Movie Review: Green Lantern

Ok. Let me go right straight to it and say that Green Lantern wasn't bad but it's far from excellent. At best, it was your typical yet decently made superhero adaptation.

Plot wise, it was extremely straight forward - practically to a fault. It was thinly written and everything was just awfully too convenient. Plus, countless subplots were introduced throughout the film and largely went nowhere. With that, some of the characterization obviously ended up weak and a tad derivative.

Good thing, the special effects were actually pretty good. I thought the visuals were at their best when Hal's in the other planet. The concept and delivery of the energy-created suit and some of the constructs were also quite stunning. My personal favorite though was when Parallax was sucking whatever it was from the bones of random creatures. Haha. Yes, some of it got pretty engrossing at times. The action sequences were pretty rad as well, if a bit few. Could I have used more? Absolutely. But I thought it was enough for an introductory film.

Now, the casting ensemble, I thought, was done correctly as most of them came off surprisingly pretty likable. Ryan Reynolds was actually very charming as the lead. I seriously doubted if he'll be able to pull off the role, but he was actually better than I expected. I did question if he wanted to be a wisecracking douche or a man of honor - shifting between the two pretty quickly was less believable - but it was more on the writing than his performance.

Blake Lively, on the other hand, started off pretty generic, but she slightly evolved into something more than the usual love interest. I thought she added her own charm to the character. Yes, I didn't find myself invested in her relationship with Ryan Reynolds, but whatever. Mark Strong also gave a pretty solid performance even with the little material he was given and the rest of the supporting cast were competent, at the very least.

As for Peter Sarsgaard, I thought he was pretty good as Hector Hammond. The only problem I had with him - and Parallax for that matter - was the fact that they didn't appear even remotely threatening. Somehow, a superhero's stature gets elevated by the quality of his villains, and with Green Lantern, the villains weren't menacing or devastating AT ALL.

Oh, and one last thing, I really hated the fact that the introduction to the story was done in a stilted, exposition-heavy monologue. I don't know. It just irked me. Haha.

To be fair, Green Lantern was fairly entertaining. It was just plagued with so many flaws that it can only be described as a missed opportunity. As a single movie for a bit of Hollywood entertainment, it was fine. That's all.

RATING: 6/10

Movie Review: Super 8

Dare I say, one of the strongest summer entries this year. Sure, Super 8 wasn't exactly what I expected after I saw the trailer, but I was extremely pleased at how well it turned out.

The first half of the film was, arguably, a bit slow, but I actually thought that it was an excellent set-up to the story. By the time the big action sequences came in, it had a bigger impact because there was already plenty of build up and character development. Yes, there's a shockingly great deal of character development in this movie.

More than anything, I thought the film dwelt more on its characters - sidelined the science fiction aspect a little bit - which was quite refreshing. I found the relationship between the young group of friends quite flawless. It actually made me care about these characters, which was rare for a movie under this genre.

Of course, it would not have worked if not for the excellent portrayal of the actors. The kids were, for the most part, surprisingly impressive, and it's even more astounding when I consider the fact that some of them - including the lead - were in their first featured film. Joel Courtney did a phenomenal job as the lead. His subtle nuances were absolutely incredible. Elle Fanning also proved herself as a strong and emotional young actress, even possibly better than her older sister Dakota. Kyle Chandler, on the other hand, gave a sense of authority to his character that's not entirely intimidating but worked perfectly fine. The other supporting roles also gave solid performances making this a great acting ensemble.

Now, on a technical standpoint, everything was on point. This excellently directed movie was filled with fantastic special effects, top notch cinematography, lavish production design and sweeping musical score. The train collision, for instance, was handled extremely well. It was visually amazing, but the sound effects on that particular scene was actually a huge drawing point on why one should see this in theaters. I found the scoring so loud, so distinct and so precise that it made me feel like I was actually there. Yes, it was both frightening and exciting. Oh, and the lens flares similar to JJ Abrams' Star Trek was actually a nice touch.

As far as the actual monster went, the design wasn't as cheesy as that in Cloverfield. It's not cliched, it's nothing obvious, and it was something in its own. There were some holes on the monster's separate storyline, but as a whole it achieved what it set out to: scare and put me on the edge of my seat. Haha. There's more I'd like to say, but that's flirting with spoiler territory already, so I'd rather not get into it.

One minor - and it's nitpicking almost - quibble was the ending of the film. It was a bit rushed and abrupt right when I was in the middle of the awe and action. It also left a couple of questions unanswered, and I was maybe wanting a little bit more from it. But, of course, I wouldn't take too much from the whole movie just because of this.

Overall, Super 8 steadily reminded me of E.T, but still was a unique summer flick on its own. It wasn't perfect by any means, but it's a rather brilliant science fiction thriller. Wonderful cast. Solid storyline. Brilliant writing. Amazing sound effects. Stunning special effects. Recently, films under this genre either forgot it's roots or tried too hard to push the limits of visual effects. Well, Super 8 was the savior I've been waiting for.

RATING: 9/10

Movie Review: The Hangover Part II

There's every reason in the world for this movie to suck. It was basically the exact same story in the exact same way as the first film just in a different city. It began predictably and ended predictably and, yes, a lot of the sequences were a direct copy of the original. But while this film had a repetitive nature to it, this sequel seriously didn't disappoint one bit.

