ParaNorman Review

Justin and I saw ParaNorman on August 25, 2012. I wanted to see this initially because it was made by the creators of Coraline, and I really liked that movie. I enjoyed this movie as well. It's rare for me to like these type of movies, but the idea in this movie about Norman Babcock being able to communicate with the dead intertwined with teenage stereotypes: the loner, the nerd, the popular girl, the jock, and the bully blended together nicely. It's like The Sixth Sense, Monster House, and Breakfast Club all intertwined. Norman has this ability for a reason. He is supposed to break the town's curse of an event that occurred during the Salem Witch Trials. I enjoyed the supernatural elements and his connection to Aggie, who the town had convicted of witchcraft and ordered her execution. She was only 11 years old. The judge and the jury committed an unspeakable act, and Aggie cursed the seven because of it. Now, the town is in fear because Aggie has lost her faith in humanity. This really spoke to me as I am trying to write a book with a premise of human salvation. The comedy and themes are definitely geared towards a more mature audience. There were darker themes, much like Coraline had with the other world. This one explores the link between past and present and how it is possible to mend time. Some of the voice talents included: Kodi Smit-McPhee (who played Owen in Let Me In-so the voice talents worked very well as it was a role that would work for him in live action as well), Anna Kendrick (Courtney-the popular girl/cheerleader), Casey Affleck (Mitch-the jock), and Christopher Mintz-Plasse (Alvin-the bully). Neil (voiced by Tucker Albrizzi) was a favorite of the audience. I felt the comedy mixed in with the darker elements combined with the incredible animation in the fashion of Coraline made this a very well done movie. I give this movie a 4/5 for the plot and the characters designed for the movie.

The Dark Knight Rises

Justin and I saw The Dark Knight Rises on July 21, 2012. What an epic conclusion to an amazing trilogy!!! Christopher Nolan did an excellent job with this. I was very impressed with the theme of anarchy mixed in with physical and emotional pain/loss on two sides of a personality. There were things from the comics that were added in which made the movie seem more authentic and fun to watch. The movie connected all three parts of the trilogy really well, particularly focusing on Batman Begins, but looking at The Dark Knight in terms of Harvey Dent. Batman has retired for the time being in the 8 years since the night Dent died. Christian Bale did a great job of portraying a man scarred from nightly combat and trying to repair his existence as Bruce Wayne. Encountering the wily ways of jewel thief Selina Kyle (an important element from the comics/animated series that was omitted in other features) leads to several complications for Bruce Wayne as Selina Kyle's skills lead to problems for Bruce Wayne. Anne Hathaway did a great job in the role of Selina/Catwoman. I liked her portrayal of the character dancing between being a hero and a villain which is what Catwoman is. Tom Hardy as Bane was very good, and I thought his chaos was better than The Joker's in The Dark Knight. Everything Bane does is strategically planned, and like the comics they made him intelligent and somebody that leads. Of course, he is still a mercenary that was brought up with the same teachings as Bruce Wayne. Gotham City is basically crumbling with Batman out of the picture for the time being. Selina Kyle's skills actually make Bane capable of carrying out most of his plans, which fascinated me. The female characters in this movie determine the direction of the movie. Marion Cotillard's Miranda Tate is the most important character overall. You just have to watch to see what I am talking about. I marked out at a certain plot twist let's just say. It was done in an intelligent manner, and one that makes sense in conjunction with the comics and the animated series. Joseph Gordon-Levitt was my favorite part of the movie, though. He starts out as beat cop John Blake, but gets promoted to detective by Commissioner Gordon because of his bravery and ability to be a hero for Gotham. Blake knows secrets about characters and this knowledge along with his own natural abilities lead him to be an integral part of the battle against Bane's Revolution!! The action sequences/battle scenes are some of the best I've seen, and I thought each main character was given equal time to do something in the main battle at the end. The first battle with Batman and Bane is hard-hitting and in your face. It's what it should be. Bane beats the hell out of Batman in this instance. The second face to face battle with them leads to the mark out plot twist I said. I liked some things they did with Joseph Gordon-Levitt towards the end of being a hero without a mask. An excellent cast with well-written characters, great storyline, incredible action scenes, and scores that captured the emotion and personality of the characters, as well as the scenes make this movie a 5/5 for me and one of my favorite movies of the year. Very impressive conclusion to a great trilogy of movies!!

