UP: Would of been better if there was a robot in it....

Up came out a couple of months ago and I finally got to watch it. Why do you ask did it take me so long to finally get to see it? Its not that I didn't want to watch it or thought that it wouldn't be any good, its just a lot of people told me how depressing the opening credits are and how I would be bawling my eyes out at the end if it. I decided to opt out in watching it. Sort of pushed it off. As much as I enjoy a good cry, I really didn't want to go down that path at that certain time. So with the award season in full bloom and Up being definitely nominated in most of them I decided to suck it up and watch it. Then came the disappointment....

The movie itself as a whole really didn't do it for me(I didn't shed one tear). I guess I should blame a certain robot for that. I really shouldn't of went into the mind frame that it was going to be superior to WALL-E. Because it is not even close. But don't let my words steer you in the wrong direction, it is a good movie. It just really didn't do anything for me. It's about a man whose is old and grumpy who only cares for himself. Then decides to tie balloons to his house and take it down to South America. While he is flying, he gets a knock at his door. WHAT!? He's in the air how could this happen? Apparently a boy was on the porch as he was lifting off. Hi jinx ensue and they become best friends. Also there is a bird and talking dogs. Doesn't sound believable at all. I know, its a kids movie, but still that wasn't the only thing I didn't like about it. I didn't feel a connection with any of the characters, they were just filler. A one liner here, a joke gag there. Not what I was expecting from a Pixar movie. With the others there was strong character development. You already fell in love with them. In Up I felt forced to fall in love with them.

The writing in Up is very lack-luster. Not a moment that made you gasp for breaths or laugh uncontrollable.It felt rushed and meek. A cheap knock-off of WALL-E. Honestly. But this time instead of outer space, it's in the rain forest. Notice the similarities with the plot of the movies.

I haven't seen the other movies nominated for best animated picture, but if Up is the best one out there, I think I'm going to be disappointed with the rest. A kids movie all the way, that grown ups won't be to impressed with. At lease that is how I feel. It might be the fact that I loved the previous pixar movie so much that this one couldn't live up to the hype. A fine film the first time, but I can't see myself attempting to watch it again. 4 out of 7

The Blind Side: Yeah, I cried....alot....

Those of you who know me, know that I cry at a lot of movies, so this one really shouldn't come as a surprise. I just want to thank Jason for not telling me I was going to ball my eyes out. I'm just saying you could of warned me.

The movie is a sigh of relief. As in it just a good movie to watch. It's the story of Michael Oher, a homeless teen who becomes an all state high school football player and first round draft pick in the NFL. Yeah I know, should of know I was going to cry in the movie. People doing good for others is always a tear jerker. In it Sandra Bullock plays Leigh Ann Tuohy. A wife and a mother of two. While on the way home from a sporting event they notice Michael walking along the side of the road heading towards the high school gym. After a few questions she realizes that he was going there because he had no where else to stay. Being the nice person she is takes Michael home with her and lets him sleep on the couch for a night. After that one night, she starts to care for Michael and wants him to stay with her and her family until they figure out what to do with him. After a series of events she realizes that Micheal should stay with them and be apart of their family. Leigh Ann realizes something in Micheal and decides he should play football on the high school team and that's when you really see him shine. At first he doesn't quite grasp the concept of the game, but momma Tuohy steps in and tells him want she wants him to do and he listens. He listens well. You don't want to make a southern women angry. I'll tell you that.

The movie as a whole really didn't do it for me. The cast supporting Sandra is weak and the acting talent isn't 100 percent there. I give them credit as they did try their best, but their best really wasn't good enough. Like Avatar there is only one good acting role in the film, which comes from Bullock. After watching countless and countless Sandra Bullock movie, I feel she finally found her "role of a lifetime". She felt like it was also hers, cause she played the heck out of that role. She is nominated for her first Academy Award and she deserves this nomination more then ever. She really took my breath away in the film. I feel as though she can be seen now as a real actress and not a goofy lovable character.

Overall the film is worth the price of a theater ticket and definitely a rental. Just for Sandra alone. I don't think I can recommend you to buy it if you already seen it. If you really wanted to catch it and have the money to spend on it, go ahead and purchase it, but I feel if the movie is watched repeatedly it will make you lose the close and sincere nature of the film. The scenes that are touching and compelling will stick with you forever. A great movie the first time you watch it, but at the end of the movie, you already know what's going to happen. I give "The Blind Side" a 5 out of 7. Sandra Bullock proves she can act and the heart warming story makes you feel good about yourself. This is a one of kind movie. You will enjoy it.

Hurt Locker: Greatest War Movie Ever?

As I was watching the "Hurt Locker" I didn't believe I was going to enjoy myself with it. War movies are really not my cup of tea. I don't feel they do anything for me. People getting shot, explosions, the "buddy-buddy" relationship people share. I really could care less. So as the movie progressed and got deeper into a story line that made me actually have to watch it, I became enthralled. Why didn't I start watching this movie forever ago?

