Colombiana

I'm sorry I haven't been around much! I don't have a job right now, so I haven't exactly had the money to pay for tickets or many opportunities to see them for free. Anyway, I went out last night with some friends to see Colombiana for my best friend's birthday, and I actually enjoyed it! I mean, from the trailer, I wasn't expecting to not enjoy it. How can a revenge movie that combines a bad-ass chick (Zoe Soldana) and lots of action not be good? #guyproblems

The film is definitely a guilty pleasure as the acting isn't top-notch and the dialogue and story borders on cheap and cliche. It definitely is a Luc Besson film, as the highly contrasted and stylized filming with non-stop and graceful action might imply. I really enjoyed the opening exploration of young Catelaya and the origin of her motive for killing all of these people, and the subsequent action scene that involves the young Catelaya as the mobsters chase her through the streets of Bogota. Beyond that, the film offers little in the way of character development, but definitely makes up for it in the action and eye-candy department.

If you want a revenge-fueled movie that offers more depth, look elsewhere - like Hanna from earlier this year, which is more of a character study than an explosion-centric film. However, if you want something mindless, sexy, and fun, Colombiana might be the movie for you. If you know what to expect, you won't be disappointed. I sure wasn't.

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Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

Who needs the rapture when you could see the newest Pirates of the Caribbean movie? I just died and went to heaven, says I!! Now that we have that fanboying moment out of the way, let's carry on with the review.

On Stranger Tides brings us back once again into the life of Jack Sparrow (there should be a captain in there somewhere), the pirate we all fell in love with eight years ago. As promised at the end of last we met, Sparrow is after the fountain of youth. Along the way, Sparrow is reacquainted with Barbossa, Gibbs, a lover scorned - Angelica, the menacing pirate legend - Blackbeard, and even zombies and mermaids.

On Stranger Tides is, by no means, a perfect movie but does wash away any bitter aftertaste you (emphasis on you, because I loved them) may have had towards the franchise after Dead Man's Chest and At World's End. I felt that that On Stranger Tides returned to form by unfolding as an adventure-quest story, much like Curse of the Black Pearl, rather than a plot of rescue, betrayal, and backstabbing like the sequels before it did. Marshall, the new director at the helm, even pays homage to Black Pearl by including a sword fighting sequence reminiscent of the first duel between Sparrow and Turner in the blacksmith shop. The film was also shot beautifully and the soundtrack is as stunning as ever. The Hans Zimmer's familiar score is even enhanced with relevant Spanish guitar by Rodrigo y Gabriela .

What doesn't work for the film is the introduction, of what i am assuming, a replacement couple for Elizabeth Swan and Will Turner. Quite frankly, I didn't care for sub-plot romance between the Syrena the mermaid and Philip the missionary. They didn't have as large a presence as Turner and Swan did, so it seemed more like an after-thought than anything else. That said, I thought the mermaids were really cool and the scene where they attacked the pirates was pretty intense. I will admit though, I did laugh at the shot of one of the mermaids revealing what appeared to be vampire-like fangs.

Another thing that bothered me was the lack of exploration of some of the lore introduced. Where did Blackbeard's voodoo powers come from? Why is his sword able to control his ship? I feel like this lack of storytelling is a result of the writers' need to introduce as many characters as possible and have them all have their own motives. Maybe it will all be explored in the next pirates film, as hinted at by the scene at the end of the credits. I just feel like if they shortened the beginning of the film and worked some script magic, they could have at least explored some of it during the meaty 137-minute runtime.

Either way, as you may have expected, I fully and wholeheartedly enjoyed the film - and will probably see it several more times. When it comes down to it, I'm a pirate fanboy at heart, and the franchise can do no wrong in my eyes. Objectively speaking of course, I suggest you set your sails and course your heading for the nearest theater. You just might be surprised.




Are you truly surprised at my final verdict?

