream should be shown to every high school kid in the world, well this film needs to be shown to every male who is in a relationship. I don't want to give too much away, but this film asks the question of which things within yourself are worth changing for what you view as tranquility. The only things i didn't like about the film was some of the acting being a little over the top. I think people see New Jersey citizens in the script and always have to play to the stereotype. I feel like these characters could've added a little more to making them their own. Also, Brie Larsen plays Levitt's sister and is totally wasted as she plays the Silent Bob role of the movie. Don Jon is a film about opening up your eyes and changing the things in your life that may be toxic to the way you live. I recommend this film to the male demographic. I don't know how secure the female demographic will be to enjoy this film. The porn might be a little too over the top.
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  Downloaded - 8/10 - A great documentary about the rise and fall of the music sharing giant known as Napster. The film gives a great look into the battles and insight of the Napster employees and the war they fought against music industry giants. I think the story is told very well by both sides of the war, and shows you what the musicians were going through as well. It was also crazy to watch the last ten minutes and see the kind of successes and failures that Shawn Fanning and Shawn Parker accomplished after Napster. I definitely recommend giving this film a chance if you were a teenager like me in 2000 who grew up in a world where the technology was getting faster and smarter. Downloaded has 105 minutes of amazing footage that shows you the kind of world we were dealing with, and the ground that was being laid for internet giants like Facebook, Spotify and Itunes.
•  Drinking Buddies - 6/10 - Not a bad little film, but i felt like the ending left something to be desired. Drinking Buddies is a film about two couples who go on vacation together and cheat on each other. The results are one relationship ends while the other continues until the truth is revealed. When i saw the trailer for this film, it screamed comedy. That is a very wrong representation. This film reminded me of a Kevin Smith Chasing Amy kind of drama. It stars a great cast of Olivia Wilde, Ron Livingston, Jake Johnson (Nick from Tv's New Girl), Anna Kendrick and Jason Sudeikas. It's funny that this film has Johnson in it because this film plays off as an episode of New Girl. It waits and waits and waits for Johnson and Wilde to hook up, and even dragging it out for the better part of the 90 minute run time. That was probably my biggest problem with the film; it was just incomplete. It drags in the middle while trying to bring these two together, and then the ending doesn't even give you a definitive closure on all of the characters. I really think they could've invested more time in the dialogue and made these characters more presentable to the audience, but what you get is a film that seems like dragging even in only 90 minutes. One thing i liked about the film was the representation of alcoholism as Wilde and Johnson work at a brewing factory. Wilde's character can definitely be described as an alcoholic and we see her life spiral down in shambles because of bad decisions. I recommend this film now that it's out on DVD because you will only be spending a buck or two. I definitely feel it's worth those dollars, but you will finish the movie wondering why you wasted 90 minutes on this film instead of something much better. There are definitely MUCH better dramadies that have come out in recent years.
•   Elysium - 5/10 - I still don't know what the hell i just watched. Matt Damon and Jodie Foster star in possibly the biggest bomb of the summer (my opinion). This film had a very confusing storyline, slow paced movement among the storylines and a weak ending. You could pretty much predict what happens in the film just by watching the trailer. There were a couple of things i enjoyed and that was the performances of Jodie Foster as the head of security on Elysium. She really brings a lot to the role as a snob who is trying to keep the poor class off of her land. I also enjoyed Sharlto Copley as the rugged bad guy, Krueger. The film also has some decent action scenes, but that is it. The problems with this film are the symbolism it expresses with our own world of overpopulation and a snobbish rich class. I am not saying that there is anything wrong with symbolism, but it was poured on WAY too thick in this film. Elysium is a look at the future that takes you on a ride through a look at the future. The problem with that look is that it only gets exciting in the final 20 minutes. It is within that time frame that we finally land on Elysium. Anything before that, is a long and boring look at characters in which we don't ever receive a decent back story with. I don't recommend Elysium unless you are a die hard Matt Damon fan. Even then, it would be hard for me to believe you would enjoy this.
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  Empire State - 4/10 - I can totally understand why this film which has a great cast went straight to DVD. Liam Hemsworth, The Rock and Emma Roberts star in this film about the biggest heist in American history. Hemsworth stars as a night time security officer who guards the city's money exchange. When his partner is shot dead, he decides that life is too short and decides to rob the station of it's 25 million dollars. Right off the bat, the problems i had with the film was the dialogue as well as the characters being some of the dumbest of the 2013 film year. For a robbery that was so much money, it sure seemed pretty easy with the way the security officers told everything to Hemsworth during his first day on the job. I mean, they showed him every possible way to get to the money and get out undetected past the security dog, the cameras and the secured timers. They told him so much, it seemed like everyone was just waiting for him to rob the place. It's a shame that this film is so weak because it has a good cast and a decent story that could have been told a lot better. The Rock does nothing different in this film, and plays the same character that he does in every action movie. Roberts is probably the biggest waste though, as her character barely has ten total minutes of screen time. What is the purpose of even having a big name actress like her in this film? She doesn't even seem to have a close friendship to Hemsworth, so i don't even see the point of her character. I don't recommend this film when it comes to DVD in 2 weeks. There are certainly much better true crime stories that are coming to DVD soon. Try The Iceman
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  Ender's Game - 6/10 - I have a lot to say about this film, but i'm not sure where to begin. First of all, i am not reviewing the novel of Ender's Game. I have never read the book and i will not even try to debate my knowledge on that subject. The film is an easily forgettable one. Is it a good film? Yes, but to anyone who hasn't read the book or know a decent amount about the story, you will be lost at times. When i saw big names like Harrison Ford, Viola Davis and Ben Kingsley, i imagined that this film was going to turn in some incredible performances. But the trio of award winning actors are kind of left to waste with short dialogue that doesn't give us any time to know their characters. Ford is the best by far in the fact that he is hiding more than we are led to believe throughout the film. For the first 90 minutes, i thought this film was all about practice and training, which would have put my review at around a 4 or 5. But this film redeems itself a little in the final ten minutes which pulls the wool from our eyes and turns around everything we were led to believe in the film up to this point. The action and set pieces in the film are beautiful. There is no debating that if you are to see this film, it must be at the theaters. I also enjoyed the work of Asa Butterfield as the story's main character. His voice is a little pre-teen screaming when he gets excited, but i think he is great to play the role of a kid who knows he has a revolution that he is responsible for. In the end, Ender's Game gives us a look at a possible sequel and i do think there will be enough fans to support that wish. To me, Ender's Game is recommended, but it's nothing incredible. The script seems rushed with so many of the events that are portrayed, but overall it's not a bad little film. I would put this one somewhere in the middle of all the films i have reviewed this year.
•  Escape From Tomorrow - .5/10 - WOW!!! What the hell did i just watch? Disney World is put under a dark side in this film that resembles Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. For those of you who don't know this film was shot entirely guerilla style at Disney World without Disney's permission. Because the film changes the music in the background, it does qualify as legal use. Disney have distanced themselves from this film and i totally understand why. First of all, the good things. It does have a decent premise that would have been much better under a different and more experienced director. They were going for the whole secret side of Disney thing here, and i can get behind that. It's execution is done so weird and pointless that you wonder what the hell you just watched. The acting (Even for amateurs) is pathetic. I am going to go on a limb and say anyone associated with this film will probably never work in cinema again. I also liked the music in the background of the film. I think that some of the music mixed with the beautiful noir black and white shots makes for some enjoyable moments. The problem is that those moments are few and far between. This is one of those movies so bad that it has to be seen to be believed. I find it amazing how they filmed this whole movie on Canon cameras and Iphones because some of the shots leave you wondering how the hell they did that. I just wish more effort would have been put to the actual script itself. I never thought i would see one of the best films i have ever seen and one of the worst in the same week, but i am far past surprised in this business, anymore
•   Escape Plan - 5/10 - I was very disappointed in this film starring Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger about an escape artist who escapes from prisons for a living. This film was INSANELY unbelievable even for a Stallone film. I watched The Expendable movies and loved them, but this film doesn't pack the same charm. There are limits to everyone's suspension of disbelief, but this excedes those limits to overdrive. It is also very predictable as you can see many of the swerves coming from a mile away. I did enjoy the work of Jim Caviezel in this film as the villain atop the prison. He seemed to be having a lot of fun in the work as the villain for once. A lot of the action scenes and witty dialogue is there, but it just doesn't give us the same kind of charm from this year's Bullet to the Head and The Last Stand. Those films were far superior and give us a story that is down to earth. The thing i didn't understand about the prison was if they knew Stallone was an escape artist and they studied his work by reading his book, why wouldn't there be more focus on him? I would have a guard on him 24 hours a day. Even when he sleeps. Those same thoughts will ruin this film for anyone with half a brain. I recommend this film to hardcore Stallone/Arnold fans, but no one else.
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  Evil Dead - 8/10 - Really great horror movie that was a non stop gorefest. I really enjoyed the references to the original movies and the creative ways they accomplished it. I recommend this movie as a movie that you don't really take seriously but a movie that you go to have fun with your friends. The only things i didn't like were the cast. I couldn't care less what happened to them. There were also certain things that were done by a nail gun and a chainsaw that i couldn't believe, but i will bitch about that more later. I totally recommend this film to everyone.
•   Fast and Furious 6 - 7/10 - A very fun movie that will make for a good time in any friend group. The movie had a lot of great qualities including non-stop action. It also featured great comedic turns by Tyreese and Ludacris. The biggest shining moment in my opinion for the acting was that of big time up and coming actor Luke Evans. He had a great role as the smart villain Owen Shaw. Some of the things i didn't like about this movie were the way some things weren't explained well within the plans. Also, some of the characters don't have much to do or say because it is such a large ensemble. The biggest problem with this movie however, is the INSANE and illogical stunts. I understand that this is a Fast and Furious movie and most people will think i am whining for a bad reason, but this was unbelievable even for Fast and Furious standards. Just a total new definition of gravity portrayed in this film. Overall, i recommend it because it is one fast paced action thrill ride that doesn't need cheap 3D effects to pull of a good film. Fun for everyone
•   Frozen - 8/10 - The best animated film i have seen in a long time. Before seeing this film, i had no idea that it was a musical. It's a good thing that it is, because this film has some of the best musical pieces from Disney in a long time. The thing that i love the most about this film is that it reminds me a lot of those Disney films from the 80's and 90's. It was a time when the music was possibly the most important aspect of a Disney film, and that is what this is. The film doesn't have your typical love story or your typical villain. Hell, it even has a swerve. That aspect alone gives Frozen a very original touch. On top of it, there is some of the most beautiful visuals i have ever seen in an animated film. I definitely think this film should win the Oscar for best animated film. The cast is incredible. Outside of Kristen Bell, it's not really anyone super famous and i like that. Just voice actors here, the way it should be. Idina Menzel has the voice of an angel with amazing songs that she had a part in writing. The comic character (Olaf) was pretty good too. I don't feel he was desperately needed, but Disney loves their comedy. I definitely recommend everyone see this film. Kids will love the colorful characters, and adults will appreciate the creative songs.
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  Fruitvale Station - 8/10 - This was a very deep look into the tragedy of Fruitvale Station in San Francisco on New Year's Eve 2008. An african american male is shot by a caucasian police officer, leaving the family in shambles. This film is heartbreaking in every sense that a man lost his life at the age of 22. He left behind a daughter and a loving girlfriend. I enjoyed the film because it is shot very well. I usually don't like the "Shot on video" style of films, but this story is a film that definitely benefited from it. Octavia Spencer is the best performer in the film as usual. She always gives such a performance that can tug at the strings of your heart in any emotion. I think she is purely underrated and one of the best actresses in Hollywood today. I also liked how they made a short incident seem longer in an 80 minute film by filling in the blanks. They gave us a great back story that made you care about the change and good things to come in these characters futures. There were a couple of things i didn't like which included the actress playing the girlfriend. I just think she wasn't emotional enough to pull off a role of that magnitude. You can't even tell me for a second that his girlfriend wasn't knocked to the floor when she heard the news of her boyfriend. Yet she plays it like a headlight in her car just burnt out. The movie is definitely worth a look, but the only problem with true story films is that you never know 100% what is real and what the studios did to enhance a film. The final shot of the movie is done so well and leaves you with a powerful stance when you exit the film. I definitely recommend this film if you can find it in theaters. If not, it should be out on DVD soon.
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  Gangster Squad - 8/10 - An action packed thrill ride that carries a lot of substance in the acting department. Sean Penn totally steals the show as real life gangster Mickey Cohen. This movie has a serious plot with some comedic humor on the undertones. I would definitely recommend it.
•   Getaway - 4/10 - This unoriginal film was definitely nothing to be amazed with. Ethan Hawke, Selina Gomez and Jon Voight star in this fast paced thriller about a man's wife being kidnapped for a hefty ransom. In a nutshell, you have seen this premise a million times before, so what makes Getaway so different? Absolutely nothing. I mean sure, there are some amazing camera angles and the action is off the hook, but it has a very week story that doesn't bring out the best in the characters. Action can only take a film so far without a story line. The Fast and Furious films are a great example of this. They needed a storyline for the last couple of films so it wouldn't be the same chase and crash scene over and over. Selina Gomez is possibly the most annoying character of the year. She seems like a brat who whines and constantly complains. Voight is good as the bad guy (Big surprise there, huh?), but he doesn't have a lot to do. We don't ever see his face, and come to think of it, this film is a lot like 2002's Phone Booth. We don't see the villain's face or (SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER) we are thrown for a huge loop at the end when he isn't the bad guy caught. It's the exact same ending. The film is good for it's action, but i don't think that is enough to make a believer out of me. I don't recommend this film unless you see it on HBO or Showtime in a year. It's nothing to really get excited about.
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  GI Joe : Retaliation - 6.5/10 - Decent movie with a lot of great fight scenes. The Rock and Bruce Willis were decent additions to this sequel. The 3D wasn't really necessary because there wasn't a lot that really made the 3D stand out in this movie. My favorite scene is probably the entirety of the snow mountain scene. Very awesome martial arts used in that incredible fast paced scene. Some of the dialogue as well as the implausibility is what really took away from the movie for me. I recommend it for fans of the cartoon and comic, but i don't think it's a necessity that you see it in theaters.
•   Gravity - 8/10 - This film was easily the most suspenseful film of the year for me. First of all, you have to see this film in theaters. DVD will not do it justice one bit. I also recommend you go to the 3D showing. I don't usually condone 3D, but it was well worth it in this film. Sandra Bullock and George Clooney are stuck in orbit in space. That is the whole premise. It seems dull, but these two great actors really make the most of a situation. My favorite things about this film was the editing and the score. Both of which are the best of the year in my opinion. The music is what totally supplies the suspense of this film. You really care for these characters and can see the terror that they face coming from a mile away. I found it funny that Ed Harris supplied the voice for mission control again (Apollo 13). The only thing i didn't like about the film was that some scenes drag on a little too far. I think this will ruin the film for some people with short attention spans. This film gives us the most beautiful shots of earth in the background, and it's only with those shots can you truly understand how deep these two are in. I recommend this film to everyone, but only in theaters.
