Captain America: The First Avenger

Captain America: The First Avenger Directed by: Joe Johnston
Cast: Chris Evans as Captain America / Steve Rogers
Hayley Atwell as Peggy Carter
Tommy Lee Jones as Colonel Chester Phillips
Hugo Weaving as Johann Schmidt / Red Skull
Stanley Tucci as Dr. Abraham Erskine

Rated PG-13

*The following may contain spoilers*

Here we are; the final movie before The Avengers. As a stereotypical nerd boy, Captain America is quite the milestone for me. But, not just as a springboard for the greatest superhero movie ever. No, Old Cap returning to theaters is a big step for a lot of reasons.

See, Captain America is kind of the Superman of the Marvel universe, a Superman without powers. Cap was introduced simply to boost the American morale. He was supposed to be the American hero that everyone wanted 9hence the name). He was the ordinary guy that could save the world.

Captain America was first brought to life in the 1940’s in the middle of World War II. Steve Rogers was just an American kid; scrawny and weak, yet he never ran from a fight. Despite his size, Steve was courageous and brave and wanted nothing more than to serve his country. According to the movie, Steve tried and failed to get into the army five times before one Dr. Abraham Erskine discovered him. Dr. Erskine was a scientist who had the idea for a formula that would amplify every characteristic of the human body; cells, muscles, heart rate, metabolism, everything was amplified… including your basic human characteristics. This is why Steve was chosen. The man who always lost, but never ran. The man who did not accept defeat and whose patriotism never faltered. Steve Rogers became the patriot with a shield that America needed. He became Captain America.

What I Liked:

Captain America was just an amazing movie. From the graphics to comic homage to the sheer wit in some of the lines, Marvel did everything perfectly. Originally, I had my doubts about it being set in the 1940’s as I wasn’t really sure how they would make the transition, but they pulled it off beautifully.

As I said, there was a lot of tribute paid to the comics, and that’s always really nice to see. Much like the original comics in the 40’s, the movie focused on Stan Lee’s created villain Hydra. Hydra represents a big villain element in most of the Marvel comic worlds and it makes sense that they may show up in The Avengers; if not in the upcoming one, then very soon. The point of this tangent is that Hydra was handled very well. Like in the comics, Hydra uses very advanced technology that takes you out of the era. Despite being in the past, the technology used makes you feel like you’re watching a comic book and that’s really a fun thing to experience. Especially since all of the technology is purposefully campy with a very 40’s comedy style.
It also helps take away from the dark element of World War II, which is what Cap’s creators always intended to do. He was made to lift the spirits of the country, not depress them with seriousness and the movie handles this very well. Despite the serious threat that Hydra presented, you can’t help but have fun on Cap’s adventure. 

Marvel always does a great job of tying their movies together, especially in this giant launching pad they’re building. And Captain America was no exception. Since this particular chapter was set in the past, the references were fewer but they still got them in there. My personal favorite was getting to see Mr. Howard Stark (Tony Stark/Iron Man’s dad) in action. Showcasing all of the charm, wit and suave audiences have come to expect from the Stark family, it was easy to see where Tony got it.
 

I also really loved the (SPOILER ALERT) plot immersion of the Cosmic Cube, last seen in Thor. Despite its inclusion in the hidden cut scene after Thor’s credits, I wasn’t completely sure how prominent a part it would play in The Avengers. Captain America confirmed that it will be a crucial element and, just from what we saw in the last two movies, Joss the Boss’ possibilities with it are endless.

Another personal favorite is the now standard way that Marvel pokes fun at itself, particularly their original costumes. Captain America was no different, using his original costume to promote sales of war bonds. It’s just tiny details like these that satisfy the nerd in me.  

What I Didn’t Like:

Much like Harry Potter, there was nothing in Captain America that I couldn’t look past. 

However, that will not stop me from whining about them in this section.

I mentioned above that Cap sells war bonds in the movie. That’s fine and good, provides comic relief and all that, but it went on for 20 minutes. I was over it in about five. Let’s go kill some Nazi’s already!

Also, there was a general feeling of hurriedness in the middle, particularly in a montage of Cap blowing up Hydra bases and I would have just liked to have spent a little more time on that.

Finally, I almost wish that they had started the whole thing differently. Without giving anything major away, the beginning kind of sets up that Cap will not have a happy ending. And, even though I knew how Cap made it to the present, I would have liked a surprise element, and I’m sure the non-obsessed people of the world would have too. It also would have made the ending a lot more tense and suspenseful which never hurts.

