This is going to be quick and to the point. I went and saw Step Up Revolution with kinda high hopes. I thought this would be a great new look at a fun and entertaining series. I was wrong. Don't get me wrong, the dancing is sensational. The way these dancers move and flow is just stunning and mesmerizing. Here is the thing....they are dancers not actors. Oh my goodness this was some of the worst acting I have seen in a long time. I mean COME ON! Did you get these actors off of Craig's list? I'm sorry I know that's not fair.
I should have gone into the movie just to watch the dancing but the script and acting were just so bad. The lines were predictable and you saw the entire story coming from a mile away. I guess I like the hippie idea that you solve your problems with dancing and not fighting. I guess I was just so disappointed in the horrible acting and scripts.
If you are a fan of So You Think You Can Dance then you will love this movie. Half of the 'actors' are former dancers from that show. Like I said the dancing is something to be respected. The choreography is so original and cutting edge. The idea of the flash mob and all these artists coming together is fantastic. I guess the right way to say it is the movie's heart is in the right place but the bad acting over shadows all of that.
Go into this movie with a grain of salt. Go see this movie for the dancing and creative art but do not go expecting some epic story and stellar acting.
Over All: C
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Friday, July 20, 2012
Dark Knight Rises
First off let me say I am so sorry for the families in Colorado. I'm so sorry for them and my prayers go out to those affected. It makes me sad that this horrible tragedy will be attached to this great film. I hope no one feels I am being disrespectful in doing this review. I feel like the plot of this film is to fight against oppression and stand up to injustice. It shows that the human spirit and the will to do what is right and will prevail.
The Dark Knight Rises starts off 8 years after the first film. Harvey Dent and Rachel are gone and Bruce is left to his own demise. Alfred and Fox try to get him to move on in his life but he can not. While Bruce is a shut in, people like Jim Gordon and Officer Blake are left without Batman. The city of Gotham is almost at a moment of peace.
It is the calm before the storm. A new villain named Bane and a woman named Selina Kyle are wondering the streets of Gotham causing problems. So when he is needed Batman will always return to protect his beloved city.
Ok I have to be very careful not to spoil anything. The film brings all kinds of fun toys for Batman to play with. We get our first look at the Bat plane and our favorite Bat Cruiser pops up. Bane also has some fun toys and big explosions. He is a bad guy we love to hate.
All of the actors did a fantastic job and the emotional range was so stellar. I think my favorites are Joseph Gordon Levitt and Michael Caine. Levitt plays Blake an officer on the Gotham police department. He is Gordon's right hand man. Blake believes in the law, what is right, and Batman. Levitt does a great job showing his passion and his range of emotion is so impressive. Levitt has been acting a long time, I remember him in 3rd Rock From The Sun and I feel like he is finally getting the recognition he deserves! Well done Sir, I am very impressed. Another outstanding performance came from Michael Caine, not that it's surprising! Caine taps into the deep pain that Alfred feels for Bruce and how much he loves him. A great performance from a brilliant actor.
Anne Hathaway gives a charming performance as the duel personalities of Selina Kyle and Catwoman. I didn't know if Anne could pull it off but she did a great job. I wanted to see more of her. When she wasn't on screen, I found myself missing her. The chemistry between her and Christian Bale was outstanding. You have to love when Batman finds a girl that can give him a run for his money! Well done both of you.
Christian Bale is haunting as the lost soul of Bruce Wayne. Bale is able to show Wayne's true pain for his past and hope for Gothams future. He is also haunted by the ghosts of his past....literally. Keep your eyes open for characters from the other films because they are there.
Over all the film is a stunning conclusion to the Batman saga. I must say it does leave it open for future projects. I must say that I am very hopeful that we will be seeing more of Mr. Levitt! I should warn the comic fans that this is CLOSE to the comics but a few liberties were taken. One major one that I won't spoil for you. Trust me, if you know anything about the comic series you will catch it in the end.
Action: Yes
Drama: Yes
Amazing Acting: Yep!
Over all grade: A-
The Dark Knight Rises starts off 8 years after the first film. Harvey Dent and Rachel are gone and Bruce is left to his own demise. Alfred and Fox try to get him to move on in his life but he can not. While Bruce is a shut in, people like Jim Gordon and Officer Blake are left without Batman. The city of Gotham is almost at a moment of peace.
It is the calm before the storm. A new villain named Bane and a woman named Selina Kyle are wondering the streets of Gotham causing problems. So when he is needed Batman will always return to protect his beloved city.
Ok I have to be very careful not to spoil anything. The film brings all kinds of fun toys for Batman to play with. We get our first look at the Bat plane and our favorite Bat Cruiser pops up. Bane also has some fun toys and big explosions. He is a bad guy we love to hate.
All of the actors did a fantastic job and the emotional range was so stellar. I think my favorites are Joseph Gordon Levitt and Michael Caine. Levitt plays Blake an officer on the Gotham police department. He is Gordon's right hand man. Blake believes in the law, what is right, and Batman. Levitt does a great job showing his passion and his range of emotion is so impressive. Levitt has been acting a long time, I remember him in 3rd Rock From The Sun and I feel like he is finally getting the recognition he deserves! Well done Sir, I am very impressed. Another outstanding performance came from Michael Caine, not that it's surprising! Caine taps into the deep pain that Alfred feels for Bruce and how much he loves him. A great performance from a brilliant actor.
Anne Hathaway gives a charming performance as the duel personalities of Selina Kyle and Catwoman. I didn't know if Anne could pull it off but she did a great job. I wanted to see more of her. When she wasn't on screen, I found myself missing her. The chemistry between her and Christian Bale was outstanding. You have to love when Batman finds a girl that can give him a run for his money! Well done both of you.
Christian Bale is haunting as the lost soul of Bruce Wayne. Bale is able to show Wayne's true pain for his past and hope for Gothams future. He is also haunted by the ghosts of his past....literally. Keep your eyes open for characters from the other films because they are there.
Over all the film is a stunning conclusion to the Batman saga. I must say it does leave it open for future projects. I must say that I am very hopeful that we will be seeing more of Mr. Levitt! I should warn the comic fans that this is CLOSE to the comics but a few liberties were taken. One major one that I won't spoil for you. Trust me, if you know anything about the comic series you will catch it in the end.
Action: Yes
Drama: Yes
Amazing Acting: Yep!
