Winston (Level 42)

3.5 STARS I'm not sure about this one... it's pretty much a guilty pleasure of mine for some sort of reason. It's just a story of an autistic person whose father passed away - giving his hospital the inheritance of money to his autistic son. But when his other son, a failed salesman knows about this inheritance tracks his other son to the institution where he lives in, he thinks that its wrong that his other son is getting the sum of money and wants that money to compensate his expenses at his job. And so, he somewhat 'kidnaps' from the institution and travels to Las Vegas where he could pay/use Raymond's (the autistic one) money to paid up his expenses. But when Charlie tells his brother, Raymond to travel by either airplane or by the highway - he reluctantly refuses as he knows about the accidents with the airlines and is afraid of danger, triggering Charlie to find a even slower way to go to Las Vegas. Through the course of the movie, both Charlie and Raymond develop as characters.. as brothers, realizing that he's his long lost brother that he never knew and had made a huge connection with him. Also realizing that he's skillful in mathematics; counting the number of toothpicks, answering some tough calculations from the doctor to going on a winning spree in Blackjack when Charlie decided to go to the casino. It's quite a story that I liked and by no means relate to, I guess, the adventures of Charlie and Raymond going to Las Vegas is a thrill to me..

2.5 STARS George Romero has been rehashing his old films lately – especially with the ‘’of the Dead” series. It’s seems like directors these days cannot pull out something that isn’t a remake or sequel and make it either different to the original story or the same. George Romero’s 1973 thriller hit, The Crazies just had a make-over with decent characters, casting and a somewhat unique premise than its original. Surprisingly the setting isn’t based upon the original film - which was set in a small town in Pennsylvania – setting in a small town called Ogden Marsh in Iowa. Timothy plays Sheriff, who after shooting a presumed drunk person was not been drinking and then stumbles across that he isn't drunk. Soon, others are similar to the drunk person as the town is infested with them and the military comes to quarantine. But realizing that it's too much the military decide to destroy the town. David and Russell, the deputy of this town with Judy had to survive through the almost 28 days later but even worst 'zombies'. Many critics had responded to this movie as something unique and terrifying but watching this remake, I wasn't scared at all. There are moments that I know before hand because I've watched tons of horror movies to know that the clichè is coming next and therefore I never got scared. As for the casting, Timothy Olyphant is alright but nearly due to some moments that kinda feel disconnected but Radha and the others do a good performance as their perspective roles. I would say its a rental because of the awkward moments in the acting and if you are like me and had watched tons of horror movies, it probably best if you don't watch it due to predicable cliches.

5 STARS George Orwell’s 1984 is quite a commentary by conspiracy theorists and reality – a dystopian world ruled by a totalitarian regime that controls Oceania against Eurasia who are fighting among another. The setting is set in Airstrip One (or London) where a member of the Ministry of Truth, Winston played by John Hurt works for. Derived from the book, the setting, cast and premise makes good use for this film as John Hurt’s character plays an significant role to this film as he is met up with Julia, a member of the fiction department (or pornography) to be labeled as ‘’thought-criminals’’ later as it isn’t a matter of injustice but a role that freedom never exists in this world. It is unconceivable how Orwell depicts the result of resisting something that is in rule – a totalitarian rule will never be overthrown and through suspensions, nobody is trustworthy. The sad existence goes through Winston’s mind and as a result, being unable to resist it and through epic prepositions, it ends with that note of uncertainly of not living in a fantasy world depicted by Winston dreaming about the Ministry of Love – green fields – but living in reality and knowing your place as a subject and not a citizen.

4.5/5 You can never be too old to do anything. Art Selwyn, Ben Luckett and Joe Finley are mischievous elderly men who everyday meets up with each other to go to a pool within an mansion which is abandoned. Not knowing that these fellow delinquents, one day sees that the mansion has been purchased. The people who purchased them also rented a boat from Jack Bonner, a loser who owes money to his boss and is broke. When they set sail towards the ocean, Jack Bonner discovers that these people aren't humans but aliens from another planet. These 'aliens' are from a distant planet who's retrieving cocoons containing their lifeforms to drop them into the pool. But the three deliquents, one day found these cocoons in the pool and still decided to swim in it, becoming more thrilled and excited. They soon realized that swimming in the pool, rejuvenates their old status, healing their illness and becoming more healthy and younger. When Walter (the head alien) finds out that they had been swimming, he decides to give them a second chance but only to keep this secret. Don Ameche as Art Selwyn's performance in this movie had won a oscar for best performance and boy... he deserves it! Though, Wilford Brimley and the other cast of senior actor/resses deserve some merit as well due to their ability to act authentic to their role. Walter and the aliens played by Brian Dennehy, Jessica Tandy and Steve Guttenberg, the owner of the boat are great in their perspective roles. This is pretty much a great film, having a major theme that transpires through the cast of characters with a well-rounded cast.

5 STARS I once enjoyed subtitles in movies and anime but... I grew tired of foreign stuff, I hate it because it didn't indulge into the movie experience that I liked. When I started watching this movie (before this site launched), I didn't much care for the subtitled version and decided to watch the dubbed English version. And it was pretty much a mixed reaction for me, the dubbed voices are from the original cast and its fine to me. The acting, story, character development and most of all, the claustrophobic atmosphere inside a dreaded U-boat is the highlight in this movie - Jurgen Plascow as the Captain in his inexperienced crew is pretty much connected with each other in this U-Boat and you could feel their emotional and psychological impact through the coast of Germany to the seas of the Mediterranean. I for one shall follow Jurgen Plascow to the death and I mean it! I recommend this movie to everyone who not only loves these types of movies.

4.5/5 STARS Pretty much a parody to zombie movies and a outstanding one indeed. The adventures of Shaun, his slob, Ed, his recently broke up girlfriend, Liz, his loving mother, Barbara, a failed performer, Dianne and a twit, David who finds out the neighbourhood has been infested with zombies is on a mission to shelter themselves in the Winchester, a pub. The whole validity of this is that Liz hates going to the Winchester as Ed and Shaun are regular patrons there which is why they broke up with each other. I couldn't say alot for this movie, its hilarious and does a great job parodying other zombie flicks. But the only negative part is that I didn't care for the action sequences where Shaun and the others are operating a rifle in the Winchester while zombies are swarming them. It's pretty much a facepalm for me to watch that scene. Other than that, I loved this movie.