Sure, it wasn't quite as good as the first one just because the concept wasn't as fresh as it was two years ago, but The Hangover Part II still successfully achieved a rare balance of character and vulgarity that made the original an instant hit. The movie was still raunchy as f*ck, but this time, the vulgarity was more hardcore and offensive - often times more disturbing - that oddly left me with tears of laughter and my jaw stuck to the floor. Indeed, the whole thing was still unbelievably hysterical.

Thanks to the actors who, yet again, succeeded in their roles admirably. Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms and Zach Galifianakis carried the movie briskly and with real chemistry. I actually thought the hilarious trifecta gave stronger performances compared to the last one. I mean, Bradley Cooper seemed to be a much stronger leader on this film. Ed Helms gave a pretty excellent take on his character, Stu, and I felt like he grounded the film with his descent into insanity with everything Bangkok threw at him. His random reactions throughout the film were beyond hilarious!!

But, yes, it was still Zach Galifianakis who had the biggest share of the film's funniest dialogues. No offense to anyone, but NO ONE plays a weirdo better than Zach. He's certainly far from a versatile actor, but he had this one type of character down to a tee. He had moments where he seemed innocently offensive rather than deliberately offensive, which made things even funnier.

Oh, and I'll just throw it in here: the cinematography, soundtrack, writing and direction were all fantastic the whole way through. No complaints whatsoever.

Ultimately, this sequel was extremely entertaining. I understand why people would criticize this film for lack of originality or just outright laziness and I wouldn't even say that it didn't annoy me to see so much of the same things happen all over again, but who would even go into this film expecting some sort of surprising variation to the story if this exact "formula" actually worked before?

Personally, all it needed was the same level of sustenance the previous one had throughout its running time with it's incredible humor and charm and the film's actually good to go. Just saying.

RATING: 8/10

Movie Review: X-Men: First Class

True, the X-Men franchise has had its own ups and downs. I thought the first two films were brilliant with stunning set pieces and impressive special effects. The third installment struck a middle ground where the spectacle overshadowed the narrative. And as for the Wolverine spin off? Well, it was rubbish, disappointing and the only misstep in the series.

So, yes, I was a bit skeptical about another potential waste of my time. But dare I say, First Class actually put - at the very least - the last two films to shame! No, it wasn't a boundary pushing superhero movie - it's a tad formulaic, a few of the special effects were dated and a bit off, and, yes, the nitpick list could probably go on for a while - but what made the last two mediocre made this splendid.

To me, what stood out the most in this film were the excellent performances of some of the main characters. I thought James McAvoy was charming, intellectual and plain likable. I had doubts that he'll be able to pull off the role, but he was superb. Michael Fassbender also gave a solid performance. Both of them reinvigorated their characters adding further depth, energy and likability, which allowed me to develop an affection to both.

Jennifer Lawrence also gave her character, Mystique, justice. She did struggle on some scenes, but I appreciated her different take on the role. As for the other supporting roles, I actually thought most  of them gave good performances - save for Kevin Bacon, who I honestly didn't get. Haha.

But aside from the performances, I also liked the fact that the film had a pretty rock-solid piece of storytelling - something I didn't necessarily expect from a movie like this. The plot was engaging, understandable and it somehow gave so much more depth to the main characters - a welcome change, which actually convinced me that First Class was a character piece than anything else.

Oh, and I liked the clever way in which all the pieces fell into place as a prequel. It somehow cemented the backdrop and tone for the previous X-Men films. Sure, there were a couple of inconsistencies here and there, but most of it made a lot of sense that I actually didn't mind.

On a technical standpoint, the film ranged from average to fantastic. Visually, some special effects were great, but some could've been executed a lot better. Banshee's flying scenes, for instance, were a little problematic for me. It just didn't measure up to the meticulous execution of most scenes. I also felt like Beast's character design was a little dated. Plus, I thought his lip sync was awful and his aggression was more comical than terrifying. The scoring felt right most of the time, so no complaints on that department whatsoever.

As for the direction, I though Matthew Vaughn was competent. I liked his visual style from his montages that interject comic book visuals to his action scenes. Here he proved that Kick-Ass wasn't a fluke. The pacing and the editing was a little uneven though.

One thing I found extremely tiring though, which also ticked me off, was the geographic jumping from Germany to London to America to Argentina to Russia to London to America to.. Ok, you get the point. Haha. It was just literally all over the place.

Overall, the movie was a surprising treat. It wasn't the amazing film I was hoping for, but it's worth seeing. At the very least, First Class managed to save a series that I had written off. This, to me, would either be the final nail in the coffin or a much needed revival of the franchise. I'm glad it turned out to be the latter.

RATING: 7/10

Movie Review: Insidious

When I learned that this film was from the makers of Paranormal Activity, I was instantly very intrigued to see how they would deliver a new angle to this kind of premise. The result? Somewhat scary - if a bit ridiculous - horror film. Yes, it was unnerving for all the right and wrong reasons. Haha.

Don't get me wrong, there were seriously some terrifying moments throughout the film especially when spirits appeared on screen with unending ease - which stayed in my mind for a while - but when an old woman started wearing a ridiculously looking gas mask to talk to spirits, everything suddenly became silly.

