Palidan400 Reviews

Arrow: My Name Is Oliver Queen (2015) Season 3, Episode 23

Why, why, why!?

[7/10 · 29 May 2015]

Agh, this is frustrating. I love Arrow. When they do well, they do amazingly well. This finale has a lot building up to it, a lot of characters coming together, all the twists being revealed. All of this sets up for an exciting and intense finale.

With each fight, each moment of life or death, each rush to figure out the next move against Ra's, the suspense builds. Yet suddenly, annoying and useless bits of drama interrupt the mood. I wish I could say this finale is perfect, but the writing just brings it down. Constantly we are barraged with all the characters and their drama, as if they were all children - perhaps the show should be called "Ollie and his 8-year-old Friends"...

They manage to make even John, who has consistently been a likable favorite, turn into an irritating character to hate. Add Felicty, Laurel, Lance, etc. to that list. We understand, for the 100th time, the angst they feel over the smallest things, and their inability to focus on what's important - the city is about to die, yet their selfish, personal needs come first apparently. And Oliver has to suffer to that because he is the hero.

Frustration aside, it's a great episode. Once again, they manage to handle an abundance of characters well, giving everyone a decent amount of time to develop themselves. And they are great at throwing hints at future options, or just comic teases in general. One other complaint I would have is how they mostly give villains such anti-climactic and easy exits from the show. The "use my hand to take the blade and surprise you" move has been done a lot, to say the least. The bits with Tatsu and Maseo I actually enjoyed a lot, their arc I found to be much more mature and refreshing. Unfortunately, they are not the protagonists so they are brushed off quickly. That being said, it's an interesting finish to the season. A lot is building up for the next season with many characters stepping up into the light. Let's just hope they don't keep introducing senseless and repetitive drama into the show, which they will.

John Wick (2014)

Yeah I'm Thinking He's Back

[8/10 · 25 October 2014]

Keanu Reeve is John Wick. He's a deadly and unstoppable hit-man, and it shows. "John Wick" is short and to the point, but so much fun. At 1 hour and 36 minutes running time, there is never a dull moment in what may be one of the best action films of the year.

The film starts off quickly and never stops. It doesn't spend too much time on the backstory or development of Wick's life, yet it still succeeds so well in building up his character. Within the first 20 minutes, John Wick is called out of retirement when three robbers break into his home, steal his car, and kill his dog. Even before the action begins though, the film builds up so much suspense and gravity into who this "John Wick" is, resulting in a satisfying and exhilarating moment when his enemies realize he's back in the game.

While the plot may be simple and straightforward, it works sufficiently in setting up a situation where the rest of the greatness can happen - stylized and awesome fight sequences where John Wick goes through dozens and dozens of kills. Seeing this in digital IMAX really helped boost the mood of the film; the intense sound design and visuals, the slick fighting and choreography on screen. There's this one scene in the film where John Wick assaults his way through a club, and all those elements combined make it an absolutely incredible sequence to witness.

Besides John Wick and his fighting, the film does set up a very interesting world, thanks to all the other little details and characters it brings in. There is an organized system of those on the other side of the law, operating and exchanging "gold coins" while staying at bases such as "The Continental" hotel; this definitely allows room for sequels and spin-offs.

Still, Keanu Reeves is the star of the show, and this is the best I have seen him in quite awhile. Again, the story is straightforward and audiences know what emotional journey to expect, but Keanu displays a good amount of range in his portrayal of Wick that is still nice to see. Just like his character states, I'm thinking he's back. "John Wick" is an awesome and enjoyable action flick that I would recommend. RATING: [8/10]

Nightcrawler (2014)

Thrilling Performance by Gyllenhaal in "Nightcrawler"

[9/10 · 25 October 2014]

Jake Gyllenhaal fits perfectly in "Nightcrawler", an intense, twisted and darkly comedic directorial debut by Dan Gilroy. The film starts with the premise of a young man struggling to find work, following the common idea: "If you want something, go get it." While that may seem trite and uninteresting, the extra mile is taken here into making a very interesting and sometimes disturbing two hours.