The premise of the movie is that a group of soldiers, a bomb squad, are brought into the city of Iraq to defuse bombs. Sounds simple, but it is so much more then that. What it is is a very intense, pulse pounding, heart skipping genius of a movie. Sergent First Class Will James, played brilliantly by Jeremy Renner, is a hot shot with a lot a baggage who is assigned to a group of guys that have spent almost a year detonating bombs. While the others have grown accustom to playing it safe and getting the job done as quickly as possible, Will comes in and changes the whole dynamic of the group. When at first his fellow soldiers dislike like him and want nothing to do with him, they soon realize that he is the best out there and they were going to have to start trusting him and play by his rules.

The film, directed by Kathryn Bigelow, is beautifully shot. She understands the raw emotions that are going on in this city and films it perfectly. Scenes in where they are in the town and Will is detonating the bombs are some of the most intense filmed, since the opening scene in "Saving Private Ryan". She films this movie like a documentary in which you feel like your there with the soldiers and gives you an understanding with what they do in their time not in the line of fire. When they're under extreme circumstances, she makes it feel like you are the one who is taking care of the bombs and she is trusting you to make sure they are not to go off. All the intense moments in the film, which are a lot, makes you sweat, because she takes it to another extreme. She reads the faces of her cast perfectly and you can tell that she cares about them. She lets you know that they are human and have flaws. I wouldn't be surprised if she starts getting more offers. At the moment she is my front runner for Best Director for the Academy Awards. Yes I know James Cameron is almost nominated for the same award and the work he did with Avatar was truly amazing as well, but I feel as though Kathryn had less to work with and made a bigger impact in such a small film. She made a little war possibly the Greatest War Movie of all time. She has an eye for making a connection with the characters in which you want to be them and lets you understand that we are human and this is how the world works. I give "Hurt Locker" 6 of out 7. It was truly an amazing movie that NO ONE will be disappointed with. Even if you don't care for War movies give a chance, because I was one of you.

Avatar: Why the Hype?

After watching Avatar one would wonder what is so great about the movie. Sure it's visually stunning. It has to be. James Cameron spent over a decade making the film. He changed the way we are going to watch movies for the rest of our lives, well until he stops making movies for 10 more years and creates a even new camera. But does all of that mean anything when you really listen to it. Really, stop looking at the movie, Close your eyes, listen to the shitty dialogue that is being murder, when actors Sam Worthington and even worse Giovanni Ribisi are trying to act them out. Mr. Cameron why did you give a no name actor, who has never starred in a movie, the keys to one of the most expensive vehicles ever made? That's right he was cheap. Wasn't that the real reason? You spent all your money making the movie that when it came to start filming it you had about $55.00 and a pack of juicy fruit gum. Hell if I was Sam Worthington I would of taken the gum too. You know why? Cause it's Fucking Avatar! He knew how many people were going to watch it and banked on the fact that his name will be out there. Well played Sam Worthington, well played. Except the fact that EVERYONE has watched it and knows for a fact how much a shitty actor you are. If Terminator didn't help that enough. Like I stated before it is stunning, so watching the Na'vi was a wonderful experience and honestly the only good acting came from them. They really made me believe that they were in fact the Na'vi and they were real. Good Job guys! Zoe Saldana it was a pleasure looking at your rocking 10 foot tall naked body for 3 hours. Especially in 3-D. Zoe was so good it in that she made Sam almost watchable. Only do to the fact that 80% of his film time was spent with her. If only Giovanni Ribisi was that lucky. If the two of you who are reading this and want to make a horrible movie. With the intent of making a horrible movie. Like you are setting your sights in making possibly the most UN-watchable movie in the entire history of the world. Hire Giovanni Ribisi as the lead. He's guaranteed to make it for you. He plays this, I guess a CEO or something along that lines, who is hell bent on getting a rock. I honestly could care less about him and the character he portrays, he was in it for about 15 minutes tops, so he is not even worth mentioning. Granted he is the worst actor in the movie and maybe the whole world. How does he get work?
Well enough about the acting and lets talk about the writing. James Cameron, like I stated before, has been writing this story for 10 plus years, ever since he finished Titanic. 13 years and this is the best you could do? WOW! That's like me starting this blog writing about Avatar and 13 years later and only write "It made my eyes happy!" Weak sauce James. There have been a lot of talk about how it was a better movie when it was "Dances with Wolves." Really? What was so great about "Dances with Wolves"? You are stumped aren't you. Both movies had a pretty simple plot base. Both also had shitty acting. But when you actually watch both movies, Avatar is the better movie. So stop talking about how Dances with Wolves was better cause it wasn't, it will never be better. Only do to the fact that it's a boring lame ass movie. It's not even pretty to look at. All in all Avatar isn't the greatest movie ever. It's original in certain aspects, but it does feel like a movie that has been done before. See it once or twice in the theater, it is worth it, due to the 3-D filming. Also see it for the fact that Zoe Saldana is amazing it. She is going places and she, if anyone, will be banking on this movie more then any other actor. Zoe, if you ever read this you made the movie what it is. Thank you for expertise. I give Avatar 4 out of 7. Could of spent a little more money for actors, but I understand why you hired who you hired, the movie looks incredible and feels incredible. Mr. Cameron, you spent 13 years filming this movie and making it the best you could do. It shows. Just next time please just hire someone worth watching.