I don't know. The film just lost it during the second half. I mean, I really thought the first forty minutes was chill-inducing as the movie impressively created an atmosphere that was both disturbing and eerie. Everything was present from the loud startling music to the creepy atmosphere and even to some jolting suprises here and there.

But then something happened and everything just went downhill. The storyline became weird and the horror tricks became absurd. That was also the time when I noticed that the costumes and special effects were actually not that sophisticated. Plus, when the camera did an extreme close up of the villain, it looked like some deformed jester dressed up for Halloween. Sure, the image was disturbing and quite unsettling, but it was more weird than scary.

I was actually quite impressed with the explanation of the situation and what can be done to deal with it. I thought it was quite ingeniously conceived and undeniably interesting. But then again, the execution was just a tad disappointing. It didn't live up with the promise of a somewhat fresh take on things. Sad. What rescued the film from being a total disaster though was the incredible acting of Patrick Wilson and Rose Byrne. I thought they carried the film really well and they're one of the reasons why this film was worth watching.

Insidious was nothing special, but I have to say that this was slightly better than your average standard haunted tale. It didn't remotely scare me as it partly lost me halfway through, but it was still pretty entertaining. Let's just say it was half horror and half comedy - something I didn't expect.

RATING: 5/10

Movie Review: Kung Fu Panda 2

Yes, I enjoyed the first Kung Fu Panda. I thought the humor was great, the characters were endearing and the story was actually pretty decent. So, it was shocking to me when I actually found this sequel, Kung Fu Panda 2, better than the original.

I mean, it surprisingly exceeded my expectations in all respects. Not only did this film maintained the same level of appeal the original had, it also cleverly maximized on the elements that made it successful. I felt like some of the characters - especially Tigress - were fleshed out to a point where all of them fit comfortably in the story. True, I would've liked to see more of that character development in the rest of the Furious Five, but that's not something to barf at really.

The humor in this film was also pretty impressive. I dare say that this one was WAY funnier compared to the original. I liked that Jack Black's over-the-top antics were toned down in this, making the humor exactly the right amount at the right time.

Of course, the animation was extremely well done. In terms of texture and the lighting, it was possibly one of the best this year. I found the character animation to be really expressive, the cinematography was great and the frantic martial arts action were energetic and clever. The fight sequences and chases were also greatly orchestrated. Simply put, the visuals were top-notch.

As for the voice talent, I thought most of them were pretty convincing. I kind of enjoyed a fully matured character of Jack Black's Po. There were still a couple of silly dialogues, but I thought he delivered it with an impeccable comedic timing. His random funny comments and quirky attitude really came through in this film. The others were also quite good especially Gary Oldman and Angelina Jolie.

Now, I admit that the storyline could've been better as it was very linear and a bit predictable - just like its predecessor - but I thought it didn't hurt the movie's charm one bit. I expected something more than the usual premise of revenge and discovery, but there's something about it that I found personally very affecting - more so than I would have expected.

Overall, this was a genuinely great movie. With superb animation, interesting characters, not to mention great humor, Kung Fu Panda 2 ranks among the best films Dreamworks has ever done. I'd even on and say that if Cars 2 doesn't completely blow me away, this one (a non-Pixar film) will easily be the best animated film this year - at least for me.

RATING: 9/10

Movie Review: Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

As far as the Pirates of the Caribbean movies go, On Stranger Tides is probably NOT my favorite. It's still very entertaining, but somehow this film lacked the rollicking fun of Curse of the Black Pearl - which to me was the best one - though so much better than the convoluted mess that was At End's World.

Yes, the story itself was exactly what I want from a summer blockbuster. It was fairly simple and in fact, it made clear from the beginning where the story had to go. It was easily understandable and straightforward, but very engaging. Sure, there were a couple of unnecessary twists here and there, but that I thought added a little more depth to the plot of the general story arc. Basically, it's just a plain old adventure that's (thankfully!) not as confusing as the last two films. The writing could've been better, but whatever. Haha.

On a technical standpoint, I thought the movie, once again, delivered. The production values were impeccable, the cinematography was stunning, the set and period recreations were authentic and the special effects were at par with it's contemporaries. Of course, it wasn't perfect as some parts looked shockingly cheap, and there were action scenes that were done with very low lighting and poor camera angle, but that's just me nitpicking already.

I have to say though, the mermaid sequence was absolutely mesmerizing and chilling. It was beautifully shot and quite intriguing to say the least. At some point, I thought the whole movie was missing that special touch from it's previous films, until I saw this sequence. Yes, that to me was the best part of the film. I couldn't say the same thing about the final battle though, as it wasn't executed just as good. It fell a bit flat compared to the past films in terms of scale - basically a rehash.

As for the actors, I thought they did fairly decent in general. Geoffrey Rush was, as usual, brilliant. He - aside from Johnny Depp - got the funniest lines and reaction shots. Ian McShane was surprisingly underwhelming and Penelope Cruz was a reliably welcome, gorgeous presence if a bit one dimensional. The remaining cast did the best with what they were given - to say the least.

