Review: Captain America: The First Avenger

Being a fan of comic books and Captain America, I had to see this film. 'Nuff said.

Captain America: The First Avenger (CA:TFA) follows Steve Rogers from scrawny solider wannabe to a timeless national hero.  Thats pretty much it.

Likes - I enjoyed this film a whole lot.  I went into this film knowing they wouldn't get everything right.  Honestly, they never do with these comic films.  With this film though, you can tell they worked really hard to craft a story as close to the original as possible.  More so, they wanted to keep the characters the same at heart.  And they did that.  For all that Chris Evans has done, this is by far the best role I've seen him play.  You believe he is Steve Rogers.  That's saying a lot!  Bucky and the Howling Commandos are on par too.  With CA:TFA, despite Captain America being such a lone figure, he really is made by the people that support him.  Hugo Weaving also was a great pick as Red Skull.  He gives off the right amount of creepy and fear.  I even liked how they had a nice easter egg during the Expo scene.  

Dislikes -  Nothing in particular sticks out that I didn't like.  Mind you I saw CA:TFA on sunday and it's about Thursday.

Overall - I think it was a good film.  Great film even.  We really saw the trails that helped build the Captain America mythos.  The film really shows how Steve Rogers, not Captain America, is a true American hero!

Four and Half Stars out of Five.

Review: Forbidden Planet

I had added this classic sci-fi film to my queue a long time ago.  I feel if I am going to be any kind of movie buff, I need to see all the classics, this one included.  I must say, I was very pleased and impressed by this classic cinema.

Forbidden Planet follows a spaceship crew and their rescue mission.  They come to Altair 4 where they meet Dr. Morbius and his gorgeous, but naive, daughter Altaira. The brilliant doctor informs the crew about his time spent on the planet and the ordeals he had to endure to survive.  All done in the name of science and progress.  Eventually, we learn the true threat on the planet isn't what it appears to be.

Likes - I really enjoyed this film, much to my surprise.  My mind's eye had imagined this film is unimaginative, poorly conceived, and full of gimmicky scenes.  Instead, I was treated to a well developed story that delves into human nature.  I was really impressed how they tied things together.  I was also impressed with the sets and special effects.  A few scenes had me scratching my head, asking "How did they do that?"  Too often films simply phone it in with the CGI.  The mystery and awe inspired by this film is lost in so much of today's CGI fare.  Forbidden Planet is worth watching over again, just to figure out how they managed some of the special effects. The real star in this film though is the plot.  It really shows how our humanity will always remain, despite all our intellectual advancements.  I was impressed by the high brow story, how it didn't pander to the audience.  Instead it treated us as intelligent adults, something rarely found and felt today.

Dislikes - My only complaint about this film is the pace of the plot.  I felt like they could have skipped some dialogue, enough to shave 10 minutes off.  Thats it though.

Overall - Do yourself a favor and watch this film.  Despite it's age and campy reputation, it is a solid, thoughtful, well-crafted film.  I really enjoyed this film. 4 out of 5 stars. 

Review: Kill the Irishman

My friend Jaysen highly recommended this film.  I took his advice and was very pleased I did.

Kill the Irishman follows the story of real life thug Danny Greene.  Greene was avid reader and a hard worker.  He begin his career in crime but muscling his way into being the union president of this factory, trying to stand up for the people who work in the massive death trap.  His way of getting what he wanted, for himself and his crewmen, made him much loved and respected.  This wasn't enough for Greene though.  He continued down the path of power, greed, and respect

Like - I really like this film.  Much more then I was expecting.  Knowing the film is based on true life events makes it that much more interesting.  The acting is very strong with these B-listers.  I was really pleased.  The plot though ultimately drives this film.  In a strange way, it reminds me of Walk the Line, but for crime, not music.  Overall great.  I liked this film so much that I'm making sure to write about it, despite having seen it 2 weeks ago.

Dislikes - There wasn't anything overt that I disliked.  This was a solid film - solid plot solid acting solid cinematography.  But it lacks that certain edge that makes it amazing.

Overall - Great film.  For fans of Godfather, Scarface, or anything crime/mob film, you have to see this.  For those who are indifferent to the genre, still watch this because it's well enough to stand on it's own.  4 out of 5 stars

Review: Super 8

It's the 4th of July and I had nothing to do.  I decided to venture out into public for my usual movie fix instead of simply staying in.  I heard alot of good things about this one and it already had peaked my interest.  I'm glad I went but I wouldn't have missed out much if I didn't

Super 8 follows a group of kids.  We see them trying to film their entry into the local film festival.  They end up catching a train derailment in their small Ohio town.  Things spiral out into a massive conspiracy trying to cover up a discovery that would change the course of humanity.

Likes - I liked this film a fair amount.  The kids that comprise the main cast are cute and endearing.  I think it was a good choice to have the middle schoolers be our eyes and ears, witnessing the insanity that would unfold in this film.  I like the later half of this film a good amount.  A lot of the plot elements were finally coming together.  I also liked seeing how a small town became a massive war zone.  I also enjoyed how the lack of screen time for a key element gave the film a much more intense feeling

Dislikes - I didn't like how long it took for the movie to really evolve into the kind of movie it was meant to be.  I appreciated the effort to make a Sci-fi movie more human but I think a lot of the Sci-fi feel was lacking in the early part.  I know some might argue that its a sliding scale, as it became more Sci-fi it became less about the kids.  Still though, I think they could've done a bit more.