1.5 STARS In the western front, the allies declared war on Germany while on the eastern front, the Empire of Japan had left China and its neighbouring states conquered. One of the notorious and tragic confict was the battle of nanjing, as the Chinese commander had left all of his forces behind and the Japanese had entered this walled off city to witness surrendering soldiers. In the days of their occupation, they pillage, burn and raped millions of women and killed off the resistance in the city. This story pretty much takes role of different characters, half of them were killed off and a German doctor stationing in this city who somewhat prevented the Japanese from harassing them for a short time until he was forced to fly back to Berlin. Being Chinese, I understand of Mainland Chinese filmography, they tend to make and produce war flicks aside from the dynasty wars and World War II films to let people understand that the Japanese invasion of China. This movie may be entertaining to watch to another person but I loathed a lot, the emotional impact, dialogue and somewhat the acting are bland, boring and stupid. I don't felt sympathy with the cast of characters and the ending comes off resembling Downfall but unlike that film, it didn't make any sense and is drags for a while as it symbolizes something that is obvious but is executed poorly. I hate this movie!

3 STARS A Film adaptation regarding a failed plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler is a great set up there, other movies and books had done it to an extent, turning out to be alright. When Bryan Singer attempt to make a movie about this, it comes out being not great. There is a lot of wrongs in this movie in particular of the accents and use of language in this movie, the cast of characters are suppose to be German (with a GERMAN accent) but most of the cast comes from using British accents cough* Bill Nighy* cough and failing to make a good German accent to compliment being a Nazi in World War II. The only person that is German is Christian Berkel, known for these types of movies (Downfall, Inglorious Basterds)stand out for me unlike Tom Cruise wearing a eye-patch and pretending to be a Nazi but not. I sorta hate this movie for the portrayal of this wonderfully executed plot based on a true story and turn it into something not even close to authenticity.

3.5 STARS Quite a interesting movie actually, its pretty much a romantic movie in the century where they had to wear wigs and such. The performances by the cast provides a sharp and witty especially coming from Robert Merivel played by Robert Downey Jr. His servant, Will Gates played by Ian McKellen feels humble and Hugh Grant who plays Elias Finn is quite good but sorta feels like a queer at his role. The others, Meg Ryan, David Thewlis and Polly Walker are alright at their performances. Despite being a box-office bomb and received average marks, this movie is quite a charm if you don't take it seriously.

5 STARS Undoubtedly the best Hamlet production/movie out there. The dialogue uses and utilizes the whole Shakespeare play and meshed it to make something special. Kenneth Branagh seems quite dedicated to his role of Hamlet and the casting decision are well-rounded as well. The sad part is that this movie bombed at the bomb office due to limited releases in theatres for such a masterpiece!

4.5 STARS Its everyone's answer to the greatest movie ever. The inaugural role of Pacino and De Niro together is rather a something worth while to watch and cops and robbers in its entirely is interesting to watch. Despite the parts where the talking drags quite long, the raid on the money truck to the bank itself are the main-points of this movie. It's indeed a watch...

5 STARS This movie had been famous in Youtube, being parodied easily as interrupting the subtitles for anything Hitler says, whether its his XBOX Live being cancelled to Dragonball Evolution not having Krillin. But undoubtedly, aside from that you cannot found such a masterpiece under those humourous Youtube clips. First the cast portrayed in Hitler's last days is perfect, almost all of them are speaking in a native German tongue and they fit the role as Generals, SS to officers great. The young female assistant of Hitler, Traudl Junge played by Alexandra Maria Lara and Adolf Hitler played by Bruno Ganz is just remarkable and brilliant, especially Bruno Ganz - his portrayal of Hitler is spot-on and I cannot say anything bad about that. I love this movie and I will say this is the best movie that retells Hitler's last days and the turning point of World War II.

3.5 STARS This movie had been criticized for being too similar to Lost in Translation, having a story about a lone young girl who recently breaks-up with her boyfriend due to work obligations and now strangled in Tokyo and wants something to do. In that movie, Charlette meets Bob who is a romantic interest in the film and both cruise through the streets and karaoke bars to cocaine-filled clubs of Tokyo to compensate their boring life away from their family. This movie is about a depressed lone girl, Abbet who after left his job as a gopher at a law-firm, discovers a small family ramen restaurant in hopes of becoming something she isn't -- to cook ramen. But the master chef, Maezumi refuses her to become one as ramen can never be mastered by a mere westerner. The whole story pretty much, tries to make Abbey convinces Maezumi into becoming his apprentice and other dilemmas. The cast performance is alright, most of the cast I do not know of but Toshiyuki Nishida who plays Maezumi is wonderful in this movie and excels at a mean master chef. Brittany Murphy plays a good performance, I couldn't say how disproportion her performance is in scenes when she's emotional but she still plays the character. Setting in Tokyo, The Ramen Girl feels too much like Lost in Translation though -- I'll recommended either but if you want to have a better movie, Lost in Translation is right up your alley.

2.5 STARS I cannot say how pissed off and tired after watching this movie, I forgive the fact that they didn't make it foreign with subtitles but the fact that having British actors be cast as Nazis are just out of placed awkward and terrible. And this movie, their accents and the use of dialogue doesn't even sound like their Nazis - I don't remember the Nazis called the Americans, 'Yanks' and say bloody hel' often. It's like British cosplaying Nazis and attempting poorly to make a horror movie. The other thing is the horror aspect, I didn't find it scary at all, sure there's some psychological aspect to it but I'm sure that Fullmetal Jacket does the better horror aspect of war. Director Rob Green who only made one other movie is decent at directing this one but the things I've said already is the main flaws of this one. The story has a unique premise, several Nazi soldiers found themselves on the retreat finding a reinforced anti-tank bunker, unfortunately they're low on ammunition and supplies as reinforcements are nowhere to be found. Now the captain decides his group to take shifts with the machine gun, holding what they can against the Americans and two other soldiers out of curiosity found a tunnel where the other group thinks that they're deserters to them and try to found them. All in all, the story is great but its hindered by the terrible accents, use of British dialect and the acting is par to none. This movie have so much potential to be a great one but unfortunately it fails to do so.