Final Thoughts:

Captain America was incredible. Touching on every point that made Iron Man great, Marvel has hit their stride. Captain America was amazing on its own, but as a springboard tie-in, it was mind-blowing. Chris Evans makes a fantastic Captain and he will make a fine addition to the team. However, no matter how great these movies get, I can’t help just wanting moreTony Stark. Hurry up, 2012. I’m ready to assemble.

When Should You See It?
If you're into the Marvel movies at all, go see this immediately. It's beautiful.
If you're not, well then it's pretty good for a weekend outing.


Personal Rating: 8 of 10
Plot: 8 of 10
Drugs/Alcohol: 1 of 10
Steve and his friends go to a bar and are shown drinking beer. Steve once attempts to get drunk but reveals that, thanks to the serum, he cannot.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2

Directed by: David Yates
Cast: Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter
Emma Watson as Hermione Granger
Rupert Grint as Ron Weasley
Ralph Fiennes as Lord Voldemort
Alan Rickman as Professor Severus Snape
Matthew Lewis as Neville Longbottom
Tom Felton as Draco Malfoy
Rated PG-13


*The following may contain spoilers*
Monumental. That is the only word that can accurately describe the Harry Potter franchise. Shaping a generation, it seems as though the last fifteen years have been filled with Potter-fever, with first the books and then the movie adaptions. Now, it all comes to an end.

Sure, the final book came out several years ago, but the movies were still there, offering the promise of seeing our imaginations come to life. No, none of them were perfect but they never disappointed either. And now, they are gone. As I sat in the theater, watching the eighth movie finishing the events of book seven I couldn't help thinking that this is the end. After this, Harry Potter will be no more. It's a harsh thing to consider after the ten years of cinema, but the tagline for Part 2 holds true: "It All Ends" when the credits roll.

(*EDITORS NOTE* I'm going to write this review as if the readers know something or everything about Harry Potter up until this point. If you know nothing, go get the books. Or, here's the Wikipedia link.)

What I Liked:
As I said, none of these movies were perfect, seeing as how perfectly adapting a novel as epic and encompassing as any of the Harry Potter novels is a task made impossible unless each film is four hours long.
However, Part 2 gives the most room for creative liberty as the whole thing is essentially a giant battle sequence and the director did a great job. From the giant magic shield to the stone knight army, the added sequences only increased the action and greatness.

The script writers also did a great job, adapting some of the dialogue to allow some of the "smaller" movie characters there time in the spotlight. Professor McGonagall specifically comes to mind. One of my favorite characters in the book, i was always bummed that she didn't have more screen time. Part 2 really helps her shine though, allowing her to show off her skills with a wand, humor and gives a nod to the closer relationship she and harry had in the books.
There were also several subtle final moments with beloved characters that I felt went a long way for the fans. it was nice to see their deaths treated with the respect they deserved instead of being gruesome and vile for the sake of blood.
Credit is also due to Ms. J.K. Rowling herself as the original plot called for characters such as Neville Longbottom to finally rise to glory.

The visuals throughout were also great as a whole. The destruction of Horcruxes was particularly impressive as each time we saw a piece of Voldemort die. That was a lot cooler to me than just having the item shrivel; having it react and be as frightening as Voldemort himself was a nice element.
Like most fans of the book, I really enjoyed the addition of a physical scene in the Chamber of Secrets. It helped to tie all of the movies together and the kiss was long overdue.

Finally, you just can't deny the emotional ties that were in there. Whether it was seeing the book come to life or the final meeting with the characters I love so much or a combination of both, I cried inside the theater. I'll admit it. The sheer euphoric joy I felt as the battle began filled my eyes with tears of happiness, which quickly turned to sobs of mourning. Definitely some high emotions in this thing.

What I Didn't Like:
I'm going to be honest here. There is literally nothing I can hold against this movie. Of course, I have several fan complaints, but I won't get into that (but seriously, we could have fixed his wand). Instead, I'm focusing on the positives, seeing it for what it is: a great book adaption with stunning visuals and amazing use of creative freedom.


Final Thoughts: 
As I said, I loved this movie with my entire being. However, seeing it and then writing this review is bittersweet. While i am so very much in love with it, this movie really does mark the end of an era. As the credits rolled and Harry's theme played for the final time, I realized that it was over, for good.

