zurnd Reviews

The Wolverine (2013)

Kinda....meh

[6/10 · 26 April 2014]

I liked X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Yeh, sure it's despised by a lot of the X-Men movie fan community and the comic book purists, but I quite enjoyed it the first time I saw it and while recent viewings of it didn't leave the same impact, it's still a movie I wouldn't mind watching every couple of eons. Of course, it's only my perspective, so I have to be quite honest when expressing my thoughts on a motion picture or picture show. That being said, the semi-sequel to X-Men Origins, simply titled The Wolverine is, well, kind of mediocre in my eyes. I didn't really have all that high of expectations for this film and it wasn't atop my MUST SEE list of 2013. But, after seeing the film twice now, I think the film is okay, but not a personal favorite.

I was never a big fan of the storyline where Wolverine travels to Japan, fights Silver Samarai and all that jazz to begin with, so I didn't really know what they were doing with this one, not what to expect.There were good action scenes and great character development for our main player, once again played by Hugh Jackman, but part of me was constantly saying "I've seen this stuff a million times". A million and one wouldn't have hurt, but I really wanted to see something unique, something fresh and innovative, something that was never done in an X-Men movie before. Of course Wolverine gets his claws covered in blood for the first time on film and the whole plot about Yashida taking his healing powers was very interesting, but most of the time, it felt like Wolverine just going around, stabbing people with his claws and smooching with the ladies.

A million times.

Sure, it's cool to see Wolverine being haunted by the ghost of Jean Grey, who he had to skewer in The Last Stand and the main female character, Yukio is beautiful, but at some parts, I wanted to drift off to slumberville. Some parts, I wanted to walk away and make my own assumptions on how the movie would end. The movie just didn't seem all that appealing to me. Now remember, it's just my opinion and if you like this movie, that's perfectly fine. Everyone has a different taste. But I really wouldn't want to watch this one that often. It was bland at some parts, mediocre in others and my overall verdict of the film is.....

meh

I liked some of the effects and the whole Japan environment is nice to look at, but I really don't have that much to say about this one. I really couldn't give a fist full of adamantium claws. It's just okay.

Hopefully, X-Men: Days of Future Past will be a zillion times better.

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014)

Blows The First Film Out of the Water. This is the Spider-Man I've Been Waiting For

[10/10 · 26 April 2014]

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 has been a subject of much controversy since it was first announced, which was even before the first film hit theater screens. There have been many of the same arguments given by people, saying that the series didn't need a revamp and that it will never live up to the epic proportion of the Sam Raimi films. But it's all a matter of opinion, and while I deeply loved the first Marc Webb directed reboot, The Amazing Spider-Man 2 is a superior film, a Spidey flick I've long dreamed to see. Spider-Man is my favorite costumed hero, I know this, everyone who knows me knows this and to me, this is the film that displays the red and blue web head in all his glory. While I still consider Spider-Man 2 one of my all time favorite superhero flicks, The Amazing Spider-Man 2 might very well top it, in many ways than one.

I finally got to see my favorite superhero act the way he did in the comics. Seeing the wisecracking, sarcastic side of Spidey brought a smile to my lips and while the Raimi films had a touch of it, this film really showcased Spidey for the silly schmuck he is. He's very reminiscent of Josh Keaton, who voiced Spidey on the Spectacular Spider-Man cartoon. Andrew Garfield has that perfect balance of humor, seriousness and determination, making Peter Parker more than just a vigilante crime fighter. He's very much like a realistic young adult. I also like the suit. While the first film's suit was more stylized and unique among Spidey's wardrobe, this one looks as if it was taken right off the comic book pages, minus the elongated spider logo and shiny black webbing.

Electro is my favorite among Spidey's rogues gallery and Jamie Foxx played Max Dillon as not only an electroshocking Mr. Freeze lookalike that likes to shoot lightning from his hands, but a sympathetic and relatable so called "nobody". He starts off as an admirer of Spider-Man, but as the film progresses and he gets a dosage of electric eel juice, he comes to despise the wall crawler, feeling that he is stealing his thunder (pun intended). There's also the Rhino, portrayed by Paul Giamatti. He's very different than the character portrayed in the mainstream comics and the various animated series, but Giamatti plays the Russian mobster turned pachyderm like the ham ball he is. Then there is Harry Osborn, portrayed by Dane DeHaan. And let's face it, the cat's out of the bag. If you have seen the trailers, you know he becomes the cackling, glider riding Green Goblin. Yes, DeHaan portrays a maniacal and in many ways grotesque goblin, but the buildup to his goblin transformation is really something to see. Harry Osborn is played out to be the misunderstood son of a rich man, who can be relatable in some scenes and teeth grindingly evil in others. We'll see if he'll don the green glider again in upcoming sequels, or if his daddio, Norman Osborn comes back from the dead to do the job.

The chemistry between Peter Parker and Gwen Stacy (Emma Stone) is probably the film's best element. It was evident in the first installment and it glimmers here. I love the way the two actors work off each other and act like a contemporary couple. You can really tell that Peter and Gwen are madly in love with each other. Now if only Peter didn't make that promise to Gwen's dying father to keep her out of his Spider-Man duties. Now I'm not going to reveal anything, nor deny that a certain main character meets his or her end by the film's conclusion. You'll just have to see the flick for yourself. If your a Spider-Man fan, this might quench your thirst for a good Spider-Man adventure. Sure, some will not go gaga over this sequel or it's predecessor, but for me, it's one of the best superhero flicks I've seen in a while. Better than Man of Steel, better than Spider-Man 3, better than The Wolverine. It's simply fantastic and like the first film, it's a treat. Just go in with an open mind. You'll never know what to expect.

I just can't wait to see what Webb and co have in store next. It looks to be the beginning of a much bigger, broader Spider-Man movie universe.

TMNT (2007)

Good Standalone Piece

[7/10 · 20 January 2014]

Well, ever since I was infected with Ninja Turtle Fever, I was eager to see the 2007 CGI animated film by Warner Bros. and the Weinstein Company. While I love the original 1990 film and consider the sequels decent, I was interested in seeing the 4th installment, the so called "spiritual" sequel to the 2003 4Kids series. What do I think of TMNT? It's a fun movie, but I really wouldn't consider it part of the 90s series nor the 2003 series. It's a standalone piece and a separate Ninja Turtles entity with it's own mythos and vibe. Now if you want to put it in with the previous films, that's perfectly fine, but for me, this is a one man show.

I remember when this film was on the verge of premiering, everyone was going crazy. Everyone was clamoring to see the Ninja Turtles reinvented in glorious CGI animation. Then the reviews came in. Some liked it, saying that it was just as entertaining for adults as it was for children. Others despised it, calling it a stain on the Ninja Turtles legacy. While I disagree with the latter, I have to be honest. This film was good and decently executed, but it left a lukewarm impression on me and was just not as memorable as it's 1990 counterpart or even The Secret of the Ooze. The turtles came off a bit bland and the only ones who got the most character progression were Leo and Raph. Of course it's not TMNT until Leo and Raph fight over leadership and bravery, yada, yada, yada, but here, it feels a bit overdone. We get it, Leo and Raph often disagree, just like all brothers sometimes disagree. Why must it be mercilessly bludgeoned into our skulls?

The fights scenes were good, but were just standard TMNT fight scenes, nothing more. Mako's take on Splinter was fun to watch and it was good for Mako to end his career on a high note, but April and Casey Jones didn't leave that big of an impression on me. Sure, Casey had a few goofball moments and it was interesting to see April train as a female ninja, but that's really all they had going towards them. Some things I can highlight on are Patrick Stewart as the voice of Mr. Winters and Lawrence Fishburne's excellent narration at the beginning and end of the film. The designs of the characters is also fun to marvel upon and the designs of the turtles is probably one of my favorite designs for the fad four. I also like the look of the stone warriors and the foot soldiers never looked better in all black attire. Shredder's daughter Karai makes an appearance, taking her slain father's place as head of the Foot Clan and she even forms a brief alliance with the turtles to stop the evil stone warriors and save the city from turmoil.

TMNT was a good movie to experience and I wouldn't mind whipping it in the DVD player once in a while, but it had some things I wish were improved a bit more. Nevertheless, when it was good, it was really good and avid Ninja Turtle fans will, in my opinion, find it fun. COWABUNGA!

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013)

Do Not Talk To Me Of Dragon Fire!

[9/10 · 20 January 2014]

Okay, I have to admit, when I first heard that the Hobbit was going to be split into three movies, I was a bit skeptical. Why is Peter Jackson taking Tolkien's shortest book and chopping it apart like sushi? If he was doing that, he should have split each Lord of the Rings story into three movies. But I will admit, An Unexpected Journey was a fun, entertaining adventure, even if it dragged in a few sections, and The Desolation of Smaug, while it had a similar problem, ultimately proved to be a stronger film. Much like The Empire Strikes Back and Judgment Day before it, The Desolation of Smaug is one of those sequels that can be argued to be better or just as good as it's predecessor.

The second chapter of the Hobbit trilogy, like the first film, takes a good chunk of Tolkien's original tale and expands upon it, adding new characters, subplots and action to make the world of the Hobbit much more broad. All our favorite characters return as this flick picks up where the last left off. There's Bilbo, Gandalf, Thorin, Fili, Kili, Bofur, Bombur, Dopey, Sleepy, Happy, Doc....oh sorry, wrong movie...oh you get the picture. And Martin Freeman is just as believable as ever while portraying Bilbo, the wielder of the One Ring and the unexpected hero to save the dwarfs' behinds. Ian McKellan's Gandalf is spectacular as always and it was great to see him kick Necromancer rump in Dol Guldur. Then there's Orlando Bloom, putting on his elf ears once more and wielding his bow as Legolas, the wisecracking, showoff elf. He's accompanied by a female elf named Tauriel, who throughout the film, develops a bit of a relationship with dwarf Kili. Just imagine what the children will look like!

I also liked Doctor Who star Sylvester Mccoy as Radaghast, who is an expert at building bird nests on top of his head. There's also the quick and wise Thrandueil, Bard the Bowman, the skin changer Beorn, a couple of giant spiders and the giant lizard himself, Smaug. Portrayed by Benedict Cumberbatch (Khan from Star Trek Into Darkness), Smaug is as intimidating as he is massive and no where near as ridiculous as his 1970s Rankin Bass counterpart. This Smaug is scary and sure to make all kiddies in the theater wet their underoos. Every time I heard that dark, raspy voice, I wanted to flee to the bedroom closet and snuggle with Mr. Cuddles. He's one of the greatest and scariest dragons ever portrayed on film. Hiccup, you and Toothless better avoid this dragon!

