Star Trek (2009)

Who says you can only be a fan of either Star Wars or Star Trek? This is 2015, we can be both!

I wanted to review something fairly recent and I highly enjoyed both new Star Trek movies so I couldn't say no. So this new reboot of the Star Trek franchise is very, very familiar and yet very different from the Original Series. The story does involve time travel and the consequences it has on the Star Trek universe we all know of, and I mean friggin' consequences. Deaths, destruction of worlds, among many other things really help the story and most importantly of all, the characters. It gives you an opportunity to view these classic and iconic characters in a brand new way and the film is immensely applauded for that, and I'll be damned if I can think of anybody else that could have played this cast of characters better than who they chose. The casting choices were chosen very wisely, and really if they decided to make a reboot of the television series with these actors I would tune in every week. Hell that would be really cool, because we haven't had a Star Trek series since Star Trek Enterprise and that was in 2001 so I would be all for that! I actually have a few gripes with the movie but it's nitpicking at best, the ridiculous lens flares in this movie...I just don't get it. Why is it there? Why make everything flashy when there is no reason for it? But when the starships are battling each other it really works but everywhere else no. I love the exterior design of the Enterprise, it is faithful to the show but still looks incredibly advanced, but the interior is what I take issue with because every damn thing in that ship almost is sterile white. Where is all the color? You remember the Original Series? There was color in every part of that ship, and not just a little I mean a lot! It was just so much more visually appealing back in 1966. It still does that thing where it zooms in that I ranted about in Man Of Steel but it only happens twice and once it's just to show how massive a scene is, so it really isn't such a bother this time around. But there is so much more good stuff on top of the bad thankfully. The casting is perfect, the cinematogrophy is excellent, the music is sweeping, the dialogue is fun, the special effects are so outstanding it was nominated for an Oscar, and the entire movie focuses on Kirk and Spock and that is what people like. If you are not a big science fiction fan or even a Star Trek fan I would still recommend you to see this movie because it really is a lot of fun and you will get your money's worth out of it. And you better believe we will look at the sequel that is even better than this one tomorrow. Until next time, live long and prosper.

Godzilla (1954)

Well I did say I wanted a monster movie, so how about the original King of the Monsters, Godzilla!

The original Godzilla made in 1954, directed by acclaimed Japanese director Ishiro Honda is a not so typical monster movie focusing more on human emotions and their consequences on testing nuclear weapons. The story of the movie follows mysterious disappearances of fishing boats and the subsequent investigation soon discovering a giant prehistoric monster mutated by testing of underwater atomic bombs, and the destruction that this famous monster wreaks on Japan and the humans efforts to try and destroy the beast once and for all. The main shining point of this movie besides the incredible special effects of Eiji Tsubaraya and the King of the Monsters himself is the outstanding cast of characters. We have Takashi Shimura as our main lead who is father to a young woman played by Momoko Kochi, who has been engaged to a strange and mysterious scientist played by Akihiko Harata who has actually developed a weapon that could kill Godzilla but because of it's terrible power of destruction he is hesitant to use it, thinking it could be used as a weapon more powerful than a hydrogen bomb. Suprisingly, there is lots of human conflict in this movie but only once is it physical. It's more of an internal conflict based on how the characters are dealing with the situation and what they should do next. It's a very well made film, with great acting, outstanding effects, memorable music by Akira Ifukube, gritty cinematography, and an overall foreboding mood. The film is very dark, treating it's subject matter completely seriously, we see Godzilla trample through several cities but after that we see the disturbing aftermath of it all. We see hundreds of people in a hospital, people dying, families embracing knowing that their lives will end soon, a memorial chorus for the dead, and so very much more. It is nothing like the Godzilla movies made in the 60s and the 70s where they were more campy and made for kids. This is the best Godzilla film ever made, and if you have never seen a Godzilla movie before, this is the one you need to watch. And if you don't even know what he looks like, it makes the movie even better because you don't see him at all until past the twenty minute mark, and it builds this suspense as to what this creature looks like. I love it. This is a truly remarkable film that many more people should see. And here's a fun fact: This movie premiered in the United States on April 27th, 1955. 40 years to the day before I was born! That makes me proud! So if you want to buy this movie, buy only one version which is The Criterion Collection. Best version you can buy, worth every dollar, go see this movie. See you next time.

Watchmen

I'm back! And I decided to review another comic book movie.