3.5 STARS. I don't really think this movie is bad, the concept of having control of remote-controlled android and kinda like the 6th day with those eye glasses, take control of anyone or a younger or handsomer self. Bruce Willis plays Tom Greer, a FBI agent investigating the deaths of two college student by a unknown assassin, trying to find out who destroy the surrogates and also killed the ones controlling it. Tom Greer soon discovers the assassin and track him down but through the course of running through the city, Greer enters the no-surrogate zone where the people that doesn't tolerate with androids and had destroy his robot. Waking up before completely dying, Tom Greer faced the effects of using it and in his days inside his house, inflicted anxiety and claustrophobia when walking outside along with other surrogates,trying to find another android but failed to do so. The story at this point is quite lame, there's a leader who opposes the idea of androids just like the 6th sense and there's a huge twist near the ending of who's controlling it and there's happen to be some conspiracy theories going on in this movie. This concept however is unique, it's pretty much controlling an avatar in video games, either male or female and sometimes you could see that a perverted fat person is controlling the female rather than a male one as evidence by his death earlier on. I just wished 50 years from now that I'm able to control an android and not had to go outside ever. There's no surprise that Director Jonathan Mostow did this film, ever since the 3rd Terminator film this movie had been done well with this concept of robots.

5 STARS Dream within a dream and a taste of espinoge makes this the best movie of 2010!

4/5 Once upon a time in South Central L.A.. it's deems to be such a fairy tale to everyone else but not to the black minority living in that area. Cuba Gooding Jr's character gets suspended from school and had broken his mother's promise to never get into trouble - having to stay with his father played by Lawrence Fishbourne who is a Vietnam-vet trying to make his son, his role-model rather than a gangster. When Cuba's character is in his father's custody, he meets up with his friends and one day discovers a dead body who also stumbles upon trouble. The next day, one of his friends goes to jail and years go by as his friends live in gangster-filled society of liquor and gun stores and Cuba's character and one of his friends wants none of it and wants to graduate to college. This movie is considered a masterpiece, the expressed themes in this movie is quite engaging to the main character's development. Laurence's character wants to be a fatherly figure and want his son to be his role model not to be a drug-dealer or thug and it establishes through the progress of the storyline. Also it's a emotional one, especially from one of his friends who wants to go to college too but.. you will see it and you know how the streets of L.A will never be the same.

4 STARS All I could say that Jamie Lee Curtis strip-dancing in front of a 'disguised' Arnie was the most awkwardness moment in the movie for me.. I mean wow.. like in Trading Places you look kinda cute but a decade later striping down to your boobies is not eww... but weird. Anyways its about Harry whose life as a secret agent is in need of covering up to the family that he isn't but later on, his wife, Helen finds out through Harry interrogating her to disguising himself in the dark room while Helen strips naked. The other half is a group of terrorists held Harry's kid hostage and Harry got no choice but to ride a FUCKING harrier to get back her daughter. The acting is comedy gold with the entirely of Arnold acting and him doing the tango in the dancing scene, plus the one-liners is just hysterical! The action sequences are typical from James Cameron, pure-action with action sandwiched together.

5/5 STARS This movie is indeed one of the best movies of all time and deserves all 16 of those nominations. Anthony Hopkins yet again excels his performance as a cannibalistic psychiatrist helping a young FBI agent played by Jodie Foster to solve and hunt down a transvestite serial killer played by Ted Levine who kidnapped the Senator's daughter and kills and skins his victims. The suspense goes into full motion near the end and it's satisfying. Plus it's a novel adaptation that seems intriguing to read as well.

1.5/5 The acting is just horseshit.... I cannot comprehend how horrible the acting is, even trying to describe it is a difficult task. The production values looks like its on some small budget and it looks cheap. This remake is trying to be like the original but seriously this is fucking terrible. Granted, these zombies are like the 2004 Dawn of the Dead mixed in with 28 Days Later but the zombies in this movie is so exaggerated that it looks cheesy and retarded at the same time. I mean.. the zombies look like they have ninja reflexes and the editing can justify how low quality is. Just watch the hospital scene when 'hell breaks loose' and see how ridiculous they made the zombies walk up walls and running like they have ADD or something. FUCK... This movie.. it does have some decent zombie kill moments but even Diary of the Dead is watchable and that movie stinks.....

3/5 The remake of the 1978 classic is a decent one. It isn't better nor worse, its just a watchable film that keeps the premise simple - there's a zombie outbreak and survivors ended up holing up in a mall. But when the survivors get further inside the mall, there are people who wanted no one or no more people to come inside the mall. Though the hugest flaw about this movie is the fact that it didn't have the survivors having fun and reinforcing the mall with trucks like the original and having a small montage of a girl and the gay old man dressing up isn't a great montage of being in a mall. It's just ridiculous that even a zombie outbreak, the three security guards wouldn't want anyone to steal.. fucking retarded. Anyways, the quality and editing looks realistic, especially at the starting where there are fake news reports talking about the outbreak. The other thing I liked is that they brought back two of the cast members from the first Dawn of the Dead but one as a General and another as a lunatic on tv. The ending however is absolutely terrible in any way shape or form, there's a character that I absolutely hate that survives at the ending... (you will see)

2.5 STARS As you pretty much know, I hate this video game adaptation as well as the next guy, Paul W.S Anderson is a joke who since Mortal Kombat - can't seem to be at least a tolerable video game movie. But with Alexander Witt on the reins of this second installment, we at least see it as a watchable one. One of the notable things about this movie is how much references, they crammed from Capcom's original games and how awesome to see the distorted editing at the starting with zombie (or undead) outbreak and especially that there's a glimpse of an actual news reporter from Citytv/CP24 (Toronto News) as a small cameo. Regardless, as pretty much everyone says - the storyline and the weird-ass Matrix stunts with Alice is pure garbage and ridiculous. The acting also has its faults, not with Milla's character but most of the cast in this movie - I mean seriously, Sienna and Zack is trying their best to act but everytime they start talking, it's just hilarious and bland at the same time. You got Sienna's character being all serious and Zack trying his best to put on a Russian accent even though it kinda sucks. Thomas Kreschmann on the other hand, even though he's European, he sounds like he's trying to be those people who try to put on an European accent but failed. Nevertheless, it's quite a watchable movie, sure the acting and storyline is stupid but the action scenes with Mike Epps trying to be the black comedian and Milla being cute is the moment I enjoy.