The look of the film is dazzling, from the golden piles in Smaug's chambers to the foggy, glowing glow of Laketown, to the claustrophobic, cluttered land of the elves. And Dol Guldur, home of Sau...I mean the Necromancer is like a spooky cemetery or haunted burial ground. And don't expect to get a happy ending with this flick. The ending to the Desolation of Smaug is as bittersweet as it is terrifying and let's hope that when There and Back Again arrives in 2014, all loose ends will be tied and Bilbo can return to his cozy little home at Bag End and overtime, turn into the dude from Alien 1. The Desolation of Smaug was fun, more fun than An Unexpected Journey, although that film is still worth a dozen views. Let's hope There and Back Again is the perfect conclusion to this awesome trilogy and leads into The Fellowship of the Ring just as well as Revenge of the Sith lead into A New Hope.

Saving Mr. Banks (2013)

An Umbrella Wielding Nanny Goes Up Against A Mouse

[9/10 · 3 January 2014]

This is a story of a curmudgeon Australian born author bound to keep her story of a magical nanny out of the hands of Hollywood. It's also the story of a man named Walt who was determined to keep a promise to his daughters to turn the curmudgeon author's story into a movie. As Walt tries to persuade the author to hand over the rights to her books, the author keeps telling him that the story of Mary Poppins is not meant to be turned into a motion picture, for it is a story of her life, a story of her childhood and a story about her beloved father, the inspiration for George Banks in her tale.

That's exactly why this film is called Saving Mr. Banks. It's not just about P.L. Travers trying to save her stories from the gloved hands of Mickey Mouse, it's about letting go of the past, learning from it and using it to become the person that you are. This film makes you think of Mary Poppins in an entirely different light. I always liked that the meaning of the 1964 film was about Poppins helping Mr. Banks realize that he didn't need a nanny after all and that he should be the one to guide his children in the right direction, but to see the development, the struggles, the conflicts and the overall madness that occurred to get Mary Poppins made just makes you think to yourself.......We are so lucky that this film exists.

We can see why Travers didn't want her story mauled by the mouse house but at the same time, we can see why Walt Disney wants to turn Travers' beloved tale into a movie. There's no good guy or bad guy, it's just two entirely opposite individuals at entirely opposite ends of the fence. And I just love how Travers and Disney go at each other's throats, I mean they really play off of each other and you can really feel the tension between the two as they try to get their own ways. Tom Hanks and Emma Thompson were spectacular choices to play both Travers and Disney respectively and I think they'd be perfect contenders to receive Oscars.

There's also Dick and Bob Sherman, the songwriting team behind the 1964 classic as well as Paul Giamatti as Ms. Travers' car driver. The relationship between Thompson and Giamatti's characters is another highlight of the film and very heartwarming at times. Colin Farrell is also grand as Travers' father, an alcoholic banker who stills has a heart of gold. I also liked the woman who played the Travers' nanny, the obvious inspiration for Mary Poppins in Pamela's books.

You can also expect to hear a lot of songs from the beloved Disney film such as Feed The Birds and Let's Go Fly A Kite. And I have to admit that at the very end of this film, I got a bit choked up. Not that the ending was necessarily sad and depressing, but because it was bittersweet and changes the very way you look at things. From this day forward, I won't look at Mary Poppins the same way again. Seeing the making of one of my all time favorites has altered my entire view and I can honestly say that I like the film a heck of a lot more now than I did when I was 6 years old.

Saving Mr. Banks is a great film to close out 2013 and a great way to celebrate Mary Poppins' 80th anniversary. It has a tad for everybody, plenty of laughs, cries, and a timeless story about a timeless story. It's simply.....Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.

I don't know if I spelled that right.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze (1991)

Not As Good as the First, But Still A Barrel of Fun

[7/10 · 3 January 2014]

The first Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is a wonder of a movie with all it's high flying action and impressive animatronics done by Jim Henson's Creature Shop. The sequel, The Secret of the Ooze is a horse of a slightly different color. It's not as good as it's predecessor but I still think it's a highly entertaining flick and a great way to kill 1 and a half hours.

This sequel, like many superhero movie sequels, dives deeper into the main characters' origins and explains where the mysterious ooze that made the turtles what they are came from. In the original Mirage comics, the ooze, which was called mutagen was created by jellyfish like aliens called utroms working for a research company called T.C.R.I. In the movie, the ooze was created by humans for T.G.R.I. and the whole cosmic aliens from another dimension element was eliminated. Jordan Perry, played by David Warner (Sark from Tron) is captured by the reborn Shredder to create two new mutants to take on the green teens and eliminate them once and for all. He may seem like a bad guy at first but he comes around towards the end and he evens helps the turtles conquer old Shred head.

The new mutants, Tokka and Rahzar are this film's Bebop and Rocksteady. Sure they are dim witted and inarticulate, but they are also strong and cunning and brought to life beautifully by Jim Henson and his creature making team. Henson also works on the turtles once more and even though they have slightly bigger heads and their facial expressions are a bit off, they are still just as stunning and breathtakingly realistic as they were in the first movie. Ernie Reyes Jr. who was Donatello's stunt double in the last movie plays Keno, a pizza delivery boy martial artist who does his best to fight on par with the turtles. The new actress portraying April does a decent job filling the shoes of Judith Hoag and all the voice actors do a good job giving a voice to their respective characters. Unfortunately, Casey Jones is absent in this movie, but we all know he'll show up once TMNT 3 rolls around.

The action is good, even though the turtles don't fight with their respective weapons and the atmosphere and look of the movie really sucks you into the world both Eastman and Laird brought to life back in 1984. I like to consider TMNT 1 and 2 a two parter, for their similar style and direction almost makes them feel like the same movie. And although The Secret of the Ooze didn't intrigue me as much as the first film, it's still full of great TMNT goodness and entertainment only four anthropomorphic turtles could deliver. It's a grand addition to the turtles mythology and the kids will have their eyes glued to the screen the entire time.

There's also Vanilla Ice. Nuff said.

March of the Wooden Soldiers (1934)

Bring on the Wooden Soldiers!

[10/10 · 9 December 2013]

There are many films based on Victor Herbert's famous operetta, Babes in Toyland. There's the 1961 Disney film with Ray Bolger, there's the 1997 animated film, there's the 1980s TV film with Drew Barrymore, but the one I'm going to look at today is the 1934 Hal Roach Studios film starring the legendary comedy duo, Laurel and Hardy. I've I had to spill the truth, I'd say that this is my third favorite film of all time. It's up there with The Wizard of Oz and in my opinion, it should get a lot more recognition. For 1934, it's a wonder what they were able to accomplish with the hour and a half long film, not just with the special and practical effects, but with the pure spectacle and enchantment. This is a magical film, a film that grabs me and sucks me into it's realm every time I set eyes to it. It's got spectacular songs, brilliant set designs, a monkey in a Mickey Mouse costume and wondrous stop motion effects that rival that of King Kong. If I were to recommend it, I'd say see it in color, which is usually the version that airs on television anyway. The color, in my opinion, makes everything pop more and makes the fantasy land of Toyland seem more enchanted, more storybook like. It's like you are right there, experiencing the film's events with Stannie Dumb and Ollie Dee and routing for the Wooden Soldiers as they kick Bogeyman rump.

Laurel and Hardy are at their finest in this film and it's obvious this dim witted duo were one of the many inspirations for Star Wars' R2-D2 and C-3P0. They're always getting into trouble, getting dunked in a pool of water and getting fired from their job after a wooden soldier reigns havoc in the toy factory. Felix Knight, who portrays Tom-Tom Piper is a fantastic singer and Henry Brandon, who was just 21 years old at the time pulls off a menacing and wicked Silas Barnaby. And those Bogeyman, hoggish and haggard monstrosities are the most terrifying adversaries ever put to film. When I was a kid, these ghoulish, grotesque abominations were one of the elements of this film that made my jaw drop to the floor. I ran to the closet and grabbed my plush stuffed bunny rabbit and hoped the Bogeymen would go away.

Luckily, the Wooden Soldiers arrive to take out the villainous creatures and Barnaby as well. The Wooden Soldier March makes me feel brave and triumphant, like I can take on any peril and come out on top. These soldiers kick the living tar out of the Bogeymen and in one scene, a wooden soldier looses his head as he chases a Bogeyman into a house. In the very end, Barnaby and the Bogeymen are banished, everybody cheers and Ollie Dee gets a butt full of sharp darts launched from a cannon. What a rather macabre ending to an otherwise marvelous and magical motion picture. This is the pinnacle Thanksgiving movie for me and while there are many versions of the operetta in existence, this will always be the definitive version for me. Laurel and Hardy are grand, the look of the film is grand and this film just screams childhood. It takes me back to the carefree, innocent days of youth.

Bring on the Wooden Soldiers!

Mary Poppins (1964)

Alas Mary Poppins, Nothing is Perfect, But This Film is Still a Wonder

[10/10 · 9 December 2013]

I always considered The Lion King my favorite Disney movie, for it was the pivotal Disney flick of my convoluted childhood. Now, after several months of pondering, I think The Lion King is at an even tie with another Disney wonder, Mary Poppins. Based upon the series of books by P.L. Travers, Mary Poppins is a film we should be very grateful to have. It took Uncle Walt 20 years to obtain the rights to Ms. Travers' fantastic tale and the bold Australian born author was very strict on what could be included in the 1964 classic. While Travers would ultimately hate the flick with all it's Sherman Brothers songs and animated sequences, Mary Poppins would still be a critically acclaimed flick in the public eye and after all these years, it's still one of the greatest fantasy films of the last couple decades. I love it so much, if it was in an edible form, I would gobble it up faster than you could say "Bob's your uncle".

Julie Andrews embodies Mary Poppins, similar to how Sigourney Weaver embodies Ellen Ripley or Carrie Fisher embodies Princess Leia. She's not as strict and hardcore as she was in Travers' original stories, but she is still stern and at times, very intimidating and bold. I sometimes think that Travers slightly based Mary Poppins off of herself, for she is not only no nonsense and outspoken, but demanding and truthful when she has to be. And Andrews also makes Poppins sympathetic and understanding at times, giving off that heartwarming smile that is debated to be the character's trademark. Looks like Mary Poppins went to the Oswald Cobblepot School of Umbrella Wielding, for Mary Poppins without an umbrella is like Indiana Jones without his whip.

