Day 349: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

Directed By- Peter Jackson

Writer(s)- Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, Guillermo del Toror; Based on the Book By- J.R.R. Tolkien

Starring- Ian McKellen, Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage, James Nesbitt, Ken Stott, Cate Blanchett, Ian Holm, Christopher Lee, Hugo Weaving, Elijah Wood, Andy Serkis

Run Time- 2 hr. 46 min.

Critics Review- "Regardless of the frames, dimensions, or goggles used to conjure it, "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" is an incredible ride and a triumphant return to Middle Earth."- Mark Ellis "Schmoes Know"

Rotten Tomatoes Rating- Critics- 66% Audience- 81%

Out of a possible 5 stars- 5 stars

My Review-

I do not even know where to begin with this movie, but I am glad to return to Middle Earth after nearly 10 years since watching Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, and I must say it was good to see new faces and returning faces. I saw The Hobbit in the High Frame Rate, and let me tell you one thing. There is a  HUGE difference in the HFR 3D and it was well worth the money to watch at 48 fps, I could tell the difference right away and how most people could not tell the difference beats me. This is the first movie in a new trilogy from the J.R.R Tolkien book, and all three films are going to be directed by Peter Jackson, who helmed the original 3 Lord of the Rings films, and even though I read the book a long time ago and have to re-read it again I would love to see what he does for the rest of the films. Though some of the actors I have never heard of before this film I think they did a really awesome job. When it came to the scene where they all sang the Misty Mountains song I got chills, the dwarves were so badass in the film and all of them are so likeable but hard to remember since most of their names rhyme with the next one,  then there is Martin Freeman taking up the role of Bilbo Baggins, taking over for Ian Holm, and Freeman did a really really great job as Bilbo and how he used to be before he came into possession of the ring. The whole time I had huge smile on my face since I loved The Lord of the Rings films it was really great to see The Hobbit finally come to the big screen and hearing the music again and the really great fight scenes were just awesome and the 48fps just made the movie even way better and yes I know I said it before but it is just so awesome, and let me say this, the movie is all about the beards, they were so badass and I think I could make it has a dwarf in Middle Earth. The scenery was just so amazing again and the wide sweeping shots and how the fight scenes were filmed was just so awesome, I cannot wait for the next two films to be released. Since this is the story that set motion for the Lord of the Rings  we would meet the one and only Gollum again and returning was the ever talented Andy Serkis who basically stole the last half of the movie well the scenes that he was in he stole, it was just cool to see him again. I cannot see why this does not have a higher rating on rotten tomatoes when it deserves a better score than it received  I think its mostly due to the complaints about the frame and how long it was, but both were just fine for me. This movie should be seen by all fans of The Lord of the Rings Trilogy and even if you have not seen those previous films, I think watching all the production blogs for this film made me anticipate and want to watch the movie even more, and it was nice since they did not spoil to much when they were released. I believe you will still enjoy this one. If you want to see it I would suggest the HFR 3D, but you do not want to see it like that it is still a great movie either way. This one movie I would watch again in theaters, and I think I am so, I'm happy with that.

Day 348: Monty Python and the Holy Grail

Directed By- Terry Gilliam, Ian MacNaughton

Writer(s)- Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones

Starring- Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Michael Palin

Run Time- 1 hr. 28 min.

Critics Review- "It's still one of the funniest, silliest and all-out strangest films you'll ever see. Now go away, or I shall taunt you a second time."- Jason Zingale "Bullz-Eye.com"

Rotten Tomatoes Rating- Critics- 95% [CERTIFIED FRESH] Audience- 94%

Out of a possible 5 stars- 5 stars

My Review-

Now that I have finally finished this movie, I loved it. This may be my favorite film from by far from Monty Python and I think I have watched all of them except for one on this list, any who this one is my favorite one. I think one thing I really loved was the opening title sequence with the subtitles that made no sense what so ever, and than the explanation behind why they were bad, after seeing that I could tell this was going to be an awesome movie, aside from the bits and bits I had seen from time to time already. Even though the movie was made in the mid seventies the jokes still hold up and it is pretty funny and very quotable, its movies like this that are really awesome. I also liked how at times the movies was animated during certain scenes, and or during the hunt for the grail it showed everyone's journey as they would try to find it. I could and possibly will watch this movie over and over again, because it has some of the funniest people that I can still recognize today; Eric Idle and John Cleese, I would have to say like always were my favorite parts of this movie and the the other films that they did. This is also one of those movies that I do not know why it took me so long to finish watching when it is a classic and I should have seen it a long time ago, but never got around to it until now. I wish Monty Python would come out with another movie, even though they are all are old now it would be cool to see if they can top this one or any of the other films that they made. This movie was just to damn awesome, the one liners, the funny scenarios, logic that made no sense and the abrupt ending made the whole movie really lovable 

Day 347: To Live and Die in L.A.