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Scream 4 [Spoiler Free]

Let's face it: Remakes and sequels rarely, if ever, exceed the quality of the originals, a point I tried making in one of my earlier blogs. This point is also made in Scream 4 by poking fun at the unquantifiable horror sequels and reboots out there. The Scream movies are so fun because of how self-aware of themselves they are. 'Scream' even exists within itself in the form of seven 'Stab' movies. How many of you have sat at home or in a theater and asked yourself why characters in horror movies don't seem at all familiar with horror movie cliches? These films are so enjoyable because they fearlessly self-parody themselves, without compromising the suspense or mystery, by commenting on the rules to which horror films play out, and specifically in Scream 4, how those rules are changing, among other things.

The film does a good job of throwing red herrings your way to throw you off the scent of who the killer is. It was fun trying to guess who it was. I honestly had no idea who it could be until the killer was revealed. It was fun seeing some of the original cast mixed in with new one. I love throwbacks and cameos (even though these appearances are more than just a cameo). My only complaint was the ending act seemed to drag on, especially since I held my bladder for about 20 minutes so I didn't miss anything. The acting was alright, but who actually goes to see a slasher flick for the acting?

Bottom-line? Scream 4 is a fun and entertaining movie far better, in my opinion, than any slasher flick released in recent memory. I think it also stands well on it's own. Without having seen the first two films in the franchise, a crime on its own, I didn't feel like I was left out on anything other than the experience of not having seen them. The movie definitely does have its flaws, but I think that they are forgivable enough to leave you with an overall, enjoyable experience.



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Hanna

Hanna is one of the movies that I have been most looking forward to seeing this year. I love a good conspiracy, action-thriller movie and Hanna looked like a film that would be able to deliver, and it does for the most part.

The movie, in my opinion, begins rather slowly; I'm assuming to convey a sense of isolation and disconnect from the rest of the world which can't be done in a fast-paced and rushed style. After all, Hanna and her father are hiding away from a ruthless CIA operative for reasons that weren't yet clear to me but are sure enough revealed as the story unfolds. The movie also ends rather abruptly, leaving me questioning, "What happens now?" One commenter on Fandango's Fan Review board states that it isn't what happens at the beginning or the end of the film that is important, but the adventure that takes place throughout the film, and I have to agree.

For me, the most enjoyable scenes weren't those where Hanna was fighting for her life, but those where she was discovering the entirely new world around her, especially in Morocco after escaping the underground hold. The family she befriends and spends quite a bit of time with creates a stark, and often humorous contrast between Hanna's isolated upbringing and the family's eccentric lifestyle.

It really is a delight watching Hanna take in everything. Saoirse's portrayal of the title character makes the film, as well the ever-reliable Cate Blanchett's delivery of menacing CIA Agent Marissa Weigler. Along with the enjoyable performances by the entire cast, the excellent editing and great, though forgettable soundtrack, you should be kept drawn into the film, unwary of the nearly two-hour run time, and left with an overall good movie-going experience.

If you have the chance and are into these kinds of films, I would definitely look into watching it. I certainly enjoyed it!

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Superbowl XLV

Aside from the middle of summer when ComicCon is in full swing in the beautiful city of San Diego, the Superbowl is one of the most highly anticipated times for movie trailers. This year, viewers of the game (or commericials, whichever you are more interested in) were treated to trailers for some of this year's most anticipated movies. Check out the trailers below the cut!

Which ones are you most excited for? I'm looking the most forward to Pirates and Captain America.

Battle: LA



Captain America: The First Avenger



Cowboys & Aliens



The Eagle



Fast Five



Just Go With It



Kung Fu Panda 2



Limitless



Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides



Priest



Rango



Super 8



Thor



Transformers: Dark of the Moon



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The 83rd Academy Awards

The date is fast approaching. On February 27th, 2011, The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will award its coveted statue for film achievement in 2010. Today, the Academy released the nomination list, and in my opinion, there are not any major upsets. This marks the second year where the Academy widened the Best Picture category to ten nominations as opposed to the traditional five. This allows for recognition of films that deserve the nomination, but aren't traditional category fare. The King's Speech leads the pack of films with 12 nominations, followed by The Social Network with 8 nominations.