Dick Van Dyke is a clumsy, fun loving Bert. I am aware that some are not fond of his Cockney accent, but I think it's over the topness makes his character stand out. He's a jack of all traits, going from a one man jamboree to a sidewalk drawer to a chimney sweep to a kite salesman, and you can just tell that each job he takes part in, he enjoys doing what he does. He's also one of the most high energy characters I've ever seen on film, on par with Ray Bolger's Scarecrow or Charlie Chaplin. Every time Bert's on screen, you are guaranteed to get something off the wall, catchy and blood pumping. All the other characters are great as well. Karen Dotrice and Matthew Garber are innocent, yet optimistic as Jane and Michael Banks and the cook and the maid are great comic relief. David Tomlinson's Mr. Banks goes from a shrewd workaholic to a giddy, laughable goofball who realizes that we all grow up, but we can be children at heart.

Even the Bride of Frankenstein, Elsa Lanchester makes an appearance as the children's first nanny, Katie Nana.

The Sherman Brothers songs are fantastic. From "Chim Chim Cheree" to "Spoonful of Sugar" to "Jolly Holiday' to "Feed The Birds" to "Let's Go Fly A Kite", the songs of this movie will be imprisoned in your memory banks for the rest of time. And I'd be lying if I didn't admit that Feed the Birds turned my eyes into waterfalls every time I listened to it. It was said to be Walt Disney's favorite song, and I can see why. What else can I talk about? Well, the animated sequences are wondrous and very Disney like and the "Step in Time" sequence you'll never want to end, but why talk about it when you could turn this review off and see the film for yourself. It will delight you, thrill you and even move you. Either way, it's one of Disney's marvelous triumphs. It's simply scrumptious.

One of my all time favorites, most definitely.

Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982)

Zurn Cult Classics: Halloween 3: Season of the Witch

[7/10 · 25 October 2013]

Well, the mystic, spooky and spectacular Halloween season is at large once more and I thought it would be fitting to do some Halloween themed movie reviews to fit the occasion. What haunted, horrifying thriller of doom have I decided to review? What film full of thrills, chills and spills shall I share my perspective on. Well, how about the vastly underrated third entry in the Halloween series. This film is Michael Myers free this time around and although the William Shatner masked murderer is absent, this film strays in it's own direction and comes off as something entirely new, original and above all, entertaining. Originally, John Carpenter (director of the first Halloween) and crew were going to make the Halloween series an anthology series, similar to Twilight Zone and the Outer Limits before it. Had the film succeeded, the next film would have been a supernatural thriller about ghosts. But people were angry that Michael Myers was absent, and the anthology idea was flushed down the crapper as the series returned to it's roots for Halloween 4. But as the series brought back Michael Myers for a string of slasher sequels, remakes reinterpretations, requels, seboots, whatever, Halloween 3 remains the most distinguishing of the horror series, the black sheep or Looney Tunes character at Disneyland.

But does that mean it's bad? Not in my book.

Don't get me wrong, the film's not perfect (nothing is). There are some elements that don't add up and there are a lot of loose ends not tied up by the film's conclusion. But the bottom line is that this is a pure, solid Halloween flick. I don't mean Halloween as in the Halloween series, but as an all around Halloween chiller, perfect for the haunted holiday season. I watch this film every year, embracing the dark, the twisted, the ghastly and the all around cheesiness this film has to offer. In recent years, I've come to realize how unlike any horror film Halloween 3 is. This is a creative movie filled with grand 80s effects, twisted imagery, grotesque and fowl scenes of murder and killer masks! It doesn't get any more original than that! And the Silver Shamrock commercial....need I say more. It just would't seem like Halloween to me without listening to that ridiculously catchy song and seeing Don Post's stellar pumpkin, witch and skull masks looming on the television screen. Don Post is also known for molding the famous Tor Johnson mask and the Captain Kirk mask that was used for Michael Myers in the first Halloween film.

Is Halloween 3 my favorite of the series? Probably not, if I had to be perfectly honest. Halloween and Halloween 2 (which I will always consider to be one movie because they take place on the same night) will always be the standout pieces of the collection, with the Thorn Trilogy and the Laurie Strode saga coming in very close. But Halloween 3 will always be a special experience for me, a horror film unlike anything I've ever seen on All Hallows Eve. Sure it has it's share of problems, but it's still entertaining, terrifying and full of that Halloween goodness I long for every October. If the film were not called Halloween 3, I think people would enjoy it more. It's the standout piece in an all around horrifying film series.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990)

Forgiveness Is Divine But Never Pay Full Price For Late Pizza

[9/10 · 28 September 2013]

I've been in TMNT mode lately. I've always considered myself a big fan of the Heroes in a Halfshell, but in recent years, I've lost interest in TMNT and moved onto other franchises. Now of course, I'm back to the sewers and consuming everything TMNT related. There's various TV shows, video games, comic books and of course, the live action movies which I was surprised to find out hold up extremely well today. While the second film in the trilogy is good and the third isn't as bad as it's often made out to be, the first one is the most well made and the best film of the trilogy, delivering a charm only four anthropomorphic turtles can deliver.

The entire concept of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles was conceived by both Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird who originally created them to parody the dark, gritty comic books of the early 80s. Of course, the series branched away and became a pop culture phenomenon of it's own and when something becomes a monstrous hit, you can almost guarantee a motion picture is right down the alley. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles hit the theaters in 1990 and instead of it being a continuation of the hit cartoon series, the film goes back to it's source material and starts it's own continuity. Sure, the Turtles are fun, lovable and quirky as heck but they're very much like their original comic book counterparts, which were edgy and at times grim. And the one who was responsible for bringing the turtles to life was the Muppet Master himself, Jim Henson. It's astonishing what Henson and his crew were able to accomplish with the art of animatronics and puppetry and the men underneath the turtle suits must have had to practice an awful lot to get the film's fight scenes just right.

I also like the voice acting. We have Cousin Oliver voicing Michelangelo, Mouth from The Goonies voicing Donatello, Takashi as Leonardo and Elmo as Splinter. We also have the mother from the Halloweentown movies playing April O'Neal, who turns out to be much more heroic in this version than she was in the 80s cartoon. And Casey Jones is played by Elias Koteas, delivering a slick tough guy who turns out to be quite the turtles' equal in combat. I mean, the guy wears a hockey mask and beats people with a stick. It doesn't get anymore awesome than that! Speaking of action, this film is in no way in short supply of it. I'm willing to bet that this film has more action scenes then any other film in 1990. The final battle between the turtles, Splinter and Shredder is one of the greatest fight scenes in a film about mutant reptiles. It's just a pity that Splinter's fight with Shredder ended so quickly. In the original comics, all the turtles had to work together to stop Shredder and they beat the living tar out of him. Nevertheless, this film has a lot of entertaining action as the turtles fight gang members, Foot Clan soldiers and at times, each other.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles has flaws, but then again, what doesn't? Sure, some of the acting is bad and the writing can be a bit off at times, but when you get right down to it, this film is an entertaining 1 and 1/2 hours. Unlike some of the action films you see nowadays, this film won't leave you bored nor will it leave a bad taste in your mouth. It's fun, filled with humor and has life like turtles with a lot of expression and emotion. Now if Michael Bay and his crew work hard and make the turtles as relatable and realistic as possible, I think 2014's TMNT can be just as good.

Cowabunga!

King Kong (1933)

It Sparked The Imagination of Many Storytellers

[10/10 · 5 September 2013]

If there's one film that sticks out in my mind as a true classic, it's undeniably King Kong. This flick stands high on my list of favorite films and it's imaginative storytelling, revolutionary special effects and iconic imagery have sparked the imagination of many people who would go onto change the world of pop culture forever. Ray Harryhausen saw the film at a young age and it's groundbreaking effects inspired him to bring his legendary creatures of mythology and lore to life. Peter Jackson saw the film at a young age and it inspired him to be a film maker, eventually remaking the film in 2005. And a little known Japanese man named Shigeru Miyamoto took several elements from King Kong, reimagined them and made one of the most iconic video games of all time, introducing a certain Italian plumber to the world.

But why do I like the film? Well, it's just plain out iconic. The images of Kong, the Skull Island natives and the Empire State Building have been burnt into my noggin for all time and it's just incredible what Merian C. Cooper, Willis O'Brien and the rest of the crew were able to accomplish back in 1933, 80 years ago! Some of the filming techniques were invented right as the film was being made and how they were able to bring Kong to life is a remarkable story. Sometimes, shots of the live action actors would have to be shot frame by frame as Kong was being animated. Sometimes, when Kong was picking up people and putting them in his mouth, it would be a life-sized, motorized Kong head and hand. Sometimes, the stop motion footage would have to be composited together with the live action footage to make the scene become whole. It was a tedious, time consuming process and the fact that everyone was able to pull it off in the end is really remarkable. Somebody should have given these guys medals!

The story is also legendary. The story of King Kong parallels that of Beauty and the Beast where a gruff, monstrous entity risks his life for the woman he loves. Of course, in the 1976 version and the 2005 version, the relationship between Anne Darrow and Kong is much more drawn out, but in the 1933 version, Kong's just a normal ape who falls in love with a girl who was originally supposed to be sacrificed to him. Anne Darrow, portrayed by Fay Wray comes off as a screaming bimbo who doesn't really do anything to make Kong like her. Every time he comes around and picks her up, all she does is scream bloody murder. It's no wonder why some considered Wray a "scream queen". But then again, she is a pretty individual and we don't want to see her in any kind of peril. She's just your typical damsel in distress, something drastically changed about her character in later adaptations. The other characters are fine too, and Anne's love interest is a likely goofball who doesn't seem to admire her at first but comes to admire her as the film unfolds.

Kong is just an incredibly sight. Every time I see him, a get a good snicker out of him. He's just a normal, wild ape who acts out of instinct and at times doesn't know what to do with himself. But the scene where he's strapped down for all the citizens of New York to see and he gives off that cheesy grin, I just get a funny feeling inside. Maybe Kong is more human than we originally thought. He's willing to do anything to protect Anne and when he climbs the Empire State Building, he's attempting to fight off the planes solely to protect her from any harm. It goes to show that any animal, even animals of extreme height and weigh have emotions and in their own ways, motivations. This of course was elaborated on in the various remakes, but I think the original gets the point across more. Kong may seem like a threat to the citizens of New York, but deep down, he's just a creature with love in his heart and a determination to protect the one he loves, even if the humans don't see it. Why else would he break the jaw of the T-Rex. Why else would he take down a bloodthirsty pterodactyl. All these elements make his death at the end much more compelling.