The film develops a distinct visual style, casting a lot of its characters into the darkness of the night, accompanied by all the bright lights of the city and the story - the cameras, streetlamps, TV studio lights. Along with James Newton Howard's score, it gives off a very eerie mood that fits the night life of the film.

Throughout, we follow Gyllenhaal's character Louis Bloom, and right from the beginning we get a good sense of who he is, and what he will do to achieve his goals. He's brilliant and deranged, making for a very funny yet frightening character. As he delves deeper and deeper into his new work, the stakes get higher and higher, until the closing, which I personally enjoyed very much. Along the way, we are given intense action scenes and incredible performances by Gyllenhaal and the rest of the cast.

If you want to something refreshing and engaging, "Nightcrawler" comes highly recommended. Gyllenhaal succeeds in playing a man so despicable yet likable, and it is thrilling to watch him progress through the film. RATING: [8.5/10]

A Walk Among the Tombstones (2014)

A Decent Walk Among the Tombstones

[7/10 · 4 October 2014]

Liam Neeson is back in another thriller, making another threatening phone call to the kidnappers. At first glance, it seemed to me to be just another rehash of his other films that would provide some mediocre entertainment. Surprisingly, however, "A Walk Among The Tombstones" exceeded my expectations and kept me hooked for a solid two hours.

Besides Liam Neeson being awesome as usual, what helped the film succeed is its writing and construction of the film around its writing. From its trailers, it seemed like a generic action flick, but the film actually does not rely heavily on action at all. Instead, it's a good ol' detective story with Scudder as the private eye, and I loved that. The characters and their situations do fall into typical roles (the alcoholic cop struggling for redemption, kidnapping, drugs being involved negatively, the homeless kid being taken in) but the actors all perform well and convincingly enough to make it work. The dialogue is blunt and raw, creating ultimately some wacky but still realistic interactions between people (if not funny in some instances as we watch people in the film approach the Y2K problem).

The villains' identities are revealed early on, so it's not really a "whodunnit" type of story, but a question of how Scudder will find them. Paired with the natural dialogue and the actors' performances to deliver it, the film keeps you watching intently because there is no clear outcome to each conflict as they come and go. Scudder is not some genius investigator, and the stakes progressively get higher and higher the closer he gets. While the overall picture may be predictable, the individual instances and scenes are dark, sometimes unexpected and all in all satisfying.

There is some interesting cinematography and editing to add to the mood. The shots themselves were often long, staring, fitting with the dark and quietness of the film, yet the way they were cut really makes things stand out at times. I wouldn't know how to describe it other than to say that it's odd, but it works well. The sound design and soundtrack is decent; nothing special either but certain parts stand out and really help build the intensity.

Still, while many aspects are decently commendable and enticing enough to pull you in, at second look, some parts seem a bit systematic. Like with many assistant-type characters, T.J. is the homeless kid whom you have to just buy into really as Scudder's sidekick. Though not an issue in itself, interestingly there are also really no female characters in the film. All in all, "A Walk Among The Tombstones" earns a strong 7.5/10 from me. This rough detective story with Liam Neeson is a refreshing sight to see, aided mostly by its solid writing from director/writer Scott Frank. RATING: [7.5/10]

Hector and the Search for Happiness (2014)

Hector and the Attempt for Happiness

[5/10 · 4 October 2014]

Similar to this film's poster, Simon Pegg carries the movie. "Hector and the Search for Happiness" brings a very inspirational yet predictable message, one that is very refreshing to see and hear in a film today among others. Unfortunately, many other aspects of the film bring it down.

The film follows Hector, a psychiatrist who, after finding himself unhappy with his life and work, decides to embark on an indie film adventure across the world to find what happiness truly means. He travels through different continents, conveniently meeting people along the way to enlighten him.

Simon Pegg is great as always; he IS Hector and it is a joy to watch his acting in all the scenes. Nothing else really impresses though. All the other characters, while performed fine by the cast, are just there to provide another piece of information in Hector's definition of happiness. They aren't really fleshed out so you don't care much for them; Hector goes from place to place and just conveniently meets these friendly people who are able to help further the plot.