You will be missed, Harry Potter, though I look forward to reading and watching you repeatedly for the rest of days. Goodbye, my friend. May you never be forgotten.

When Should You See It?
If you're reading this, you've already seen it, so go again.

Personal Rating: 9 of 10
Plot:10 of 10
Spiritual Aspects: 2 of 10




Oh, and for all you fans out there, here's a little brain explosion for you: the real story of the Deathly Hallows.

Larry Crowne

Larry Crowne
Directed by: Tom Hanks
Cast: Tom Hanks as Larry Crowne
Julia Roberts as Mercedes Taniot
Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Talia
Cedric The Entertainer as Lamar
Wilmer Valderrama as Dell Gordo
Bryan Cranston as Dean Tainot
George Takei as Dr. Matsutani
Rated PG-13

*The following may contain spoilers*

Life is hectic. No matter how many plans we have or goals we set, life has a way of rewriting and redirecting our paths. And with these changes come decisions; the decision of how to handle the strife that comes your way. Consistently, there are only two choices. You can choose to find the bright side in life, or choose to focus on the negatives. It is these choices that make us human, through these decisions, we bare our soul. They are the essence of humanity and Larry Crowne showcases them beautifully.

Directed by Tom Hanks himself, Larry Crowne tells the story of man of the same name. When we first meet Larry, he has one passion: customer service. He takes his job at the Wal-Mart type store very seriously. Great to customers, everyone loves Larry and everyone expects him to make employee of the month once again. However, life hits in the form of the corporate heads firing Larry due to his lack of a college degree.
After a brief spiral into the black hole of unemployment, Larry chooses to see the positives and decides to return to college and get his degree, as well as beginning the journey to better himself.

Enter Mercedes Tainot, not "tie-not" but "tay-know", an English professor at the local community college. Mercedes is stuck in a rut, teaching passionless students the very thing she used to have a passion for. Mrs. Tainot goes through her day just trying to avoid the horrors of her classes, counting students to make sure there are enough to even justify the class. After school, she returns home to a deadbeat husband and the highlight of her day: a margarita.
Mercedes' life has not turned out the way she wanted it to and she has chosen to focus on the negatives. Thankfully, one particular student named Larry Crowne is about to change her outlook on life.

What I Liked: 
In case you couldn't tell already, I took a slightly deeper meaning away from Larry Crowne. With the all-too-regular occurrences of unemployment and foreclosures in the world today, Larry Crowne offers a brighter, achievable reality. When the credits roll, the Larry we see is not the Larry we met; the change in him is evident, and even for the better. He's confident, on a new track and out of debt. And these did not occur through some Hollywood plot device. It is all because of his outlook and this fact offers something for everyone to take away.
While all of your problems may not disappear overnight, life does become considerably easier when you choose to focus on the good. The world just seems a little bit brighter.

On top of the inspiring plot, the cast is really what brings the film together. As you may have noticed at the top of the article, this film is pretty heavily star-studded. Each cast member plays their part perfectly, bringing a life and character to them so strong that it's easy forget that they are just acting.
The combination of all these different characters really create the perfect storm of ordinary, each bringing a different stereotype to the mix. While simplistic in theory, the execution turned out really well and the whole film came together in a way that felt real.
George Takei (the original Star Trek Sulu) and Wilmer Valderrama (Fez from That's 70's Show) deserve special mention, as each steal the scene every time they come on screen. Takei is hysterical as the slightly-crazy Economics professor and Valderrama is simply amazing as the jealous boyfriend that walks in at the wrong time. If you're fans of either of these actors, they alone make it worth your time.

These two things, the cast and the plot, is really all there is to Larry Crowne. There are no special effects or unnecessary and pathetic attempts at comedy. That alone puts it above most of the other movies out right now.


What I Didn't Like: 
I really did love this movie and almost everything about it. There were just two hiccups in the whole thing that I felt could have been smoother.

*SPOILER ALERT* Mercedes and Larry kind of get together in the end of it. Kind of could have seen that coming.
Anyways, the first thing kind of bothered me was that their "relationship" felt really sudden and somewhat forced. I would have preferred a little more obvious chemistry between the two before the first kiss, or maybe just no cliche get together at all.

