The Rum Diary - Movie Review

A movie starring Johnny Depp, Amber Heard, Giovanni Ribisi, and Aaron Eckhart, written for the screen and directed by Bruce Robinson, and with a story originally written by Hunter S. Thompson should be a recipe for the type of film that would have critics falling all over themselves trying to come up with appropriate levels of praise and worship. As I sat down to watch this film I began to wonder if I would become intoxicated by the potent combination of ingredients, or would I look to add this to the multitude of mediocrity that floods the proverbial bottom shelf.

In Time - Movie review

Looking for a slick, stylish, and futuristic movie along the lines of The Matrix or The Adjustment Bureau? In Time races against the clock to place itself next to these and other similar movies. Starring Justin Timberlake and Amanda Seyfried and directed by Andrew Niccol, this film tries to make every second count, but is the end result worth your time, or does the clock run out on this thriller?

Seahawks Lose to the Bengals - My Thoughts

Frustrating loss for the Seahawks today. Not sure why Jackson didn't get the start, he seemed fine after coming in for the ineffective Whitehurst. Defense still played well, but the offense couldn't run, receivers dropped way too many passes, and the special teams gave up the game clinching score.

Anonymous - Movie Review

Normally when the name Roland Emmerich is attached to a film, you can expect to see a blockbuster sized spectacle that pushes the boundaries of what can be done visually on a movie screen. Pictures like 2012, Universal Soldier, and Independence day are prime examples of Emmerich's style so he would be the last person you would expect to take on a political thriller/period piece that tries to bring light to the theory that William Shakespeare was not really the author of the works he is known for.

Two Oh Six Movie Crew Event: Ghostbusters

The Yelp Movie Crew is back and this time around we are revisiting one of the all time classics...Ghostbusters! Details are on the Yelp event page which can be found clicking HERE.

Paranormal Activity 3 - Movie Review

This series has been very polarizing as people either love the intensity and scares, or they just can't stand the "found footage" type of film making. Either way, the first two movies have gone on to become huge hits at the box office. Each being made on a shoestring budget and raking in millions of dollars has guaranteed that we will keep seeing Paranormal Activity during the month of October for years to come. How long can the story be milked? This third installment leaves some the history untold and may eventually branch out from Katie and Kristie's family.

The Artist - Movie Review

'The Artist' begins in 1927 during the heyday of silent films and follows the lives of two people as Hollywood begins to transition in to an era of sound. One is in danger of being left behind while the other becomes an overnight sensation and, although their stories are intertwined, they are constantly being pulled apart by both time and technology.

This movie is primarily a love story but is also so many other things that, by the time the credits role, you realize you are appropriately at a loss for words when trying to describe such a beautifully crafted silent movie.

Margin Call - Movie Review

One look at the cast of this movie and you feel like you are guaranteed to see a great film...I mean, look at all those heavy hitters from Kevin Spacey to Jeremy Freakin' Irons! Would the story be able to hold up its end of the bargain and deliver material worthy of all this talent or would their skills be wasted on a bland, boring, and soon to be forgotten tale? First, I will tell you a bit about the story before you decide if it is worthy of your attention.

Hunger (2008) - Movie Review

Hunger is based on the true story of Bobby Sands as he leads a group of Irish Republicans on a hunger strike while being held in a Northern Irish prison. The main reason to watch this film would be to see the performance given by rising star Michael Fassbender. This is a very intense and powerful exhibition that shows just what he can be capable of in addition to playing larger scale blockbuster roles.

The Thing (1982 and 2011) - Movie Review Double Feature

 

This is a review of both the original 1982 film and the 2011 prequel since they are pretty much one story split in to two movies. The 1982 film features Kurt Russell in what, at the time, was one of the scariest and coolest sci-fi movies this side of Alien. The new release takes us back to the same snowy location and tells the story of what happened just prior to the events of the first movie. If I had ever watched the original, I don't remember it, so I took the opportunity to see it on Netflix's streaming service the night before I attended a screening of the new one.

Like Crazy - Movie Review

A movie that is riding a wave of hype from the film festival circuit should certainly be something to get excited about and especially when the lead actors are all relative youngsters that appear to be on the fast track to stardom. Brought to the screen by up and coming director Drake Doremus, this picture focuses on the relationship of two students as they fall in love and try to overcome obstacles that are thrown their way and also ones they bring upon themselves. The question that we try to answer here ends up not being if they will succeed, but what that success ultimately means to each of their lives.