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  Grown Ups 2 - 3/10 - Ohhhh my Lord, where do i start? This film was absolute garbage in it's purest form. I laughed a couple of times, but those were at the jokes that have the most obvious punchline. Adam Sandler plays the biggest douchebag i have ever met who continuously insults him children, is a non supporting husband and acts like he has unstoppable power in making the decisions for the family when he doesn't even have a job. The humor is the goddamn pitts. One joke calls for Kevin James to burp, sneeze and fart at the same time. Now i know people are going to insult me and say that i shouldn't watch a movie that i know is going to be trash. You guys have to realize that i do these things for you. I try to put out the warnings to help you before you spend money. I also know that there will be people who will now make it their mission to go see Grown Ups 2 and tell me how wrong i was because they like to argue. But i am going to cut straight to the point. If you like this film, you are a moron. You will find even the dumbest thing funny and there is no help for you. There was one thing i liked about the film; Salma Hayek's breasts bouncing. THAT'S FUCKING IT!!!! I don't think this was the worst film of the year, but it's pretty damn close. I am one of those people who enjoyed some of the charm of the first film, but it's absolutely gone in this shit bomb. Amazingly though, none of those things were my biggest problem with the film. They actually had CGI shots for this film that included a fake deer and a fake tire going down the road. But that's not quite my problem, it's the fact that it's the worst CGI i have ever seen in my life. This looks fake for Birdemic standards. I totally don't recommend this film to anyone, but i know people are going to love it because i trashed it so bad. In the words of a good Adam Sandler flick i leave you with this quote " Mr. Madison, what you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul".
•   Grudge Match - 6/10 - Sylvester Stallone and Robert De Niro return to the boxing ring in a film that is decent, but easily forgettable. The two fighters fought twice with each of them winning one fight. When Stallone retires from the ring, De Niro has to wait 30 years for his rematch. The two out of shape veteran boxers are laughed out of every press conference and promotion for the fight. This film wasn't bad considering it's a tired setting for both actors. Kevin Hart and Alan Arkin each add their brand of humor to the film, and it's only a few scenes that actually bring a smile to your face. This is one of those films where all of the good lines are said in the trailer and that is unfortunate. I did enjoy the story of the film and how the two boxers are tied closer than their respective sport. I also enjoyed that this film has bravery by actually having a winner. I have seen too many sports movies where it will end in a tie or never tell us the winner that i was expecting that with this film. Pittsburgh is the perfect place to set this film in. It's the city of workers who are tougher than the concrete they walk on. It makes sense to make both of these fighters from the steel city. Grudge Match is a decent film to see for a family who are looking for something to do to keep them out of the cold. But as a critic, i have to say that this film runs out of energy before it even hits the final round. The verdict - Give it a rental.
•   Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters - 5.5/10 - This is a very rushed and sloppy story being told. I enjoyed some of the original angles that they took with the siblings, but for the most part none of it made sense. The one positive that i took away from it was the amazing kill scenes. I would recommend it on DVD, but don't waste your time at the theatre
•   Hello Herman - 4/10 - Herman is a boy who shoots up his high school after years of abuse and torture. This film's biggest problem (aside from it's editing, sound, terrible acting and length of time) is it's story progression. With a movie synopsis like the one i described, you know a story can't go much further. Example - Boy shoots up school, boy either dies or goes to prison, Boy is put to death if he is sent to prison.....THE END. There isn't anything about this film that makes you go WOW, or sets up a difference in the shootings we have had in our country. This film does offer a look into the mind of one of these children who are picked on, but it's stuff we already know. It's pretty much assumed that a child doesn't just snap for the hell of it. There has to be a building up of tension and terror in a child's life for them to let it all out. This film is just an anatomy of that. Norman Reedus does give a decent performance and has some shadows of his own, but that is definitely not enough to save this film. The movie was so generic that the news channel was called "American News", i am not kidding. The news anchor and the governor are so overdone that it's ridiculous. We are supposed to sit there and believe that they would get away with the things they say about Herman on TV? Even killers cannot be trashed like they are doing. Overall, i don't recommend this film to anyone. It's a decent look at a hate crime, but it doesn't give you anything new to put yourself through 85 minutes of this slop
•   Homefront - 5.5/10 - I was really disappointed with this film about Jason Statham and his daughter starting a new life in the country. James Franco played a badass villain who really showed a different level for his acting. I know he has played a villain before, but nothing like this. He is a country hick who takes no lip from anyone. Franco is great, and there are some excellent dramatic scenarios that unwind, but this film has a lot wrong with it. The biggest thing is that these people are natural born idiots. I get that parents can act extreme if someone messes with their child, but even this is taking it over the line. This whole movie unwinds because two kids had a very minor fight at school. The reactions are just stupid and never quite make you feel relative to the subject. I also felt that the fights were very obviously choreographed. Even for a Statham film, the fights were just obviously overdone with everything looking too crisp for country people who probably don't know anything about martial arts. Finally, i felt the editing was awful. They kept doing something where they would start cutting to the next scene but then stay on the present scene and then go to the next scene. It was just really weird to watch because you are focused on one piece and then they are shoving the other one at you before you are done with the previous scene. Homefront does have it's charms, and if the film was ever on TV i would probably watch it. It does carry a deeper storyline than most Statham films. It just fails in the execution of the events that unfold. I would like to see this film done as a 20 minute short film by a college student looking to take his strides in Hollywood. Anything more than that just doesn't make sense to me. Some people might like this film, but i just can't recommend it.
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  Hours - 7.5/10 - If this is the last full length Paul Walker film, then i can say that his memory will go happy. This film really surprised me with how good it was. In my opinion, Running Scared and Joy Ride are the best Paul Walker films, but this is very close as well. Walker stars a man who is on his way to the emergency room to be there for his wife who is giving birth. When he is told that his little girl is on a breathing machine until she can breathe on her own, he finds out his wife has passed. When you take a story that already has a great plot like that and mix it with the fact that this is all taking place during Hurricane Katrina, it makes for an edge of the seat ride. The hospital is completely abandoned, so it's up to Walker to keep his daughter alive for their rescue 48 hours later. I love when a film takes place in one setting the whole film. I think it asks more from it's actors that way, and Walker definitely delivers. I really enjoyed the realism from the faulty hospital equipment to the surprises that Walker has while being alone in the hospital. When Walker died, he left behind a lot of fans who enjoyed the charisma that he showed on screen. If you are one of these fans, you simply CAN NOT miss this film. The ladies will shed some tears and be yelling at the screen while the guys will appreciate what the man does to keep his daughter alive.
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  House Party 5 Tonight's the Night - 2/10 - What a complete pile of crap. It's sad to think of how great the first three movies were of the franchise and see what it's become. Even the 4th film (Ferris Bueller rip-off) entertained me more than this. I am going to get out of the way the one thing i liked about this film and that is Kid N Play returning to cameo in the roles that made them famous. My problem with it however is that they are in the last 2 minutes of the movie. They make us wait 88 damn minutes for a 2 minute cameo that isn't that good. This film made me miss Grown Ups 2 with it's horrible dialogue and acting. It looks like they pulled a bunch of kids off of a high school acting class and let them do their thing. If that doesn't do it for you then maybe insulting fat people by making them break the floor during a sex scene. Yeah, that's sure to get a laugh out of everyone, because fat people should only be used for trashing. There is also pedophilia with a 50 something neighbor coming to the party to hit on the 17 year old main character. She is about as trashy as your worst nightmare while lifting her skirt and mentioning how wet the main character has made her. This film is so bad and it knows it that it references other films and TV shows (Twilight, True Blood). One thing i always find funny about these films are the fact that everyone can dance. Now, i'm not talking about a dance movie like You Got Served or Step Up, because those people are supposed to be trained dancers. This is a high school movie with kids who can dance better than an Usher video. Another funny part is when the token bad guy shows up and punches out the main character, and actually walks out to boo's. WHO DOES THAT? If this isn't enough, they even insult and poke fun at the first House Party by naming the main character Chris and then insulting the Kid N Play dance move by calling it whack. People in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. The ending is left with the biggest form of unbelievable as Chris's best friend fixes the mess by selling his car. That's fine and dandy, but how did he fix the huge hole in the floor in less than 8 hours? Better yet, how did he sell his car between the hours of 3 AM and 9 AM? I don't recommend this film to anyone, and you can definitely look for it on the bottom five of my end of the year countdown.
•   Identity Thief - 7/10 - A very funny movie that turns in great performances by Jason Bateman (Big fan) and Melissa MCcarthy. I also enjoyed the side performances of villains like Robert Patrick, T.I, and the always funny Eric Stonestreet. I did have a couple of problems with the movie and i will mention those in the bottom of this review. I recommend this movie for someone who wants to laugh and have a great time at the movies. It's better than 95% of movies that are currently in theaters and for that reason alone you should see it.SPOILER ALERTS!!!!!! DO NOT READ ON IF YOU DON'T WANT TO BE SPOILED1. Jason Bateman is a complete idiot and he deserved to have his identity ripped off. Who would be dumb enough to fall for the scheme that he did??2. The workers of the bank that the two main characters ripoff are completely not following bank procedures and should be fired for letting them be able to ripoff Jon Favreau's money.3. Apparently, the cops had no interest in pursuing Jason Bateman any further for stealing that money. After he escapes the police, they don't check highway cameras or hotel cameras to secure the identity of Bateman and where they might find him
•   Inside Llewyn Davis - 7/10 - Inside Llewyn Davis is kind of like a new song by a famous artist (The Coen Brothers). It's got a good rhythm (Screenplay) and good characters (Narration), but it's not the best from the artist or nearly the kind of songs you fell in love with (No Country For Old Men, The Big Lebowski, O Brother Where Art Thou). With that said, Oscar Isaac is a Best Lead Actor front runner when the Oscars come in March. He gives an amazingly warmhearted and dry witted performance as Llewyn Davis, a folk song writer struggling to stay afloat in 1961 New York. The first hour of this film kept in contention with some of the best films i have seen this year. It's in the 2nd hour that the film begins to lose steam. We find out that some things have happened in Llewyn's life that he has to make right. Mainly impregnating the girlfriend (Carey Mulligan) of a fellow friend and artist (Justin Timberlake). Mulligan is outstanding in the role of the harsh and negative girl who doesn't quite know what she sees in Davis. My biggest problem with this film aside from the ending (Which i will get to later), is that many of the questions were never answered. I don't want to spoil anything, but we never find out about the abortion or a couple of other things by the movie's end. It's like they had a great story and abandoned some of the parts to make an artsy ending. The ending itself just happens anti-climatic. When the screen goes black, you will ask yourself if that really is the end. It's a shame too because you really care about these characters. They deserved a better ending than the one they are given. It's amazing that with all i have said that The Coen Brothers still put together a decent film. Some great positives is the setting of each scene with incredible lighting. Also a score that i will be picking up in stores that should win an Oscar. Inside Llewyn Davis is not a film for everyone. Nothing huge or groundbreaking happens in this film. But if you can sit through almost 2 hours of beautiful songs with deep characters whose questions are not always answered, then this cup of tea is for you, friend. It's also pretty cool to hear Akron mentioned a couple of times in the film
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  Insidious Chapter 2 - 5/10 - I am convinced that i may be the only person who didn't like this movie. I have seen posts over the last week from people saying it was "The best movie ever" and "The best horror film of the year". It all left me scratching my head after watching it. Insidious 2 does have it's moments. I particularly enjoyed the storyline about the abused little boy and the spirit of the woman in black. It made complete sense when they were explaining the back story and some of the things that happened in the first film. The one thing i didn't understand was how the good spirit of Josh could hear the alarm going off in the first film and then be the one ringing the alarm at the same time in the 2nd film. The thing that is real depressing is that i laughed my way through a lot of this film. The fight scenes were anything but suspenseful and the scenes are just utterly pointless. The comedic dialogue was great (especially with the two nerds), but it doesn't belong in a demonic film this dark. The score is once again phenominal. There is something about hearing violins during jumpy scenes that really heightens the terror. I also enjoyed the work of Patrick Wilson and Rose Byrne. They were definitely the right choices for the mother and father of this family. This film really made me sad for the first one because i LOVED that movie. The suspense was great and it didn't need some cheap comedy laughs or even a backstory for it to be great. Speaking of which, where the hell did the man with the red face go in this sequel? He is nowhere to be found. You would think that he would have a lot to do with this abused child becoming a killer. Overall, i DO recommend this film because i know people are going to like it because some people were not raised on classic horror films. This is a genre that i am a very tough critic with because it's my favorite kind of films, but i do not give this a passing grade.
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  Iron Man 3 - 8/10 - Before i begin my review i would like to point out the reviewers who will give a lot of movies a 10/10. This is especially the case when they see a superhero movie. Just because they left the movie with a good feeling they will give it a perfect score. To me, there has only been between 10 and 15 perfect score movies ever. The less you give out perfect scores, the more it will mean to a movie when you do give it a 10/10. With that said, a lot of people will give this a 10/10, but this movie certainly has it's flaws. I won't get into too many spoilers but The Mandarin character was TOTALLY ruined by this movie. The Mandarin is supposed to be every bit as smart as Tony Stark and the biggest menace that he faces in the comics and they totally bitched this character out. It's a shame because Ben Kingsley is easily the best actor on the set of this movie and he is nothing more than a joke. Don Cheadle is also on sleeping mode in this movie and doesn't find a lot to do. This movie also didn't do a lot with the 3D effects. I don't really see a big reason to pay 13 dollars for a 3D experience. On the positive side, Guy Pearce was amazing as a ruthless businessman who proposes a dangerous experiment to Tony Stark. I really felt that he was the best part of this movie. The action was also the best of the three Iron Man films that included an incredible scene with the destruction of Tony Stark's house. It was also pretty cool to see William Sadler and Miguel Ferrer as the president and vice president, respectively. Overall, i would recommend this film in theaters but not in 3D. It's not something that is needed at all. I would rank this as the 2nd best Iron Man film behind the original.