The second thing was the character of Mercedes. I love Julia Roberts and she did an amazing job, but the footage the movie had her transition from grouch to sunflower pretty quickly. Once again, it just felt a little awkward that she changed so quickly. I feel that the whole thing could have been fixed with one or two more scenes of her dealing with her private life.

Final Thoughts:
Those really are my only two issues with the entire film. The whole thing is just a beautiful piece of movie magic that gets back to the basics of what film making should be. Relying on the talent of your cast instead of effects really does wonders for the quality of movie, in my humble opinion. The whole thing was genuine and heartfelt throughout, never missing a beat in it's subtle reflection on the hardships that we all face at some point in our lives. For the first time in a while, you can take something home from the movie that isn't an over priced snack. Thank you, Larry Crowne.

When Should You See It?
If you thought anything in this review or description was interesting, go see it. It's worth your time and money in every way.

Personal Rating: 8 of 10
Plot: 7 of 10
Sexuality/Sensuality: 3 of 10
Mercedes' husband is once seen looking at pictures of bikini-clad women on his computer and Mercedes references his "sitting at home and watching porn" all day. Mercedes also thinks that Larry and his 20-something friend, Talia are sleeping together.

Drugs/Alcohol: 2 of 10

Monte Carlo

Monte Carlo
Directed by: Thomas Bezucha
Cast: Selena Gomez as Grace / Cordelia Winthrop Scott
Katie Cassidy as Emma
Leighton Meester as Meg
Cory Monteith as Owen
Catherine Tate as Alicia Winthrop Scott




Rated PG


*The following may contain spoilers*
Every once in a while, there's a movie that just looks too cute to be bad. You see the commercial and smile from the simplistic premise of it all. Monte Carlo is that movie for the summer. Well, Monte Carlo and Winnie the Pooh.

Monte Carlo is about a girl named Grace. Desperate to escape her small Texas town, Grace has been planning and saving for a trip to Europe throughout high school. With graduation over, Grace, accompanied by her best friend Emma and stepsister Meg head out on their tour of France.

Things don't go according to plan however and before long, the girls have been abandoned by their tour while seeing the Eiffel Tower. Lost and wet in the convenient rainstorm, the girls duck into the lobby of a fancy hotel where Grace is mistaken for a British heiress, Cordelia Winthrop Scott and is rushed to her suite. After a night in a massive room and fluffy bed, the girls decide to take Cordelia's place at a charity event that weekend in Monte Carlo. Let the adventures begin!


What I Liked: 
Selena Gomez first came onto the scene in Wizards of Waverly Place, Disney's attempt at Harry Potter. Despite Selena's natural talent, the show constricts her. Mostly because it's Disney. Anyways, I really liked seeing her come alive in this movie. She really does a great job portraying both characters; the sweet and sensitive Grace, as well as the snobby and spoiled Cordelia. It was just really fun to see her getting to stretch her wings and show off her talent.
While Selena shined, credit cannot be denied from her supporting cast. Leighton Meester and Katie Cassidy have great chemistry with Selena and each other, even though they're supposed to hate each other. The three of them work really well together and held the whole film together.

Despite the unoriginal plot, Monte Carlo did a good job with keeping it real and fresh. The characters grow and learn things from the experience. It added a good element to the whole film and left you happy with the characters once it's over.

What I Didn't Like: 
As I said in the opening, this movie really was too adorable to be bad. There are the obvious flaws, but most can be overlooked. The only thing that really bothered me would the lack of more Cordelia. Selena really did a great job with that character and it was so out of her normal range that I would have loved to see her in a more prominent role.
The only other thing would be the stress factor. Maybe I just get too into the movies I see, but Monte Carlo really stressed me out. All of the conflict came in about five minutes and just kept escalating. It wasn't done badly, it was just so sudden and slightly intense that I kind of freaked out. No big deal.

Final Thoughts:
Monte Carlo is not a complicated film. Simplistic and fun in both content and execution, there is not a lot to get from it. It will not win any awards or get very high ratings, but they're not going for that. Monte Carlo is simple, summer fun that entertains and pleases and that's really all there is to it.

When Should You See It?
If you're looking for something fun and clean in the theaters, Monte Carlo is perfect and you should go now.
If you have no interest at all, you're okay to wait for the DVD.


