"The Hangover Part II" is "The Hangover" all over again...and not in a good way.

"The Hangover Part II" is "The Hangover" all over again...and not in a good way.

When Sequels Attack: A look at Kung Fu Panda 2 and The Hangover Part II

When Sequels Attack: A look at Kung Fu Panda 2 and The Hangover Part II

Something Cinematic:Drink Up Me Hearties Yo-Ho

Silver Screen Review: Thor

The silver screen reviews return to start you off on the summer movie lineup, starting off with another movie for the  superhero genre; but unlike most superhero films, this movie does not just deal with a superhero, but in fact a god.  This is the next movie to come out Marvel Studios, none other than “Thor”. There is much riding on this movie, being not only the first movie of the summer, but the first superhero movie of the summer as well. Is it worth it or is it just another superhero movie? Brace yourself for the review of “Thor”.

Story:  What is compelling about “Thor’s” plot is that this is not your average superhero origin story. “Thor” already knows who he is and what he is capable of. What does seemed to be familiar is the plot point is Thor realizing the error of his ways and becoming the hero he is supposed to be.Repetative as it may seem, the plot still works for the film’s format.  As for the plot’s pacing, it was exceedingly well done as the flow of the movie was comfortable and well defined.

Character/Acting:  My hat is off to both the writers and Chris Hemsworth; because together, they brought Thor to life. Everything about this character seemed real and true to the character of the comics. The film also features a strong supporting cast with the likes of Natalie Portman, Anthony Hopkins and Stellan Skarsgard. But the one character that truly stole the show was Loki, played by Tom Hiddleston. Loki has to be the best developed villain to come out of marvel studios, and that is no easy feat. I can go on forever about this impressive cast was, which goes to show what great development and terrific acting can obviously do for a cast.

Directing:  I thought “Thor” would be a challenge for director Kenneth Branagh because it is part of a genre Branagh is not familiar with. But Branagh showed me that his film truly belonged with credit going to his definitive directing. What impressed me the most about Branagh’s directing was finding a way to entertain fans while making the film understandable for audiences who are not familiar with the comic.

Everything Else:  There are many things that make film worthwhile. The action is great, the effects are impressive and the music is enjoyable. Yet out of everything that makes this film outstanding to see, I was most impress with the design and look to “Thor”. The look of the Asgard as well as the Asgardians was outstanding as it brought the essence of “Thor” to life.

Overall:  What a movie to start off the summer. The plot is understandable, the acting is outstanding and Kenneth Branagh shows what it takes to make such as innovative superhero film. “Thor” may not just be one of the best films of the summer, but it may in fact be one of the best superheroes movies of all time. Hats are off to Thor with 4 ½ out 5 hats

Harry Potter and Deathly Hallows Part II Trailer!!!

The trailer to the final installment of Harry Potter was released last night, so without further ado, here is the last trailer:

Ladies and Gentleman, your intermission will be ending shortly, 4 months to be exact.  Feel free to take this time to get back to your seats.

Silver Screen Review:Rio

In this edition of the silver screen reviews, I look at the new animated feature “Rio”. “Rio” comes to us from the mind of Carlos Saldanha, the director who brought us the “Ice Age” Trilogy. He returns to the big screen with a film he has been waiting to bring to life. But is “Rio” the next animated hit or does it crash and burn? Get ready to take trip through this review of “Rio”

Story:  The story of “Rio” is about Blu, a domesticated macaw, going to Rio and finds himself stuck to Jewel, a female macaw, and wind up in the adventure of a life time. The plot has no big surprises to it as you figure out how where the story is going.  Though “Rio’s” plot may be familiar; it is enjoyable and it certainly has its moments.  What did fascinate me was how paced the story was. It is surprising to discover that this plot runs about an hour and a half.

Character/Acting:  Like the story, there little to no surprises with the characters. Jesse Eisenberg and Anne Hathaway’s characters seem to follow there more usual character traits. Yet one thing that did impress me was the development of Blu and Linda, played by Leslie Mann. Both characters go out on an adventure and discover things about the world as well as themselves. The movie also features an enjoyable supporting cast  with the likes of Jemaine Clement, Jaime Foxx as well as George Lopez, and this is to name a few. The only  other issue I have  in this section is the characteristics of the animal cast seemed a little too human for my taste.

Directing:  Carlos Saldanha has finally brought his idea to life. Unfortunately, there were not many surprises when it came to the directions.  Besides the details of the city itself, I felt  there were no surprises in directing; however that is not to say he did a bad job. He was able to deliver with “Rio”, even though everything about this film fit his forte.

Everything Else:  There were things that I liked about the animation, and there were things I did not care for. I felt at times that animation was to cartoonish for my taste. The design for the characters seemed way too generic. I felt that some of the characters had the same design and I felt it took away from the animation. I am not going to count out the animation just yet because it did have some positive factors.  At some points, the animation was colorful and seemed to fit what the movie was expressing. So though it does not fit my preference, it did get the job done.

Overall:  Though there are no impressive surprises, “Rio” is an entertaining movie. Is it the best animated movie of the year? Not really. But if you are looking for just a fun movie, look no further than “Rio”. “Rio” gets 3 ½ hats out of 5.

Silver Screen Review:Hanna

Welcome to another Silver Screen Reviews: Pulse Edition. This week, I take a look at a rather independent looking movie, the movie known as” Hanna”.  Looking at this movie, I could tell that was not t going to be a big movie, but nonetheless, the movie did receive some decent publicity over the past couple of weeks.  So is “Hanna” a film worth your time or is it just a movie that may just passed by. Stay tune for this review of “Hanna”.

Story:  The plot of “Hanna” follows the character Hanna, a young girl trained by her father in being an expert killer out for revenge. The movie at its core is really about a girl trying to find herself as she enters an unfamiliar world for the first time, or something like that. I really did enjoy the plot; it did keep me compelled all the way through.  However, the story does suffer from a great deal of confusion as well as having very little understanding of the events of the film.  When reaching the conclusion of the movie, there seem to be no other way for the events to come together, but I think a little more thought in this plot would not have hurt.

Characters/Acting:  I found myself enjoying the three main characters. Hanna, played Saorise Ronan, was very intriguing character. Her character trying to be more human showed very distinct development that I thought was done well. This is the first film that I have seen Saorise Ronan in and I have that I am impressed with her performance. Eric Bana makes for great supporting character as well as Cate Blanchett making a good antagonist.  My only complaint about her performance was her accent. It was not as if it off nor was it not understandable, it just bother me.

Directing:  Joe Wright directed this film and there were some decisions I agreed with, while there were some I did not agree with.  As a whole, I agree and understand what he was trying to accomplish. However there were some minor details that I did not agree with. The minor details did not hurt the film, but I question why they were done in this matter.

Everything Else: Visually, “Hanna” is impressive to see. Its cinematography is gripping and distinctive. I also was impressed with the film’s soundtrack. I found myself following the rhythm of the beats. The music was most impressive.   At times, “Hanna” could be very creative, and though I question its creativity, it did not take away from the film itself.

Overall:   Hanna is a very interesting film, but it greatly suffered for its questionable details and its story. Other than that, “Hanna” is compelling as well exciting, it is something different to see. If looking for something unique, you might want to check out “Hanna”. “Hanna” gets 3 ½ out of 5 hats.