To Rome With Love

Hello all: its me the other Geek who goes to the movies.

Yesterday, I went to see Woody Allen's new film " To Rome with Love". In recent years, I have learned to avoid the Woody Allen movies that Woody Allen actually appears in. However, I will say this one has built off of the success of "Midnight in Paris" and his more recent successes.

Like most Woody allen movies, this one features parallel stories lines. Unlike others where there is some interception, these characters remain for the most part unrelated. You have stories of what should have been, regret, lessons learned and excitement for the future rolled up into one film.


The movie deals with the traditional Woody Allen theme of "Regret" and changing your future. Alec Baldwin's character advising his younger self about his future was an example of this. Roberto Benenni's storyline was much along the same lines. His character went from no body to celebrity overnight. When his 15 minutes of fame was literally over, he missed the craziness and the recognition. 


I will say this movie got very busy for me at times. Alec Baldwin and David Eisenberg's story line got me confused at first until I realized it was the older architect trying to direct the younger in the ways of love and the world. The story line of the young married couple having last flings before they settle down for good, was another confusing story line. I am leaving out the others. 



Overall, the movie was enjoyable. Very busy.  I'm going to give it a 3/5. 

Savages Review

Justin and I saw Savages on July 7, 2012. This was an intense, emotional thrill ride that kept you on the edge of your seat for the entire film. The plot involves a love triangle, drug empires, family relationships, and secret partnerships. Each piece of the puzzle fits together nicely and all gets meshed together for the finale. Ben and Chon are best friends and share a relationship with Ophelia, but she is referred to as O throughout the movie. They are a tight knit group as is evident from the opening moments. Ben wants out of the business, while Chon, who is an army man serving stints in Iraq and Afghanistan which led to the business they are currently involved with believes this is a good business. Elena Sanchez needs them for her operation which also includes Lado and Alex Reyes. They go to extreme measures to keep them involed, which leads to the kidnapping of O. What follows is a chaotic adventure with a corrupt DEA agent, Elena and the Baja Cartel, and two men trying to get back the woman they love. There are double crosses, plot twists, and teasers that keep you into the movie. The performances were very good for the most part. I was very impressed with Aaron Johnson as Ben. He did such a great job struggling with the violence of the business they entered into. Very well done!! I thought Taylor Kitsch did well as the hot head and the one acting on impulse to counterbalance the negotiator/peacemaker in Ben. Blake Lively did a tremendous job as O, and I felt that her casting was perfect for the role. I knew that I would like Salma Hayek's Elena from the start. She did such an awesome job as the boss of the whole operation with a tough attitude, but still maintaining her motherly affection for her daughter Magdalena (who becomes a major part of the plot). Salma Hayek is definitely one of the legit most gorgeous women of all time as well. There was a scene where she was having a conference call with Ben and Chon and showed how devious her character can be with Chon and his gun. The suspense in the scene was amazing!! The suspense would continue throughout the movie. Benicio Del Toro as Lado was insane and made you hate his character. He was definitely a true villain. I felt that the tensions between Elena and Lado, as well as his creepy demeanor towards O were very well done. The man did what the role asked for. Also, Demian Bichir played Alex Reyes. He reminded me of his Esteban Reyes character in Weeds. John Travolta knew exactly what to do with the role and it worked. His role as DEA Agent Dennis is alot of what connects the stories. We get some intense scenes of violence which fit in perfectly with the tone of the movie. All the stories of the individual characters connected well and flowed to the conclusion. They approached the ending in a unique way and I thought it worked well. The first ending is one of the most amazing things I've ever seen. The second ending worked well as it still established the bond between the three leads, but the way it was presented in the first ending was really great. I think Oliver Stone was on top of his game with this movie. Usually, I kind of scoff at his work, but he impressed me here. I think alot of it has to do with the fact that the stories were well done, and the actors were cast well. I definitely give this a 5/5. I can't wait to get this one on DVD. It was a good movie filled with great performances, memorable scenes, great dialogue, and connection between stories.

