Super 8

Rated PG-13 [intense sequences of sci-fi action and violence, language, and some drug use]
Running Time: 112 min.
Release Date: June 10, 2011

CAST
Super 8 features many fresh faces. Joel Courtney plays Joseph “Joe” Lamb, the loyal friend and son of the town's deputy, Jackson Lamb (Kyle Chandler). Joe his helping his friend Charles (Riley Griffiths) make a zombie film for a festival. Tagging along to help out on the film are their friends Carey (Ryan Lee), Martin (Gabriel Basso), and Preston (Zach Mills). Also helping them out is Alice Dainard (Elle Fanning), who steals her father's Louis Dainard (Ron Eldard) car to help the boys with the film.

PLOT SUMMARY
Super 8 isn't just a film about an unknown monster, it's about letting go. In 1979, Joe Lamb and his friends Charles, Martin, Carey, and Preston, sneak out to make a film at their local train station. They get a ride from fellow classmate, Alice Dainard, who also happens to be Joe's crush. While filming, the kids hear a train coming and decide to try and get it in the shot. However, Joe sees a truck drive onto the train tracks and the train then collides into it. From this point on the children get in over their heads as they try to find out what was on that train. Joe's mother passed away a few months earlier in a terrible accident at work while covering a shift for Alice's father, Louis. Joe's father blames Louis for his wife's death and doesn't want Joe to spend time with Alice. Joe and Alice start to develop a friendship, despite their fathers' differences, that soon begins to blossom into something more. The two find a connection through their personal troubles. Joe is still grieving over his mother, and Alice carries around her father's guilt for the accident. Alice goes missing and Joe and his friends set out to look for her. Joes' father, the town deputy, knows that something isn't right and when he learns the kids might be in the thick of it, he and Louis join together to find them. By the end of the film Joe has learned to let go of his grief for his mother, his father has learned to let go of his blame of Louis, just as Louis and Alice learn to let go of their guilt.

DIRECTOR
J.J Abrams, creator of Lost, directs this nostalgic story of children becoming the heroes. Super 8 brings back the retro blockbusters, that producer Steven Spielberg, introduced to us in the late 70's and 80's. Abrams revisits common themes that these films had, such as reminding us that what really makes a movie stand out is that we have to feel for the characters. Abrams and Spielberg make a great team, by bringing us a movie that isn't just action scenes over and over again, but actually tells us a story.

SOUNDTRACK
Michael Giacchino provides us with the soundtrack for Super 8. His previous films include Up and Let Me In. The soundtrack sticks to it's time period with a few tracks, but the score feels a little like it's out of place. It's nothing too noticeable, but it feels like Abrams wanted Giacchino to sound like John Williams, who has composed Jaws and other memorable scores. The score isn't bad it just doesn't seem equivalent to that of the film because it doesn't really stand out. However, the soundtrack is still beautiful and moving.

CINEMATOGRAPHY & WRITING
The cinematography in Super 8 was fantastic, thanks to Larry Fong. As with films like E.T, there are many close-ups that allow us to see the wonder in the eyes of the children as well as their sadness and fear. However, in true J.J Abrams fashion, there are a lot of lens flares. In an interview with Abrams when asked about all his lens flares, he replied that he just really like the look of them and that with a certain type of anamorphic frame it creates a beautiful look. He did admit that he does tend to overuse them a lot. Many people have said that the lens flare annoyed them in the film, but I think they worked well with the film. Abrams is also the writer for Super 8 and managed to make a script that was believable, especially since it's being performed by the children as well. In the movie, the kids are making a zombie film that Abrams actually let them write their own lines for, so as to give it a more authentic feel.

CONCLUSION
Overall, Super 8 was an amazing film filled with romance, mystery, sci-fi, and action. The film was promoted in a way to make it look mainly like a sci-fi/horror, which unfortunately may lead to anyone hoping for that to be a bit upset. Super 8 is not a monster movie, it is more of a coming-of-age action/adventure. Despite, the emotion the film has there are some spectacular action scenes. The train wreck was epic or “mint” as they say in the film. Even though there is a monster, the scares come from the noises that are loud and jump out at you. The acting in this film by the children was extraordinary despite there being many fresh faces. To be honest, the adult actors were the ones that didn't really stand out. I loved this film, despite their be a couple cheesy moments at the end it was a great film. I remember sitting in the theater at one point thinking that this is what movies should be. It was a great throwback to a better time in the film industry. I can't give this film a 4 because it definitely exceeds that, but there are a few flaws, so I'll give it a 5 but it really is a 4.8.

