The Cabin in the Woods (2012)

Tony’s Review:
Attention Movie Fans: "The Cabin in the Woods" is the equivalent to what a bear does in the woods! I don't know what happened in the theater, but I feel violated. When I go to a steakhouse, I expect steak; an ice cream parlor, I expect ice cream. So when I go to a movie called the "Cabin in the Woods" I expect to see an edge of your seat horror flick that is worthy of the hard earned money I spent. That is not what I got in return. This movie was no more than a B-movie, and not a very good one at that. I have nothing against B-movies, but if that's what I am going to see let me know up front rather than playing the old switch-a-roo and wasting my time and hard earned dollars.

The premise of the movie is that ancient demons are always one step away from destroying the world, and the only thing that holds them back is the regular sacrifice of specific types of young adults. If that alone doesn’t set off the corny alarm I don’t know what does! However, none of this came across in the trailer. The movie had a few popular stars, which again covered its stinky tracks, and lured me into seeing it. This added to my feelings of being mislead. Now I will admit on those rainy Saturday nights or if your just hanging with friends and feeling stupid, then this movie will more than do the job; so it’s not totally useless. Just don’t put too much into it because like a bad relationship it doesn’t give back. It just takes and
stares back at you after the final credits roll and says…”What?!?” I give this one a heartfelt 1 bullet!

Will’s Review:
The previews for The Cabin in the Woods made it look like a suspense horror of the Hellraiser or Silent Hill variety. Well as it turns out, I was both right and horribly wrong. The movie actually had knockoff characters from both movies. As it turns out it had knockoff characters from just about every horror movie I have ever watched. This is one of the most confusing major motion pictures I’ve ever watched. Not because the storyline was complex; but because I wasn’t sure what kind of movie I was watching.

At times, it was intentionally comical like a spoof; at others suspenseful like a true horror movie; and others ludicrous like a bad sci-fi movie. The special effects were good, the cinematography excellent; yet nothing quite fit. When the movie ended, Tony and I looked at each other confused. It wasn’t until I was in the parking lot that it dawned on me. This was an amazing intentional B-movie. Now I like B-movies, but they are very taste specific. If you enjoy B-movies it is worth catching on Netflix (3 bullets), but since most people don’t, I rate it 2 bullets.

21 Jump Street (2012)

Two rookie cops who went to school together find themselves assigned to flesh out the ranks of the recently revived 21 Jump Street unit.  Their mission is to pose as high school students and infiltrate and expose a drug ring.  When they start school they find that the social dynamics of high school are not as they remember them.  Hilarity ensues as they struggle to adapt to their new identities, their roles in the school and to track down the drug ring.

When I first saw a trailer that siad they were remaking 21 Jump Street and it was going to be a buddy comedy, I looked at Tony and told him "Some things should not be remade."  I had no intentions of watching the movie and frankly figured it was going to suck.  I was very wrong.

This movie is hilarious.  I haven't laughed this hard since The Hangover (although The Hangover has this movie beat).  Now this movie plays on all sorts of stereotypes so some might get offended.  The dialog is what makes this movie so hilarious.  While Channing Tatum gives a good performance, Jonah Hill really carries the movie.  His comedic timing, and body language are spot on.

Naturally the law enforcement aspect is incredibly unrealistic and weak, but the movie is funny enough that even cops can overlook it.  21 Jump Street is rated R for numerous reasons.  I would say it could probably pull off a PG-13 rating if it weren't for the drug usage in the movie.  This movie is one you really need to watch.  I give it 9 / 10.  (KopOut Magazine score 5 / 5.  Go see in the Theater)

Wanderlust (2012)

George (Paul Rudd) and Linda (Jennifer Aniston) live in New York and finally buy a tiny apartment in the West Village.  Murphy steps in and their finances dry up.  They find themselves unable to afford their home, and unable to sell.  They decide to move to Atlanta to live with George’s jerk brother.  On the way they stay the night at a bed and breakfast that turns out to be a hippie commune.  The next day, they leave and move in with George’s brother.  It doesn’t take long before living with his brother becomes unbearable and they decide to give life on the commune a try.

Wanderlust mixes banter, situational comedy and slapstick into a hilarious comedy. It is crude and has a fair amount of nudity in it, but unfortunately, it isn’t anyone you would actually want to see nude.  “That which has been seen, cannot be unseen.”  One incredibly long scene is not very funny and drags on far too long.  It really kills the flow of the movie and I am not sure what the director was trying to accomplish with it.  The casting was great and everyone really fit his or her character.  Costume and set design were awesome as well. 

