Rango (2011)

Rango is a heavy dose of fun. It has a funny story that is basically Chinatown meets A Fistful of Dollars, with plenty of jokes mixed in. While a few scenes seem a little unnecessary and almost feel as if they are added as filler to make the film slightly longer, it is overall enjoyable.
The voice actors do a wonderful job Johnny Depp, Isla Fisher, Abigail Breslin, Ned Beatty, and many more. They do a great job of bringing their characters to life and give them great personality.







 Rating: 4/5 **** 

Yojimbo (1961)

Yojimbo is another example of why Akira Kurosawa is easily one of the greatest film directors of all time. This film has such a simple concept, Sanjuro, a wondering samurai, enters a small town that is split between two feuding gangs.  He uses his superior intelligence and fighting skills to manipulate the rival gang leaders into destroying themselves and thus ridding the town of the fighting and corruption that is currently plaguing it.
A brilliant film that is more of a western than a samurai film and was in fact remade into a western in 1964 with Sergio Leone's A Fistful of Dollars.
Kurosawa's go to star Toshiro Mifune was brilliant as the intelligent, wise cracking samurai, Sanjuro.
Yojimbo is an exciting, thrilling, comical ride.



Rating: 5/5 *****

On the Waterfront (1954)

Elia Kazan's classic masterpiece follows Terry Malloy (Marlon Brando) through a crisis of morality when he is faced with the choice of testifying against his corrupt union boss Johnny Friendly (Lee J. Cobb) or playing D and D (deaf and dumb) to the murders that are taking place on the waterfront.
This is one hell of a movie with some of the greatest performances of all time. Marlon Brando shows here why he is one of the all time greatest actors with his role as Malloy, a washed up ex-boxer who plays dumb to all the corruption around him. That is until the beautiful sister of one of the victims shows up. Karl Malden, Eva Marie Saint, Rod Steiger and Lee J. Cobb also give outstanding performances in this brilliant classic that took home 8 Oscars (including Best Picture).




Rating: 5/5 *****

Network (1976)

In 1976 when Sidney Lumet's film Network was first released, the brilliant director couldn't possibly have guessed how relevant the messages in the film would still be 35 years later.
This film follows a famous news anchor, Howard Beale, who is having a mental collapse on a live network news station. The corporate news network exploits the man in order to gain viewers and move ahead in the ratings. The film is funny, smart, and very intelligent. It has one brilliant (Oscar winning) script and absolutely phenomenal acting by Peter Finch, William Holden, and Faye Dunaway. Finch received a best actor Oscar for his role as Beale and Dunaway best actress for her performance.
This time that we live in disconnect among people is greater than ever thanks to the internet and technology. The messages in this film are extremely relevant and are easily translated into today’s society. This is a film that is as important as it is entertaining. I highly recommend watching for anyone who hasn't seen it.



Rating: 5/5 *****

Grown Ups (2010)

I'm not going to waste a lot of time writing about this piece of garbage, and I don't recommend you waste your time watching it.
Not a lot happens in this film. It is just a group of people going around trying, and miserably failing, to be funny. Not one scene in this movie is worth my time and I feel bad for anyone who has to watch this. This movie is horrible, really horrible.







Rating: 0/5  bomb

Dinner for Schmucks (2010)

Dinner for Schmucks has potential to be so much more than it is. It has a hilarious cast including Paul Rudd, Steve Carell, Zach Galifianakis, and Jermaine Clement who steals the show as the
artist Kieran.
Tim (Paul Rudd) is a raising star at his work when the boss invites him to a monthly dinner event where they compete to see who can find the biggest buffoon and bring them as their guest. Tim runs into the perfect guest, IRS employee Barry (Carell).
While it has its moments, most the laughs are saved until the actually dinner, which is quite hilarious.
However overall the movie is mildly dissappointing.




Rating:     2.5/5   **1/2

Burma VJ: Reporting from a Closed Country (2008)

Everyone should watch Burma VJ. This documentary is absolutely stunning. It is a look into a country we rarely see anything about.

With cameras illegal in Burma a group of underground video journalists attempt to capture the 2007 protests of the Burmese government led by the countries monks. The video is all footage shot by Joshua (the narrator) and his fellow Democratic Voice of Burma VJs (video journalist) and smuggled out of the country. These people put their lives at risk in attempt to show the outside world what is happening in their country. The journalist are some amazing individuals.  Brave and relentless they go after their footage getting some spectacular shots.

This film is as intense and exciting as anything you'll see. It is an incredible story and a testaments to the ability of individuals to change the world.

Rating: 5/5 *****