Kick-Ass

Rated R [strong brutal violence throughout, pervasive language, sexual content, nudity and some drug use -some involving children]
Running Time: 117 min.
Release Date: April 16, 2010

Kick-Ass came out a little more than a year ago, so I know it's not a new film, but I had yet to see it. My previous two reviews have been on more serious films, such as suspense and a romantic drama, so I figured I would switch it up and review an action/comedy.

CAST
Matthew Vaughn's action/comedy Kick Ass, features an entertaining ensemble of individuals. The film's main protagonist is Dave Lizewski a.k.a Kick-Ass, played by Aaron Johnson (Nowhere Boy). He meets up with Damon Macready a.k.a Big Daddy, played by Nicolas Cage (National Treasure, Ghost Rider), who is teaching his daughter Mindy a.k.a Hit Girl played by Chloe Moretz (Let Me In), to be a super-hero. Big Daddy wants revenge against drug lord Frank D'Amico played by Mark Strong for framing him as a drug dealer. Frank's son Chris a.k.a Red Mist, played by Christopher Mintz-Plasse (Superbad), trying to impress his father becomes a super-hero to help him stop Big Daddy and Hit Girl.


PLOT SUMMARY
Dave Lizewski is a high-school “nobody”, who loves comic books. Curious as to why people don't try to be super heroes, Dave buys a costume and tries to become one. With little success due to his lack of super powers, he gets stabbed in a fight and run over by a car. This lands him in the hospital where it is determined that he has permanent nerve damage and can now tolerate strong pain. Soon after being released, Dave gets accidentally caught up in a gang fight and is recorded taking them on by a witness's camera phone. The video goes viral and soon everyone loves Kick-Ass. After being told that his crush wishes Kick-Ass would stop a drug dealer from harassing her, Dave seeks him out. However when he gets there he is out numbered and eventually saved by foul-mouthed, Hit Girl and her father Big Daddy. A drug lord by the name of Frank D'Amico, wants Kick-Ass dead after being lead to think that he is the one stealing his shipment of cocaine. Frank's son Chris sets out to form a false alliance with Kick-Ass, under the identity of Red Mist. Trouble sets in for them as well as for Hit Girl and Big Daddy. We learn they too are trying to stop Frank D'Amico for their own personal vendetta. As all their paths cross, Dave learns who the true heroes are and puts his own courage to the test.

DIRECTOR
Matthew Vaughn's Kick-Ass reveals to us that he knows a thing or two about super heroes in this action/comedy based off of Mark Miller and John Romita, Jr.'s comic of the same name. His newest film X-Men: First Class, should further prove to us that he is giving super hero movies a better name. The film also feels a bit like a tamer version a Tarantino film, giving that is has a ton of awesome looking violence and enough swearing alone to make it an R rated film. Filmmaker's should take a hint from someone who does film his own way and with a style that has not been rehashed in every film known to man.

SOUNDTRACK
The soundtrack features a bit of dance-pop and rock as well as it's title song, “Kick-Ass” by artist Mika. Also featured on the soundtrack is a cover of “Bad Reputation” by The Hit Girls, however, the film features the original version by Joan Jett. Where the real music comes in is on the Kick-Ass score, which features music by John Murphy, Henry Pryce Jackman, Marius de Vries, and Ilan Eshkeri. The score also features music by Danny Elfman, who has composed many of Tim Burton's films such as Edward Scissorhands and The Nightmare Before Christmas. We see composing at it's best on John Murphy's “Big Daddy Kills,” which plays during Big Daddy's huge fight scene. It is a beautiful, slightly alternate version of “In the House, In a Heartbeat,” from the 28 Days Later soundtrack. I posted the track at the bottom of this review.

CINEMATOGRAPHY & WRITING
Ben Davis is the cinematographer for Kick-Ass and his use of extreme close-ups really posed well for this super hero film. One shot in particular Davis uses frequently, is the extreme long shot. This shot also features the camera doing a panning movement, which is used to show the setting and the massiveness of the city. The writers on the film are director, Matthew Vaughn and Jane Goldman. Both did an amazing job producing a script that was both entertaining and serious at the same time. They are also responsible for Hit Girls dialogue, for example, when she jokingly tells Big Daddy she wants a puppy for her birthday, to which she then states “I'm just f****** with you Daddy. I'll have a Benchmade model 42 butterfly knife.” It's a shock to hear a eleven-year-old say that line, but considering this film's tone, it is appropriate.