Needless to say, the writing is quite cheesy, often consisting more of inspirational quotes rather than dialogue. Additionally, I found the film to be not very cohesive. All in all, each scene/location Hector went to felt more like individual short films (which by themselves were fine) rather than one, connected piece. At times, there were some decent and touching scenes, but the overall story was all over the place. It starts out as a comedy, then an inspirational travel movie, suddenly bringing in a dark and serious tone, then turning into a romance, etc. Again, individual scenes work well at times, but I feel the emotional tone of the film is disjointed. It does not help that the cinematography looks like a low budget home movie at times.

Still, there is a very true and beautiful message that the film provides. While trite, this idea of happiness in today's society is very nice to see. Ultimately though, Hector has a great concept but is brought out with poor execution. RATING: [5/10]

Kill the Messenger (2014)

Kill The Messenger

[8/10 · 4 October 2014]

"National security and crack cocaine in the same sentence. Does that not sound strange to you?" Kill The Messenger dives into an intense and important, often forgotten, segment of history. That being said, as the title implies, the film ultimately centralizes around reporter Gary Webb (Jeremy Renner) and what happens to him when he comes across this shocking discovery. With strong performances by the cast and a clear focus by the director, the film comes out shaky in a few parts but overall provides a riveting and respectful look at this man's life.

Jeremy Renner is the star of this story, and he performs excellently. Renner fully commits into becoming Webb. Besides decently looking like the real Webb physically, he captures a wide range of emotions that the man would have faced - from being a cool reporter to a struggling and scared husband and father. Some characters do not impress as much in their performances, but Renner is able to carry the lead role well enough to support the film.

The cinematography and visuals fit the tone of the film very well. Stylized heavily with its colors and the other external footage it uses, the film gives off an aged and exciting feel, similar to other movies from past decades. What ties it all together though is its clear focus. Director Michael Cuesta has a clear goal of what he wants the film to be about - Gary Webb. While not all the scenes succeed in contributing to that, the majority of it is cohesive enough to let audiences understand the characters without losing the intensity and action of the larger picture - the cocaine smuggling.

With its commendable technical aspects and the important subject it deals with, Kill The Messenger is definitely a film worth seeing. Jeremy Renner and the director together bring a lot to the film, and while it's not entirely superb, it gives a good two hours of entertainment that means something, especially today. RATING: [8/10]

Gone Girl (2014)

Gone Girl Done Well

[9/10 · 4 October 2014]

What a discussion starter. Fincher is back with another mystery thriller and it is an insane success. It has its share of flaws, but nearly everything about it is crafted so well.

From the trailers, a series of questions arise: did Nick Dunne murder his wife, Amy? And from that, the journey begins. Right from the start of the film, I noticed that things are different. As he has been doing for his past few films, Fincher's style has been slightly changing each time. The editing and cutting of this film is quite interesting; it's easy to notice the difference as it's so much more fast paced than usual. It works for the film but I am curious to see if there is a longer director's cut in which the editing is different.

Besides that, much of Fincher's visual and atmospheric style is visible as usual. Beautifully shot and colored, the feel of the film is strange, almost ephemeral, fitting the mysterious tone. Fincher and his team by this point are masters at their craft, and they excel in giving us the right shots to tell the story. Trent Reznor returns to work on the soundtrack (from The Social Network) and once again adds that final, chilling piece to the scenes. Every time a score begins, everything intensifies in an unsettling manner.

Technicalities aside though, the stars of the show surprise in a great way. Ben Affleck plays Nick superbly, providing us so many layers in his character that are revealed one by one as the scenes progress. Still, Rosamund Pike surprisingly takes the spotlight in the best role that I've ever seen her in. Not usually in these types of films, I was impressed with her performance in playing such a delicate and complex character. Along with the help of the writing of the film, these two are so perfectly likable and hate-able at the same time. Simply put, their situation is captivating, and that's where the film succeeds.

The mysteries of this film, as I said before, are discussion starters. Hour by hour, Fincher reveals more and more to the audience. It has nothing to do with surprise twists really, but the content itself is often so shocking and raw that it keeps you hooked and wanting more. That results in the hardest part at the end, not because the ending in itself is bad, but because it leaves me wanting so much more.

