WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE

SUMMARY: This epic imaginative tale is based on the picture book by Maurice Sendak. A recreation of a fond memory was aimed to please and hit its mark. I refuse to even give up a sliver of real information in hopes that you'll see it. The journey of this boy will be remembered for lifetimes.

ACTING: The main character, A little bad ass kid named Max, is played so well for his age. The connection your able to form with Max, brings you to feel like you know him, understand him, and start to care about him. The monsters he encounters, the monsters inside himself, also have there very own specific personalities, allowing for each character to stand out and be noticed.

SCRIPT: Since the movie was first a picture book. There wasn't very much of a script to go off of, just a story. Yet, what was written to fill in the blanks from the book only enhanced and enriched the story ten fold. The speech was so natural for such an unnatural tale, that some of the one-liners will certainly become classic. The symbolism in this movie would definitely be more enjoyed by psychologist and not children.

CINEMATOGRAPHY: I cant express how important the way this movie needed to be filmed. To bring back the feelings of childhood and imagination, there were certain angles that needed to be captured. Spike Jonze, the director, had a vision that was pertinent in seizing the feeling we all longed for.

RE-WATCHABILITY: WHO COULD EVER GET TIRED OF THIS? If my day was good, if my day was bad, I could inject this DVD in the player, and only increase my "happiness level". For people who weren't read the book as a child or do not remember as vividly the story, this movie will not have the same effect. But, for people like me, who could recite the whole thing, you can only pray that your soul doesn't explode with love.

PLOT: This timeless story is like nothing ever published. Its great for children (confusing for them) and adults (also confusing), but because of the feeling you get after watching you feel like you understand. Like an abstract painting, it's not the image on the screen, but the one in your heart. You begin the movie highly interested and leave satisfied. Thats all the plot you really need...

Bonus: MUSIC: The soundtrack for this movie, again, can only be described as abstract. Wild chanting, upbeat sounds and rhythm, you find yourself smiling for no reason. Since this is such an original story its only right that the music be the same way.

RATING: ☃☃☃☃☃☃ because you can't rate love.

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:☃☃☃☃☃

CHAPLIN

SUMMARY: Chaplin is a fictional biography about the life of Charlie Chaplin, one of the greatest Slap Stick comedians. This comedy about a comedian brings his personal life into the story and lets you see the complexity of who he was. The movie showed Chaplin's weakness for women and his strength for sticking up for truth. Something about this comedian wasn't funny.

ACTING: Robert Downey Jr., playing Charlie Chaplin, does an excellent job portraying the beauty of his comedy and the passion he had for his craft. Downey Jr. has to play different ages as well and is also good at different dialects. The many females that he plays with have amazing personalities and each bring their own feel to their role. The viewer laughs with each joke and sees Chaplin not Downey.

SCRIPT: The dialogue is elegant and fits the time period. There is a playboy feel to Chaplin and how his weakness for women hurt him that is seen through his facial expressions more then his words. The different time periods also made the story-line more complex, letting the depth of the characters show from different times of their lives.

CINEMATOGRAPHY: The footage that was made to look old was very authentic and had the feel of film when there wasn't any speaking. The transition from old film to new was good and camera angles were agreeable with the scene.

RE-WATCHABILITY: A good movie that is nice to see again but is long too.

PLOT: Biographies are usually boring but Charlie Chaplin lived such an amazing life that it was movie material to the fullest. No one could leave this movie without enjoying at least some parts. The film celebrates what Chaplin represented but grieved what he had to go through. An old movie that can be appreciated.

RATING: ☃☃☃☃

SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE

SUMMARY:  Slumdog Millionaire is a beautiful romance between two childhood friends, but also shows how money can come between brothers.  The story follows two Indian orphans, Jamal and Salim Malik.  The movie begins with Jamal on the hot seat in the Indian version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire.  Jamal answers the questions by recounting his childhood memories and telling how he hustled, scraped, and survived to this point in his life.  

ACTING:  Most of the action and lines were done by the two younger actors who must have been at the most nine years old.  These kids gave a convincing role about how it must have been to live in the slums of India at a young age.  They showed fear, anger, jealousy, and playfulness with amazing skill.  The older version of the brothers also gave a persuasive performance - continuing the feud that was started at the young age.  The love that is shared between Jamal and his love interest, Latika, is apparent and heartfelt.

SCRIPT: The writers of this movie developed very funny dialogue between the two brothers, making them seem playful towards each other while offering a hint of problems to come.  The way the story is set up has the viewer off balance and wondering what's really going on.  This helps keep the romance interesting to ALL movie goers.

CINEMATOGRAPHY: The placement of the cameras provide interesting view on what happens in the story.    The camera views give a slightly confusing angles so that everyone's off balance.  Not many stand still shots, but more movement instead.

RE-WATCHABILITY:  A romance can always be watched again for a "warm and fuzzy" feeling but usually thrillers don't have the same "thrill" the second time.  Yet, since this movie encompasses something more passionate, it gives the film a new feeling every time it's watched. 

PLOT: Using a "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" theme to tell a story sounds very tricky, and would be if the writer wasn't confident and good.  This idea, given to the wrong person would probably turn out to be corny and unimpressive.  But, the way the story is woven together in this film, makes the movie so much better and gives little chapters in between the story.  This movie brings the concept of a game-show and life together, providing an interesting look on what fate can bring and love can accomplish.

RATING:  ☃☃☃☃☃ no doubt.