Into the Woods (Jacqui)

WARNING: This review contains spoilers. If you have not seen the movie or read any of the changes described in the media, please don’t blame me for ruining this awesome musical for you.

To know me is to know, I have a slight obsession with musicals (slight, read addicted). ALW and Sondheim to be exact. In the past few years, I have been greatly disappointed by the many musical adaptations that Hollywood has attempted. I was greatly worried when I heard “Into The Woods” was going to be made into a movie. I was also really concerned by the casting choices that Disney appeared to push on the movie. However, I am here to say I was far from disappointed by this adaptation; I was greatly impressed and, as a fan, feel this movie could not have been any better.

Into The Woods can be synopsized in many ways. To be brief, it’s a musical retelling of the Grimm’s fairytales with more of a bend toward the adult translation. The show itself is centered around the tales of Cinderella, Rapunzel, Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk; all tied together with and original story of a childless Baker, his wife and the Witch which has cursed their house because of the sin of the father of the aforementioned Baker.

Act I centers on backstory and wishes being granted. Cinderella/Rapunzel get their princes, Jack climbing the beanstalk to get his cow back, Red Riding Hood and grandma get rescued.   All the while, the Baker and his wife retrieve the items needed to break the curse for the Witch.  The act ends with everyone getting their wish and beginning their happily ever after.

Act II presents the cost of their wishes. Jack going up the beanstalk and killing the giant causes the giant’s wife to go on a rampage. The Lady Giant’s rampage brings all the characters back together in the woods. In the woods relationships are tested and people are lost/found.  In the show version, the Baker’s wife has a one-night stand with Cinderella’s prince followed by death by giant. Rapunzel goes crazy and her prince leaves her.  This version sees Rapunzel run off with her prince and the Baker’s wife death is very understated. The movie ends with the “Children will listen” and everyone gathered around the Baker as he tells the story of his friends to his motherless son. There is no happy ever after here, just a fade to black.

In the run up to this movie, there were rumors: Songs that were removed (including my favorite “No More”) and story changes that Disney demanded (No sex, Baker’s wife doesn’t die, Rapunzel doesn’t die, the goriness of the mutilation of the evil step sisters was lessened etc). As a HUGE fan of the musical, I was concerned about these changes would effect the end product. Again, the slight changes really did not affect the movie.

Rob Marshall proves again why no one else should be allowed to direct movie musicals. His combined use of live recording and studio was magnificent.  He knew how to balance the two to provide the audience with the realism that this musical requires. The way he managed to harmonize the entire cast when its obvious they weren’t in the same place was also really impressive. “No One is Alone” was a prime example of this. I also give him credit for keeping some of the original storyline that was rumored “changed” by Disney. I was never happier to see someone die as I was to see they kept the Baker’s wife passing.  

Lastly, the cast. Almost everyone in the cast minus Chris Pine and Emily Blunt come from a strong singing/musical theatre background. I had a moment of the “What the FUCK are these two doing in a Sondheim?” Again, maybe it was the work of the auto-tune but they were fantastic. Pine’s “Agony” with Billy Magussen was the highlight of the movie. The homoerotic imagery employed in that scene was hilarious (they sang it in a waterfall, seriously that was for the theatre-queens out there). 

Meryl and Johnny Depp both were amazing in their parts. Depp plays the child-molester –like Wolf with perfection (see his Willy Wonka).  Meryl’s rendition of “Stay with me” rivals only Bernadette Peters.  As the character is written, she played it with all her/its show stopping ability. Do I see an Oscar or a globe for her? She’s Meryl.

The kids of this movie were also amazing-ball. Lila Crawford, fresh off of Broadway’s Annie was just wow in her songs. Daniel Huddlestone, who may be familiar as Gavroche from the movie adaptation of Les Miserables, also shows his great ability with Giants in the Sky. Youngish adults traditionally played both roles so it was great to see kids bring their freshness and more believable naivety.

 Without going too much into the various variations the show took during development, this movie adaptation was about as good as it could get.  Kudos to Sondheim for not letting anyone besides Rob Marshall take his masterpiece. With the movie death of “Last Five Years” I see this movie taking home most of the globes its nominated for.  4/5 Stars.

Birdman Review

Justin, Dad, and I saw Birdman on November 15, 2014!! This was easily one of my favorite movies of 2014!! The movie follows an actor named Riggan Thomas trying to recreate his image by distancing himself from a persona known as Birdman he made famous about 20 years ago. He constantly has the voice of his character in his head telling him to hang on to the past. Riggan wants to move on from the past, but at the same time it's really what he'll be remembered for. The backstage pass into the theater setting combined with some magnetic personalities really made this an intriguing film. It's a great look at the world of a celebrity not being able to capture the same amount of success they were previously known for.


Michael Keaton delivered his best performance in this movie. He did so well in the role of Riggan struggling to exist in the real world, while also trying to rectify his stage presence. He is such a charismatic individual. He created a character trying to overcome ego, but you realize how difficult this is for him to do. On top of this, he has so many issues with his family, namely his daughter Sam. When he goes into tirades, it's such an amazing thing to watch. He created so many memorable scenes in this whether he was on the stage, yelling at theater critics in a bar, or tussling with his cast mate Mike. Everybody is challenged both personally or professionally in this movie. It's tough for Riggan to exist in either the real world or when he's pretending to be somebody else. Keaton's performance deserves to be nominated for both the Golden Globe and Oscar for Best Actor. He really was that good. Keaton has always been somebody I've liked. He's responsible for two of my favorite movies from childhood: Batman & Beetlejuice.


Two other performances that should be noted are Edward Norton's Mike character. He was great presenting this over the top, tough to deal with actor. Everything is method with Mike. He bothers everybody around him. The second he walks on stage chaos ensues. The thing about Mike is that he can only function when he's being a fraud (portraying somebody else), but when he steps out of the theater doors he just can't function. Norton did so well. He commanded the screen whenever he was on. There was a tremendous scene where he and Keaton have an argument leading to a backstage brawl. The whole theater was into it that I saw. It reminded me of that scene from Batman where Keaton goes: "YOU WANNA GET NUTS? COME ON!!!" Norton's Mike kept taunting Keaton's Riggan throughout the movie. Norton is one of the best actors ever in my opinion, and this was just another case of him showing it. He created an over the top dramatic character that fit so well into this crazy look at celebrity. Norton deserves a Best Supporting Actor nomination for his work.


I was also very impressed with Emma Stone as Sam. Stone has become a pretty good actress over the last few years. I think this was easily her best role since The Help. There's a scene when Sam tells Riggan that he doesn't matter that just captivated me. She was just so great here. I also thought she had tremendous chemistry with Norton. Stone really is becoming one of the premiere actresses in entertainment. Her work in this movie deserves a Best Supporting Actress nomination because she put her all into every scene she was in. She's such an important part of the movie, because she is the rock for both Riggan and Mike.


I thought the scenes on the stage, in the street, backstage, and at the bar were all unique in their own ways. I felt each setting represented a different side of the characters. You really see how personalities change wherever that person is. When the personalities from two different settings merge, it creates a chaotic environment. The scene where Keaton trashes the movie critic was my favorite scene. He was so on fire in this scene and showed just how great of an actor he is. That critic bothered me so much. She deserved that tirade. The cinematography was really great as well. I liked the extended takes and I think it gave a more realistic atmosphere to the movie. The actors get into the roles even more, and for a movie exploring the inner psyches of an actor, that really makes this movie work on a whole new level.


Phenomenal acting, incredible cinematography, the basic plot, and memorable scenes make this movie a definite 5/5 for me. It was a really good artistic movie filled with so many magnetic charisma and intriguing performances.

Interstellar Review

Justin, Mike, and I saw Interstellar on November 9, 2014!! I can honestly say this is in my Top 5 movies of 2014. The others are: Guardians of the Galaxy, Divergent, X-Men; Days of Future Past, and Gone Girl. Christopher Nolan has created some of my favorite movies of all time. Inception is actually my second favorite movie ever, and I consider this to be one a true masterpiece of cinema.  This was a highly complex movie that really made me enjoy it even more. It tackles the mysteries of space & time as well as giving audiences a deep study into the core of humanity-emotions, what makes us who we are, why we do what we do, etc. The plot revolves around Earth becoming a planet that will not be able to sustain future generations within the next 25 years or so. The mission is to find a sustainable planet for future generations to survive. What evolves from this is one of the most intricate, intriguing, and impressive movies you'll ever find. It's truly a modern epic. We are explorers by nature. This movie shows us how we do that physically and emotionally. The cast is physically exploring the vastness of space, while at the same time the characters are exploring the unpredictable and intricate nature of their humanity. It's really a great parallel throughout.