Of course, we won't get it. Fincher has left us with an incredible piece of filmmaking, mystery, and questions. Oscar nominations for the cast and the film's technical aspects would not be a surprise. "Gone Girl" comes highly recommended. RATING: [8.7/10]

The Maze Runner (2014)

Entertaining Watch, Shaky Writing

[7/10 · 4 October 2014]

Before the trailer released, I had never even heard of the books. From the trailer, I expected a generic young-adult film that would still entertain me. Its premise seemed interesting though so I was glad to see this screening. Coming out, I can say that it was a fun 2 hours that was worth the time. However, several issues really bring it down and keep it from standing out.

Again, The Maze Runner did successfully entertain me (and the rest of the full theater from what I saw). It was action-packed and intense, definitely an enjoyable experience if you're looking for an exciting movie to watch. The visuals were great, and interpreted very nicely according to my friend who has read the books. The maze's design brings in a lot of different elements/influences from cultures around the world to make the environment appropriately interesting and incredible at times, in no small amount due to the visual effects.

The film started out smoothly, very quickly introducing its characters and setting up the plot (or at least what we know for now), throwing you into the action. However, as it progressed, a few things began to bother me. The writing in specific situations is a bit shaky, and ultimately it doesn't succeed well in separating itself from other generic, clichéd action films. A lot of the characters, their personalities/actions, are predictable, and that takes away from their development, at least for me. They essentially played into roles and did not establish their own personal and emotional connections to the audience, so there wasn't much weight to consequence that occur. In terms of the general story and background, I find that it takes a large amount of suspension of disbelief, and a lot of the things that happen or how they happen are expected to just be accepted.

Regarding the characters themselves, Dylan O'Brien pleasantly surprised me. I think he did quite well in his role and I am excited to see more of him. Aml Ameen as Alby also performed decently. However, that is the extent of my compliments for the actors unfortunately. No other character really stood out from the actors' performances, and some of them are unconvincing at times. Gally, as the "villain", was a weak character I find, and he didn't really have logical motivations for his actions. However, my friend who has read the book has told me that the characters are better fleshed out in the books.

Overall, I would have to place The Maze Runner with a 7, but verging on the lower side of that. It's definitely entertaining and I don't regret the watch. The writing and acting holds it back, but it has still set up a nice world and I am quite interested in seeing what they make of it next. Hopefully they will improve upon the issues found here. RATING: [6.5/10]

Supernatural: King of the Damned (2014) Season 9, Episode 21

Still going down...

[6/10 · 28 May 2014]

Eh... I don't even know what to say anymore. The previous episode with the attempted spin-off, we know how that went. This one was just okay. It's nice to see things finally moving along, but the writing and dialogue just seems so bland, so predictable, and at the same time it's like, what's going on?

The action and choreography seems to getting worse and worse with each episode. This is supposed to be some huge, intense battle with Dean and Abaddon and it's... just that? Not even any effort put into the actual scene? It's like with the Leviathans all over again.

And between Bloodlines and introducing Crowley's son randomly, it just adds even more to this mess that they've made. Here's hoping it wraps up decently.

Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)

The Amazing "Winter Soldier"

[9/10 · 6 April 2014]

Simply fantastic. Any doubts gathered from the first Captain America film wash away completely as "The Winter Soldier" brings the story back full circle while advancing the narrative of the Avengers. Following more of Captain Rogers assimilation back into society after the events at NY, the movie gives a fleshed out look at the person under the costume. Finally, after often being tossed aside as a minor Avenger, people can see so much more of who this leader is.

Humor and action start off the film, and the intense drive continues throughout the rest non-stop. The introduction of Sam Wilson at the start, and the conversations the two soldiers hold as they share their experiences, provide a much needed outlet for the Captain. We see his character develop greatly as he struggles to cope with the past that he's left behind and the future ahead of him. Chris Evans once again gives such a fitting and enthusiastic performance as the troubled Captain America, followed by a large and great supporting cast as many old and new characters come in.

