Genre: Mystery, Sci-Fi, Thriller

Year: 2011

Country: USA

Rating:

Starring: Joel Courtney, Riley Griffiths, Ryan Lee, Gabriel Basso, Zach Mills

Director: J.J. Abrams

My Review: Super 8 is an allusion to the super 8 film camera used by the kids in this movie. It's the summer of 1979, and a group of kids from a small town in Ohio are making their own movie. It's a coming of age movie, a character based drama, and a sci-fi action flick. The movie reminds me a lot of E.T. and the style calls to mind the best of Spielberg and M. Night Shyamalan. The writing was excellent, the acting (for a group of young kids) outstanding, and the direction great. While shooting their 'Zombie' movie, these kids witness a devastating train wreak. They flee the scene, and soon afterwards odd things start happening. What was in the wreckage of that derailed train? What secret does the Air Force and their small town hold? Great mystery, suspense, sci-fi, action and a whole lot of heart. I give it a 5 out of 5.

Summary: In the summer of 1979, a group of friends in a small Ohio town witness a catastrophic train crash while making a super 8 movie and soon suspect that it was not an accident. Shortly after, unusual disappearances and inexplicable events begin to take place in town, and the local Deputy tries to uncover the truth - something more terrifying than any of them could have imagined.

Genre: Drama, Thriller

Year: 2007

Country: USA

Rating:

Starring: Nick Chinlund, Isaach De Bankolé, Brendan Fehr, Marley Shelton, Harsh Nayyar

Director: Amir Mann

My Review: Nick Chinlund stars as John Reilly, an American citizen with amnesia - Or so he thinks. John wakes up in an African hospital, but he can't remember how he got there or who he is. Soon after gaining consciousness, the local military accuses him of being a spy. As a parade of characters make their way past John's bed, his head is swirling with memories, but he's still not sure who he is, what he's doing in Africa, or who he can trust. It's a good plot, but the execution is poorly handled. There are plenty of holes in the screen play, and the incongruities start to build up over time. When the reveal starts to show it's hand, I became a bit upset. There really isn't much in the way of reason behind the premise of this movie. It seems contrived to be a 'made for hollywood' thriller from the get-go. No one bothered to say "Is this believable? Could this actually happen?" The acting is fair, and the direction o.k. Unfortunately, the writing made this movie less than palatable when it came down to the wire. Too improbable, too unbelievable, too contrived, too confusing, too cliched. While the screen play tried really hard to make this movie work, the plot was just too convoluted and the timeline too short to pull it off. In the end it felt like I was missing something. I left the movie with a 'So What?' feeling. I can't manage more than 2 out of 5 for this film.

Summary: American John Reilly awakes to the confusion and chaos of a remote African hospital; his memory, his very identity seemingly wiped from existence. As a tangled web of political intrigue and espionage unravels, John struggles to discover the man he was and which side he's truly on. The only thing he knows for certain is that he can trust no one.

Genre: Biography, Drama, Sport

Year: 2010

Country: USA

Rating:

Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Melissa Leo, Mickey O'Keefe

Director: David O. Russell

My Review: An outstanding film, starring Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale, Amy Adams and Melissa Leo. Directed by David O'Russel, the movie is a dramatic bio-pic about the early career/life of "Irish" Micky Ward; a second rate boxer (from the 80s) who's had a rough time moving his career beyond the small ring. After suffering a series of defeats at home and in the ring, he rediscovers the will to succeed. It tells the tale of this professional boxer's personal life and his struggle to overcome the social obstacles to success. The acting by Christian Bale was truly outstanding (earning him a oscar) as the drug addicted brother who's living in the past, desperately trying to break through and achieve the dreams of his family. Mark Wahlberg's performance was mediocre compared to Christian Bale's. The direction was outstanding and the dramatic pacing and editing made it a joy to watch. I give this movie a 4 out of 5.

Summary: The Fighter, is a drama about boxer "Irish" Micky Ward's unlikely road to the world light welterweight title. His Rocky-like rise was shepherded by half-brother Dicky, a boxer-turned-trainer on the verge of being KO'd by drugs and crime.

Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance

Year: 2011

Country: USA

Rating:

Starring: Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, Julianne Moore, Emma Stone, Analeigh Tipton

Director: Glenn Ficarra, John Requa

My Review: I have to admit that I'm a sucker for the romantic, feel-good, comedy. This one features Steve Carell and Julianne Moore in an excellent comedy that features middle aged, young adult, and teen relationships. The multiple threads of this movie are expertly woven together in the closing moments. Steve Carell stars as the 'Cuckold', Julianne Moore is the unsatisfied wife. Ryan Gosling is the questing womanizer, Emma Stone the naive and pure college grad. Jonah Bobo experiences young first love, Analeigh Tipton the typical teen in search of a mature boy. The characters are all cliched and the story rather predictable. Despite the unsurprising outcome and typical characters, I found the casting made for an outstanding movie, while the writing was top notch. I give this one a 4 out of 5.

