The Purge (2013)

The Purge is a government sanctioned program that involves 12 hours of hell, where everything illegal is legal. It essentially ends up being a murderous rampaging free-for-all; an incredibly scary concept. This is a highly disturbing movie with grotesquely violent parts.

It doesn't waste time with introductions but still has a well development foundation. Everyone is introduced clearly. The rest of the story moves just as fast; too fast at times.

There is no shortage of screaming and jumping. The directing and music coordination make it even worse (or better, depending on how you look at it). The masks and the slow motion shots are brilliantly scary! The director, James DeMonaco, makes the movie so much scarier than the story itself.

DeMonaco doesn't spend too much time focusing on the underlying philosophical debate of the injustice of inequality, but it's very clear and present nonetheless.

Ethan Hawke as James Sandin is pretty...good. ;) Then again, he's just as consistently good as he is consistently underrated. It's hard to recognize how great of an actor he is because he plays his roles that well. His ego does not let him ruin the role. He knows when he needs to be subdued, and really that is when he is at his best. It's hard to explain.

Lena Headey, of Game of Thrones fame, as Mary Sandin is decent. Her character isn't deeply defined. Do not use this film as a testament to her ability. She is much better than this.

Rhys Wakefield as the "Polite Leader" is SO creepy with his band of psychos. 

The main problem with the Sandins is that they are so under prepared. Then again, it might be to portray their naivety. Which they have a lot of! 

A word of advice when watching The Purge, listen to the intro and the credits. It adds great context. In the end, this is a home-invasion story. But what sets it apart from typical home-invasion movies is the propeller that creates the entire scenario.

I would recommend watching this one, but be warned, it's not for the faint of heart. However, if you're going to watch it, make sure to turn all the lights off to get the full effect.

Don't forget, this is an independent film with a small budget even by independent movie standards. Many people are criticizing it as though it isn't; which is only a testament to how great it really is. I suspect the sequel, because there will most definitely be one, will be much better.

The Purge Trailer...

Spoilers and Questions:

Don't trust anyone!

Why don't they have an escape plan?

Why don't they have a panic room? Hello Jodie Foster!

And finally, TAKE THE DAMN GUN! TAKE THE DAMN GUN! WHY AREN'T YOU TAKING THE DAMN GUNS? It's so frustrating.

Ender's Game (2013)

Written by guest blogger contributor Bryan R.

Ender's Game: An epic, thought-provoking tale about a young boy ostracized by his peers who attempts to overcome the odds with cunning and tenacity, is converted into a fast-paced, eye-opening spectacle about a teen-age boy ostracized by his peers who attempts to overcome the odds with cunning and tenacity. (yes I meant to repeat myself)

This one is hard. I've read the book by Orson Scott Card, so this review will be somewhat bias. So much of the book is describing what is inside Ender's head, while most of the movie is depicting what is inside Ender's heart.

The book is a quick read, but not because of it's length; you just can't put it down. Despite the films accuracy, there is so much in the book that was cut out from the film for speed's sake that if you watch this after reading the book it will feel rushed. That being said, if you read the book after watching the movie, it might have a lingering visual of Ender that conflicts with the novel.

Things that were good: Cinematography, directing, screen play (as good/accurate as it could be in 2 hrs), costume, set design.

So many things were done right with the visuals; AMAZING! From the combat suits to the life-like, computer-animated aliens; there really is a feeling of present meets future while not distracting you from the story.  The training room scenes leave you wanting to see more, while the swarm of alien ships during battle scenes displays the immensity of their situation while depicting a bug-like behavior.

If I were to nit-pick about anything visually, it would be the lack of dimensions during the final battle. Despite the constant reminders throughout the story that space has no definite up or down, the director still chose to display it two dimensionally: left to right. Also, the space ships were designed with the traditional form, in my opinion, an artistic design slip.

Harrison Ford who plays Colonel Graff, does a good job of portraying the stress of the decisions a military leader has to make. He does look a little out of the age bracket for a Colonel though.

It's unfortunate, but the worst thing about this movie was the casting of Ender Wiggin, played by Asa Butterfield. First of all, one of the most fascinating aspects about the original story was how mentally advanced the children were. The book starts off with Ender showing his genius at age 6. The film, however, portrays Ender somewhere between 12-14, which is awkwardly noticeable when Butterfield stands next to Ford. Putting his age aside, Butterfield's acting lacks a passion to counter his fury. The times when he is enraged are well played, but when it came to suffering and compassion, he lacks energy. It also seems like some of his words get lost in his mouth. Other than that he was excellent.

Ender's Game Trailer

Pacific Rim (2013)

Pacific Rim is Robocop meets Godzilla, on steroids. The digital effects are incredible. The visuals really display the enormity of the robots and aliens well. It's simply remarkable to watch. It is however a little busy on the eyes. Not as busy as a Michael Bay film, but if you're not an action fan in general, you might not appreciate the sequences as much.