Johnny Depp, on the other hand, remained the face of the film. It's a matter of opinion, but this film wouldn't do hald as well if it wasn't for one Johnny Depp. He wasn't scared of a bit of self deprecation and again, he nailed the role of Jack Sparrow - the same guy we all know and love, and he made the film what it was.

Now, where things left off, I'd say there's definitely room for another sequel, but is there really much point at this stage? While this was an improvement from the third film, At World's End, it's still not what I'd class as "Excellent". But I digress. On Stranger Tides satisfied me enough as I wait for the progression of the summer blockbusters of cars that turn into robots, some kid named Harry, a flying green man and that guy with the bullseye on his shield.

RATING: 7/10

Movie Review: Something Borrowed

I've seen a number of romantic comedies, and although this may not be the very best I've ever seen - at least, in this genre - I still enjoyed the movie. It's less of a comedy, but enjoyable nonetheless.

True, the plot seemed a bit formulaic and predictable at times, but the storyline had a few nice surprises up it's sleeves that somehow made this film slightly above average. I admit, this movie made me laugh, (almost) cry and stare in disbelief. The fact that this film evoked such different emotions from me was more than what I was expecting to get from this film.

The characters were also pretty engaging. I thought Ginnifer Goodwin and John Krazinski were the best part of the whole movie. I found Ginnifer's performance believable. She's luminious in most of the scenes she was in, and her delivery of the material was possibly the most satisfying. John, on the other hand, stole the show as the voice of reason. His natural humor and disposition was pretty remarkable, and his one liners were hysterical.

Meanwhile, Kate Hudson was, umm, Kate Hudson. She added a real likability to an unlikeable character, but I felt like she had a hard time getting in touch with it. I don't know. As for Colin Egglesfield, he held his own although I would've liked it if he was less wooden in terms of acting. When he tried to cry, it was like he was battling a severe case of constipation instead of moral conundrum.

Oh, and I honestly think that it would've been a nice touch to have Goodwin's character "narrate" the movie from behind the scenes. I mean, it would connect the audience more to the story than a straightforward - with a couple of flashbacks - type of storytelling. That's just me though.

Overall, it was a nicely done feel good movie. No, it's certainly not going to win any awards or wasn't particularly GREAT cinema, but it all worked out just fine. I walked out of the theater feeling good and refreshed.

 RATING: 6/10

Movie Review: Fast Five

Not that I didn't expect it, but the action in this film was just in your face! I admit, I only saw the original Fast and the Furious movie - and probably saw only glimpses of the rest - but when I saw the trailer of this fifth installment, I knew it was a film not to be missed - and I was right!

Suffice it to say, I thoroughly enjoyed the film. I mean, it did change the formula pretty much - away from car races in order to become a heist movie - but despite that, the story, I thought, conserved the automotive fetish and, yes, the lovely girls. Haha. I was actually pleasantly surprised that the focus now was on the characters and story. A far cry from the humble beginnings of the series.

I'm not saying though that the plot was anything groundbreaking - in parts, it's actually non existent. But the franchise is now five movies deep and if you're expecting for a meaningful story or a thought provoking action drama, you should already know that you are in the wrong place. Fast Five was all about the action, the cars and the girls, and I personally think that it delivered that in spades.

Sure, a lot of the stunts were very far-fetched, unrealistic and way over the top, but I didn't really mind because it's fun and exciting. Explosions, car chases, free-running, you name it. It definitely kept me on the edge of my seat, and occasionally threw me off it. Haha. I thought the action set-pieces were executed perfectly and most of the stunt work were brilliantly interlaced with visual effects. The hand to hand choreography wasn't as visceral as compared to say, any Bourne film, but that's just me nitpicking already.

As for the performances, I found most of them competent. Vin Diesel was overflowing with charisma and credibility for the role. Paul Walker was a little bland along with Jordana Brewster, but I thought they've improved. I enjoyed both Tyrese Gibson and Ludicaris as they were incredibly hysterical. Their rapport with each other provided a lot of great laughs throughout. Oh, and Gal Gadot was interestingly bada*s! Very nice.

All that being said, the movie wasn't perfect. I thought the street racing sequences felt like afterthoughts and the relationship between Vin Diesel and the Brazilian cop wasn't developed enough. And though the pacing was relatively decent, I thought the movie ran on for a little bit longer than what I would have liked. Good thing, the second half put me on the edge of my seat with excellent action choreography that somehow made me forget some boring patches prior to that.

Fast Five wasn't grand cinema - even as far as action movies went. No ground was broken, the schemes were too elaborate and the physics weren't very probable. But movies should be judged primarily on how well they can hold up to the promise of what they try to be. And yes, the movie succeeded on that. A great piece of entertainment.

RATING: 8/10

Movie Review: Scre4m

So, what's my favorite scary movie? The Ring, of course! Haha. It's silly, I know. But seriously, when it comes to scary films in a slasher kind of way, I must say that the Scream franchise tops the list.

Naturally, when I heard the news that another sequel was coming out, my expectations were a bit skeptical just because a new installment could have gone either. Well, I had never been so glad to be wrong! Scream 4, to me, was sort of a minor miracle. It not only furthered the story of the franchise, but it updated it.

