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Me on Letterboxd

Fri, 08 Mar 2013 08:51:04 -0600

I forget if I mentioned that my film reviews are all going up over on the awesome, Letterboxd site now.

The Raid: Redemption

Sun, 01 Apr 2012 07:32:31 -0600

One of the best action films I’ve seen in very long time. While not really long on story, you’ll still be glued to the screen with every step made. The fight scenes reminded me of some of the classic Jackie Chan films like “Armour of God”, only a lot more violent.

Hugo

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 10:36:31 -0600

This feels like a film that could be studied as a great work of art well into the future. As with everything else, even the 3D in the film is used with effect. For example, as the station guard or whoever he is invades Hugo’s space at one point in the film, he’s literally invading your space, as well. Subtleties like this abound everywhere.

The Artist

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 10:35:35 -0600

The absolute best films for me are the ones that elicit an emotional response or gives me goosebumps. Generally, it’s due to a scene well into the film. “The Artist” gave me goosebumps within the first five minutes.

Amazing film. One I expect to do well in the awards shows.

Letterboxd

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 10:34:31 -0600

I’ve recently created an account at Letterboxd, a site where you can rate and review films. I only had 3 beta invites which are all used up, but of the few people who look at this, if you’re interested in an invite the next time they come up, shoot me an email or DM me via Twitter.

Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows

Fri, 23 Dec 2011 08:26:45 -0600

Entertaining, but I’m not sure I liked it as much as the first film. It’s great to see the new characters and the chess-like game of matching wits between Sherlock and Professor Moriarty.

Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol

Fri, 23 Dec 2011 08:25:28 -0600

If you like action films, you should see this. Awesome. Even if you didn’t like the other MI films.

Contagion

Sun, 11 Sep 2011 18:59:48 -0600

While not quite as scary as I thought it might be, Contagion definitely has you leaving the theater a bit more wary. Someone coughing on popcorn during the film had me holding my breath for a bit.

The film follows a handful of people during an epidemic. There’s the husband who’s wife mysteriously dies, the blogger/conspiracy “reporter”, and a few people from the Center for Disease Control and World Health Organization.

There’s a fairly persistent level of tension throughout the film. And it all starts with something small. Reminded me of all the warnings they make during time travel films where the smallest change when you go back to the past could have a dramatic effect on the future. Makes me wonder if there’s a story about someone who travels to the past only to unleash an epidemic through bacteria they accidentally carried with them.

Conan the Barbarian (2011)

Fri, 19 Aug 2011 14:33:18 -0600

There were a lot of things I liked about this film. Some I didn’t.

I thought the actors were all good, especially Jason Momoa as Conan. Visually, everything looked as if was leaping right out of the books. They even got the feel of it right. Particularly the sand-men battle.

As for the stuff that didn’t work, there are a few really bad continuity issues that jerk you out of the movie for a bit.

I saw the 3D version which was good, but I’m not sure you’re really getting anything extra out of it you’d miss by viewing it otherwise.

30 Minutes or Less

Fri, 19 Aug 2011 14:26:29 -0600

Thought it was pretty good. Not something to stick with you, but worth a watch.

Attack the Block

Fri, 19 Aug 2011 14:25:11 -0600

Thought this was a really fun flick. Not a ton of story, but some decent characters and a bit of tense action.

Super 8

Sat, 11 Jun 2011 13:37:07 -0600

Really, really, good film. I wish more movies nowadays were as good. Not the best movie ever. Just a good, solid, enjoyable film. Where you care enough about the characters to have some empathy for them so you feel the impact of what they’ve gone through.

I’ve heard Super 8 compared to the 80’s Speilberg movies like The Goonies and that’s an apt comparison due to the main characters being children and how the film looks overall. But don’t think of it as a kids film as comparison to The Goonies is likely what would come to mind.

Fast Five

Mon, 16 May 2011 09:13:55 -0600

The acting in this, particularly from The Rock, is exceptionally bad (yes, even compared to the other films) but I did have a really fun time watching Fast Five, which dazzles you with one impossible stunt after another.

THOR

Fri, 06 May 2011 14:00:47 -0600

I’d say THOR is on par with either Iron Man movie and better than the 2nd Hulk movie that came out. If you go, wait for the scene after the credits roll.

Water for Elephants

Thu, 05 May 2011 14:21:52 -0600

Okay film. Best part was the audience cheering when the bad guy got what was coming to him. Not often I hear that kind of reaction from an audience when a film’s already been out over a week already.

Super

Wed, 27 Apr 2011 02:37:17 -0600

When Frank loses his wife to a drug dealer something snaps. After what he feels is divine intervention, he dons the costume of crime fighter Crimson Bolt. At night, he waits behind dumpsters with his chosen weapon, a monkey wrench, to enforce his own brand of justice. All just practice to free his wife. Along the way he gains a sidekick who seems just a little too eager to dish out violence. They build their arsenal and exact bloody justice on crime.

I really liked Slither, a film out a number of years ago, also by Writer/Director James Gunn, which is the primary reason I went to see Super. You can definitely see the same mind behind it. Definitely not the feel-good movie of the year, but very likely different than any other film you’ll likely see for a while.

Hanna

Wed, 06 Apr 2011 07:02:48 -0600

Really great film. I haven’t seen too many this year, but right now the best one I’ve seen so far.

Sucker Punch

Wed, 06 Apr 2011 07:01:51 -0600

Aptly named as that’s what I felt director Zack Snyder did to me. Everything’s really pretty to look at, but proves that there’s more to a good movie. It’s better to describe this movie as a few hours of music videos.

Battle: Los Angeles

Mon, 14 Mar 2011 15:49:07 -0600

The start of this film had me rolling my eyes at the acting and setup of the characters. Typical setup. Once things start blowing up, it does kick into gear though and the action in it was quite good. So if you’re there for action and things blowing up, then this is for you.

There were about 20 Army personnel in camo in attendance at my showing. Didn’t ask, but was curious how they felt about the military presence in the film. I’d heard the film was like a military recruitment video. I agree.

2011 Oscar Race

Tue, 22 Feb 2011 08:55:18 -0600

I have not seen all 10 of the nominated films, but have seen half of them: The Fighter, The King’s Speech, Inception, Toy Story 3 and True Grit.

Of those, I believe both The Fighter and The King’s Speech have the potential to win and if I were to bet, I’d bet on The King’s Speech.

I liked the other films, but I really doubt the Academy would vote for an animated film. Inception seems to have been a conundrum for many in the industry. And to be honest, I don’t think True Grit really is as good as my two picks above.

Out of the rest I have not seen, Black Swan, The Kids Are All Right, 127 Hours, The Social Network and Winter’s Bone. It seems, based on the other awards, The Social Network is the only real contender for Best Picture.

As is, while my bet is for The King’s Speech to take Best Picture. My hope would be for Inception to take it in the hopes that Hollywood would take more risks in doing films like this rather than a yearly Big Momma’s movie.