2 STARS Words cannot describe how utterly retarded, the sequel to Paul Verhoeven's beloved classic is. I mean, it does pertain to the Starship Troopers universe and such but in the 21st century, the cheesy acting and poor performances by the actors and story is outdated since the original. Much of the stuff with the story is kinda blurred out for me but its mainly about a group of Roughnecks that are stranded in the middle of the desert who fortified themselves inside some tower, fending off the hordes of alien bugs. Not knowing that the tower will be the end of them... and the fact that smart-bugs come into play just like the original but having that type of suspense and thriller of trying to immediate Invasion of the Body Snatchers but more dumb. What grinds more of my gears is that, the ending is full of crap and I will just say that its not going to have a sequel with these guys anymore... Still bullshit.. The action isn't much there, there are scenes where the Roughnecks are defending the tower that aren't appealing. It's mainly the suspense and such of the interaction of the rest of the group and how they slowly become infested with the 'smart bugs' and turn on each other until they corner the main character..... and that's it.. Utter garbage for a movie that have potential to be kick-ass as the original.

3.5 STARS Shivers is a weird weird film.. a film that is easily like David Lynch but grosses you out even more. The case is that David Cronenberg makes horrifying movies that will creep the shit out of you. Shivers is partially like Alien and Invasion of the Body Snatchers in which a small mutated bug or shit crawling thing crawls inside your body and takes form of you.. but unlike Alien or any zombie movies, they become sex-obsessive zombies who wants to make love with you and 'become one of them.' This idea should be great if its a porno film having zombies being sex-crazed though an anime really did that. Anyways this movie is quite the controversy, due to its graphical and disgusting nature of zombies being sex-crazed. This movie was so controversial that the director was kicked out of his Toronto home, not only for been paid by the Canadian government tax dollars but being a grossed out movie. I for one would say that it is very very messed up and... ewww

4 STARS Remember last year when there's a shit ton of post-apocalyptic/conspiracy movies? I try to hide the hatred of those but there's was a unique gem hidden within the confines... ZombieLand. I was skeptical when I first watched it, as many other movies like Shaun of the Dead or even the original Dawn of the Dead has already convey the parody of zombies or the 'fun' of killing zombies. While other movies have their share of having fun, this movie has uped some ante of being a 'silly rollercoaster ride'... literary! Again this scenario of the premise is simple, the whole world has been turned upside down and zombies are everywhere with everyone turning into zombies except for Columbus, a nerdy kid with a huge set of rules which everyone SHOULD have in a zombie outbreak. Also on his way to see if his parents are alive but through his journey he is joined by a resident kick-asser, Tallahassee who only wants a Twinkee and two con-artists, Witchita and Little Rock who attempted to abandoned them twice by stealing their cars just to go to Little Rock's dream paradise, Pacific Playland. The action sequences are the best because of the killing spree that Tallashesse has offered to contribute, it's why I love this types of movies. One of the best scenes is when they are in the Pacific Playland and Tallashesse... well its too awesome to describe but like Alex said, I wish Dead Rising 2 would be more awesome like this. Anyways, the performance by Jesse Eisenberg is seriously hilarious because I could never take him so seriously in this movie.. due to the fact that he likes and acts like Michael Cera and is so damn weird.. Woody Harrelson however regardless of in-actor is awesome by himself and man.. he would probably totally act like that if its a zombie-apocalyptic future. Emma Stone is fucking hot and that's about it...

4.5 STARS This is one of the classic cult films of the late eighties, the idea of 'seeing what you would never see' is a ideal premise in a world of consumerism and a world that has one law - to obey. It's basically trying to be a conspiracy-themed movie and it feels like one too compared to other movies that try to scare the hell out of me with their less-gratifying conspiracy messages. Ok.. The story goes like this, its about an average-class person, Nada who is out of work and among others living in the slums or the homeless grounds is tag with Frank, a construction worker who offers him, a job. One day he becomes suspicious of a Church and is curious enough to go inside it, discovering that radicals are broadcasting against the government. Suddenly, the police raided the church and the slums and bulldoze everything, using martial law. The next day after everyone literary find themselves homeless, Nada went back to the Church to find the sunglasses, that he saw earlier and put them on when he decided to go to the city. Not knowing what they are, he discovered that he could see a world of 'black and white' where the ads that he sees are really subliminal messages (for example; Obey, work hours a day, buy products, watch tv and reproduce) and later he sees through his eyes that some people look like scary ghoulish zombies who he tried to insult them, resulting the ghoulish creatures to report to the authorities that 'he isn't one of them'. The police who are also They Monsters arrives and tries to arrest him but Nada takes one of the police firearms and goes on an awesome killing spree of killing these ghoulish aliens. Much like later on with Frank teaming up with him though before that... he gets into a raw and pure footage of them beating each other up, which doesn't require any editing at all. Anyways, the movie itself is pretty awesome whlist trying to convey a message/theme that affects in real life as well. The glasses that see the true world around Nada is one of the scary parts in the movie and happens to be much in our age of consumerism as well. All you know that Keith David is badass in this movie and that's all!