No, it's not as good as the original - and I respect that - but it managed to brilliantly stay true to the original concept resulting to possibly the best sequel in the series. I thought the direction of Wes Craven was still great. He once again proved that he has maintained his knack for suspense and solid old school horror. I appreciated the fact that he still invested a substantial amount of time in developing the characters and building up a sense of dread.

The script, on the other hand, was shockingly insightful. It's self-indulgent, witty, generally surprising and yes, hilarious. It also featured a couple of surprises and twists riddled throughout. I admit, I was honestly baffled on who was the actual killer - yes, I avoided spoilers - right up until the very end when all was revealed. And although the motivation was a bit questionable and too shallow for my liking, I somehow didn't mind. 

Now, I'm not going to write anything about the story just because I don't want to give anything away, but one should expect a fairly decent plot. This was, of course, overshadowed by the entertainment factor of the film. I mean, Scre4m was like the original only on steroids. On average, a person dies about every 5 minutes, and I could tell that there was some thought put into it. I know. I know. It should be illegal to be entertained to some of the killings, but I couldn't help it.

As for the performances, I thought they were all pitch-perfect! It was a pleasure to see the original trio back! I was all giddy when I saw Neve Campbell kick some butt in this film and her line "Don't F*ck With The Original" made me want to clap literally. Haha. Hayden Panatierre I thought gave a solid performance and so was Emma Roberts.

Oh, and I just have to say that the opening sequence was absolutely genius. I mean, it's rare to see a perfect combination of horror mixed with comedy crammed into such a short time frame.

Certainly, Scream 4 wasn't too shabby. It had that extremely refreshing "don't take this seriously" vibe and while I don't think it will convert anyone that didn't care much for the original movies, I must say that this was an absolute thrill to watch. Quality suspense. Old-school horror techniques. Perceptive comedy. Possibly the best Scream since the first one.

RATING: 7/10

Movie Review: Thor

To some, Thor is a massive gamble of a film. I mean, this is arguably one comic book character that doesn't have a massive fan base like say, Spiderman, Batman or Captain America. But you know what, this film worked on so many levels - I wasn't even prepared for how satisfying this movie would be.

Of course, the movie delivered on a technical standpoint. It had a plethora of testosterone fueled action and an abundance of mind blowing visual effects, especially the sweeping canvas of Asgard - possibly the most visually impressive film I have seen from Marvel thus far. The production design was also quite impressive. I admit, there were times where it looked a bit fake, but it's almost forgivable based on how spectacular the majority of the special effects were.

Now, a friend told me that the action sequences in this film was minimal compared to it's contemporaries. But while I partly agree with this, I honestly could care less. I mean, the execution of these scenes alone were undeniably great that it was more than satisfying at the very least. Obviously, Thor was like one huge buildup for the Avengers, so nitpicking it for the lack of explosive action packed sequences was a little premature. Don't you think? Personally, Iron Man had the same amount of action scenes.

As for the story, it was pretty much straightforward - just like any other superhero movie - but with a good script, stellar direction and a surprisingly well-timed humor scattered in the film. To me, that humor laced throughout the movie made this incredibly more entertaining. No, it did not take center stage, it didn't detract from the storyline, and it didn't take away from the action, but somehow the hilarious sequences was what made this a cut above the rest. Really.

The casting was also superb as I thought everyone delivered some powerful gravitas to their roles. Chris Hemsworth was perfect for the role of Thor. For someone who's best know for his five-minute appearance as Kirk Sr. in 2009's Star Trek, his portrayal as the lead role was really impressive. Comedy, action, drama and romance - all encompassed perfectly in Hemworth's performance. Natalie Portman, on the other hand, was charming and charismatic as Jane, but I must say that her chemistry with Chris was a bit lacking.

The supporting cast were also pretty solid. Kat Dennings, Anthony Hopkins and Tom Hiddleston all stood out to me. They made the dynamics of this film really interesting, especially Tom Hiddleston, who I now think is the best villain of the Avengers so far.

Thor could have gone either way. This could've been potentially campy and cheesy, but somehow the people behind it turned it into a powerful and strangely relatable story. Possibly the best film Marvel Studios has produced in recent years. Oh, and I'll even go there - the best superhero movie since The Dark Knight. Sue me.

RATING: 9/10

Movie Review: Arthur

Coming from the perspective of someone who didn't see the original movie and went looking for some light-hearted goofiness, this film was just exactly what I wanted. Yes, I found Arthur very appealing, maybe because I approached the film as something new - no comparisons whatsoever.

The premise of the film was so outlandish - as to be almost stupid - and a movie so centralized around spending money and drinking heavily was an indulgence in itself, but it shockingly had a lot of heart in it. I mean, I shouldn't have been moved by anyone in this film - this was supposed to be a comedy, along with Russell Brand's style of humor - and I was almost in tears at several points in the movie. Operative word, almost. Haha.

Indeed, the actors were the core of this movie. Russell Brand, to me, was absolutely adorable as the lead. I loved the banter he engages and he actually added depth to the character who could have easily been one-dimensional. Also, he exhibited quite a range of emotion throughout the film and it was a pleasant surprise. Jennifer Garner seemed out of place most of the time, but I thought she did better than I expected.