In all, I really enjoyed Wanderlust.  It is rated R for sexual content, graphic nudity, drug usage and language.  The rating is more than appropriate.  I would discourage letting kids watch this movie, at all.  I give it a 7 / 10.  (KopOut Magazine score 3 / 5  - Watch it on DVD/Netflix)

John Carter: IMAX 3D (2012)

Captain John Carter is a treasure hunting cowboy in the West not long after the Civil War.  Thanks to an amulet, Carter suddenly finds himself on Mars.  Due to the low gravity (about 37% of Earth's) he has superior strength and jumping ability. The planet is dying and there are only two great human-like cities and a few scattered tribes of indian-like aliens.  The cities have been fighting for 1000 years, but the evil city has just obtained a weapon that threatens to end the millennium long stalemate.


Will's Review:
The first thing that surprised me is that this movie is exceptionally violent for a Disney film.  The second thing is that the movie has a unique plot element, but it's implementation feels like a rehash of other movies, especially Star Wars The Clone Wars and Superman.  There is even a gladiator arena execution complete with giant beasts and a massive final battle.  I noticed a couple of continuity issues, but considering the scale of the special effects, and number of people (characters, CG and extras) it could have been much worse.


That being said, the movie is very entertaining and as visually stunning as one of the main characters played by Lynn Collins.  I really enjoyed watching the movie despite its flaws.  If you have read many of my reviews, you know that I don't approve of the trend of making every movie in 3D just to wrest more money from the pockets of movie goers; especially since many movies are not improved by being in 3D.  That being said, I watched John Carter in IMAX 3D, and the 3D effect is done amazingly well and actually improves the visual experience of the film.


The acting is okay, but nothing special in my opinion.  The fight choreography is good and the CG is beautiful.  The overall experience is one worth watching.  The PG-13 rating (for intense violence and action) is appropriate, so don't equate 'Disney' with kid friendly for this film.  I give it 8 / 10. (KopOut Magazine score 4 / 5.  Worth Going to See in the Theater)

Gone (2012)

In Gone, Jill (Amanda Seyfried) was kidnapped from her home by a stranger and thrown into a pit in the forest.  In the bottom of the pit Jill found human bones.  When the kidnapper climbed down to kill her, Jill fought back and managed to escape.  The police initiated a search but never located the killer or the pit into which he had thrown Jill.  The police eventually decided Jill was crazy and began to ignore her.  A year later, Jill’s sister Molly disappears in the middle of the night from Jill’s home.  Believing the kidnapper had come back, Jill sets out to save her sister before it is too late.

This movie was better than I expected.  It is suspenseful, engaging and has a few red herrings that keep you guessing.   The acting is good but not Oscar worthy.  My only real complaint about the movie is that the suspense builds the entire movie, but the final climax is a bit anticlimactic.  

The movie is worth seeing but definitely not kid friendly.  I give it 7 / 10.

This Means War (2012)

Just about all of us have one; the friend you have known for years, that is like a brother.  One for whom you would do anything.  Now imagine that you and your friend both separately meet the girl of your dreams, only to find out you are both dating the same girl.  This is the premise for “This Means War.”   Tuck (Tom Hardy) and FDR (Chris Pine) are both CIA agents who fall for the same girl, Lauren (Reese Witherspoon).  They decide to not let her know that they know each other, and to let her date them both and may the best man win.  Their gentlemen’s agreement breaks down and they each bring the power of the US intelligence agency to bear on each other in an effort to sabotage their rival.  Hilarity ensues.

This Means War is hilarious.  I was laughing through half the movie.  The dialog is funny, and the physical comedy is top notch.  Now the plot is obviously unrealistic, but it works for this movie.  This is the kind of movie critics hate but audiences love.  It is just a comedy, with no real depth or message.

It is not going to win any of the major awards but it is worth watching.  The film is rated PG-13 for sexual content, violence and action.  It was originally rated R and they edited to get the PG-13 rating.  I’m guessing they barely got it because there is a bit too much sexual innuendo, etc for younger audiences.  I give it 8 / 10.

One for the Money (2012)

One for the Money is the film adaptation of the first book in an 18 book series by Janet Evanovich.  I’ve never read the series myself but I’m told the movie does not stick to the book.  With that said, I’m pretty sure that there won’t be a film adaptation for “Two for the Dough.”