This is one of the best ensemble casts a movie has assembled since Inception in my opinion. Matthew McConaughey was the perfect casting for the man that has to make the sacrifices not only for himself, but for the good of his family. He showed the deep flaws of man, as well as displaying what I've always said: Matthew McConaughey CAN act. I've been impressed with his work the last few years showing how good he is. I think this was his best work to date, even eclipsing Dallas Buyers Club. He really filled the role of what Cooper was all about. He deserves a nomination at both the Golden Globes and the Oscars. He really had a great understanding of what this movie was about, and he showed it with his performance. It was also great seeing Anne Hathaway involved with such a huge project. Hathaway is by far one of my all time favorite actresses: She's gorgeous (with long or short hair), intelligent, and she knows how to act. I've been a fan since she was the Princess of Genovia. She did well in her role as somebody devoted to her father & the vast mission that they're embarking on. I think the cameo appearance by Matt Damon was excellent. He did really well displaying the effects of space dementia, as well as how much his humanity was affected as a result of being in space for an elongated period of time. It's great seeing that both Ben Affleck and Matt Damon are involved with huge projects this year. These to me were the standouts of the principal cast.

I do want to devote a paragraph to the most important character in the movie: Murph. While Jessica Chastain was obviously excellent, I think Mackenzie Foy stole the show in her scenes. I like when younger actresses show potential, and she really did well laying the groundwork that would build into the epic journey we embark on as an audience. Her facial expressions and selling of the momentary decisions was perfect. Her bond with McConaughey was established early on and we'd see that evolve. Nobody quite knows the limitations of space travel, just like we don't know our own limitations. As I said, there are constant parallels and Nolan never keeps the two entities separate. You could see how both themes were intertwined at each stage of the movie.

The huge twist that tied so many things together had me going from enjoying this movie to absolutely loving it. I literally was sitting on the edge of my seat during the whole twist. I really liked the complexity of it and how both humanity, space, and time seemed to converge into one point. It was brilliant. The score is incredible. Sitting back just listening to this as I type makes me appreciate just how perfectly this accompanied the feature. The music crescendos at the perfect time, and every note is meaningful. Not only are you witnessing amazing acting performances, but you're witnessing an incredible story just exploding in front of you as this wave of sound hits you. While I knew there had to be a connection to certain events in the movie, the journey and initial moment were just so well done. I cannot wait to get this movie on DVD, and I intend to see this again in IMAX. I think it's worth it.

I'd highly recommend this for the brilliant performances, highly interesting & complex story involving space, time, and humanity, the beautiful score, and an all around great movie. As if you couldn't guess, this movie gets a 5/5. I didn't think I'd like it as much as I did when I saw it. I love when a movie surprises me. It's so epic!!

Big Hero 6 Review

Justin and I saw Big Hero 6 on November 7, 2014!! This is easily in my Top 5 favorite computer animated movies with the other four being Wreck-It Ralph, Mega-Mind, Frozen, and Toy Story. I would say this movie has something for everyone. It's definitely a more emotional animated movie, and I honestly really enjoy that aspect of these movies. It makes the movie seem more realistic. Everybody can feel a connection to a character in that way.

Big Hero 6 focuses primarily on innovation and never giving up. The big theme centers around the importance of family (especially seen in the amazing bond between young Hero & his older brother Tadashi Hamada). They've had an interesting life being raised by their aunt, but they both are successful in many ways. They're both extremely intelligent. The movie also exemplifies the importance of friends. You always need a good group of people in your corner, especially when things get tough. This movie exhibits how tough things can get, but there's always somebody there to cheer you up, or help you out. Another great look at friendship is seen through Tadashi's creation: Baymax. Baymax is one of the most entertaining characters ever created. It's innocence is so amazing. Even though Baymax is technically a robot, it exhibits core human emotions, so watching him bond with Hero is a really special experience. The creators did really well displaying the different interactions between Hero, Tadashi, Tadashi's friends, and Baymax.

This movie also exhibits great action & drama. The drama that we see in the first part of the movie really crescendos into the amazing action sequences we see towards the middle & end of the movie. The huge event that takes place at the beginning opens up Hero's creativity & motivates him to keep on pushing. Through the bonds he forms with those around him, Hero is able to create an exciting group of superheroes. Watching the different character designs and super powers was very intriguing. This movie just had a constant flow to it. Everything is a building block in this movie to show Hero's true potential, as well as sending a message it's okay to need help sometimes.

This movie truly deserves a 5/5 for it's amazing animation, well created characters, incredibly emotional story, and intricate action sequences. It's a winding staircase leading to a fun adventure for both children and adults. All ages will appreciate this movie. What I like about this and recent animated movies is creators appealing to wider audiences. They're not just speaking to one demographic anymore, and it's created much more intricate and exciting animated movies. This movie is extremely good and certainly deserves to be on the nominees list for Best Animated Movie at both the Golden Globes and the Oscars. It most likely will be on the list considering Disney usually garners nominations (and rightfully so).

Nightcrawler Review

Justin and I saw Nightcrawler on November 1, 2014!! I had been interested in this movie since I saw the first trailer. I found this movie to be quite interesting. It gives us a unique look into the world of the media, particularly news stories, specifically Los Angeles crime journalism. I liked looking at the inner workings of a news station, and the way the production team tells the announcers how to spin a piece, frame their sentences, and basically what to really focus on primarily for that particular broadcast.

In this movie, we watch a man named Louis Bloom, who is the embodiment of attaining goals through any means necessary. From the outset you get the idea, that this guy is eccentric & plays by his own rules. He's a man desperate for work. He finds a way into the world of crime journalism by weasling his way into crime scenes, while also showing how intelligent he is. It's actually quite scary how meticulous his planning is at every stage of the movie.

Jake Gyllenhaal was absolutely incredible in this movie. It honestly was my favorite performance of his since Donnie Darko, and I've seen pretty much all of his movies. He perfectly created this character that has a unique view of humanity and spins it for his own maniacal pleasure. He plays everybody he meets. He doesn't stop negotiating until he gets what he wants.  Gyllenhaal was perfect in this role. His charisma throughout this movie mixed with the creepiness of the character's tone worked so well. He's always one step ahead of everybody, and I personally loved watching that. Obstacles keep getting placed in front of him, but he navigates his way though them. While Bloom plays an observer, his methods are designed to make him the star.

While there are great performances by other actors, namely Rene Russo who did a great job as the news manager Nina, and a great cameo by Bill Paxton as a fellow Nightcrawler named Joe Loder (I thought Paxton was the best casting for the veteran Nightcrawler), Gyllenhaal is clearly the star of this movie. Some of the scenes kept you on the edge of your seat. The best part of watching these scenes is that you're watching Bloom shape the story in his own way. I think the main story at the end that shows crime filtering into affluent Los Angeles was handled in such an interesting manner. You see Bloom's thinking through every stage of this. His dialogue scenes with Nina, his employee Rick, and police detectives are so mesmerizing. Instances of scenes where I thought the dialogue was great: a Mexican restaurant with Nina, a discussion about a raise with Rick, and basic interrogation questions with the detectives.

I give this movie a 4/5 for a memorable awards worthy performance by Jake Gyllenhaal, memorable scenes, and a great look into the inner workings of a television news network. I encourage people to see this movie simply to watch how cerebral & hauntingly charismatic Gyllenhaal's Louis Bloom character is.

Birdman

On friday, a good friend and I went to go see "Birdman". I have been eying this moving since the first festival reviews came out. From the director of such films as "Babel", this film is probably one of my favorite films thus far in the Oscar Hunt (I don't think it will win but I will get to that later).

The movie is shot in such a way that it looks like a single-camera with one continuous take throughout. The camera is following Riggan (Michael Keaton) as he acts, directs and produces the Raymond Carver play "What We Talk About When We Talk About Love". The audience is slowly introduced to Riggan's backstory; he's a washed up movie actor famous for the role of "Birdman". This show is his way of attempting to win back his acting soul. However, from the opening scene; its obvious that this is a psychedelic trip into the unraveling of Riggan's mind. 