Now, I wasn't familiar with Greta Gerwig, but I thought she presented a fresh vibe to the movie. She seemed genuine, deep, innocent and incredibly adorable as well. Helen Mirren, on the other hand, stole the show for the most part. She was charming, sophisticated and she gave the film an entirely new level of likability. I also loved the fact that when a scene had to become serious and there's a need for a real actor to step up, Helen Mirren was there and was more than qualified for the job. Frankly, Brand and Mirren's chemistry was fantastic.

All in all, I honestly think that one's enjoyment of Arthur will all depend on how much one like Russell Brand and his style. But personally, this film took me by complete surprise. It had it's heart in the right place and the message was actually a good one. The delivery was just a little wacky, but hey, sometimes we all need a little bit of crazy in our lives no?

 RATING: 7/10

Movie Review: Justin Bieber: Never Say Never

Was this even necessary? A movie? More so, on 3D? Granted, I'm not the target audience for Justin Bieber, nor I plan to be, but it's still a movie, and movies are supposed to be watchable. And watchable this was, well, not. Sort of.

I have nothing against Bieber, but there was clearly nothing new I learned about the kid here. Just the typical, I am from a small town in Canada, discovered by Scooter yada yada yada. Nothing exciting, nothing new. This movie could have easily been shortened to 30 minutes and show straight to a Biography channel or wherever.

I also would have liked to see an actual interview with Justin Bieber himself, there was no time to reflect on his personality beyond the angelic layer of perfection the media created. All the non-concert footage of him was either old home video footage or just pointless scenes of him rambling to random people backstage.

In fact, the whole "documentary" lacked a certain degree of humanity. Not once in the film did they mention what he's like as an actual person. It's just all about his musical talent and the build-up to his status today. Even the people who talked in interviews throughout the film were his family or management or freeloaders and, of course, they did not say anything negative about him for the sake of keeping the film positive and upbeat. Again, no new insight whatsoever about the Biebs.

Now, as for the production, I didn't get it. AT ALL. The editing was awful. Most of the scenes were cut so quickly that it was almost impossible to take in. The camera work was almost nauseating and the 3D was just as bad. To me, there was nothing in this movie that should have warranted it being in 3D. NOTHING! It was just like two gimmicks - Justin Bieber and 3D - rolled into one. Haha.

There were still - though lacking - a couple of good things to say about it though. I hate to say this, but Bieber actually has a genuine musical talent. I was rather impressed with how good he was with playing the drums at such a young age. And while the concert scenes were badly filmed, I thought the sound was great. The booming audio pulled me into the film and created an almost genuine concert experience. That's about it.

Would I recommend people to watch this? Well, if you're a fan, then yes, this movie is for you. But, if you're someone who dislike or hate Justin Bieber then no. I think this film isn't going to change your opinion and probably may only serve to fuel your dislike for the boy. Haha. Just saying.

RATING: 3/10

Movie Review: Gnomeo and Juliet

Wow. Three animated films in three weeks: Hop, Rio and then this. Animation overload? Not really. I enjoy watching animated flicks just because they're fun and refreshing, and Gnomeo and Juliet was no exception. In fact, it's the most delightful of the three.

Yes, I thoroughly enjoyed this film and I found it to be an imaginative and delightful spin on a timeless classic. The idea in itself sounded horrible on paper and the concept seemed bit absurd, but how it was handled by the people behind it was pretty impressive. It was still pretty generic and predictable - obviously so, considering it's called Gnomeo and Juliet! - but I thought the writers made it shockingly fresh and unique.

I also found this one quite hysterical. I like that the film's humor ranged from daft jokes to wordplay, visual puns,  character humor, situational humor and sight gags - I giggled consistently all the way through. For once, the jokes, I thought, were really funny!

Of course, the visuals were great. There was nothing groundbreaking by any means, but it didn't feel like a dime a dozen animation at all. The colors were bright, the setting was pretty neat and the editing was kind of fun. I did like the character designs quite a bit. I loved how the gnomes were fragile and their texture were pretty spectacular. I was amused by the fact that there was actually a tiny "tink" sound when the gnomes would walk or touch each other.

The soundtrack was also quite unexpected. I mean, I was pleasantly surprised that even Sir Elton John got into the act as his music enhanced the score of the film and they took liberty with his lyrics to add some additional laughs.

Now, the A-list voices was also a top draw on this animated flick. I found both leads - James McAvoy and Emily Blunt - to be quite charming and charismatic. The characters were very cute and they all did sterling work in support of the bright and colorful visuals.

One minor quibble would be the cheesiness overload, but that I could possibly disregard. Just nitpicking maybe. Haha. 

Ultimately, this animated flick was a chock-full of fun visuals with a ton of great one liners and quotes that pulled even the slightest chuckle from me. And yes, that's already saying a lot. It's not the best animated film ever and it never tried to be, but it's absolutely delightful. So, just loosen up, look for a laugh, and you'll probably enjoy this as much as I did.

RATING: 8/10

Movie Review: The Mechanic

I must say, if you're familiar with Jason Statham and his previous films, then expect something of the same style in The Mechanic - and that's not entirely a bad thing, mind you.