The movie is the story of Stephanie Plum, an unemployed lingerie store manager who, desperate for a job, goes to her sleazy cousin Vinnie who is a bail bondsman.  Instead an office job, she becomes a bounty hunter.  When she tries to bring in a cop wanted for murder, she ends up investigating the murder instead.

The movie stars the beautiful Katherine Heigl (Knocked Up) alongside Jason O’Mara (Terra Nova).  The two have some witty banter back and forth that carries the movie.  The law enforcement investigations side will leave any police officer sighing at the absurdity.  Joe Six Pack may not have problems with it, but this movie will frustrate police officers to no end.

The movie has a PG-13 rating that I think is appropriate.  However, I wouldn’t waste your money at the theater watching it.  It might be worth watching on Netflix or Redbox though.  I give it 6 / 10.

Puss in Boots (2011)

DreamWorks Animation usually puts out great kid friendly movies that parents can enjoy too.  I loved watching movies like Shrek, How to Train Your Dragon, etc with my kids.  The movies are geared toward kids, but have subtle double entendre jokes for the adults.  Puss in Boots, a spinoff of the Shrek franchise, is no exception.

The movie is the back story for one of the main characters in the Shrek movies, Puss.  For those who don’t know, Puss is a “Zoro” like cat voiced by Antonio Banderas. When Puss runs into his childhood best friend turned enemy, he sets out on an epic quest to capture the goose-that-lays-the-golden-eggs, and to clear his own name.

The story is very entertaining, and the banter is first rate.  I took my daughter to watch it and she laughed the whole time and actually stayed in her seat (a major feat.)  The movie is paced well, and, at about 90 minutes long, is a good length for a kid’s movie.

The movie is still playing in the discount theaters, but should be out on DVD on February 24, 2012.  It is well worth seeing or getting for the kids.  I give it 9 / 10.

Rubber (2010)

Rubber is the story of a car tire named Robert who somehow comes to life and has psychokinetic abilities.  Robert is sociopathic and kills just about everything he sees.

The movie starts out with a monologue by the sheriff explaining that the movie is an homage to 'no reason'. As in "Why did they do that?... No reason." this is  something the film fully exploits.  There is pretty much no reason for anything in the movie.  It is totally nonsensical and random.

The cinematography is done well, but that is about the only positive thing I can say about it.  It is so bad that on some levels it is cult classic good.  I am glad it is less than 90 minutes long, because any longer than that and it would go from being mildly entertaining, to a total waste of time.

The movie is rated R and rightly so.  Unless you want your kids to be scared of every tire swing and tricycle they encounter, don't let them watch this train wreck of a film.  In fact, I wouldn't recommend anyone waste their time unless they are high or having a B movie marathon. I give it 3 / 10.

Red Tails (2012)

Like most boys, I watched many war movies like 'Memphis Belle', 'Iron Eagle', 'Top Gun', and of course the HBO movie 'The Tuskegee Airmen.' I grew up wanting to be a fighter pilot, a plan I kept to until I was 17 when the AirForce Academy application stated I would never be allowed to fly due to eyesight. I still love aviation  movies with dogfights in them.  When I heard that George Lucas was going to make a modern blockbuster movie about the Tuskegee airmen, I was excited. More accurately I was stoked.

The story of the Tuskegee Airmen is amazing.  A unit of African American and Haitian airmen, mechanics and support personnel , that overcame racism, prejudice and bigotry to become one of the most successful, decorated  and respected units of WWII.  The 332nd flew over 311 missions and only lost 25 bombers to enemy fire.  They shot down over 112 enemy planes, destroyed another 150 on the ground, 600 train cars, 40 boats and one destroyer.  A truly amazing record.

Red Tails has everything you would expect in a WWII aviation movie. Dog fights, explosions, planes flying past the camera, etc. It also has every cliche too.  The scarred German ace pilot, the grumpy aircraft mechanic, the maverick fighter pilot, the beautiful European love interest, etc.  The movie is a bit predictable and I don't to expect to see any Oscar nominations, but overall the story is enjoyable.

I read an article in the New York Times where Lucas said he wanted this movie to appeal to black teenagers.  He said he wasn't making it for grown-ups.  He wanted it to have a patriotic naiveté to it.  Now, in retrospect, I can see that intention.  So many of the movies I loved as a kid, I now find corny and predictable.  But they appealed to me and inspired me.  While Red Tails isn't as corny as Iron Eagle, it will definitely appeal to kids who see it.  It will instill pride in black teenagers who see it, and help drive home the point to all that it is the character and the drive of the man, not the color of his skin that determines ability.

