Warm Bodies

My sister and I watched this recently as just something to do. We had both seen this movie before and enjoyed it, so we decided to watch it again.

I am not a big fan of horror movies, but I wouldn't really classify this one as part of that genre. Yes there is a bit of horror movie violence but it's not over the top. This movie is really much more of an unconventional love story, and though I'm not the biggest fan of chick flicks/romance movies, the storyline was really unique. It follows the tale of a zombie named R (played by Nicholas Hoult) who falls in love with a human girl (played by Teresa Palmer).

What I enjoyed about this movie was how the movie was narrated. Because R can't speak, the audience goes through the movie with R's internal point of view. His thoughts are easy to connect to and his point of view adds to the comedic parts of the movie. The movie has it's funny moments and it tends to stay on the lighter side of things. I also really liked how the movie was an interesting take on Romeo and Juliet, which can be seen through the characters names and certain events that occur throughout the movie.

Overall, I liked this movie and thought it was really interesting. While it was a romance movie and once and a while tended to have those usual cliches found in those kinds of movies, I liked how it was a different spin on that genre. I enjoyed the internal narration of R and how it really kept the plot moving. I thought this film was a unique one and I recommend it to anyone looking for a romance movie, a comedy, or just something interesting.

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07s-cNFffDM

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

I saw this at midnight with a few of my good friends as a great way to end my birthday and because my friends and I are big fans of The Hobbit. Just a heads up though, this film picks up right where An Unexpected Journey ends, so I would highly recommend watching the first Hobbit movie before going to see this.

This movie was a great second part to The Hobbit trilogy. While the first film was light and on the happy side, this film goes darker. It explores the evil that was discovered in the first as well as explores the darkness that appears to be developing within each character. It was interesting to see how this contributed to the plot as a whole, and how you can see it affecting each character differently. I was especially impressed with the transition of Bilbo's character, going from the light and cheery hobbit and the growth he has in this film.

What was also great about this film was the action sequences and the new locations that appeared. The sequence in which the dwarves are floating in barrel is one of the best parts of the movie. A lot goes on during this, but the spectacle and the constant action kept me thrilled and on the edge of my seat. The locations of Lake Town and Mirkwood are standouts amongst the many locations that were studding and really added to the narrative. One of the other cool parts of this movie is the appearance of Smaug (played by Benedict Cumberbatch). The trailers of this film did a really good job of hiding Smaug's appearance, and when he finally appears in the movie, it is a sight to see. The entire sequence inside the mountain is really well done, and this in turn leads to a great conclusion of the film that makes you want to see the third film in the trilogy.

Overall, I really enjoyed this movie. It was a great sequel that had really cool action sequences and was all together a well-made movie. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoyed the first film, anyone who liked the LOTR trilogy, and anyone who is looking to watch a good fantasy movie.

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfflhfn1W-o

Contagion

My mom and I just watched this film just to pass the time. I noticed this at my local library, so I checked it out because it sounded interesting.

This movie was really interesting. It was intriguing to see the spreading of the disease and the panic that comes with it. It reminds you of the national panics of H1N1 and the Bird Flu and the widespread panic that these outbreaks caused. This film, while it shows the attempts and mission to find the cause and cure for the disease, mainly tracks the panic and fear that spreads throughout the American population.

There are a lot of characters in this movie. The film does a good job of making sure that the characters don't get confused, but if you aren't paying attention (as what happened to my mom when she fell asleep for 10 minutes or so) you can miss a new character that is introduced and/or miss something important that involves many characters. On the positive side, it was interesting to see the subplots that each character had and how each one contributed to the plot as a whole.

Overall, this movie was well done. The plot and narrative of the film did a good job of keeping me interested and the ending really leaves you with something to think about. The film does at points show how the disease spreads, so if you are any bit of a germaphobe, this movie could freak you out a bit. Even if you aren't germaphobic, this film does a good job of making you feel like you should wash your hands right after the credits roll. I really enjoyed this movie and I would recommend it to anyone who is looking for a dramatic and suspenseful movie.

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sYSyuuLk5g

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

I just watched this a couple days ago as something to do and as an attempt to get someone to watch these movies with me. Out of my whole family, I'm the only one who really likes the Lord of the Rings. I'm not a big fan of hardcore fantasy films, but these films are few of the exceptions.