Over all grade: A-
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Madagascar 3:Europe's Most Wanted
So another afternoon with the nephew always starts with a cinematic adventure (to quote Dane Cook). This week it was between Brave and Madagascar, I wanted Brave he wanted Madagascar....he won! I must say it was a great movie that was very family friendly! It had a great plot and breath taking animation. The use of colors was so rich and engaging that all the children in the theater were mesmerised by the images on the screen. I found myself wanting to live in this rich pretend film where animals can talk and go on adventures!
Let's get into this, the film starts where the 2nd one ended. The penguins are off to Monte Carlo to win their fortune and our zoo gang is waiting for their return. We have our returning voices and characters. We have Ben Stiller as Alex, Jada Pinket Smith as Gloria, Chris Rock as Marty, David Schwimmer as Melvin, Sacha Baron Cohen as King Julien, Cedric the Entertainer as Maurice,and Andy Richtor as Mort. We also have some new comers to the series like Francis McDormand as Captain DuBois, Jessica Chastain as Gia, Bryan Cranston as Vitaly and Martin Short as Stefano.
Alex and the gang decide to go to Monte Carlo to find the penguins and along the way run into trouble with animal control and Captain DuBois. Their only escape is pretend to be circus animals and jump a train with their new friends. Alex tries to remake the circus into a big success while trying to travel across Europe without getting caught.
The movie does a great job of showing kids that change is good and sometimes life is unexpected. It was also very magical and musical which is always fun for an 8 year old. If you have kids you really need to see this. If you have not seen the other films, it's totally ok. It gives you the background but makes it a whole new story. If you need an afternoon with the kids, take them to this...SOOOOO adorable!
Let's get into this, the film starts where the 2nd one ended. The penguins are off to Monte Carlo to win their fortune and our zoo gang is waiting for their return. We have our returning voices and characters. We have Ben Stiller as Alex, Jada Pinket Smith as Gloria, Chris Rock as Marty, David Schwimmer as Melvin, Sacha Baron Cohen as King Julien, Cedric the Entertainer as Maurice,and Andy Richtor as Mort. We also have some new comers to the series like Francis McDormand as Captain DuBois, Jessica Chastain as Gia, Bryan Cranston as Vitaly and Martin Short as Stefano.
Alex and the gang decide to go to Monte Carlo to find the penguins and along the way run into trouble with animal control and Captain DuBois. Their only escape is pretend to be circus animals and jump a train with their new friends. Alex tries to remake the circus into a big success while trying to travel across Europe without getting caught.
The movie does a great job of showing kids that change is good and sometimes life is unexpected. It was also very magical and musical which is always fun for an 8 year old. If you have kids you really need to see this. If you have not seen the other films, it's totally ok. It gives you the background but makes it a whole new story. If you need an afternoon with the kids, take them to this...SOOOOO adorable!
The Amazing Spiderman
Alright Amber let's sit down and focus! You must write this blog because if you don't write it, people can't read it. If people can't read it, you can not expand your little universe! Alright readers here we go! I'm sorry it has been weeks between posts, my motivation is at zero! It's been too hot to do anything but sit on my butt melting in the 107 degree heat. So to stay focused I went to the local coffee hut and I'm drinking my Arnold Palmer. Sadly I am sitting in the worlds most uncomfortable chair. I keep eyeing the other tables planning my secret table attack. Move your feet lose your seat! ANYWAYS!
This past week I have been movie watching like CRAZY! I have finally got some time for myself and have been trying to play catch up. This past weekend I went and saw The Amazing Spiderman....not to be confused with Spiderman with Tobey McGuire from a few years back. This is a whole new reboot for Marvel and I must say I was very excited for it. Don't get me wrong, the others were good. They followed the original comic books very well. To us comic people, that is what it is about....follow the story and don't screw it up. So in this version they basically took a few liberties with the comic but not too many where is pisses you off. It's just skewing the timeline just a little.
In this story we have the charming Andrew Garfield as Peter Parker. We see his parents leave as a child and we see Peter's confusion and pain over his parent's abandonment. We have Martin Sheen and Sally Field as Uncle Ben and Aunt May. Both do a great job playing the concerned adult figures in Peter's life. Personally, I liked them but I found Sally to be a bit young to play Aunt May.....I always see her as older. We also have Emma Stone playing Gwen Stacy and she is so charming and fantastic. For you unknown nerds Gwen was in fact involved with Peter at one point during the comic books. We also have Gwen's father Captain Stacy played by Denis Leary. He is the perfect father figure/cop trying to protect the city and take down the Spiderman! We also have a stunning and haunting performance from Rhys Ifans as Dr. Curt Conners. Basically it is a full power ass kicking cast that any director would drool to work with!
The problem is I can't give away too much about the film because it will literally ruin the film for you. I know the previews give WAY too much away! So let me just explained what I liked and if a spoiler pops up I will warn you!
One of the issues I had with this film is the relationship between Peter, Uncle Ben, and Aunt May. I didn't feel the closeness that I wanted for those characters. That seemed like a minor story in this 2 1/2 hour movie. I wanted more of a connection and more respect from Peter to them. I think part of me was comparing to the other Spiderman film....which is not fair...I know!
I really liked Peter and the way Andrew played him in this film. He wasn't this really nerdy kid that you felt bad for. He was just an average kid trying to get through high school, like most of us did. He was still charming but a little shy. The way he played the flirtation between himself and Gwen was so real and cute. A side note....Andrew and Emma are now dating in real life....maybe there was a Spiderman romance connection even then. I can tell you that I fell for both Peter and Andrew. I really fell for him when I saw that boy kiss....GRRR!
The character of Dr. Conners was probably my favorite. He had so much mystery, secrets, and soul that you wanted to see more of. The performance by Rhys was electric....you wanted to see him more on screen. It makes me wonder why he doesn't have a bigger name for himself. Seriously a very underrated actor!
The film did a great job of showing New York City as this city of togetherness. It was a very post 9/11 representation of the City and how they can come together in a time of distress. I just spent a week in NYC and I did see the city in that light. So many different cultures and people that must come together as a city in a time of need. It honestly gave me chills to see in person and then see on screen. A very Pro-America ending that shows what a big heart this country has.
Over all the movie had great special effects and wire work. The stunts were action packed and believable. Andrew looked great in the Spiderman suit and I really hope they make another film....OR Add him to the next Avenger Movie!! For those of you that didn't know, Spiderman was in the Avenger comic books, he was recruited by Tony Stark. Fingers crossed that he can assemble with the other beautiful superheroes...oh yeah and Scarlett Johanssen. ;)
Action: Yes!
Adventure: Yeah
Comic Book Adaptation: Well Done!
