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Monday, January 28, 2013

Les Misérables (2012) - Drama | Musical | Romance

Les Misérables (2012) - BAD MOVIE

  I'm generally never a big fan of musicals however considering reading many positive reviews about this movie, I decided to give it a try and was hoping that it could change my perspective. It unfortunately was very disappointing and after almost three hours of singing, I had enough. These songs were done by actors who clearly did not have any experience and training in singing. Even simple dialogues were in songs which were very irritating considering the fact that the writer had obviously aimed for a 100% musical without any normal dialogue. It seems like a cheaply made movie consisting mostly of only a few stages which is repeated throughout the whole movie. The first scene was very eye-catching which seemed to have been designed to prevent further disappointment. A bad filming of a great book and a great stage play. It made my cry too... just because it was so terrible. 


 

Hitchcock (2012) - Biography | Drama

Hitchcock (2012) - GOOD MOVIE

  Give the director full freedom and he will make the movie of his lifetime. I mean that worked with so many directors and they created their best pictures while relying on themselves only. That's how most of the classic movies were born. Psycho is one of them and while working on bringing that movie to life Alfred Hitchcock had the support of very few people. But the only true support he needed was his wife's Alma. Hitchcock is not so much about making of the film Psycho, but the relationship of Alma and Hitch and how they completed one another. Its engaging and sometimes intense. Hopkins and Mirren are at their best in this one and there's no way you want to miss the pleasure of their company. Great supporting cast including Scarlett Johansson, Toni Collette, James D'Arcy and Jessica Biel. Shot in the style of live-action documentary, this movie is probably the best portrayal of a legend called Alfred Hitchcock. He's like any great artist - impossible to live with, but worth the effort.  


Flight (2012) - Drama

Flight (2012) - GOOD MOVIE

  Denzel Washington shows us yet again that he is one of the premier actors of the past 25 years. His convincing portrayal of an alcoholic is downright painful to watch, and I mean this in a very good way, it is such a believable performance. He is the pilot of a plane that crashes, yet his skill as an aviator saves almost all of the passengers. The aircraft is clearly in need of an overhaul, but it's his drug and alcohol addiction that comes prominently into question. Absolutely a new experience and a great act from the cast of the movie.


The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012) - Adventure | Fantasy

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012) - GREAT MOVIE

  Beautiful cinematography, beautiful design, make-up, special effects. Everything is perfect. The cast is a joy to watch. Martin Freeman is great as Bilbo Baggins, Ian Mackellen can't be described in words, he is perfect as Gandalf as always. I actually thought he was even better here than in "The Lord of the Rings". He captured the atmosphere more.
  Please people don't listen to the critics, they are the ones who influence the public, but they are not always right. It has the same magic. Maybe in a less darker tone than the previous movies had been, but in a way, that's why I really liked it. It's like a deep breath from all the stressful situation the hobbits had been in "The Lord of the Rings". It's been a though year with a lot of good movies, but in the end, this still is among the best ones. Worth watching!


Anna Karenina (2012) - Drama

Anna Karenina (2012) - GOOD MOVIE

  Recreating a classic like Leo Tolstoy's 600 pages Anna Karenina into a major movie is quite a challenge and the movie Anna Karenina will simply blow you away. A timeless tale of the choice between a safe and secure relationship versus one filled with passion and love. Anna Karenina (Keira Knightley) is conflicted with this delicate balance. In 18th Century the Russian capital was moved from Moscow to St. Petersburg. The scenes are breathtaking and costumes are exquisite. On the big screen you are transported to the 18th century and can't resist in rooting for love and passion even though this choice can leave a messy trail. Anna grows to be a strong woman but in the end she is wavers back in forth until she allow destiny to take hold. Enter the sumptuous world of Anna Karenina and see a movie about the beauty and complexity of love.   



This Is 40 (2012) - Comedy

This Is 40 (2012) - BAD MOVIE

  This is a disappointment from start to finish. Had I known so many F - bombs would have been dropped by children, adults, and grandparents like, I would have kept a counter going through the movie to amuse myself.
  It is unnecessarily long with scenes being dragged out with forgettable dialogue that often leads nowhere and fails to develop characters in any meaningful way. The characters come across as whiny and unlikable. The inclusion of the mother's store and her two employees appears to be little more than an excuse to get Megan Fox on the screen in her bikini and/or underwear. What few laughs there are can be seen in any trailer. Avoid at all cost. 
 

