#moviereview - pacific rim

(HTML stars don't post well on my work computer, I'll fix this asap.)

(4 1/2 stars)

While this wasn't the most anticipated movie of the summer, a huge surge of positive word-of-mouth has increased this film's popularity and anticipation.

I'm a huge Guillermo del Toro fan. I'm a fan of his Hellboy movies, as well as Pan's Labrynth. I'm a big fan of much of the cast (Idris Elba, Rinko Kikuchi, Charlie Day, Burn Gorman, Ron Pearlman, Mana Ashida). I'm a sucker for loud action movies. (Let's just say I'm a bigger fan of Transformers than I'd like to admit at times.)

I think I first heard about this movie a year ago, around the the time of Comic Con 2012. Back then, of course, I was high off of excitement for Iron Man 3 and Star Trek Into Darkness, two of the most anticipated 2013 summer blockbusters. I knew that this movie would be good - I trusted the director and the cast - but I excitement, at the time, wasn't at the level as it was for other films. In March, there was a preview shown at WonderCon, and ever since then, my excitement has been in full gear.

For the past couple of weeks, various critics and celebrities have been able to attend special screening/premieres of the film. Kanye West's tweets about the movie increased my excitement, if that was even possible by that point. I follow a few critics/reviewers on Twitter, and while of course there are a few "negative nelly's" floating around, many people have been praising the film.

[spoilers ahead]

#moviereview - The Purge

★★★☆☆



I do realize this came out a week ago, and while I did see this opening weekend, and actually had some of this review written... I was feeling a bit out of it last week. Sorry for the delay!

I remember seeing the trailer for this movie a few months ago and being terrified by it. It wasn't until a month or so ago that I went back and looked up this movie, and suddenly my interested in this movie sparked. This movie has a good idea, and I figured it could be a decent horror film.

My Dad and I decided to go see this movie this lastSunday, after we realized we couldn't see Fast 6 that day. Was it a good decision to this over Fast 6?

[spoilers ahead]

#moviereview - the internship

★★★☆☆



I've been very curious about seeing this movie, especially since it's trailer is playing in front of all movies, and it's being promoted all over TV. I wasn't sure when or how I would see this movie, but thankfully, Gofobo sent me two tickets to see a screening of this movie last night.

[spoilers ahead]

cannes film festival 2013

Ah, Cannes.

I always like to look at the list of films shown at the festival each year. Even though some of the films may not be the most critically-liked films, this festival really showcases a variety of films from around the world.

I've already seen "Behind the Candelbara" (and I loved that film), and here is a list of films that premiered/were shown at Cannes that I'm excited to see.

#moviereview - The Hangover Part III

★★★★☆

Our journey with The Wolfpack has been quite and adventerous and exciting ride.

Four years ago, we were introduced to Stu (Ed Helms), Phil (Bradley Cooper), Doug (Justin Bartha), and Alan (Zach Galifianakis). Alan, the lone wolf, adopted the three friends into his group, creating what we know as "The Wolfpack". Their adventures are wild and crazy, and the people they meet are an eccentric bunch, ranging from escorts to international criminals to InterPol agents.

[spoilers ahead]

#moviereview - Star Trek Into Darkness

★★★★☆

I do wish more films were filmed with IMAX cameras.

Yes, IMAX screens are huge and the sound is loud. So many people I know hate IMAX because the screen is so large. I had only seen a handful of films in IMAX prior to 2008, with most of them being Harry Potter films, but when I heard that "The Dark Knight" was being filmed with IMAX cameras, I was intrigued.

The quality of IMAX cameras is absolutely beautiful. The quality, both audio and video, is crystal clear. The images fill up the entire screen, leaving no black bars on the screen. I feel immersed in the movie as I watch these scenes that are filmed with IMAX cameras.

I was very happy when I heard JJ Abrams was using IMAX cameras to film "Star Trek Into Darkness". He was very happy with how the IMAX scenes in "Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol" turned out (he produced that film), and he loved the format.