Yes, the film wasn't very deep or complex by any means, but I must emphasize that the storyline was shockingly solid and satisfying. It did start off a bit slow as there was little action until about halfway through, but that sets up the story and characters quite nicely. There was a nice pacing of action and drama going on and the tone of the film was generally right.

It was also a bit of a shock that the script wasn't actually as cheesy as I thought. Everything was reasonable and it had a few surprisingly witty one liners, which again was a pleasant surprise. Who knew?

Of course, the action here didn't disappoint one bit. It was filled with mostly stylized and intense fight scene choreography, along with some car stunts and explosives. Everything were nicely shot and edited with some pretty neat scoring. There was nothing too over-the-top, which was refreshing, and it really managed to keep my eyes fixed to the screen. 

Now, as for the cast, I thought everyone did fantastic. Ben Foster, I thought, was really something. He still had that psychotic look in his eyes from his previous works, but he really impressed me as a competent and, arguably, a charismatic action star - with his own unique edge. Jason Statham, on the other hand, was brilliant as the "tough guy with a heart". I thought he played the role effortlessly.

One minor quibble I had with the film was that some parts became a bit repetitive - especially the assassination bit - but that's already me nitpicking. So, whatever.   

Overall, the film had it's flaws like most action films, but the decent acting, solid story, incredible action scenes and good script with a few sharp one liners made this above the average. It's actually good enough to entertain you for roughly 85 minutes.

RATING: 8/10

Movie Review: Rio

Ok. So, the movie did its very best to keep my attention and succeeded to a much higher degree than I expected. Yes, this was not the best animation I have seen EVER, but it managed to stand on its own. It was well produced and very entertaining, to say the least.

Visually, the film was obviously stunning. The colors were vibrant, I found the animation to be really crisp and had a certain vivid visual style and some character designs actually reminded me of Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs. No, this was not, in any way, a breakthrough or a technical milestone, but I think it's just as good as the standard animated films released recently.

The voice cast was also a high point for the movie. I thought Jesse Eisenberg gave the lead character that effortless nerdy vibe. I know it's his usual tone, but the dynamics in his voice added variety to the character. Anne Hathaway, on the other hand, was feisty and that made her character compelling. Of course, the supporting voice casts also delivered great performances, but I thought Will.I.Am and Jamie Foxx - though a bit too much at times - had the perfect comic timing playing off two sort of sidekicks.

Now, the problem I had with the film was that everything was so common - almost a cliche of cliches. The story was too predictable, the ending felt rushed, the musical performances were corny, it had a cliche villains and often hilarious but an unoriginal humor. Don't get me wrong, I have no problems with a formulaic flicks because if done right it can easily lead to an enjoyable film. However, for a genre that had set the bar ridiculously high with films like How To Train Your Dragon, Toy Story 3, and the likes, I'm not so sure if it can even be at par.  

Frankly, this animated film wasn't perfect. Yet despite its shortcomings, it was still vastly entertaining and that's actually all you need. Never a dull moment. I recommend this to anyone who wants some light-hearted entertainment.

 RATING: 7/10

Movie Review: The Roommate

To be honest, this was one of those films that when you first saw the trailer, you think to yourself, "This is going to suck!". But you know what, I was partly wrong - partly being the operative word. Haha.

I thought this was actually a pretty decent thriller - if a bit mediocre. It didn't even come close to meeting the standards of a great suspense /thriller, but I thought the film delivered some interesting chills and even some cheap jump scares. The premise was simple enough - like the usual - and it had the typical slasher set-up with some cheesy dialogues. So, in that context, the movie was mostly at par with it's contemporaries.

The acting was also surprisingly pretty solid. I didn't cringe at the lame screams or badly-acted terrified facial expressions because there weren't any - well, Minka Kelly was debatable, but whatever. Everyone gave performances beyond what I have expected from them.

But the real scene stealer here was possibly Leighton Meester, who I believe was the best part of the film. I mean, she delivered a believable potent performance that totally creeped me out. Vulnerable, but incredibly dangerous. That's pretty impressive, considering the script could have easily led her to portray the role as little more than a shallow monstrous character. Great!

With all that being said though, I must admit that the film had its fair share of irritating flaws. I found the pacing to be incredibly awful. It dragged like forever during the first half and the ending just left me a little confused as everything happened so fast. The editing was also quite annoying. Scenes jumped from one thing to the next in the blink of an eye. It felt choppy and unfocused at times. Plus, the writing could've used a little makeover.

Overall, it was ok. Aside from some lame execution of scenes here and there, The Roommate had plenty of interesting atmosphere and, arguably, a good cast. I'm not so sure if I'd recommend this though. Maybe wait until the DVD copies are available. Just saying.

RATING: 5/10

Movie Review: Hop

For the record, I can enjoy virtually any movie. I guess, all it takes for me is to be in that right frame of mind. So, while I was in my perfect "state" when I watched Hop, something didn't click.

Maybe the lack of some much needed meaningful storyline? I mean, sure, the animation was beautifully done and it was technically pretty good, but all that technical brilliance didn't make up for it's less than satisfying plot. Let's face it, there have been tons of genuinely good animated flicks made in the past couple of years with absolutely incredible - and sometimes quite original - stories that arguably separated them from their contemporaries, this film, however, just didn't cut it.