Even with so many things going on, the story progresses quite smoothly. And while it ties in to the Avengers, the characters and the plot hold for themselves so well, the film is an action-thriller that could essentially stand on its own. Ignoring the superhero aspect, it conveys modern day concerns and themes about government and privacy in society. It holds many elements of a classic spy and espionage film and does not fail to entertain. Add in the superb fighting, explosive sequences, powerful sound design, emotional weight from the already established characters, and you get one intense ride.

The characters, plot lines and melodrama can seem a bit cookie-cutter at times but within the realm of an individual "Captain America" film, it's acceptable and works well. With "The Winter Soldier", Marvel has created another great addition to their movieverse. It's both captivating and sad to see Rogers deal with his life now, and the film does a flawless job of letting people learn more about him. Simultaneously, there are plenty of references of what's to come. As always, there are the post- credit scenes from Marvel that are very exciting, so make sure to stay past the film's end.

Lone Survivor (2013)

Lone Survivor - Brutal and touching piece

[8/10 · 21 November 2013]

Based on a true story - that is the most haunting part of this film. From the title and story itself, audiences already know what the inevitable ending will be, but through the determination of the four brothers, you can't help but hope for a change in their fates.

At its core, Lone Survivor is an American war film. The team members are heroes, the Taliban are enemies, and the heroes are able to fight on like in video games or movies. For the opening 40 minutes, it is a somewhat cheesy show of soldiers bravado and training, but it works. Incorporating real footage of the Navy Seals mixed with the actors lets viewers feel for the real life persons and their portrayed characters in the film. Soon after though, they are dropped into enemy territory on an operation to take out a Taliban leader. The mission goes awry when they encounter a small group of locals there, and they are faced with the decision of killing them and letting go. From here, the intensity begins to climb. What is the right thing to do? What would you do? Faced with that moral situation, they decide to cut them loose - soon after, Taliban forces are hot on their tail.

The next 40 minutes or so are an action-packed, non-stop brutal war scene. Tension builds as a scope lines up with an enemy head. The shot is fired, blood flies, and the chase begins. With an abundance of slow- mo shots, clear close-ups of kills and wounds, the excellent direction and cinematography provide a painful journey that makes you cringe or tear up the same as the four soldiers. And all of these men in the film play their roles greatly. Just listing them off - Walhberg tough as usual, Hirsch strong and vulnerable, Kitsch pulling off the difficult decisions as leader, and Foster frighteningly embodying cold but caring.

These forty minutes of intensity must be attributed to the whole team and crew though. Beyond the camera work and editing, much of the scenes work well because of the locations, the costuming, the painful makeup and design for all the wounds, the typical and tacky war-epic music. The writing and delivery of lines keep the pacing quick and engaging.

Regardless of the how the majority of the movie is taken, the conclusion of the film is a nice touch and shows - even with the bloody action and cheesiness - what the film's really about: giving the story of these men who served the country. Lone Survivor, while it can be perceived as more American propaganda, still gives a brutal yet touching look at this journey of four brothers through war. Yes, there were tears. RATING: [8/10]

The Book Thief (2013)

Touching and warm story - for the most part

[7/10 · 6 November 2013]

For the most part, you will come out seeing this film with what you expect. "The Book Thief" takes place during the Holocaust, a subject seen in many other renowned films, but the beauty of this story comes from the perspective viewers get - that of a child's.

There is an excellent blend of different pieces that move the film along well - the violence and the intensity of the time period, the touching relationships between friends and family, and the humor they all share. Though it's nothing new, the writing and lines are still great and make the characters very likable. Performances by the entire cast, no matter how small or large a role they play, are certainly deserving of praise. Even with all the dramatic events surrounding them, it is easy to get caught in the relationship between Geoffrey Rush and Emily Watson as the familiar nagging parents of Liesel.

The various sets of the film - backed up with some clean, beautiful cinematography (yet nothing too astounding) - show several different parts of the town, but you are still left wanting to see more of this world. Which is where the film falls in general. For the majority of the movie, you are invested into these characters and you follow their time through WWII, and much goes on. The ending, however, comes rather quickly and you are left with that same feeling of wanting to know more. Not just of the ending, but everything before. It seems every time a moment - of suspense, of sadness, or happiness - comes, it holds on for a short while, but cuts off before you can fully take it in.