Directed By- William Friedkin

Writer(s)- William Friedkin, Gerald Petievich

Starring- William Petersen, Willem Dafoe, John Pankow, Darlanne Fluegel, Debra Feuer, John Turturro, Dean Stockwell

Run Time- 1 hr. 55 min.

Critics Review- "The film isn't just about cops and robbers, but about two systems of doing business, and how one of the systems finds a way to change itself in order to defeat the other."- Roger Ebert "Chicago Sun-Times"

Rotten Tomatoes Rating- Critics- 93% Audience- 74%

Out of a possible 5 stars- 3 stars

My Review-

This movie was recommended to be by someone who listens to Yeah, Its that Bad and I would liked to thank them, even though I do not know their name. This was one great movie about old fashioned cops and robbers and I love seeing Dafoe has the villain in films, because it is what he does best. This movie had everything that the 80s cops movies had; great music, cool villains and cops that did not care about getting in trouble. These are the types of cops movies that I miss, and hope wish more would be made, like this or some what similar, the music was random, and the violence it was just awesome, even though at times it was a tad bit too slow and the main character ended up dying and the lame one lived sucked monkey nuts. I think I could live with that, that was the only gripe I had with the movie seeing William Petersen die, after he was the badass in the movie was just plain wrong. Only thing I really liked in the movie was the car chase that was like 5 minutes but seemed a lot longer, every possibly the highlight of the film and them driving on the wrong side of the freeway was just plain awesome, I still find it hard to believe this is the same director that did The Exorcist which is like one of the greatest horror movies ever made, and he made this which could be the best cop movie of the mid-eighties after Lethal Weapon. I suggest that people watch this if they loved cop movies from the 80s, cheesy 80s music and frankly Willem Dafoe since he is a cool villain in this movie even though his part is not too big but also not to small. Even though there were some parts that could have been done better I still liked it.

Day 346: The Brave Little Toaster

Directed By- Jerry Rees

Writer(s)- Jerry Rees, Jon Ranft Based on the Book By- Thomas Disch

Starring- Deanna Oliver, Timothy E. Day, Jon Lovitz, Tim Stack, Thurl Ravenscroft, Wayne Kaatz, Phil Hartman

Run Time- 1 hr. 30 min.

Critics Review- "An adventure starring slightly anthropomorphized appliances doesn't necessarily sound like a can't-miss proposition--but surprise, it's an actually cute and extremely fun animated flick."- Widgett Walls "Needcoffee.com" 

Rotten Tomatoes Rating- Critics- 75% Audience- 74%

Out of a possible 5 stars- 5 stars

My Review-

I had kept hearing this was a good movie from all of my friends and now that I have finally watched it, I loved it. I really like all forms of animation especially when it is hand drawn animation like this one, and I can see how much hard work goes into it, and that's what makes movies like this one classics. What also really liked about the movie was the voice choices even if they were not in it for that long, such as Phil Hartman as the air conditioner which was pretty awesome, but my favorite had to be the radio and the lamp, especially the radio since it was voiced by the very talented Jon Lovitz. I also liked how at times it was a musical but not to much of one, they only used the musical numbers when it was need and not thrown all over the place like some animated movies nowadays. All the characters were lovable and I really liked that about this movie, except for the new products that wanted to stop them, I was like those jackass products being so mean because they were jealous. I could see the work of John Lassesster in this since he would go on to Pixar, but also worked on this film, and I could see hints of Toy Story being developed for later on. This review would be a lot longer, but I am watching Doctor Who and I'm almost done with Series 4, so This is what I thought about this movie, I loved it, the characters were awesome and I would love to watch it again, but first I have to watch the sequels later on during the week or possibly next week. So check this movie out if you have never seen it, you will love it if you love animated films.

Day 345: Never Let Me Go

Directed By- Mark Romanek

Written By- Alex Garland; Based on the book By- Kazuo Ishiguro

Starring- Carey Mulligan, Andrew Garfield, Keira Knightly

Run Time- 1 hr. 36 min.