Over All:B+/A-
This past week I have been movie watching like CRAZY! I have finally got some time for myself and have been trying to play catch up. This past weekend I went and saw The Amazing Spiderman....not to be confused with Spiderman with Tobey McGuire from a few years back. This is a whole new reboot for Marvel and I must say I was very excited for it. Don't get me wrong, the others were good. They followed the original comic books very well. To us comic people, that is what it is about....follow the story and don't screw it up. So in this version they basically took a few liberties with the comic but not too many where is pisses you off. It's just skewing the timeline just a little.
In this story we have the charming Andrew Garfield as Peter Parker. We see his parents leave as a child and we see Peter's confusion and pain over his parent's abandonment. We have Martin Sheen and Sally Field as Uncle Ben and Aunt May. Both do a great job playing the concerned adult figures in Peter's life. Personally, I liked them but I found Sally to be a bit young to play Aunt May.....I always see her as older. We also have Emma Stone playing Gwen Stacy and she is so charming and fantastic. For you unknown nerds Gwen was in fact involved with Peter at one point during the comic books. We also have Gwen's father Captain Stacy played by Denis Leary. He is the perfect father figure/cop trying to protect the city and take down the Spiderman! We also have a stunning and haunting performance from Rhys Ifans as Dr. Curt Conners. Basically it is a full power ass kicking cast that any director would drool to work with!
The problem is I can't give away too much about the film because it will literally ruin the film for you. I know the previews give WAY too much away! So let me just explained what I liked and if a spoiler pops up I will warn you!
One of the issues I had with this film is the relationship between Peter, Uncle Ben, and Aunt May. I didn't feel the closeness that I wanted for those characters. That seemed like a minor story in this 2 1/2 hour movie. I wanted more of a connection and more respect from Peter to them. I think part of me was comparing to the other Spiderman film....which is not fair...I know!
I really liked Peter and the way Andrew played him in this film. He wasn't this really nerdy kid that you felt bad for. He was just an average kid trying to get through high school, like most of us did. He was still charming but a little shy. The way he played the flirtation between himself and Gwen was so real and cute. A side note....Andrew and Emma are now dating in real life....maybe there was a Spiderman romance connection even then. I can tell you that I fell for both Peter and Andrew. I really fell for him when I saw that boy kiss....GRRR!
The character of Dr. Conners was probably my favorite. He had so much mystery, secrets, and soul that you wanted to see more of. The performance by Rhys was electric....you wanted to see him more on screen. It makes me wonder why he doesn't have a bigger name for himself. Seriously a very underrated actor!
The film did a great job of showing New York City as this city of togetherness. It was a very post 9/11 representation of the City and how they can come together in a time of distress. I just spent a week in NYC and I did see the city in that light. So many different cultures and people that must come together as a city in a time of need. It honestly gave me chills to see in person and then see on screen. A very Pro-America ending that shows what a big heart this country has.
Over all the movie had great special effects and wire work. The stunts were action packed and believable. Andrew looked great in the Spiderman suit and I really hope they make another film....OR Add him to the next Avenger Movie!! For those of you that didn't know, Spiderman was in the Avenger comic books, he was recruited by Tony Stark. Fingers crossed that he can assemble with the other beautiful superheroes...oh yeah and Scarlett Johanssen. ;)
Action: Yes!
Adventure: Yeah
Comic Book Adaptation: Well Done!
Over All:B+/A-
Sunday, July 1, 2012
Men In Black III
I must say that when I heard they were making another film about our favorite agents J and K I was beyond excited. I knew that if they could get Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith to come back, then we would be just fine! So going into Men In Black III I figured it would fit in along with the rest of the francise. I must say that this film did not disappoint. As all good triologies go, this film tied in all the stories and teaches you the truth behind the character's past.
The premise of this film is that a villian, Borris The Animal from Agent K's past breaks out of jail and comes after K. The trick is Borris goes after Agent K in the past using illegal time travel. So to the rest of the world Agent K died back in the 1970's but Agent J remembers the truth. So Agent J must travel back in time and try and save Young Agent K before Borris can reach him.
This film is just plain fun and full of humor given by the whole cast. Tommy Lee Jones always does a great job playing the some what distant Agent K and we get to see why he is the way he is. we also get to see Josh Brolin do an AMAZING....seriously awesome and creepy impression of Young Agent K. I mean you really believe that he is a young Tommy Lee Jones....bravo Josh Bravo! Emma Thompson plays O A british member of The Men In Black, she also gets some great jokes in the film. Will Smith is charming, witty, and adorable. You love to see him on screen and you want more of him. Watching MIB III reminds us how much we have missed Will Smith these past 3 years on screen. He had such a star power, he's a guy you just want to hang out with. He brings alot of fun and emotion to Agent J as he tries to save his best friend and partner.
This film is more for a 13 and over audience. The lanuage is a little out there and there are a few curses in there. Not a movie you should be taking kids to. Just because there are aliens and it's funny does not mean it's for kids. I would say it's fine for the teens....probably nothing they have not heard before. Very funny and made me laugh out loud! Plus is does a great job of tieing in all of the other films. I say if you liked the first two, you will love this.
The premise of this film is that a villian, Borris The Animal from Agent K's past breaks out of jail and comes after K. The trick is Borris goes after Agent K in the past using illegal time travel. So to the rest of the world Agent K died back in the 1970's but Agent J remembers the truth. So Agent J must travel back in time and try and save Young Agent K before Borris can reach him.
This film is just plain fun and full of humor given by the whole cast. Tommy Lee Jones always does a great job playing the some what distant Agent K and we get to see why he is the way he is. we also get to see Josh Brolin do an AMAZING....seriously awesome and creepy impression of Young Agent K. I mean you really believe that he is a young Tommy Lee Jones....bravo Josh Bravo! Emma Thompson plays O A british member of The Men In Black, she also gets some great jokes in the film. Will Smith is charming, witty, and adorable. You love to see him on screen and you want more of him. Watching MIB III reminds us how much we have missed Will Smith these past 3 years on screen. He had such a star power, he's a guy you just want to hang out with. He brings alot of fun and emotion to Agent J as he tries to save his best friend and partner.
This film is more for a 13 and over audience. The lanuage is a little out there and there are a few curses in there. Not a movie you should be taking kids to. Just because there are aliens and it's funny does not mean it's for kids. I would say it's fine for the teens....probably nothing they have not heard before. Very funny and made me laugh out loud! Plus is does a great job of tieing in all of the other films. I say if you liked the first two, you will love this.