Again, this movie seems like an acid trip at times. The movie opens with two things; Riggan in his undies and a clock ticking. As the scene plays on, Riggan uses what appears to be telekinesis to move items around his theatre dressing room. He is haunted by a poster of his last "Birdman" movie. It speaks to him when he least expects it and provides a running commentary to the thoughts in Riggan's unraveling mind. 

As the movie moves forward, Riggan's troubled mind starts to intermingle with the lives of his actors and family. When Riggan appears to use his telekinesis to remove one of his main actors from the show, the star gets replaced by Mike Shriner (Edward Norton) another thespian with a history of trouble. Suddenly, it seems like the movie could be about redemption.. 

Alas, this is not a story of redemption; its one of discovery. Riggan learns no matter how far he tries to wander, he is the Birdman. And in the end, well that would ruin things now wouldn't it?

The only hint I will give is a Hollywood/Broadway rumor that happened to "Little Shop of Horrors". You see at the end of the Broadway version, everyone dies. In the movie version, Seymour and Audrey live happily ever after. Test audiences for the movie rejected the latter ending because "it was too horrible for a musical". 

The ending of the "Birdman" ruins its oscar chances. For such a uniquely filmed and acted movie, it sucks its ending couldn't have been like the Broadway version of "Little Shop of Horrors".

My rating 3/5. 

Gone Girl Review

I saw Gone Girl on October 5, 2014!! I enjoyed this movie so much I saw it again on October 6 with Justin!! David Fincher has directed some of my all time favorite movies: Fight Club, Seven, & The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. Now, you can add Gone Girl to this list. Gillian Flynn wrote an amazing screenplay for this. Since she's the author of the book the movie is based on, I feel her story combined with Fincher's directing, as well as the incredible cast created an amazing cinematic experience. This movie is absolutely amazing in my opinion. It's dark, intense, and filled with incredible performances. The dark nature of this movie really pulls audiences in. The actors really did well shaping the performances. If you can't get the right cast, then a movie can fall flat. In this case, I feel everybody was able to make their character believable.

The basic premise of the movie follows a man named Nick Dunne. His wife Amy Dunne goes missing. The movie takes you on a crazy, haunting journey from there. Gone Girl is split into two stories, which really keeps the story flowing. You're following two different character perspectives. You're looking at two different character's journeys within the current situation. I loved the mystery & intrigue of the story, as well as the amazing twists that occur throughout the movie.

I think the actors did an excellent job portraying their roles. Ben Affleck was excellent as Nick Dunne. Since The Town, I feel his performances have been really well done. I've always found him to be a good actor, but he has really stepped it up the last few years. While Affleck was great, the performance that captivated me was Rosamund Pike. Prior to this, I had only seen her in fun comedies like Johnny English & The World's End (the good one with Simon Pegg & Nick Frost). Her performance as Amy Dunne is my favorite female performance since Cate Blanchett in Blue Jasmine. I love femme fatale characters, and Pike took it to a whole new level. She was so dark & twisted. Many of my favorite scenes involve her. Pike is epic, awesome, insanely good (description is on purpose). If Pike is not on the list for Best Actress at the Oscars, I'm boycotting them.

My favorite character is Amy, but my second favorite character would be Margo Dunne, Nick's twin sister. Carrie Coon was great, providing some of the best lines in the movie. Audiences loved her at the side of her brother throughout the entire ordeal. She gave a performance showing how petrified she was for her brother, but at the same time showing how strong she is fighting to show her brother is a good guy. Nick really isn't a good guy, but Margo is there for him. She's his family. Two other notable performances were Neil Patrick Harris as the wealthy Desi Collings (nice back story with him). I would say the most memorable scene in the movie involves him. The scene I'm referring to was so intense-the camera work, music, and acting performances made it work so well. You'll know what I'm talking about when you see it. Another performance I actually liked which shocked me was Tyler Perry as Tanner Bolt. He was a fun lawyer character helping out Margo & Nick on their journey.

I would say there were only three other movies I liked as much as this one in 2014-Divergent, X-Men: Days of Future Past, and Guardians of the Galaxy. Gone Girl hopefully will be on both the Golden Globe & Oscar lists this year. I give the movie a definite 5/5. The movie is this huge dramatic ordeal that also turns into a darker comedy at the same time. I loved that aspect of it. The movie itself, the acting performances, Fincher's directing, Flynn's amazing script, and the phenomenal score worked together to make something truly great.

The Boxtrolls Review

Justin and I saw The Boxtrolls on September 27, 2014!! I would honestly say this is easily one of the best animated movies I've ever seen. I feel this was definitely directed more at adults than children. There are a lot of interesting themes going on taking place in the world of Cheesebridge. The motto of the town is a Gouda Place To Live. There is a definite class distinction in the town between white hats and red hats. It's clear to me that there are definite nods to the Russian Revolution in this movie. To me, both the white hats and the red hats come across as villains.

While there is jealousy between them, they unite in their hatred of the underground trash collectors: The Boxtrolls. The politicians of the white hats & the exterminators of the red hats (especially Archibald Snatcher) utilize fear to get the town behind them. Snatcher spins a web to influence people that Boxtrolls steal babies & create chaos in Cheesebridge. He's also trying to use this plot to rise in the rankings of the town, and gain the ever elusive top white hat at the head of the tasting table.

The Boxtrolls are all unique. Their names come from the box they don whether it's fish, shoes, etc. We also see that the Boxtrolls have been raising a boy that they have named Eggs. We find out how he comes to live with them. Eggs is an excellent character who gives us a good message that it's not cheese, white hats, or red hats that make us who we are. We make ourselves. He encounters the outside world. The visuals are incredible to see. Since the creators of Coraline & Paranorman were involved in the animation, I was instantly impressed. A friendship blooms between Eggs & a girl named Winnie. She helps him to adapt to the outside world. At the same time, he also realizes that he needs to protect the Boxtrolls. They have been there for him. He's going to be there for him with the help of Winnie.

I really liked the Archibald Snatcher character simply because he was such an intelligent villain. The look of the character mixed with Ben Kingsley's voice worked so well. His ambitious desire to rise to the top at any means reminded me of Jafar & Scar in some ways. To me, he's the most recognizable character in the movie. His actions and words really shape so much of the dark nature of this movie. Eggs & Winnie work together to open the town's eyes to what is going on. Watching the action unfold is spectacular. The use of color in the hats, the cheeses, the trolls, the inventions, and the town in general were incredible.

The characters, the darker plot, the twists within that plot, the ideologies between red hat & white hat, the vocal talents, how influential the youth of society can be, and the unique look between man & monster make this a 5/5. It's a truly spectacular animated movie. It's very well made. I also want to point out how awesome it was to hear an original rendition of Little Boxes (a song made popular in one of my all time favorite television shows: Weeds) in the credits. Go out of your way to see this movie. I am simply amazed by how good this was.

Let's Be Cops Review

Justin and I saw Let's Be Cops on September 3, 2014!! Now going into this movie, I wasn't expecting to enjoy it, but I was pleasantly surprised. We're introduced to our protagonists: Ryan & Justin. They're struggling to find their place in life. Ryan is still coping with not making it to the NFL after a successful college career. Justin is a video game designer looking for his big break. While they're down on their luck, they're invited to a masquerade party (not the same thing as a costume party). They dress up as police officers & the story grows from there.

I thought there was a great buddy aspect to this movie, much like 21 Jump Street. They still are very different plots. While it may be dealing with the subject of law enforcement, the missions and circumstances are completely different. I thought that Jake Johnson & Damon Wayans, Jr. both did an excellent job, not only as comedic actors, but also a dramatic flair as well. The story was split evenly with comedy & an intense story.

I was really into the story as the characters delve deeper into the world of law enforcement. Dealing with a serious crew of villains led by Mossic (reminded me of a modern day version of Bill "The Butcher" Cutting in Gangs of New York), they embark on a mission to bring them down. For Ryan, it's about finding a sense of purpose in the world. For Justin, it's to protect Josie (the girl he likes played by the beautiful Nina Dobrev), but also because he is sick of being stepped on by his boss & everybody else around him.