•   Jack Reacher - 6.5/10 - Tom Cruise is back as a special forces soldier who is called upon to investigate an army soldier who he kept dibs on in Iraq. Reacher (Cruise) is basically a ghost to the world. No credit, no identification and no set location. He is a man who travels the world and prefers to stay a mystery. The Reacher character is certainly one of the brightest points of this film. He's smart, cool and most of all, dangerous. This film starts off great in the first hour as it creates a different kind of film for Tom Cruise. Yes, some of his dialogue is annoying, and he plays the character too cool to ever take a bad guy seriously. But it's the investigation into the Iraq soldier that makes this film really smart and clever. One of the things it does is look into five shooting victims that happens in the opening scene of the film. Through flashbacks, it shows us the events that led to the victims being in the crime scene area that day. That is something that rarely ever happens in murder mysteries like this. The characters stories usually don't matter because they are dead at this point, and that is where this film is different. We learn that it was no odd coincidence that anyone was in front of the gun that day. The problem with Jack Reacher is that it peters out in the final 70 minutes of the film. 130 minutes is FAR too long for a film like this. Some scenes drag out way too long with dialogue that is represented just to make for funny scenes. Robert Duvall makes a cameo as a gun store owner who strikes up a friendship with Cruise. Is this friendship needed? Not really. Duvall is wasted here playing the same old man character that he always plays. The ending falls back into that cliche world of Tom Cruise films that some either love or hate. Jack Reacher is the best effort from Tom Cruise in a long time. With that said, it's safe to give this film a chance by renting it through Redbox. It's a long film, but i am willing to bet that everyone will find something they like about it. Cruise fans will love that Tom is back to his hip and cool style.
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  Jack The Giant Slayer - 8/10 - This one was probably the biggest surprise of the year for me so far. I really loved the set pieces and the backgrounds for being as dreamy as the fairytale itself. I loved that they added little bits of story to make the fairytale transform into a 100 minute movie. Even Nicholas Hoult (Jack) gave a wayyyy better performance in this film than he did in Warm Bodies. Stanley Tucci was also amazing (as usual) playing the bad guy. The Giants were also amazing looking and not too overdone by the CGI like most films can do. Some of the things i didn't like was the dragging at times in between the bigger parts of the films. I know it's customary for most films to do this, but i just wish they would cut those parts all together. I am ok with an 80 minute movie as long as it's mostly entertaining. I also didn't like the way the giants had to respect who ever carried the throne. THEY ARE GIANTS!!! They're stronger, bigger and they follow no rules. Other than that though, it was a great film. I definitely recommend it if you liked stories like this growing up.
•   Jobs - 7.5/10 - I enjoyed a lot of the aspects of this film. The scenery is well done with a great model of the Apple offices being displayed. I really thought the film was shot in a beautiful way with lots of close up angles to display the emotions of a character. Ashton Kutcher wouldn't have been my #1 choice to play Steve Jobs, but he gets a couple things right. Steve Jobs was a genius, but an asshole at the same time. Kutcher brings out the asshole in Jobs, but that is about it. The problem with Ashton playing the Apple CEO is that i only see Ashton; i don't see Steve. The best performances in a biography film make you feel like you are watching the character and not the actor. Some good examples are Daniel Day-Lewis (Lincoln), Jared Leto (Chapter 27) and John Cusack (The Raven).With that said, i would've opted for Jason Schwartzman. Jobs gets a lot right with a script that includes a lot of important dates. It also has a lot of events that should be cut from the film that don't make any reason to be there. With a 2 hour running time, there are definitely ways to get this down to a 100 minute film. When comparing this film to The Social Network and Pirates of Silicon Valley, i enjoyed the story and characters more in Social Network, but i felt Jobs was better than Pirates. I recommend this film as a rental or pay per view purchase. Not that the film isn't good enough to see in theaters, but there are some small things you may miss that will need rewinding, so i don't think it's suitable for theaters.
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  Kick Ass 2 - 6/10 - I have to say, i was expecting much worse after reading the critics reviews. First of all lets get it out of the way, this film is nowhere near as good as the original. I consider the original Kick Ass the child of the series. Kick Ass 2 would be the teenage version as there are a lot of hormones and teenage problems in this one. More on that later. If there is a Kick Ass 3, it would be the full evolution of these characters as they have now taken on the adult superhero role. My biggest problems with this film were the dialogue which isn't funny at all. I laughed a couple of times, but they were more about the situation. I was a little disappointed that the best character in the film (Hit Girl) is nothing more than a "Mean Girls" storyline for 3/4 of the film. Chloe Moretz is great again as the purple haired warrior. Christopher Mintz Plasse also does a great job as the super villain Motherfucker. He provided the only laughs of the film for me. I also didn't like the setting of this film. I know that seems like something stupid to complain about, but the first Kick - Ass had such beautiful coloring and cinematography that just isn't present here. It still maintains that comic book feel which is nice, but the whole aura isn't there. John Leguizamo and Jim Carrey were great in their roles for the 10 minutes each of screen time they received, but they were mostly wasted in this film. Nicolas Cage didn't have much more screen time in the first film, and still made the most of it. I definitely think some fans will be disappointed with this film because it doesn't pack the punch that the first one did. I am part of the crowd that thinks it is good but not great. I would recommend this film when it comes to dollar theaters. I think it definitely warrants a silver screen showing from some of the action scenes, and the Hit Girl Vs Mother Russia fight scene is definitely not to be missed
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  Killing Season - 7/10 - Robert De Niro and John Travolta return to top notch in this revenge thriller. De Niro held Travolta at gunpoint in the Bosnia war shooting and (what he thought) killing him. 18 Years later, Travolta returns for revenge. I loved the amazing acting by each one. This movie only features four credited actors, but it doesn't need anyone else. It's all about De Niro and Travolta giving great performances. The film only runs 80 minutes, but i don't think it hurts it in anyway. It has a story to tell and that is as long as the movie could possibly stretch without it getting dull. I enjoyed the beautiful music score by Christopher Young. Johnny Cash even lends his support with the song "Don't take your guns to town". It certainly makes you never look at the song the same way again. Since this is an independent film, you probably won't be able to find it, but i definitely recommend seeking it out when it hits DVD. If you are a fan of De Niro or Travolta, i think you will enjoy it.
•   Last Vegas - 6/10 - This film about four friends who travel to Las Vegas to have a bachelor party for the playboy of the group who finally settles down. The film stars Michael Douglas, Robert Deniro, Morgan Freeman and Kevin Kline as the group of friends who have done everything for each other for nearly 60 years. I enjoyed this film based on the undertones of settling down and finding love before this great dance we call life is over. Freeman and Kline match each other on line for line for the best role of the film. I personally think Freeman edges him slightly because it is funny to see Morgan do things like judge a bikini contest and dance to LMFAO. Beyond that, the movie lacks in substance. It doesn't really drag from it's 92 minute run time, but it just doesn't have enough story to fill that time. There is an interesting love triangle that develops midway through the film that makes you wonder who will end up with whom. This film had a lot of similarities to The Hangover trilogy, and if i were to judge i would say that this film is better than The Hangover 2 and 3, but falls just shy of the original. That film had more laughs than this one, but i also understand that they are two different styles of film. Last Vegas is a good recommendation for someone who is a big fan of any of the four stars. I would recommend that you see it in a dollar theater or rental though. There just isn't enough there for me to warrant this as anywhere near the top of my end of the year list.
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  Les Miserables - 8/10 - One amazingly beautiful picture with the best cinematography of the year. The sets really created a dark world in which every one of these characters sang of their breakthroughs. I thoroughly enjoyed the performances of Jackman and Hathaway, and had it not been for Daniel Day Lewis (Lincoln), i would automatically assume that Jackman would take the Oscar. I also fell head over heels for the girl who played Eponine (Samantha Barks). When she sang 'On my own', it actually brought a tear to my eyes. I was also very surprised at how good Amanda Seyfried was as Cozette. I really thought that was going to be one of the weaker parts of the movie, but i was wrong. Now for the weaknesses, Russell Crowe did great as Javert, but that man cannot sing to save his life. It's just my opinion, but his voice carries no rhythm what so ever and i find it hard that this man can inspire any kind of army. Another weakness was the screen time of 2 Hours and 37 Minutes. This movie is good, but it's not great enough to carry a time like that without lagging in some spots. Luckily, Sacha Baron Cohen and Helena Bonham Carter kept showing up to give it the little spike it needed. There were also a couple of camera errors and inconsistencies i noticed, but i wont get into those as i feel they aren't important with a review. Overall, i would recommend this movie to musical fans, but it might lag to anyone who doesn't have patience to watch a 2 and 1/2 hour movie.
•   Machete Kills - 6/10 - A decent sequel from the same people who brought you the legendary original. This film lays the ground for a very unusual trilogy. I will not give much away about the upcoming third film, but this film gave what it always promises. It had great and goofy action scenes with a lot of blood. It had laughs that were a little few and far between, but still there. It had crazy characters played by some big time actors. The best of those performances are from Mel Gibson and Cuba Gooding JR. Cuba is only in the film for a few minutes, but his performance is one of my favorites just on the attitude he brings to the role he is playing. Gibson is great as the villain of the film. He creates a Star Wars-esque scenary (Yes you read that right) that creates an over the top finale. The things i didn't like about the film were petty, but they were there. I have never been a fan of CGI blood when there are so many amazing special effects guys anymore. Hell, Tom Savini was starring in the movie, so there is absolutely no reason for this. I get that they might do it to make it look cheesy, but i think human effects would make it even funnier. I also didn't like the ground work laid for the 3rd film. I will definitely go see it, but i am not looking too forward to it based on the scenery. These films are all about the goofy, but sometimes you can take it a little too far. I recommend Machete Kills if you want a good time at the movies. There isn't anything wrong with waiting till dollar theaters though to see it.
•  Mama - 5/10 - This movie was really disappointing for me. For the last two weeks, i heard nothing but positive reviews about how this film was different from the shock-horror that they have given us for the last decade. This movie was so far beyond stupid that i can't even fathom what i did with the last 93 minutes. The ending (which i won't spoil) was so terrible that i can't even believe that they wanted us to be ok with it. The only things that brought it up from a 3 or 4 was the performance of child-actress Megan Charpentier, and the amazing visual effects that made Mama look real chilling. Other than that, TOTAL CRAP. It's not the worst movie i have seen this year, but it's pretty damn close
• Man of Steel - 8.5/10 - Such a beautiful film with a cast that really hits a home run. Zach Snyder is back with another amazing piece of cinematography. As a fan of Watchman and the beauty of Sucker Punch (Cause not much else was great about that film), this movie only improved my opinion on Mr. Snyder. This is the film that every Superman fan has been waiting decades for. In my opinion, this is the greatest Superman film of all time. Great acting performances are handed in by Kevin Costner, Russell Crowe, Laurence Fishbourne and of course the amazing Michael Shannon. I didn't really like Amy Adams as Lois Lane, but she is a football field better than Kate Bosworth. It also took some time for me to adjust to Henry Cavill as the man with the cape. I am not fully in his camp yet, and it may take another Superman movie to see what he can do when he is deeper under fire. The problem with making a Superman film and why nearly no one has been able to do it is because he is the strongest and fastest superhero on the planet. It's hard to put someone up against him and make him seem defeated and vulnerable. Zod is an excellent choice to put up some adversity, but i had a couple other villains who i would've preferred. I absolutely loved the action and destruction in this film. After being slightly disappointed with Iron Man 3, Man of Steel redeems my faith in the superhero genre. My favorite part of the film was definitely the epic showdown between Superman and Zod which goes through buildings and streets like they are wallpaper. I longed for more scenes on Krypton as i felt they were some of the best of the movie. Overall, i definitely recommend this film and would like to hear your opinions on where it ranks among the original four Superman Movies and the 2005 Superman Returns
•    Metallica : Through the Never - 6/10 - The worlds of music and film meet in this concert film with the story happening outside of a Metallica concert. First of all, the band still has it. They put on an epic 10 song performance that makes you feel like you are there in the live crowd. Shot with the beautiful Technicolor cameras, it makes for an amazing stage show that pushes the music even further. The other half of the film stars Dane Dehann as a stage hand who is caught in the middle of an apocalypse outside of the stadium. His job is to deliver a mysterious bag that we never find out what is inside. This part of the film we could have done without, but i understand why they did it. There are some beautiful symbolism shots that include a burning scene that had to be near impossible to shoot. We just never learn why this whole thing is going on and we know even less about why this bag is so important. There is no talking during this part of the film at all, and they just act as action and fighting scenes to play to the background of the music. To me, this film could be summarized as one giant 85 minute music video, but i think it's a little more than that. I have seen concert films before and this one leaves you with a little extra. I do love Dehann as an actor and wish he could have gotten more character development here. This film only played for one weekend at Imax theaters and it's understandable. It's hard to categorize this as a film or a concert. It's an experience that has to be seen by all Metallica fans. If you aren't a fan of the band, it won't mean anything to you.
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  Movie 43 - 1.5/10 - WOW!!!! For those of you who thought i had even a shred of intelligence in me, i can promise you it is now gone. This movie is by far the worst movie i have seen in the early 2013 so far. I never imagined that a movie with Emma Stone would be so bad. This movie has a great cast, but they are doing these stupid Mad TV style skits. The difference is that i loved Mad TV and this unfunny piece of shit is beyond comparison. I wouldn't recommend this movie to anyone unless there is someone in your life that you really hate. Even then, it might be too severe of a punishment.
•   Mud - 7/10 - Matthew McConaughey stars in this coming of age tale about a man on the run and living on an island when he befriends two children. To be honest, i didn't really know what to expect when i saw the trailers for this film. I knew i definitely wanted to see it because of the amazing cast (Reese Witherspoon, Michael Shannon and Sarah Paulson to name a few), but i didn't know if it would be any good or not. My answer is that this is a pretty good film that tells a good story. The problem with that story is that it drags out at times and has pacing problems while getting to the big conclusion. The film runs in at 2 hours and 10 minutes, and really has no reason to be that long. Other than that, my only other problem with the film was the concentrating on some of the outside storylines. I would've appreciated a better telling of the stuff outside of Mud trying to get off of the island. This film is packed with good things though. This includes amazing performances by the two little boys (Tye Sheridan and Jacob Lofland, respectively). They give the movie a "Stand By Me" kind of feel with the great bond the two boys share. All they want is an adventure to get them away from their less than thrilling lives and they found it in this stranger who shows up out of nowhere. I also enjoyed the settings of this small town where the youths wonder what adult to trust, if any. Overall, i recommend this film when it comes out on DVD next week. If Mcconaughey doesn't bother you too much, then give it a shot. It's a little long, but a lot better than most of the theater releases that have come out lately.