But I've gone on long enough. This is by far one of the greatest motion pictures ever conceived. And I'm quite positive that everyone has different reasons why they like the movie and consider it a classic, for it has a lot to offer in the storytelling and the visual department. Whatever reason you like the movie, I'm quite certain this film will delight, enchant and mesmerize many generations of movie watchers to come. It's an 80 year old movie that will certainly go on for another 80 years and another 80 after that.

Tron (1982)

This Is Why We Have Pixar Movies

[9/10 · 5 September 2013]

John Lasseter once said that without Tron, there would be no Toy Story. While working as a Disney animator, Lasseter caught a glimpse of the light cycle chase from Tron and his eyes opened up to what could be accomplished with computers and computer technology. Thus, he would go onto be one of the founding fathers of Pixar, which of course has spun a massive web since it's inception in the mid 80s. Of course Lasseter and the people at Pixar weren't the only ones inspired by this film. The French band Daft Punk was inspired by the film's electronic score and video game like sound effects, so much so that they even assisted Hans Zimmer in composing the score for Tron's sequel. But for how groundbreaking Tron was when it first hit theaters back in 1982, is it even a good movie? Is it's story compelling and relatable and can we see ourselves as parallels to the characters of the movie? I would say so.

It's all how you look at it.

Tron still holds up incredibly well 31 years after it's original release and while the effects can be a bit wonky from time to time, they give the movie a certain edge and stylized feel. When I think of this movie, shades of blue, red, orange and black come to mind, for those are the colors seen frequently throughout the picture and the fact that some of the effects look grainy at times really makes the film's environment look more digitized in my eyes. I also like the look of the characters, particularly Tron, Sark and the Master Control Program, who looks like Zordon's cousin three times removed. He spins around, freezes when he wants to talk to someone and his voice (provided by David Warner, the same guy who plays Sark) is one of the most intimidating voices I've ever heard. You could take this guy's voice and put it over Darth Vader. It's just that awesome and mighty.

The acting is pretty decent. Jeff Bridges is great as always, playing the fun loving schmuck Kevin Flynn who "plays video games better than anybody" and Bruce Boxleitner is a gallant Alan Bradley/Tron who is determined to take out the MCP and bring balance back to the cyber world. He's the Chosen One in some ways and the most heroic out of the programs, although Kevin Flynn builds up his bravery and assists Tron in the MCP's defeat. David Warner has that presence to him that really makes him a force to be reckoned with and his portrayal of Sark and the MCP stand apart from all the other film's performances. Every time this guy enters the picture, you can just tell that some crap is going to hit the fan. He's plays two of Disney's most memorable adversaries and he's probably my favorite player out of the film. He also plays similar characters in Titanic, Star Trek 5 and 6 and he even plays the voice of Ra's Al Ghul in Batman: The Animated Series.

The last thing I must talk about is the film's awesome score and sound effects. As I said before, this is what inspired Daft Punk to do what they do and it's not that hard to see why they got so enraptured. The film's score, composed by Wendy Carlos is an electronic feast for the ears, with a very exciting, blood rushing excellence only accomplished through computer chips. It's so catchy that they even used the music in the Tron arcade game, just listen to the film's score and then listen to the music from the game. It's identical. And the sound effects really make this film feel like a video game movie. Every time a character walks, there's this slight "clink" noise and the sound effects for the disk throwing, the light cycles and the character deaths makes me feel like I'm standing right in front of an arcade cabinet playing a game from the golden age. They really do a good job of making you feel part of the Tron universe and adding that bit of magic that takes you out of reality and places you in the realms of a digital fantasy.

Tron is an all around great thriller and would change Disney forever. Perhaps without Tron, there would be no Toy Story 3 or Monsters Inc. or Finding Nemo. Maybe Disney wouldn't have had their grand Renaissance. Maybe special effects wouldn't have progressed the way they did. Maybe Jeff Bridges wouldn't be the highly profitable actor he is today. It all makes you think, doesn't it?

The Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires (1974)

Cult Classics: The Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires

[9/10 · 23 August 2013]

What a fun treat this flick was. I've always been a fan of classic monster movies, Frankenstein, Dracula, etc. When it comes to the Hammer Horror films, I tend to favor those films over the more noticeable Universal films. They're in color, they have a lot more imagery to look at and the acting (particularly the acting from Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing) is top notch for films made in the 50s, 60s and 70s. While Horror of Dracula and Curse of Frankenstein remain two of my all time favorite horror films, there is one other film that I've been dying to review ever since I gave it a watch a few months ago. It's the 1974 horror/action thriller, The Legend of the Seven Golden Vampires, directed by Roy Ward Baker and Chang Cheh. If you're looking for a film that combines horror with fast paced ninja action and fighting, this might be a winner in your book, because it's an interesting and entertaining piece of cult classic filmmaking.

First off, I'll point out that this is more of an adult film with some things that may be a bit disturbing in the eyes of young viewers. There's disturbing torture scenes, blood and gore and gruesome death scenes that may thrill you, chill you or make you spill. Luckily, there's not a lot of it and there's enough action to take your mind off those certain elements. It's as if they took a vampire film and blended it together with a Bruce Lee film. The action scenes are fun packed and exhilarating to watch, reminiscent of the action scenes in Enter the Dragon and Game of Death. Whenever you need a rush of adrenaline, watch the action scenes in this film. They will surely give you that burst of energy you've been longing for.

I should also point out that this is the first Hammer film where Christopher Lee does not play Dracula. Instead, Dracula is portrayed by John Forbes Robertson, whose voice is dubbed over by David de Keyser. It's a bit of ridiculous voice over work, but it's a cheesy movie to begin with. It's a bunch of warriors fighting off bloodthirsty vampires for heaven sake! The final fight between Van Helsing and Dracula is a bit underwhelming and anti climatic. Dracula topples over, turns into a pile of dust and Van Helsing looks on as if nothing happened. Bullcakes! A brutal beatdown like the one in Horror of Dracula would have been much more epic. This is one of the last Hammer Dracula films after all. But it doesn't matter. The last hour or so has been nothing but entertainment for me, for the action is so great to watch and gets you in that action packed kinda spirit. The plot is typical for a early 70s action thriller, but it's not to say that the plot isn't interesting. It involves ancient stories from yesteryear, medallions and Dracula taking the form of a average Chinese villager. How unique!

The Legend of the Seven Golden Vampires can be considered a masterpiece in it's own right even if the acting is not the greatest, the cinematography is a bit off and the film has a touch of datedness. Nevertheless, you can come to enjoy this flick for the off the wall and outlandish piece of cinema it is. It's not the least bit boring, nor does it drag. It will keep you captivated until the screen turns black and white letters appear on the screen.

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers (1995)

Cult Classics: Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie

[8/10 · 23 August 2013]

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers was one of my favorite shows growing up. I mean, come on, it's a bunch of teenagers in spandex beating the crap out of giant rubber monsters. It's the ultimate cheese fest from the 90s and was at one point one of the most watched kids shows in history. What many people don't know about MMPR and the quadrillion seasons that would follow is that they used stock footage from a Japanese TV series called Super Sentai (in the case of MMPR, Kyoryu Sentai Zyuranger). The only thing the Americans added was the cutscenes with the American actors as well as Zordon and Alpha 5. By Season 2, they created Lord Zedd and while stock footage was used from subsequent Sentai series, they still stuck with the Zyuranger costumes for the Rangers. Then in 1995, Saban Entertainment and Twentieth Century Fox teamed up to bring us Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie, a completely Americanized motion picture based upon the Sentai series. While many consider this film a dud, many have come to admire this film for the cornball that it is and the film has since become a cult following. What are my thoughts on the movie. I love it, I love it, I love it!

I know the film stands apart from the TV show's continuity and that the CGI effects aren't that great by today's standards, but there's just something about this movie that screams childhood. 18 years after the film's release, I still have the VHS tape in my possession and once in a while, I pop it in and I'm instantly taken back to the mid 90s. My cousins and I obsessed over this movie and I got jealous of my one cousin because he had the Ninja Megazord toy and I didn't. Still, I'll never forget the first time I saw this picture and watching it to this day, I can honestly say that it's a pretty decent flick, a campy cluster of cottage cheese from the convoluted 90s (let that alliteration sink in for a moment). The actors who play the six main Power Rangers are not the greatest of actors by any means, but they're portraying teenagers with superpowers, what do you expect? The Ranger suits are more of an armor instead of the spandex like on the show and if they one day decide to reboot MMPR like they did with Transformers and Star Trek, I hope they use suits like the ones in this movie. In fact, why didn't they just use these suits for the metallic armor on the TV show instead of those crappy glitter suits? I'm sure they were available in Saban's inventory, why not just use them? Oh well.

The actor who steals the show is Paul Freeman as the main villain Ivan Ooze. Revived after six thousand years of rotting in a giant pink egg, Ivan Ooze is a mix between Jack Nicholson's Joker and Freddy Krueger. Also, I think his character design is brilliant. He's got this slick, slimy purple look to him. He is made of slime after all! It's hard to believe that this is the same guy who played Belloq in Raiders of the Lost Arks. Who knew Freeman was such a hilarious guy! Anyway, Ivan Ooze is so powerful that he ransacks the Command Center with his magical flute and temporarily defeats Zordon. As the Rangers set out to find the Great Power which will save Zordon and give them back their ranger abilities, Ivan Ooze imprisons Lord Zedd and Rita Repulsa in a tiny snow globe and enslaves the parents of Angel Grove with his canisters of purple gunk. What an elaborate plan for a goofball of an adversary. I'd like to see this guy go up against Hades from Disney's Hercules.

On the planet Phaedos, the Rangers embark on a dangerous quest to get the Great Power. After a sorceress named Dulcea (who looks like one of Jabba the Hutt's slave girls) gives them the powers of a ninja, the rangers travel to the monolith which holds the power. Along the way, they encounter the deranged skeleton of a dinosaur as well as a couple of stone monsters. After defeating them and getting the Great Power, they return to Earth and for some reason, they decide to take out Ivan Ooze and his giant robots before going to the Command Center to revive Zordon. Why would they do that? It's one of the film's most noticeable plot holes, but it doesn't take away from the good goofiness of the movie. The climax in which the Rangers take on Ivan Ooze in their new Megazord is not the greatest of climaxes, but it's a neat final battle to tie up loose ends. It's also one of the few times an enemy is defeated by being knocked in the crotch and sent into an incoming comet. It's a decent conclusion to a decent movie that will intrigue Power Rangers fans for many years to come.