Magic Mike
Magic Mike is a movie that proves that women are just as nasty as men! We love to watch sexy men strip down and dance like the freaky little beasts they are. I'm still a little flustered from all the grinding and thrusting. I must warn you this is not a film for children and it is rated R for a reason....lots of buns and chests. The film is not for kids or the easily embarrassed because this film was created to make you blush!
Let's get down to it, it is about Channing Tatum playing stripper/furniture maker Magic Mike. He is a man who is good at what he does and is trying to save enough money to get his custom furniture business off the ground. Mike meets Adam, played by Alex Pettyfer who is a down on his luck 19 year old college football drop out. He is attractive and a little shy. When we met him he is sleeping on his sister Brooke's sofa, played by Cody Horn. One night Mike feels bad and takes Adam to the strip club where he works. Mike introduces Adam to Dallas the owner, played by Matthew McConaughey. He allows Adam to start stripping at the club.
The strip club consists of some sexy beautiful muscle men that we really love to watch. We have Ken, Tito, Tarzan, Big Dick Richie, and bouncer Tobias played by Matt Bomer, Adam Rodriquez, Kevin Nash, Joe Manganiello, and Gabriel Ingesias. This crew is the talent of Tampa Bay Florida and the ladies come for the action.
The movie basically consists of strip dances, freaky tricks, and once and for a while a little bit of story. Mike is so charming that you can not help but like him. At the same time the man can dance like no other! The plot and story are pretty simple. We learn about the characters and the way that they grow and change over the corse of a summer.
To be perfectly honest, a friend made the comment that you mess up the movie with too much talking. Most women are there to 'watch the show'. This movie is the reason why so many girls are single....we want Channing Tatum to fall in love with us. He has the whole package in this movie, charm, class, compassion, and a freaky dark side!! LOVE IT!
OVER ALL ; A-
Let's get down to it, it is about Channing Tatum playing stripper/furniture maker Magic Mike. He is a man who is good at what he does and is trying to save enough money to get his custom furniture business off the ground. Mike meets Adam, played by Alex Pettyfer who is a down on his luck 19 year old college football drop out. He is attractive and a little shy. When we met him he is sleeping on his sister Brooke's sofa, played by Cody Horn. One night Mike feels bad and takes Adam to the strip club where he works. Mike introduces Adam to Dallas the owner, played by Matthew McConaughey. He allows Adam to start stripping at the club.
The strip club consists of some sexy beautiful muscle men that we really love to watch. We have Ken, Tito, Tarzan, Big Dick Richie, and bouncer Tobias played by Matt Bomer, Adam Rodriquez, Kevin Nash, Joe Manganiello, and Gabriel Ingesias. This crew is the talent of Tampa Bay Florida and the ladies come for the action.
The movie basically consists of strip dances, freaky tricks, and once and for a while a little bit of story. Mike is so charming that you can not help but like him. At the same time the man can dance like no other! The plot and story are pretty simple. We learn about the characters and the way that they grow and change over the corse of a summer.
To be perfectly honest, a friend made the comment that you mess up the movie with too much talking. Most women are there to 'watch the show'. This movie is the reason why so many girls are single....we want Channing Tatum to fall in love with us. He has the whole package in this movie, charm, class, compassion, and a freaky dark side!! LOVE IT!
OVER ALL ; A-
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Battleship
I'm all about action and adventure, bad acting is something that bothers me. I was very interested when I heard that they were making Battleship into a movie. First off I was very confused because how were they going to do and would they be able to pull it off. I am happy to say yes they did pull it off. The movie brings fantastic special effects and beautiful settings into a modern art or war type story. The film takes it's young stars and pulls them into situations where they will either grow and survive or be selfish and parish. The film stars Taylor Kitsch as our young and rebellious Lt. Alex Hoper who can not figure out what to do with his life. His borhter Commander Stone Haopper is played by the charming and loyal Alexander Skarsgard. Liam Neeson stars as the brave and strong Admiral Shane and his daughter and Alex's girlfriend is Sam, played by the lovely Brooklyn Decker.We also have Rihanna in her acting debut as Petty Officer Cora Raikes.
The film starts with the Hopper brothers trying to find purpose and meaning. Stone uses the Navy to find his place and Alex tries to gain the heart of Sam. We also see the the government is sending out a radio signal to outer space to a planet that has a similar environment to ours. A few years later we see the Hopper boys are at the anual Navy training games with ships from all over the world. That same day ships fall from the sky and Hawii is locked into a shield and is invaded from an enemy out of this world.
I was shocked that the movie made a big effort to show the dark and forgotten sides of war. Sam works at a military rehabillitation center and we see all these amazing men and woman who have lost parts of their body for their country. As an audience we feel the pain of a fallen soldier and the fear of what to do now that they are not one. There is also a poitn in the movie of remembering those that have fought before us. At one point the modern Navy must as the help of former Navy vets in order to fight back for their planet. It shows this respect of your elders, past, and those that have given so much for our freedoms. I was not expecting such a heartfelt and obvisous message from the filmmaker.
The special effects are fantastic and so believible. I honestly thought that there were real spaceships flying around at sea. You are not sure what is real and what is not. Even the Aliens themselves seem so real that you are not sure what is CGI and what is real. I was very impressed with the action and the way it was tied into the batteship game. I was on the edge of my seating waiting for the next attack or the next moment I would jump out of my seat. Bravo for action.
There were only two things that I didn't like in this movie....product placement was TERRIBLE. Everywhere you looked there was a Coke Zero sign or someone was drinking it. There were a few others that actually made me roll my eyes because it was not even suttle! I also thought that the acting by the main cast was great but the smaller roles the acting was comical! I mean seriously funny and I coulf not believe they could not get a better actor in there! I found myself laughing at the smaller roles because you could tell they were reading a script. Rihanna did an ok job in the movie. Most of her lines were simple and her yelling. She did an ok job at that....she should probably stick to singing. She was not terrible but you could tell it was out of her comfort zone.
Over all it was an entertaining movie that will keep you guessing. Looking for something fun and you have already seen Avengers....go check this one out. you have been warned about the terrible acting but other than that the action was pretty sweet!
The film starts with the Hopper brothers trying to find purpose and meaning. Stone uses the Navy to find his place and Alex tries to gain the heart of Sam. We also see the the government is sending out a radio signal to outer space to a planet that has a similar environment to ours. A few years later we see the Hopper boys are at the anual Navy training games with ships from all over the world. That same day ships fall from the sky and Hawii is locked into a shield and is invaded from an enemy out of this world.