Magic Mike Review

Justin and I saw Magic Mike on June 30, 2012. Now, before I get into the review, the theatre was legitimately packed...and Justin and I were the only males there. I also want to point out that if you have a gut feeling that there might be something else going on in a movie than what the trailer is showing you, then go with it. Justin and I were really impressed with this. It's not just a "male stripper movie." The plot does involve this element, but there is alot going on and it focuses on friendships/relationships and the demons that can damage them. Channing Tatum and Alex Pettyfer in their respective roles of Mike Lane and Adam develop a friendship that has several ups and downs throughout the film. They were both excellent and I think Pettyfer is a future star, because he has decent acting chops. Tatum really did a good job as well, putting on a great dramatic performance mixed in with some great comedic elements. I'd describe the movie as 50/50 comedy and drama. I really liked the dramatic side of this as you begin to get invested with the characters and their stories. The stories all intertwine and create a good cinematic experience. Mike has been working at the Male Revue for 6 years at this point under the tutelage of Dallas played very well by Matthew McConaughey. I think if you give this guy a dramatic role like in The Lincoln Lawyer he does a good job with it. He does this job as part of a way to get his own business going. Adam and him are acquainted on one of his jobs working at a construction site. Mike shows Adam the ropes of making money when he takes him to a nightclub to get customers for the show they will put on. As this is going on, Tatum is involved in a relationship with Joanna played by Olivia Munn, who turns out to be a big time bitch. I really loathed Joanna. You had the sense she was playing Mike. Adam has a sister named Paige played by Cody Horn. She is dating this boring insurance guy named Paul. I just wanted to punch this guy because not only is he the cure for insomnia, he is just a douche. I hate the way he acts. Luckily, this doesn't last. I love Paige's personality and Cody Horn is cute too in my opinion. I honestly hope to see alot more from her. She is somebody that really impressed me throughout. I love her smart, witty dialogue, and I like the way she interacts with Mike. That develops over time. The comedic part is mostly the first half. Then the second part presents the nice dramatic side to counterbalance it. Adam is a guy that does whatever he wants whenever he wants. He gets involved with dangerous things and it effects his life as well as Mike's relationship with Adam, and more importantly Paige. There were some powerful scenes mixed in here that Justin and I really liked. Paige and Mike get into a huge argument while standing over Adam about him growing up and ditching this Magic Mike gimmick he is living off of. Definitely one of my favorite scenes in the movie. I also found a face to face scene between Mike and Dallas about a business venture to be pretty good as well. Dallas is definitely an underhanded character and I could sense that from the start. I really liked watching how Mike wants to show Paige how he isn't a gimmick, he's different from what you see on a stage. He really does an amazing act for Adam that puts a damper on his plans, but still shows how important his friendships and relationships are. There's also some great appearances by Kevin Nash, Joe Manganiello (Alcide in True Blood), and Matt Bomer (Neil Caffrey in White Collar)-actually a very important character in terms of ruining relationships and creating a chaotic environment for the main characters. All in all, we were both impressed by the blend of comedy and drama with a good story and good performances especially by Pettyfer, Horn, and Tatum. I'd recommend seeing this and not just scoffing at it. It really will surprise you at how emotionally invested you will get with the characters. I will give this a 4/5 just because everything clicked really well with this. Steve Soderbergh did a good job with this one.