There are some great appearances by Rob Riggle & Andy Garcia as well. Watching Ryan & Justin interact with each other as well as police officers, citizens, & mob enforcers is all an exciting ride. I definitely like the way things turned out for both Ryan & Justin. The conclusion of each story made sense. I particularly enjoyed Justin's video game presentation, the hilarious comedic moments with Keegan-Michael Key's Pupa character, the intensity of Mossic, the interesting twists, watching both characters become more involved with the aspect of being cops, and generally a good story all around. I give it a 4/5. I like when movies surprise you. The same thing happened with Guardians of the Galaxy. I also didn't think I'd like that, but now I'd say it was my favorite movie of the year, as well as one of the best comic book movies of all time. I'd rank Let's Be Cops as one of the better movies of 2014. It really has everything movie fans want to see.

If I Stay Review

I saw If I Stay on August 25, 20414!! I thought this was an incredible movie. I saw this in a packed theater with several females. It was an interesting experience. I actually don't understand why more guys see these types of movies. Action movies are so one-dimensional overall. I'm never really invested in any stories (if there even is one) in those types of movies. It's obviously a very emotional movie, but it had a great story. It is a great look at how powerful a bond with family, friends, and relationships can be. This movie really makes you appreciate your family & friends. You don't want to take anything for granted, because in an instant things can change. It made you appreciate how beautiful music can be. It also made you appreciate how beautiful music can be.

I haven't read the book that this movie is based on, but I've been told a big emphasis was placed on the music aspect in the book. It was definitely a major subplot. It was cool seeing how opposites attract just based on music. I actually am a big fan of both styles that they focused on: rock & classical music. The relationship between our two main characters Mia Hall & Adam grows based on love of music-whether it's simply listening to the notes/lyrics or creating it. Mia was actually born into music and you explore that through her memories.

Chloe Grace Moretz did an amazing job in the role of Mia. She's really one of the better young actresses today. I've been a huge supporter of hers since Kick-Ass. It's great seeing her in a more dramatic role.Throughout the movie, we are shown her memories of her dedication to the cello, her relationship with Adam, her fun relationship with her parents, and the close bond that she & her brother Teddy have. Being a cellist, she has ambitions to become a successful musician. She certainly has the talent. The exploration of how far she can go with her music while balancing her relationships with Adam & her parents is a big focal point of the memories.

I like how the movie jumps between her memories prior to the car accident & the events unfolding in the hospital. It told a beautiful story. It showed how close the family is. It showed how strong their bond is. I also think it's very interesting seeing things from Mia's point of view. It really added to the emotional aspect. She has to make a life or death decision. As you're watching these hospital scenes unfold, there's a good chance you'll shed some tears. I think Stacy Keach (who plays Mia's grandfather) gave a powerful speech to Mia after everything that happened in one day. Everybody in the theater just lost it here. If you don't, then I'm not sure you have a heart. The power of music also plays a huge role in the hospital scenes. Classical music is very calming is all I'll say. It's a big part of what Mia chooses in the end. I don't know how you can watch this movie & not feel anything. Moretz captured the severity of the emotional landscape so vividly.

If you want to see a well made movie celebrating the importance of family & friends, or you have a deep appreciation for music, then I'd highly recommend this. It's one of the best movies I've seen this year. I give it a 5/5 because it's a well made movie-shifting between Mia's memories & her present predicament, the acting performances are great, the music is beautiful, & emotions are at an all time high-you'll feel both joy & sadness watching this.

The Giver Review

I saw The Giver on August 21, 2014!! I remember reading the book by Lois Lowry in Mrs. Christie's 6th grade Reading class. While there are definite changes from the book to the movie, I actually really enjoyed them. I felt it made the story more interesting. I felt it gave more substance overall. It really is a movie about what it truly means to be human. The movie's message really focuses on that. It delves into the faults of the perfect society created. It shows that one needs to experience the full gamut of emotions to be a whole person. While conforming to societal norms is less conventional, I felt this movie spoke to all ages to be accepting of others. The Giver shows us that different races, religions, & cultures are essential to life. Our memories & choices-good & bad make us whole.

I thought that the movie captured the general core of the book quite well. The overall premise of the unique community, advanced technology, as well as the black & white nature of it all-the important ceremonies, the job selection (nurturer for instance), the family dinner scenes, the transcendence to color, & the relationship between Jonas & The Giver were all very good. I thought Brenton Thwaites captured the personality of Jonas really well. Making the characters older in the movie works a lot better for the movie's overall message. I realize the community eliminates any notion of feeling physical or emotional, but a 12 year old would not be able to understand the importance of what the role of a receiver really means. A person should have to be at a higher level of maturity to undertake this task,

They definitely made the characters older so they could understand the emotion of love. While a romantic edge is touched upon between Jonas & Fiona, it's really a look at understanding emotion. It's looking at love as a whole, not just romantic love, but love of family, friends, & community. Both joy & sadness are well represented throughout the movie. I think the movie allowed the story to flow at a better rate than the book. I liked the three central young actors: Thwaites, Odeya Rush, & Cameron Monghan all did well in their roles. I liked Rush's deeper look into Fiona. She's definitely somebody I'd like to see more from. I think she has potential to become one of the better young actresses. We have plenty great ones now, but there's always room for more. The connection with her & Jonas is great to watch on screen. Cameron is known for playing the excellent Ian Gallagher character on Shameless, and did an excellent job as Asher switching from a rebel to a conformist.

For me, the two people that truly stole the movie were Jeff Bridges & Meryl Streep. I loved the characters because it represented two different ideologies. Watching his interaction with Thwaites shows how passionate he is about the project. His interaction with Jonas displayed that a true receiver will be able to balance the good & bad memories. With The Giver's guidance, Jonas realizes he can give the community it's memories back. On the other side, you have the chief antagonist in the Chief Elder played by Streep. She played the idea of conformity and adhering to rules really well. Her look was great since she was basically dressed in black & white. She actually reminded me a little bit of Angelica Huston the way she looked in this from her earlier work in the 90s.

It's really interesting to watch how Jonas's acquisition of memory  can influence younger members of society to accept differences. We see this with Fiona. Even though Asher becomes more of conformist, we see his understanding of emotion as well. Jonas is definitely a great choice for receiver. He wants to give memories to the whole community. He wants to create a society of unique individuals. The Giver's ideology influences the younger generation. The Chief Elder's ideology influences the parents & older members of society. The adults conform to the rules of society. I think Katie Holmes did a great job with that. She was the justice representative & she even tries to keep Jonas on point with society. I've always been a fan of Katie since Joey Potter in Dawson's Creek. I've seen most of her movies over the years-always will be one of my favorites. Alexander Skarsgaard did a great job in his role as well. I think he captured the idea that he doesn't actually think about what he's doing. That's the idea of this "perfect" society. You don't make decisions for yourself. You just do whatever the chief elder tells you to. Jonas is trying to free people from this. The Giver is the one that gets the ball rolling on that.

One of my favorite scenes was one towards the end where both The Giver & The Chief Elder debate about their ideologies while Fiona is being prepared for the ceremony to elsewhere. I really felt you could understand where both characters were coming from. Both Bridges & Streep were phenomenal in this scene. Both made intelligent points. What side of the fence are you on? For me, I agree with both view points. I feel you need to find a balance between the familiar & the unfamiliar. You need to appreciate tradition, but you need to welcome change in a constantly changing world.

I give this movie a 4/5 for great performances, memorable scenes, cool transition from black & white to color, the tweaks from the book (Lois Lowry was very supportive of this adaptation), and an incredible overall message of what it means to be human.

Magic In The Moonlight Review

I saw Magic In The Moonlight on August 19, 2014!! Over the past couple of years, I've enjoyed Woody Allen's work. Vicky Cristina Barcelona, Midnight In Paris, & Blue Jasmine are all movies that I consider to be really well made. I think he did a really good job with this one as well. His witty dialogue, beautiful scenery, & views on science, religion, and love were well presented. I really enjoyed the dialogue between the characters. I felt there was something really incredible in the message of the movie.

The overall concept of this movie to me was a cynical, intelligent man that makes a living based on fraud trying to find something real in a world of deception. Colin Firth was absolutely perfect. I really find him to be a tremendous actor. He played the Stanley character's abrasive personality so well. I also loved that Allen touched on a real life entity in the history of magic when he shaped the persona of Stanley's Wei Ling Soo. There was a real English magician that masqueraded himself as a Chinese man on stage. The reason was because audiences found the Orient to be exotic. He went everywhere in character. His identity was revealed during a magic trick that went horribly wrong as he was shot. He shouted: "Oh my God! I've been shot!" He hadn't spoken any English on stage prior to that moment. Stanley's experiences in life have led him to be wary of foolishness such as magic or religion. Since he's a magician by trade, I can understand why he doesn't believe in it. He knows all the tricks. His old friend Howard hires him to find out if a psychic named Sophie (who is an American girl from Kalamazoo, Michigan) is the real deal or is she like them & lying about it.