Happy 20th anniversary MMPR!

Man of Steel (2013)

Not One of My All Time Favorites, But Still Worth a Watch

[6/10 · 23 August 2013]

Growing up, I was always in the Spider-Man, Batman, X-Men and Power Rangers kinda crowd. When it came to the big guy with the "S" on his chest, I thought he was cool but I never really gravitated towards him as I did with the Caped Crusader and the Wall Crawler. Nevertheless, he was still an awesome character and I could see why he was considered an American icon as well as the pinnacle of the superhero genre. When it came to movies based on Superman, it's quite obvious what zooms to the mind first. Richard Donner's Superman flicks are fun movies even if there are some elements that are extremely outdated and Christopher Reeve solidified Mr. Sups and made the role synonymous with his name. 3 and 4 of the series are admittedly guilty pleasures just like 3 and 4 of the Batman series and Superman Returns, well, it's not Citizen Kane but I liked it better than most.

Now comes a reboot of the Last Son of Krypton, straight from the mind that brought us the on screen adaptations of 300 and Watchmen. Did Zach Snyder prevail with his reimagining or did it all go down the crapper. Well, the latter certainly isn't true, but Man of Steel is not one of my personal favorites. It's a good movie, far from being one of the worst, but there are several flaws that I think should have been improved upon. But there are certainly tons of goodies thrown in there as well that make Man of Steel entertaining as well as satisfying to the average movie goer. Hans Zimmer's score for the film is just as exciting and memorable as John Williams' classic score for the Donner films and if you are a sucker for CGI effects, you'll be captivated by the film's eye candy and brilliant imagery.

The planet Krypton is a marvelous place. It's like Pandora from Avatar, only darker and more mechanized. Some of the technology on Krypton is amazing to look at and makes me wish we had technology like that on Earth. I also liked Russell Crowe as Sups' father Jor-El. If only he had a singing number or two (just kidding). Crowe portrays Jor-El very similar to Brando, but with a little more edge and agility never seen in the character before. The scene where he engages in a fight with the film's villain, General Zod is suspenseful and one of the film's best action scenes. It's a pity though that he couldn't fight alongside his son in the film's climax. That would have been spectacular. Nevertheless, Crowe's Jor-El is one of the film's best players and the wise father figure that guides the hero through his journey.

The other actors are okay. They have their moments of blandness, but they get the job done. Henry Cavill did a good job of filling Reeve's red boots and there's just something about the guy that makes him a great Superman for a new era. He's got edginess like his dad and a determination to take out the invading Kryptonians, but his character development is all over the place. One minute, he's a fisherman, the next minute, he's a nine year old boy saving his classmates from drowning in a school bus. I wish these scenes could have been sorted out more and put in order, for it would have helped us to understand the character a little bit better. Michael Shannon as General Zod is a decent superhero foe, but he just comes off as an abused war general kinda villain that is driven insane because he can't defeat the main hero. I was also disappointed that he didn't shout "Kneel Before Zod" anywhere in the film. Come on, if Terence Stamp could do it, Michael Shannon certainly could. Amy Adams, Lawrence Fishburne and Kevin Costner, there pretty good as well, but they lacked a bit of character development that could have made their characters a bit more relatable.

The action, it's pretty darn monotonous. Sometimes it's so fast, you can't even depict what's going on. I think it will give people a headache or make their eyes pop out of their skulls. Sups and Zod hurl into buildings at thousands of miles per hour, no doubt killing many innocent civilians in the process. And the fact that Zod becomes a psychopathic slaughterer that wants to kill all humanity, it just comes off a bit clichéd. Luckily, Sups snaps his neck like a tree branch, has a good scream and is comforted by Lois. He then goes on to work at the Daily Planet and puts on those corny glasses that somehow conceal his true alias. The End. The film's climax feels a bit rushed and hackneyed and I think a few more touches could have made it much more iconic and memorable. Still, it's fun to watch and a sweet Easter Egg can be spotted when Sups and Zod brawl in space.

So there's my review of Man of Steel. Not a groundbreaking piece of cinema, but certainly worth two and a half hours. Looks like a Superman/Batman crossover is coming up next, so I'll certainly give that a watch when it arrives. Chow!

Plan 9 from Outer Space (1957)

Plan 9 Therapy Sessions After Watching This Movie!

[2/10 · 16 June 2013]

Okay, as you can tell from the title, this is going to be another disgruntled critic review, much like my review of Home Alone 4. This review is written just for fun, so sit back and have a few laughs with me as I try to do a humorous review of this "heinous" movie, curiously titled Plan 9 From Outer Space. Remember, this is just my perspective on the film so if you have a different perspective, feel free to let me know of your opinion. Until then, let's dive right into what I consider to be a flame broiled turd.

First off, I'll say that I have been, for the longest time intrigued by director Ed Wood. He has been considered by many to be the worst movie director of all time and although I'm not a big fan of his films, I admire his efforts and his passion for his work, reenacted in Tim Burton's 1994 biopic Ed Wood. I did however have a hard time sitting through this slop fest of a movie that was said to have been shot as is. When Ed Wood shot a scene, that was the scene that ended up in the finished movie. Wood wasn't fond of editing either and it really shows in this movie. The main problem I had with Plan 9 From Outer Space is probably not the same problem others have with the movie. Some say it has bad acting, bad cinematography and bad special effects, but that's not even scratching the chalkboard on why I disliked this movie. IT'S TOO DARN BORING. I had to drink 30 cups of coffee and smack myself in the face several times to get through this vomit sandwich of a movie and even then, I wasn't intrigued in the slightest about what was going on on the screen.

The great Bela Lugosi, who died several years prior to this film's release, only appears in stock footage and the actor who replaced him in the movie was none other than Ed Wood's wife's chiropractor. I'm not even joking. The guy doesn't even look like Bela Lugosi, so much so that he has to keep his cape in front of his face the entire time, which comes off as not only annoying, but distracting in every scene he's in. Imagine if Superman or Batman kept their capes in front of their faces the entire movie. In Nolan's trilogy, it would only make Batman's raspy voice even more ridiculous than it already is. And the other actors aren't so stellar either. Maila Nurmi, better known as Vampira is always walking towards the screen with that DER! look on her face and wrestler Tor Johnson as Dan Clay always looks like his cat climbed up a tree or something. Do all these actors get paid good money to make these darn annoying facial expressions? Gee, they put Bella from Twilight to shame. Perhaps the best actors out of the film are the flying saucers, and that's not saying much. These things are so inconsistent throughout the film, for they are always changing size and shape whenever they are shown. The people who made them could have taken lessons from Ray Harryhausen on how to make flying saucers look real and believable.

But as I said before, this movie is just boring. I wish I could build a time machine, go back in time, meet up with my former self and warn him not to watch this mess of a movie. This movie has more inconsistencies than the Frankenstein film series. I much rather have spent the time plucking hairs out of my noise or repainting the Sistine Chapel than watch this concoction of black and white crapiness. The scenes were filled with nothing but technobabble and there was not enough suspense and excitement to keep me invested. Paint drying would have made for a better movie.The acting is bad, the special effects are cheap looking and inconsistent, the plot is all over the walls and I really don't remember one stinking scene from this wonky slime covered tripe. There was absolutely no scene that left an impression on me and coming in at 1 hour and 30 minutes, it's way too long for a film of it's kind. That's 1 and a half hours I'll never get back! Oh good lord in the heavens, why did I watch this movie! It was an awful experience that I shall never watch again! Curses! Curses! Curses!

I guess I'd better calm down.

Edward Scissorhands (1990)

Burton's Magnum Opus

[10/10 · 15 June 2013]

Here we go, Edward Scissorhands. Tim Burton himself has gone on record saying that this is the work he is most proud of, for it captures the very nature of what his films are all about. Whatever his perspective is on the film, this masterpiece is certainly my favorite of his filmography and for various reasons. For one, it was the first collaboration between Burton and Johnny Depp, and this relationship still lasts to this very day. Depp has been the main player in many of Burton's flicks and it's hard to imagine some of the movies without him. Second, it marked the swan song for one of my all time favorite actors, the master of macabre Vincent Price, who Tim Burton had idolized since youth. He even made a short film about Vincent Price in 1982, fittingly entitled Vincent. Third, the film hearkens back to the 1931 Frankenstein film and makes the mad scientist's creation sympathetic and pitiful. Fourth, the main character of Edward is such a whacky yet contemporary character that I can't help but relate to him at times. Then again, I think we can all relate to Edward Scissorhands from time to time.

The film constantly shifts atmospheres, but it works greatly in this flick. One minute, it can be a dark, Gothic horror related atmosphere, the next, it's the bright, sunny and upbeat suburban neighborhood. The film also has one of the all time greatest film scores, performed brilliantly by Danny Elfman, who's Ice Dance score fills me with butterflies every time I set my ears to it. One time, when I was younger, a saw snow falling outside on a cold winter's night, but the darkness didn't stop me from seeing each individual snowflake. I immediately thought of the Ice Dance theme. It's the very epitome of a beautiful tune. In fact, all the film's compositions are great, especially the theme that plays in the opening credits of the movie where we see a montage of the old inventor's lab equipment. Perhaps my favorite scene out of the entire movie is the scene where Edward sees a can opener and has a flashback of the inventor's cookie making machine. The inventor, played by Vincent Price walks in, marvels at his contraption, takes a heart shaped cookie and holds it up to the chest of the lettuce slicing robot that would later be transformed into Edward himself. It's a very touching moment and shows just how great ideas can be born from great minds.

The acting in the film is also something worth writing a book or two about. Johnny Depp's debut in a Burton film is probably his best. Even if he has little dialogue, Depp makes up his performance through his body language and movements. Depp based the movements of Edward off of Charlie Chaplin and it really shows, for several scenes show Edward waddling about and making facial expressions the Tramp himself would make. My favorite line of his from the film is after the neighbor Joyce (played by Kathy Baker) tries to seduce him in the beauty salon and he meets up with the Boggs family in a nearby restaurant. When asked by the father (played by Alan Arkin) on how his day went at the beauty salon, Edward tells him that Joyce lead him into the back room where she "took all of her clothes off". The delivery and the way Depp says the line makes it not only the most humorous line out of the film, but also the most perfectly time line out of the film. The other players are also grandiose with Anthony Michael Hall taking a break from playing the nerdy wise guy in John Hughes films and instead playing the dirtbag jock who torments Edward throughout most of the film. Winona Ryder, straight from Burton's Beetlejuice is also the apple of Edward's eye and comes off as the pretty girl many boys her age would love to date.