I thought this film was a much lighter and happier film in comparison to the LOTR trilogy. There were lots of comedic moments, mostly coming from the dwarves, that lightened the mood. One would think it would be really hard to keep track who's who in the 13 dwarves, but they were all very unique which made them easy to separate from one another.While I most likely couldn't name all 13 (even though most of them rhyme with others and such) for you right now, the film gravitates to showing the ones you need to pay most attention to or draws focus to ones that say important lines. The other characters in this film are also well-acted, I especially enjoyed the characters of Bilbo (played by Martin Freeman) and Radagast (played by Sylvester McCoy).

The action in this movie was also really well-done. While my favorite scene is the dinner scene when you meet all of the dwarves, my favorite action sequences would have to be the major chase between the main characters and an Orc pack as well as the scene with the goblins. I wish I saw it in 3D to truly appreciate the hard work that went into these sequences, but they are still really great to watch in 2D.

If you are a fan of the LOTR trilogy and/or a fan of the books, this movie fits right in. It's great to see some characters from the trilogy appear in this film, but it is also great to see new characters that are well-portrayed.  I will say though, if you have never seen the LOTR trilogy, do not feel like you have to watch those in order to understand this film. This film (and the next two that will follow) is a prequel to what happens in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. My mom has never seen the LOTR trilogy, so references and characters that are made and seen in this one did not resonate with her but also did not confuse her when watching this film. I do recommend watching the original trilogy if you are interested in them, though, because they are really good films and you appreciate the references that are made in this movie.

Overall, I really enjoyed this movie. I would recommend this to anyone who likes the LOTR trilogy and fantasy films.

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDnYMbYB-nU

12 Years A Slave

This film is based on the memoir by Solomon Northup of the same title. I had to read sections of it for my Tarantino course in order to understand a real description of slavery in comparison to Django Unchained. Reading Solomon's actual account made me want to see this film more than I had already wanted to.

This movie was really good. It was incredibly compelling and saddening to see the true story of Solomon Northup play out onscreen. Each character is portrayed extremely well, especially the characters of Solomon (played by Chiwetel Ejiofor) and Edwin Epps (played by Michael Fassbender). Epps is the cruel slave owner that buys Solomon, and Fassbender does a good job of making you hate him.

While the movie is long, it never feels long because the plot keeps you interested with all of the events and incidents that happen to Solomon. There are moments where it gets really intense, whether there is violence involved or not. Where violence is involved, those scenes can be tough to get through. The film doesn't hold anything back, and it really shows you the brutality that slaves faced during the time in which slavery was legal in America. This film also tugs at your emotions, you really feel the pain Solomon suffers throughout this movie. The theater I was in was not too crowded, but by the time the film ended, everyone, including me, was crying.

I highly recommend seeing this film. Everything about this movie was well-acted, well-plotted, and well thought out. While it can be tough to get through, it was really worth seeing. If you do have the opportunity to read the book beforehand or just in general, it's very interesting, thrilling, and easy to get through. I recommend this movie for anyone interested in seeing a good movie, anyone who enjoyed the book, and anyone who likes historical/period films.

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iiw1cYXQw4g

Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2

I really enjoyed the first film (see my review below, or click the "Cloudy" tag at the bottom of this review to see both reviews), so I was pretty excited to see the sequel. This film basically picks off right where the first one ended, but it does back up a little so that way you can quickly catch up to what is going on.

While I did enjoy this film, I will say that the first film is better. The sequel does use the same humor that was found in the first one, and this film really takes creativity to the max. The effort that was made to create all of the food hybrids really add a fun vibe to the movie. Kids will definitely enjoy this movie because of all the cute animal hybrids, the silly characters, and the pretty simple villain.

Overall, while I did enjoy this movie, the first one is definitely better. I liked how the plot of the sequel easily transitioned from the first and developed from there. I think that those who liked the first will like the second, but not as much. I would definitely recommend watching the first one because while this movie does do a quick backtrack of what happened in the first movie, the first film gives you an idea of what humor is used and what the characters are like. This will allow you to decide whether or not you want to watch the sequel. I would recommend this movie to anyone who is looking for a kids movie to watch and anyone who enjoyed the first film.

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jw6dECrl-BE

Jackie Brown

This movie was based on the novel Rum Punch by Elmore Leonard, and is the only film by Tarantino that he did not base on his own ideas. In comparison to his other films, this film is not as violent, so anyone who is not the biggest fan of violence but is interested in seeing a Tarantino film should check this one out.

Jackie Brown is much more of a crime caper, following many different characters and half a million dollars. The film has many characters, but it does a good job of making sure that none of the many characters blur together or get confused. Each character has their own unique personality and are portrayed very well by the characters who play them. The plot is also very interesting in how it shows each character's motivations for the money and the elaborate scheme to get the money. The climax of the movie contains one of the most intricate and exciting scenes, and it is really well-done.

