A Late Quartet is the surprise gem of 2012 featuring four great performances, one of which from Walken deserving of more recognition, and a story which is rich with great drama, even when certain scenes get on the melodramatic side.
Monsters, Inc. is a great film that the entire family can enjoy. The story is cute and the voice talent Pixar puts together is once again done to perfection.
Celeste and Jesse Forever does have some things going for it like the chemistry between Rashida Jones and Andy Samberg but how the main character, Celeste, was written (partially by Jones herself) made her come across as awfully self-centered and the key scene where she seeks redemption doesn’t help matters as it takes place at her best friend’s wedding.
I enjoy Playing by Heart for what it is, a fun, if not overly dramatic, ensemble with some good performances as well as clichéd storytelling, especially in one of the storylines. That being said, this is the poorest excuse of a Blu-ray release I’ve ever come across.
Silent Hill Revelation is the latest horror/thriller to come down the pike where filmmakers throw random crap at the screen and then try to stuff it all into a half-assed screenplay and story in the hopes nobody would care or notice especially if they pay lip service to a certain demographic.
The first Paranormal Activity stormed the country with massive word-of-mouth generating over $100M in box office receipts on a $15k budget. But now with a new entry coming out nearly every year, the franchise has grown tired. Paranormal Activity 4 is an inane and confusing story, when it’s not downright boring, to go along with subpar acting, especially from the two kids, and a set-up which takes too long to develop, intermixed with scares which were far from it.
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 2 is easily on par with Chris Nolan’s amazing live action movies with great action, some good drama with the aging Bruce Wayne and an epic fight sequence between Batman and Superman, including some nice little zingers they throw back and forth.
Peter Pan is not my favorite Disney cartoon but it is still a magical film for the entire family. The animation is, of course dated, but there is a certain charm which gives that special something extra the newer styles don’t have.
As a whole, Flight is hardly a terrible movie and there are far worse choices out there, but I’d be lying if I didn’t say I was severely disappointed. The Blu-ray has a limited selection of features but is worth watching and both of the audio/video transfers are quite nice. If you like Denzel Washington and don’t mind melodrama on steroids or alcohol, then this might be worth a rental, otherwise wait for this to air on television.
Not without its flaws, Seven Psychopaths is still a funny, endearing and charming movie with well-rounded characters and a unique story making for a surprisingly enjoyable and memorable experience. Colin Farrell continues to show that when working on smaller budgeted pictures, he’s a good actor and with Christopher Walken, you’ve got a winner.
So Undercover should’ve been worse than it actually was. As a Miley Cyrus-starring vehicle, it is utterly laughable that she would play somebody working with the FBI, but at the same time, when you do learn the twist, it at least makes sense. Although it does heavily borrow from Miss Congeniality there’s enough story and jokes which land that will keep your attention for the 90-minute duration.
Death Race3: Inferno is your typical direct-to-video movie meaning a script with thin character development, poor acting even by the pros (at least Dougray Scott seemed to have fun with his cackling) and generic action which leaves this more or less forgettable.
Taken 2 had so much potential and plenty of goodwill after its amazing predecessor, however what we got instead was a lazy half-assed screenplay that simply did a find and replace combined with uninspiring direction. The main saving grace is that Liam Neeson once again gives it his all and really saves it from being a dud.
To Rome with Love had potential with an impressive cast, which Woody Allen always manages to bring together, intriguing/bold stories and an absolutely beautiful locale that never gets old seeing on screen. However, with these multi-stories going in and out, the pacing is at times dreadful and when really only one of the stories is the least bit entertaining, it can be tough to get through the others.
With a title like Love Me, there’s not a hell lot to actually love. The script is half-baked, the dialogue stilted and the mystery is, well, unmysterious. For her part, Lindsey Shaw doesn’t do a bad job, so that’s at least one positive thing I took away from the film.