From that moment on, we get a view of Stanley trying to figure out how Sophie knows what she does. Sophie was played by Emma Stone. Emma Stone gave one of her best performances her. She fit really well into Allen's world in my opinion. I think her and Firth, despite their age difference, showed unbelievable chemistry. Stone is one of the better actresses in Hollywood. I think when she is involved in roles like this, The Help, or Crazy, Stupid, Love, she truly excels. Stone's quirkiness really meshed well with Firth's cynicism. You can definitely tell there's something growing between them. Even Stanley's aunt, played wonderfully by Eileen Atkins, knows there is something there. It was great watching Stanley trying to figure out how Sophie is tricking him, while also presenting his humanity.  He's a vulnerable man deep down that wants to believe in something. He wants to believe in magic. He needs to believe in something. Being around Sophie shows us that he's not as much of a curmudgeon as you think. Perhaps Sophie is bringing out his true core? Perhaps it's Sophie bringing out the real from beneath the exterior of the fake? That was the deep core of the movie. The more time he spends with Sophie, the more he believes in something more.

There was a good twist reminding me a little bit of The Prestige that I found fascinating regarding who swindled who. It reminds us how something real can be painful. I feel this is a reason we become enamored with a movie or book. We have to escape reality sometimes, because it's not always beautiful. The revelation shows that on the other side of the coin perhaps fantasy can protect you. Don't let reality eat you up. I feel Sophie & Stanley were able to overcome the shock from a real revelation. False pretenses brought them together initially, but as they spend more time with each other, real feelings & beliefs draw them closer together. They ended the movie on a perfect note. I think it showed they both found that aspect of realism & a belief in something more in each other.

Emma Stone & Colin Firth were a tremendous pairing. I was very impressed with their on screen chemistry...or magic. Their performances were both excellent. I found myself really enjoying this. I give it a 5/5 for great lead performances, well written dialogue, beautiful scenery, & a nice jazz soundtrack.

The Hundred Foot Journey Review

I saw The Hundred Foot Journey on August 12, 2014!! This is a movie filled with food, family, & a fun story. It's why we like going to the movies. It had great emotion, legitimate comedic moments, very good dramatic performances, incredible scenery,  truly beautiful music & food, as well as a pinch of romance. The focus of the movie is on the Kadam family & Madame Mallory. Everything branches off of this. We learn about the Kadam family & their ambitions to open an Indian restaurant following a tragic fire that touched the family more than you'd think. They end up in a hotbed of culture in France. Madame Mallory has established a truly popular restaurant that attracts the President of France to eat there. The audience is treated to some friendly competition between the two which provides both hilarious & dramatic moments.

I really feel Helen Mirren was the perfect choice for Madame Mallory. I've been a huge supporter of her work since Teaching Mrs. Tingle. She has a regal disposition about her that made the culture clash here work so well. The main character is Hassan, an ambitious young cook who wants to be a chef. The movie establishes how big of a deal this profession is. I like that-in the United States, I feel professions such as this don't get the attention they deserve. When you eat in a restaurant, how does the food get to the table? Hermione Granger isn't in the back creating delicious dishes using magic & spells. There's a chef creating these meals that you enjoy. Hassan is a very gifted cook at this point utilizing his vast array of spices to satisfy the palette. Manish Dayal did a really great job with the role. I like watching the character reach for the (Michelin) stars. His father (who is just referred to as Papa) is hilarious throughout the movie. Om Puri did really well & his chemistry with Helen Mirren was great.

Hassan is able to get to the next level with the help of a girl the family meets when they arrive in France-Marguerite. Charlotte Le Bon is gorgeous. There's just no other way to say it. She was just so stunning. Hassan definitely fell for her instantly, and I really don't know how you could blame the guy. I really would like to see her cast in some more Hollywood productions. She's primarily a French actress, and casting scouts need to get on the ball & realize that they can make a bigger star here. She's the one that is able to start him on his path to being a chef through cook-books, the different French sauces, etc. I liked that aspect of how both are aiming to be top chefs, but they do end up both helping each other along the way. She did a very good job. While they definitely put a sprinkle of romance, the focus for them was all about the food. You know there's something there, but you don't have to go in depth with it, because it's not the big focus of the movie.

When the competition gets out of hand due to racism (not Madame Mallory's doing), this is when differences are put aside. They become more social with each other. Utilizing Marguerite's information, Hassan is able to gain the favor of Madame Mallory. Madame Mallory & Papa definitely hit it off at the request of Mahira (Hassan's sister). Actually, the way they approached that towards the end was perfect just based on what Mahira says. While there are moments when characters are at odds, its because they all are working towards the same goal. However, the most important thing to note is everybody puts differences aside for the betterment of culture, food, & achieving that 3rd Michelin star.

It's really an ensemble effort to create a truly special movie. I really enjoyed the cast, performances, music, recipes, & natural chemistry of the characters. They cracked the eggs. They stirred the sauce. They created an amazing cinematic omelet that garners a 4/5 for me. I definitely would like to see this considered for some awards nominations, but it could be too early. I really enjoyed this movie. In a world where violence, vulgarity, & crude comedy are what lures people to theaters, it's nice to sit back and see people like Lasse Hallstrom create something innocent & artistic. Bon Appetit!

Guardians of the Galaxy Review

Justin, Mike, Dad, and I saw Guardians of the Galaxy on August 3, 2014!! This has been one of the worst years for summer movies. After suffering through awful duds like Transformers: Age of Extinction & Lucy, I didn't know if anything could redeem these last couple of months...until I saw Guardians of the Galaxy. I don't know too much about this comic book & from the trailers I initially wasn't very interested. However, I was pleasantly surprised. Guardians of the Galaxy is an excellent movie!! I felt it combined elements of Star Wars, X-Men, and Mortal Kombat-three things I'm a big fan of.

The premise of the movie revolves around an orb that changes the balance of the universe. We encounter five unique individuals: Peter Quill (Starlord), Gamora (my favorite character, a green assassin with a really incredible backstory), Drax (the Destroyer), Rocket (an enhanced raccoon), & Groot (an emotional tree). Quill initially steals the orb. Gamora is sent to retrieve it. The movie builds from that point. It is constantly flowing. There are no slow moments. Each character particularly Gamora's backstory was very intriguing. I loved the different personalities each character had. I think Guardians represents how important being a part of a team can be. Each member of the group has a strong point. They all have to put differences aside in order to be victorious in the end, and I liked that aspect the most.

You learn to love these characters, even if they're a thief, an assassin, or have rage problems. Zoe Saldana is one of my favorite actresses. I've always found her to work well in this type of environment. She's a true female action star, but she knows how to act as well. She did a great job as Gamora, and I absolutely love the look of the character. Chris Pratt was great as the official leader. He really grows into his role throughout the movie. He provides a lot of great comedic moments, but when he has to turn up the volume he does it well. Batista did a good job with what he had to do. He was a big brute hell bent on revenge. He did great throughout the movie. Many of the great moments revolved around Rocket. Bradley Cooper did a really great job shaping the character's personality. This was also written and directed by James Gunn, who once again did a tremendous job with the superhero genre. He also created Super which was a very dark take on the superhero. He perfectly blended the dark dramatic elements, comedic moments, and a heavily detailed story arc that kept everything flowing.

I felt Ronen was one of the best villains I've seen in a movie in a long. The look of the character combined with his aspirations about the galaxy really made him an intriguing antagonist. I like how he's aligned with Thanos as well-true galactic threat. There were incredible moments of drama as well as properly timed comedy. I was impressed with how great the visuals are-the CGI was fantastic. The emotion of each character is felt by the audience.  I like that each piece of the puzzle connects to create a bigger picture. Details of the character's back story fuel that character towards the conclusion of the movie. The battle scenes whether they're physical fist fights or huge galactic laser battles are all tremendous. I am simply amazed at how well the scenes looked.

If you plan on seeing any movies this summer, then I'd highly recommend checking this out. This movie gets a definite 5/5 for incredible storytelling, larger than life characters, awesome visuals, and great acting. It's rare to find great acting in comic book movies, but I felt it was on display here. With James Gunn at the helm, he hit a homerun out of the park and saved the summer of 2014 with this hidden gem. It's one of the best movies of the year. It's easily one of the best comic book movies ever. It's just EPIC!!!