I was shocked that the movie made a big effort to show the dark and forgotten sides of war. Sam works at a military rehabillitation center and we see all these amazing men and woman who have lost parts of their body for their country. As an audience we feel the pain of a fallen soldier and the fear of what to do now that they are not one. There is also a poitn in the movie of remembering those that have fought before us. At one point the modern Navy must as the help of former Navy vets in order to fight back for their planet. It shows this respect of your elders, past, and those that have given so much for our freedoms. I was not expecting such a heartfelt and obvisous message from the filmmaker.
The special effects are fantastic and so believible. I honestly thought that there were real spaceships flying around at sea. You are not sure what is real and what is not. Even the Aliens themselves seem so real that you are not sure what is CGI and what is real. I was very impressed with the action and the way it was tied into the batteship game. I was on the edge of my seating waiting for the next attack or the next moment I would jump out of my seat. Bravo for action.
There were only two things that I didn't like in this movie....product placement was TERRIBLE. Everywhere you looked there was a Coke Zero sign or someone was drinking it. There were a few others that actually made me roll my eyes because it was not even suttle! I also thought that the acting by the main cast was great but the smaller roles the acting was comical! I mean seriously funny and I coulf not believe they could not get a better actor in there! I found myself laughing at the smaller roles because you could tell they were reading a script. Rihanna did an ok job in the movie. Most of her lines were simple and her yelling. She did an ok job at that....she should probably stick to singing. She was not terrible but you could tell it was out of her comfort zone.
Over all it was an entertaining movie that will keep you guessing. Looking for something fun and you have already seen Avengers....go check this one out. you have been warned about the terrible acting but other than that the action was pretty sweet!
The Count Of Monte Cristo
You all know how much I like to throw in a random movie that challenges my few readers to go out and experience something new and awesome! Well the movie of the week is The Count of Monte Cristo the 2002 version. The film is based on the classic story by Alexandre Dumas Pere and has had many interpretations over the years. This is my favorite because of the combination of cast, setting, and script. I also love this film because it shows that a story can be a few hundred years old and still hold value in today's world.
The movie stars Jim Caviezel as Edmond Dantes a second mate of a small ship. His fiance is Dagmara Dominczyk as Mercedes and she is lovely and enchanting. Their best friend is Guy Pearce as Fernand Mondego, the son of a count. The film begins with Edmond being accussed of a crime he is not commit. He was sent away to prison by J.F. Villefort, played by James Frain. We learn that he is sent away because has information on Villfort's family and wants no one to know about it. While in prison for 4 years Edmond one day meets a man who pops up out of the floor. He is Abbe Faria or Priest, played by the talented and dearly departed Richard Harris. Priest tells Edmond that he will teach him everything he knows if he will assist him in digging out of prison. Edmond agrees and a friendship is born out of pure chance.
Priest tells Edmond that he knows the location of a massive treasure and he gives Edmond a map. I won't tell you how but Edmond ends up out and able to find this treasure with the help of his new friend Jacopo played by Luis Guzman. Edmond makes it his life's goal to destroy all of those that have made him suffer all of these years. He makes himself The Count of Monte Cristo and slowly starts to ruin the lives of all those that betrayed him.
The movie is beautiful with amazing scenes and settings. Even in the dark and gloomy prison the colors are vivid orange and brown. Once in Paris the colors turn much warmer than the beach and sea colors we are so use to. As the Count, he covers himself with Red and blue as where Edmond wore browns and grays. Even Jacopo dresses in vivid lively colors. Fernand tends to stay with the simple white and black but do not let that fool you, he is anything but simple. Mercedes is so beautiful is does not matter what color she is in. When she is with Edmond she wear simple blues and yellow....simple clothes for a simple happy life. When she is with Fernand she wears deeper red and purples but she is in pain and torn from the life she knew.
The actors in this film are so real and human. They are flawed as much as the rest of us. Richard Harris plays a memorable and deeply torn man. He is ashamed of his past and tries to dedicate his life to God and retribution. Jim as Edmond shows some much growth from the innocent second mate, to the lonely prisoner, to the bitter trouble man filled with revenge. By the end of the film you do not even remember the old Edmond because The Count has changed him so much. Guy Pearce is the man you love to hate. He is charming but sneaky and you are sure if you can believe anything he says. Plus Guy plays the odd man out so well. I really enjoyed Dagmara because she was in so much pain and suffering but still managed to be strong and stand up for what she believed in. She is a modern woman trapped in a traditional world.
If you need a great movie to watch...go get this one! One of my all time favorites!
Action: Yes
Adventure: Some
Romance: Sort of
Over All: A
The movie stars Jim Caviezel as Edmond Dantes a second mate of a small ship. His fiance is Dagmara Dominczyk as Mercedes and she is lovely and enchanting. Their best friend is Guy Pearce as Fernand Mondego, the son of a count. The film begins with Edmond being accussed of a crime he is not commit. He was sent away to prison by J.F. Villefort, played by James Frain. We learn that he is sent away because has information on Villfort's family and wants no one to know about it. While in prison for 4 years Edmond one day meets a man who pops up out of the floor. He is Abbe Faria or Priest, played by the talented and dearly departed Richard Harris. Priest tells Edmond that he will teach him everything he knows if he will assist him in digging out of prison. Edmond agrees and a friendship is born out of pure chance.
Priest tells Edmond that he knows the location of a massive treasure and he gives Edmond a map. I won't tell you how but Edmond ends up out and able to find this treasure with the help of his new friend Jacopo played by Luis Guzman. Edmond makes it his life's goal to destroy all of those that have made him suffer all of these years. He makes himself The Count of Monte Cristo and slowly starts to ruin the lives of all those that betrayed him.
The movie is beautiful with amazing scenes and settings. Even in the dark and gloomy prison the colors are vivid orange and brown. Once in Paris the colors turn much warmer than the beach and sea colors we are so use to. As the Count, he covers himself with Red and blue as where Edmond wore browns and grays. Even Jacopo dresses in vivid lively colors. Fernand tends to stay with the simple white and black but do not let that fool you, he is anything but simple. Mercedes is so beautiful is does not matter what color she is in. When she is with Edmond she wear simple blues and yellow....simple clothes for a simple happy life. When she is with Fernand she wears deeper red and purples but she is in pain and torn from the life she knew.