I thought the attempt to have a parallel story between the two lead characters were clumsy and obvious, nothing interesting actually happened within the story, the characters didn't develop one bit and there was no sense of challenge or danger at any point of the film. Heck, even the one possible exciting element - the Pink Berets - were given nothing to do other than hop from one place to another. Good thing, some of the jokes did work - but then again, the humor had more miss than hits.

As for the actors, I thought they were all decent if a bit unremarkable. James Marsden was likeable enough and so was Rusell Brand's voice, but other than that, they were all forgettable. I have to point out though that David Hasselhoff's cameo was just kind of sad if anything else.

To be honest, I suspect that there's a lot of good intent into this film. At least, it tried something new and approached a holiday that hasn't earned much attention from Hollywood. Sadly, I don't think I'd recommend this film. I feel bad for even saying that, but what can I do? Perhaps the kids will buy into the simple and corny plot, but not the adults who expect a bit more than that.

RATING: 4/10

Movie Review: Source Code

It's such a shame that this film also got an awful advertising - just like Limitless - as there were absolutely no buzz going into it's premiere. It's so unfortunate because Source Code, I dare say, will go down as one of the more underrated films this side of the summer blockbusters. Seriously.

It was clever, oddly engaging and surprisingly focused. Possibly the first movie this year where I felt so compelled to give my full attention to. I got shockingly hooked and was overly interested in every moment of it. And yes, it actually gave me a good adrenalin rush, which recent action/thriller films failed to do so. Who knew?

Frankly, the cleverly crafted storyline was what separated this film from its contemporaries. Sure, the science behind this was a bit confusing and very far-fetched - contrived even - but the premise in itself was interesting and the script was well written and sharp that the story mainly succeeded not because of the science but on the excellent execution of the concept. I liked how the plot was set up quickly and how everything moved at a brisk pace. It also had enough twist and turns that successfully sustained my interest for the whole duration of it.

I was also pretty impressed with how solid the film was on a technical standpoint. I thought the cinematography was stunning, the editing and camera work were often disorienting but in a good way, the scoring had an unsettling tone that clearly fit the situation and the visual effects that were used in some scenes were fantastic. I also found the direction to be outstanding. I mean, everything could have easily been an incoherent mess if things weren't controlled carefully. So, good job!

Now, I also have to give credit to all three principal actors who did amazingly well with their roles. I thought Jake Gyllenhaal carried the plot forward extremely well. He actually gave a pretty convincing performance. Michelle Monaghan was a bit underwritten, but I thought she brought that sense of humanity into the film. Vera Farmiga also did amazing.

Overall, I thoroughly recommend this film. No, the film wasn't perfect as it definitely had a couple of plot holes here and there, but it's safe to say that the film succeeded in almost everything. Plus, the ending surely brought up more questions than answers, which, on my end, felt right. Haha. One of the craftiest and satisfying thrillers this year by leaps and bounds! Enough said.

RATING: 9/10

Movie Review: Sucker Punch

Somehow, there's this indelible sense of global coolness to this film! Seriously. 

It's a no-brainer - on a technical standpoint, Sucker Punch was outstanding. Unbelievable visual style. Grand action sequences. Beautiful set designs. Awesome special effects. Brilliant sound mixing. Fantastic cinematography. Epic soundtrack. Yes, I sometimes tend to lapse into hyperbole and those crazy superlatives, but I'm not kidding here. I really wanted to shed a tear just from the quality of it's production alone. It's nothing groundbreaking, but - wait for another one! - it rocked my brain out of my skull. Haha. It was too much to handle.

But while everything looked and sounded ridiculously amazing, the story, I thought, seemed a bit thin at times. Don't get me wrong, I found the whole concept to be great and the way Zack Synder attacked it was actually good, but with everything running in full throttle, I somehow wanted the story to be right there with it. I mean, it was almost as if they knew they had a great premise, but decided to focus on the action sequences with more precision.

Which, ironically, became a setback for the film. Sure, the stunts and action scenes looked wonderful, but everything became heavy handed half way through that - at one point - it all seemed quite repetitive and began to appear rather generic. The "missions" though pretty clever wasn't very thematic as far as I could tell. I was actually hoping that they would become progressively more challenging and difficult to complete, but they didn't even go there.

Dialogues were also almost non-existent in the first 30 minutes of the movie, solely relying on the gorgeous visuals and incredible soundtrack to provide a means of understanding things. Yes, it somehow worked, but it definitely ruined the potential the movie could have. I mean, it wasn't until the latter parts of the film where I felt any sort of emotion towards the characters and even then it seemed somewhat lacking. There wasn't much depth to any of them, which was a bit unfortunate.

For what it's worth though - and in a film under this genre where acting is of second priority - I thought the cast did a fine job with what they were given. Some characters felt a bit flat, but I saw good moments here and there.

Ultimately, Sucker Punch was something to marvel at visually with several shortcomings. Sure, the relatively thin plot kept it from achieving greatness, but I stubbornly overlooked that fact due to the abundance of it's unique stylistic flair and, as I've said, it's sense of global coolness. Haha. Of course, if you require a strong narrative on a film, I'm pretty sure that you may not care for it so much. But if you just want to take a little escape from reality, I guess this is the movie to enjoy.

RATING: 7/10