Red Tails is envisioned as the middle movie in a trilogy.  Since Lucas had to foot the bill for the whole movie, I'm not sure if a studio will sign up to film the prequel, but if it does get filmed, I'll be in the theater to watch it.

Despite being a war movie, Red Tails does not have much blood in it. A few characters are shot and one gets burned, but by war movie standards it is very mild.  It is PG-13, but I think it would be fine for kids 10 and up.  I give it 8 / 10.

Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close (2011)

September 11, 2001 is a day that changed the world.  Thousands of lives ended, families were torn apart, and the course of nations changed.  Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close is the fictional story of one family.  Oskar (Thomas Horn) is a 10 year old boy who probably has Asperger’s Syndrome.  His father, Thomas Schell (Tom Hanks), is a dedicated father, who uses puzzles, and a form of geo-questing to help his son overcome his fears.  When Thomas is killed on 9/11 Oskar’s disability only gets worse.  A year after his father died, Oskar finds a key among his father’s belongings.  Believing it was a quest his father had prepared for him, Oskar sets out to find the matching lock.

While aspects of the story are ludicrous, it is nonetheless a good story.  The real strength of the movie is in the performances by the cast.  Thomas Horn delivers a spectacularly emotional performance that is even more amazing when you consider his prior acting experience consisted of a grasshopper in a school play of James and the Giant Peach.  This kid has amazing talent and a lot of potential.  Max von Sydow manages to give a spectacular performance without ever speaking a word.  It takes a tremendous amount of talent as an actor to give that kind of performance with just body language and expressions.

This movie is a bit emotionally draining.  I would not recommend it for a date night, or for young kids.  It is however a great movie to watch purely for the enjoyment of film.  The PG-13 rating is quite appropriate.  I give it a 9 / 10.

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011)

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is the story of the hunt for a Soviet mole high within the ranks of the British Intelligence Service.  The film is an adaptation of a novel written in 1974 by David Cornwell.  Cornwell didn’t have to look far for inspiration for this novel.  He was an MI5 agent whose identity was given to the Russians by double agents, including one very high-ranking member of his service.

The very first thing I noticed as the film started was the cinematography.  In the world of sharp, bright, HD where you can practically count the hairs on an actor’s arm, this movie has a distinct grey and vintage feel.  It has a film grain filter applied, that makes the movie look like it was filmed in the 70’s or 80’s.  Since the story takes place in the 70’s, the effect really adds to the feel of the movie.  The acting is superb.  While most of the characters are stiff and flat, they give the occasional glimpse of raw emotion that shows beneath their dignified fronts are normal men. 

The storyline is incredibly complex, and uses flashbacks to tell much of the story.  Today most directors don’t use inference to communicate important and/or subtle plot details.  This movie is one of the rare exceptions.  Nearly everything in this movie is subtle.  It feels as if you blink, you will miss something important.  I believe that it is going to require a second viewing to catch all the subtleties.  The movie isn’t like most modern spy movies.  There are no high-speed chases, running gun battles, exploding buildings etc.  The movie is strictly intellectual, and I feel is a better story because it is so different.

If you want to go to the movies and just be entertained, this movie is probably not for you.  This movie requires focus and to intuitively understand the character’s actions.  If you like a good intellectual movie, this film definitely fits the bill.  I give it 9 / 10.  

The Season of the Witch (2011)

In Season of the Witch, a knight named Behmen (Nicolas Cage) and his buddy, Felsen (Ron Perlman) are serving in the crusades.  After following orders to kill women and children, they desert and head for home.    When they are captured as deserters they are given the option to assist in escorting a confessed witch to a distant monastery.  They agree and begin the dangerous journey toward their freedom.

The Season of the Witch is quite short at 95 minutes, which is a good thing. The story left me sighing constantly, and shaking my head so much I looked like I had Parkinson's.  The graphics were lame, and done poorly.  The demons in the comedy TV series Reaper, looked better than in this big screen film.  During a sequence where bad guys are dropping down from the roof, it looked as if they kept reusing the same footage of one landing.  It felt like the space battle scenes in the original Battlestar Galactica series.

