Brave Movie Review

Brave Movie Review
Directed by: Mark Andrews, Brenda Chapman, Steve Purcell

Short Film Presentation:
It's always exciting to watch a Pixar movie for you never  know what animated short will be presented prior to the main movie. 

The short film story focuses on three people; a little boy with his father and grandfather who one day go out fishing. I won't spoil it, so watch the movie to experience the short film.

I got say the short film was awesome! It was fun, creative and imaginative with heart fill moments to be remembered.

What is the movie 'Brave' about?
The story is about a girl named Merida voiced by Kelly Macdonald and her mother Elinor voiced by Emma Thompson that focuses on their relationship.  The mother just wants the best for her daughter so she focuses on preparing Merida to one day succeed her. While the daughter wants to adventure and be free to choose. It touches a lot of  emotional moments between a mother and daughter. Even exploring what a teenager would do to change things. And that's the moment when things become chaotic, emotional and heartwarming. I can go on but I don't want to spoil the story.

Brave's art style was beautiful and imaginative. The characters were unique and memorable including the cute bears!!!  However, I am not sure if the movie was worth watching in 3D. I didn't feel any of the scenes really used the 3D well enough to make me jump out of my seat. So watching it in non-3D won't be a big deal.  Compared to the likes of Monster Inc, UP, Wall-E and Finding Nemo. Brave was outstanding and should be or will be considered one of Pixars top masterpieces.

I give 'Brave' an Imp Score of 4 out of 4 Smiles (4 - Masterpiece worth seeing in theaters)

Prometheus Review

Prometheus Movie Review
Director: Ridley Scott
Writers: Jon Spaihts, Damon Lindelof
Prometheus Movie Trailer

What is this movie about? Prometheus is about two scientists, Elizabeth Shawd played by Noomi Rapace and Charlie Holloway played by Logan Marshal Green who discovers mysterious clues left with ancient cultures of earth that guide them to a distant planet for answers about the origins of human kind. Upon this finding a corporation decides to fund the project to unravel the truth suported by David played by Michael Fassbender and Meredith Vickers played by Charlize Theron.

The movie starts off slow and a tad bit confusing for you may wonder why know one was acquainted after the crew wakes up from deep sleep upon arriving to the planet. With a project this big, you would think some sort of orientation would have taken place to explain who you would being work with. But the crew was presented more like a last minute attempt. I guess I was OK with it, but a little bit confusing to see no one had any idea who was who.

When the crew starts exploring the planet they discover ruins with a network of tunnels to chambers laid out similar to the egg chambers in Aliens, except they are not eggs. This discovery begins a cycle of events that begin a chain of chaos and unravels the true reasons why the project was funded in the first place.

Cockpit scene in 'Alien'

Cockpit scene in 'Prometheus'

As a fan of the Alien trilogy, except for movies 3 and 4. I noticed similarities to the ship design the scientists were exploring in Prometheus trailer to the ship in the movie Alien, especially the cockpit scenes in both movies. Both scenes presented a similar setting and design. Making me feel there was some sort of connection between the two movies. Upon watching this movie I was looking for answers as to how the two was related. I half to say, I wasn't to disappointed on what I found out. You just need to watch the movie to find your answers.

Overall, without spoiling the movie, its a thrill ride that leaves you with more questions and presents you with unknown and familiar alien encounters that ends up making you more curious. Ridley Scott and the cast delivered an entertaining and enjoyable mystery thriller that left me pondering over theories. One thing I was happy about was finding some closure regarding the alien creatures in the Alien Trilogy.

 I give Prometheus an Imp Score of 3 out 4 smiles (3 - Great entertainment worth watching!)

21 Jump Street Movie Review

I remember the original TV show '21 Jump Street' with Johnny Deep, Richard Grieco and Peter Deluise. It was a cop show that had many girls including my girlfriend falling for Johnny Deep, that she and her friends made it a weekly ritual to watch the show. I for one lost interest, but it was an ok show for its day. The new presentation of 21 Jump Street is more comedic and fun movie, that keeps the original theme of young looking, problem cops who are reassigned to 21 Jump Street take undercover assignments in high school and college.

Instead of presenting a police squad like the TV show, the movie focuses on two individual high school kids. Schmidt played by Jonah Hill and Jenko played by Channing Tatum. They end up become buddies during the police academy, and since they only cause trouble they both get reassigned to 21 Jump Street.

The pairing of Tatum and Hill was awesome! Since they are both distinct individuals with diverse talents, the team up made the movie unique, fun and entertaining. The comedy and action was laid out well and was interesting to watch the two actor’s transition into cops. Then relive their high school years in reverse roles during their undercover assignment. Also seeing Jonah Hill slimmed down was very surprising and motivating. I am so used to his older look in Superbad and Moneyball; it took a bit of adjusting too. However, Jonah's new look is an inspiration for it shows his determination and hard work.

The cameo of the original 21 Jump street crew was awesome. They did a great job of hiding the cameos, that when they finally appeared it delivered a more surprising presentation. The only part I didn't like was their end scene. If the goal of the scene was to pass the torch, then I guess that segment worked for what it was.

Overall, the new presentation of 21 Jump Street with actors Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill was every bit entertaining, humorous, with sadness and some fun action moments. This is a fun and great movie to watch, especially if your fan of Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill, and I am for these two actors are the next generation of talented souls worth watching.

I give 21 Jump Street an Imp Score of 3 out 4 smiles (3 - Great entertainment worth watching!)

Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance 3D Movie Review

What was the movie about? Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance continues the story of Johnny Blaze played by Nicolas Cage, who is struggling to control the spirit of vengeance within him. Blaze is drawn to Eastern Europe. There, he is approached by Moreau played by Idris Elba, who is part of a monk order out to protect a certain child. After Moreau failed his mission, he asks Blaze to find and protect the child from the devil. Blaze is drawn to the child and eventually meets up with the child and mother. However, the child's mother Nadya played by Violante Placido isn't easily trusting. When things are finally ironed out, all hell breaks loose, leading to losing the child, to Blaze losing the one thing he needed most to protect the child.

What was good about this movie?
The CG presentation of the Ghost Rider was truly inspiring to watch. Just seeing the comic book hero come to life and exhibit his powers that we haven't seen before in the first movie was good. Some CG moments did go over the top, but didn't take away from the action scenes this movie mostly focused on.

Why you may not enjoy this movie?
If you are watching this movie for the story, then expect to be disappointed. The story isn't ground breaking, for it's your typical protect the child from the bad guys. The 3D felt more like it was last minute idea. No point in the movie did I feel the 3D was a wow factor. So don't feel like you need to watch this movie in 3D for you won't be missing much.

I give Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance an Imp Score of 2 out 4 smiles -  consider renting!

The Rum Diary Movie Review

What was the movie about?

The Rum Diary is an adaptation of the Hunter S. Thompson’s novel about an American journalist named Paul Kemp played by Johnny Deep. Kemp takes a freelance job in Puerto Rico for a local newspaper going under during the 1950s. He gets tangled up with local business men, who seek fortunate at any means. Additional troubles arise when Kemp falls in love with Chenault played by Amber Heard, who is the fiance of Mr. Sanderson played by Aaron Eckhart. Sanderson is a powerful business tycoon in which Kemp gets involved with, which causes him to struggle to find a balance with the culture and the people he knows.

What was good about this movie?

Johnny Depp 's  performance of  a believable young and constrained Hunter was truly inspiring and entertaining to watch, with a strong support cast that delivered even more enjoyable moments that made this movie worth watching.

Why you may not enjoy this movie?
Die hard fans of the book may not like how Paul Kemp and Sanderson characters are portrayed. In the film, Deep combines both characters personalities. In the book both have dueling persona's of Hunter, one being a cutthroat athletic type, the other being an alcoholic anti-authoritarian. Some may have issues with this, but I feel the film direction made the movie more enjoyable.

My Impression Score: 3/5 - Average entertainment

Elite Squad: The Enemy Within Review

It's always exciting to watch a foreign movie with subtitles, especially a crime thriller that's new. We have so many crime shows in the US its getting so saturated that we are seeing less refreshing stories. I am not saying Elite Squad is a ground breaking story, for we have seen this type of story told many times. What probably makes this movie so enjoyable is the different atmosphere it presents and a glimpse of what crime could be like in a different country.

Elite Squad: The Enemy Within is a foreign crime, drama, thriller that escalates with a bloody invasion of the BOPE in the High-Security Penitentiary Bangu 1 in Rio de Janeiro. The incident gets criticized when the skull officer in charge Lieutenant-Colonel Roberto Nascimento played by Wagner Moura and his second in command Captain Andre Matias played by Andre Ramiro are accused by the Human Rights member Diogo Fraga for unjust executions of prisoners. This creates chaos that leads to Matias being transferred to the corrupt Military Police, while Nascimento is recognized and promoted to work with the intelligence group of the Secretary of Security. Nascimento service eventually leads to expelling several drug gangs from heavily influenced slums, but creates an even worse adversary protected by political influence leading to mass killings and betrayal. 

Overall, this movie was the biggest box office film of Brazil and I can see why. The movie was action packed, the acting was superb with plots and twists that kept you on your toes providing an enjoyable crime thriller every step of the way. The only reason you may not enjoy this movie is the subtitles. Given there is a lot going on, reading while watching can be a disruption to the great film work this movie presents.

I give 'Elite Squad' an Imp Score of 3 out of 4 smiles. Great Entertainment worth watching!

Safe House Movie Review

 

Opened February 10, 2012
Runtime:1 hr. 55 min.
Safe House Trailer

What was the movie about?
Safe House is the story about a frustrated inactive agent, Matt Weston played by Ryan Reynolds. Weston is a "housekeeper" assigned to a low-profile safe house in Cape Town, who dreams of being a full-fledged agent. Weston gets an opportunity when his first occupant is the most wanted and one of CIA's best operatives who turned rogue, Tobin Frost played by Denzel Washington. As soon as Frost is brought in for interrogation, chaos erupts and mercenaries attack the safe house. Things look grim and Weston takes measures and barely escapes with Frost. As Weston searches for answers to who attacked, both are hunted aggressively by a party that will stop at nothing to kill them.

Why watch this Movie?
From beginning to end, this was a non-stop action movie. Ryan Reynolds performed admirably in his acting and fight scenes. Denzel Washington was truly entertaining and amazing to watch, to some extent equalling his great performance as a bad guy in Training Day.

Was the movie worth seeing?
I truly enjoyed this movie, it had a good balance, but was heavy on action, which I don't mind at all. I truly enjoy movies with a lot of action when they have great fight scenes, gun play and car chases, which this movie delivered. A must watch if a fan of Denzel Washington, Ryan Reynolds and action movies for you will find some level of entertainment.

My Impression Score: 3 out 4 smiles - worth watching!