Teen Choice Awards 2014-Thoughts/Preview/Nominees

Okay most years I'm usually avoiding this, but in 2014 the Teen Choice Awards interest me. Looking at the nominees for some of the Teen Choice Awards, the nominees are pretty decent this year. I actually am a big fan of most of the nominees. In fact, I'll list what I want to see win at this show. I will focus on female performances. I tend to like female characters more. While there are some great male characters on television right now, I've been really into the stronger female roles over the last few years. I'll discuss the categories I'm interested in. The show airs August 10th-I might check it out.

There's a possibility that Ariana Grande or Iggy Azalea could be performing as well, and that would be cool to see as well. I've been a fan of Grande since her work on Victorious. She was hilarious as Cat Valentine, and she has an incredible voice. It's amazing listening to her hit those real high notes. There's a video of her performing Part of Your World from the Little Mermaid on Youtube that Justin showed me. It was really well done. She sounded like she was under the sea as well which added to the effect. As far as Iggy Azalea is concerned, she's one of my favorite people in music right now. I normally loathe rap, but I really like what she's done. I enjoy her music. I think she does a great job with her rapping ability. The music video for Fancy is really good. Some of the younger generation might not recognize the Clueless theme, but it worked really well for the Fancy video. I'd love to see her perform in person. The good news is both Grande & Azalea are nominated. Grande is my pick for Choice Female Artist, and Azalea is my pick for Choice R&B/Hip-Hop. Other artists listed that I like are Katy Perry & Lorde. I've always been a big fan of Katy Perry since I Kissed A Girl. As a huge fan of the Spice Girls, Perry reminds me of a newer generation of that. She creates different gimmicks for herself, while creating catchy and entertaining tracks. I feel like there's a message of Girl Power in her music as well. She's an entertaining girl, and has so many positive messages in her songs. I like her newer music a lot, especially Dark Horse. Eventually, I'm hoping she has a Vegas tour like my favorite person in music: Britney Spears. My brother Jake and I would have a blast at that, just like we did when we saw the Piece of Me tour in February. It's really cool that Jake & I see eye to eye on some things in music & entertainment-not everything, but there's a good amount. We couldn't be more opposite, but I feel like when we're together we're more alike than you think.

The only category I would change some things on is Choice TV Show (Comedy)-I'd include I Didn't Do It & Liv & Maddie. I am very entertained by those shows. With shows like this, you can just sit back and laugh for a little bit with these. Dove Cameron plays two characters on Liv & Maddie, so naturally she deserves to be on this. BAM! WHAT! I firmly believe the entire cast of I Didn't Do It is one of the funniest casts on television. They're all unique characters. From Libby to Logan to Jasmine to Delia to Garrett, each character's personality adds more to the show. Each of those cast members does really well. If you want to watch a truly entertaining episode of television, watch Lindylicious. I've seen it a couple of times, and the comedic timing of each of the principal cast just makes the episode that much better. The smoothie machine, the tuxedo effect, the high heel effect, Garrett going on a mission to find out if the popcorn at the movie is truly fresh, and of course Delia teaching Logan a lesson for trying to cheat in a clever manner are all successful elements in making a productive comedy show. They've really done well establishing a formula to ensure entertainment in each episode from the theme to the characters. Olivia Holt is one of the most entertaining young actresses today. She always looks like she's having fun, and that's what these shows are usually all about. Sarah Gilman is going to be a great comedic actress along the lines of Jeanine Garofolo in the next couple of years. She just has a great deadpan sense of humor. Piper Curda is the most believable of the characters-she's a young Blair Waldorf in the making. I like her fashionista persona. Curda really succeeds in capturing the essence of what that character is about.

Rather than list all the nominees in the category, I'll list the option I'd like to see take home the surfboard. I'll provide some commentary where it's appropriate.

Choice TV Show (Drama)
Pretty Little Liars
I honestly believe that PLL continues to produce quality episodes of television. I always like that they keep adding different twists to the plot to keep the audience interested. A big reason why I like this show so much is because its very female character oriented. Every character has actually evolved in some way from the pilot, so that's very impressive to see as well. I'm really enjoying Mona's Army storyline.

Choice TV Show (Animated)
Regular Show
This is one of the most intelligent animated shows I've ever seen. I've seen the entire cast in person at Comic-Con in San Diego. They deserve to be proud of the show they've created. The cool thing about Regular Show is that it's the complete opposite of what the title says. It's randomness really keeps you interested. The Pops character is so much fun. I actually have a stuffed one that they sold at Comic-Con because I think the uniqueness of the character is amazing. They have a gumball machine as a character-that's awesome. There's another show I do really like on the list called Adventure Time. That might be the most creative animated shows ever made. The Land of Ooo is so visually amazing, and there's so many different components. The show tells you that if you're friend is in trouble deal with the problem with a sword or a song. Characters like the Ice King and Princess Bubblegum are so fun visually that you're automatically invested in the story. The adventures of Finn & Jake are truly some of the most entertaining moments of television. Ultimately, I find Regular Show to be the better program, but I would like to see either win this award just because they're both unique in their own way, and the creators of the shows deserve the recognition for their hard work. The voice actors add the personality to the visual component, and if you get the voice right, then you really have a fun show. Each voice actor is able to do that for the audience. The voice definitely is what you envision when you first see the character.

Choice TV Show (Fantasy/Sci-Fi)
Once Upon A Time
There is no question about it!! Season 3 is one of my favorite seasons in television history. I mean the first half in Neverland with Peter Pan being portrayed as a calculating villain was excellent, and the second half in Oz with my favorite character of all time the Wicked Witch of the West just kept me interested every week. I think Lana Parilla should have received an Emmy nomination for her work as Regina in Season 3. She did such an amazing job displaying her inner white magic over the course of the season. Of course, Emma screwed it up by bringing Maid Marian back, and I'm not going to fault Regina for getting pissed. Just when you think she's going to find happiness, her heart gets broken. Lana Parilla is in my Top 3 actresses on Television with Tatiana Maslany & Sophia Bush being the other two. Once Upon A Time Season 4 will return on September 28th, and I'm already excited for Frozen to be a focal point. As a wrestling fan, there's a term called marking out when you get really excited for something. I think Once Upon A Time has made me mark out more than any show: first appearance of Ariel, the Wicked Witch of the West (you couldn't contain my excitement at Comic-Con), and of course when Elsa was revealed at the end of the Season 3 finale, I just looked at the screen with astonishment. I didn't expect that at all, and I loved it.

Choice Reality Show
Total Divas
It really is the only viable choice on the list. Also, as a huge proponent of women's wrestling it's mandatory to support this. It would be cool to see some representatives from the WWE at the show. They might have Brie & Nikki aka The Bellas show up for the event which would make sense. It will be cool to see if they win. I actually hope they do, because it would give some media exposure for the WWE Divas, and they deserve it. These women work hard to entertain fans. Remember, they're in the ring competing, and then shooting this show on top of traveling. It's a tough life, and these girls do it weekly. It's about respect. I'm impressed at how each girl is working to improve in the ring as well over the last few months.

Choice Breakout TV Show
Reign
In my opinion, there are five shows on television that have become mandatory watching for me: 1. Once Upon A Time, 2. Sons of Anarchy, 3. Game of Thrones, 4. Orphan Black (Season 3 will begin in April), AND 5. Reign-this show was something I had to see as soon as I could. I was so interested from the initial television spots. I loved it each week. I think the cast is amazing, and I love the time period it's centered around. It focuses on the Stuart line of royalty. Reign has produced one of the best 1st seasons you'll ever find. Season 2 begins this fall. By incorporating historical time periods with intense drama & romance, the cast worked to make something special, and they accomplished that. I couldn't believe some of the scenes I saw on the show. I kept wondering how CW approved certain scenes, but what's great is it really increased interest for the show. Ratings increased over the course of the season, and it was well deserved. Everybody put their all into making this work.