This is essentially a digital film with some really bad human actors. The casting and acting is all wrong. COMPLETELY wrong! Charlie Hunnam, who plays Raleigh Becket, and Rinko Kikuchi, who plays Mako Mori, are downright embarrassing. It's painfully clear there was no budget left for decent actors. It is exacerbated by a sloppy script and a lack of directing effort (on the human aspects) by Guillermo del Toro.

The character development lacks attention and focuses on the wrong people. It focuses on Raleigh and Mako when it should focus on the father-son duo, Herc and Chuck Hansen, played by Max Martini and Robert Kazinsky respectively. Kazinsky, pulling the best performance of the entire movie, clearly should have been the star.

The Russian and Chinese pilots are fun and quirky. There isn't enough time paid to them and not enough pilots either. It would have been fun to see all of them training together and getting to know each other. Instead, you're forced to follow around aimless Raleigh.

Idris Elba, as "Marshall" Stacker Pentecost, is underutilized in his ability and his character. The trailers misrepresent his role in the action.

I would recommend watching this one but only for the amazing digital effects.

Side note: One thing that bothers me; I found it quite odd that there are hardly any marine animals. There are a few fish, that's it. A little weird considering the robots and aliens are walking through the ocean like it's a swimming pool.

Pacific Rim Trailer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5guMumPFBag

The Heat (2013)

Ugh. I almost didn't want to review this one, so it will be short. No matter how hard I wished for it to be good, it isn't. The comedy is incredibly forced and awkward. The first three quarters of the movie are dull; with the exception of Melissa McCarthy, but not in a good way. She is over-the-top crude and simply not funny. Sandra Bullock lacks energy. She's tired and seems bored. Her usual confidence that emanates through all of her other characters is gone in this one.

The last quarter of the movie picks up. However; just when the chemistry between McCarthy and Bullock finally solidify, it's over.

Very shaky film. Not worth a recommendation.

The Heat trailer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5m7Ml76zoA

Cloud Atlas (2012)

Frustrating and fascinating. It's a complicated weave of interconnecting stories. Strangely enough, each story is like a teaser to a greater movie. You want to watch each one as a movie on it's own, or at least one at a time. Cloud Atlas will give you temporary A.D.D. The most frustrating part is the complicated buildup to what amounts to a typical regurgitated lesson.

You really want to like this film. There are several interesting aspects: futuristic visuals, abstract concepts, dynamic characters and acting, great makeup and costume. However, you sometimes find yourself getting distracted by trying to figure out which actor is behind the new makeup in each story. The rest of it gets lost in the traffic jam.

It irritates me that I like this film. Take that however you may.

Hugh Grant was absolutely spectacular. Hands down the best performance(s) of his...EVER!

Performance distinction goes to Hugh Grant: highly underrated.

Cloud Atlas Trailer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDEEr_bwcHA

One for the Money (2012)

Katheirne Heigl haters need not read on. I don't understand where the Heigl hate came from but WHATEVER! I have yet to see a Katherine Heigl movie I don't like. One for the Money is no exception. It certainly doesn't win any awards for creativity, ingenuity, or well, anything. It's simply entertaining. It feels nostalgic; not that it has any reference to past eras, it's just one of those feelgood, fun movies you can watch multiple times.

Katherine Heigl plays Stephanie Plum, an unemployed, divorced, 30 something. She's desperate to find work, especially with her family bluntly announcing their expectations and disappointment of her. She asks her cousin Vinny, yes her cousin Vinny, for a job as a bail bondsman.

Heigl as a Jersey girl doesn't captivate you, but she still does a decent job. Her accent is mild and slips out sometimes but it's acceptable.

This movie is cute, funny, and has lovable characters. Debbie Reynolds as Grandmother Mazur is perfectly quirky, Ranger is subtly humorous, and Sherri Shepherd as Lula is charming.

I've already watched this one four times!

Scene spotlight: Stephanie Plum interviewing John Cho.

One for the Money trailer...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7Rqrts4jPM

The Host ( 2013)

Okay, it's a Stephanie Meyer story. Let me finish! I cringe when I think of Twilight, so I won't blame you if you refuse to watch this one. Had I known prior to watching it that it was a Stephanie Meyer story, I would have passed. Darn you Netflix! However, I'm glad I didn't know. This is not to say that this movie is some marvelous piece, but it was palatable. The Host is definitely better than Twilight. The acting is better, the story is better, and the actors are decently attractive. Beyond mere comparisons to Twilight, The Host is mildly entertaining and has a framework that piques curiosity.

Essentially, earth is caught in an alien invasion. The aliens survive by being transplanted into a host body, not unlike Stargate's Goa'uld. Except these aliens look like Christmas tree ornaments rather than ugly snake-like creatures.

Unfortunately, instead of focusing on the interesting aspects of the alien invasion, this movie gets lost in love; another Stephanie Meyer tweeny bopper love triangle. The details are washed out because of this love triangle. I wish Steven Spielberg would have taken this movie and mangled and twisted it into something spectacular. Sigh...I digress.

The movie moves a little slow. A good one to watch in the background while you're doing something else; cooking, cleaning, exercising, etc.

I reluctantly recommend it.

**A couple of recognizable names, Diane Kruger and William Hurt; both doing a good job.

The Host trailer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRKjf8b4f2E