When the only good thing you can say about a movie, is that it could have been worse...there is a problem.  I did not enjoy this movie, and am grateful I didn't spend money on it.  Not worth watching.  I give it a 5 / 10.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011)

How a movie with sex, rape, forcible sodomy, nudity torture, mayhem, violence, dismembered people and animals, drug and alcohol usage, was able to get a R rating instead of NC-17 is beyond me.  Now normally I would say that all these things are a cheap way to drag people into the seats for the shock factor only.  But not so with this movie.  The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is based upon the first book in the trilogy by Stieg Larrson.  There is already a Swedish version of this film made in 2009.  I’ve not read the books, or seen the original screen adaptation, although it and its sequel have been in my Netflix queue for months.

The story is that of the brilliant hacker Lisbeth Salander, played by Rooney Mara, and journalist Mikael Blomkvist, Daniel Craig, as they work together to try and solve a decades old murder.  While the movie is told with Mikael as the main character, it is Lisbeth who is the real heroine, and total bad ass, to the story.  After being sued for libel and loosing, Mikael is discredited and financially ruined.  He is approached by a billionaire and asked to investigate his family to try and determine who killed his great niece back in the 1960’s. Mikael agrees and hires Lisbeth to assist.  Along the way the pair delves into the entire family’s sordid secrets.

I’m not a huge fan of mysteries because I usually predict the ending within the first half of the movie.  To my pleasant surprise, that was not the case here.  The movie is full of twists, turns and red herrings. At over 2 and a half hours, the movie is very long...however it doesn't feel like it.  The pacing is perfect, and kept me riveted the whole time.  The performances by the main characters, and even the supporting characters, were excellent.  I expect to see several Academy Award nominations for this film.  The beautiful Rooney Mara, has already been nominated for a Golden Globe.  She will be up against competition like Viola Davis (The Help).  I do not think she will win, since she is nude in the movie, and in close competitions, the movie with nudity usually looses; but at least her performance was strong enough that they recognized it despite the nudity.

I thoroughly enjoyed this movie.  Much like Black Swan, it has a real dark feel to it, but is an exceptional story.  I would highly recommend you see this film, but DO NOT let your children watch it. In fact, I would discourage letting teenagers watch it.  I give it a 9 / 10.

Natural Born Killers: Director's Cut (1994)

First off I want to point out that Quentin Tarantino and Oliver Stone's famous Natural Born Killers had to be edited 5 times to earn its R rating. The version I saw is the director's cut, which would have been NC-17.

I've been told many times that NBK is a film that I needed to see. It has been in my Netflix queue for months. When I saw that it was expiring on January 1, I figured it was time to watch it.

NBK uses a multitude of graphic styles, from black and white, to super saturated, to 50's sitcom, to America's Most Wanted. It is extremely violent and graphic. It tries to be a comedy, a social commentary, an action film and an artistic expression. In the end it just ends up being a jumble.

I can see some merit to the film, such as the transformation of Detective Scagetti from an officer specializing in mass murderers, to a murderer himself. This directly relates to the quote by Neitzsche "Battle not with monsters, lest ye become a monster, and if you gaze
into the abyss, the abyss gazes also into you." However the social and philosophic commentaries are not enough to overcome the feel that this movie is violence for the sake of violence.

Woody Harrelson and Juliette Lewis deliver good performances, but every other character is ridiculously stereotyped and one dimensional. Even Robert Downey Jr, and Tommy Lee Jones's characters were so ridiculous that even their acting couldn't save them. Oliver Stone's
directing was unique and carried the film farther than it could have gone. The Mythbusters proved that you can actually polish a turd, but the fact remains...a polished turd is still a turd.

This movie is the epitome of a polished turd. I would advise against wasting your time watching it. It is definitely not something your kids should watch, and definitely deserves a NC-17 rating. I give it a 5/10.

Notting Hill (1999)

Last night my wife wanted to watch a movie with me and chose Notting Hill, a film neither of us had seen. Notting Hill was released the week we graduated from high school, and would have been a perfect date movie for us to go see. After all it had only been 11 days since I asked Lisa to be my girlfriend. Unfortunately, I never had the sense to take her. While I had heard good things about the movie, a romantic comedy is not something a guy just watches on his own normally. Thanks to my wonderful bride, I was able to enjoy this movie while retaining my man card.

Notting Hill went on to be nominated for three Golden Globe awards. One for best picture, and one each for best actor/actress in a comedy/musical for Hugh Grant and the beautiful and talented Julia Roberts.

The film is your typical romantic comedy plot line. Poor boy gets the girl, looses the girl, gets her back. Along the way both have transformations of character and come out of the crisis even more in love, and better for the experience.