Overall, I really enjoyed this movie. Even though this is the second time I have see this, it is still a fun movie to watch. I would recommend this movie to anyone who enjoys Tarantino films, crime capers, or just looking for a good movie to watch.

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7HkBDNZV7s

Prisoners

My parents and I saw this when it was playing in theaters after hearing and seeing good reviews about it. While the movie is on the longer side, it does a good job of feeling like it's playing in real time. What makes it feel this way is how realistic it was through the actions and acting of the characters as well as the major events that occur throughout the movie. The movie felt so real, that it actually gave my sister nightmares (who had seen it prior).

The acting is incredibly well-done and it is so interesting to see how each parent handled their child's abduction differently. It really makes you think about how you would react in this sort of situation and how you could handle yourself as the situation continues. The best performances are found in Keller Dover (played by Hugh Jackman) and Detective Loki (played by Jake Gyllenhaal). Their acting is what keeps the plot moving forward, and it is done successfully.

Overall, I thought this film was really well-done and I highly recommend it. There are some scenes that are a bit tough to get through, but I don't want to spoil anything. The mystery in this film is constructed well, and the ending really leaves you with something to think about. I recommend this to anyone who is looking for a good mystery or drama film to watch.

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpXfcTF6iVk

Thor: The Dark World

I went to go see this the day it came out, my friends and I have a soft spot for superhero movies and were really anticipating this movie. This movie picks up right around where The Avengers left off, I won't spoil that ending for those who haven't seen it. While I did enjoy the first Thor, I felt that it was very obligatory in setting up for everything in The Avengers. I actually happened to like this sequel much more than the first, which is a very rare thing for a movie. While this movie was pretty predictable, it was still enjoyable and entertaining. Darcy (played by Kat Dennings) and Loki (played by Tom Hiddleston) are the most entertaining and most fleshed out characters, and they are the characters that really are the best part of this movie.

My only real negative comment, other than this film's predictability, is the big fight at the climax. I won't reveal much, but I'll just say that I found it much more comical and slightly stupid than the seriousness that I believe it was supposed to be. Overall though, I found this movie to be better than the original and pretty entertaining. I would recommend watching the original Thor and The Avengers to make sure you are caught up with the characters and the plot. Also, stay until the end of the credits. Marvel movies like to add scenes in and after the credits to set up future films. I would recommend this movie to anyone who enjoys superhero movies.

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=npvJ9FTgZbM

Kiss Me Deadly

I previously watched this film last year in my Film Noir class, but seeing it as a reference for the Tarantino film Pulp Fiction puts it in a really interesting context. The main idea that Pulp Fiction takes from this film is the idea of the mysterious briefcase, but I won't give anything away as to where that idea comes from in Kiss Me Deadly. Another reference from this movie in Pulp Fiction is the character of Butch. Butch is a version of the main character of this film, Mike Hammer. This is a really interesting Film Noir, and while the main character is supposed to be a rough, tough, and manly main character, a lot of what he does to emphasize this part of his personality, it can be comedic at times. Overall, this is a decent movie and film noir. I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in seeing a film noir or looking for something different to watch.

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ss4AF91KOFw

Pulp Fiction

This is only the second time that I have seen this movie, and I can say that I liked it a lot more the second time around. I did enjoy it the first time I watched it, but the second time I appreciated it even more. I really like the non-chronological storyline, because while it does jump around, it all comes together in the end. All of the characters are incredibly well-acted, especially Samuel L. Jackson. The film also has really interesting references to other films (which is a common trait in Tarantino films), especially the film Kiss Me Deadly, where the idea of the mysterious briefcase appears. Overall, I really liked this film and highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in seeing a good movie and anyone who enjoys or is interested in watching a Tarantino movie.

Oscar Nominee: Best Picture 1995, Best Actor 1995 for John Travolta, Best Supporting Actor 1995 for Samuel L. Jackson, Best Supporting Actress 1995 for Uma Thurman, Best Director 1995 for Quentin Tarantino
Oscar Winner: Best Original Screenplay 1995 for Quentin Tarantino

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7EdQ4FqbhY

Star Trek (2009 Version)

This was the first time I had ever seen this movie all the way through, and I enjoyed it. The action sequences were really cool and the majority of the characters were well-acted. The plot was interesting, though it was a tiny bit confusing. I won't tell what happens but it took me some time to adjust to this part of the plot. While it was slightly confusing, it was still a cool idea for a plot and it was interesting to see how it played out. There is a good amount of action and a lot of lens flares (sometimes to the point where it is pretty distracting). Overall, I enjoyed this movie and I would recommend this to anyone who likes Science Fiction films or is looking for a decent action movie.