For a list of all of the nominations, and who I think deserves to win in each category, please check below the cut!



BEST PICTURE:
Black Swan
The Fighter
Inception
The Kids Are All Right
The King's Speech
127 Hours
The Social Network
Toy Story 3
True Grit
Winter's Bone

DIRECTING:
Darren Aronofsky - Black Swan
David O. Russell - The Fighter
Tom Hooper - The King's Speech
David Fincher - The Social Network
Joel Coen and Ethan Coen - True Grit

ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE:
Javier Bardem - Biutiful
Jeff Bridges - True Grit
Jesse Eisenberg - The Social Network
Colin Firth - The King's Speech
James Franco - 127 Hours

ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE:
Annette Bening - The Kids Are All Right
Nicole Kidman - Rabbit Hole
Jennifer Lawrence - Winter's Bone
Natalie Portman - Black Swan
Michelle Williams - Blue Valentine

ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE:
Christian Bale - The Fighter
John Hawkes - Winter's Bone
Jeremy Renner - The Town
Mark Ruffalo - The Kids Are All Right
Geoffrey Rush - The King's Speech

ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE:
Amy Adams - The Fighter
Helena Bonham Carter - The King's Speech
Melissa Leo - The Fighter
Hailee Steinfeld - True Grit
Jacki Weaver - Animal Kingdom

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY:
127 Hours
The Social Network
Toy Story 3
True Grit
Winter's Bone

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY:
Another Year
The Fighter
Inception
The Kids Are All Right
The King's Speech

FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM:
Biutiful, Mexico
Dogtooth, Greece
In a Better World, Denmark
Incendies, Canada
Outside the Law, Algeria

ANIMATED FEATURE FILM:
How to Train Your Dragon
The Illusionist
Toy Story 3

ART DIRECTION:
Alice in Wonderland
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1
Inception
The King's Speech
True Grit

CINEMATOGRAPHY:
Black Swan
Inception
The King's Speech
The Social Network
True Grit

COSTUME DESIGN:
Alice in Wonderland
I Am Love
The King's Speech
The Tempest
True Grit

FILM EDITING:
Black Swan
The Fighter
The King's Speech
127 Hours
The Social Network

DOCUMENTARY FEATURE:
Exit Through the Gift Shop
Gasland
Inside Job
Restrepo
Waste Land

MAKEUP:
Barney's Version
The Way Back
The Wolfman

ORIGINAL SCORE:
How to Train Your Dragon
Inception
The King's Speech
127 Hours
The Social Network

ORIGINAL SONG:
"Coming Home" from Country Strong
"I See the Light" from Tangled
"If I Rise" from 127 Hours
"We Belong Together" from Toy Story 3

SOUND MIXING:
Inception
The King's Speech
Salt
The Social Network
True Grit

SOUND EDITING:
Inception
Toy Story 3
TRON: Legacy
True Grit
Unstoppable

VISUAL EFFECTS:
Alice in Wonderland
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1
Hereafter
Inception
Iron Man 2

DOCUMENTARY SHORT:
Killing in the Name
Poster Girl
Strangers No More
Sun Come Up
The Warriors of Qiugang

ANIMATED SHORT FILM:
Day & Night
The Gruffalo
Let's Pollute
The Lost Thing
Madagascar, carnet de voyage

LIVE ACTION SHORT FILM:
The Confession
The Crush
God of Love
Na Wewe
Wish 143

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Top 10 of 2010

TOP 10 OF

I know I'm running a little late, but I wanted to give a breakdown of my top 10 favorite movies of this last year. There were a lot of great ones.... and some not so great. I considered many factors when choosing my favorite movies of the years. I weighted both technical merits such as acting, direction, or writing and the overall entertainment value I got from watching the movie.


10 | The Crazies

This movie was actually really surprising, and a lot better than I was expecting it to be. I was going through the list of all the movies I saw last year, starting at the beginning, and this was the first one that popped out at me. It wasn’t bad at all. This is one of those movies where the entertainment value outweighed the technical aspects of the movie. That’s not to say that the technical merits don’t stand well on their own. This is one of those movies that keeps you at the edge of your seat, and definitely one of the better horror movies in recent years (even if it is a remake, and you know how I feel about those!)