The actors in this film are so real and human. They are flawed as much as the rest of us. Richard Harris plays a memorable and deeply torn man. He is ashamed of his past and tries to dedicate his life to God and retribution. Jim as Edmond shows some much growth from the innocent second mate, to the lonely prisoner, to the bitter trouble man filled with revenge. By the end of the film you do not even remember the old Edmond because The Count has changed him so much. Guy Pearce is the man you love to hate. He is charming but sneaky and you are sure if you can believe anything he says. Plus Guy plays the odd man out so well. I really enjoyed Dagmara because she was in so much pain and suffering but still managed to be strong and stand up for what she believed in. She is a modern woman trapped in a traditional world.
If you need a great movie to watch...go get this one! One of my all time favorites!
Action: Yes
Adventure: Some
Romance: Sort of
Over All: A
SAFE
It's hardly a shocker when you hear of another action movie starring...you guessed it Jason Statham. Now don't get me wrong, he is very good at what he does. He is a great piece of eye candy and he is amazing at his skill. The movie Safe was no different...there is action, a bit of drama, some one liners, and blood. The movie starts of with Statham winning a fight and some Russians that lost money on him ruin his life. They tell him he will never be able to have contact with people again or they will kill them...and they do. So Statham wanders the street of New York as a homeless man. During this time we see a little girl wonder name Mei who can remember any number or code you tell her. She is taken by the Chinese drug lords and forced to memorize all of their numbers....no paper trails. She is sent to New York to keep an eye on ChinaTown and their holdings.
Well the Russian try to steal the girl because of a code she has in her head and the Chinese want her back. Well then we find out that the NYPD dirty cops want in on the money too so all these groups are after this one little girl. As she is trying to run and hide from them, Jason Statham sees her and saves her. He then makes it is mission/purpose to save this girl and keep her safe...hint hint from the title. So he tears apart New York and we learn all about his secret past.
The movie is not bad....it has alot of one liners that are funny. The action is awesome and very intense. Statham is beautiful and memorizing to watch.....I now understand why men drool over hot women because I was swooning over him! The story is not the best thing I have ever seen but far from the worse. It lacked depth but it was entertaining and engaging.
The little girl Mei was adorable and spunky as the girl who didn't know who to trust. It is very hard to remember who any of the other characters are, they kind of all blend into one. Most of them are killed off right away so it really doesn't matter.
If you are in the mood for action and mindless entertainment, this is your film. It is the typical guy muscle man movie but it's Statham and he's awesome. I would not buy it, you don't have to see it in theater, but rent it if you are looking for entertainment!
Action: yes
Adventure: Yeah
Drama: eh?
Over All: C+
Well the Russian try to steal the girl because of a code she has in her head and the Chinese want her back. Well then we find out that the NYPD dirty cops want in on the money too so all these groups are after this one little girl. As she is trying to run and hide from them, Jason Statham sees her and saves her. He then makes it is mission/purpose to save this girl and keep her safe...hint hint from the title. So he tears apart New York and we learn all about his secret past.
The movie is not bad....it has alot of one liners that are funny. The action is awesome and very intense. Statham is beautiful and memorizing to watch.....I now understand why men drool over hot women because I was swooning over him! The story is not the best thing I have ever seen but far from the worse. It lacked depth but it was entertaining and engaging.
The little girl Mei was adorable and spunky as the girl who didn't know who to trust. It is very hard to remember who any of the other characters are, they kind of all blend into one. Most of them are killed off right away so it really doesn't matter.
If you are in the mood for action and mindless entertainment, this is your film. It is the typical guy muscle man movie but it's Statham and he's awesome. I would not buy it, you don't have to see it in theater, but rent it if you are looking for entertainment!
Action: yes
Adventure: Yeah
Drama: eh?
Over All: C+
Friday, May 4, 2012
The Avengers
FINALLY!!!! I have been waiting years and years to see The Avengers! I am a big comic book movie fan and this was like the icing on the cake! We have 5 amazing individual movies coming together to form one huge mega movie. Those five movies would be Captain America, Ironman, Ironman2, The Incredible Huld, and Thor, all of which were fantastic stand alone films. Marvel put all of these characters into the same universe and showed us how it would work. A film like this has never been done! It was one of those films where it would either work and be brilliant or fail and suck. Now the line has been drawn and some critics have not liked the movie...well I loved it!
The film starts off with Director Fury, Hawkeye, Agent Maria Hill, Agent Coulson, and Dr. Eric Selvig (Played by Samuel L Jackson, Jeremy Renner, Cobie Smulder, Clark Gregg, and Stellan Skargard) working with the energy source they found during World War II. Now those of you that know your films know this was an endless energy source discovered by The Red Skull and it was brought to Earth from Asgaurd (Loki and Thor's home planet). This is interrupted by a doorway opening and Loki appearing. Loki has come to Earth to take over and crown himself king. Now there is alot that happens but I'm not going to tell you....no spoilers from me!
So The Avengers must come together for the good of mankind! We must bring together some very large egos and see what will happen. We have Tony Stark/Iron Man, Steve Rogers/Captain America, Bruce Banner/Hulk, Natasha Romanoff/BlackWidow, and Thor (Robert Downey Jr, Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Scarlett Johansson, and Chris Hemsworth) coming together. They are all very strong personalities so the trouble is can they stop their petty bickering and keep it together long enough to save the world!!??
The special effects in this movie are AMAZING. I could not tell what was real and what was not. They all made sense within this larger than life film. When there was action there was a ton of action. You are on the edge of your seat waiting for something else to go wrong or for someone else to show up! The other world moments were so fantastic and The Hulk looked so real, I thought he was real. It did not look CGI at all!
All of the actors were fantastic in this film. Chis Evans was the fantastic down to Earth one that is just trying to keep the peace. Robery Downey Jr is FANTASTIC with his one liners and his chemistry with our dear Pepper Potts, played by Gwyenth Paltrow. He also has the energy to push the other Avengers beyond what they want to do. Thor is still torn between what he should do and what is right. He loves his brother and you believe he is so torn between fighting his brother and trying to save him. You can tell he still loves Loki and it is his brother no matter what he does. Tom Hiddleston as Loki is always raw pain and talent. He is filled with so much rage and bitterness but he is still really likable. Jeremy Renner makes me swoon when I see Hawkeye....perfect down to his bow welding kick butt self. I found myself wanting to know more about his back story and his connection with the bas A$$ Black Window. She was very enjoyable this film because we saw she had heart and was not just a SHIELD agent. Mark as The Hulk was the best portrayal I have EVER seen of that character. I believed in his confused state and that inner rage just fighting to break out. I wanted more of The Hulk, which shocked me because I'm not a big Hulk fan...but this movie made me one! All the SHIELD agents were great, fighting soldiers for a planet they loved and heroes they prayed for.