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SyJszxnJydA

The Killing

This was another film that was watched in the Tarantino class I am taking as one of his influences. This specific film was the major influence for Reservoir Dogs, and there are many similarities between the two. I found this film to be really well done and I really liked the plot. In seeing Reservoir Dogs the week before, it was really cool to see all the influence The Killing made on it. This film focused more time on the crime than Reservoir Dogs, and it was really cool to see a heist taking place at a horse racetrack. I also really liked how the film went through each individual character in setting up the heist as well as the aftermath after the heist. I would recommend this movie to anyone who is looking for a good crime drama (or a Film Noir) to watch.

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FiDUFG56wT4

Step Brothers

This is one of those movies that I have seen multiple times and one that I quote with my sister on almost a daily basis. I usually like most of Will Ferrell's films, and this just happens to be one of them. I would say that this is a movie that I find stupid yet funny. There are some funny lines and scenes and the plot is interesting. I really enjoyed the concept of two men who never really grow up and are extremely immature, and both main actors portray it really well. Overall, this movie is kind of dumb, but if you are entertained by these sort of movies, you might like it. I would recommend it to those who like Will Ferrell movies and those who are looking for a silly comedy to watch.

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CewglxElBK0

Bande a part ("Band of Outsiders")

I watched this in my Tarantino film class to understand what influenced Tarantino as a filmmaker. One filmmaker that was influential was Jean-Luc Godard, who was one of the main figures in the French New Wave film movement. This film is one of Godard's more accessible films, meaning that American audiences would connect to it better than some of his other films. I personally am not a big fan of French New Wave, so I didn't find this movie that entertaining overall. There are some high points, and the plot is well-thought out, but I just found myself kind of bored. Overall, I found the movie pretty average but I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys watching French New Wave and anyone who is interested in seeing a French New Wave film.

Fun Fact: Quentin Tarantino's production company A Band Apart, is based on this movie.

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzVNh8glTok

The Great Gatsby (2013 Version)

My campus screened this recently as the Film Association's fall semester movie. I didn't have a chance to see it when it was out in theaters, so this was my first time seeing this version. I thought it was a pretty well-done adaptation. Though I haven't read the book recently, the plot points and symbols were all there, and you could tell that the director put a lot of thought into it. As a warning ahead of time, a lot of things happen when the film begins, such as a lot of camera movements, lots of color, and loud sounds/music. It's common with the director's (Baz Luhrmann) style to do this, but if you have not seen some of his films before, be prepared. I also thought it connected in an interesting way to Luhrmann's Moulin Rouge!, it had a lot of plot similarities and interesting choices of music. I think my only major critique is that Jay Gatsby (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Daisy Buchanan (Carey Mulligan) didn't really have great chemistry, which kind of brought down the romance that's supposed to be present in the movie. On a positive note, I really enjoyed the soundtrack that was used. Each song fit so well with what went on in the movie, and I especially enjoyed the motif of the song "Together" by The xx that played mostly when Gatsby and Daisy were onscreen together. Overall, I thought it was a pretty good adaptation of the novel and I would recommend it to those who liked the book.

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vuQhprtLJ3k

Reservoir Dogs

I just recently watched this movie because I am currently taking a course on the films of Tarantino. I have seen it before, and the first time I didn't really like it. This time around I ended up enjoying it. I really like how it is a non-linear narrative and how you only get the majority of the story through the dialogue of the characters. All the characters are really well-acted and each of them have their own sort of interesting personality. This was Tarantino's debut as a filmmaker, and it's a pretty good one. If you have never seen a Tarantino film before, be prepared for a good amount of bloody violence and lots of dialogue. I enjoyed watching this a second time, and I would recommend it to anyone who is a fan of Tarantino films, as well as anyone looking for a good movie to watch.

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irQR3WReVO8

Who Framed Roger Rabbit

I watched this today to pass the time in waiting for my next class. I remember watching this movie as a kid, but I couldn't remember much of what went on. I don't really know how appropriate it is for kids, so I would recommend watching it first and then deciding whether or not to show it to kids. I will say that this movie is technically impressive. It has animated cartoons interacting with real people, and it is really well done. The real-life characters and the cartoons react well to each other and it blends the worlds of Toontown and Hollywood very seamlessly. This was a fun movie to watch, and I would recommend it to anyone who is looking for a fun and cool comedy to watch.