5 STARS The original Miracle on 34th Street is basically a movie that warms your heart or a ''calm at heart'' movie that fits into the whole Christmas vibe. It takes place in New York during the busiest shopping year, and a old bearded man played by Edmund Gwenn who admits to people that he is Santa Claus, fitting well in the Christmas parade organized by Doris who hired him as a Macys' Santa but neglects that fact that he is Santa Claus alongside with her daughter, Susan who has that "common sense". Fred Gailey, a lawyer tries to convince Susan about fairytales and such but Susan from her mother doesn't believe such nonsense. Also the psychologist stating that this Santa Claus/Kris is a maniac, sending him off to asylum but Fred Gailey files a lawsuit against the state, proving that this Santa Claus is genuine, resulting in bags and bags of letters to santa from the Postal Office, a branch of the US government and therefore ending the case. Making Susan and Doris believe in Santa, as he fulfill Susan's wish and present of living in a dream-house which Santa "used" to live but had sold it to them. It's quite a classic actually, there's no moments where it has flaws to it neither having an antagonist poses any conflict that results in a "face-palm".... It's just a nice and sweet movie of mistaken identify and a lawyer trying to prove Santa Claus is real. Great movie, great for Christmas.

4.5 STARS Brian De Palma's The Untouchables is a non-fiction gangster story during the Prohibition Era where a Treasurer, Elliot Ness wants to take Al Capone and his mob out of Chicago. Alongside this battle, Jim Malone, Oscar Wallace and George Stone teams up with him to find enough evidence and put Al Capone in jail. And the story does wonders with the setting, clearly a mob film that is actually based on a one of the infamous and dangerous mob bosses of the 19th century. Robert De Niro is at it again since his outstanding performance in Godfather Part II bringing his performances as Al Capone. Kevin Costner as Elliot Ness plays a solid and well done performance as the Treasurer whose committed and willing to take Al Capone out of the picture... alongside with Sean Connery as Jim, a old policeman, Charles Martin, once an accountant, and Andy Garcia as the loyal but once tough-neck recruitee. Being that as it may I enjoyed this movie and love the way it ended.. though I hated that short reporter

0.5 STARS I would say this is the worst mobster movie ever.. and that's coming from a person who watched most of Joe Mantegna's 90s movies. It's just a insult to mobster movies seriously. First off, Christian Slater tries so hard to make an accent but fails to do so and the dialogue is just atrocious and bad that it's something out of a parody about the mafia. I just couldn't say how bad the movie is.. it just is! I wouldn't watch this movie ever ever again!!!

4.5 STARS The way Fincher directed this film proves why most of his movies has a unique edge to it... maybe it's the colour and tone of the cinematography or how his movies provide and place you in a dark setting. But I digress, Social Network places a social-media site, Facebook and shows the trials and tribulations behind the creation of this cultural phenomenon. It's quite an astounding one seeing how Mark Zuckerberg got what he had today. This movie should of been a documentary but being what it is right now is a fantastic combination. Performances by Mich... I mean Jesse Eisenberg and Justin Timberlake fits well into the university atmosphere, well.. at the age-range. The only gripe that I hated in this movie is not only that damn-lighting that Fincher always does with his movies - I never seen a colour that isn't dark this or that. But regardless it's a well-crafted movie that is based on a multi-million social-networking site created by a college student.

4 STARS Seeing that this is in fact, in my top 100 movies of all time and wasn't able to look through some of the flaws regarding this movie. I decided to watch it again and came out with a different result. Mother is a crime drama about a mentally-challenged kid, Yoon Do-joon played by Bin Won who "murdered" a girl. His mother played by Hye-ja Kim tries to plead innocence that her son never committed that crime. Throughout this movie, the mother tries to find any incriminating evidence that led to the murder, attempting to hire a lazy small-time lawyer, bribing a greedy friend of Yoon to talking to the victim's friends. The movie itself comes from the stunning performance of Hye-ja Kim, a mother with a mentally-challenged son who at first is protective and overly concerned of her son but after her son got taken into custody, she turns herself into one of the finest performance yet. One of the main faults of this movie is near the end, it does have conventions of a Hitchcock film but having a twist with the story isn't satisfying at all and may leave a red herring or a confusion. Also like any Korean movie, the dialogue and performances is at often times, goofy such as a case of trying to be serious at the same time and the fact that Korean people can't drive. Mother apparently is affected by this, making some serious moments ridiculous and awkward. That said.. yes it is a tense and brilliant crime drama but from a personal standpoint, it doesn't leave me satisfied at the ending... it feels creepy and dark how the Mother turned into a murderer that she unforsakenly regret. That and how Asian movies try to convey the direction of performances being somewhat goofy. Anyways, it's not the best but it's certainly a thriller and a engaging drama that is emotionally attached. Plus one of the most memorable and outstanding performance.

4 STARS Easy A is about Olive who fakes, having sex with her gay friend, therefore the whole school spreads rumours about her. When her friend, Rhiannon knows about this, she suddenly isn't her friend anymore and Olive dresses and changes her personality to become the biggest slut in the school. Also the fact that everyone thinks she's a prostitute, being "easy" to everyone, exchanging gift cards for her to "date" almost anyone. Oh.. and Mrs. Griffith is had sex with a 22 year old student behind her husband's back. Anyways, Emma Stone is so convincing even though she does the "same technique" in Zombieland except for being manipulative. She's so so adorable in this movie with her cute dog and her family with an adapted son from Everyone Hates Chris? Besides that, the main flaws in this movie is the fact that everyone doesn't look close to being in high school, I mean, I was confused if it was community college or something else. And also the references of John Hughes' movies and her lipsinging like Ferris from Ferris Bueller's Day Off is out of nowhere ridiculous like that movie but it pays well. All and all, the movie is great, Emma Stone is hot, Amanda Bynes is cute, Alyson Renae Michalka has big tits, Lisa Kudrow plays a cheating and having intercourse with a underage student and Malcolm McDowell is cool yet again.