Choice TV Actress (Drama)
Lucy Hale (Pretty Little Liars)
Between her and Troian Bellesario(who is also nominated), these two have produced pretty much all of the best moments on Pretty Little Liars. Aria Montgomery (played by Lucy) is my favorite character and she went through so much the last couple of episodes, dating back to last season. I still maintain that Troian Bellesario's descent into madness as Spencer Hastings in Season 3 was one of the best performances on the show. She won for that season last year-well deserved. Now, it's Lucy's turn to get the surfboard. The emotional rollercoaster that Aria's character has experienced is a major focal point right now, and Hale's acting makes her plight more believable.

Choice TV Actress (Sci-Fi/Fantasy)
Nina Dobrev (Vampire Diaries)
I would have put Tatiana Maslany on the list, but most teens don't know Orphan Black so I get why it might not be on there. Golden Globes-I'm looking at you to right the wrongs of the Emmys (BOYCOTT THEM) for their ridiculous snub two years in a row. In terms of Dobrev, I felt since she was transformed into a vampire, she really has changed her personality. I loved Season 4 watching her deal with the transformation. The episode where she shut off her humanity following Jeremy's death is amazing. She played three characters at one point in Season 5, and that's impressive. I'll always love Katherine Pierce the most, but she really has done an amazing job with the Elena Gilbert character, and it should be acknowledged. Katherine dealing with her mortality, while Elena dealt with her new immortality was a great parallel  as well in Season 5. She basically switched up the characters, while still maintaining the known characteristics that fans are familiar with. I've been a fan of Nina's since she played Mia Jones on Degrassi. It's really cool to see her in such a star making role. She does an incredible job with everything she has to do on the Vampire Diaries. Vampire Diaries returns in October, and I'm looking forward to seeing what happens in Season 6.

Choice TV Villain obviously
Janel Parrish (Pretty Little Liars)
Besides Aria, Mona Vanderwaal is my favorite character on PLL. I don't consider her a villain at all, but she deserves to be nominated. She's just leading a revolution to show Rosewood that Alison Delaurentis is the most vile human being ever. If anybody is a villain in the show, it's Alison. How can I be the only one that sees this? Anyway, Mona rules, and Janel is the reason why the character is so great. I think she's created a lot of great suspense in the show, and she really does an amazing job of utilizing her past to fuel the character in present day. Alison just causes problems for everybody, and Mona is the one taking a stand against it. GO MONA!!

Choice TV Breakout Star-Female
Adelaide Kane (Reign)
I've been so impressed with Adelaide Kane's role as Mary, Queen of Scots. She has a very regal demeanor about her in the show. Each episode of the show saw Mary's character grow stronger. I feel like she does a really great job standing up to those who question her power. She shows no fear of King Henry, Catherine de Medici, or even her mother. I think the episode where she gained the respect of the Scottish council was really cool. It showed that she has understood her responsibilities as a future ruler of Scotland. She understands the importance of alliances for political reason. While she loves Francis, she understands how the political game works. Adelaide Kane is one of the best actresses on television. She's believable as a young queen, and in reality her mother's side of the family has lineage to the Stuart family. One could say she was destined to play this role. I'm looking forward to seeing what Mary does in Season 2. One thing she shows is that once you get comfortable in a role, an actress is able to really shape the character into something amazing. Adelaide has done that. I think her delivery of dialogue, her look, and her strong, sophisticated personality has truly made an impact in television. She deserves this nomination. I believe the People's Choice Awards also took notice of this performance, so its good to see that people are recognizing how great she is. It's truly an incredible role for a young actress. The fact that she makes it work so perfectly is a testament to her talents as an actress. It's not an easy role-not everybody could do it. Adelaide Kane puts the work in throughout each episode to create a memorable performance for the audience. Television shows are only successful when the actor or actress in the role is believable, and Adelaide Kane is the epitome of that. While there are many incredible performances in that show, Adelaide is the one that leads the charge and she's succeeded in flying colors.

Choice Summer TV Star
Italia Ricci (Chasing Life)
Italia Ricci, much like Erica Dasher playing Jane Quinby in Jane By Design, quickly impressed me from the pilot episode of Chasing Life. I think the April Carver character is so strong willed. She really is the anchor of her family. April is smart, gorgeous (Italia is by far one of the most beautiful girls on television), and quick-witted. She's trying to rise at her job, I thought the way she was able to get an interview with a sports star in the opening moments of the pilot show how determined this character is to rise above obstacles. She won't let the fact that she has cancer stop her. That's extremely powerful to watch. It's an uplifting character. She has interesting relationships with everybody around her from the uncle who gave her the news to her troubled sister to her mother, each one shows just how talented Italia Ricci is. While she may be getting weaker physically, I think her determination to get to the bottom of things in her life is important. She uses the philosophy: Never Quit. You might have an obstacle in front of you, but don't let it stop you. The show can be upsetting at times for the content, but I always end up smiling at the resolve of April. Ricci is the one that shapes this character. She's made her a well-rounded character delving into family secrets, dealing with cancer, and holding her family together on top of that.

Choice Movie (Action)
The Mortal Instruments: The City of Bones
While my favorite movie on that list is definitely Divergent, I felt City of Bones was the most action packed one listed. I will say that I think Divergent is going to win this, and I'd accept that without a doubt. I absolutely love the story in City of Bones as well. It is just non-stop excitement. The visuals mixed with the plot and the cast created something so special for audiences. I wish more people actually saw this movie. The story is very intriguing. As a fan of fantasy genre material, this really does an incredible job of utilizing that as well as angels & demons myths. I've seen this movie about 6 times, and I always have the same level of excitement each time. It's just a non-stop thrill ride using interesting source material. The movie did a pretty good job at following the book as well. I felt they really pushed the boundaries in many scenes as well, which is really good for this sort of movie. I think Lily Collins as Clary Fray was such a smart casting choice. She fits so well into  the role. When I look at the cover for City of Ashes, Lily's appearance is exactly what I envision. Jamie Campbell Bower works really well in those mysterious roles like Grindelwald in Harry Potter or Antony in Sweeney Todd, but he has the look of an angel from books, so he really fits into the role. Him and Collins worked well together. Lastly, Jonathan Rhys-Myer as Valentine was perfect casting. He is known for playing Henry VIII in The Tudors, so he knows how to create a villainous edge. He did a great job with it. I feel Valentine is supposed to be similar to Satan, and Myer was able to create that manic edge to make it believable. The characters are larger than life. The story is interesting and keeps you invested throughout the movie. The battle sequences are incredible-visuals and intense action combine to create a really impressive adaptation of the book descriptions.

Choice Movie Actress (Action)
Shailene Woodley (Divergent)
While Lily Collins was absolutely amazing as Clary Fray, Shailene Woodley's role as Beatrice "Tris" Prior in Divergent was one of the most captivating performances in 2014. She captured the personality of Tris so perfectly throughout the movie. Her character is constantly evolving from when we're introduced to her in Abnegation to when she undergoes Dauntless training (basically has to forget everything about one faction and survive to adapt in another) to a courageous fighter helping to save the factions. In this movie, she really pulled the character out of the pages and made into a real life entity. Her acting was great-she sold emotion with her eyes extremely well. There was also one scene where she basically lost it following a certain event with her mother. When I saw it in the movies, everybody was so upset because of how well Woodley sold raw emotion. Watching her deal with physical obstacles showed how bad ass Tris is. While trying to find her place in society, she realizes she has to take some hits along the way. Shailene Woodley is one of the most talented actresses in Hollywood. She's been such an amazing presence in all of her movies since The Descendants.While I am impressed with the nominees on this list, I feel that Zoey Deutch for her portrayal as Rose Hathaway in Vampire Academy should be included on this list. She was a bad ass throughout this movie. She personified exactly what the Rose character represents in the books. Deutch did really well with it-her role in that movie should automatically have landed her a spot on the nominee list, however, I'm used to awards shows excluding people that I feel deserve it. On top of representing everything the character is with her sassy attitude and bad ass Dhampir fighting style, she's absolutely gorgeous. Hopefully, more books from the series are adapted, because its a really good series-darker than most YA series.

Choice Movie (Sci-Fi/Fantasy)
X-Men: Days of Future Past
This was such an excellent movie bridging the past and the future. The cast is one of the best ever assembled for a movie. The movie's plot revolves around stopping a certain event in the past from happening in order to erase the dark, dreary, dismal future that lies ahead.
The action sequences were incredible. I was amazed by the cuts between the past & the future towards the end. While there was so much heartache in the future, there were incredible steps being taken in the past to prevent it. It really needs to be seen to appreciate how incredible it looked. Everybody had a chance to shine in some way, which was great to see. The incredible cast delving into their roles perfectly, a movie tackling one of the biggest story arcs in comics, the deep conversations between characters (loved these crucial dialogue scenes), the incredible action sequences blending visuals & emotion so well, intelligent usages of comedy, & a really awesome future at Xavier's School truly made this one of the best movies of the year. It's certainly one of the best comic book movies ever made. It was also really cool seeing Ellen Page's Kitty Pryde having such a huge role since it's her character that bridges the gaps between the past & present.