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYNqYC_jNAg

Thor

This is the first time I've ever seen this movie and I've been yelled at by my friends for not having seen it until now. I happened to enjoy this movie, and I have a soft spot for superhero movies (when they're done right). I thought everyone did a good job of acting, especially Tom Hiddleston, who plays Loki. I also liked how the film focused on Thor trying to redeem himself worthy enough to control the power he was blessed with and instead of just trying to defeat the villain the entire movie. It also does a nice set-up for The Avengers, it does a bit during the movie, but there is also a clip at the very end (after the credits) that also sets it up. I had already seen The Avengers before watching this movie, so while Thor does set up The Avengers, you don't need to feel like you have to watch one before the other. Overall, I really enjoyed this movie and I recommend it to anyone who likes superhero or action movies.

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOddp-nlNvQ

Crazy, Stupid, Love.

I am not a huge fan of chick flicks, I mostly try to avoid them at all costs. I was a little reluctant when I first went to see this movie, but it got good reviews so my family decided to go see it. Turns out it was a really well-done movie with a well-acted cast and a really good plot. On my first day back at school, my friends and I decided to watch this movie, and it was still enjoyable to watch. It creates a great balance between humor and romance, in which neither overpowers the other. Usually when I watch a chick flick, I get pretty bored because they usually have the same generic plot points and aren't really creative. This movie weaves a great plot through multiple characters trying to find love, but you never feel lost with what each character is looking for and it ends with a funny climax and a good conclusion. I would really recommend this to anyone who is looking for a chick flick or a good romantic comedy.

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8iCwtxJejik

We're the Millers

I saw this as a last minute bonding with my sister before I left for school, and we both found it to be really funny. There were some really funny lines that were said throughout the movie, and the idea for the plot was a funny one. While it was a funny plot, some parts of it were kind of generic to any other comedy. The scene stealer is definitely the kid the main character hires as his son, and it was really interesting/funny to see Jennifer Aniston play a stripper. While I didn't find it as funny as This Is The End (check out my review below!), it was still pretty funny. I would recommend this movie to anyone looking for a funny movie to watch.

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Vsy5KzsieQ

O Brother, Where Art Thou?

I bought this movie for 25 cents at a local sale as a Father's Day present for my dad, and my parents and I decided to watch it last week. I thought it was really cool to have it based on The Odessey by Homer. Even though I've never read the book, there are some parts that were recognizably from the book, such as the sirens. The movie was funny and interesting, and while sometimes I did get confused with what was going on in it, I enjoyed the twisted plot. Once and a while it was also hard to understand what the main characters were saying because of their thick accents and the speed of which they were talking. Overall I did enjoy the movie, and I would recommend it to anyone who likes The Odessey, is looking for something different, and anyone looking for a dramedy.

Oscar Nominee: Best Adapted Screenplay 2001

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1C2gCXo4Gs

Elysium

I went to go see this in theaters with my best friend recently, and it was a good one. It was really cool to see a not too distant future environment, and I found myself feeling like I was actually living there. They made it seem so realistic, and it was so interesting to see the contrasting environments of Earth and Elysium. There is the discussion of the 99% versus the 1%, but it never felt like it was in-your-face during the movie. The plot was well thought out and Matt Damon's character was well-played. Overall, I thought it was a really well-done movie with good acting and good action sequences. I would recommend this movie to anyone who is looking for a good action movie.

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QILNSgou5BY

A Kid in King Arthur's Court

I remember enjoying this movie as a kid, so when I saw it for 25 cents at a local sale, I decided to buy it. I recently watched it to remember what it was like. To be honest, this movie was really silly and I couldn't stop laughing at it. Kids would definitely enjoy this more than I did, I really wouldn't recommend it to anyone else. The only thing I would say that people my age would definitely appreciate is the fact that Daniel Craig and Kate Winslet are both in it.

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLtmLy1Vzkc

The Mummy Returns

Since I just recently watched The Mummy (see my review below), I figured I might as well watch the sequel. While I did enjoy it, it is not as good as the first movie. In this movie, there are a couple elements in the movie that aren't really explained and just seem a little random appearing in only the sequel. What I really like is that the entire cast of the first movie appears in this one, and it does kind of have a seamless transition from the first to the second movie (this movie takes place 10 years later). I would recommend watching the first movie before this one because it will explain the origins and purposes of the characters in the sequel. I would recommend this movie to those who are interested in seeing the sequel to the first one and those who are looking for an action movie to watch.