3.5 STARS Sometimes I often try to avoid these movies where a idiot stumbles across an average guy who ruins his day, or guy is using him all along but at the end, becomes his friend and have a happy ending. This of course is the idea of this movie and Jay Roach (Meet the Parents) decided it's a good idea to add cute little mice to the movie. That and the fact that it's about a recently promoted businessman, Tim whose boss wants to invite him into a party but this party is "messed up" due to the fact that they wanted him to invite a idiot to "make fun of him" in this party. And so one day, he accidentally hits a person on the road who suddenly befriends him and his name is Barry, a idiotic "mice" artist who fit these tiny creatures into art pieces like the Mona Lisa to putting a Jesus outfit on a mouse and so on. Tim realizes that Barry could attend this party, as Barry becomes attached to him and hilarity ensues.. that and a weird artist who likes to draw/paint himself to show others and a insane slut, Daria whose Tim once had sex with her came back to his life. The source material in this movie goes to Steve Carrell for comedic value because the only thing the movie goes for is him... and maybe Zack Galifianakis who plays a idiotic IRS agent, who can "read people's mind".. well only Barry. Paul Rudd and the other cast goes along with the script and screwball comedy. The whole movie together is a mess but the lineup of cast makes the movie at least watchable and hilarious.

4 STARS I always tend to sympathize with movies under the concept of the mentally-ill, yes I know these movies can be a drag sometimes with it's emotional part trying to exaggerate something it's not. With romantic drama with the mentally-ill, it's the same case; film such as Mozart and the Whale. Lars and the Real Girl on the other hand is a special one and a great concept of a mentally-challenged/fragile man, Lars suffering from social awkwardness who one day decides to order a sex doll online so that he could finally reach out to the community as well as speaking to her alone who's forced to "play along" to it/she being his girlfriend, a foreign girl, Beyonca. It's quite a riveting story actually, a person who's has been quite disconnected with his brother, Gus and sister-in law as well as a small community and another mentally-challenged girl who likes him, starts to make a connection with everyone. Aside from that, this is rather like "don't judge a book by it's cover" movie, from a first perspective, one may think it's rated R, a idea of a young man buying a "sex doll" online... it could possibly be something funny but when I watched the whole movie, it's a neat idea for someone who's life is out of contact with others. Anyways Ryan Gosling (All the Good Things) as Lars, plays the mentally-ill character pretty well, pertaining to be painfully shy and trying to get his words out by having a sex doll with him. Paul Schneider (Parks and Recreation) as Gus plays a troubled brother who regrets the day he allowed his younger brother, Lars to live in the garage rather in his house and at first contact with the sex doll wanted Lars to go to a mental institution - his performance is also great and hilarious as well as Emily Mortimer (Pink Panther Remake) who plays Gus' sister-in law which is weird because Gus sleeps with her, making it more like incest to me. Patricia Clarkson as Doctor Dagmar also plays a terrific performance as a doctor who's first plays along with Lars and Beyonca but is really helping his condition. Other notable cast; R.D Reid as Reverend Bock and Boyd Banks as Russell (Dawn of the Dead 2004). Overall, I think it's a cute and riveting movie that is different from other movies like this one, it doesn't really feel cliche and one of those movies that you should watch in its' entirely rather than critiquing from a poster standpoint.

4.5 STARS My second time watching this and one of my top movies of 2010... it's the craziest and action-packed exploitation movie that Robert Rodriguez is known for. This idea originated from Grindhouse/Death Proof which Rodriguez created a trailer, then he realized that through the audience reaction that this trailer has great potential for an action-pack blockbuster... and it did and like those two movies.. it has big-ass guns, the craziest stunts and.. hot babes (naked or not) And a star-stunted cast, Danny Trejo, Steven Seagal, Robert De Niro, Tom Savini and Jessica Alba, Lindsay Lohan? and Michelle Rodriguez as the hottest babes with guns.. after watching this movie with Lindsay Lohan naked, she's fking hot as well as Michelle with a eye-patch and Jessica Alba... and tons of naked scenes... That's all I could say about this movie and that it's a revenge tale

4.5 STARS Bruises and cuts are scary.. Mila Kunis and Portman's hot and sexy lesbo action on the other hand.. my fantasy came true! Aside from that this paranormal thriller about a rivalry of two ballet dancers and the obsession over Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake, as Nina turns to take over both White and Black Swan as well as fighting her fears against the doppelganger that haunts her.. This movie is fantastic having a touch of being horrifying for me and gratifying at the end and the twist.

4 STARS Sometimes a remake could happen to be better than the original, True Grit while it isn't closely based on John Wayne's version - it happens to focus more of the 1968 novel by Charles Portis. Though I hate the fact that everyone thinks this is some sort of remake to the original. Anyways, True Grit is about a young 14 year-old girl, Mattie Ross who hires a well-known U.S Marshall to track down the man who killed her father. Like any movies, this character at first has complications with the other characters who is apparently, Rooster Cogburn and another U.S Marshall, La Boeuf as Mattie marks a 50$ bounty to Rooster to kill Tom Chaney and take his body to the authorities but in one condition, Mattie wants to be there to see that execution and finally have her revenge. Performances by Jeff Bridges as a reluctant and lazy, U.S Marshall, Rooster Cogburn, Matt Damon as another U.S Marshall tracking down Chaney, Josh Brolin as drunken Tom Chaney and surprisingly, Hailee Steinfeld as a revengeful young Mattie Ross are outstanding and excellent. While the main performance and a true adaptation to the novel is the high-point of this movie - the flaws of this movie is the ending of this movie, it felt like it's too rushed and swallow like they wanted to end the movie quickly.. and the rest of the movie kinda felt dull, it's mostly composed of them riding through fields and forests towards the Indian country with a little hilarious commentary by Rooster (i.e, kicking Indians, getting drunk) and that's pretty much it.... oh plus a midget that pops out of nowhere. But overall, I think this movie is much better than the 1969 version.

4 STARS The American doesn't try to be an action-packed thriller, the trailer sells itself short of thinking it's an action movie leaving many disappointed of the final product, though it felt more like True Grit in a sense that mostly the portion of the movie isn't action-packed. The movie itself from my point of view is quite a great psychological drama, it's like In Bruges but less retarded and more sophisticated. The story, Jack is an assassin who wants to leave the business when his job went downhill in Sweden. When met in Rome, his employer requests one last job for him and Jack hides out in the Italian countryside but assassins are trying to go after him. When I compare this to In Bruges; Assassin/Hitman's job goes bad, hides in another country and everyone dies in the ending - The American also hits those notes of having a lone assassin transverse on coffee shops, walking through tight spaces, a priest that offered residence to him, target practicing, assembling his silenced sniper rifle, meeting other assassins to having sex with a prostitute, Clara. That's pretty much it that the movie has to offer and provides a low-key tone for a definitive assassin-esque movie.