•   Nebraska - 8/10 - Bruce Dern and Will Forte star in this black and white adventure about an old man (Dern) who receives a letter in the mail claiming he has won 1 million dollars. We know it's a scam from the start, but that isn't what the film is about. There are a lot of hidden meanings in this film that you really have to pay attention to get. One of those meanings was a father/son bonding experience across country. We find out that Dern has been kind of an abandoning father to Forte, but there isn't anything the son wouldn't do to make his father happy. The film is beautifully shot in black and white which i feel gives an old style feel in the way that we may be seeing the world the way Dern does. There are also excellent performances from Bob Odenkirk and who i think should win the Oscar for Best Supporting Female, June Squibb. Squibb is electric as the nagging wife who is driven crazy by her husband, but stands by him with her devotion to love. Nebraska is a slow sit though. I can't say i would recommend this film to anyone but fans of director Alexander Payne (Sideways). His style of slow shots and meaningful undertones is something i like in a director. As i said, the film is riddled in slow spots. The dialogue is 100% of this movie. If you are waiting for some big explosion or some earth shattering event, this isn't the film for you. I think most people will be bored by it, but i enjoyed it. It's a different film from what you see in 2013, and if you have to travel to Nebraska to find it, well so be it.
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  Now You See Me - 7/10 - This is the best example of cast carrying a script. The first hour of this movie is really well done, and then it takes a turn for the unbelievable. It's funny that this film is about magic because it is every bit as unbelievable as the sport it exploits. The difference between this being a good movie though is the cast. It was great to see Jesse Eisenberg and Woody Harrelson back together (Zombieland) and Michael Caine with Morgan Freeman (Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy). Freeman is excellent as a former magician who reveals all of four horseman's secrets. You really have to suspend disbelief for some of the craziest magic illusions you have ever seen. The ending is kind of satisfying, but has a twist that is very easy to see coming. While the film is good, it suffers from a weak script that keeps it from becoming as good as The Prestige. It is however better than the other magic film of this year, Burt Wonderstone........WAY BETTER. I recommend this film to anyone if you can go watch a movie and suspend a lot of disbelief. Basically, if you appreciated the logic of The Fast and Furious series, then you will love this.
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  Oblivion - 7/10 - Overall a pretty good movie that could've been a lot better. I went into this film with very low expectations and i think that is why it paid off well. Tom Cruise is part of a cleanup crew that is trying to pick up the pieces after an extinction war with aliens in 2077. I am not usually a Tom Cruise fan, but i feel like he brought a lot to a good character that i legitimately cared about. This movie has great action, well written characters and great cinematography that creates a beautiful film to look at. This movie could've easily fallen into the disaster of other Cruise films like Minority Report, but this movie had the genius that is Morgan Freeman and Melissa Leo giving a decent performance as the leader of the alien race. I don't want to give too much away, but one of the things i didn't like was the last two minutes of the movie. The ending (at least the one you thought) would have been a pretty damn good way to end it, and i probably would've given this film a 7.5 if it ended there. But the last two minutes are completely implausible and it leaves you with a bad taste in your mouth. I really had a fun time watching this film and was well entertained with the 2 hour run time. I recommend this film to sci-fi fans, but for anyone else i am not so sure. I could easily see people not agreeing with me on this film, so for non sci-fi fans i will say check it out on DVD.
•   Oldboy (2013) - 7/10 - This film has it's advantages to the 2003 Korean original, but falls just short of surpassing it. Josh Brolin gives an amazing performance and stars as a man trapped and imprisoned for 20 years for things he did in his past. He finds out he is framed for the murder of his wife while in that prison. I really enjoyed the 2003 version and was kind of worried about this one. Spike Lee does a decent job in adapting a very violent story to American cinema. There were a couple of things that i actually liked better in this film than the original. I will not spoil those things for the people who have not seen either version. The camera work in this film is supreme to that of it's original for the quick cuts and views the way Brolin sees things. The ending to this version is also better in my opinion, as i had a couple of problems with the way the original ended. The acting is better in the original as the villain in this film is laughable. It feels like Brolin is controlling him the whole time and that is something that just doesn't work in this story. There were also some violent things left out of this version that i felt added to the story, and those opportunities were missed. Overall, this film isn't a bad version of the story. I would recommend this film only after you have seen the 2003 original. If you liked that film, then i really think you will enjoy this one as well.
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  Olympus Has Fallen - 7.5/10 - A really good action movie that reminds me a lot of the 80's action flicks we have come to love. Infact, this movie was more Die Hard than the newest Die Hard sequel that came out last month. Gerard Butler was incredibly badass as a former Secret Service agent who returns to the White House to take down a Korean terrorist threat. This movie had so much more than just action, it also had comedy, decent acting and an incredible cast that included Aaron Eckhart and Morgan Freeman. The weaknesses for me was the way they made it look completely easy to break into the safest building in the world. Other than that, it's a fun time at the movies. I recommend it to anyone who doesn't have to watch the greatest movie in the world, but just a good old school action flick.
•   Only God Forgives - 7/10 - This review will no doubt be the weirdest and most contradictory of all of my reviews. First of all, i want to say that i enjoyed the film. It was definitely a good old fashioned Japanese revenge film. It reminded me a lot of the kung fu films because of the graphic violence of it. I also enjoyed the cinematography and the way the film was shot. Nicolas Refn sees a world in his films that is both beautiful and frightening. He is a director that i really enjoy, and i felt he did a good job here........mostly. On the negative side, i can fully understand why this film was booed at Cannes Film Festival. This movie definitely isn't for everyone, and i will go ahead and tell all of my readers that i would be very surprised if anyone else likes this movie. One thing that is good and bad about this film is that it's dominated by the performance of Vithaya Pansringarm. Make no mistake about it, this is his movie. As much as you are told in the trailer and synopsis to hate this man, he is the guy you will feel the closest to. You understand why he does the things he does. Ryan Gosling and Kristen Scott Thomas are kind of wasted here. It's a shame because you have great actors like these two in the film and they are practically on sleep mode the entire time. Only God Forgives will go down as possibly the only film i have ever liked and not recommended at the same time
•   Out of the Furnace - 7.5/10 - A very deep and dark movie about the lengths we will go when something happens to a member of our families. This film has some amazing character performances and it's those performances alone that give you every reason to see this film. Those performances are led by Woody Harrelson as a drug selling country hick who runs an underground fighting ring. Harrelson is one of my favorite actors, and it's always fun seeing what role he will play next. Choosing him to be the villain for this movie was great casting. Is there any role this man can not do? Christian Bale and Casey Affleck are also impressive as the brothers in the story. Affleck has a young charm that makes him too naive for the stupid decisions he makes. Bale continues to be the best character actor bar non on the planet. The man will do anything to prepare for a role. The one thing i will say about this film is without those actors giving amazing performances, this film is nothing. The script is mediocre and plays out like a film you would watch on Lifetime Movies. It knows the points it's crowd is supposed to cheer and boo and it exploits them. The film has a nice haunted town setting of Pittsburgh and it's surrounding suburbs. A soundtrack by Pearl Jam gives the town it's extra feel of hard nosed fighters who just never know when to quit. I recommend checking this film out, but keep in mind that there are some slow parts. Those parts don't seem as big of a deal with the performances unfolding at hand.
•  Oz : The Great and Powerful - 9/10 - The best 3D movie i have ever seen. Such beautiful cinematography that added to the amazing 3D effects of things like falling snow, shooting arrows and a white water thrill ride. I didn't really have a problem with Mila Kunis like everyone else has who has seen this flick. However, i thought it was Michelle Williams and Rachel Weisz who really stole this movie. I had a couple of very small continuity issues with how it translates to The Wizard of Oz, but they are very small gripes. With that said, i will now say something that will definitely get me shot - I thought this film was better than The Wizard of Oz. Trust me when i say that Wizard of Oz is a classic and deserves all of the recognition it has gotten, but it also drags in parts. This movie is one that always kept my eyes on the screen and fully entertained at all times. I recommend this film to everyone, but you MUST see it in theaters. If you don't see this movie in 3D, you are doing a disservice to yourself and the movie in general.
•   Pacific Rim - 7/10 - This film was like a mix between The Power Rangers movie and Real Steel. I will first of all start by saying that i enjoyed this film a lot more than all three Transformers films and Battleship. This film has a lot better characters and real life drama than those films could ever comprehend. This movie is a big war with robots taking on monsters that appear out of a portal from the ocean floor. My only problem with that premise is that it never explains why the portal is there in the first place. I would've liked some background on when the attacks started, but instead we arrive midway through a random attack of San Francisco. Another problem i had was the training class of stick jousting. I understand why they had to do it, but why couldn't it just be a boxing class? The robots don't use sticks so why do the trainees have to? Stuff i liked about this film was the cast. Idris Elba has always been an amazing actor in my opinion, and he really adds a dramatic layer to this film. Charlie Hunnan is great in the lead role that gets a little cliche at times, but gives us more than a typical jock in this role. In my opinion, the action was 2nd to none in 2013 film, and i would definitely be curious to see how this film looks in 3D. Overall, i recommend this film for the action buffs. I think it provides a good story with tons of great fighting scenes between the robots and the monsters.
•   Pain and Gain - 8/10 - This honestly has to be the surprise of the year so far. This movie tells a story of how it all went wrong for three bodybuilders who just wanted the American dream. This movie stars heavy hitters like Mark Wahlberg and The Rock, but it's Ed Harris and Tony Shaloub who really steal the movie with incredible performances that differ from the roles they are normally cast in. This is easily the best Michael Bay film in existence because simply put; i am not a Michael Bay fan. Some of the scenes in this movie border on the horror genre because of the excessive use of gore. Overall, a good movie that i would definitely recommend. This movie will probably be overshadowed by films like The Great Gatsby or The Hangover part 3, but i think this one is definitely worth a look.
•   Paranoia - 5.5/10 - If this is a look into the future of cell phone technology, i think i will keep my flip phone. Paranoia tells the story of competing cell phone companies who are looking for the next biggest thing. It just so happens that the next big thing they are selling is a model for a big brother system. This film is so unbelievable that it can't even spell the word logic. Unbelievable technology mixed with an almost comedic business side of the cell phone world makes this film an easy pass. I am sure cell phone companies are very competitive with one another, but this is a little too extreme. This film turns into a CIA espionage movie midway through and never lets up. The only thing i really found redeemable about this film was the interaction between Gary Oldman and Harrison Ford. They are definitely two seasoned veterans who knows what to bring to two characters who betrayed each other. Liam Hemsworth is the same old same. I am not really a fan of his work because of the bad choices he has made in 2013 with what films to take. The dialogue is something out of a James Bond movie, and that is NOT for the better. Who talks like this? The characters are robotic and very empty through the better part of 93 minutes. I do not recommend this film to anyone. If you like technology, it could be cool. But i can't see anyone coming out of this film with a positive review. This film was Harrison Ford's worst opening weekend ever and i think it's pretty easy to see why.
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  Parental Guidance - 5.5/10 - Not a bad little movie for the family. Billy Crystal brings his status quo of wit and charm to a slapstick movie that is a little different for him. I did only give this film a 5.5 because it does have some problems. This just doesn't seem like the kind of film Crystal is normally in. It does have it's wits and charms, but the film seems more along the lines of a Kevin James or Adam Sandler film. I understand Crystal was cast because of the age of the character, but his kind of humor almost seems outdated in a film like this. The casting is also a bit of an issue with Marisa Tomei playing Crystal's daughter. Billy is 16 years older than Marisa in real life and Tomei looks almost to old to play the daughter in this film. It's a shame that Thomas Everitt Scott is left with nothing to do in this film. He is someone who i have come to admire a lot in the last 15 years as an actor, but he almost never stars in a film. Parental Guidance had a couple parts that put more of a smile on my face than a laugh. Not sure if that is what the director was going for, but i look at this as more of a cute film than a funny one. The kids were a perfect fit for the movie. Bailee Madison is slowly taking over as one of the better child stars, today. If you have a family night, i recommend giving this a shot. I think it's a film that the adults and the kids will get a kick out of.
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  Parker - 6/10 - Parker is a movie i really enjoyed. The biggest problem with this movie however is the fact that it suffers from -TJS (Typical Jason Statham). I like Jason as an actor, but his movies are the same scenario in every movie. If you have seen one of his films, then you have seen them all. Another big problem was the fact that this movie may have had the WORST editing i have ever seen in any film. Good notes - Jennifer Lopez continues to show why i adore her more in film than music. She has a way to trigger the emotions that you wouldn't think she could do. I recommend to give this movie a look if you are a Statham fan. If not, stay away from it
•   Planes - 6/10 - This movie had a lot of similarities to Dreamworks Turbo. Both films take place in a race where the little athlete that couldn't has to overcome the big bad villain to win the race. Along the way, both films have side characters that tell the lead that they can't win. This all leads me to wonder how many more times they can pull off the same premise. Cars was kind of similar as well, but Cars is my favorite of the three films by far. Planes isn't a bad little movie, but it isn't very original. As i said before, this premise has been done so many times that it's completely predictable by this point. With that said, i did enjoy this film that had some great voice over work by Brad Garrett, Stacy Keach and Sinbad. Dane Cook wasn't terrible as Dusty Crophopper, but his storyline wasn't very exciting to me. The film is already planning for a sequel in 2014 and i hope it brings a little more with it. The animated world has been very blessed the last couple of years with Despicable Me (1 and 2), Wreck it Ralph, 9, Paranorman and many others. So it's easy for a film like Planes to fall into the forgettable category. Clocking in at 82 minutes, it is a very short film. I think they could have taken more time to develop the story and make it a little different. I recommend this film to kids because they will love it, but i would pass for adults. It's not a film that warrants more than a Redbox rental.
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  Prisoners - 9/10 - Hugh Jackman is an Oscar contender in this dark kidnapping drama. This 2 and a half hour film is filled with enough swerves to always keep you guessing. I thought the film played out more as a TV show than a movie. It has such a bleak surrounding that you wonder if the sun ever shines in this town. Two children go missing on Thanksgiving Day after playing outside, and the only thing the parents have to go on is an R-V that the kids were playing on outside. The thing i find the best about this movie is that it's much more than a harrowing drama. It plays out a story that shows how parents can become a nightmare version of themselves when they lose the thing that can be the most precious to them, their children. This film turns in great performances as well from Jake Gyllenhaal, Viola Davis and Maria Bello. Infact, i think Terrence Howard is the only actor who was wasted by a jam packed film. There simply just isn't enough for him to do in this film. Some people who watch the film are going to hate it because there is kind of a negative aspect to the way the film ends, but i think it's perfect. All of us have to answer for the sins we have committed and that is no further proof than in the film Prisoners. This is definitely the best film in theaters right now, and i recommend that everybody go see it. I don't think a film has ever been as smart to cops and how they act when a child goes missing. A top ten of the year for sure.