With that said, this movie is extremely funny. My wife and I were laughing throughout much of the movie. Roberts and Grant had great chemistry, and worked well together. The movie had some great dialog and banter. The cinematography was typical for a film filmed mostly indoors on sets that are supposed to be inside. There was one time morph sequence that was exceptionally well done, cute, and effective.

All in all my wife and I both thoroughly enjoyed the movie. The next time your girl wants to curl up on the couch and watch something romantic, pull up Notting Hill on Netflix, etc. You will enjoy the comedy, she will enjoy the romance. It is a win-win for you. I give the film 8/10.

Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol (2011)

If you are like me, when you first heard they were making a movie based upon the classic television series Mission Impossible, you were stoked. Then after watching the film, and each subsequent sequel, you felt disappointed. Well the string of disappointments is over. Ghost Protocol finally delivers a movie worthy of the franchise name.

When the MI team is framed for the bombing of the Kremlin, it falls to Ethan and a few agents to clear the organization's name, bring the real terrorists to justice and prevent nuclear war.

Tom Cruise may be bat-shit-crazy, but he certainly delivers a brilliant performance. Each of the main characters delivers superb, in-character performances. While the story is of course so far fetched as to have no semblance of reality, it fits for the franchise. The story successfully blends action, mystery, comedy and drama to create a well rounded mood.

The movie is rated PG-13 for action and violence, which is a fair rating. This movie is bound to make a ton of money, and may even see some nominations at the various awards shows. I would encourage you to go see this film on the big screen. I give it a 9/10.

The Descendants (2011)

George Clooney plays Matt King, the descendant of Hawaiian nobility. He is a lawyer and the executed of the family trust worth billions to him and his cousins. When a new law forces the trust to sell off its property the Kings begin looking for a buyer. Tragedy strikes when Matt's thrill seeking wife is critically injured in a boating accident. Matt finds himself trying to gather his children, deal with his wife's coma, keep up his practice and proceed with the sale of the family trust. When Matt finds out his wife had been having an affair, Matt's world is thrown even further into chaos as he struggles to come to terms with the pain and provide guidance for his immediate and extended family. This movie is an emotional drama/comedy that leaves you sympathizing with the main characters. Each actor delivers an exceptional performance. I was particularly impressed with Clooney's performance. Each character has depth and different facets to their personality. The writing is exceptional and the cinematography is beautiful. Some will feel that the movie moves too slowly, but I feel it is paced appropriately for the story being told. The Descendants is rated R primarily for language. While I believe that teenagers would be fine watching the movie, they will probably be bored. I would encourage you to see this film. I give it a 9/10.

In Time (2011)

"In Time" is the story of a world where humans are engineered to stop aging at 25 years old, and have an internal clock on their arm with only one year of time on it. The clock steadily runs down and if that clock reaches zero, you die. Time has replaced all currency. Wages are in time, coffee costs time, etc. There are places where the rich have thousands of years of time and others where people time out. When it becomes obvious that the system is set up so that the poor die off and the rich become practically immortal, Will, played by Justin Timberlake, embarks on a quest take revenge on the rich.

I should have known this film was destined for failure when a move about not wasting time, started over 45 minutes late at the theater. While the movie was entertaining, the plot didn’t work for me. Yet another movie that only works until you start thinking. You would have to have hundreds of people die immediately upon turning 25, just for one person to even be considered poor and live an extra 25 years.

The acting was okay, but nothing noteworthy. The cinematography was average. There was nothing spectacular or even well done for that matter. Don’t waste YOUR time going to the theaters, wait for video if you want to watch this film. I give it a 7.5.

Anonymous (2011)

William Shakespeare ; arguably the most influential English author in history. But what if he wasn’t? What if Macbeth, Hamlet, Romeo and Juliette etc were actually written by an English nobleman who had Shakespeare take the credit? Anonymous attempts to persuade you to this viewpoint through a twisting political drama set in London during Queen Elizabeth I’s reign at the end of the 16^th century.

Though the storyline is most likely total fantasy, is extremely compelling and well written. The acting was superb. Oscar deserving performances by Vanessa Redgrave and Rhys Ifans, lead the way for the other actors, whom also deliver great performances.

The costume design is excellent, and the CG creating the London landscape is beautiful. I am fully expecting to see this film nominated for an Oscar for costume design. The lighting and choreography are also done extremely well. This movie is stunning to watch from start to finish.

I thoroughly enjoyed this movie and I think you will too. I give it 9.5 / 10.