Wow...I'm still here!

Hey folks,
Sorry I have not posted anything for some time, but this summer has been a wild one (both in film and in life) and I finally have the time to sit down and blog about some movies that I have seen. Though I can not go through all of the films that I have seen I will hit the few surprises that I've had in my viewing experience and encourage you to also partake of these unknown films.

It's Kind of a Funny Story

So this film kind of hit me off guard. It's a direct to DVD film that stars Zach Galifianakis and Keir Gilchrist, and though the Hangover has made me a huge Zach fan, I knew little to nothing of Gilchrist. The film centers around a troubled teen who is feeling depressed over his hectic life and the choices that he must make. Feeling suicidal, the teen checks himself into a adult psychiatric ward and it is there that the film truly takes off. This film is all about heart. From the internal monologues Gilchrist makes entertaining to the heart breaking reality that Zach has to face day in and day out, by the time the film ends you'll be on your feet rooting for everyone just to be alright. The shots are well times and the imagination of the lead character brings you to the self realization that deep down inside we're all a little rock star and that's just flat out cool. I give this a solid four out of five stars and fully encourage you to go and rent it.

Hanna

Though this film was not direct to DVD it was hard to find in local theaters. I had to wait till it came out on direct TV and I'm happy to say that I was glad for the wait. Hanna is about a sixteen year old girl who has been raised by her father to be the perfect killer. Her target, Cate Blanchett, is the woman who killed her mother and when Hanna is ready she begins a trip that will take her cross countries and force her to interact with normal people who teach her what it means to be human. Directed by Joe Wright, this film is a hard hitting, low cutting, suspense film with a slightly predictable ending, but still a gem to watch. From soundtrack to action sequences Joe Wright covered all his bases with this one and provides his audience with a raw, hard hitting film, that is short of CGI and over loaded with acting ability. Hanna is a good flick to sit down one night and watch at least twice before you turn it off. A solid four stars will do this film justice and again I fully recommend you go and see it.

Real Steel

Upon first look one would judge this movie harshly. Yes it is a kid's movie, yes it is uplifting and teaches a lesson, and yes it's got some cute kid sided by Hugh Jackman and CGI robots. But don't count this one out yet. Real Steel is defiantly a kid friendly version of Rocky and hits just as fast and as hard as Balboa would have in his prime. Real Steel centers around a washed out robot fighter who is forces to take his kid after the kid's mother dies. Throw in CGI robots who's sole purpose is to fight and you have a pretty solid movie. Yes it has a dancing robot in it, and yes there is a lesson to be learned, but it's not the one expected. Never sell out the little guy, and never count a movie out when you haven't made it through the previews. Real Steel is hard hitting, fun, and inspiring. I give it a solid three stars and fully encourage all fathers to treat their sons this weekend.

Blackthorn

Now this is a film that i had never heard of and had never seen a trailer for but I has pleasantly surprised to find it entertaining and exciting. The film stars Sam Shepard as an aging weastern legend who is traveling home after along exile to be reunited with his sole living family member. The film is a prefect neo Western, much in the style of Appaloosa which stars Ed Harris and Viggo Mortensen. Blackthron is stylish, action filled, and touching as the audience watches the trials and tribulations that an old gunslinger must face to return to the loved one he left behind and the world he thought had forgotten him long ago. A solid three stars.

Tucker and Dale Vs Evil

I'll be the first to tell you that I hate the Scary Movie franchise. I feel that those kind of comedies are juvenile, retarded, and down right fart and sniff kind of work. Upon seeing the trailer for Dale and Tucker I looped it into the Scary Movie catagory and tossed it aside for a day when I was doing nothing. Well that day came and I gave the film a chance because it stars Alan Tudyk, of Serenity and I Robot, and I always find his work at least entertaining. The film centers on two red necks who head up to their newly purchased vacation home and the group of teens who have really watched one too many slasher films. Through dumb luck and cruel fate the two groups are intertwined in innocent accidents that are translated into homicidal tendencies and let the fun begin. This film is a knee slapper through and through and will have you rolling on the floor in pure delight. Tucker and Dale might not be the smartest tools in the shed but they are able to provide gut busting humor as they move from one crazy scene to the other. A solid three stars but still well worth the cost of renting.



Well that's all for now folks, but keep watching and keep reading and I'll hit you up soon with another post.

J