•  Rapture Palooza - 7/10 - A straight to DVD release that is definitely one of the funniest films of the year. Craig Robinson stars as Satan. He inherits the earth after the rapture takes care of 3/4 of the population. The film reminded me of a mixture of Dogma and Idiocracy because it could easily be written by Kevin Smith or Trey Parker/Matt Stone. This is definitely the role of a lifetime for Robinson who is responsible for most of the laughs and great lines. That leaves two problems that aren't a big deal, but clearly obvious. The first, No other character even comes close to having the meaning that Robinson does. God even makes an appearance (I won't spoil who it is), and it's just not as big of a deal because this film totally focuses on Craig. The other problem is that some scenes step on some real good laughs by lasting a little too long. It's like the cameraman forgot to stop the camera from rolling just to see if he could get another laugh out of his actors. Overall, Rapture Palooza might be the funniest film i have seen this year. It's these kind of films that make me always take a 2nd look at straight to DVD releases. Sometimes, they are better than 80% of the stuff that is in theaters. There are way too many stars to name, but Anna Kendrick, Rob Coddry, Ana Gaestyer, Paul Scheer and John Michael Higgins to name a few. I definitely recommend you give Rapture Palooza a shot. It's only 84 minutes, so it's definitely an easy sit. I can also imagine that there are some amazing improv deleted scenes on the DVD.
•   Red 2 - 8/10 - Best action film of the year by far. The group returns in this sequel that is better than the original (in my opinion), and brings in several new characters that are awesome. Bruce Willis, Helen Mirren and John Malkovich (Best part of these films) return with Neal Mcdonough, Anthony Hopkins and Byung Hun-Lee. Hopkins is the best actor on the screen as usual, but it's Lee who steals the show as the #1 assassin in the world, Han. Han is one of those bad guys who just kicks total ass and doesn't worry about consequences. He is smarter, quicker and stronger than everyone in this group which makes you wonder how they will take this guy down. The result is one of few things i don't like about this film. I don't want to give it away, but he is jobbed out in this film like he was GI Joe 2. I also thought the last ten minutes were a little far fetched, but the difference between this film and say Fast and Furious is that these are trained agents, so them pulling this stuff off is a little more believable. Not completely, but a little bit. On top of it all, there are great explosions and awesome fight scenes. The scene with Han taking on a dozen cops in a convenience store personally sealed this film as an 8/10 for me. I definitely recommend this film for everyone. The guys will love the action and the women will love the comedy and the two awesome female heroes that carry the group completely
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  Riddick - 7.5/10 - I really enjoyed this sequel to Pitch Black and The Chronicles of Riddick. In my opinion, this film is more similar to the style in Pitch Black. It's rated R, and the storylines of the two films are very similar. There were of course some very enjoyable differences. This film has the best characters of the three films. The acting is a little dull with a couple of them, but i haven't cared about characters fate as much as i do in this one. That cast is led by Katie Sackoff, who i think is the best character in the film. She is kind of like a female Riddick without all of the cliche's. She is definitely the biggest badass female i have seen in cinema this year. I also enjoyed the ending as i felt it gave something different to this trilogy. I was worried that this film's ending was going to fall in the same category as the other two, but it gave a little twist at the end that made you keep from rolling your eyes. I thought the CGI of the landscape looked great at night, but very fake during the day shots. I think Riddick films work better at night anyway because that is what he is all about. If there is a fourth film in the series, i would like to see a movie completely at night time. The monsters in this movie were very original and packed a lethal punch to give Riddick a hard fight. I recommend this film to fans of the series and action buffs alike. There are parts that will have you rolling your eyes at the believability, but come on, it's a Vin Diesel movie.
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  R.I.P.D - 7/10 - This film really surprised me a lot by how much i liked it. First of all, Jeff Bridges is phenominal in this movie. Had it not been for him, i probably would've knocked this film down to a 6. That is how important he is to this film. Aside from Bridges, you can just tell that everyone had fun making this picture. It radiates from some of the cheesiest dialogue of the year as they do it with a smile. This film did remind me A LOT of Men In Black. Infact, i could probably write a paper describing the similarities, but i would rather not. I also enjoyed the great action and some of the ugliest monsters i have ever seen. Some of the things i didn't like were just two big questions i had. 1. If Ryan Reynolds isn't allowed to say his name, then why doesn't he just say the name of the killer? There is no rule what so ever about that, and even if his wife doesn't know it's Ryan Reynolds telling her, she at least knows who is responsible for his death. 2. Why don't the mirrors reflect their avatar identities? It would be impossible for the mirrors in the car or in the bathrooms to show Jeff Bridges or Ryan Reynolds unless they were dead too. Last time i checked, mirrors don't have lives, so it will always be a mystery. This film got a lot of criticism and is considered the biggest box office bomb of the summer. To be completely honest, i don't understand it. With films like Grown Ups 2 and The Smurfs 2, i can't imagine how this film does worse. I don't feel that it is for everyone, and only 50% of the audience (maybe less) will like it, but i recommend it for having a good time at the movies. Above all else, Jeff Bridges kicks total ass AGAIN.
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  Runner Runner - 4/10 - This sloppily made film made me want my 8 bucks back. Justin Timberlake stars in this film about the internet gambling world and the hazzards that come with it. First of all, Timberlake is a spoiled brat who doesn't care about other characters when they get ripped off, but we are supposed to get behind him and root for him to punish the bad guys. As i said earlier, this film is sloppy for a lot of reasons, but i will give you some examples. Timberlake loses all of his money (17 grand) in the first ten minutes of the film by gambling, yet he has enough money to give $40 to his loser father, take a flight to Costa Rica, and get a hotel room for a week. Another mess was a party scene with loud club music being played (The DJ was DeadMau5 - EXCELLENT). Timberlake can hear the female lead talking perfectly word for word from 40-50 feet away. Superman like hearing, ladies and gentlemen. 80 minutes into this film and i wanted to kill the director for all of the poker puns that were being added into EVERY sentence. 1 or 2 is fine in a cliche film like this, but Jesus do we really need one in every scene? The one saving grace for this film was Ben Affleck as the poker website creator. Some people have complained that his role was a little over the top for the villain, but i think it's perfect. Affleck was so believable as this prick, that i was actually rooting for him by the end of the film. Timberlake is just that unlikable in this film. That is not to say that i haven't enjoyed Timberlake's roles in film, but this seems like he took a step backwards. This is the film that pop stars make the first time they step into film (See Britney Spears in Crossroads). I don't recommend this film to anyone, and it should be avoided at all costs.
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  Rush - 8/10 - The title says it all in this fast paced film about two rival Formula 1 drivers who live the fast life of racing, and give it all to defeat the other one. This film had a lot of great qualities to it. The camera shots were beautiful with some incredible edits. This film should be nominated for an Oscar for it's editing alone. Chris Hemsworth is great as the cocky and young, James Hunt, but it's Daniel Bruhl who steals the show as Niki Lauda. During the film, you will find yourself rooting for Lauda even as the story follows Hunt more. I think that is what really puts Ron Howard above most directors in terms of storytelling. That subject definitely isn't abandoned in this film as the story is every bit as good as any other part of the film. The only thing i would probably change about the storytelling is the outside of the racing world. We get glimpses into the different lifestyles of Lauda and Hunt, but we don't ever really see enough to see what they are going through. The film is about the racing world, but to see more from the outside characters (Olivia Wilde especially) could make this film go a whole lot further. There are times where the film gets a little slow from the same scenario, and that is where some outside perspective would've helped. I would definitely recommend this film to everyone. I think racing fans will love it for obvious reasons, but non racing fans will like it from the charisma of Hemsworth and the intelligence of Bruhl.
•   Saving Mr Banks - 10/10 - Ladies and gentlemen, i give you the best cast in a film this year. Saving Mr Banks is one of those films that come along every once in a while and leave you with all kinds of emotions while watching it. You will laugh, smile, cry and even be frightened for the character of E.L Travers, the author of Mary Poppins. The film shows Travers (Played amazingly by Emma Thompson) struggling to make a living since writing Mary Poppins over 20 years ago. She is approached by Walt Disney (Tom Hanks) with a deal to make Mary Poppins into a film. What follows is the struggle to find a decent agreement between the two sides for making a film that won't damage the other party. There were so many great performances to talk about that i feel this review might be my longest ever. Tom Hanks is the only choice for Walt Disney. He brings out the magic and charisma in a constant workaholic who made a 20 year promise to his daughters to get this picture made. Emma Thompson deserves an Oscar nod for bringing out the true heart in an otherwise grouchy woman. She makes us understand why she is the way she is when pitching the book to Disney. Colin Ferrell stole the film for me. He gives his best performance to date as the father of a young Travers. He is majestic and energetic as a loving parent with a bad secret below surface. This is the second part of the story told in this film. It shows us flashbacks as the current film is going on of a young Travers and the actual real story of her family and the wonderful woman who came into their lives, Mary Poppins. I honestly tried my hardest to find something negative about this film, and i couldn't. Everything is done so well that i would totally see this film more than once in theaters just to catch what i may have missed. The supporting cast also deserves praise for the talent that they bring to this picture. Paul Giamatti (ALWAYS amazing), Bradley Whitford, Jason Schwartzman and BJ Novak bring just as much to the picture as the actors i already names. Scwartzman is brilliant as the song writer to some of Disney's most magnificent numbers. Giamatti is the limo driver who forms the only friendship with Travers, as he sees something deeper below the surface. The set pieces were outstanding with the recreation of 1960's Hollywood. The film really does it's homework in trying to get the look and feel right, from vehicles to clothes to Disney Land itself. Saving Mr Banks is one film that definitely cannot be missed. I can't imagine anyone would have anything negative to say about this film. It's one of those where the whole family will love it, and it tells two amazing tales with one movie.
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  Scary Movie 5 - 2.5/10 - This movie is close to being the worse film of the year for me. If not for the catastrophe that was Movie 43, this film would definitely make history as not only the worst film of the year, but of the last five years easily. With the exception of one scene, i didn't laugh one time in this entire film. It's a shame because the first two Scary Movie's were actually really good and filled with laughs. This franchise has been on a down slope since getting rid of the Wayans Brothers. This film makes the movie A Haunted House look like Casablanca. Most of the movies represented in this film aren't horror movies at all and they don't put any effort in hiding that fact. The oddest thing to me was the fact that almost NONE of the scenes that were shown in the trailers were in the movie. I guess they all went on the chopping block because they are nowhere to be found. This movie clocks in at 75 measly minutes that feel like a lifetime. There were many points when i almost gave up. I don't recommend this film for anyone; not even the biggest mindless idiots walking the planet. Nobody will or SHOULD like this movie
•   Side Effects - 8/10 - This film totally took me by surprise as it seemed to be split into two seperate films. In the first 40 minutes, you think this film is going a certain way and then for the last hour it takes you on a totally different ride. Jude Law and Rooney Mara handed in amazing performances as a doctor and mental patient, respectively. Soderbergh is truly becoming one of my favorite directors as he tackles the issues in the world that others are afraid to even look at. This film explores the very dangerous world of medical pills and how far down someone can fall by taking or prescribing them. The last half hour reminded me of something out of Wild Things or Striking Distance. It totally keeps you guessing and guides you down a path making things look different from what they seem. I recommend this movie to anyone who likes a real movie like Traffic or Contagion (Both Soderbergh) that takes a look at the real world and it's flaws with the justice system.
•   Snitch - 8/10 - I have to say that this is The Rock's best acting performance in a film. I am not sure yet if it is his best film to date, but he did one hell of a job as a father who will stop at nothing to get his son out of prison. Berry Pepper again turns in an amazing performance that continues to show that there is no role too big or small that he cannot conquer. Jon Brenthel (The Walking Dead) was also a big plus for this action packed drama. The final semi truck speed chasing scene is definitely one that has to be seen to believe for the beating that stuntmen take. I would honestly have to say that this has to be one of my top three films of the year so far. Definitely recommended.
•   Spring Breakers - 4/10 - WOW!!! This movie was awful. I will go ahead and get the good things out of the way first. James Franco gives an amazing performance as a rapper/drug dealer who serves as the main ally of the girls. There were times that i even forgot that Mr. Franco was even in the movie. Other than that, there is not one single redeeming quality to this shitfest. The dialogue is completely awful between the characters, so much so that at times they repeat the same lines twice. The camera angles mix into conversations so badly that it looks like they came out of the Spike Lee school of cinematography. But at least Spike Lee has a purpose for some of the meaningless shots that he includes in his films. This movie treats you like you are a five year old who doesn't know the extreme dangers of Spring Break. Apparently this is the message they are trying to convey as all four girls (Selena Gomez most of all) are the dumbest airheads i have probably ever come across in cinema. So wait a minute, there are bad guys who do drugs and only want to have sex with innocent girls at Spring Break? GET THE HELL OUT OF TOWN!!! This movie at times did remind me of Alpha Dog as it becomes apparent that these girls might not have a happy ending, but what Alpha Dog did different was make us care about their characters by developing them better. I didn't care for one second what happened to these spoiled brats who rob a bank just to pay for Spring Break. I only recommend this film on Red Box and that is only if you don't have high standards when it comes to film. If you really want a crime movie about four strong females, i recommend Set it Off. It's a little high strung on the dramatic at times, but it's message is a hell of a lot better than Spring Breakers.
•  Stand Up Guys - 5/10 - I really wanted to like this movie. Al Pacino is one of my all-time favorite actors, but he seemed to be on sleep mode during this movie. There were parts of it i liked like the last 20 minutes and the building of the tension that he must be killed by his best friend. The ending is completely anti climatic and leaves more questions than answers. If you see this movie, don't expect much except for Al Pacino and Christopher Walken doing a 93 minute comedy routine.
•  Star Trek : Into Darkness - 8/10 - This sequel to the reboot explores the crew of the Enterprise as they lock horns with the great Khan. First of all, i am no Trekie by any means what so ever, but these films are more entertaining than the originals (to me) for a multitude of reasons. The characters are more human and can be related to in this film because they make the same mistakes that humans make everyday. This great cast is led by great performances from Chris Pine, Karl Urban, Simon Pegg and especially from Spock himself, Zachary Quinto. I personally think Spock is the best thing about these new films because he is played to a tighter friendship with Captain Kirk. Into Darkness circles that theory even further as it shows the tight bond between the two men and how they would do anything to help the other. This film is also fast pace and exciting. It has amazing battle scenes that you would have never seen in the original films. I get that technology has come a long way in 40 years, but when comparing the originals to this, you get to different sets of films. Clocking in at slightly over two hours, this film doesn't drag at all. It keeps the audience entertained while revealing a lot about the character of Khan. I would have to say that i enjoyed this film even more than the first one and i look forward to the future of this franchise. I recommend this film to everyone because if i liked it, there is a chance that anyone will.