Personal Rating: 7 of 10
Plot: 4 of 7

Transformers: Dark of the Moon

Transformers: Dark of the Moon
Directed by: Michael Bay
Cast: Shia LeBeouf as Sam Witwicky
Josh Duhamel as Commander Lennox
John Turturro as Simmons
Tyrese Gibson as Epps
Rosie Huntington-Whiteley as Carly
Patrick Dempsey as Dylan

Rated PG 13

*The following may contain spoilers*
The Transformers franchise is kind of the "black sheep" of my DVD collection. I was never a huge fan of the action figures growing up and by the time I got around to watching Michael Bay's renditions, the hype was dying down, so I was never enamored by them. Sure, the first two were entertaining, but I have to admit, I was never excited for the third one. Revenge of the Fallen lacked the integrity of the first and just felt like it was trying too hard and I didn't feel like it deserved a sequel.
However, once I saw the trailer, I was pretty pumped to see the graphics. So, like every other fanboy, I saw it opening weekend. I probably could have waited.

Dark of the Moon begins about two years after Revenge of the Fallen. Sam Witwicky has been honored as a hero and received a medal from Obama. Now, after breaking up with Mikayla (their lame excuse to write out Megan Fox), Sam is sitting around, mooching off his new girlfriend and wishing he was someone important, not unlike Shia LaBeouf's real life.

Wait, he might be homeless.

Meanwhile, in the world of the things I payed to see and actually care about, the Autobots have discovered a lost and ancient warship on the dark side of the moon.Of course, it contains some type of weapon that the Decepticons want too, so they all start this massive race to the moon and it's only a matter of minutes before things start exploding. Kind of like the 60's.

Thank you, Simon

What I Liked: 
Say what you want about the rest of the movie (and believe me, I will), but the effects were outstanding. I've got a weakness for giant robots fighting through the streets of Washington while lightning fires into the sky behind them.
The plot for Dark of the Moon was also good, and definitely a lot better than I expected. Somehow, they managed to stay original after three movies and you've always got to respect that.
 
What I Didn't Like: 
Unfortunately, my good thoughts are overshadowed by the bad ones.
Let's start with the length of the movie. Two and a half hour movies are only allowed for those that are clearly epic, such as Star Wars, Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings. These franchises deserve two and a half hours of my time. However, when the movie is out to fill a time limit when they're first writing it, it just doesn't work. This is how Dark of the Moon felt. Instead of being 150 minutes of enthralling awesomeness, it was 150 minutes of up-and-down plot that went from awesome robot battles to Sam's relationship issues and I found myself growing bored to the point where I just wanted it to be over by the time the climax rolled around. I feel like the whole thing could have been a lot more enjoyable if they had kept it to 2 hours or less.

Next, let's discuss Sam's relationship issues, as I mentioned above. I personally felt that Megan Fox contributed something to the first two movies; she saved the day in the first one by dragging Bumblebee around and, even though she was more of a token hot girl in the second, you still got the feeling that she didn't need Sam and she could take care of her self. This new chick, Carly, is literally just there to look pretty.

She probably can't beat you up.

Carly spends the entire movie in a skintight outfit and sitting kidnapped in the bad guy's office. That's right; she's the damsel in distress and is the reason that Sam goes to ground zero. It was pathetic. It gets worse when, after running through ash, soot and bullets, Carly is unscathed, hair and make-up perfectly arranged.  Carly seriously had no point in this movie.
On the same, but a weaker note, I can kind of understand Sam landing Megan Fox; she's kind of naturally attractive and, you know, it's Hollywood. Carly though looks like, dresses like and apparently has the money of a supermodel. How did Shia LaBeouf of all people manage to pull that off?! Make's no sense. At all.


As I said in my intro, I really wasn't expecting much plot-wise and really only paid to see the giant robot fights and sexy cars. Frankly, there were not enough of those. The plot focused too much on Sam's emotional drama and quest to be somebody and not on the Transformers. Last I checked, I paid $7.00 to see TRANSFORMERS: Dark of the Moon, not How Shia LaBeouf Made Something of His Life. Which is good, because that would have been false advertising.


Final Thoughts:
My friend once gave me his theory on Michael Bay movies: "The first one is great, the second one is terrible but the third one will always have great graphics." You were almost right, dude. I just wish the graphics would have been a little more frequent in this one. Overall, I didn't hate the film and found it entertaining. However, it could have been something great if we had less emotional crap and more robot battles over a shorter period of time. That's it. Easy enough.