Choice Movie (Drama)
The Fault In Our Stars
This is one of the best movies I've seen this year. Shailene Woodley's role as Hazel Grace Lancaster was excellent! Woodley showed great range throughout the movie whether it was Hazel's courage in dealing with her disease, her emotional attachment/romance with Augustus Waters, her humor with her parents, or her frustrations with Peter Van Houten. Hazel Grace Lancaster is her breakthrough performance. I was just so impressed with how she took the audience into her world. The cinema disappeared, and we followed her along her journey. Through her highs & lows, we see how strong of a person she really is. I really loved her attitude-she believes in living in the face of death. Many scenes like the courage to continue climbing the stairs in the Anne Frank house, or standing up to Van Houten, I just smiled at how incredible this character is. While her disease may hinder it, she won't let it define her. The Anne Frank house, the eulogy scene (everybody in the theater just lost it), the conversation with her parents about staying strong when she passes, and reading Van Houten's/Gus's eulogy for her are some of the most emotional moments I've seen in a movie. These are memorable for symbolism, great dichotomy between happiness/sadness (each of these scenes has a silver lining), and for simply crafting a beautiful story.

Choice Movie Actress (Drama)
Emma Watson (Noah)
This is a really fun award for me, just because two of my five favorite actresses are on the list. Both of them deserve to be on it as well for their respective roles. My five favorite actresses are 1. Ellen Page, 2. Emma Watson, 3. Carey Mulligan, 4. Cate Blanchett, 5. Shailene Woodley. I really like this award, because Shailene Woodley's Hazel Grace Lancaster in Fault In Our Stars is on this list as well. I think she most likely will pick up the win, and she more than deserves it as I pointed out. It would just be awesome to see Watson win for her role as Ila in Noah. It was incredible seeing Emma Watson involved in such a huge project like this. I've been impressed with all of her roles, but with Noah she moved into another level showing great emotional range, particularly with how important her character arc is to the story. Her delivery of lines, mixed with emotional selling of the moment was blended so well that she brought me right into the scene. One scene in particular between her and Russell Crowe regarding choice was so powerful. Watson's arc was definitely the most powerful of everybody's and ultimately was the most important one in the story. I'm glad an actress that I have a ton of respect for was able to get this role. Watson's Ila is one of the better female roles I've seen in a while. I also find her to be such an incredible role model for girls.

That's just a look at some of the awards I'm interested in. Most of this article is about female performances, but I also discussed shows and movies, as well as some notes on the music categories. I had fun writing this, because as I said, I actually like most of the nominees for this show. I discussed reasons why I want the person, show, or movie to win.

And the Emmy SHOULD go to...Tatiana Maslany

There comes a time when awards season begins that there's an obvious choice that should be on the nomination list. This year as we approach the 66th Emmy Awards, there is one actress that I feel deserves to be on the list more than any other: Orphan Black's Tatiana Maslany. Orphan Black is one of the most compelling shows I've ever seen. The plot is intricate and the story has a great flow to it. The reason this show is so good revolves around Maslany. I will list some points and detail why I believe she deserves a nomination as well as a win for television's most prestigious award.

                                                             

 

1. This is the most demanding performance on television!

Tatiana Maslany plays at least six different characters consecutively on Orphan Black. Most actors or actresses play one character. Her performance is automatically more difficult than that because of the complexity of each character. Obviously, I'm not saying actors or actresses who normally perform in one role aren't great, because there's a lot of excellent performances, but Maslany has such a difficult job, and pulls it off on a regular basis.

 

2. Each character is unique!

Tatiana Maslany isn't playing the same character six times. Each character she plays has its own unique look, accent, or story. There's never a time in this show where you're confused, because each of her characters are completely different from the other. Whether she's playing Sarah, Helena, Cosima, Alison, Rachel, etc. it's just amazing that it's the same actress playing all these roles. You ask yourself: Who plays Helena? Who plays Rachel? Then you realize that it's Tatiana and its even more impressive. Watching Tatiana morph from Sarah to Helena is one of the most impressive things I've ever seen, especially when the characters share the screen. These performances alone are the ultimate light & dark of the characters. It's the yin & yang of this show in many ways, and Maslany pulls off both so well. I would ultimately say I think she absolutely loves playing Helena, because she's the most eccentric, but just watching her shape each of these characters is what true talent is all about. Whether she speaks in a different accent, changes her look, or creates a completely different personality, Tatiana Maslany has successfully developed a kaleidoscope of colorful characters that are completely different from the other.

 

3. She has incredible chemistry with each character!

Chemistry between characters is such a huge part of Orphan Black. Watching her have to interact with herself is impressive in its own right, because she has to tap into all these characters for one scene. The interaction is so interesting. Not only is she able to convincingly create interaction with herself, but she works well with each character. Since Maslany plays most of the characters on the show, she has to interact with all the other characters. She has to tap into the different relationships she shares with the characters.  Her connections with Felix, Kira, Siobhan or Mrs. S, Art, etc. are all compelling and completely different from the other. For instance, Sarah & Alison both have a completely different relationship with Felix, and she is able to capture that very well.

 

4. She plays the hero & the villain!

She portrays some characters in a heroic light. She portrays some characters in a villainous light. However, the most impressive thing about this is she's also able to create an incredible amount of complexity to the characters. She can turn the villain into an anti-hero. For instance, watching the Helena arc shows how much a character can progress over the course of a couple of episodes. Alot of her arc has to do with upbringing. The main character Sarah would be considered an anti-hero in many ways. Everything she does is to help Kira. I love Sarah Manning, but I also love Helena. I love Cosima, but I think Rachel is such a great antagonist. I think Alison's arc really shows how versatile of a performer Maslany is. She has gained more of an attitude over the two seasons, and its amazing to watch. The point is she knows how far to go to create a sympathetic character. The scene where Helena hugs Sarah after dealing with Daniel is great. Each of these characters makes you feel something: whether you want to root for them or go against them. Maslany's performance create a big picture where you're able to see where each character is coming from. That is extremely important. You see these shows where a villain isn't given enough backstory or the hero is too bland. With Maslany's performance, you don't get that. You get compelling characters, detailed backgrounds, and colorful performances highlighting each of these characters. Whether they bleed white or black, she is able to blur the lines and create some gray middle ground.

 

5. She is successfully able to portray comedy & drama!

In this show there are moments that will make you laugh, moments that will make you cry, and moments that will make you rewind to watch a scene again. The drama side is seen mostly with Sarah and Helena's story arcs. Sarah is looking to make a better life for Kira. Helena is trying to reconnect with her sister, while also trying to distance herself from her religious upbringing. Their arcs create such compelling television. The scenes they share together are some of the most dramatic moments I've seen on television. I always get excited when Helena comes on screen, because I know business is about to pick up. Sarah is a bad ass so it's always fun watching her on screen. Don't mess with her...or Mrs. S for that matter. She's always trying to piece things together and staying one step ahead of everybody. Sarah even portrays other characters at different points to gain an advantage which is really incredible. Think about that: Maslany as Sarah goes into a party, but has to portray Cosima, while also still being Sarah. Amazing!! All of this is designed to help her daughter Kira, while also being the leader of the club. Sarah Manning is awesome whether she's defending her sister, her daughter, or staying ahead of Art, Leeky, etc. On the comedy side of things, Alison's relationship with Felix, and her Desperate Housewives home life create laugh out loud moments that you can't stop smiling at. You get some great one liners between her and Felix. Based on how that friendship started, its amazing how far they actually come. Maslany is a versatile actress able to display so many sides of her personality with these roles. She'll have you feeling sad for certain characters, while laughing with another one the next. It's a complex group of characters who are constantly evolving from when we first them. It's difficult to find an actress to pull off the sweet (comedy) & the sour (serious) so perfectly on a show, but through numerous scenes she's able to convey this in a convincing matter.

 

TATIANA MASLANY DESERVES AN EMMY!! If you snub her, Helena will come for you!!