Summary: Cal (Steve Carell) and Emily (Julianne Moore) have the perfect life together living the American dream... until Emily asks for a divorce. Now Cal, Mr Husband, has to navigate the single scene with a little help from his professional bachelor friend Jacob Palmer (Ryan Gosling). Make that a lot of help...

Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy

Year: 2011

Country: USA

Rating:

Starring: Jason Momoa, Stephen Lang, Rachel Nichols, Ron Perlman, Rose McGowan

Director: Marcus Nispel

My Review: A remake of Conan the Barbarian? Really? Well, technically it's not a remake of the movie starring Arnold. Technically it's a movie based on the pulp fiction by Robert E. Howard. I have to admit the subject is compelling, and the lure of the character (as portrayed by Arnold Schwarzeneger) drew me in. I dared, and I must admit that I was a bit disappointed. Here's the classic tale of an orphaned Cimmerian out to avenge the death of his parents, the destruction of his village, the honor of his tribe. Conan stands against insurmountable odds, powerful wizards, immense monsters and treachery most dire. With sword, sweat and honor he strive to prevent the impending domination of Hyboria by an evil tyrant and his witch born daughter. Will slavery envelope all, or will Conan and his brave band of renegades rule the day? The answer is a foregone conclusion - of Course, so it's the journey that makes or breaks this film. The journey in this case takes us across the breadth of Hyboria in numerous cgi backdropped locations. The cgi isn't particularly memorable (which isn't necessarily a bad thing), but the pacing and structure felt concocted to touch each specific area in a manner arranged to tour Hyboria as opposed to settings which followed the story. The characters were one dimensional, and the fight scenes lacked the impetus of Cimmerian steel. I seldom felt as if Conan were a better warrior than the other warriors arrayed against and allied with him. The dialog didn't feel authentic and it certainly lacked conviction. The casting was poor, but the acting was fair (given the roles). The writers and producers really should have chosen a different Conan story. Even the topless slave girls were wasted on the film. Save yourself the time and rewatch the original, you'll be much happier. 2 of 5.

Summary: A quest that begins as a personal vendetta for the fierce Cimmerian warrior soon turns into an epic battle against hulking rivals, horrific monsters, and impossible odds, as Conan realizes he is the only hope of saving the great nations of Hyboria from an encroaching reign of supernatural evil.

Genre: Documentary, Crime

Year: 2010

Country: USA

Rating:

Starring: Matt Damon, William Ackman, Daniel Alpert, Jonathan Alpert, Sigridur Benediktsdottir

Director: Charles Ferguson

My Review: An outstanding documentary about a story that hasn't ended yet. An Oscar winning documentary that tells the tale of a tragic American melt-down. 2008 is often used to mark the start of this sad tale, but truly it started before that. In this sobering documentary, the filmmaker (Charles Ferguson) reveals the depths of corporate corruption and financially motivate greed that drove our American economy from boom to bust. The nuclear winter of our economic meltdown will be a long and cold one. This movie points out - in stark detail and repeating themes - that the financial sector exists for one reason and one reason only - To Profit at everyone else's expense. The leaders of these financial institutions may argue that they didn't know what was happening or what was about to happen. If that were true they'd be just as broke as the low income families who lost their homes; the workers who lost their jobs; the children who must endure increased taxes for many years to come. Piles of profits are built upon a scaffold of lies and deception as the filmmaker reveals all. Lays bare the truth of the depravity exercised by those who raped our national treasuries. The only point missing was the deep level of collaboration and complicity exercised on both sides of the political aisle. The signs were so clear that even someone as simple as I saw it coming. The banking sector was, and still is, an out of control, unregulated tyrant. Wielding credit scores, credit ratings and interest rates like a slaveholder wields a whip. Our nation remains in the thrall of wealthy, powerful, self serving corporations and institutions. The people are now slaves to that system. There is no room for freedom, growth or escape. The movie is an emotionally striking primer on the economic meltdown, but it's less than adequate to the task of true revelation. Numerous points made in this movie illustrate the depth of our exposure - The risk of a repeat is great. No real reforms have been put in place, no one has been held accountable, and the architects are still in power. Stand by for round two! I give it a 5 out of 5

Summary: 'Inside Job' provides a comprehensive analysis of the global financial crisis of 2008, which at a cost over $20 trillion, caused millions of people to lose their jobs and homes in the worst recession since the Great Depression, and nearly resulted in a global financial collapse. Through exhaustive research and extensive interviews with key financial insiders, politicians, journalists, and academics, the film traces the rise of a rogue industry which has corrupted politics, regulation, and academia. It was made on location in the United States, Iceland, England, France, Singapore, and China.