CONCLUSION
I'm going to give Kick-Ass 3.5 penguins out of 5. This film really does “kick ass” and it does so by sticking to it's own path. I think it also helps that it wasn't some big studio movie, instead it was independently financed by director, Matthew Vaughn. The action scenes are amazing and the dialogue is hilarious, but the film lacks a realness to it. I understand that it is a satire but the filmmaker's stated that the heroes are suppose to be in the real world where people don't have super powers. Which is why I feel it's a bit odd that eleven-year-old, Hit Girl would give Bruce Lee a run for his money. As well as the fact that Dave sets out to save the world from bad guys but instead of capturing them or turning them it, they violently kill the hell out of them. I find this to be a bit unreasonable considering their only crime is for the most part was drug dealing. Therefore, the film does tend to drift a bit from what it set out to do. Still, it is a refreshing new look for both comedy and action films.

21 - Big Daddy Kills John Murphy Kick Ass Score MP3 Download

Blue Valentine

Rated R [on appeal for strong graphic sexual content, language, and a scene of violence.]
Running Time: 112 min.
Release Date: December 29, 2010


CAST
Derek Cianfrance's Blue Valentine is beautiful and raw, in a way that feels more like a home video than a movie. It stars Ryan Gosling as Dean Periera, a high school drop-out who lives paycheck to paycheck working for a moving company. Alongside Gosling, is Michelle Williams, who plays his wife, Cynthia “Cindy” Heller. She is a pre-med student who lives with her parents and takes care of her grandmother. What's great about Williams and Gosling's chemistry is that it's real. For the scenes in the past when they meet each other for the first time, they are in fact, meeting each other for the first time. Cianfrance let them both walk and talk all night getting acquainted with each other with a camera following them, so the connection we see between the two is real. The dialogue between them for most of the movie is improvisation. For preparation for the scenes that took place in the present, Williams and Gosling were provided a little house to stay in for a month and live like a real couple.

PLOT SUMMARY
Blue Valentine is a movie within a movie. The film starts with the present where Dean and Cindy's marriage is starting to fall apart. Inter-weaved in the present, are scenes from their past where they meet for the first time and fall in love right away. In the past, as Cindy begins to fall in love with Dean, she becomes pregnant from her ex-boyfriend. Dean accepts to raise the baby as his own and so him and Cindy get married. Switch to the present, and we have Dean and Cindy married with their daughter Frankie. Their marriage is rapidly falling apart and the spark that was between the two at the beginning seems to have faded out.

DIRECTOR
Blue Valentine is director Derek Cianfrance's second film. His first film, Brother Tied (1998) was a success with many film festivals, despite not being well known. Cianfrance has had the story for Blue Valentine ready for many years, but due to budget restraints, he had to wait to go ahead with production.

SOUNDTRACK
Folk-rock band “Grizzly Bear” are the composers for Blue Valentine. For the songs Dean plays in the film, actor Ryan Gosling, actually sang as well as played the ukelele. Lakeshore Records released the soundtrack for the film.

CINEMATOGRAPHY & WRITING
Andrij Parekl is the cinematographer for the film. The film is shot like a home movie, with the camera hidden at times and shaky. There are many close-up and extreme close-up shots for the added effect of really seeing how the character is feeling. The writing for Blue Valentine is very real, director Derek Cianfrance along with Camie Delavigne, and Joey Curtis are the reason for that. However, Ciancfrance stated that he was afraid that because he had the script for so long, that the actors would be too familiar with it. Therefore, he told Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams to use the script as something to fall back on, and to improvise more-so instead.

CONCLUSION
I think Blue Valentine deserves a 4.5 out of 5 penguins. It is just one of those films that did so much right that there is little to no room for wrong. The acting is remarkable, as expected by both actors. The writing is perfect, and doesn't seem fake because it's not and it captures the essence of relationship problems dead on. The music also fits well and helps to make for more fluidity in the film. There is quite a bit of nudity and language, so this is definitely not a film for kids.

-sNix

Black Swan

Rated R [Strong sexual content, disturbing violent images, language and some drug use]
Run Time: 108 min.
Release Date: December 17, 2010


Alright, so it's time for my first movie review. I chose Black Swan because I hadn't seen it yet and I kept hearing so much hype about it. I also figured for my first review I'd try to start with something a bit challenging and Black Swan is definitely a movie that is hard to sum up. That being said, I won't be using any spoilers, so for anyone who hasn't seen it, you're safe to continue reading.