Overall - I enjoyed this film.  It's definitely one I wanted to see, whether in the theatre or on DVD.  I think I could've waited though.  I'd give it 3 out of 5 stars

Review: Phantom:Requiem for the Phantom

Phantom: Requiem for the Phantom is a very redundant and poorly worded series title.  Thankfully, the series itself was crafted in a much more thoughtful fashion.  As usual lately, I was in need of a new anime series to follow, especially since the US TV season is on break.  Netflix suggested this to me.  I  was hesitant but after the 3rd episode, I was hooked.  This series proved completely worth my time.  I even found myself losing sleep. I was so engrossed with the story I would stay up way past my bed time.  

Phantom follows Zwei, a Japanese boy who has no memory of his past.  He finds himself fighting for his life the moment he awakens.  After his initial struggle, he is taught the ways of the assassin by his predecessor, Eins.  Soon, with his new abilities, we watch has Zwei rises and falls with Inferno, the organized crime syndicate he works for.

Likes - I didn't just enjoy this series, I loved it.  The story was great.  There was alot of development for all the major characters involved.  Specifically, Zwei. We see how he really asks why his life is the way he it is.  He rises.  He falls, He realizes what matters in life.  But so does Eins.  She eventually comes to see Zwei's philosophy to be better suited for her then the bland one offered to her by Scythemaster.  Even Cal, who is introduced later on, grows up as well.  If you want a series that offers alot of character development, watch this one.  It is central to the whole plot.  I liked how it was an adult series, swearing, but only when it made real sense.  Overall, I think this was a very thought-out, well crafted series.  

Dislikes - My main complaint is the animation style.  It is so plan that I was turned off by it.  I thought Phantom was another generic series about who-knows-what.  I'm glad I stuck around because it was worth the pay off.  Another complaint I have is about the ending.  What the hell happened????

Overall - I highly recommend this series.  It is a bit long but with so many characters running around, it could easily run longer.  I know I raved about Baccano! before but I think after you watch that, make the effort to see this one.  You won't be disappointed.  5 Stars!

Review: I Saw the Devil

I Saw the Devil is the latest Korean Horror film.  It focuses on the them of revenge.  After watching the revenge trilogy last month or so, I was excited to get more!  When I saw this was a nearly added instant stream title, I dropped everything to watch this. It was an interesting, unexpected ride but one I would definitely make again.

I Saw the Devil follows Kim Soo-hyeon, a special agent of the National Intelligence Security.  His fiance is brutally murdered by a serial killer, Kyung-chul.  Kyung-chul is an apathetic man, killing anyone who he feels slights him in the slightest way.  This film follows Soo-hyeon's catch and release of Kyung-chul.

Likes - This film is absolutely unrelenting and brutal.  When other films would cut away or imply an event has occurred, Jee-woon Kim keeps the scene going, forcing the viewer to see the true lengths these men will go, for survival, for revenge.  With this mentality, we see tendon being severed.  We see excrement being sifted.  We see limbs and leftovers being mixed together.  As disturbing as this might sound, it all makes for a rather beautiful sight.  The violence borders on both the ultra but also the poetic.     As I've mentioned before, what gets me loving the movie is the plot.  This was a story never told, an original tale.  If this was told again, it wouldn't have the same fluidity or flow as  I Saw the Devil.  Where other movies would have been done during after the first hour and half, I Saw the Devil took it a step further and added nearly an hour more of excitement and tension.  Mind you this is not at all pointless either, but really helps drive the point of how far Soo-hyeon will go for true revenge for his fiancee.  

Dislikes - I did not have anything major I disliked.  If I had a complaint,it would be my weak stomach had a hard time watching some scenes.  Nonetheless, I still manged to keep my eyes uncovered for the whole film.  That's pretty amazing.

Overall - Absolutely wonderful film.  Its strange all the angles I've been seeing through film about this topic - revenge.  Its becoming a great ride.  I give this movie 5 stars and implore you to watch is as soon as you can!  And try to eat light before you do, otherwise it might not sit well with you after awhile.

Review: Bacccano! (Anime)

I owe Netflix for this one.  Baccano! kept coming up as a suggestion based on all the other anime, good and crappy, that I've watched.  I was very hesitant initally.  So much so, I even started the first episode 3 times but never getting passed the first 5 minutes of it.  I'm glad I forced myself to see a whole episode.  Once I started, I could not stop watching this amazing anime.

It's very hard to describe the plot of Baccano!. I say that beucase there is so much going on.  So many characters, each with a distinct, unique personality, all crammed into only 16 episodes.  Honestly, it's amazing any development happened at all.  I can say this much though - Baccano! follows a group of people, all bound together by a life changing event.

Likes - The story telling was amazing.  I read a previous review, opining that Baccano! is anime's answer to a Tarentino film.  After watching the whole series, I fully agree.  The main reason being the disjointed story telling.  The series follows a huge cast of people, some of which will never cross paths with one another.  This is an anime with absolutely no main character.  I know thats a hefty statement, but you'll understand my words once you watch the series.  With that said, you still see alot of development, both with the story, and the characters.  Another thing I loved was cast and breadth of the characters.  I've rarely seen a set of characters so unique, and so fun.  While some characters are never delved into, there are others whom you come to know and love.  The animation was good.  There was a slight sepia sheen, which goes perfect with the prohibition era.

Dislikes - It was too short!!!  This series could easily have been 26 episodes.  51 episodes even.  Another complaint is the fact the series jumps around so greatly, from character to character, and even throughout time.  It can be quite a daunting task in the beginning to follow the story.  This is one you have to stick with.  In a way, it also makes the series that much more worth watching a second time.  The story makes much more sense the second go-around.

Overall - I love this anime.  It was new, fresh, and very intelligent.  The characters are all so interesting and intriguing, and most of them you come to love.  The replay value on this is extremely high as well.  If you are an anime fan of any degree, watch this one.  Baccano! will show you just how far the medium can be taken! 5 out of 5 stars