Genre: Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Romance

Year: 2010

Country: USA

Rating:

Starring: Felicity Jones, Jude Akuwudike, Reeve Carney, David Strathairn, Tom Conti

Director: Julie Taymor

My Review: I've never actually read Shakespeare's play, 'The Tempest', but I must admit that I'm a fan of his work. It's quite good… Indeed, there are twenty titles for 'The Tempest' listed in IMDB. Despite that, this may be the first time I've actually seen it on any screen or stage. If only I had enough time… This version of the play is brought to the screen by Julie Taymor (Writer/Director who also wrote and directed 'Titus' for the screen - I own and love that one). Here Ms. Taymor has mixed things up a bit. Transforming the main character from male (Prospero) to female (Prospera). The casting and acting were truly outstanding: Felicity Jones, Reeve Carney, David Strathairn, Tom Conti, Alan Cumming, Helen Mirren, Ben Whishaw, Djimon Hounsou, Russel Brand, Alfred Molina, and others. Despite the fact that Shakespeare's plays were written long ago, for a stage and a vastly different audience, I found this screen adaptation truly delightful. The visual effects were extremely well done. Perfectly matched to the pacing, costumes, settings and character of the movie. The story: 16th or 17th century, off the coast of Italy; Prospera and her daughter Miranda have been stranded on a deserted island for many years. When a ship approaches in a storm, Prospera's plans for revenge are put in motion. The ship carries the men who exiled the queen and her young daughter to an uncertain fate. With the assistance of some alchemy, magic, and a few enchanted servants, Prospera unfurls the sails of sweet vengeance. I give it a 4 out of 5.

Summary: In Julie Taymor's version of 'The Tempest,' the main character is now a woman named Prospera. Going back to the 16th or 17th century, women practicing the magical arts of alchemy were often convicted of witchcraft. In Taymor's version, Prospera is usurped by her brother and sent off with her four-year daughter on a ship. She ends up on an island; it's a tabula rasa: no society, so the mother figure becomes a father figure to Miranda. This leads to the power struggle and balance between Caliban and Prospera; a struggle not about brawn, but about intellect.

Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Thriller

Year: 2009

Country: Russia

Rating:

Starring: Grigoriy Dobrygin, Ekaterina Vilkova, Viktor Verzhbitskiy, Valeriy Zolotukhin, Ekaterina Vasileva

Director: Dmitriy Kiselev, Aleksandr Voytinskiy

My Review: A Russian film by Dmitriy Kiselev (directed Night Watch, Day Watch and Wanted) and Aleksandr Voytinskiy (who's he?). The casting was o.k. Some very good veteran actors, and some inexperienced pretty people pretending to act. The story is filled with cliched characters and a predictable plot. Sci-fi, drama, young adult romance, super hero action, crime. The story has too many variables and loses its focus among the various undeveloped characters and plot threads. Despite these weaknesses, the action is quite good. Excellent energy and pacing. The direction was quite good. Too bad the writing wasn't as good. Unfortunately the streaming/watch instantly version is dubbed over in English. I prefer the subtitles as you can get more of the emotion and context from the native language. I give this movie a 3 out of 5.

Summary: Moscow, 2004, and wealthy entrepreneur Kuptsov is drilling in the underground part of the city, trying to reach a huge diamond vein. And his drilling is threatening to destroy the city. However he does not have enough power and he needs a Nano-catalyst developed years ago but its location is unknown. Meanwhile, in another part of the city Dima dreams about owning a car and dating his gorgeous college mate Nastya. His wealthy friend Maks has a Mercedes Benz and is flirting with Nastya which only frustrates him even more. On his birthday, Dima finally gets a car from his parents - but he is ashamed of it. The car, however is capable of much more.

Genre: Horror, Sci-Fi, Thriller

Year: 2011

Country: USA, Canada

Rating:

Starring: Warren Christie, Ryan Robbins, Ali Liebert, Lloyd Owen, Andrew Airlie

Director: Gonzalo López-Gallego

My Review: A movie made in the style of Cloverfield, Paranormal activity, Blair Witch Project. Supposedly 'found footage' edited to tell the true story of Apollo 18; a secret DoD mission to the moon. This movie, purports to reveal the facts about that fated mission and the reasons why we never went back to the moon. The camera work contains a lot of 'first person' footage, and a lot of that is in the 'shaky cam' style. While the premise was good, and the acting fine, it's the editing that ruins this film. If they had managed to stick with the intended style - namely that of 'found footage', they would have had an excellent movie. Instead there are numerous editing and scripting incongruities. Implausible and unexplainable camera shots. Camera angles, cuts, extremely high quality footage from film shot in the late 60s. These distractions (and many other inconsistencies) kept ruining my experience, and ultimately left me incredulous. I can't give this movie more than a 2 out of 5.

Summary: Decades-old found footage from NASA's abandoned Apollo 18 mission, where two American astronauts were sent on a secret expedition, reveals the reason the U.S. has never returned to the moon.