Critics Review- "Lovely and melancholy, poignant and chilling, Never Let Me Go is an old school sci-fi dystopia with lovely, wistful performances that never quite overcome the fatalism that hangs over the whole affair."- Roger Moore "Orlando Sentinel" 

Rotten Tomatoes Rating- Critics- 71% Audience- 70%

Out of a possible 5 stars- 4 1/2 stars

My Review-

This was a different take on the sci-fi genre in my opinion, in a way it did not feel like one, but the storyline at the same it made it one, if you know what I mean or I'm trying to say. With having said that this is a depressing movie, right from when we find out these people exist until the very end of it. I liked how it did not feel like a sci-fi and how I think it was an alternate universe for all the people, since not all of them were made to be that way. I also believe that is was a slow a film on purpose, because if it was at a fast paced it would not have been as meaningful as it was or made an impact, now I have never read the book by Kazuo Ishiguro, even though I have read from numerous places that it is a really great book that I now would like to read sometime in the near future. The acting was really great in the movie especially from Mulligan and Garfield, I can see him winning a Oscar with in the next couple years if he keeps doing great movies like this one, aside from The Amazing Spider-Man which was a really good film too he just needs to pick more movies where he can really show his acting chops. I think the scene that was really heartbreaking and I do not want to spoil anything, but it involves a scene with Garfield and Mulligan towards the end of the film and it such an intense scene between those two, and I think this movie went unnoticed which kind of sucks. This a movie that should not be missed by from any lover of sci-fi films or if you just like movies with type of premise. So go and watch it next time you have the time or are looking for something to watch.

Day 344: On the Waterfront

Directed By- Elia Kazan

Written By- Budd Schulberg

Starring- Marlon Brando, Karl Malden, Lee J. Cobb, Rod Steiger Pat Henning, Eva Marie Saint

Run Time- 1 hr. 43 min.

Critics Review-

Rotten Tomatoes Rating- Critics- 100% [CERTIFIED FRESH] Audience- 93%

Out of a possible 5 stars- 4 1/2 stars

[this is my review for 12/9/12 i forgot to post it due to studying for finals and it just slipped my mind, and I will be back on track today].

My Review-

While I'm supposed to be studying for finals I am doing this so this will be short and sweet. Out of all the marlon Brando movies I have see which have mostly been The Godfather this is one of his best, along with Karl Maldon, which this is the first movie I have seen from him, with him playing the voice of reason for Brando's character it worked out perfectly. This classic seems to have truly held its own for so long and I hope it continues to do so.

Day 343: Rubber

Directed By- Quentin Dupieux

Written By- Quentin Dupieux

Starring- Stephen Spinella, Jack Plotnick, Wings Hauser, Roxane Mesquidam

Run Time- 1 hr. 25 min.

Critics Review- "Rubber" has anthropomorphic, head-scratching fun with its gory B-movie trappings, silly music cues, self-referential comedy and deliberately off-kilter acting."- Robert Abele "Los Angeles Times"

Rotten Tomatoes Rating- Critics- 68% Audience- 45%

Out of a possible 5 stars- 4 1/2 stars

My Review-

I'm first going to start off this review with the opening quote from the movie which had me hooked once the scene was over. Hopefully it will have you hooked as well. Not to mention its like the actor is breaking the fourth wall talking to the audience briefly with giving anything way what the movie is going to be about.

"In the Steven Spielberg movie E.T., why is the alien brown? No reason. In Love Story. why do the  

   two characters fall madly in love with each other? No Reason. In Oliver Stone's JFK, why is the president suddenly assassinated by some stranger? No Reason... I could go on for hours with  more examples. The list is endless. You probably never gave it a thought, but all great films. without exception, contain an important element of no reason. And you know why? Because life itself is filled with no reason...Why do some people love sausages and other people hate sausages? No fucking reason."

There is actually no reason to why everything that happens in this movie. Which made it freaking awesome. Like why is there a tire that all of a sudden starts killing people? No reason. Ever since those opening lines above I was into this movie, come on is a movie about a killer tire, its possibly the weirdest and best concept at the same time. One top of that the tire "Robert" has psychic powers which is cool for a movie that is already out there. What I loved even more about the movie is that there was a group of people watching it has it unfolded and I loved their input on certain scenes or how they would react when something really awesome or sudden happened. This was a very enjoyable movie because it clearly states that most of this is happening for no reason. Also the concept about a killer tire is pretty damn original and its ridiculous and awesome at the exact same time. People who love B-movies or movies that are ridiculous for the hell of it will love this movie. I could watch this movie over and over again and not get tired of it. It was just that awesome, I suggest that if you have been on the fence about this movie, just watch it I'm hoping it will not disappoint you, I did not disappoint me, I am glad that I waited to watch this movie for my list this year and got to review it. So all in all go check this movie out; cool concept, the acting is great for the B-movie feel and it was some pretty cool music.