•    Stoker - 8/10 - Stoker may be the most deranged coming of age tale i have ever seen. I really enjoyed this film as a whole, and there is a lot to enjoy. However, i am not foolish enough to believe for a second that people will enjoy this like i did. This is a very unusual suspense/horror film about an uncle who comes to live with a mother and daughter after his brother dies. This film is very slow during the first half hour of the movie, but if you can outlast all of that it definitely rewards you with amazing performances by Matthew Goode and Nicole Kidman. The best performance however was Mia Wiakowski. Long gone are the days of her performance in Alice In Wonderland. She is now a woman, and has the ability to tell so much emotion in one look at the camera. I was very surprised at the dark turns that this film took, but it was done in such a tasteful way. The music is absolutely breathtaking because it doesn't appear too often. The color of the scene tones mixed with excellent camera work makes this a definite top ten nominee at my end of the year list. I recommend this film to anyone who doesn't mind a slow paced dark film. I think you will appreciate the things it does above all of that.
•   Texas Chainsaw 3D - 7.5/10 - To tell you what i didn't like about this movie would give away spoilers, so i will just list the positives. I loved the fact that it added something more to the Chainsaw saga unlike the last three movies. I also liked who played the bad guy in this movie. Leatherface looked the toughest he has been since the 2nd film (1985), and that is one of the most important things in my view. 3rd best Chainsaw film (in my opinion) of the seven. Also, since it is the first movie of 2013 that i have seen, it is currently my #1 movie of the year
•   Thanks for Sharing - 6/10 - If Judd Apatow directed a film about sex addiction and the toxic traits that come with it, this would be the film he would make. Thanks for Sharing follows a couple of people in a group (Mark Ruffalo, Tim Robbins, Pink and Josh Gad) who struggle with the real disease known as sex addiction. This film does do a lot of good in opening the eyes of the world, and getting the word out there. It does have a lot wrong with it at the same time. For one, Mark Ruffalo just doesn't feel right in this role. He comes off as a smarter man in all of his films and is quite good at playing the stereotypical genius character. That is why someone like The Hulk is perfect for him, because he is the side of Bruce Banner that is the scientist. In this role though, it just doesn't work. He shares no on screen chemistry with his girlfriend in the movie (Gwyneth Paltrow) and that really hurts the scenes. Ruffalo is a great actor, but there are just some films that certain actors shouldn't do. Tim Robbins however, was born to play this role. He plays a father whose own son is a drug addict. He struggles between the responsibility of leading a group and being a positive role model for his own child. Pink is also a breath of fresh air. For this being her first big role in a film, she really nails it. She brings such a deep sense of comfort and paranoia at the same time in her role as Dede. The scenes in this film were shot very well, but don't take many risks. It's a pretty safe movie with some real touching moments. There were just a couple of parts in particular that really took me out of the film. You can see some things coming from a mile away, and i think that is truly one of the film's biggest weaknesses. Overall, the film is just OK, but should probably still be seen by anyone who is into films like these and 28 Days. As for sex addiction, i would stick with 2011's Shame. It polarizes the disease in a more life altering nature.
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  The Bling Ring - 5/10 - This chronicles the story of the celebs whose houses were robbed in 2009 by a group of out of control teenagers. The film is ok, but it is pushed further because of the great cast it is. The movie played out like a made for TV film, and maybe that would've been a better medium for it. Emma Watson and Katie Chang were amazing. They really made the most out of these spoiled girls that broke into people's houses for no reason except to live their lifestyle. I compared this film a lot to this year's Spring Breakers. I think The Bling Ring is a better movie, but the comparisons are very striking. The camera shots were also done very well with many of the break ins being recorded like a security camera. One of the biggest things for me to believe is that no security or anyone close to the celebs were in the house while these people were out of town. This is based on a true story, so i know the break-ins were a real part of the story, but how do you not have someone watching your house? The story just doesn't have enough meat to carry a film through 90 minutes, so it's injected with a lot of club shots where we see the kids enjoying their victories. We could care less about those moments, and just wait for when they are caught. One final thing i will say that worked in the film's benefit was that it showed how easy it is to learn the things we need to from celebrity addresses to actual views of their houses. All of this is supplied by the internet, and that is a scary thing. The Bling Ring is something i would recommend to people who follow celebrity tabloids, but it's hard for this film to keep you entertained for 90 minutes.
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  The Butler - 7/10 - This was a pretty good film that told a very detailed story of how far equal rights has come in 80 years. Forrest Whitaker really gave an amazing performance as the butler of The White House. Whitaker's performance has been praised by many over the last couple months, and while i feel it is good, i don't feel it is Oscar worthy. To be honest, i actually cared more about his son's point of view in the story. It seemed like his son was taking a very different road that you don't hear about often in movies. This cast is absolutely one of the best of the year. Aside from Whitaker, there's Oprah, John Cusack, Alan Rickman, Liev Schreiber, James Marsden, Minka Kelly, Robin Williams, Terrence Howard and Cuba Gooding Jr. Not all of the performances are phenominal and the problem with a cast this huge is that you always desire more out of them, but they are given such limited time. John Cusack for instance, is my favorite actor but i felt he didn't do Nixon well at all. The best impression was probably Alan Rickman as Reagan. The film has a lot of value for people to give it a look. You might even be like me and learn a thing or two. At 2 hours and 10 minutes, this film is a little long for the average viewer, but i think it's well worth it. Personally, i feel it is probably one of the top two or three films currently playing in theaters.
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  The Call - 6/10 - Actually a lot better than i thought it was going to be. I really enjoyed all of the things the movie taught me about Emergency Operators. It's crazy to think of all the things they go through in a typical day. This movie had a lot of action and decent dialogue, but the acting could have been better. I hated Abigail Breslin and found myself actually rooting for the killer because she was a beyond annoying teenager. The ending is kind of an anti-climax and cost this film a point in my review. I felt the movie would've been a lot better if Halle Berry stayed at the call center instead of going after the killer. I recommend it from a $1 Redbox, but i wouldn't waste time on seeing it in theaters. Nothing special.
•   The Conjuring - 7.5/10 - I really enjoyed this horror/suspense movie about a family that is the victims of a possession. Based on a true story, this film has been receiving mostly positive reviews with even some comparing it to The Exorcist. Personally, i thought the film was done really well with great acting and a lot of visuals that make the non-horror fan very scared. I don't think deep horror fans (like myself) will be that scared or bothered by this film. I found 2012's Sinister a little more bothering to me. That doesn't mean that this film doesn't deserve the praise it's getting. The Conjuring tells a very creepy story that makes you wonder how this family is ever going to get out of it. Some of the negatives of the film was the weak body count and a somewhat anti-climatic ending. Some of the positives was the great acting led by Vera Farmiga as a psychic with the ability to see demons.Also, i don't praise child actors often, but i thought they were outstanding in this film. All five of the children add something to a great formula. I also think the musical score is one of the best of the year. I think the music in particular is where a lot of the comparisons to past horror films comes from. I would recommend this film to horror fans new and old who are looking for a recipe on horror films done right. There have been many done wrong in the last 15 years, but The Conjuring is one that we will be talking about for years to come.
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  The Counselor - 4/10 - I am now convinced that most of the films i anticipated this year are trash. 2013 is a bad year for film. I had such HIGH hopes for this film and i couldn't have been more disappointed. Before you see this film, make sure you know everything about the plot and what it is about. I read a ton up on this film and i still had trouble following everything that was going on. We never understand why Michael Fassbender accepts the job of the counselor, and we don't even understand what that position entails. We are literally just given a bunch of colorful characters and prepare them for the worst. The only things i liked about this film was the beautiful shots in cinematography and the work of Cameron Diaz and Brad Pitt. Diaz plays the best role of her life and is the only effort on conquering this awfully told story. But even she couldn't overcome the tremendous odds laid against her. There is pointless and laughable sexual dialogue during the first 20 minutes that will make you roll your eyes when you think professionals wrote this. I was such a huge fan of Mccormick's 2008 hit No Country For Old Men, but i have trouble believing The Counselor was written by the same person. There is almost no trace of that brilliance with building the story up. Surprisingly, this film has a lot of gore and blood. Some of the death scenes are done really well, but you wonder why they have to happen at all. I couldn't imagine anyone is going to get any enjoyment out of this film other than the things i mentioned above. If you wish to see it, i would wait till DVD. When you pay 8-10 dollars for a movie, you are kind of forced to stay for the whole thing.
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  The Family - 6/10 - I enjoyed this dark comedy about a mobster family who tries to start their lives over after their father is exposed. The thing that i had a problem with in this film is that it sometimes has problems identifying itself with the kind of film it wants to be. There are points that make you think this is a kickass action comedy along the lines of Red and Red 2, but then there are points that make you think this is a dark mafia film to the likes of Goodfellas. The first third of the film is the weakest part of the movie for me. It's slow in transition and doesn't tell you the things we need to know about the characters for the struggles they will face later on. The other 2/3 of the film is very strong when we start to see these characters settle into their environment. I really enjoyed the work of everyone in the family. Michelle Pfeiffer is starting to be similar with all of her movie roles, but she's not terrible. Robert De Niro and Tommy Lee Jones have amazing on screen chemistry that really lights it up during the arguments that they have. They are best friends who really hate each other and it's gold. I really enjoyed the final ten minutes of the film, but i wish they would've cut out some other stuff earlier and made this sequence about ten minutes longer. Overall, a decent film that i think warrants a dollar theater checkout. I don't think i would pay the full price at a theater to see the film
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  The Frozen Ground - OUTSTANDING OUTSTANDING OUTSTANDING!!! Before i begin my review, i want to say it is a tragedy that this film will not receive a worldwide release in theaters. It is currently playing on Pay Per View on demand and will be out on DVD soon. This film was one of the best films i have seen this year. The only single problem i had with it was the ending being a little abrupt, but it's really just nitpicking. The performances were totally out of this world. I am someone who doesn't like Nicolas Cage after 2001. Outside of Kickass and The Family Man, he hasn't done anything good in this century (my opinion). This film totally brings Nicolas Cage back to positive status. Definitely one of his five best performances as the police chief hunting a serial killer with almost a decade of kidnapping, rape and murder. John Cusack is my favorite actor and he is totally chilling as Robert Hansen. The best thing about the films of the 50's and 60's were seeing Hollywood actors portray roles that you never expected. I never expected Cusack to play a derranged killer, but it is one of his best performances ever. Quiet, plotting and absolutely terrifying. I could go on and on about the cast. Vanessa Hudgens showed some deep acting chops as the only victim of Hansen's who got away. 50 Cent is amazing as a pimp who makes some bad decisions. Dean Norris, Radha Mitchell, Jodi Lynn o Keefe, Kevin Dunn. The list goes on and on. I did a little studying up on Robert Hansen before watching the film and it seems this story is about 95% true with the telling of the gruesome events. This film and The Iceman were two true stories that were told real well this year, and that is why they are both in my current top 5 for 2013. The scenery is absolutely beautiful as well with a cold, chilling Alaska being the setting. I think it is almost symbolic of Hansen's cold insides, and the things he did to these poor women. I definitely recommend this film to EVERYONE. If you see five films this year, make sure one of them Is The Frozen Ground. I imagine someone will find something wrong with this film that they will take out on it, but in my opinion it is better than all of that. If you don't like this film, you don't know good storytelling. 9/10
•  The Great Gatsby - 8.5/10 - Really amazing remake that surpasses a lot of the things in the Robert Redford version. The performance of Joel Edgarton as Mr Buchanan was simply amazing. I loved the arrogance that he really mastered in that part. Leonard Dicaprio deserves an Oscar nomination. I am not sure if he should win, but a nomination at the very least. I also really enjoyed the 3D in the fact that it presented many beautiful landscapes. The 3D was subtle and not over done at all like you see in some movies. Some of the things that bothered me was the soundtrack. It's kind of weird to see a film set in 1922 with Jay Z, Kanye West, Amy Winehouse and Beyonce playing. I don't care if director Baz Luhrman likes to modernize all of his pictures, it just doesn't work. I also didn't like the performance of Tobey Mcguire. I thought he was a little overdone and a little old for the character of Nick Carradine. I prefer Sam Waterston in this role. They also took a couple of things and made them different from the novel; which i liked. The film does come in at 2 hours and 20 minutes, and is a little long. But i don't really see a scene they could've cut and still gotten the effect out of each scene. The film has to be that long, and if the viewer doesn't understand that then they have never read the book. Overall, i recommend this film on the grounds that it is another beautiful masterpiece by Baz Luhrman. It will be on DVD within a couple weeks, but it's definitely worth a couple bucks at the dollar theater. I was glad i finally was able to see this film as it was one of the most anticipated for me of the summer.
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  The Hangover 3 - 5/10 - If there is one major problem that plagues this film it is boring.Compared to the other two films, nothing major happens in this one. This will make it easily forgettable in 15 years when people look back on the series. The movie genre is a comedy, but it never gives you more than a light chuckle or two. To me, this seems more like a drama because of the touching aspects like the death of Alan's father and the loss of friendship. Zach Galafanakis has gotten to the point where every role is the same. I loved him more in movies like The original Hangover and Due Date, but this role is old and played out. It's the same for Ken Jeong who plays Leslie Chow. Positive aspects of this movie is the performance of John Goodman. He really rocked it as the villain in this film and usually any more he is in. I only recommend this film if you have seen the other two so you can finish out the series. By recommended, i mean to just wait until DVD. It's definitely not worth the $10 movie ticket.
•   The Heat - 6/10 - This film was a lot better than i thought it was going to be. With that said, it is nowhere near a great film though. It has a great first hour and then goes on to fizzle out towards the end of the film. Melissa Mccarthy plays the same character that she does in every film, but it works a lot better for an R rated comedy like this. Even though i enjoyed Identity Thief more than this film, i enjoyed Melissa more in this movie. I think one of the biggest things with this film is that it will reflect more on the female audience. i don't know if the male crowd will like it unless they are die hard Melissa Mccarthy fans. This movie had some great laughs mixed in with some amazing supporting actors. Michael Mcdonald (Mad Tv), Marlon Wayans, Taran Killiam (SNL) and Michael Rappaport just to name a few, really help Melissa with a script that has a lot of holes. Sandra Bullock didn't really do anything to add to the film. It seemed like she was on sleep mode for a lot of the film. Overall, i did enjoy this film and laughed as much as i would expect to for a free film. I definitely recommend it to the female readers of this page. If you are male, give it a look and let me know what you think. I am curious to hear the male's perspective a little more on this one.