Brave Review

Justin and I saw Brave on June 24, 2012!! I absolutely loved this movie, and I am very picky on animated movies, especially of this form as this is the primary animation style used for movies now. The only other animated movies of this genre I actually enjoy are Toy Story 1 & 3 as well as Coraline and the first Shrek. Of course, they're not all Pixar, but they're the only ones I like with the format used. I was excited for this movie when I found out it would be Pixar's first primary female protagonist mixed in a story from Scottish/Celtic origin. I was impressed how different the movie ended up being from the trailer. The movie focuses on a young girl named Merida born into a royal family, but is determined to shake the tradition and rebel against her mother, Elinor's instructions and preparation. She becomes skilled in archery and sword play with the help of her father, Fergus, who is referred to as The Bear King (which is a major part of the storyline). In some ways, she reminds me a little bit of Arya Stark from Game of Thrones which is a good thing. I look at it as Arya with Sansa hair. Elinor would be similar to Catelyn, and Fergus would be like Robert Baratheon, certainly not Ned Stark who is very reserved. Suitors come to try and win the hand of Merida. Her mother decrees that the first born of each kingdom can enter a tournament and whoever wins gets her hand. Merida basically puts everyone to shame and defys her mother's own decree. She wants her mother to change her idea of what Merida's fate/destiny is. There was a scene with a huge argument on the family tapestry between Merida and Elinor which was very well done. The tapestry is the most integral part of the movie. This will carry over into the message in the movie about legends having some basis in fact, as well as the idea that fate and destiny is something that is within all of us/ We have to be brave enough to face it. After the heated argument, both are upset at the actions they perpetrated on one another, and this leads to Merida encountering the power of magic. This magic will have consequences for Elinor and Merida in turn. Remember what I said about the Bear King moniker? Big foreshadowing into what will happen. Interestingly enough, this magic spell is designed to have Elinor change her mind. Well, it does change her. I'll leave it at that haha. However, despite the differences Merida and Elinor have, their bond grows even stronger. As the bond grows, so does the ability to repair the tapestry and the repeating of what happened in the legend of the four princes. Merida and Elinor make their way to the castle to make a decree that the suitors should decide with their hearts who they want to marry, not just the hand of that person. Fergus sees the physical changes of Elinor and leads a party chasing her. Merida protects Elinor from Fergus in a great sword battle. This is followed by Elinor protecting Merida. Very well done!! Amazing battle sequences!! The tapestry is mended. Very powerful message of how important family is. Don't be afraid to face your chosen fate/destiny. Merida and Elinor protect each other throughout the movie in different ways and it just amazed me. I give this movie a 4/5 for great animation, an incredible story (completely different overall to what the trailer says), great vocal performances from Kelly McDonald, Emma Thompson, and Billy Connolly, phenomenal action sequences, great character development over the course of the movie, and an incredible soundtrack. Very well done!! As I said, I am very picky with animated movies, but I was very impressed with this.