I really enjoyed the film and it connected all of the other films together. I hope they make another group Avenger movie but until then we have Iron Man 3, Thor 2 and Captain America 2 coming out! Fingers crossed for another group party film! If the numbers are what they say they are.....I bet there will be an Avengers 2!!
Action: Yes
Adventure: Yes
Humor: Stark....hello yes!
Over all: A!!!
The film starts off with Director Fury, Hawkeye, Agent Maria Hill, Agent Coulson, and Dr. Eric Selvig (Played by Samuel L Jackson, Jeremy Renner, Cobie Smulder, Clark Gregg, and Stellan Skargard) working with the energy source they found during World War II. Now those of you that know your films know this was an endless energy source discovered by The Red Skull and it was brought to Earth from Asgaurd (Loki and Thor's home planet). This is interrupted by a doorway opening and Loki appearing. Loki has come to Earth to take over and crown himself king. Now there is alot that happens but I'm not going to tell you....no spoilers from me!
So The Avengers must come together for the good of mankind! We must bring together some very large egos and see what will happen. We have Tony Stark/Iron Man, Steve Rogers/Captain America, Bruce Banner/Hulk, Natasha Romanoff/BlackWidow, and Thor (Robert Downey Jr, Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Scarlett Johansson, and Chris Hemsworth) coming together. They are all very strong personalities so the trouble is can they stop their petty bickering and keep it together long enough to save the world!!??
The special effects in this movie are AMAZING. I could not tell what was real and what was not. They all made sense within this larger than life film. When there was action there was a ton of action. You are on the edge of your seat waiting for something else to go wrong or for someone else to show up! The other world moments were so fantastic and The Hulk looked so real, I thought he was real. It did not look CGI at all!
All of the actors were fantastic in this film. Chis Evans was the fantastic down to Earth one that is just trying to keep the peace. Robery Downey Jr is FANTASTIC with his one liners and his chemistry with our dear Pepper Potts, played by Gwyenth Paltrow. He also has the energy to push the other Avengers beyond what they want to do. Thor is still torn between what he should do and what is right. He loves his brother and you believe he is so torn between fighting his brother and trying to save him. You can tell he still loves Loki and it is his brother no matter what he does. Tom Hiddleston as Loki is always raw pain and talent. He is filled with so much rage and bitterness but he is still really likable. Jeremy Renner makes me swoon when I see Hawkeye....perfect down to his bow welding kick butt self. I found myself wanting to know more about his back story and his connection with the bas A$$ Black Window. She was very enjoyable this film because we saw she had heart and was not just a SHIELD agent. Mark as The Hulk was the best portrayal I have EVER seen of that character. I believed in his confused state and that inner rage just fighting to break out. I wanted more of The Hulk, which shocked me because I'm not a big Hulk fan...but this movie made me one! All the SHIELD agents were great, fighting soldiers for a planet they loved and heroes they prayed for.
I really enjoyed the film and it connected all of the other films together. I hope they make another group Avenger movie but until then we have Iron Man 3, Thor 2 and Captain America 2 coming out! Fingers crossed for another group party film! If the numbers are what they say they are.....I bet there will be an Avengers 2!!
Action: Yes
Adventure: Yes
Humor: Stark....hello yes!
Over all: A!!!
The Raven
Quoth the raven....nevermore. A fantastic and chilling line from Edgar Allan Poe's timeless haunting classic The Raven. Edgar Allan Poe was a poet who was not afraid to show his dark outlook on life. He would write the horrors that the people dreamt of and the fears we all have inside us. The film The Raven starring John Cusack as Edgar Allan Poe puts a modern spin on this classic writers life. Now my readers should remember this is a work of fiction with some true facts about Poe's life mixed in. The Raven takes place during the later years of Poe's life after he ha written most of his famous works. The film starts with a down in his luck Edgar Allan Poe wandering the streets of Baltimore alone and drunk. Hardly anyone knows who he is and no one will publish him because he is not writing stories but reviews of other people's work.
One night a murder is committed in Baltimore and Detective Fields, played by Luke Evans, is called on the case. This murder seems familiar and creates a sense of Duja Vu with Fields. He realises that it is a gruesome killing right out of one of the stories of Edgar Allan Poe. Fields calls on Edgar for his unholy knowledge in the tale and in turn the case. More murders start to turn up and the city of Baltimore is in chaos as the killer uses Poe as inspiration.
The film is by far Bloody, disturbing and gruesome. At one point I even had to look away because the blood was so intense...but still well done. I never pictured Poe's stories as clean and fluffy but this movies brings their true darkness to form. The costuming of this film is beautiful and haunting. The masks in the ball scene are amazing and I seriously want to now have a masked ball around Halloween. The coats in this movie fly about like capes and like the wings of a raven.
The colors of the movie are so drastic from one another. The film itself is very dark tones, lots of blacks and greys. Even scene during the day have a heavy fog that suffocate the characters. The character of Emily, played by the stunning Alice Eve, wears alot of lite blue and white. Poe and Fields wear black coats with white shirts, very dark with their dark features. I think the reason the death scenes are also to effective is the use of the color red. It stands out so much and is disturbing in this world of blue and black. The vivid red of blood splattered across the screen intensifies the feeling of terror and dread.
The acting in this film was very real and disturbed, I mean that in the best possible way. Cusack is disturbing, witty, and emotional as the torn and lost Poe. He is a man that life has treated so cruelly and he managed to continue on. He is finally allowing himself to love again and all hell breaks loose. Cusack goes from angry drunk to lost lover at the spill of a drop of blood. I enjoyed his performance very much and I feel like he will not get the recognition he deserves.
Luke Evans is stunning and charming as the lovely Detective Fields. He is trying so hard to prove himself but has the passion of a normal man. I wish he would have been on screen more, his acting is so real that you forget he is acting. You think that Luke Evans IS Detective Fields! I am very excited to see how far his career will go because the man just drips with pure raw talent.
I really enjoyed the film but I was a very big fan of the ending....not the end....I thought it ended rather well but the build up to the end was disappointing. I think part of that was my own personal desire for the film not to end. The film is action packed and if you are a Poe fan you will be very entertained. The movie slides in little hints about the short stories written by Poe and if you know his stories you will not be disappointed. You will also never read The Pit and The Pendulum the same way again!