But one of the main reasons why I love this film to pieces is that it was Vincent Price's last and arguably his best performance in a motion picture. He plays the role of the inventor as a kind hearted, noble fellow who was on the verge of creating a creation like no other. Unlike Dr. Frankenstein, he's not an insane fellow obsessed with his work, he's just a kind gentleman with a passion to build things and enjoy the very things he constructs. The scene where he passes is a heartbreaking scene, for he was about to give Edward normal hands, ridding him of the sharp scissorhands he was bound too for so long. Still, Price is a child at heart in this film and his performance sums up his entire career in the Gothic horror/macabre genre. The scene in which he teaches etiquette to Edward is a memorable scene that will have you laughing and tearing up all at once.

What more can I say about the movie, it's magnificent. Sure, some may question where Edward got the ice for the ice sculptures at the very end, but that's a glaring issue. Edward Scissorhands brings us the best humor, the best imaginative elements and the best performances out of any other Burton film. Some think of it as a retelling of Shelley's Frankenstein, others say it's ET, I consider it a collage of many things, both from the horror and fantasy genres as well as the works of 19th century authors and their tales of weird beings and creatures of the night. And like I said earlier, I relate a lot to Edward, for he was a outcast, like I am an outcast, like we are all outcasts in certain times of our lives.

Alice in Wonderland (I) (2010)

Twinkle, Twinkle Little Bat

[8/10 · 15 June 2013]

Growing up in the late 90s, early 2000s, there was one director who's work either haunted me or enchanted me. You might have heard of him, his name is Tim Burton. I loved films he worked on like James and the Giant Peach and Pee Wee's Big Adventure, for they captured a wonderful, whimsical and fantastic essence and structure. But when it came to films like The Nightmare Before Christmas and Beetlejuice, I was turned away and terrified, for I just didn't care for the macabre feeling and dark humor. Even the 1989 Batman and Batman Returns didn't suit my taste at first. It wasn't until my later years when I got into the movies and realized how brilliant they really were and how imaginative and demented the mind of Tim Burton was. Sure, some of his films were oddballs like Planet of the Apes and Mars Attacks, but Burton was a mastermind with a signature style and outlook.

So when it came time for him to reimagine Lewis Carroll's timeless tale of Wonderland and a little girl named Alice, I was intrigued. I saw pictures of Johnny Depp as the Hater and Helena Bonham Carter's big headed Red Queen and thought this would be an interesting experience with classic Burton humor and memorable characters. And while I'll say right off the bat that the film was interesting, it's not one of Burton's best. It's a brilliant and imaginative dream ride and you were very lucky to see it in stunning 3-D, but at times, I forgot I was even watching a Tim Burton film and instead watching an over bloated, CGI mad fest. The CGI felt a little out of place at times and some of the film's plot points became a little repetitive, like Alice eating the cake to grow and drinking the elixir to shrink. Still, the film has some elements that even rival that of the original animated Disney film and other interpretations done throughout the years.

Johnny Depp is a stellar actor and his performance of the Mad Hater comes off as something entirely new and refreshing. He's not a tea obsessed, mad ball like the Ed Wynn version was, he's just a cheerful, optimistic and at times serious fellow that giggles at inconvenient times and gives off a creepy, yet humorous grin. I don't know about you, but every time he smiles, I give a snicker or two. Helena Bonham Carter is also amusing as the Red Queen, a cross between the Red Queen from Through the Looking Glass and the Queen of Hearts. Her quadruple sized head and overbearing voice make her intimidating and fear worthy and in my opinion, it's one of Helena's best performances in her husband's films, right up there with Mrs. Lovett and Emily from Corpse Bride. One of my favorite actors is also in this film. Count Dracula himself, Christopher Lee makes a cameo as the voice of the frightening Jabberwocky and even if he delivers just a few lines, he's a powerful force to be reckoned with. Interesting enough, Michael Gough is also in this film. Of course, he and Christopher Lee worked together in Horror of Dracula and Dr. Terror's House of Horrors. Mia Wasikowska is alright as the lead Alice, but I found myself a bit underwhelmed in some areas of her performance. Anne Hathaway is also decent as the White Queen, despite her constantly waving her hands around like a ninny.

The look of the film just screams Wonderland. Burton and his crew were able to capture the stylized and lavished surface of Wonderland beautifully and as I stated before, you were a lucky duck to see this in 3-D. From the inside of the Red Queen's palace to the opaque atmosphere of the White Queen's palace, this film has lots of eye candy to look at marvel upon. The designs of some of the CGI characters is also a highlight. The look of the Chesire Cat really stuck out the most for me and his charisma and quirkiness makes him my favorite character from the movie. He's also voiced by Stephen Fry. Tweedledee and Tweedledum are swell goofballs with ridiculously large heads and a hilarious way of walking about and Absolem is long, blue, slow and outspoken, much like Severus Snape from the Harry Potter films (which makes sense because he's voiced by Alan Rickman). Some of the characters that got under my skin a bit were the Red Queen's associates, you know, those characters with the long noses, huge chins and oversized bellies. I felt they added nothing to the film and a scene where their noses, chins and bellies fall out came off as a bit predictable.

Still, many of the character obtain a sense of dignity and determination to do what they feel is right. Alice, in the end, realizes that she was destine to slay the Jabberwocky and in the grand scheme of things, she is able to accomplish just that and save the land. But the film's major highpoint and moral is to believe in your dreams even when you don't want to believe in them. Sometimes, things you think are fake are 100% reality and that you can take control of them, but only if you, you guessed it, believe. Alice in Wonderland gets that point across flawlessly, even if the film itself is far from flawless. Then again, what film is flawless. Alice in Wonderland is a fateful adaptation of the source material and Burton's very best hit at the Carroll tale, but it's in no means his crowning jewel. Aside from a few CGI issues, acting issues, and over the top moments of ridiculousness, it's a pretty decent and fun movie and well worth a few hours of your time.

Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

Greatest Sequel To Grace The Screen

[10/10 · 15 June 2013]

It has been echoed an infinite amount of times before. It has been chanted from the highest hilltops and the most well known critic sites on the internet. It has been said time and time again. Star Wars Episode 5: The Empire Strikes Back is not only the best Star Wars movie, but the best movie sequel ever made, and a prime example of how follow ups can match up and even prevail over their predecessors. While I like the prequels and the film that started it all in 77, The Empire Strikes Back has always been the SW film that glowed the most for me and had the best scenes out of the entire saga. It also introduced my all time favorite Star Wars character and my favorite movie character in general, brought to life by a man who based the character's look and facial expressions off his own. The Empire Strikes Back is the ideal Star Wars film for me, and although it received a mixed reception when it was first released, it has garnished a monstrosity of a following these last couple decades and it shines as one of the greatest sci-fi thrillers with loads of twists and turns to quench your thirst.

From the opening battle on the snowy world of Hoth to the final confrontation between Luke and his soon to be revealed father, Darth Vader, this film has a scale, a scope, a powerful, eminent feeling to it. John Williams' exuberant score plays through like an orchestra at an opera and each scene carries suspense and magnitude as you see the events the main characters must live through. As a sequel, it also digs much deeper into the characters' souls and puts them up against powerhouses we never thought they'd go up against, not even in the first movie. Luke Skywalker must train to become a jedi on the swamp planet of Dagobah and at the same time, he must learn what makes the ways of a jedi work. He must be patient and believe in the unbelievable, which is something he fails to do at first (That is why you fail!). He also must learn to avoid the temptations of the dark side and learn what the force is all about. The force is not always about lifting things and tricking people's minds, it's a much bigger entity than Luke could ever imagine, and it's something that touches every life form. In a peanut shell, the force is with everything and allows all creatures to coexist and be bound together as one solid package. This is one of the many lessons Yoda teaches Luke in the second act of the movie.

Luke's friends, Han and Leia are also met with extreme challenges in this sci-fi sequel. As they are constantly on the run from the relentless Empire, they must learn ways of hiding and working together for the benefit of surviving the Empire's vicious clawing. Han and Leia must also balance their romantic feelings for one another and learn to get along as well as not let their inner devils get the best of them. But in the realm of seriousness, there is also a bit of comedy and endless excitement. I love Han's relationship with C-3P0 (Never tell me the odds!) and that the Millennium Falcon is always malfunctioning and breaking down. It can't even make the jump to light speed, which it did so frivolously in the first outing. The chase through the asteroid field remains one of my all time favorite scenes out of the saga and John Williams' score for the scene amplifies it's awesomeness.

Now let's talk about Yoda, my favorite Star Wars character and movie character of all time. Designed by Stuart Freeborn, Yoda drew inspiration from Albert Einstein, Buddha and even Kermit the Frog, but overall came off as a wise little creature with a brain as big as the galaxy itself. He undeniably has the best dialogue out of the movie and at times, it's hard to believe that Yoda was a puppet and not some real life alien from another world. Luke takes his teachings seriously, but when Vader uses Luke's fears to his advantage (by torturing Han and Leia), he flees in a state of franticness and his inexperience is the main reason why he fails against Vader in the Cloud City "windy room". When Darth Vader revealed himself to be Luke's father, many jaws dropped, many undies were pooped, and many gasps were heard throughout the theaters back in 1980. Today, the climatic twist is still as legendary as it was then and it has been lampooned bazillions of times on television shows, parodies and other movies. What makes the scene great is the build up. It's something we weren't expecting and when it came, it smacked us hard in the faces.

Of course, there is so much more to talk about, like the Fett man, the awesome Harryhausen style stop motion of the AT-ATS and the tauntauns, the brilliant, exotic looks of the environments and the overall quality of the film, but I've rambled on long enough. The Empire Strikes Back is a mesmerizing experience that still holds up some 33 years later. If you had to watch one Star Wars movie and didn't know which one to watch, why not give this one a viewing. I don't even think you need to see the first film to enjoy this masterpiece, for it's energy and richness makes it stick out like pink hair. It's truly an experience that will leave lifelong lasting memories, so if you need a getaway, take a trip to that galaxy far, far away and let George Lucas' imagination do the talking.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)

Blunt the Knives, Bend the Forks

[9/10 · 20 May 2013]

A lot of people were skeptically when it was announced that Peter Jackson was taking JRR Tolkien's The Hobbit and turning it into a trilogy. Why take the shortest book out of the four book series and turn it into three movies is beyond me, but the first installment in the Hobbit trilogy is perhaps my second favorite out of the Jackson film adaptations, right behind The Fellowship of the Rings, which takes home the grand prize for it's upbeat nature and wholesome Middle Earthiness. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey received a mixed reception when it got released, some saying it was an entertaining blockbuster in the heart of good adventure stories, some saying it was as bad as Battlefield Earth. But I think it's good popcorn and nacho fun and if you want to kill a Saturday afternoon by watching a movie, then this might be your flick. I'm a big fan of LOTR films with good humor, action, character development and wonder (which is one of the many reasons why I hold Bakshi's LOTR at such high regards), so I thought this film was grand for what it was. After all, we have not seen a motion picture that takes place in Middle Earth for nearly ten years.