Anyways, enough about my love of IMAX (though it will be brought up again in this review, but pertaining to those scenes in this film)...

[spoilers ahead]]

#moviereview - Iron Man 3

 ★★★★☆

(4 ½ stars)

Phase Two has begun. 

[spoilers ahead]

#moviereview - The Incredible Burt Wonderstone

 ★☆☆☆☆

Every year, similar movies are released within a few months of each other, and usually, while they share similar traits, they end up being very different. Well, maybe not every year. Last year, there was "Mirror Mirror" and "Snow White and the Huntsman". This year, there's "The Incredible Burt Wonderstone" and "Now You See Me". 

I have a feeling like, with last year's two similar "Snow White" films, the latter will be the better film. 

[spoilers ahead]

#moviereview - The Company You Keep

I bought the book right before I saw the movie.   ★★★☆☆

The other day, I mentioned how I liked being in a movie theatre with only a few other people. I'm not sure how I felt last night being the only one in the theatre to see "The Company You Keep".

I don't watch too much TV these days, and when I do, it's to catch up on whatever I've decided to record on my DVR. I've seen a few commercials for this movie here and there, and I've seen people comment on other sites about a lack of commercials for this film, so I know the general population probably won't know this film exists. Then again, it's only playing in about 700 theatres in it's widest release, and I doubt the film will have an even wider release.

Now, onto the review...

#moviereview - The Place Beyond The Pines

                                                             ★★★★★

I'm start by saying this: I loved this movie.

Nashville is starting to get more and more limited release films, but we didn't get this film until it has it's nationwide release, so that was two weeks after it's initial release date. Yes, I could wait two weeks, but I was becoming more and more antsy as the days went by.

"Only two more weeks!"

"Only one more week!"

"Is it Friday yet?!"

Well, this past weekend was hectic, so I didn't get to see it until yesterday morning. (I'm glad I went to the matinee. I'm a happy girl only paying $8.50 for a movie!) It's been a long time since I've been to a movie with an almost empty theatre. I like watching movies with crowds because... well, I'm an observer, and I love hearing and seeing lots of people's reactions to movies. It was nice being in a theatre with five other people.

Anyways, onto what you all really want to know...

[minor spoilers ahead]

#moviereview - "evil dead" (screening)

Happy Easter! I hope everyone has a wonderful day! 

So, this past week, Gofobo sent me passes to go see a screening of "Evil Dead"! 

Isn't she lovely?

★★★★☆

I have actually never seen any of the "Evil Dead" films. I knew they were horror films, which is probably why I had never seen them. Sometimes I'm in the mood to watch horror films, and when I am in the mood, I'm very particular about the ones I do watch. I usually don't like to be too scared. 

I invited one of my co-workers to attend the screening with me, and we ended up getting to the theatre over an hour early. We were lucky enough that, as a "consolation prize" to getting our cell phones quickly snatched up, we were able to get goodies for attending the screening! 

 Postcards! Very appropriately labeled.

 A poster that will never hang where I live.

 T-shirt! My city, Nashville, is of course not on this list.

 T-shirt!

 "Evil Dead" was a really good film. The scares, the thrills, the gore... It just kept coming and coming. It really does not stop from beginning to end. There were some moments where I was on the edge of my seat and I was thinking, "It's too quiet! Just come out, whatever is in the shadows!" 

I will warn everyone: this film isn't for those with weak hearts or stomachs. I know I may sound like a Disneyland ride, but it's true. There are plenty of horror films that have grossed me out, but this one... I legit gagged. I definitely wasn't expecting this film to be as graphic as it was, but I suppose that's what I get for not seeing the original film.

This is a film I wouldn't mind watching with a group of people around Halloween, and perhaps Halloween only. It's a great horror film. I'm glad to see early reviews are good for the film, because it's different and better than other horror films that are being released these days. 

If you're a fan of horror films, or don't mind seeing them, go see this! If you absolutely do not like horror films... Stay far away from this.