Blackthorn - Movie Review

The classic Western film, when done well, can be a thing of beauty, like a prized horse within the midst of all the tumbleweeds and empty shotgun shells. There have been several movies that have told the tale of the legendary Butch Cassidy along with his partner, the Sundance Kid, and I'm sure there will be more of these stories along with the occasional re-imagining of ones we have already seen. Blackthorn is the telling of what may have happened if the rumors are to be believed that Butch and Sundance were not killed by Bolivian soldiers in 1908.

The Avengers Official Trailer Debuts!

Rather than just posting a link to the Avengers movie trailer on its own, I have decided to put together the trailers of all of the movies leading up to what is sure to be one of the biggest blockbusters of all time.

Footloose (2011) - Movie Review

Some of you will remember the version of this movie from the 1980's which starred Kevin Bacon in a breakout role and gave us timeless songs and images that still stand strong today. The remake follows the story very closely although bringing it up to current times to make room for ipods and songs featuring current artists. The cast is full of newcomers like Kenny Wormald and Miles Teller as well as seasoned veterans like Dennis Quaid and Andie McDowell. The main question here is if this remake will step on the toes of its predecessor or will it two-step past expectations and share space on the dance floor with a timeless classic.

My Favorite Movies of 2009

Over the course of 2009, I came to realize more than ever that I truly am a movie geek and have a true passion for the cinematic experience. From my earliest memories of seeing Star Wars for the first time at the drive-in theater to Saturday afternoons laying on the living room floor watching old school kung fu flicks on the family television, movies have been a big part of my life and have had a profound effect on how I view the world. With continued advancements in the art and science of cinematic storytelling, the experience of seeing these imaginative tales unfold on screen (IMAX or iPod), continues to be an enriching and engaging experience.

2009 saw a wealth of quality releases and I was fortunate enough to be able to see a lot of them in various Seattle area theaters with many of my friends. I have decided to compile a list of my 10 favorites from this year with my thoughts on how they managed to crack this list. It was tough to limit the list to just 10 and even harder to put them in any particular order. You may or may not agree with many of these choices and you may feel others should be on the list over some of my choices. Ultimately this list is my opinion and is a representation on my personal experience with these great films. Whether you agree or disagree I welcome any and all feedback.

Seahawks Vs. Giants: On My Timeline

Durring the Seahawks/Giants game that took place on Sunday, October 9th, I was providing a steady stream of Facebook status updates as a running play-by-play and commentary. Here are all of those updates, listed in chronological order, along with accompanying photos from Yahoo Sports and NFL.com.

sea-HAWKS!

Real Steel - Movie Review

"Hey, look! It's Rock 'Em, Sock 'Em, Robots!"

That seems to be the first thought people have when they see the trailer for this movie as most kids have had some version of the classic robot boxing toy. I know my brother and I had ours and this movie takes the concept of robots duking it out and gives it a high tech makeover that has the perfect one-two punch combination of stunning visuals and the classic inspirational sports story. This is rags to richest at its finest in the tradition of Rocky and The Karate Kid (the original) and there is no shortage of moments that will tug at the heart strings mixed in with lots of fiercely intense robot battles.

The Debt - Movie Review

The debt is a classic tale of espionage and intrigue set primarily in 1960's Berlin and is full of suspense along with several surprising twists and turns. You have three reluctant but extremely dedicated heroes and their brilliantly mad adversary who is at times on the level of Hannibal Lechter when it comes to creepy villainy. I enjoyed watching this movie as it doesn't try to force feed the story to the audience and also does a great job of weaving through plot lines that are revealed over two different time lines.

Star Wars: "Noooooo!!!!"

After watching the Star Wars saga on Blu Ray, I am pretty indifferent to the changes George Lucas continues to make to his movies every time they are released in a new format. Most of the changes are pretty minor and have little impact on the story although taking the terrible "Nooooo!!!" Darth Vader moment from Epsiode 3 and recreating it in the climactic scene of Return of the Jedi is a bit much. If you don't know what I'm talking about, check the videos below.