Some complained about the special effects and Jackson's controversial use of 48 fps, but this didn't bother me all that much while watching the film. I will say that the film has scenes of fast pace and scenes that leave you out of breath, but this factor is meant to intensify the whole movie experience. It is there to make you feel like you are right there with the characters and experiencing the adventures they are hurled into and although some things seem a bit out of place, the film does have a nice look to it and a great atmosphere to be engulfed in. I love the look of the Shire, for it has such a woodsy, fragrant and greenery appeal to it and makes me want to live there, eating vegetables and smoking the "finest weed in the Southfarthing" with the Hobbits. The look of Rivendell (the land of the elves) is also lovely to behold and something reminiscent of a ancient fairy tale land or a land straight out of a classic Disney film.

Now let's talk about the characters. Martin Freeman may not look exactly like Sir Ian Holm, but he has Bilbo Baggins' distinct personality and characteristics down to a tee. When he runs about the Shire shouting "I'm going on an adventure!", it sums up his outlook and trademarks flawlessly and reminds us of the timid, yet optimistic Bilbo in Tolkien's original novel. He also delivers funny lines during the troll scene, which is arguably the most hilarious sequence in all Lord of the Rings. Sir Ian McKellen pulls off Gandalf the Grey flawlessly, even if he hasn't played that version of Gandalf in almost 12 years. When the other characters are in turmoil, he always knows when to show up and work wonders with his wooden stick of might. All 13 of the dwarfs are reminiscent of the dwarfs in Disney's Snow White and know just how much butt to kick when vicious abominations and creatures show up to start trouble. They are liable to get a few chuckles out of the audience, for like Bilbo, they have quirky dialogue and perfectly timed one liners.

The other actors are also exemplary in their respected roles. Christopher Lee can still pull of Saruman at an impressive 90 years old and Hugo Weaving is still a triumphant Elrond with a deep, kingly voice. Perhaps the funniest characters out of the entire film are the corpulent Goblin King, the three hungry trolls who steal the gang's horses and the Gollum, who is admittedly a cutey pie this time around and not the scheming twerp he was in TTT and ROTK. When he and Bilbo play the game of riddles for the ring, he stares up at Bilbo with the eyes of a dog and the excitement of a three year old who just found out he is going to Toys R Us. I felt a little sorry for him when he found out that Bilbo stoled the ring and he went absolutely nuts as if he just lost a fortune on a failed Italian restaurant. Poor little dude. All he wanted was his "preccccioussss". I have to give credit to Andy Serkis, for he is able to make the Gollum realistic and lifelike with his spidery and agile movements. The animators also did a brilliant job and were able to capture Serkis' movements and animate overtop of them perfectly. Sometimes, it's as if he isn't even computer generated at all. That's how realistic and incredible the effects are.

An Unexpected Journey is far from being a boring film. This funfest has action at every turn and will keep you captivated until the end credits. One minute, the characters are put up against deadly wargs, the next minute, they are in the midst of a deadly rock giant fight. In one scene, they are picked up by giant birds. No fooling! I think some were expecting to see the films of the original trilogy all over again, right down to the gritty war battles with a choir shouting songs in elvish. But remember, this film is entering a different territory than the territory explored beforehand. You just got to except it for what it is and enjoy the fun despite the obvious goofs and mishaps. I certainly enjoyed this film, for it was stuffed with the very things we look forward to seeing in movies, exhilaration and excitement, stuff to get the adrenaline flowing. Hopefully the sequels can carry on in these shoes as we encounter giant spiders, flies and the dreaded dragon, Smaug who sleeps in a bed of gold coins. I wish I could!

Take care everybody.

Star Trek Into Darkness (2013)

The Wrath of John Harrison

[10/10 · 20 May 2013]

Well, after four long years, we are finally getting a sequel to JJ Abrams' highly acclaimed Star Trek film from 2009. I must say, it's quite interesting that it too that long to bring forth a follow up, but were the four years worth the wait to see the further adventures of James T. Kirk and the crew of the USS Enterprise? You bet your bottom dollar! I personally think this sequel was superior to the first and delivered some of the finest moments in all of Star Trek. This film also paid homage to the Star Trek of yesteryear and revamped one of the franchise's most famous adversaries, the tyrannical superhuman Khan Noonien Singh.

But we don't find out he is Khan until about half way through the film.

In the beginning, Khan goes by the name John Harrison, a Starfleet officer recruited by Admiral Alexander Marcus to build advanced weapons and starships for the upcoming Klingon war. It is also revealed that Khan's blood has enhanced platelets that can cure almost any illness, foil any ailment or revive dead tissue. I loved the way Benedict Cumberbatch portrayed Khan, paying homage to the great Ricardo Montalban on several occasions but also bringing something new to the famous Trek baddie. He also has a magnificent, overpowering voice that's very reminiscent to Patrick Stewart, adding a bit of sinisterness and malevolence to an already malevolent villain.

"No ship should go down without her captain!"

Returning from the previous film are of course Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto as Kirk and Spock respectively. The other crew members of the Enterprise also return and a new blondie named Carol Marcus joins the band, but Kirk and Spock are front and center and are the film's main focus. The relationship between the two is the film's best element. The relationship between Kirk and Spock is the highlight of any Star Trek episode or movie, but in this film, you can really see how these two characters relate to one another or get at each other's throats in certain perils. Kirk is also annoyed by Spock's logical statements and beliefs, giving the film a teaspoon of comic relief and humor only available through human and Vulcan association.

Speaking of comic relief, Mccoy, Scotty and Chekov get a lot of funny moments in the film. Uhura of course shows off her skills as communications officer while chatting with a Klingon and Sulu shows off his gallant command skills while hunting down Khan. And once Khan is aboard the Enterprise, he relentlessly taunts Kirk about killing his crew and how he is better at "everything". I love the way Khan sees right through Kirk and knows what will bring Kirk to his knees. He surely knew what would take Kirk down in The Wrath of Khan, which is one of the many reasons why it is many Trekkies' favorite Star Trek flick.

I should also mention the great performance of Peter Weller (aka Robocop) as the secondary villain, Admiral Marcus, who comes off as a pompous string puller who believes a war is coming and that all should be prepared for it's consequences. The plot of the film is different from most Trek flicks, but it still has that Star Trek feeling if you ask me and brings in a lot of elements from the movies, TV shows and even the animated series to make a slushy of awesomeness. I do believe Star Trek Into Darkness is my favorite of the 12 Star Trek films, from it's Indiana Jones inspired opening to it's Wrath of Khan inspired ending. I hope JJ can crank out one more Star Trek flick before setting his coordinates to Star Wars Episode 7, but one can never be too sure. Into Darkness was certainly a sequel worth waiting for and a great love letter to Roddenberry's brainchild.

It also has a spectacular cameo by Leonard Nimoy. That alone makes the film worth going to see at warp speed.

The Wonderful World of Disney: Home Alone 4: Taking Back the House (2002) Season Unknown, Episode Unknown

The Roundhay Garden Scene Is Better Than This Movie!

[2/10 · 4 May 2013]

I'm going to be taking the disgruntled critic approach with this one, a huge departure from my standard reviewing style. So sit back and enjoy the ride

It's about time I review a BAD movie, a movie so bad that on some foreign planets, it's the #1 method of torture among misbehaving citizens. Home Alone 4 is a film so retched, so awful, so disgustingly bad that fairies flee at the very sight of it and if you were to rent this movie and put it into your DVD player, you would summon the monster Rectagus and he would wreck everything in sight.

Okay, maybe I'm exaggerating, but this is one film I can't stand in the least.

I loved the first two Home Alone films. Even the third one was good because, well, some prominent EFFORT went into it and even if some consider it a dud, I consider it a decent film with some very memorable material. BUT THIS. This is the equivalent of a poorly made, poorly edited home movie, a movie shot on a cheap dollar store camera and edited in standard Windows Movie Maker. There's one scene in the film that clearly showcases a standard diamond wipe transition. I'm not even joking. Were the filmmakers that penniless that they couldn't even include some professional editing software? The film also showcases some clichéd sound effects that don't even match up with the scenes they're included in. It's like if the lightsaber sound in Star Wars was replaced with the cluck of a chicken. You might as well make a movie of French Stewart flying in the air 500 times which is basically what the movie is anyway.

Speaking of French Stewart, he portrays Marv in this film. Why on Earth does he look like Joe Pesci's Harry from the first two films? Did the filmmakers even see a Home Alone movie before going onto make, you know, a Home Alone movie? It's like if they made a Superman movie and made Superman look like Batman. And the acting in this film makes the acting in the Twilight films look like Citizen Kane. French Stewart can't decide what facial expression to make and always has that darn exasperated look on his face as if he just swallowed a lawn mower. His acting is as stale as 2 year old bread. The kid who plays Kevin doesn't even come close to capturing the charm and talent of Macaulay Culkin and comes off as a whiny, bratty little twerp that should be spanked with a weed whacker! And the kid who plays Buzz comes off as a brash dirtbag who should be smacked with a raw fish. I know Buzz was a dirtbag in the original films, but here, he comes off as a ignorant jerk with a bad attitude. I'd like to sink my five fingered fist into his freckled face. The only actor who is even remotely trying in this "film" is Erick Avari as the butler and even then, he's treated like crap by a little twit who thinks he owns the place. If I were the butler, I would wham that little sucker with my tin platter!

The music of this film is vomit to the ears. I'd rather listen to nails on a chalkboard and the squeal of pigs..at the same time! You might as well take a toddler and put them in front of a keyboard. That would be better music! And the story is as convoluted as an attic with unnecessary subplots and pointless trickery. One such subplot involves Avari's butler being frozen in ice and put out on display at a party! Another subplot has Kevin flooding the house in attempts to catch the burglars. There's even a subplot about him watching It's A Wonderful Life. Isn't it a shame when a bad movie reminds us of a good movie we could be watching instead?