Watchmen is one of the most faithful adaptations of anything literary and putting a visual director like Zack Snyder as the main creator of this movie really makes the film more enjoyable and interesting. So the story of Watchmen is set in an alternate 1985 where superheroes have been forced to retire, Richard Nixon is still president, and one member of the Watchmen has been murdered forcing other members to come out of retirement and bring the killer to justice. Now what I like about this movie besides being very faithful to the graphic novel, is just really how the film was made. Who they chose to be the characters, how they created an alternate 1985 New York and how the environment looks, how they shot specific scenes, and how well the dialogue was written. Serious praise must go to Jackie Earl Haley and Jeffrey Dean Morgan for their outstanding performances, seriously these guys are the reason this film is so well remembered and talked about to this day. The music choices are believe it or not, perfect for the scenes they are in with the music choices spanning from Bob Dylan to Mozart and I can't imagine the movie without this soundtrack. The only real problem I really have for the movie is the ending. It's not the same ending in the book and I am fine with that, because with film you really do have to take artistic license so that's not the problem. The problem is it's a little ambiguous at the end, which I kinda like but I'm just not all for it. I love to speculate about movies but very rarely do I speculate after the movie is finished, I speculate more before the movie is even out. Like for instance, does the Suicide Squad movie take place before the Batman V. Superman movie or after? What's the relationship going to be between Harley and the Joker? Stuff like that. I shouldn't wonder about that after the movie not unless there is going to be a sequel, but with Watchmen it's a one-shot graphic novel, there will never be a continuation of it. So that's the only gripe with it and I honestly enjoyed the movie so much I bought the 3 hour director's cut. If you are a fan of comic book movies and likes to see blood and action but also like to speculate, Watchmen is the perfect movie for you.

I'm not sure what to review next, been kinda hankering for some giant monster movies and luckily I have a few of them. That sounds good, let's do that tomorrow.

Update On The Job

Well so much for getting my work schedule on Saturday, I just got it yesterday. It's not too bad, it's mostly work from 11 am to 4 pm and I get Thursday off so this Thursday I'll review two movies and hopefully the schedule will not change so I can get a good system of when I can do reviews. Not sure what I can review this week, been watching more tv than movies so I now have a serious question of how the hell do I review a television series? I mean do I do a general overview of the show? Do I take it season by season? I have absolutely no idea yet, but I'll figure it out. So thanks for being patient with me guys, this means a lot to me and I love reviewing stuff for all of you so thank you so much.

Change Of Planning

I apologize for not getting any reviews out this week, I actually have found a job and I am getting my work schedule on Saturday and I am hoping to God I still have time to do reviews. I'm going to try with all of my might to keep the 3 to 4 reviews a week schedule going. I despise transitional periods because you never know what is going to happen next, and there is nothing more I want to do than keep doing reviews. If I could do 5 reviews a week I would do it for the rest of my life, this is my passion and I want to do it for a living. I'm going to work more on the site in my free time and make it look more the way I want it to, and I will update you all on how the reviews are going to go on from hence forth. Thankfully the job is only part time so chances are I may still have time to do reviews. So tune in next time where I will update you on the condition of the reviews.

Minions

Wow it took me this long to review a newer movie than Birdman? Jeez.

So Minions is actually a prequel to Despicable Me, following the minions from cingle cell organisms to how they first met Gru. That I did not expect but I am very happy with how they did it, and almost everything about the movie is done very well. The humor is great, the minions are the star for once and there are no complaints there, the setting is mainly in London in the 60's so I was down with that and it was fantastic! Oh and Michael Keaton was in this movie too, funny how almost every brand new movie I review has Michael Keaton in it somewhere. But anyways, if you enjoyed the Despicable Me movies you will enjoy the Minions movie without any doubt. It's creative, it's funny, it's a really good family film, I reccomend this movie very much.

Some people requested me to review the Jurassic Park movies so I may have to do that next week. It sounds fun, and I really want to see Jurassic World.

Breakfast At Tiffany's

This was a really good movie.

I can honestly see why this is considered a classic film. So the story of Breakfast At Tiffany's follows a young girl named Holly played by Audrey Hepburn who is sort of an odd character that lives in New York City where she meets her new neighbor Paul played by George Peppard, and they of course, start a relationship together. Now I have to say I love the casting choices for this movie, Audrey Hepburn is a true joy to watch in this movie and she is insanely gorgeous and funny but can still show raw emotion, George Peppard was a pretty average guy in the movie and his performance is very real and very normal and it makes sense because he's just an average guy who just moved to New York. The comedy in the movie is strong but not always present and to put it in a word, fluid. Just look at the party scene alone, every single person in that room goes with the flow, not even for a split second does someone second guess what's happening. Someone tells someone else hold my drink, they immediately hold their drink, someone passes out drunk, everyone just keeps doing what they are doing, someone lifts a girl up and puts her on the shoulders of a man having a conversation, the guy doesn't even stop talking for two seconds. That is easily the funniest scene in the movie. But sadly it's not all fun parties and drinks, there are heavy emotional moments in this film and they are acted incredibly well. There are quite a few quiet scenes with hardly any dialogue or even music, and there is a moment in the film where you can sense that the film has changed directions and nothing will be the same. You know what I am talking about, it always happens in romance movies where you can just tell we have gone over the edge and plunged straight into serious, dramatic times. This is truly a remarkable film and many people who have not seen the movie know of it's reputation, and for good reason too. Breakfast At Tiffany's is a true gem of cinema, and is regarded as one of the greats. You will not be disappointed with this film.