•   The Hobbit : The Desolation of Smaug - 8/10 - Coming from someone who is not a big fan of this series, i thoroughly enjoyed this film. This film has made walk away with the greatest feeling after seeing it, and that is for a few reasons. The first is that i was on the edge of my seat for this movie. The dragon Smaug is a great villain that adds even more because he can talk. The scene with the gold coins and his awakening scared me to death. There was just something about seeing his huge eye pop out that made my heart pump. The cinematography in these films is second to none. While i didn't like the first Hobbit film, i can say that it was the most beautiful picture of the year. This one follows that trend, but it does it in a way to match the desolate mood of the Lake Town. This film's views are seen more as dark and (hate to use this word again) desolate. The high frame rate is something pretty cool to read about with this film. The fact that they shot each frame at 48 frames per second is impressive, and it shows. I also really enjoyed the introduction of Bard the Bowman and felt Luke Evans was a perfect choice to play him. For those who don't know, Luke has been cast in The Crow reboot, so i am curious to see what he can bring to Eric Draven. Some of the things i haven't liked about other films are still there in this film, and i am sure i will get ambushed by fans of the series for it. Ultimately though, what kind of critic would i be if i didn't put all of my cards on the table? These films are just way too long. I get that it is an epic story you are trying to tell with lots of characters, but maybe there in lies the problem; too many characters. I think the same story can be told without a couple of their back stories being learned. I also have never been a fan of Legolas. The guy is just too immortal for me to relate to. I mean seriously, could he get a cut or a scrape just once? Why do they even need an army if this guy can kill ten people in ten seconds? Just send Legolas to take care of any trouble in the town. I did enjoy the way the film ends as it sets up for There and Back Again quite well. I recommend this film to fans of the series for sure. As for non fans, it's a hard prediction to make. I am not a fan and i loved it for the things i mentioned above. Give it a shot, it might surprise you.
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  The Hunger Games : Catching Fire - 8.5/10 - My favorite book of the trilogy is adapted in this sequel that is every bit better than the first adaptation. First off, there are some things that are left out from the book in this film. If you go into every film not wanting anything to change, then you might as well stick to the books. This film got roughly 90% of the book correct. Some of the adaptations are surrounded by beautiful scenery and awesome acted dialogue that puts the first film to shame. The biggest thing i loved about this film as opposed to the first one is the fact that the characters are much better in this one. The characters are given time to shine in their roles. My favorite character in the books has always been Finnick, and Sam Claflin plays him perfectly. The character isn't too overdone with his charismatic charms that he comes off as feminine, but he carries enough charm to make the character lovable. Jena Malone also turns in an incredible performance as Johanna. She really adds her own attitude to an already rebel character. Phillip Seymour Hoffman kicked so much ass as Plutarch that i could never see anyone else in the role. It's as simple as that. Peeta and Gale don't get too much time to shine in this film and i hope their roles will be more important in the 3rd/4th film since they are a huge part of the Mockingjay novel. The film's 2 hour and 26 minute run time didn't even feel like it as the time breezed by. With the final novel being adapted into two films, i am curious to see how well they keep with the pacing. Especially since the first of those films comes out in less than a year. I hope they aren't rushed too quickly. Overall, this film is great and definitely deserves a theater viewing. If you liked the first film, you will love this one. If you hated the first film, you won't find much charm in this one.
•     The Iceman - 8.5/10 - Such an amazing and impacting telling of the famous mob hit man known as Richard Kuklinski. Michael Shannon gives an Oscar worthy performance as the man who is stone cold when killing over 100 people. This film is definitely one of the best films of the year and deserves a look by everyone. It's got an amazing cast that includes Winona Ryder, Ray Liotta (As badass as ever), Chris Evans, James Franco, Stephen Dorff and David Schwimmer. It was great to see into the mind of such a notorious killer for doing the things that he does. This is a 100 minute movie that keeps you entertained every minute of it, and that is something very hard to do. The only thing i would've done to improve the film is to show a little bit of Richard's early life before he became a killer. It does show an abusive relationship with his father, but nothing much more than that. I recommend this film to everyone when it comes out next week. Definitely worth a look.
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  The Incredible Burt Wonderstone - 4.5/10 - This film is by far one of the worst of the year. It's not funny even in the least and has problems deciding if it is a comedy or a drama. I personally think it works better as a drama, but it's still a very poor written film. It's a shame to see how far Steve Carrell and Jim Carrey have fallen in their careers. The only slight saving graces in this film were the performances of Alan Arkin and James Gandolfini. Other than that, it's a complete waste of anybody's time. The ending is so unbelievable even for a comedy that it left me completely speechless. The biggest tragedy about this movie is the fact that Steve Carrell's character is the most unlikeable guy and rude to Olivia Wilde's character, but we are supposed to believe that she falls for him?? TRASH
•   The Internship - 5/10 - This film bored me to the point of stopping four times to pause along the way. Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson return to try to catch that lightning in a bottle that they did with Wedding Crashers. The problem with this film is that even though it is classified as a comedy, it simply isn't. I laughed twice during the whole film, and even that was generous. The storyline of two 40 year old's trying to get into Google is simply too dull to warrant a near 2 hour film. Vince and Owen play two of the biggest douchebag characters that are so hard to like and understand. These are supposed to be the two guys we cheer for, but they continue to cost and hurt the people around them because they try to always say the cool thing. I enjoyed the decent inside look at the Google campus, and thought that this could've been a pretty cool educational film. But the atmosphere just doesn't work for comedy. I recommend this film as a Redbox rental, but nothing more. Don't waste your time in theaters.
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  The Last Stand - 7.5/10 - Honestly this was a huge surprise. I really enjoyed this because it was similar to the 90's action movies that i loved to watch. The dialogue is bad,but the action is phenominal. I loved the characters in this movie as well as the amazing villain work of Peter Stormaire (Abruzzi in Prison Break). Definitely recommended for the action fan.
•   The Lone Ranger - 8/10 - I am wrong about a film every once in a while, and this was definitely one of those times. The Lone Ranger clocks in at 2 hours and 20 minutes long which will detract a lot of it's viewers. I am not foolish enough to believe that everyone will feel the same way about this film that i did. With that said, it is a lot of fun and thrills with very colorful characters. The chemistry between Armie Hammer and Johnny Depp is incredible, and i can see why they were both chosen for this role. Johnny Depp can be a little stereotypical of the indian culture as Tonto, but does not overdo it. The cast also includes excellent turns from Barry Pepper, Helena Bonham Carter and the always amazing William Fichtner. This was also surprisingly dark for a Disney film. I was definitely surprised as they showed an eating of the heart by the villain of the movie. Things i would've done differently aside from cutting the film to 2 hours even, i would've included more about the backstory of Tonto. We do learn that he is responsible for a lot of the bad things in the film, but i found that story very intriguing and would've liked to learn more about it. Overall, i definitely recommend this film to everyone, but be prepared for a long one. I am also not guaranteeing you will like it. But hell, it made a believer out of me, and i am certainly not an easy one to please when it comes to cinema.
•  The Lords of Salem - 1/10 - I WANT MY 96 MINUTES BACK!!!! Where do i start with this horrible sack of shit? Rob Zombie's 5th film feature tells the tale of a bunch of 17th century witches who haunt the dreams of Sherri Moon Zombie because there is a certain something they want from her. This movie was a complete waste of anything that has to do with film. The only thing i liked about the movie was Bruce Davidson and he dies with about 20 minutes left in the movie. Sherri Moon Zombie is a completely terrible actress. I don't care if she is Rob Zombie's wife or that she shows her naked body in every movie that she is in. If she never acted again, it would be one of the great justices that the American people ever experienced. This movie goes down in history with some of my other all-time nightmares like The Wicker Man, Fear Dot Com and The Ring. The one thing i can say about those movies though, is that at least they had a decent premise. I'm not saying this is the worst movie i have ever seen, but it's pretty damn close. At the end of the day, i am not sure what genre this belongs to. There isn't enough blood or gore for it to be a horror movie. There isn't enough mystery or edge of the seat moments for it to be suspense. The movie's ending is probably only 2nd to The Devil Inside as far as worst all time endings are concerned. I don't recommend this film in theaters or DVD rental. If you even have the chance to get a free download, JUST SAY NO. Whatever movie i review next is going to look like The Shawshank Redemption compared to this piece of shit.
•   The Perks of being a Wallflower = 8.5/10 - The thing that i found the most charming about this movie was that it didn't go weak on it's views of teenage life. We have all gone through the same things that these kids go through in this movie and that makes it relatable. A movie on Catcher and the Rye will never be made, but this is the closest that you can get to it. Great performance from Emma Watson. Showing that she has deep acting chops after the Potter franchise has ended.
•   The Place Beyond The Pines - 9.5/10 - Absolutely the most powerful film of 2013 so far. Ryan Gosling and Bradley Cooper deserve Oscars for performances that are definitely the best thing that either one of them have ever done. I will try to review this without spoiling anything. This movie is awesome because it has so much balls to do something ultra shocking in the first 1/3 of the film. After that it turns into a story that crosses the characters interactions so well that it becomes that kind of film on the likes of 'Crash'. This movie had beautiful cinematography in the way it was shot and edited. It takes a yuppie town and really makes something beautiful out of it. The woods itself was a character in this movie. The score is also not disappointing as it compliments a jump in the story 15 years ahead and gives music for that time. The only problem i really had with this film was the running time of 2 hours and 20 minutes. While i totally understand why the film was this long as they had to build up the big payoffs they were giving by the end, i do think that an average movie fan will be bored by the 2 hour mark. It kept me pretty well entertained, but i can see both sides of the ball on that one. The biggest thing i got from this movie was the fact that it may be better if we don't know everything about our pasts. Sometimes they will come back to haunt. I recommend this film to anyone who digs powerful performances and deep impacting situations.
•   The Purge - 6/10 - First off, i didn't like or hate this movie. The difference with this movie as opposed to The Lords of Salem is that this film had the potential to be great. During the first 70 minutes, it is a good film. It gives a great build-up right to the point of the bad people breaking into the house. From there, it's like the writers didn't know how to follow in the last 20 minutes. There is a twist ending that gives the film life again, but they abandon it for an ending that is both predictable and corny. This film is enriched with good performances by Ethan Hawke and the leader of the creepy outsiders, Rhys Wakefield. The movie oozes in symbolism for the way we do things in our current society just to prove a point. This isn't one of the finer points of the film. Finally, i finished the film wondering how all criminals and murderers obide by rules made by our founding fathers. THEY ARE MURDERERS!!! THERE ARE NO RULES FOR THEM!!!! I would recommend this film if you have a dollar theater in your town. Other than that, i wouldn't waste your time in theaters.
•   The Secret Life of Walter Mitty - 6/10 - Ben Stiller is back in a film that is a little different than the films he has been known for over the last decade. He stars as Walter Mitty, a man who daydreams his life away while publishing photos for Life Magazine. The crew at Life are told that this will be the last issue ever published with most of the people losing their jobs. Some of the things i liked about this film was the amazing scenery and beautiful cinematography. It sets epic stages for Mitty to reclaim his life and go on the adventure of a lifetime. The Secret Life also gives us some awkward characters in the form of strangers he meets along the way. It's sad that in these strangers we find that we care about them more than our two leads (Stiller and Kristen Wiig). Stiller and Wiig are very awkward in their form of conversation. It's almost like two robots who have never met are talking for the first time. When we find out they have known each other for a couple months, it seems even weirder that they have such a problem being personable. Adam Scott gives another great performance as the villain of the film. Scott has been known to be very famous in these roles including a great performance in Step Brothers. The film runs out of miles in the main base scenes while Stiller is working at Life and at home. It's kind of symbolic to the way this film goes. It's only interesting when he is climbing mountains in the Himalayas or playing soccer in Afghanistan. The daydreaming also gets old by about the 3rd of 4th time it's done. We see how predictable it is to tell the difference, and can see the joke coming from a mile away. Films like A Nightmare on Elm Street have always been great at producing a believable dream scene. I appreciate the explanation of why Stiller has less and less dream scenes by the end of the film, but it's too late by this time. The Secret Life of Walter Mitty has the ability to be one of the year's best, but it flutters in the basic bore of Stiller comedy. Give it a shot on DVD, but nothing more. The Film Freak's Mother - 8/10 - I really enjoyed the scenery of this film. A lot of the fields of green reminded me of my time in Ireland. I also enjoyed the role of the mother (Played by Shirley Maclaine) as she reminded me a lot of myself in the things i do to Christopher. Some of the scenes i didn't like were the daydreaming. I felt it was really drawn out and overdone with too many minutes wasted on it. I also didn't like the boss (Adam Scott). I felt he was a jerk.
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  The Spectacular Now - 6.5/10 - Miles Teller and Shailene Woodley give a good performance to an otherwise empty script. I did like this film for the things it did do right. It represents teens from the way they talk and act to a perfect tee. Some of the conversations in this film are some of the same ones i see on Facebook today. It's because of the two leads that this film receives a passing grade from me. Teller stars as an alcoholic teenager on the verge of graduation when he takes a chance on an unpopular girl at school (Woodley). The two surprise each other and share such a connection to one another that takes them through the rest of the school year. This film represents alcoholism in the light that it needs to be shown. It's a real life problem with teenagers, and this film has the guts to make it a focal point for most of the film. The problem i have with it is that it's predictable where it's going and what is going to happen for the last half hour of this film. I actually accurately predicted the horrible event that would shake up their relationship by the end of the film. Another weird thing is that this film has some extreme fast forward scenes. We don't hear much talk or see much preparation for Prom and then BOOM, it cuts to prom out of nowhere. We find out Teller needs a C to pass a class or he doesn't graduate and then BOOM, it cuts to graduation. These are big events that need more screen time. The ending left me with good and bad feelings. Good because he confronts the problems within himself that have hurt his chances at a bright future. Bad because there are so many questions left unanswered. The Spectacular Now is a decent film that should be seen for it's examples of the decisions we make having severe consequences. I just think for the most part that the audience who will enjoy this film the most is ages 16-21.
