WATCHMEN

SUMMARY: WHY ARE MOVIES GETTING SO GOOD??!? This  director, Zach Snyder, captured the dark side of superhero movies and comics perfectly.  When life doesn't have happy endings and the truth is hard to see.  Touching on the topics of whose right is it to judge and if you have the power to do something, anything, should you use it?  Powerful stuff.

ACTING: A lot of people rate The Dark Knight as the top superhero movie because of the incredible acting done by Heath Ledger (RIP).  Yet, I argue this tops it because of the amazing acting done the whole crew.  Everyone goes all out on this movie and the emotions can be felt.  Each superhero is given his/hers own background that intertwines with the others.

SCRIPT: The same type of monologue like in 300, Sin City, and The Spirt let you know this is still a comic book. The superhero Rorschach likes to talk to himself, lucky we can listen. Letting you inside the main characters head, and letting the viewer think he/she is seeing everything... but the main character can get tricked.

CINEMATOGRAPHY:  In the beginning credits there is a slow moving camera shot that I have never seen for a long period of time.  A type of still shot that must have only lasted for 5 seconds or less, but because of the slow moving shot it takes on a longer scene.  Taking you through the years of the superhero and how when the world evolves, so do the heros.  It gave a brief history of real events and fake ones but that were related to the movie.

RE-WATCHABILITY: Is a long movie no doubt but I reeeeeeally want to see it again. So what does that say?

PLOT: The setting of the movie was set during Nixon, Carter, and Reagan during the time of tension between the United States and Soviet Union.  Although, in the actual movie Nixon is president for 5 terms.  It gives a alternative perspective on history about wars. Yet, I think what offsets this movie from not only any other comic movie, but any movie in general, is the humor.  This movie is a pitch black dark comedy, that is sad but funny.  It takes you into the psychology of people, and what the human race really is.  It holds a mirror to your face without you even noticing it, and has you look upon yourself.  Life is a cruel joke, but try and be the last one laughing.

Bonus:FIGHT SCENES: No kung fu movies have come out in America in a while. So its nice to see some fight sequences done correctly.  With the sound effects done at full throttle and made amazing your almost grimacing at every sound of a face punched in.  Along with special effects, there is no nice fighting happening in this movie. Graphic novel would be the correct term with out a doubt.

RATING: ☃☃☃☃☃

THE READER

SUMMARY: The Reader is a romance film, originally a book, that crosses over very well.  The story is about a young German teenager who meets an older woman and begins an affair with her.  Coming from two different generations, sparks fly during the movie, but love knows no bounds....right?  

ACTING: First and foremost, congratulations to Kate Winslet for winning her Oscar.  She is amazing in the movie and deserved every bit of praise.  Her passion was very realistic and had me in awe the whole time.  I didn't know Ralph Fiennes was such a good actor either.  Surprising me with his off reality perception and always in the past gases, he makes you wonder what he has been through.  David Cross is also an up and coming actor who seemed to grow with his character grew.

SCRIPT: Probably an amazing book because the dialogue was so good, but also each scene keeps you engaged with another thought and another feeling every time.  Since people were suppose to be speaking in German, there was still that no nonsense feel to their speaking even though in english.

CINEMATOGRAPHY: Like most good movies now a days, there is very specific and perfect camera placement.  Allowing for what would be the best spot to view the specific scene, thus it needs to be appreciated.

RE-WATCHABILITY: A top romance in my opinion, your choice if its date worthy, but I enjoyed it even though I'm not much a romantic kind of guy :).  

PLOT: I call this film a Drama as well because it has so many turns and keeps you guessing all through the movie.  My jaw was dropping constantly on every twist in the story.  No way to guess what happens.

RATING:☃☃☃☃☃