9 | Tangled

Give me anything Disney, and I'll love it. That's because the studio has a tendency for creating pretty solid movies. Tangled is more of a return to what the studio had to offer during its renaissance era of the 90's; more so than The Princess and the Frog from two years ago. Alan Menken returns to write and compose the music for this twisted adaption of the Rapunzel fairy tale. I caught this in theaters a couple of times, and loved every minute of it.

8 | How To Train Your Dragon

I have to say… I’m not a huge fan of DreamWorks Animation. None of their movies have really captured me as much as any of Pixar’s movies. I was shocked when I watched this movie and it was of the quality of a Pixar movie. The movie was so magical and heartfelt, and they don’t actually rely on physical humor like the studio’s other offerings (ie, Kung Fu Panda, Shrek, etc). Check out my complete review here.

7 | Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I

I’m a Harry Potter fanatic. It’s not healthy how obsessed with this franchise I am. That said, this film is definitely the best of the entire series, up to this point. Granted, it’s based off of, in my opinion, the best book of the series, so I don’t think that is saying much. The scope of the movie is fantastic, and the main trio has never acted better. I was skeptical at first when David Yates stayed on as director for the two-part finale. I wasn’t a huge fan of his two other Potter directorial efforts (Order of the Phoenix and Half-Blood Prince). Let’s just say I am impressed and looking forward to the epic finale.

6 | The Social Network

This should probably be higher on the list, but honestly, it’s only this low on the list because of how much more impressed and entertained I am by some last year’s later releases. When this movie wins awards, and it will, it will deserve them. It’s definitely a dramatization of how Facebook was started, but it’s intense, well written, and well acted by all involved.

5 | Black Swan

For starters, Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis make out in this movie. Seriously though, Aronofsky delivers with this suspenseful, psychological thriller. It was definitely an experience witnessing the beautiful, yet horrific transformation that the main character goes through. I’m kind of iffy about the ending, but it was expected with how dark the movie was. This isn’t one of those casual movie going experiences, so be ready for it.

4 | Toy Story 3

Even though these toys are not my own, I literally grew up with them. It was a beautiful, touching goodbye to my childhood. It’s just as good as it’s predecessors. I don’t necessarily agree with the Best Picture nomination it’s campaigning for because it does have some pretty fierce competition in the Best Animated Movie category and that should be their main focus. Regardless, this is one of my favorite movies of the year and another solid release from arguably the best animation studio.

3 | Inception

BMMMFFHFHHHH. BMMMFFHFHHHH. BMMMFFHFHHHH. This movie blew my mind. Everything about it is literally epic. The acting, writing, direction, production, special effects, score, EVERYTHING. Christopher Nolan is a genius. There is not a minute of drag in this movie in its near two and a half hour runtime, and I’m saying that after watching it a few times. And if you want to know my opinion, it’s not all a dream.

2 | True Grit

This was almost my top movie of the year, and it would have been if I didn’t end up seeing my top pick. This movie is brilliant. Check out my full review here.

1 | The Fighter

I almost didn’t see this movie, and if I was only counting movies that I actually saw during 2010, this movie wouldn’t have made the list, but because it was released last year, I’m counting it. I have been hearing a lot of buzz around this film lately, and I really wanted to see it, but I’m not a big fan of boxing movies and hard dramas (which I thought it was). It was surprisingly light-hearted and deep at the same time. It especially hit home. I love dramas that know how to handle darker material and stay entertaining at the same time. The movie also ends on a high note, and I love a good happy ending.

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2010 Salute to Cinema

I reached 100 movies! I went through my list and audited what I have seen this year. Somehow, I managed to skip a couple of movies on my list, so I added them on.

In celebration of this year in cinema, the following is a beautiful montage of some of the movies that 2010 had to offer. I saw the video that Ben Zuk made last year, and it was pretty awesome. Check it out if you are interested: 2009: Moments in Film.

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