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yXjs7BUKYc

Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters

I just recently went with two good friends of mine to see this in theaters. All three of us are big fans of the books, so we were hoping that it would be a lot better than the first one. Based on being a reader of the books, this movie had the majority of the plot points in the book, they were just rearranged or partially changed to fit the story. This movie also introduces the main villain, Kronos, in this movie, and unlike the first movie, it follows the storyline of the danger of Kronos being able to rise and possibly destroy the world. There were changes made to fit the movie better, such as the prophecy being changed from 16 to 20, which makes sense because the actors playing the main characters are all around 20. Other changes were disappointing, but most of those have to do with the climax of the movie, so I won't ruin it. But based on just seeing this movie and not comparing it to the book, the movie is just an average sequel. Personally, they made it too much of a "feel-good" sort of movie. On the plus side, most of the characters were well-acted. As a fan of the books, the characters of Clarisse and Mr. D were particularly good. Overall, I found this movie pretty so-so, so I would wait until it comes out on dvd to check it out. I would recommend it to those who are looking for a much better adaptation of the Percy Jackson series than the first movie and anyone who is looking for a movie to watch with kids (though there are some scary parts, but not too bad) and anyone into fantasy movies.

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6aYjbpBm-E

Django Unchained

I've always enjoyed Tarantino movies, so I was really excited when it came out in theaters. I enjoyed seeing this movie then, and after watching it two nights ago with my parents, I still enjoyed it. The acting by all the characters is very well done, and the plot is interesting and entertaining. It is a long movie, but it never gets boring. The dialogue is well-written and the action is pretty much constant. If you have never seen a Tarantino movie, be prepared for a lot of bloody violence. Most of his movies contain this sort of violence, but parts of this movie are tough to watch. I would really recommend it to anyone who is a Tarantino fan, someone who may be interested in a take on a Western movie, or anyone looking for a good movie to watch.

Oscar Nominee: Best Picture of 2013
Oscar Winner: Best Supporting Actor 2013 for Christoph Waltz; Best Original Screenplay 2013 for Quentin Tarantino

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8CZKbDzP1E

The Mummy (1999 Version)

I just watched this recently because my mom has never seen it before. I didn't realize until now that it is actually a remake of the 1932 movie starring Boris Karloff. Based on its remake status, it's a pretty solid update on the 1932 version. It keeps the same basic plot of the original but makes it a much more modern tale. The special effects are probably the coolest part of this movie, the most impressive of the special effects is the mummy slowly forming into a human throughout a good chunk of the movie. The movie adds some bits of humor and lots of action in comparison to the original being an old monster movie, so it is a fun movie to watch. I enjoyed watching this movie again, and I would recommend it to someone who is looking for a decent action movie.

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3ptPtxWJRs

Rango

I just watched this over the weekend with my sister because she had never seen it before. I really enjoyed this movie the first time when I went to see it in theaters, and I still enjoy it ever time I watch it. It's such an interesting idea of a movie, and a weird one too, because it combines the themes of a Western with characters that are all animals. If you may be interested in this movie, just make sure you are prepared for a strange main character (voiced by Johnny Depp), and some really strange jokes and humor. Other than that, I would say definitely check it out. I would recommend this to those who are looking for a movie to watch with their kids as well as anyone who is looking for something a little different than the average animated movie.

Oscar Winner: Best Animated Feature 2012

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-OOfW6wWyQ

The Birds

This is my first time ever seeing this movie, and I am a big fan of Hitchcock movies. It was a cool movie because of the concept, which takes something we're so used to and turns it into something that we could be scared of. After seeing this movie, I will never picture a flock of birds the same way again. This isn't much of a scary movie as it is suspenseful, but you might not like it if you're not a big fan of birds. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who is looking for a good Hitchcock movie or just looking for a classic to check out.

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZjaVdJt59U

Kings of Pastry

This was an interesting documentary about the tough competition in France where pastry chefs compete for the title of M.O.F. (which basically means the best craftsmen in France). It was so cool to see the hard work that goes into creating various desserts such as lollipops and extravagant sugar sculptures. It was also interesting to see how much goes into not only competing in this competition, but also the huge amount of practice these chefs put into preparing for the M.O.F. competition as well. Overall, it was an intriguing documentary to watch and I would recommend it to anyone who is interesting in documentaries and anyone who is interesting in learning about the world of pastry and desserts.

