71: Into the Fire

71 Into the Fire is based on a story about a South Korean army platoon made up entirely of student soldiers who were tasked with protecting a strategic location against a vastly superior North Korean force. This tale of uncommon heroism stars Korean rapper Seung Hyun Choi who turns in an impressive performance under the direction of John H. Lee.

Fast Five - Movie Review

The Fast and Furious franchise is one that I have never been overly fond of. The first one was decent, but all others that followed were just not very good at all in my opinion. Fast Five takes the whole idea of what these movies are all about and turns them on their head with lots of big time action and less of a focus on the import car culture and racing.

Battle: Los Angeles - Movie Review

Columbia Pictures seemed to be taking a chance by using a young, unproven director in Jonathan Liebesman to create a movie that would tell a very unique science fiction story without the help of any big name, box office stars. Utilizing a raw, documentary-like film making style to show how a single military squad would perform during an alien invasion, Battle Los Angeles attempts to take viewers right in to the middle of dramatic moments and intense battle scenes.

Thor - Movie Review

For Marvel Studios, Thor is a very important movie and a critical piece of a puzzle that, when fully assembled, will culminate with The Avengers joining forces on screen in what could be the biggest super hero movie of all time. To help stack the deck, they have brought in a load of top notch talent including Natalie Portman, Anthony Hopkins, and Stellan Skarsgård along with rising star Chris Hemsworth who is tasked with bringing the God of Thunder to life.

Hick - Movie Review

At first glance, I was surprised at the amount of well known actors in a movie that hardly anyone has heard of, but after gaining a lot of attention on the film festival circuit, I figured it was worth a shot. Also, I have become a fan of young Chloë Grace Moretz from her work in "Kick-Ass", "Hugo", and "Let Me In" so I was very interested to see what she could do while taking on her very own starring role.

X-Men: First Class - Movie Review

With Matthew Vaughn taking over the X-Men franchise, people were wondering what to expect from the man most people only knew as the guy who had directed "Kick-Ass" which, to me is one of the best super her movies ever made. If nothing else, audience could be assured that this would be a whole new direction for the mutant anti-heroes.

The Woman Knight of Mirror Lake (SIFF 2012) - Movie Review

Set in late 19th century China, "The Woman Knight of Mirror Lake" is based on the true story of Qui Jin who embodied the quest for equality between men and women during a time of political revolt and upheaval. Her determination to affect change in her people would become a catalyst for removing the idealogical status-quo of the Qing Dynasty.

Captain America: The First Avenger - Movie Review

"Captain America: The First Avenger" is the final installment of what is known as phase one in an ongoing series of movies created by Marvel Studios that are all filled with characters from their amazing roster of comic book super heroes. This buildup of cinematic awesomeness will lay the foundation for a perpetual universe creating opportunities for crossovers and combinations that audiences have never seen before.

The Sorcerer And The White Snake (SIFF 2012) - Movie Review

"The Sorcerer and the White Snake" is a highly stylized, action packed adventure that relies heavily on martial arts action while telling a classic story of forbidden love. Jet Li, Shengyi Huang, and Raymond Lam star in this fantastic tale that was pulled from an ancient Chinese legend. 

Game of Werewolves aka Lobos de Arga (SIFF 2012) Movie Review

Spanish film maker Juan Martínez Moreno did not set out to parody or make fun of the horror movie genre although a movie that combines scares with comedy can easily be viewed in that light. "Lobos de Arga", known as "Game of Werewolves" in the United States, successfully pulls off a beastly film that provides just the right amount of scares and laughter to keep fans of both genres happy.

Kong Curling (SIFF 2012) - Movie Review

"Kong Curling" is a Norwegian movie that centers around a competitive curling team and the personal struggles they must overcome to maintain their reign as the kings of one of the world's most unique sports.

That may sound like a really odd backdrop for a gripping drama, but this tale is actually a comedy that has no shortage whatsoever of hilarious moments to go alongside what is actually a very heart warming story.

As Luck Would Have It (SIFF 2012) Movie Review

This was a late addition to my SIFF schedule and I'm glad I was able to check it out. "La Chispa de la Vida" aka "As Luck Would Have It" is part drama, part comedy, part social commentary, and part satire which can really be a deadly combination if not done well.

Headshot (SIFF 2012) - Movie Review

This review features the first film that I watched during the 2012 Seattle International Film Festival and it turned out to be a great way to set the tone for what was still to come. Directed by Pen-Ek Ratanaruang and billed as a crime noir, "Headshot" tells the story of a man who literally has his world turned upside down.

Winnie the Pooh - Movie Review

The return to the big screen of one of the most cherished animated characters of all time was a welcome addition to the year's crop of family friendly movies. Watching the honey loving bear and his friends in a an all new adventure is always a special treat to be shared by children and those that still remember what it was like.

Midnight In Paris - Movie Review

This may be surprising, but this is the first Woody Allen movie that I have ever watched. I'm sure I've missed out on some really interesting films over the years, but none of them have really looked very appealing to me. "Midnight in Paris" may not have been the best starting point to enter in to Mr. Allen's universe, but this is where my journey begins.

The Help - Movie Review

For a movie like 'The Help' to work, the cast would need to be spot on perfect and their portrayals of each character would have to be carefully crafted to avoid falling in to cliche and stereotype. For the most part, the actors succeed at pulling this off and what we are given is a heartfelt portrayal of a turbulent time for women of all races and classes.

Pariah - Movie Review

If you remember watching those after-school specials as a kid that were a more educational and somewhat dramatic break from all the super hero cartoons that were on, then you have at least some idea of what to expect from 'Pariah'. What you will not expect is an intimate and dramatic story that will have your attention from beginning to end.

The Darkest Hour - Movie Review

The Darkest Hour has a decent enough premise and some cool looking special effects that are nearly as glossy looking as the young cast of actors thrown in to what is yet another take on the alien invasion thriller.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011) - Movie Review

There are many devoted fans of the highly acclaimed novels written by Swedish author Stiegg Larsson and there is also a strong following for the original film adaptations that also came out of Sweden (myself included), so creating another version for U.S. audiences with mainstream Hollywood actors would have high expectations and would also be looked at with a fair amount of skepticism.

The Tree of Life - Movie Review

'The Tree of Life' is the latest film by Terrence Malick who is a director that polarizes audiences with a unique blend of breathtaking cinematography and abstract story telling. His films tend to be meant as life lessons and not just put on the screen for Saturday matinee style entertainment and this one pulls out all the stops to give viewers a reality check on existence and purpose.