When Should You See It?
It already made 372 million dollars last weekend. Does Michael Bay really need more of your money? Just wait for the DVD.

Personal Rating: 4 of 10
Plot: 4 of 10
Sexuality/Sensuality: 2 of 10

Drugs/Alcohol: 1 of 10

Green Lantern

Green Lantern

Directed by: Martin Campbell

Cast: Ryan Reynolds as Hal Jordan / Green Lantern

Blake Lively as Carrol Ferris

Peter Sarsgaard as Hector Hammond

Mark Strong as Sinestro

Rated PG-13

*The following may contain spoilers*

I feel like I should be clear here, since I respect you guys and all. Here it goes: I am not a fan of Green Lantern. For some reason, the idea of a guy running around with a glowing piece of jewelry that allows him to make anything he thinks of appear into thin air never appealed to me. I know, I’m a weird kid. Thankfully though, my brother and best friend are way into the Green Lantern, so I’ve heard the origin, main villains and plot points of the Green Lantern comics dozens of times. However, no amount of reiterations could have prepared me for Ryan Reynold’s portrayal of the classic hero. 

Green Lantern tells the story of Hal Jordan, an “ordinary” jet fighter pilot, who’s life gets turned upside down when he’s given a green power ring by a dying purple alien (don’t worry, that was all in the trailer). A bunch of other stuff happens, all while I suffered through a bad plot, terrible acting and classic character destruction, but we’ll get to that later. All you really need to know is that, by choosing him, the ring catapulted Hal into an elite group of galactic protectors called the Green Lanterns. And adventures ensue!

What I Liked:

I've got to give the movie credit, it did a fantastic job with the special effects. The green creations from Hal's ring looked really cool and were actually pretty believable, while retaining the comedic and classically campy feel of the comic books.  Plus, when you combine Hal's imagined weapons with the villains telepathy, it makes for some rocking awesome battle sequences. Not gonna lie, I appreciated it. 

What I Didn't Like:

Alright, here comes the long and painful part. I'd like to apologize to any fans of the Lantern, specifically those friends and brothers of mine, because this is going to be harsh. 

Let's just break down the horribleness into two sections: Plot and Characters.

Plot:

The movie started out pretty strong, explaining the Green Lantern core through a cool-looking montage in the beginning, followed by a pretty awesome battle scene between a Lantern Core member (not Hal, but the alien who gave him the ring) and the main villain, Pharalax, the embodiment of fear, which leaves the Core member mortally wounded and soaring towards the nearest planet...which just so happens to be Earth. Go figure. 

Then it starts to smell. 

After the strong opening, we get several shots of Hal being a punk and then a 30 minute plane battle that had nothing to do with the plot whatsoever, save for setting up a very weird and unclear backstory and acting as "foreshadowing" for the final battle.

On top of that, the plot seemed to be full of holes, a fact not helped by the lack of acting shown by the entire cast and a terrible script. When Ryan Reynold's is the best actor in the movie, you have a problem. 

For example, when Hal first meets the alien who gives him the ring, he is first transported an unspecified distance by a giant glowing orb of green energy and then drops him into a puddle...and he has no reaction. Instead, he just strides over to the crashed alien spacecraft and pulls the purple dude out of the cockpit, again with no reaction. 

The scene only gets worse when it pulls in the analyst from the flight company, who is apparently Hal's best friend. There was no previous implication of this friendship, yet the nerd is apparently the first guy that Hal calls in the event of meeting an alien. 

On top of unexplained character relationships, the film is littered with ill-fitting dialogue, throwing in cheesy lines in otherwise serious scenes. Drawing again from scene mentioned above, when Hal tells his surprise friend that the dead alien gave him a ring, the nerd responded with, "He proposed?!" Sure, it was kind of funny, but drastically took away from the already weak scene.

Scenes and dialogue like this lay scattered throughout the movie, leaving an odd, broken and jumpy feeling to the film and a sour taste in my mouth after it was all over.

Characters:

There's no way around it, the characters in the film make the movie, even more so in those based on comic books. However, when all of your stars decide they're just not going to actually act in the movie, the characters lose a bit of their life force. Unfortunately, that's what happened in this movie. 

As I mentioned above, Ryan Reynolds is the best actor in this movie. And while that's great for his career, it doesn't do much for the audience. 