4 STARS Harry Brown doesn't deliver something new to the table - it's pretty much a revenge/vigilante tale about a windower forced to take the law into his own hands after his friend was killed by cocaine-fulled thugs/gangs. It's a cross between Taxi Driver, Gran Torino and Death Wish II, specifically of Gran Torino and Death Wish II of "old man lives in the bad side of town with gangs harassing and murdering innocent civilians, police is no where to be found, later on it was revealed that he served in the military and takes the law into his own hands, by administering justice to the gangs and.. either be killed or walk away. Simple revenge tale but.. the hallmark of this film is the performance by Michael Caine.. delivering a serious and brilliant and also best performance of 2010 as a revengeful widower whose once served in the marines that we rarely seen in film or his recent film career choice. Emily Mortimer (Shutter Island) plays a police investigator, Alice Frampton who is investigating the deaths of Leonard, Harry's best friend and later the trail of deaths of drug-addicts/gangsters provides a solid performance as well as Iain Glen as the Super Intendant and David Bradley as Leonard. Overall, the progression of the film is something that you must first watch to embrace and not enjoy it as a cliché film.

3.5 STARS Shanghai stars John Cusack as an American expat, Paul Soames returning back to Japanese-occupied Shanghai during World War II after his friend Connor died, causing him to investigate the cause behind the death as well as the mob boss, and his wife and a Japanese commander who is leading the operations here. Swedish Director, Mikael Hafstrom who recently directed The Rite tries to convey the setting and era that this film takes place as a 40s noir film filled with inner monologues with Cusack's character in a gangster/detective world of Shanghai as well as espionage and betrayal. The cinematography reinvents Shanghai into looking like a Japanese-occupied Shanghai during that time, which it's a mixed bag due to the countless of films, whether foreign or not depicting Shanghai. It's just derivative of it's part though adding a film-noir aesthetic to it redeems the unoriginality. Performances by the cast are excellent; Cusack delivers a redeemable role (2012) as a subtle yet calm Paul Soames, Li Gong since her amazing role in Memoirs of a Geisha provides a charming and alluring performance as Anna Lan-Ting, Chow-Yun Fat as the underground crime/mafia boss delivers a outstanding performance as a secretive mob boss as well as Ken Watanabe who plays a cruel and vile Tanaka. This set piece that Hafstrom created is yet a good film to watch though due to the countless of films depicting the Japanese-occupation of China, it's derivative of being another Chinatown or another foreign war movie.

3.5 STARS The Town tries to be both Point Break and Heat (in fact they show a clip from this movie) at the same time.. result comes up as a decent heist movie. As much as I hate Ben Assfleck and his movies, this could potentially be his better role as well as directing quality. The screenplay on the other hand is horrible, there are moments in the dialogue that seems awkward and bad especially specifically parts with Affleck and Rebecca Hall. Anyways it sets in Boston as a group of Bank robbers from Charleston rob a bank - like Point Break, they do it professionally with disguises, destroying cameras and destroying evidence like in Heat. One former female hostage, Claire Keesay was also taken due to suspicions of the group and was blind-folded and dumped near edge of nowhere. Fearing that Claire will tell on the authorities, Doug one of the leaders gets caught up with a romance with her. Though the FBI is also on their trail due to the number of armed robberies that they partake in, S.A Adam Frawley is taking over the investigation to arrest them. Like I said, Ben Affleck is horrible at acting but his performance in this movie is alright - ever since his role in Good Will Hunting. The others, Jeremy Renner as Doug's friend and robber, James/Jem Coughlin, Rebecca Hall as Claire, Chris Cooper as Doug's Father and Jonn Hamm as Adam Frawley delivers a good performance though with a bad script to act on. The action scenes are intense and epic, as a cops/FBI and robbers film, it does great justice during the robbery and car chase scenes where the streets are narrow and cars crashing each other and the group of robbery robbing a bank professionally compensates the crappy dialogue. This film is engaging overall as a heist film and potentially more of a improvement of Affleck's career choice.

0.5 STARS Dead Space Aftermath has most ugliest, terrible and poor animation which compliments the short time duration of the movie as well as the voice acting. Aftermath has two layers of animation; one in 3D and one animated similar to Downfall, the 3D aspect looks outdated and horrible, it looks like some crappy animation from a college student but the cartoon aspect does redeem the horrible aspects of the 3D one. The story is also terrible though it adds to the Dead Space Lore which compliments the game by Visceral Games - after being rescued, one of the black security officer voiced by Christopher Judge started to hallucinate his daughter, Vilivan as the Marker got into his mind, and thinks everyone around him is endangering his daughter. Thus erecting chaos and causalities. Do not watch this movie, even though it's short - just go to wiki sites or buy the Dead Space novel if you're into Dead Space lore and such.

2.5 STARS Dead Space Downfall is a prequel on the first Dead Space game by Visceral Games. It sets in the USG Ishimura when they discovered the Black Marker and intended to bring it back to Earth to research it but things didn't go as plan as Aegis VII, the planet that they found the Marker in has been overrun and one sole survivor has brought a infected survivor on board the Ishimura, thus creating havoc and infestation of necromorphs. Vincent, Head of Security Forces and his team were dispatch through the Ishimura to find any survivors but soon each floor becomes crawling with necromorphs, it becomes a rescue relief effort. Compared to Mike Disa's recent garbage, Dead Space Aftermath, Downfall is better, it's a fully animated movie and it has a decent story and a cast of characters that adds to the Dead Space lore. The main flaw is the acting, sometimes the acting felt like it's bland and voiceovers are "reading off the script". I just didn't feel compelled to watch this movie, acting and animation, story is the main fundamentals of animated movie and this only has two of them. Otherwise, it's a better Dead Space movie but it does have have a share of movie cliches and feels too similar to The Thing, Aliens as well as Event Horizon.