Still, the film gives a touching story to watch. The subject matter is obviously very serious, but the story of "The Book Thief" allows a wide range of people to watch this and understand, be it a young child or an adult. The characters are the best part of this film and I found them very enjoyable. The film is rather traditional and almost doesn't fit in with the rest of today's movies, but rather reminded me of many other older classics.

Ender's Game (2013)

Solid and spectacular - Ender's game

[8/10 · 1 November 2013]

Seeing Ender's Game on the big screen was definitely a great experience, a film worth paying for for the sake of the theater setting. I have not read the books myself, but friends who have told me of the differences throughout. Overall, the film provides a smooth and engaging ride for viewers of all ages.

The story is fast-paced - apparently skipping/condensing parts of the book which is no surprise - and will keep you interested the whole time. There is a nice blend of scenes with great and intense action and emotional drama. This comes from of course the solid writing and the performances from the cast, all of whom did excellently. It was a treat to see Harrison Ford in space again and the children held their own even with the adults (though Moises Arias as Bonzo was a bit amusing). I'm not sure how I feel about Ben Kingsley as Mazer Rackham either.

It's also not a surprise though that the special effects in this film are fantastic, which is a given with a space and war film. At times, the action may get a bit cluttered with the battle scenes, but if you can keep up, it's quite exciting.

Towards the end of the film, it becomes obvious the film's set-up for sequels, and I personally would welcome a franchise. The film stands solidly throughout which is how I would best describe it - it's not the best that it can be, and listening to those who have read the books, it seems to sometimes fall short from the themes and heart of the originals. Regardless, Ender's Game is a good start, and I recommend seeing this for a 2 hours of enjoyment.

Man of Steel (2013)

Movie of Steel

[8/10 · 14 June 2013]

It was pretty good. Very much a new interpretation of Superman; it's not the classic hero you know, which may affect your views of the film. Regardless, as a film on its own, it works very well as a sci-fi flick.

Performances are strong from most of the cast. Henry Cavill fills in the role nicely as Superman and Michael Shannon fearfully brings General Zod alive, making for an intense dynamic between the two throughout the story. The visuals are simply cool. Maybe because they now have the capability to do so, but the action is fast-paced, brutal, and somewhat realistic of how you'd think fighting would actually be between such titans as the Kryptonians. Because of the fast pacing of the film and the (highly entertaining) action, there could have been more character development on individual levels and between characters (like Clark and Lois), but I believe there is room for that in the future. I especially liked the amount of time shown with Krypton and his origins there.

Critics seem to be hating on this film, but I say give it a chance for yourself. There are flaws to be picked on, but I don't think they warrant the flack the movie's getting. There is more background-building, which leaves less space for character development for now, but there's room in future films. And the "excessive" amounts of action cannot be a real complaint, as it's incredible.

X: First Class (2011)

First Class - fun, fast-paced, and smart flick

[9/10 · 17 September 2011]

Solid script, great direction, a strong cast, and a memorable soundtrack, X-Men: First Class joins the series as, for me, the best one.

The film starts out interestingly enough with Erik involved with the Nazis (as you saw from the past X-Men films), and from beginning to end, it's fast-paced and very enjoyable. Slowly as the movie progresses, and you meet more and more of the mutants and characters. James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender were excellent in their roles as Charles and Erik, and I think they had a great connection, being complete bosses but at the same time so vulnerable. The rest of the cast followed along with all above-average acting, especially for a summer blockbuster type. You could see in many of the characters how they were, their motives, their feelings, how they were conflicting inside, which really added to the emotion.

Directing was great, with some pretty interesting shots and scenes, though I do agree again that at some points the CGI was a bit overblown (but it was awesome nevertheless). What I like about this X-Men also is that it was smart. Smarter than the others at least. Real-world and comic history aside, the action wasn't all mindless and fit in with an intense plot and scripting (as the Cold War in itself is already intense). The scores on this movie were also well done, and contributed greatly to the scenes.

All of that together made an emotional, fun, and entertaining film. Of course, all of this isn't new to us, the themes of good and evil, the character types, etc. have been seen in so many superhero and other films, but X-Men does it in its own way. So it's not perfect, but whether you're a fan of X-men or not, X-Men: First Class is a very entertaining film that I recommend.