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ANUMYH07-Q

Lincoln

After finishing this movie, I can officially say that I have watched every single Best Picture nominee of 2013. Lincoln was a really well-acted movie, every nominated actor and actress in this movie thoroughly deserved it. It was so interesting to see all the hard work that went into establishing the 13th Amendment, and the intense debate that went on. My only negative on this movie is that it is very much a dialogue-based movie, so there is much action as there is talking. It was hard to motivate myself to sit down and watch it because it was so wordy and 2 and a half hours of talking is sometimes hard to stay awake through. I would recommend this movie if you're into historical movies.

Oscar Nominee: Best Picture 2013
Oscar Winner: Best Actor 2013 for Daniel Day-Lewis

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiSAbAuLhqs

The Wolverine

I just saw this yesterday with a good friend of mine. We always go see X-Men movies together when they come out in theaters, and we were both really excited for this one. This was a really well-done movie, and a much better solo Wolverine movie than X-Men Origins: Wolverine. It was so cool to have it take place in Japan, and all the action sequences were really fun to watch, especially the one on the bullet train. If you've never seen an X-Men movie before, I would definitely recommend watching the X-Men trilogy (which is: X-Men, X2, X-Men: The Last Stand). This movie takes place after the 3rd movie in the trilogy ends, so watching the trilogy helps explain certain things shown in this movie. I would highly recommend this movie if you're a fan of X-Men or if you're looking for a good action movie. Oh, and for all the X-Men fans: wait during the credits, there's a sneak preview for the upcoming X-Men: Days of Future Past.

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEbzZP-_Ssc

The Hitcher (2007 Version)

I just watched this recently with my parents because I just watched the original recently with my mom (check out my review of the original below if you're interested). I do like the original, even though it is a mediocre movie. This version does follow most of the original plot, except that there are two main characters and it is much more violent. This version has a couple jumpy moments, but it's not much of a scary movie. Personally, I would recommend watching the original over the remake, and maybe watching the remake after watching the original to compare it.

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCx5WrEdRWk

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

I haven't seen this movie in full in a decent amount of time. I still really enjoy it, and it is always fun to see the first Harry Potter movie when all the actors were so young. I was a big fan of the books, and it's really cool to see everything on screen. The first film followed pretty well with the first book and it's fun to watch whether you're young or old. I would recommend this movie if you enjoy the books and if you like fantasy films, as well as if you're looking for a good family movie.

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbdM1db3JbY

First Position

I just finished this documentary and I really enjoyed it. It's about ballet dancers of various ages and nationalities that compete for the opportunity to become professional dancers. It was so interesting to learn of the commitment and the sacrifices that are made to become a top notch ballet dancer. I saw the end of this documentary on television and was so interested in it, that I looked it up on Netflix and watched the entire thing. I would really recommend it to anyone who is interested in the world of dance as well as anyone who is looking for a really interesting documentary.

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_cOwCKODgs

Stand Up Guys

I just watched this movie with my dad and it was an interesting one. I did find the movie funny and enjoyable, but overall it was pretty average. Some points of the plot were much better than others, but I still kind of enjoyed it. It was interesting to see characters that were older in age enjoy a night together as if they were young again, and some of the wisecracks about the more technological world we live in nowadays were pretty funny. I would recommend this one to anyone who likes Al Pacino and Christopher Walken movies, but it's kind of slow moving and the plot is an average one.

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NApJNjPTqZs

War Horse

My parents and I just watched this last night and we all seemed to enjoy it. It's a pretty sad movie, but it was also a very interwoven tale that was intriguing to see. It was also interesting that the majority of the story was told from the horse and what the horse experience rather than people, which made the story so interesting to make this story told with little dialogue (since the horse doesn't speak). I found this movie pretty compelling and interesting, and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys war movies.

Oscar Nominee: Best Picture 2012

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRf3SfeMRD4

Wreck-It Ralph

This is my third time seeing this movie, but it was the first time for my parents. I really liked everything about this movie, and it was really cool to see video game characters like Sonic the hedgehog and Bowser from Super Mario Brothers in certain points of the movie. When I first saw this movie, it was because Skyfall was sold out and my friend and I decided that we would go see Wreck-It Ralph because it looked really good and we were 30 minutes away from home, so we were like: might as well go see something. My sister, who was also with us, did not want to see it, but she didn't really have a choice. She actually ended up really liking the movie, and came to watch it with my parents and I yesterday. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys video games and anyone who wants to see something that's good for the whole family.