5 STARS Seeing that this is Alex's favourite movie of all time and it was one of the first movies to be shown on the Screening Room, I decided to watch it and he's seriously right about it being the greats. Fletch is yet one of the few movies of these two years that I actually laughed my ass off, trying to not die from laughing. It's that funny and credit goes out to Andrew Bergmann and the novel as well as Chevy Chase for making one of the funniest dialogues. Chevy Chase stars as Irwin Fletcher, a LA newspaper reporter who is investigating/researching the number of drug trafficking crimes on local beaches. When he was about to leave, he stumbled upon Alan (Tim Matheson) who will give everything he has just to have Fletch murder him. This didn't bode Fletch well as he starts investigating about Alan and soon uncovered the truth behind that reason and the involvement of dirty cops. Plus, we get to see a handful of silly disguises reacted by Fletch and hilarity ensues. I could watch this movie over and over again and laugh everytime at Fletch's antics and other moments that I miss that are funny.

4.5 STARS I considered this film to be underrated and under-appreciated, it got tons of action-packed moments, ultranationalists Russians and being a huge inspiration for Modern Warfare. Sure The Rock is the inspiration but Russian rebels and tensions with Russian and the US is so much like Modern Warfare. Albeit being highly political as well as derivative seeing that around the decade that this film has been released when a number of movies has the same premise to it. It's just being overshadowed as one of those movies and comparing other of those movies including Peacemaker which I adored, this just has better action sequences of the President of the United States being endangered and the political realities that troubles Washington with terrorists' demands and such. Though a one man-army as the President Marshall didn't really go for me, the beginning with the terrorists parachuting down silently and sniping guards one by one to F-15s retaliating back to the Ultranationists MiGs is just popcorn-entertainment. The CG and Special Effects is presents itself alot and explosions, after explosions, after explosions is just intense and exhilarating. Wolfgang Petersen who also directed Das Boot made a movie just for me, well, Peacemaker did that for me but having a President as well as his family being endangered by terrorists and tons of moments of people sacrificing themselves for the President as well as the action-packed cramped hallway of the Air Force One while the Secret Service is pushing the President to the escape shuttle is.. no other movie has that type of being more action-packed but still the dialogue is zanie sometimes with Gary Oldman character, Ivan pretending to have a Russian accent. This movie is like Die Hard but what if John McClane is the President trapped on Air Force One?

3 STARS Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps or Oliver Stone's take on the 2008 financial crisis leading to the recession is a decent thriller about a young stockbroker, Jacob Moore facing the financial crisis as well as everyone especially Lewis, his boss who committed suicide. When heard that Gordon Gekko is having a lecture corporate greed and his new book, Jacob and Gordon tries to save his company from bankruptcy from Bretton James. The premise of setting it during the financial crisis works well - the whole economy comes crashing down out of nowhere providing that sort of tension and thriller as well as drama of seeing Jacob's company going bankrupt as well as a number of employees being laid-off. The main flaws is the performance especially along the lines of Shia LaBeouf as Jacob Moore, he's just atrocious in this movie and when he tries to convey emotion. Michael Douglas returning as Gordon Gekko however doesn't really have a place in this movie as it centers around Jacob moore(pun). Josh Brolin as the main antagonist, Bretton James and Frank Langella as Lewis Zabel provides a solid performances throughout the movie. Also Charlie Sheen returns as Budd Fox as a cameo for more salad-dressing I suppose. Anyways, Money Never Sleeps is just decent nothing more.

4 STARS The idea/concept of law versus justice is absurd at first but interesting to watch - having a person face a huge corporation head-on and doing what's right for those who's suffered through such as well as their own. A Civil Action did this with the exception of greed, Jan Schlictmann is a injury lawyer going after a huge company but failed due to his divided justice. Two years after, we see a similar movie, Erin Brockovich. It's setting/story is different but the concept stays the same - a person goes after a billion-dollar company after polluting a town's water supply causing negative side effects to families in that town and this person tries everything she can to find evidence to incriminate this company and sacrificing everything to administer justice. It's just the same thing but having a unemployed mother and beauty queen, Erin Brockovich getting help from a small firm lawyer, Ed Masry against the company who contaminated the water supply. As well as sacrificing herself working tireless days on this case while her kids were forced to have a caretaker and finding a friendly biker boyfriend to take care of her kids. Furthermore, this is based on a true story like A Civil Action and it's large lawsuit but unlike A Civil Action, Erin and Ed won the lawsuit and Jan lost his whole firm, his wealth and reportedly decided to take the case again but failed. The performances by Julia Roberts as a "earthly" mother of three children as Erin Brockovich portrays her well, so well that she won a Oscar for the lead role. Albert Finney provides a excellent performance as a small firms' lawyer, Ed Masry. Overall it's a great movie based on a true story revolving around the idea of the struggles of finding justice for the families against a huge company and even the real Erin Brockovich cameoed in this movie.

4.5 Michael Clayton is considered a masterpiece directed by first-time director, Tony Gilroy who previously did screenplays for the Bourne Trilogy. Winning about 13 award nominations, Michael Clayton is about a Fixer with the same name as the movie who attempts to fix a situation after a chaotic breakdown while representing a chemical company and the people out to get take him and the company out. The starting monologue and the "4 days earlier" tells his alot of how the movie will set in motion as a thriller. Lately movies have done that "scene from later on the story" to create tension to the audience of what's coming on next and how this scene is played out later on. Though it can be derivative and a foreshadowing tease. Tom Wilkinson (The Ghost Writer) does a remarkable job as a mentally-challenged lawyer, Arthur Edens who when in the meeting, strip nude and ran after his plaintiff in the streets causing huge problems with the company while Karen Crowder played by Tilda Swinton (I Am Love) is trying to destroy the company but eliminating and exposing Arthur Edens to incriminate the company as Michael Clayton tries to fix the situation. Aside from Tom Wilkinson's terrific performance so much that he won best actor, George Clooney, Tilda Swinton and Sydney Pollack as Marty Bach is wonderful in this movie. You just have to see it yourself and truly enjoyed this masterpiece of filmmaker from screenwriter who debuted this movie. Also with the help of Steven Soderborgh (Oceans' Trilogy) and George Clooney.