For example, Blake Lively is a decent actress, with a career of her own. She's not a no-name and it's obvious from the beginning that she isn't just another pretty face. She's a real woman; well rounded as a jet pilot and about to be made the CEO of the aircraft company, and she's not obnoxiously obsessed with Hal. Yet, for some unknown reason, she chose to deliver all of her lines like she had a lemon in her mouth. As a result, she went from a real person to a "filler-character" the second she opened her mouth. And none of the other portrayals got any better.

No matter how much I couldn't get into the Green Lantern as a kid, I always respected Hal Jordan, the man behind the suit. He always seemed better than most, the man we all aspire to be. He is the embodiment of goodness and that's the whole reason the ring chose him in the first place. Keep in mind, this is my perception. There are probably emotional problems he faces in the comics as well. 

The point is, i walked in expecting Hal Jordan to be fearless, heroic and a little witty and smart. Instead, I got Ryan Reynolds waking up with a nameless girl, dropping a terrible line and racing to work, calling another driver an a-hole after Hal almost drives into the man. So much for being a better person. 

Instead of the Hal Jordan I expected, I got an unlikable Tony Stark. 

Minus the stache.

So, yeah. Total destruction of a classic character. Thanks, Hollywood. 

I'd also like to go into the relationships of the characters a little bit more. It's not just Hal and the nerd that are never explained, it's everyone. Through only mentions throughout the movie, the audience is forced to piece together the reasons why the only human characters with lines have known each other their entire lives, though it's never completely explained. 

Overall, I found myself bored and irritated by the human's interactions with each other as they continued to be confusing and boring, filled with cheesy dialogue and terrible foreshadowing.

Honestly, I could go on, but i think I'll quiet my rant for the night. 

Final Thoughts:

I really shouldn't be surprised; Hollywood has a knack for making good things terrible. However, despite the other critics and my own apparent hatred of the film, the fans of Green Lantern seem to be eating it up. I know my friends loved it, and, honestly, I can see where they're coming from. For some reason, Green Lantern is endearing. It carries a certain charm that even had me overlooking it's awfulness a few times.

Green Lantern won't win any awards. Heck, it probably wouldn't even have made it out the door of a basic film making class. But there was something about it that kept you watching and cheering for him until the very end. I guess Ryan Reynold's captured Hal Jordan's charm after all. 

Oh boy...

When Should You See It?

Despite my ending comments, I really didn't like the movie. Wait for the DVD if you absolutely have to see it. 

Personal Rating: 3 of 10

Plot: 2 of 10

Sexuality/Sensuality: 1 of 10

Language: 2 of 10

For an apparent kids movie, the language was kind of rough, with two uses of a-hole and two of GD in the first ten minutes, proving further that the movie really couldn't decide whether it wanted to be Spider Man or Christopher Nolan's Batman.

X-MEN: First Class

X-MEN: First Class
Directed by: Matthew Vaughn
Cast: James McAvoy as Charles Xavier
Michael Fassbender as Erik Lehnscherr / Magneto
Kevin Bacon as Sebastian Shaw
Rose Byrne as Moira MacTaggert
Jennifer Lawrence as Raven / Mystique
January Jones as Emma Frost
Rated PG-13


*The following may contain spoilers*
Ah, comic books; Hollywood's latest fallback. However, as the studio executives have learned, they are indeed a fickle mistress. With all of the obsessed, nerdy fanboys who pin their few hopes and dreams on these films and leave their mothers basements to see them, the possibility of a fan riot is very high, Needless to say, these movies really can't afford to be terrible. At least, that's what we keep trying to tell them.
It hasn't always worked...

However, X-Men: First Class seems to be shuttling in a new era for comic book films. With an outstanding cast, amazing depiction of the story and great pacing, First Class seemed to encompass everything that the terrible comic movies were lacking.

Set in the 1960's, First Class takes place before the events of the previous X-Men movies and presumably before Origins: Wolverine (poster above), though they do all of us a favor and just ignore that entire trainwreck of a film.

First Class tells the original tale of how they X-Men came to be, tracing all the way back to the childhood of the two most famous mutants; Professor X and Magneto. It is here that the heroes become truly human. It is here that we learn who Charles was before his wheelchair and his school, who Erik was before and how he became Magneto.

Starting when they were children and moving quickly into adulthood, the film follows the two men as they first join forces, gather a team and face their first enemy, setting the stage for the greatest mutant rivalry ever.