I regret the day when I first laid eyes on this tripe and shall never watch it again as long as I live! I rather watch a bearded dragon grow a beard or a parrot eat a carrot! I wouldn't pay a penny for this movie, not even if it was in a convenient store bargain bin! This movie is a turd, this movie is rubbish...

And I don't like it.

Star Trek (2009)

A Brilliant Revamp Of A Classic Series

[10/10 · 4 May 2013]

I'm a huge fan of Star Wars, that is no doubt, but I was always a fan of Star Trek: The Next Generation which often aired on Spike TV or the CW during my schooldays. I was never really into the original Star Trek and never understand it as much as The Next Generation, but all of that would change once J.J. Abrams' reboot graced the screens. 2009's Star Trek is not only my favorite Star Trek film (that might change when Into Darkness comes out), but one of my favorite sci-fi films in general and it really delivers in so many areas which I'll cover as the review materializes. It is a fact that Abrams didn't create Star Trek, but the way he revisions it is really something breathtaking. He reimagines the worlds that Roddenberry incepted in a more modernized and stylized fashion and it fits for today's movie going and sci-fi loving audience. Hopefully, this is something that carries on when Abrams helms Star Wars: Episode 7 and let's hope that if Abrams includes lens flares in that film, he makes them work in their own right and doesn't make them distracting from the rest of the picture.

Getting back to Star Trek, Abrams shows his talent for storytelling as well as his understanding of the Star Trek lore and mythos. Even though this is an entirely new Trek based on an old Trek, it still has that outgoing, adventurous Star Trek feeling that really makes it stand out from all the other films in the 11 (soon to be 12) film series. Simple put, this is a film Gene Roddenberry would be most proud of, for it showcases his brainchild in a new shell and in a new light. All our favorite Star Trek characters have their place with James Tiberius Kirk and Spock leading the pack. Of course, Kirk is more troublesome and slick in this version, but he still retains the leadership and benevolence of Shatner's Kirk and the ability to take on the command chair. Spock is also much more emotional and aggressive this time around, but still retains what made the character stand out to begin with and he even gets a few pointers from the old Spock, played brilliantly by the legendary Leonard Nimoy.

All the other characters are spot on as well. Uhura is the sassy chick with a skill for communications, Bones is the ill tempered medical expert, Sulu is the high flying swordsman, Chekov is the mathematical wiz, and Scotty is the rambunctious engineer who loves to shout and run around like a loon. The main villain of the film, Nero, played by Eric Bana is also a highlight, delivering that perfect balance of tyranny and determination to take out the good guys. He's one dude you don't want to pee off and when you do, he'll impale you with his sharp staff of terror. As I said before, the great Nimoy is in this picture and he portrays the prime Spock in a dignified, wise manner. He tells his younger self to put aside logic and do what he feels is right and persuades him to stay in Starfleet, saying that he can't deprive him of his inevitable friendship with Kirk.

The special effects and sound effects are also something to write home about. The man behind Star Wars' sound effects, Ben Burtt did the sound effects for this film and they are very Star Trek like and fitting for each scene they are in. The space battles sound like Star Trek space battles and when characters are beamed off the Enterprise, it's the classic transporter sound from the 60s TV show. I also like the Phaser sound effect, not exactly like the classic sound from the show, but really intriguing and sci-fi like. Instead of the fizzing sound from the original, this phaser sound effect is more of a solid clink or clank. I also admire the new design of the Enterprise, which is obviously much bigger and more advanced than the one in the original show. The bridge also doesn't have all those massive buttons and levers, it looks much more advanced and technological.

Although this film is well loved, many Trekkies were offended by this flick, feeling that it was less of Star Trek and more of a mindless action flick. Abrams did however reboot the franchise in a way that it doesn't ignore the other Star Trek series, but you'll have to see the movie yourself to understand what I'm talking about. It really is an excellent movie and it doesn't require you to know about Star Trek to get into it. Hopefully, Abrams can carry on the same magic in the upcoming sequel, and fingers crossed that he will reboot The Next Generation. James Franco as Riker, anyone? Just kidding.

The Wizard of Oz (1939)

The Greatest Fantasy One Could Embark On

[10/10 · 3 May 2013]

In 1900, Lyman Frank Baum wrote a story about a little girl named Dorothy who was hurled away from dusty Kansas to the magnificent land of Oz, filled with talking Scarecrows, wicked witches, big headed wizards and magical shoes. This story was so successful upon it's release that several film adaptations have been made throughout the years, but it wasn't until 1939 when the world first saw the film that is probably the most well known and admired film of forever more. The Wizard of Oz is the pinnacle motion picture of many of our childhoods, for we saw it at a very young age and it augmented our lives and points of view. Some consider it their favorite film, others consider it a icon feast, I however see it as the greatest fantasy one could embark on. This is one of the greatest tales ever told (both the movie and the original book) and every time I set my eyes upon it, I realize more and more how much I love this film and just how legendary it really is. The Wizard of Oz is THAT film, the film everyone has seen more than once and it's imagery and surroundings are very hard to rid from the mind. It's characters are relatable and very vivid to look at (Would you believe Bert Lahr's Lion costume was 90 pounds!) and the songs the characters chant are songs everyone can sing, for everyone has heard them so many times and know the lyrics by heart.

But where The Wizard of Oz truly shines is in it's moral, that there is no place like home. Stated only once in Baum's original story, this quote has been the most prominent and well known movie quote ever spewed from a human mouth and it goes to show that no matter who you are and where you are, you always have a place to go to and people you can love and cherish. It's not about what kind of home it is, it's the fact that it's a home and it's a place where you can be who you want to be and relate with those most dear to you. It's the love and the warmth of being together that really matters and it's what Dorothy realizes at the very end of the film, that no matter how sepia toned her homelike is, she can be happy there and always love the things around her. That is one of the many reasons why this film is truly perfect in every sense of the word. Nah, it's not perfect, nothing is perfect, but this film is pretty darn spectacular and it's a film that will live on many, many, many, many, many years down the road, even after I am gone off the face of the Earth. This film is a tradition that generation to generation can savor and take to the heart and it's a film no one can deny, no one can get fed up with. It's the very film that gets you out of sadness and despair and into the realm of grandiose and fantastic nature. It's the film that gives us brains, gives us courage, gives us heart, gives us strength.

That's all I have to say about that.

Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977)

A Fairy Tale Set In Space

[10/10 · 3 May 2013]

May the fourth be with you everybody! Today, on Star Wars day, I figure it only fitting to review the film that started the whole starry craze, Akira Kurosawa's The Hidden Fortress! Nah, just kidding, it's Star Wars Episode 4: A New Hope of course. It has been said countless times that Star Wars was based upon the Kurosawa samurai films as well as the Flash Gordon serials of the 1930s and 40s, but in my eyes, it's an all around fairy tale in space. Think about it, you've got the dashing, optimistic hero in Luke Skywalker, the wise, old mentor and hermit in Obi-Wan Kenobi, the damsel in distress mistress in Princess Leia, and the terrifying wizard with black attire in Darth Vader. It's like a Brothers Grimm tale or a tale written by L. Frank Baum, who you all know as the mind behind The Wizard of Oz. But what makes Star Wars great is something I can't sum up in one single review, but I'll certainly give it a try for your sake. This is 1977's Star Wars, the film that changed cinema forever.

I can relate to this film on so many levels. I see a lot of myself in the characters of Luke Skywalker, C-3P0 and even the cocky Han Solo, a rebellious lad with a devil may care point of view. I can also look up to Obi-Wan Kenobi, who has become a lot like his master Qui-Gon Jinn by this episode. He has gone from a brash, outspoken padawan who viewed many creatures as useless to a wise old man who saw the potential in all creatures. I love Obi-Wan's wisdom and it's wisdom I live by every minute of everyday of my life. My favorite line of his is "Who's the more foolish, the fool or the fool who follows him?" He has such a rich perspective of everything and his knowledge of the Force can give you the push you need to go about even the deadliest of tasks. It's his guidance that finally allows Luke to demolish the Death Star at the film's finale and it's probably something that will carry onto mentor Luke in the upcoming Star Wars Episode 7. Obi-Wan is the kind mentor we all wish we could get knowledge from so we could become wiser souls.

Darth Vader is a menacing entity and is up there with the Wicked Witch of the West as one of film's greatest foes. The emotionless mask and deep dark voice of James Earl Jones really makes him ever more terrifying than he already is, but if you saw what he once was in Episodes 1,2 and 3, you tend to fear him less and less. It's hard to believe that underneath that breathing helmet is the charred face of Hayden Christensen, a once proud hero with a charming charisma. Little did we know that it would take him two more films until he finally reached his redemption and even than, it was before his untimely demise. Darth Vader is a motion picture icon, not only because of his wickedness and evilness, but because of his tragic past and his fight to gain back what he lost all those years ago. That's what makes an incredible villain, a villain that never wanted to be bad, but was thrust into badness because of one fatal decision.

The other characters are also worthy of mention. Mark Hamill prevails as the adventurous, yet good hearted Luke Skywalker who would become the galaxy's most acclaimed hero towards the film's conclusion. Carrie Fisher's Princess Leia is a lot like Dorothy Gale or Alice in Lewis Carroll's classic Wonderland stories. Sure, she gets captured, but she's perfectly capable of defending herself and even defending her companions. She's a fearless woman who is not even afraid of kissing her long lost brother straight on the lips. Harrison Ford's Han Solo is probably the film's most memorable human character and with his headstrong and hipster attitude, he was what a lot of children wanted to be like when they first saw Star Wars back in 77. He's the ideal punk, but he's also the gallant hero and tough guy who's not scared to shoot down some green aliens (Who cares who shot first!) or stormtroopers.

Personally, I became more fascinated with the non human characters like Chewbacca (Why didn't he get a medal!), R2-D2 and C-3P0, for like the humans, they were always trying to get the spotlight and give their share to the story. I feel like C-3PO is the most underrated character in all of Star Wars, for he is often seen as a symbol of homosexuality and annoyance. But Star Wars has a timeless story first and for most and this story gets better and better every time you experience it. Every time you experience it, you spot things you never spotted beforehand and that adds to the film's overall charm and magic. Even though it was made in the 70s, it still has the touch of a story that will last forever and never wear out. With all it's grand special effects (no matter what version of the film it is) and alien lifeforms, Star Wars is a storybook with a grand scale and a powerful, prudent moral that all creatures have a force flowing through them, allowing them to reach out and achieve the impossible.

I'm not quite sure but I think that's why we love it so much. That's the reason I love it at least.