Robin Hood (2010)

Robin Hood is Good

[8/10 · 15 May 2010]

Ridley Scott and Russell Crowe team up again and prove another worthy combination. Robin Hood has story, action, and acting, and is an interesting and great movie to watch.

I'll be comparing this to Iron Man 2 since I just watched both, but in general, the lower scores for this movie might come from the fact that this isn't like Iron Man. It's not exactly pure fun and enjoyment, but it's more serious and realistic, and the most realistic Robin Hood film in my opinion.

The main protagonists Robin and Marion, played by Russell Crowe and Cate Blanchett respectively, both play their parts very well. They fit perfectly. Crowe already has experience in these types, and with Ridley Scott in the epic Gladiator, and he continues those roles. Blanchett I believe also has experience in these roles, such as in Lord of the Rings.

The action was there, believe it or not, and it was done well. It didn't rely on blood or explosions (there were explosions though, heh), and the violence is shown through suspense and emotions. Some people are disappointed since there wasn't too much action, and that's true. But if you're expecting a war-movie, that's a wrong expectation. Robin Hood even in the past was never about all out fighting, but more about the characters, story, and theme. In my opinion, this film can be more of a drama, too. So, don't go in expecting a violent, action movie, and you will enjoy this prequel to the legend of Robin Hood.

Iron Man 2 (2010)

Iron Man 2, another fun and great film

[8/10 · 15 May 2010]

It's fun and fast-paced. Robert Downey Jr. delivers again, with all the cast doing great jobs. Contrary to popular (critic) belief, Iron Man 2 brings another enjoyable superhero film to watch. The storyline continues to unfold, the action and effects are nice, and the actors all did well.

Whatever complaints other people might have on the story, the events, the lack of or excess of - it may be true, but that doesn't make it less of a great movie. Iron Man 2 was more character driven, and you truly do see many of the past characters and new ones develop. Thanks to the well-picked cast, all of the characters were fun to watch. They gave emotion and humor together, and I'm too lazy to talk about each of them individually, but Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark was definitely the savior of the whatever flaws the movie has. As he said himself, he is Iron Man, and his personality made the movie very lively.

As expected, you got to see awesome Iron Man action with lots of explosions and whatnot. Some might say that there was too much mindless blasting, like Transformers, but that's what made it fun. It mixed in with the characters evenly I think, and it's an overall great and fun movie throughout.

Not saying it didn't disappoint in some parts (which it did), but you can't please everyone. I find the first Iron Man to be better, but that was because it was a new, cool idea that just bursted out. However, Iron Man 2 continues as a worthy sequel. People just need to sit back and appreciate what's there.

The "ending" is cool, too. Make sure to watch past the credits.

Against the Dark (2009 Video)

Annoying

[6/10 · 26 February 2010]

Short and simple, it was annoying. A decent movie with some cool camera techniques, but it was un-original and very irritating. The characters were complete idiots. The little girl was annoying, the women were quite stupid, and the men were failures (except for the two hunters). Without spoiling anything, this was basically how it went every time:

4 people are together. 1 of them goes to explore ahead. A zombie comes. The other 3 instantly "run!" without even helping the other person. Oh look, that 1 person killed the zombie, so they can move on. Wait, the other 3 ran back to where they started from and now they're all split up. Too bad.

Complete idiots. They deserved to die. By the mid-section of the movie, I was rooting for the zombies. That aside, the rest was okay. Nothing great, but an average movie just to enjoy. Definitely bloody and gory, the action scenes were great, and it had a cliché but watchable plot.

All together it's not too shabby, not great, completely annoying, but watchable.

Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant (2009)

Fun but strays from the books

[7/10 · 20 February 2010]

Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant was a fun, decent movie, but nothing like the books.

As a movie by itself, it was nice. The specials effects were okay, a bit strange, but the whole movie is about the strange. Acting was average, nothing special, but not bad. John C. Reily did a nice job as Mr. Crepsley, not exactly how I imagined him, but as a movie itself, it was nice. Obviously, the story and theme was great, but here's where it goes off away from the books.