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter Review

Once again like last week despite being exhausted from my Current Events class, Justin and I went to the movies and saw Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter on June 23, 2012. It is based off a book by Seth Graehme-Smith. There are differences between the movie and the book, and I must say that I actually enjoyed the changes. It is probably not for everybody, but I was immediately gravitated towards the project. It's an action/fantasy/horror movie that I thought blended everything nicely in it's own unique story. I was very into the whole movie. I liked how Benjamin Walker approached the role, and felt he did a good job with what he had to do. When he doesn't have the beard, he reminds me of a younger Liam Neeson. I was worried how Henry Sturgess would be portrayed on the screen, but Dominic Cooper did an excellent job. I was very impressed with him, as he takes on the role of training Abe to be a successful killing machine, and telling him how there are vampires on both the side of good and evil. Abe is very handy with an ax, but the ax is also a shotgun at the handle. It's a pretty intricate weapon. Sturgess keeps his dark secret from Lincoln, until Lincoln himself finds out that Sturgess himself is of the undead. They hit on several of the key quotes from the book and adapted the book pretty well. Smith worked on the script, so he dictated alot of the changes that happened on the screen. Lincoln is pegged as a man to enter into politics by Senator Nelson (who is himself a vampire-take note of the sunglasses as well as different philosophical viewpoints from sects of the vampires) so he can battle the politics of the South and slavery. In the movie and the book, slaves are harvested for blood. It's a really interesting twist that worked well. I thought the storyline worked well with Adam played very well by Rufus Sewell, and his sister Vadoma, who was a good villainous female character wanting a pure nation of vampires vs. Abraham Lincoln, who was seeking revenge for the death of his mother at the hands of Jack Barts-which is the key reason he begins to undertake this interesting addition to the historical figure we all know. Adam and Vadoma were added for the movie, however, they fit right into the whole philosophy of what Abe and Henry are battling. Adam is important because he is the reason for Henry Sturges's hatred towards his own race as he forced Sturges to watch his wife be killed and was turned himself to live with the guilt. All the training Lincoln undertakes from Henry sends him to Springfield where he works at the general store with Joshua Speedman, who he has a close friendship with in both the book and movie. It's elaborated more in the movie, which is nice to see. He, along with his childhood friend, William Jackson, now a freed man helping slaves escape on the Underground Railroad meets up with him as he is working on his law degree. Anthony Mackie portrayed Jackson, who some may remember from The Adjustment Bureau. He did a pretty good job as I think he is an actor with great potential and hope to see more from him. On the subject of politics, I was glad they kept the plotline from the book intact with how Abe and Mary Todd begin their relationship. In both instances, she is engaged to Stephen Douglas originally. I just love how there's a love triangle between them. Also, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, one of my personal favorite actresses was Mary Todd. It's the only time you'll probably see Mary Todd look attractive. However, Mary Elizabeth Winstead did an excellent job of portraying depression, schizophrenia, and rage fits that many have commented on in several historical articles. Great stuff from her!! I always look forward to seeing her in things. Adam wants Abe to kill Henry, but Abe refuses leading to an all out fight in Adam and Vadoma's plantation. The action scenes were absolutley fantastic-beautifully shot and giving enough to please me. It was directed by the man who directed Wanted so you'll notice a similar style. Now, we all know about Willie Lincoln and how he died at a young age. Well, what they kept intact between the book and the movie is that Willie meets his demise at the hands of the bloodsuckers, except in the movie Vadoma is responsible, which should be how it is here. In the book, it's just a random vampire assassin who follows the same philosophies as Adam and Vadoma here. Willie has a little cavalry sword necklace that Mary Todd gave him which is really cool. That comes back later on in the movie. Abe is in the White House and battling Jefferson Davis who has become one of the undead and makes a pact with Adam to win this war for the Confederacy and to harvest the slaves and most importantly kill the Union. Lincoln, Speedman, and Jackson devise a plan to get silver to the Union as it is a powerful weapon in impeding a vampire's ability as Lincoln himself recognized in his first encounter with Jack Barts. Henry always is telling Lincoln to have a contingency plan and they did an excellent job of making it look like there was dissension between Lincoln's party while Adam thought he was going to kill off the silver supply and allow for the Confederacy/vampires to win the nation. The train scene and the Gettysburg battle scenes are some of the most incredible action sequences I've seen. I love how they used the Underground Railroad to get the silver to the Union with Mary Todd making the commands on the field-very awesome. Basically, the way I look at it Mary Elizabeth Winstead was the general. I was eagerly anticpating a showdown with her and Vadoma over what happened to Willie. It wasn't an all out drag down fight, but it was very well done and I thought that was how it should have been done. In the book, Mary Todd's role is not as big, and I was glad they added a little more to it here. They left out the Ford's Theatre stuff but they imply that Lincoln will live forever even if he isn't immortal. I liked the ending in both versions. Both versions end up in modern times, but are shown in different ways. It's to display the immortality of Henry in both instances. Overall, I really enjoyed this movie. I thought the action sequences, especially the ones I pointed out on the train and the Gettysburg battle sequences were very well done. I enjoyed the performances-Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Benjamin Walker, and Dominic Cooper were excellent. Rufus Sewell was a great villain. He had an evil vibe to him and that's what he should give off. There were several instances of verbatim quotes from the book which is great to see. There were also some genuine comedic parts which is necessary after certain scenes. It's one hell of a thrill ride, and a fun cinematic adventure. It's not going to be considered a masterpiece and you shouldn't take it too seriously. I think it's really creative and love the blend of reality with fantasy like this. I will give this a 4/5 as it just kept me into the movie from start to finish and I enjoyed the differences made in the stories. I liked it because I didn't know exactly what direction they'd take it and that can be a good thing. I thought it worked well here. You won't get me to say a negative thing about this. I realize it won't appeal to everyone, but I definitely will be getting this on DVD when it comes out just because it certainly appealed to me. Smith's addition of characters and scenes to the movie felt natural for this genre. Everything was connected well and led to a good finale.