Cloud Atlas - Movie Review

I would hope that writing a review of Cloud Atlas would be nowhere near as daunting of a task as actually making the movie, but I can't help feel like I wouldn't be able to do it justice by just typing a few words.

Silent Hill: Revelation - Movie Review

Six years after the first installment of the Silent Hill series, Revelation looks to raise the stakes with bigger effects, more scares, and some in-your-face 3D that will have audiences jumping out of their seats. Based on the popular video game franchise, these movies have a distinct visual style unlike anything else ever put into a movie and writer/director Michael J. Bassett does his best to provide a story that matches the creepiness of what you are seeing on the screen.

Far - Short Film Spotlight

FAR is short film directed by Brian Crewe and was written by Marion Kerr who also stars in the movie alongside Andre Hall. The movie was an official selection of the Maelstrom International Fantastic Film Festival and has won many awards at film festivals around the country.

Flight - Movie Review

It has been quite some time since Robert Zemeckis has directed a live action feature film and his return brings a lot of anticipation for a return to a quality standard that has given us such gems as Back to the Future, Forrest Gump, and Contact. Denzel Washington has also had a very storied career and his turn as the star of this movie also adds to the anticipation that Flight should be something truly special.

You'll notice, I did say "should".

Silver Linings Playbook - Movie Review

I've been waiting for both Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence to take on roles that would really allow them to show off their acting abilities since, up until now, we've mainly seen them in big time blockbuster movies playing the type of characters that don't really allow actors to go all in with their performances. While they have both done solid work to this point, I could always tell there was something more they both could give if they had the right characters to play. Silver Linings Playbook just happens to throw them both together into a story that is as oddly original as it is charmingly entertaining.

Sinister - Movie Review

Every year there is a steady stream of horror movies that promise to provide non stop scares and an experience like you have never seen before. The vast majority end up falling well short of that goal with predictable stories, bad acting, and maybe just one or two moments that make you jump out of your seat. "Sinister" is the latest entry from producer Jason Blum who has also been responsible for "Insidious" and the "Paranormal Activity" franchise.

Here Comes the Boom - Movie Review

Most people know Kevin James from his "King of Queens" television show which is still very popular in syndication to this day. He's also made several movies with varying levels of success although it seems he has definitely found a niche making wacky comedies that are meant to draw in the family audience. Based on how much fun "Here Comes the Boom" is, this could end up being his biggest success to date.

Seven Psychopaths - Movie Review

With "Seven Psychopaths", there will be easy comparisons to similarly styled movies like "Reservoir Dogs", "Snatch", "Smokin' Aces", and "In Bruges" (which was also written and directed by Martin McDonagh) although there is something just a little more deranged going on here than any of those other films. From the very beginning, you realize this will not be just another shoot-em-up movie and you may even find yourself looking for a seat belt to keep yourself strapped in.

Taken 2 - Movie Review

Liam Neeson is back as retired CIA agent Bryan Mills in the sequel to the original 2008 breakout action hit. Director, Olivier Megaton is also back to lead another bullet and throat-chop filled extravaganza, but will be hard pressed to recreate the level of intensity and energy that made the first installment such a pleasure to watch.

The Human Race (MIFFF 2012) - Movie Review

The Maelstrom International Fantastic Film Festival is now in its fourth year of showing science fiction, action, horror, and animated movies to Seattle area audiences. This year's festival includes the United States premier of "The Human Race" which debuted as a featured midnight presentation and turned out to be quite the unexpected surprise.

Argo - Movie Review

To this point, Ben Affleck has had quite an illustrious career not only as an actor, but as a director and writer of movies going all the way back to his original collaboration with Matt Damon with the Oscar winning "Good Will Hunting". "Argo" is a movie that will be considered a cornerstone piece to the overall body of work he has produced to this point.

Resident Evil: Retribution - Movie Review

I have been a moderate fan of the Resident Evil franchise since the first installment and for me it has been a consistent source of sci-fi action with plenty of Milla Jovovich kicking ass on whatever is thrown her way. There has always been just enough entertainment value to keep me coming back and, even after a major dip down in quality with Retribution, I'm sure I will be back for more.

Looper - Movie Review

Whenever a movie involves time travel, I am always a little skeptical about how the story is going to play out. I mean, whatever happens, they could always just go back in time again and fix it, right? In the case of "Looper", writer/director Rian Johnson has found a decent way to solve the problem (for the most part) by taking the ability to time travel away from the main characters and have it be something that is done to them. I know that doesn't make sense, but it will when you see it.

In more good news: this movie has Emily Blunt in it.

Dredd 3D - Movie Review

There have been more than a couple movies in the last year or so that have deserved far more attention than they received mainly due to not having a big time, bankable movie star on the marquee or the story was a little too out there for main stream audiences. Dredd is unfortunately going to be leading the charge for this category as it is getting next to no action at the box office while blowing away the audiences that have ventured in to see this 3D action spectacle.

Won't Back Down - Movie Review

One of Hollywood's tried and true, bankable genres of film making is the inspirational story that is "based on actual events". These are often the types of movies that get a strong emotional response and usually come with equal amounts of cheering and tears being shed.

Writer and director Daniel Barnes has been able to assemble the type of cast that makes these types of stories work and with two strong leads like Viola Davis and Maggie Gyllenhaal, there is little doubt that "Won't Back Down" can deliver the goods.

Trouble with the Curve - Movie Review

These days, its not often you find Clint Eastwood in front of the cameras as his focus has been on directing pictures rather than acting in them. Amy Adams and Justin Timberlake however have become two of Hollywood's fastest rising stars over the last several years. The trio look to step up to the plate, knock one out of the park, and initiate every other baseball cliché you can think of in "Trouble with the Curve" which was written by Randy Brown and directed by Robert Lorenz.

End of Watch - Movie Review

For a little perspective on my thought process going in to seeing "End of Watch", you should know that I've never really been a fan of Michael Peña or Jake Gyllenhaal and I always thought David Ayer's highly regarded "Training Day" was a decent movie but nothing spectacular. With that in mind, the trailer for Ayer's latest film about cops still didn't do much to draw me in, but of course I was willing to give it a chance.

The Possession - Movie Review

Before hitting the big time with his Spider Man movies, Sam Raimi was known as the guy who made Evil Dead, Army of Darkness, and Darkman so it makes sense that he would stay involved in the horror genre. Listed as a producer for The Possession, you definitely see his influence although he leaves the directing duties to Ole Bornedal who gives a valiant attempt at creating yet another movie about a young girl who is possessed by an evil demon.

Lawless (2012) - Movie Review

I will be the first to tell you that I am not a fan of Shia LaBeouf. To be honest, I'm not even sure how to pronounce his name. When I saw that he was going to play the starring role in a movie that features Guy Pearce, Jessica Chastain, Gary Oldman, and Tom Hardy my first thought was that I might get to see Bane kick the crap out of Sam Witwicky for two hours. No such luck.

Hit and Run (2012) - Movie Review

Writer, co-director, and lead actor Dax Shepard has put together an entertaining road trip comedy that is full of high speed chases and outrageous moments. Theaters would be wise to install seat belts in every auditorium this movie is showing as audiences will have a hard time containing themselves from jumping out of their seats from excitement or falling out of them from laughing so hard.