I think they rushed the books way too quickly, and took out all the emotion and character conflict from it. Although the first few books don't have the main "vampire-vampaneze" fighting as their number one focus, they focus on other action scenes, more emotion as you see Darren evolve, and that's really important I think. Instead, the creators of this film made it more comedic and your ordinary action movie.

However, that aside, I think it was still a good, average movie. Definitely freaky, and I'm glad they didn't make it all childish, but it could have been more dark and serious. Hoping for a sequel.

Sherlock Holmes (2009)

Cool New Sherlock Holmes

[8/10 · 2 January 2010]

Sherlock Holmes was just as good as expected, and a bit more. At 2 hours, it was a good deal that brought action, mystery, suspense, and obvious room for a sequel. Firstly, it's not exactly like the original Holmes, but modernized, and I think it's a good thing. It pulled in people of all ages - old and young, although it is a bit dark and scary for younger kids.

The acting and characters were, as said before, more action-y than the stories, but it's all for that awesome effect. Robert Downy Jr. did a good job, and with Jude Law, brought in humor. The other characters were played out well.

The story was interesting, and certainly had some twists, and without spoiling anything, keeps the case open for a second one. Guy Ritchie directed this nicely, and gave it a darker air than I expected. The scenes when Holmes predicted and solved riddles/enemies were very fun to watch. The mystery was too confusing for anyone to truly solve himself, but it described everything at the end. It was overall a fun, interesting movie that serves the old Sherlock Holmes well.

Avatar (2009)

Avatar Shall Be Remembered

[8/10 · 24 December 2009]

8/10

I saw it normally without the 3D or IMAX 3D unfortunately, but it was still a great experience. Mostly everything about it was at the least beyond the ordinary. First off, the visuals were amazing, just like people say. The CGI was real, and the planet itself looked so lively with its colors and animals and scenery, and was developed nicely. I think the ideas behind all their plants and trees and how they reacted was pretty cool. I mean it's not the first time great effects have been done (like 2012 was awesome as well) but this was a large scale planet, bigger than 2012 I think.

The acting and character development was great, and Sam Worthington did a good job. The Parker operation leader did a nice job too I think, as a business man. All the others acted well and supported it with their sides of the story. The characters were showed in more depth than a lot of movies combined these days, and a lot of the time from the movie was devoted to just seeing the characters and their emotions, mostly with Jake Sully though. Their logging was a good thing to show.

And with the story, it's not too original for us, but this movie started 10 years ago, so things have changed. At near 3 hours, it was well paid for, and there was a balanced amount of action, romance, thinking, and more around.

The camera views were fun, and reminded me of Star Trek, similar movement. The movie might cause controversy over the different sides of the people in the film and how it ends, but it's an overall great movie that will be remembered forever and ever.

2012 (I) (2009)

Epic Proportions!

[7/10 · 14 November 2009]

This is a movie of epic proportions. Like the whole world goes down. Overall it was an okay/average movie. First thing is that it wasn't a great movie, but it certainly wasn't bad like a lot of people said it was.

Obviously, the first positive of this film was the special effects it had. The CG was amazing, like the best I've ever seen. Everything was so massive, it's actually quite scary to think about it, how they created and destroyed the earth so realistically. Los Angeles was ruined so amazingly, it just stuns you. The acting and character development wasn't that good. The movie was very emotional since of course this movie is about the apocalypse, but the main characters themselves didn't show too much emotion. At least not as much as expected. Storyline wasn't too original and was seen before, but the super cheesy dialogue actually fit in very well with the scenes (if you've seen it, you'll understand).

It's also a lengthy movie - 2 hours 30 minutes, but I think most of the scenes were needed since 1) it covers the whole world, not just America for example 2) it's more dramatic 3) the film doesn't just start in 2012, and some years are talked about before.

For those people who rated it under a 4 or something because of character development, one bad aspect doesn't bring down an entire movie, and if you rated it because of that, it's probably just a rant.

All in all, this is an okay movie. It's not exactly everything you'd expect from the trailers and the topic of doomsday, but it's not a bad movie either. Characters and cheesiness were bad, but special effects and the message of hope was good. Plus it being epic.