 

To Rome with Love (2012) - Comedy | Romance

To Rome with Love (2012) - GOOD MOVIE

  If you loved last years 'Midnight In Paris', then you'll enjoy the all star cast in 'To Rome With Love'. Tells the story of people living in Rome, and there day to day funny adventure and misadventure.
  Like in 'Midnight In Paris', Woody Allen makes the audience feel like there in Rome, it's like he is giving us a tour. And the cast don't disappoint either, each one with there own story line. Alec Baldwin, Penelope Cruz, Greta Gerwig, Ellen Page, Jesse Eisenberg to name a few. And Woody Allen himself as writer, director and actor is awesome. If your looking for a movie to help you forget about your problems, then give the very funny' To Rome With Love' a look. 


Lincoln (2012) - Biography | Drama | History

Lincoln (2012) - BAD MOVIE

  The story deals with the minute details involved in making slavery illegal; conversations between pompous politicians are endless and dry and I found it boring. I would have preferred a biography of Lincoln's life; the nonstop speechifying was tedious in the extreme. None of the dialogue sounded spontaneous; each line sounded well-rehearsed with the result that it looks like a filmed play.
  Day-Lewis certainly looks the part, but his Lincoln isn't very interesting or charismatic. His soft, high voice is particularly unengaging. For me, the movie was too long and a crashing bore. 


 

Hope Springs (2012) - Comedy | Drama | Romance

Hope Springs (2012) - GOOD MOVIE

  'Hope Springs' is very good film because it manages to stay small, not go for cheap histrionics, and shows plenty of quiet moments that help you understand how partners in a marriage fail to communicate at crucial times, tentatively endangering a beautiful relationship. It is also an appeal to those members of the audience who might understand how precious it is to find and lose a soulmate. Overall, the film communicates its themes in an engaging and and efficient manner.


In Their Skin (2012) - Horror | Thriller

In Their Skin (2012) - BAD MOVIE

  'In Their Skin' started off with potential, but quickly moved to quash any hopes in the viewer of seeing a film that is innovative or unique. As the story progressed I found myself feeling as though I had seen this basic plot, though under a different title and with a different cast, at least a dozen other times. The film does nothing to really distinguish itself from other stories with a similar premise. Don't bother!



Django Unchained (2012) - Adventure | Drama | Western

Django Unchained (2012) - GOOD MOVIE

  The film played truly to Tarantino's style and with the use of good music, I felt it was a 'Tarantino film'. Let's start off with the actors, most of the cast did a great job performing. However, Christoph Waltz, Samuel L Jackson, Leonardo Di Caprio and Kerry Washington stood out the most! When you have all of them in one scene, you know its gonna be a good one! Jamie Foxx did a great job as Django, but didn't shine like the others.
  The plot was more complex than it sounds, it's not just 'A slave gets revenge on a plantation owner who has his wife'. There are many other paths the film goes into. The film was longer than most Tarantino films and you start to think, 'Mabye a couple of scenes should have been taken out'. But then it's hard to think of a scene to cut out... 
  'Django Unchained' is not for everyone. Regardless, if you are a fan of Tarantino, DiCaprio, and/or western pictures, you will most likely find yourselves in for a great treat.


Dead Europe (2012) - Drama

Dead Europe (2012) - BAD MOVIE

   I haven't read the book this is based on, so I can't comment on it's adaptation. 'Dead Europe' explores themes involving death, family secrets, the ghosts of the past shaping the present, the inherent racism and anti-Semitism of Europe, the nature of guilt, and the sins of the father being visited on the son. None of the characters have been fleshed out - a glaring weakness by the writer and the lead, Leslie, delivered a frustratingly one note performance. There is only so many times one can deliver the 'F' word in a performance. Overall, a very disappointing film. 



Cloud Atlas (2012) - Drama | Mystery | Sci-Fi

Cloud Atlas (2012) - GOOD MOVIE

  The acting, the cinematography, the settings and the plot are just mind blowing. I had no idea how amazed and touched I would be by seeing this movie. The plot is six very loosely connected stories throughout human history; some in the past, one in the present and some in the future. Each story is completely different from the others in theme, feel and and even genre. This movie will make you laugh, cry, and cringe as it takes you on an exploration through the decisions people make and how those decisions make ripples throughout space and time. This is like no movie you've ever seen before. Just watch it.