Tangled Review

Classically executed and a pleasure for the whole family. Disney's Tangled builds the bridge between animated classics like Sleeping Beauty(1959) and Aladdin(1992) to modern animated films such as Pixar's Toy Story 3(2010) and Dreamworks' Shrek(2001). Based off the Grimm's fairy tale Rapunzel Tangled tells the story of the beautiful princess Rapunzel (voiced by Mandy Moore), who was stolen away from her parents at birth by a selfish witch known as Mother Gothel (voiced by Donna Murphy), and locked in a tower with no doors and no stairs. With the only way to get inside is by climbing up the long golden magic hair of the princess. Locked away and alone with only a lizard as a friend, her world it suddenly turned upside down when her tower is suddenly rampaged by a common thief, Flynn Rider (voice by Zachary Levi), who has climbed the tower in order to hide from pursuing palace guards. The story is filled with adventure, romance, comedy, and drama making it surprisingly one of the best Disney has done in a long time. Complete with a wonderful score, masterful storytelling, and beautiful art. Tangled will bring a smile to even the hardest heart. It will resurrect the child in all of us and bring a smile to the youngest viewer.

Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole Review

A creative tale both visually striking and intriguing storytelling. Legend of the Guardians directed by Zack Snyder tells the story of a young ow named Soren and his adventures seeking out the legendary owl Guardians who have filled his imagination with stories since childhood. Surviving extreme weather, meeting new friends, and outrunning the notorious cult of dark, sinister owls known as the Pure Ones, lead by the evil owl Metal Beak.Based on the Guardians of Ga'Hoole novels written by Katheryn Lasky, Legend of the Guardians takes on an adventure that leaves us dazzling and speechless. With amazing visual effects and great voice acting, Director Zack Snyder (300, Watchmen, Dawn of the Dead) proves yet again his mastery at directing animation and bringing us a vision of masterpiece in doing so.

I enjoyed this Legend of the Guardians, though the storyline is not perfect the voice cast and the animation kept me entertained and in wonder. The storyline at times drags on and slows the pacing of the film and there still are a few characters that were found quite annoying mainly since they had no purpose in the plot, at least in my opinion that is. Overall however, Legend of the Guardians is a definite must see for all ages both young and old.

The Untouchables Review

The Untouchables staring Kevin Costner, Andy Garcia, Sean Connery and Robert Di Niro takes a look back at one of Americas most notorious crime bosses known as Al Capone. The Untouchables tells the story of how a group of federal agents led by newly appointed officer Eliot Ness (Costner) track down and expose infamous gang leader Al Capone (Di Niro). Ness is joined with veteran officer Jim Malone (Connery), rookie agent George Stone (Garcia), as well as a federal accountant Oscar Wallace (played by Charles Martin Smith).
Untouchables exploits some key events including many liker raids, gang strikes, and the Al Capone court case. Sean Connery is stupendous in his role playing both the mentor and supporting character sharing the spotlight with Garcia. Costner does well but has had better productions, at times he seems he is just spitting out lines and does nothing in particular to better his character but simply play the standard up straight hero (see The Body Guard and Robin Hood for other examples).
Though it is nothing compared to other more previous gangster films such as The Godfather, The Untouchables still holds its own in making itself a classic of the genre.    

The Hurt Locker Review

 

An edge of your seat intense drama that will bring you to your knees with fear, sadness, respect, and joy. Winner of 6 Oscars including Best picture and Best Director Katherine Bigelow The Hurt Locker tells the story of and elite Army Bomb squad and the terrors of war they encounter together. Bigelow masterfully sets the stage making one feel they are in the middle of everything and experiencing the emotions of war at first hand. The acting was magnificent, the effects were amazing and at times disturbingly realistic. The story keeps you wanting to see more and more it keeps itself well balanced between the pros and cons against Iraq but more focuses on the addiction and rush an American soldier might get during his time of duty. You see the maturity one also gains through going through such experiences. I enjoyed much of this film, it left a cathartic sense with me as to how real this conflict really is and how I found I could easily connect with either one of the three main characters.

With it's magnificent story telling, brilliant acting, and masterful directing the Hurt Locker leaves nothing to fault bringing it up there with other great war drama films such as Saving Private Ryan, Black Hawk Down, and We Were Soldiers.

Event Horizon Review

 

A sci-fi horror in tradition with it's predecessors such as the Alien series and Sphere. After losing contact with the deep space ship called Event Horizon 7 years prior when it was lost through a black hole, the crew of the S.S. Lewis and Clark find themselves investigating the remains of the same ship in order to find out what had happened. At first what appears to be empty and no sign of personnel the crew soon realize the Event Horizon has not only been to the far reaches of the universe but has not come back alone. Though in many ways shares a similar story to the 2002 film Solaris, Event Horizon is much easier to follow and is extremely more graphic and gory to it's extreme. The pacing is a bit choppy at first but seems to even out in the middle and then overdoes itself in the final act. Acting performances by both Laurence Fishburne (Matrix) and Sam Neil (Jurassic Park) are wonderful for what material they are working with. The story itself is fine and fun for a good popcorn horror.

Event Horizon though predictable and overdoes itself in many ways is not a bad film and is rather enjoyable for its case, I however will say it is a film that you have to be in the mood for and with appropriate audience. Visually striking and excellent makeup Director Paul Anderson has much potential to making a better piece in the future. 

Toy Story 3 Review

After seeing this film now two times I am still yet amazed by the masterful storytelling and memorable visual presentation Pixar brings to the screen again and again. Woody and Buzz are back yet again for the third installment of this wonderful franchise after more than ten years since its predecessor and more than fifteen since its launch. Toy Story still brings us to a wonderful world of joy and entertainment. A rare treat in sequels. This time the gang could be at the end of the trails as their lifetime friend and owner Andy is preparing to go off to college. The toys soon find themselves donated by accident to a local daycare which at first seems like a great retirement get away but soon turns into a dark nightmarish prison where toys are tortured by over energized toddlers. Now the toys with the help of some new friends and few new obstacles must find their way out using as many spoofed prison break scenes as possible. 

Reuniting Tom Hanks as Woody and Tim Allen as Buzz Toy Story 3 stands strong as a sequel but also as a film of its own with it's catchy and original storyline that keeps you entertained from beginning to finish. My only complaint about this film was that at times toward the end I found myself wondering if this were to be the end. Are they going to roll the credits and by the time the ending scene finally made itself clear I felt it overdid itself but that's what you expect for an ending of such a cherished story and a moving on for another.

Inception Review

 

Ever wonder what it would be like to be in someones dream? From the creative mind that brought Batman back to life in Batman begins and Dark Knight as well as showed us the logic of magic in The Prestige, Director Christopher Nolan shows us exactly what could happen if that were possible.

Inception is a beautifully well made masterpiece. Christopher Nolan has done it yet again pulling us into a world of imagination and suspense. A weird yet fascinating tale that will keep you up thinking all night afterward.

Staring Leonardo DiCaprio who plays the character with a past who we know as nothing more than Cobb. DiCaprio plays the role very well and surprises us once more on how far he has come in his personal career. Inception dives us into a tale of twists and turns that leave you without a clue of what is happening until the end but it is worth seeing and is by far one of the best of 2010.