CAST
Darren Aronofsky's Black Swan is a divine film with decent storytelling. Aronofsky's previous movies include Requiem for a Dream (2000), The Fountain (2006), and The Wrestler (2008). All are hauntingly beautiful films and Black Swan doesn't fall short. It stars Natalie Portman as Nina Sayers, the fragile, dedicated ballet dancer. Mila Kunis as Lily, Nina's opposite and threat for the limelight. Vincent Cassel as Thomas Leroy, the artistic director who tries to break Nina of her perfections. Barbara Hershey as Nina's mother, Erica Sayers, the obsessed mother who relives her ballerina days through Nina, and Winona Ryder as Beth Macintyre, the former Swan Princess. Portman brilliantly portrays Nina, in a role that requires much. She had to not only take herself to a level of madness she has never been to in previous roles, but she also had to train to be able to do the dancing required for the film, which she mastered beautifully.

PLOT SUMMARY
Nina Sayers has been a dedicated ballerina most of her life, but that's not enough. She wants to be in the spotlight as the Swan Princess for Pyotr Tchaikovsky's “Swan Lake.” She's lives with her mother who tries to relive her ballet days through Nina by being obsessive of Nina's career. Thomas Leroy, the artistic director for the ballet company is looking for a new Swan Princess, since forcing his former pupil, Beth Macintyre, into retirement. He wants Nina to be the Swan Princess because she can play the part of the fragile, white swan perfectly, but when it comes to the black swan, she just can't seem to let go of her perfections. Despite this, Nina receives the role of the Swan Princess and everything seems to be falling into place for her when Lily, another ballet dancer, joins. Lily is everything Nina isn't and an amazing ballet dancer, which makes Nina fear her role for Swan Princess is in jeopardy. This fear sends Nina into a craze.

DIRECTOR
As with Aronofsky's previous films, Black Swan causes a sort of uneasiness that is felt through the entire film. In Requiem for a Dream, we see the characters downward spiral as a result of drugs, the only difference with Black Swan, is that the spiral is a result of the compelling desire to be perfect. Aronosfsky's other previous film, The Wrestler, has the same theme as Black Swan, which is lives being ruined by demanding careers. Aronofsky has a beauty to all his films that can be felt even if what we are witnessing may be harsh or uneasy. The directing is flawless, which is nothing less then what I would expect.

SOUNDTRACK
The soundtrack for Black Swan is composed by Clint Mansell, which is the fifth collaboration him and Darren Aronosfsky have done. The soundtrack features much of the music of Tchaikovsky's ballet, but with Mansell's own suspenseful twist. The soundtrack is a dark and unforgettably beautiful masterpiece, the kind only Clint Mansell could handle. Two of Mansell's tracks I would recommend listening to are “A Swan is Born” from the Black Swan soundtrack and “Coney Island Dreaming” from the Requiem for a Dream soundtrack. The tracks are at the end bottom of this post.

CINEMATOGRAPHY & WRITING
Matthew Libatique's cinematography in Black Swan is perfect. The over-the-shoulder shots make you feel as if your witnessing something you shouldn't be. As Nina drifts further into her madness, the rotating shots make you feel just as confused and chaotic as Nina is becoming. The writing however, is where Black Swan falls short. Everything about this film is so beautifully done but the screenwriting just seems too bland. The story feels like it is rushed a bit and therefore it solely relies on imagery, which isn't bad, but in a movie that exceeds in most aspects, I feel the writing should have held up to the rest.

CONCLUSION
Overall, I would give Black Swan a 4 out of 5 penguins (not stars). It was a very good film. I hated ballet, but this film really made me realize how much goes into it and I definitely have more respect for the kinetic arts. This film is haunting. It's so disturbing that it catches the viewer off balance while watching. I'm not the kind of a person who gets scared or grossed out by movies, but there were definitely a few scenes that made me uneasy. CAUTION to viewer, try to go to your happy place after this film. Hope you enjoyed :3

-sNix

Black Swan Original Score - Clint Mansell - 14 - A Swan Is Born MP3 Download

First Post

First post yay! I'm not going to be writing a review for this post but I wanted to sum up what this blog is going to be about. As you already know I am going to be writing film reviews from time to time. I will be covering a fairly wide range of films from indie to mainstream "Blockbusters". I will review new releases and old films as well as some that I've seen in the past. Now, I typically have different views and opinions on films than most people which is usually because I disagree with the films that the Academy Awards and Oscars favor. Also, I don't judge whether or not I like a film based on the fact that it's too popular. I hate when people won't admit a film is good because everyone is talking about it.

I'll be looking at the cinematography, directing, writing, acting, plot, special effects, and soundtrack (most film reviews ignore the soundtrack or score of films but I believe the soundtrack makes up a huge part of films). Then I will will give a rating out of 1-5 penguins(yes penguins, not stars) 1 will mean uninspired, 2 will be flawed, 3 will be average, 4 will be inspired, 5 will be flawless (or more simply "Yay, there's hope for the film industry again!!"). Hope you enjoy.

-sNix