Action: yes
Adventre: A little
Puzzles....YES
Over all: B+
One night a murder is committed in Baltimore and Detective Fields, played by Luke Evans, is called on the case. This murder seems familiar and creates a sense of Duja Vu with Fields. He realises that it is a gruesome killing right out of one of the stories of Edgar Allan Poe. Fields calls on Edgar for his unholy knowledge in the tale and in turn the case. More murders start to turn up and the city of Baltimore is in chaos as the killer uses Poe as inspiration.
The film is by far Bloody, disturbing and gruesome. At one point I even had to look away because the blood was so intense...but still well done. I never pictured Poe's stories as clean and fluffy but this movies brings their true darkness to form. The costuming of this film is beautiful and haunting. The masks in the ball scene are amazing and I seriously want to now have a masked ball around Halloween. The coats in this movie fly about like capes and like the wings of a raven.
The colors of the movie are so drastic from one another. The film itself is very dark tones, lots of blacks and greys. Even scene during the day have a heavy fog that suffocate the characters. The character of Emily, played by the stunning Alice Eve, wears alot of lite blue and white. Poe and Fields wear black coats with white shirts, very dark with their dark features. I think the reason the death scenes are also to effective is the use of the color red. It stands out so much and is disturbing in this world of blue and black. The vivid red of blood splattered across the screen intensifies the feeling of terror and dread.
The acting in this film was very real and disturbed, I mean that in the best possible way. Cusack is disturbing, witty, and emotional as the torn and lost Poe. He is a man that life has treated so cruelly and he managed to continue on. He is finally allowing himself to love again and all hell breaks loose. Cusack goes from angry drunk to lost lover at the spill of a drop of blood. I enjoyed his performance very much and I feel like he will not get the recognition he deserves.
Luke Evans is stunning and charming as the lovely Detective Fields. He is trying so hard to prove himself but has the passion of a normal man. I wish he would have been on screen more, his acting is so real that you forget he is acting. You think that Luke Evans IS Detective Fields! I am very excited to see how far his career will go because the man just drips with pure raw talent.
I really enjoyed the film but I was a very big fan of the ending....not the end....I thought it ended rather well but the build up to the end was disappointing. I think part of that was my own personal desire for the film not to end. The film is action packed and if you are a Poe fan you will be very entertained. The movie slides in little hints about the short stories written by Poe and if you know his stories you will not be disappointed. You will also never read The Pit and The Pendulum the same way again!
Action: yes
Adventre: A little
Puzzles....YES
Over all: B+
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Easy Virtue
You know how much I love my readers to expand their horizons when it comes to film. I love finding a random movie that is a stroke of pure genius! As some of you know, I have been on a little...tiny....ok it's a big Colin Firth Kick. If he wasn't so brilliant I wouldn't have to write about him! Wow I think that is almost the exact same thing I said in my Dorian Gray review. Like I said the man is pure brilliance wrapped up in a fabulous web of Mr. Darcy, Mark Darcy, and British Charm....it can't be helped. Anyways....I digress!
So this week I got a hold of a little British film called Easy Virtue and what a fantastic film it was. The film takes place during the 1920's in the country side of England. The Whittaker family owns one of the biggest farms in the area. Young John Whittaker, played by Ben Barnes, went out into the world to sow his wild oats and came home with a racing wild woman wife Larita, played by Jessica Biel. Veronica Whittaker, played by Kristin Scott Thomas is less than thrilled and even more discouraged when she finds out Larita is American. John's father Jim Whittaker, played by Colin Firth, seems to adore Larita. Jim and Larita both seem like outsiders in this world of tradition and country living.
It becomes battle of the Mrs. Whittakers with Larita and Veronica butting heads right away. Larita is a race car driver and wants to leave the country as soon as she can. Veronica draws John back into family life and that is where the war begins. Larita seems to be failing at everything traditional and she becomes fast friends with Jim. We find that after World War I John took off to Paris and one day 'wandered home'. Ever since he keeps to himself and tries to support Larita and every possible gallant way.
The movie is filled with tons of dry British humor. I busted out laughing more than once, it is quick wit and timing. Colin Firth makes the film his own, every line he speaks is pure hilarity or true heart. He will having you laughing one minute and your heart breaking the next. Jessica Biel is beyond lovely and charming and this confused American trying to survive the British countryside. Ben Barnes is so innocent and sweet that you almost get a toothache! Kristen is so evil and manipulative you wonder how her children have not turned out more insane. The family does have little quirks that are on the verge of ridiculous.
There are so many amazing moments in this film. There is a fox hunt of epic proportions, modern music that makes you smile, and a tango between Biel and Firth that will make you drool. I say if you enjoy dry British humor with a bit of heart, check this movie out ASAP!
Action: Not Really
Humor: Tons
Heart: Yeah
Swoon Moments: Tons!
Over All: A-/B+
So this week I got a hold of a little British film called Easy Virtue and what a fantastic film it was. The film takes place during the 1920's in the country side of England. The Whittaker family owns one of the biggest farms in the area. Young John Whittaker, played by Ben Barnes, went out into the world to sow his wild oats and came home with a racing wild woman wife Larita, played by Jessica Biel. Veronica Whittaker, played by Kristin Scott Thomas is less than thrilled and even more discouraged when she finds out Larita is American. John's father Jim Whittaker, played by Colin Firth, seems to adore Larita. Jim and Larita both seem like outsiders in this world of tradition and country living.
It becomes battle of the Mrs. Whittakers with Larita and Veronica butting heads right away. Larita is a race car driver and wants to leave the country as soon as she can. Veronica draws John back into family life and that is where the war begins. Larita seems to be failing at everything traditional and she becomes fast friends with Jim. We find that after World War I John took off to Paris and one day 'wandered home'. Ever since he keeps to himself and tries to support Larita and every possible gallant way.
The movie is filled with tons of dry British humor. I busted out laughing more than once, it is quick wit and timing. Colin Firth makes the film his own, every line he speaks is pure hilarity or true heart. He will having you laughing one minute and your heart breaking the next. Jessica Biel is beyond lovely and charming and this confused American trying to survive the British countryside. Ben Barnes is so innocent and sweet that you almost get a toothache! Kristen is so evil and manipulative you wonder how her children have not turned out more insane. The family does have little quirks that are on the verge of ridiculous.
There are so many amazing moments in this film. There is a fox hunt of epic proportions, modern music that makes you smile, and a tango between Biel and Firth that will make you drool. I say if you enjoy dry British humor with a bit of heart, check this movie out ASAP!
Action: Not Really
Humor: Tons
Heart: Yeah
Swoon Moments: Tons!
Over All: A-/B+
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