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  The Way Way Back - 9.5/10 - Every year there will be a couple of films that get delayed a few months because i wasn't able to catch the films while they were in theaters. Luckily, The Way Way Back announced that it was going back into theaters for a limited engagement. This was a film that i wanted to see since May, and it didn't disappoint. This film was a lot better than i thought it was going to be. Nat Faxon and Jim Rash write and direct a tribute to all of our adolescent memories. The Way Way Back is about a family who takes a vacation to the father's (Steve Carrell) beach house. First of all, the characters are the best i have seen in a film all year. Carrell plays an amazing douche bag who tries to rough up his step son by dragging him out of his shell. Liam James plays that kid we all once were who longs to belong to someone or something. That feeling of loneliness that drifts into all of us when we enter our teenage years. He also plays it very well. Toni Collette was great as his mother, Amanda Peet, Rob Coddry, and Maya Rudolph turn in decent performances as well. My only gripe is that Coddry doesn't have much to do and is kind of wasted, but his character isn't a main one so it didn't bother me that much. The two people who really steal this film are Alison Janney and Sam Rockwell. Janney is brilliant as an alcoholic mother who is a humiliation to her kids and friends. She has some of the most awkwardly funny moment that can't help but drag a smile out of you. Sam Rockwell plays my favorite character of the year, by far. His character works as kind of a father figure to James and he sees the child that he used to be with loneliness. He gets James a job at the Swim park he works at, and it turns into the best summer of James life. Rockwell's dialogue is something that deserves to be seen by everyone. He has a sarcasm that reminded me a lot of Randall Mcmurphy (One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest). The script is amazing and really gets across the dramatic points that this story has to tell. It's with those dramatic tones that this film is hard to judge if it is a comedy or drama. I personally saw it as more of a comedy. The drama shows that there are more problems with this family that meets the eye. Steve Carrell is not the best adult figure to these teens going through growing up. The only things i didn't like about this film was slight nitpicking. I feel that the beginning 15 minutes start off slow and might make some people lose interest. Some people don't have patience at the beginning of a film, but i am telling you to give it a chance. Those fifteen minutes just build the story before it plays out the problems in front of our eyes. I also didn't like the last two minutes of the film. The film technically has two endings. The first one is amazing. It sends you going home with a smile. Then there is the 2nd one that leaves you with kind of a bad taste. I can't give away too much because i really want people to see this film. It's just not the way i would've ended it, but i think the directors were going for a realistic tone that happens in the everyday world. Overall, i definitely recommend this film. I don't want to give away where i have it ranked currently, but it's definitely one of the best films i have seen this year. Plus, i was alone in the theater and that always makes for a more enjoyable experience.
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  The Wolf of Wall Street - 9/10 - The rise and fall of Jordan Belfort tells a story that is so crazy it can never be touched. I truly couldn't have been prepared for the things that were coming in this movie. Leonardo Dicaprio gives and Oscar worthy performance as Belfort, a stocks trader who robbed hard working Americans of millions of dollars in the 90's. Dicaprio is one of those actors who will always be an all time great. In Belfort, he makes us love and hate him which is the sign of any great actor. He brings so much to a character that we are supposed to despise because we cannot relate to him. Jonah Hill is also fantastic as Belfort's best friend who quits his job to join up with Belfort. There were times when i forgot i was even watching Jonah Hill. It shows how far of an actor he has come from his days in Superbad and Knocked Up. The film is 3 hours long, and this is probably the only time i will ever advocate a single film being that long. You have to show every single scene along the way even when it seems pointless. It will all come together in the end like a puzzle. Martin Scorsese is one of the best directors in the world, and he only further cements his legacy with one of his greatest films ever. The lone problem that i had with the film was that we didn't learn a lot about the characters after it all came tumbling down. We find out a brief interchange, but it doesn't fill in the gaps to leave us satisfied. I am also curious to hear a woman's perspective of this film as there are a lot of male misogynistic scenes where women are degraded and treated as meat. I can only imagine how uncomfortable it must have been to be a woman working at that office. The Wolf of Wall Street is truly one of those films that you have to see to believe. Even though it's only a film, it tells the story of an insane time in American business. One that will probably never be repeated again. I definitely recommend this film to everyone, but be ready for a long sit and some weird scenes that will make you wonder why they are in there. Once again, if females see this film i would love to hear your thoughts.
•   The Wolverine - 7/10 - This is the Wolverine film that i have been waiting for. This sequel to the crappy X-Men Origins: Wolverine does things a little better in the story of this legendary comic character. It's not 100% perfect, but it is getting there slowly. Hugh Jackman returns in a role that i couldn't imagine anyone else in Hollywood playing. He is simply amazing by this point playing the troubled Logan. Jackman is probably the best casted superhero in any comic book film. This film finally took the dark premise of Logan's life and brought it to the big screen, and that is something that no X-Men film has done correctly so far. I really enjoyed how they finally showed us the bone structure underneath the claws. It's the little things like those that can always win me over. I wasn't too high on the choice for Viper as the villain. She is an amazing character and very powerful, but i have always considered her more of an Avengers villain (comic books or not). It was also pretty comical to see Yukio beating her down. The visuals and shooting locations are beautiful for this film. I have always liked the setting of Japan when filming a troubled story. They seem to get it right with their western culture and beautiful landscapes. Be sure to stay after the credits again as we see build up for the upcoming X-Men : Days of futures Past. The 2 minute bit had me half excited and half wondering where the hell they are going with this film. Overall, i recommend The Wolverine to comic book fans in particular. I don't think the outside world will get much enjoyment out of this film, but the fans of X-Men and Wolverine will love it.
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  The World's End - 7/10 - The final film in the flavors trilogy ends us on a positive note. There was a lot i really enjoyed about this film. About 35 minutes in, it becomes a totally different film that is all about learning from our mistakes and that the good times we had when we were young don't have to be the best times of our life. Simon Pegg and Nick Frost are back (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, Paul) for another dose of comedic genius and great characters that are sometimes hard to find in today's films. The character of Pegg's was a little hard to like at first, but you realize that he is a man who doesn't have much to live for. I thought the action and effects from the violence were done very well. The comedy is the right tone for a film that has a bit of a serious tone on alcoholism. The only things i didn't like was what happened at the end of the pub crawl, and the ending of the film itself is a little drawn out. It's cool that the film had balls to go through with an ending that some people might not be satisfied with when they head home. I definitely recommend the film to everyone, and especially to those of you who have seen Shaun and Fuzz and enjoyed them. I would say this is the 2nd best film of the trilogy behind Shaun of the Dead, but that is just my opinion.
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  This is The End - 7/10 - A very fun movie that i would recommend to groups of friends who are out to have a good time. This film added a comedic touch to the end of the world genre and i think in that aspect it succeeds. There are very funny comedic performances by Craig Robinson, Michael Cera, Danny Mcbride and Jonah Hill, to name a few. Where it fails is in the running time of 106 minutes which makes it feel like 2 hours. The movie does have slow spots in between where it almost runs out of ways to make Armageddon funny. I did think the effects were pretty cool, and the damage done to LA was an absolutely amazing scene that would make Michael Bay crap his pants. I recommend this film if you just want to have a good time and not see anything too serious. It definitely has an ending that has to be seen to be believed.
•   Thor : The Dark World - 7.5/10 - This anticipated sequel to the original masterpiece comes close in bringing the greatness again. I enjoyed this film a lot from different aspects that the first film didn't bring. It is nice to see Loki and Thor team up to form one powerful union. I can only hope that something comes of this when The Avengers 2 comes out in a couple years. Make no mistakes about it, this is Tom Hiddleston's film. As Loki, he provides us with the best lines in the script and the deepest character development of anyone in the film. I also enjoyed how this film wasn't afraid to take more risks than the first one. There are a couple of death scenes in the movie that really open your eyes and let you know that Malekith and The Elf Army mean business. Malekith just falls short on the magnitude of Loki as a bad guy and that is understandable. Loki is after all the biggest rival in Thor's comic book series. With that said, i enjoyed how Malekith spoke in a different language. It has always been weird to me how these civilizations talk in perfect english in these films, so it's nice to see a villain who goes against the grain. The action scenes are there once again with some amazing damage being done to Asgard and London. This film clocks in at around 110 minutes, but it never drags. I think that is why i prefer the Thor series as opposed to Iron Man or The Hulk. It manages to keep itself fresh in two films that are around the 2 hour mark, and it still has lots of story to tell. I wasn't too crazy about how this film set itself up for a 3rd one, but we shall see if Thor can break what i refer to as "The curse of 3". Overall, i definitely recommend this film to everyone. I don't think anyone will be turned away when it comes to the action that Marvel always brings to their films..............Ok, Daredevil and Elektra don't count
•  Turbo - 6/10 - This was a decent film, but is very unbelievable even for an animated Dreamworks film. Turbo is about a snail who receives magic powers that make him go fast. With these powers, he enters the Indy 500 to race alongside him longtime hero. The way the snail receives the powers and the way he does 226 MPH without even damaging his texture is what amazes me. The ending is comedic for all of the wrong reasons when the Indy 500 becomes a foot race. Things i liked about this film was the amazing cast which included Ryan Reynolds, Paul Giamatti, Samuel L Jackson and Michelle Rodriguez. I enjoyed the animation as Dreamworks is always on top of their game with great 3D and visual effects. In the end, i think this film is definitely geared for ages 9 and younger. Unlike Shrek, Despicable Me and Toy Story, i can't imagine many teenagers or young adults getting an enjoyment from this. Overall, i recommend this film if you are bored and looking to get out of the house. I would honestly wait till the dollar theater shows it, but to each their own.
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  Warm Bodies - 5/10 - The first hour of this movie had something decent going for it. The last half hour is the tale of a completely different movie. First of all the things that i liked, great soundtrack, John Malkovich was great as usual but he didn't get a lot of time for his role. I also enjoyed the characters of the bonies, but felt that they were too easy to defeat. The things i didn't like about this movie? the acting is awful, the relationship between father and daughter is one of the hardest to believe of any movie i have ever seen, zombies were very close to being ruined in this film like vampires were ruined in Twilight. I heard so much positivity about this movie and it ended up being one of the worst films that i have seen this year. I have left some questions at the bottom that are some of the errors that i found with the film. I recommend this film to females because they might get a kick out of the love story. I honestly can't imagine that a male zombie/horror fan will like any piece of this.1. His friend sure learned quickly how to talk when the action started, yet all of the years and hangouts that they had in the bar they never said one word. Keep in mind, this was before the zombie army met the girl.2. Why can he fight fast, but not walk fast?3. It's not safe to go outside of the airplane, but it's ok to drive a car 90 MPH outside of the airplane and make louder noises??4. THEY ARE ZOMBIES!!!! This friendship with the humans will never work because they need brains of humans to survive. Even for that short time before they are cured, they would be hungry
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•   We're The Millers - 7.5/10 - Definitely the funniest movie of the year. This was probably the first film in a couple of years that really tugged at my gut as far as laughs go. This film has an outstanding cast led by Jennifer Anniston, Emma Roberts and Ed Helms, but it's Jason Sudeikis and Nick Offerman who totally steal the show. Sudeikis has been in some great comedies, but he is never really the centerpiece of the story. This film totally changes that and shows that he should be the lead in more roles. There is something about the way he says his lines in a straight toned manner that really only he can do. Nick Offerman kicks total ass as a DEA agent. For the people who love Parks and Recreation, he turns in another great performance in this film. The story and situations are a little far fetched, but i have seen a lot worse from better films this year. Millers succeeds because you care about these characters and the family they become by the end of the film. The scenes with Anniston stripping are a little much and not really needed, but the men will like it. There is a point after she strips where Sudeikis looks at the camera and shrugs like he is saying "What the hell?" I definitely recommend this film for people who want to go to the movies and have a fun time. This film will leave you with some lines you will be quoting for the next couple of years. Be sure to stay for the credits as there is a great gag reel. It includes what i think is the greatest gag reel prank i have ever seen. You will know what it is when you see it  
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• White House Down - 6/10 - Channing Tatum saves the world from terrorists in this film that is similar to this year's Olympus Has Fallen. My opinion is that Olympus Has Fallen is the better film, but White House Down has the better cast. I am not someone who hates on Channing Tatum because i am a guy, but he wasn't very good in this film. He was very cliche as the hero of the day, but his acting was bad at best. I think he should stick to comedies like 21 Jump Street. This film is saved by performances from Richard Jenkins, Jimmi Simpson and Jamie Foxx (Who i am normally not a fan of). One thing that this film did better was the action sequences. We see the White House being torn to shreds with no redeeming quality left of it what so ever. The bad guys are decent in this film, and have a pretty good motive for doing what they do. One thing i would change about this film is the 2 hour and 5 minute run time. It simply runs out of steam by the 90 minute point, and requires a couple of big swerves to keep it going. The swerves work, but not enough to pick this film back up. Overall, i recommend waiting for the dollar theater or Redbox for this movie. The women will give it a 10/10 because Channing Tatum is in it

•   World War Z - 8/10 - This is the happiest i have been after an original zombie film since 2003 (28 Days Later). The world is overrun by disease infected zombies in this end of the world drama. I say "disease infected" because this film treats the zombie epidemic as a disease.....and it works. It's nice to see a film take an old idea and make it fresh again with the psychology and not the killings of zombies. That is what makes World War Z different; the zombies infect, not kill. Some of the scenes were amazingly scored by rock legends Muse, which only adds to a heart dropping scene like the one in the plane. Things i didn't like about this film was the camera work. I got a headache watching this film that took me back to Die Hard 5 earlier this year. Shaky cam work doesn't always have to be a stable in an action scene. I know why they do it, but just shoot the scene and leave it at that. I also had a dispute with the ending, but because of spoilers i can't get into that. Brad Pitt is just ok as the lead in this film, nothing good or bad. I felt that a no namer could've done just as well, but it probably wouldn't have sold in that perspective. Overall, i recommend this film in theaters but not in 3D. Outside of the plane scene, i didn't feel it added anything great. 

•   You're Next - 4.5/10 - This film just didn't do it for me. Maybe i will be wrong about this one and people will enjoy it after they watch it. There is certainly enough to like about this film. It has an amazing female lead who is tough to the core and has no problems defending herself. It has a good setting in a creepy mansion in the countryside. That certainly makes for some eerie scenes. It has an amazing score which at times took you back to an 80's horror suspense. Finally, it had a great setup. When you find out who the killers are, you realize that it is a great idea for a movie. The problem is that i didn't really care about the killers when i found out who they were because i haven't been given enough time to care. The movie starts with two quick murders and then slows down for the better part of 20 minutes. It shows us a fight with a family and then the murders start again. So basically, these characters whine about the dumbest things and seem like rich snobs. Not exactly a stereotype we can all sympathize with. I also felt they were a little sluggish with the death scenes. Some of the murders are shown, but a couple were given the camera-away shot with the violence. The acting and dialogue were awful. These are the dumbest characters in a movie maybe ever. They know that three masked people are shooting arrows at them from outside, but still want to run outside because they feel they have a good chance to get away from them. The ending is kind of abrupt and doesn't give the greatest answer with what happens. I would really be curious in having other people watch this film and see what they think. My two friends liked the movie, and thought it was good. Maybe i am just a tough judge when it comes to horror because it is my favorite genre, and the genre i grew up on. I certainly could understand if someone liked this film, but it's just not for me. As a result, i can't really recommend this film, but i would like to get some opinions from other people who have seen it. Please post if you do 
   
•  Zero Dark Thirty - 8/10 - A very deep impacting film that does a great job of showing the negative sides of those who fight for our freedoms. I love that they didn't skimp on showing the family of Bin Laden and their reactions to what went down because i think that is just as important as anything. The film's strongest point is the cinematography and how it is shot. I am also now pulling for Jessica Chastain to win the Oscar.