Oscar Nominee: Best Animated Feature 2013

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87E6N7ToCxs

Despicable Me 2

I went a couple days ago with my sister and one of her friends to see this sequel, and we weren't disappointed. It is pretty entertaining, but I say it's pretty much even with the original. If you have not seen the first one, I would recommend watching it before you go see the sequel. While the characters are the most important part of the plot, a lot of the movie is also dedicated to the minions. Though there is that small bit of separation between the minions and the main characters, the minions are still very entertaining. I would recommend this movie if you liked the original as well as if you want something that can appeal to both children and adults.

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwXbtZXjbVE

Skyfall

Just watched it recently, and I still like it. It's probably one of my favorite entries in the Bond franchise, and I am a big fan of the franchise. I like the whole plot, and the villain is a great one and well-acted. The movie was very interesting because it was action-oriented but also explored Bond being stuck in a theme of old vs new. Overall, I think it's a really great movie and a really great addition to the Bond movies. I recommend it to anyone who wants to see a good action movie or if you want to see a good James Bond movie.

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6kw1UVovByw

The Hitcher (1986 Version)

Just recently re-watched this movie with my mom and it's an okay one. The whole idea of the movie is interesting, but the main character is a bit of a wimp. The main character tries to be tough as the movie progresses, but to me it wasn't very convincing. The hitchhiker (played by Rutger Hauer), is really the only interesting character because he has a calm yet cold personality throughout the entire movie. It's kind of classified as a horror movie, but it's not scary at all. The movie is much more of a suspense movie, so don't have the expectation to be scared. This movie was remade, but it's very disappointing. I would recommend watching the original rather than the remake. Overall, The Hitcher not the greatest movie, but it does teach you to never pick up a hitchhiker.

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6WmEoMY2Lo

The Nightmare Before Christmas

Just watched movie again today and I still really like it. It's such a unique and creative movie, and a perfect one to watch for both Halloween and Christmas. This is my favorite Tim Burton movie, and I could watch it over and over. All the songs are fun to listen to and all the characters are really unique but fit into the Halloweentown world. I would recommend this movie to someone who's looking for something different and interesting and to someone who doesn't mind the songs that appear every once and a while. It also really appeals to all ages.

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qrB9I3DM80

Despicable Me

Another one of those movies that I have watched recently because my dad had never seen it before. I really thought this film was creative and hilarious, and the minion characters add the extra oomph to make it more entertaining. What also make the movie really entertaining for all ages is not only Gru's extravagant mission to steal the moon but also the progression and understanding of all the layers of his character. This movie is so unique and fun, I could watch it repeatedly. I recommend it to anyone who wants to watch something simple yet entertaining that's good for the whole family.

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXZY_XRjABs

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs

Just recently saw this movie again while on vacation because my dad had never seen it (even though I've owned the movie for like 2-3 years). I find it to be a really funny movie and I really like the jokes that are made throughout the movie.There are also moments where there are quick one-liners said that you may only hear after watching the movie more than once. Overall it is just one of those movies that I could watch repeatedly and enjoy every single time.

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPH0ct2oXBg

Now You See Me

I just recently saw this with my good friend, and it was a very interesting movie. The film made sure the you never had the full story when parts of the plot occurred, but it all came together in the end. The film had a major twist in the end, but I won't give it away. I made a random guess about it during the movie, and it turned out to be right, but it was still surprising and enjoyable. It was a cool concept of a movie, and all the characters were well played by the actors that portrayed them.

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KzJNYYkkhzc

The Heat

 Just saw this movie yesterday with my family to get something out of a really rainy day. Plot-wise, the movie was average. None of it really blew my mind; there wasn't anything really original about the plot or the main characters. There were a lot of good lines that were said during the movie, especially those spoken by Melissa McCarthy's character. I enjoyed the movie because of the one-liners, but overall it was just an average comedy.

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ST16k80bDYE

This Is The End

I recently saw this movie with my mom and my sister, and it was probably one of the funniest movies I've seen since Bridesmaids. It was so interesting to see a movie where the stars in it play exaggerated versions of themselves and try to survive the apocalypse. Most of the jokes made during the movie were hilarious and the cast of characters were hilarious as well. I would recommend this to anyone who is looking for a good laugh.

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yma-g4gTwlE

Hey There!

I'm using this blog to post about all the movies I watch (past and present). Movies have been a big part of my life for a really long time, so much so that I spend much of my time sitting on the couch watching movies that I have not seen before or ones that I haven't seen in a long time. I also love to expand on what I've seen. I hope you enjoy my blog and feel free to suggest films to me!