What I Liked: 
In case it wasn't clear above, I am one of the obsessed fanboys who loves these movies. These films bounce between great to terrible with very little space in between. And the first three X-Men movies landed closer to terrible. Thankfully, X-Men: First Class faith in the entire franchise.

Encompassing everything that most comic book movies lack, First Class goes deeper than special effects and witty dialogue. It truly does the characters justice as we watch them grow and become the heroes they were supposed to be.

The writing was also very solid, something else other super-movies have considered optional. Tackling something that most comics are afraid of, First Class combines the fictional story with an actual historic event and does it well. The real-life tie-in does a lot to ground the plot and I found myself almost believing that the Cuban Missile Crisis actually had a mutant-provided solution.

Marvel does a lot to respect their fans, specifically throwing in numerous "Easter eggs" and hints about other movies inside each one, especially in all the Avenger build up movies. First Class is no exception, even though it isn't a part of a "series" per say. Instead, they throw in subtle tie-ins to the first three X-Men movies, such as a brief cameo from Wolverine and the original Mystique (separately) and a glimpse of a young Storm. It's the little things that really make the movie a fanboy's dream come true. And not just in cameos. The scenes that previously existed only in our imaginations (such as the first time Xavier dons Cerebro or when Magneto puts on his classic helmet and cape) bring forth a certain euphoria when they're realized visually on the screen. It truly is a wonderful experience.

What I Didn't Like:
The X-Men have always been touted as a somewhat "pro-Gay" comic group, given that they're the oddities fighting against normal people. This isn't helped by the repeated phrase "Mutant and Proud" or the closeness of Erik and Charles in their friendship. Then, there's that little bit about Charles "leaving a void" in Erik's life that he needs a woman to fill...
Needless to say, some might say that there is an overtly "pro-Gay" overtone.

I also would have preferred if they had stuck more to the original X-Men team (Angel [the boy], Cyclops and Jean Grey, as well as Beast). However, based on the subtle tie-ins mentioned above and the fact that one of the mutant team members is named Alex Summers. Though originally created as Scott Summer's (aka trilogy, these theories just might become a reality.

Final Thoughts:
As I said, this movie encompasses everything that most hero movies lack. Eloquently combining character development, solid plotline, great cast and classic heroes, First Class is the rare gem in the seemingly endless mine of superhero movies. Not only is it great for newcomers and fans of the first three movies, its great for the die-hard fans as well.

Once again, it's the little moments that really impress me and this movie has all of them. The unseen moments are now visible and the cast portrays them perfectly. In this, the film becomes so much more than just another superhero movie.

We see Charles take in his first stray mutant, we see Erik make his first kill. It is here that the characters come alive for the first time. It's an incredibly difficult time to portray on film but the director's and cast handled it beautifully, making every emotion and difficult decision real and human. Truly, the greatest moments were those one-on-one interactions between Erik and Charles as we see the friendship build and then unravel.

It's those interactions that we pay for, those are what we want to see. It's the beginnings of the greatest hero and the greatest villain that we wished for; everything else is just filler. As we knew it would, all good things must come to an end and the innocence of a new friendship must eventually collide with the reality that everyone knows. And they couldn't have done it any better.

When Should You See It?
Right now.
Whether you've never seen any of the movies or read all the comics, this movie is sure to please some part of your nerdy heart.

Personal Rating: 9 of 10
Plot: 9 of 10
Sexuality/Sensuality: 3 of 10
Drugs/Alcohol: 2 of 10

Kung Fu Panda 2

Kung Fu Panda 2
Directed by: Jennifer Yuh
Cast: Jack Black as Po
Dustin Hoffman as Shifu
Gary Oldman as Shen
Angelina Jolie as Tigress
Jackie Chan as Monkey
Seth Rogen as Mantis
Lucy Lui as Viper
David Cross as Crane
Rated PG

*The following may contain spoilers*
The summer of sequels continues!! Kung Fu Panda 2 comes in hard and fast as the second big sequel of the summer. Beginning several months after the first, Kung Fu Panda 2 dives deeper into Po's mysterious past, giving us answers to the haunting questions the first left in our mind, such as why is Po the last panda and why is his dad a goose?

Starting with a beautifully animated sequence, audiences learn about a vengeful peacock named Shen, the villain this time around. Shen was the heir to a rather vast empire until his basement experiments with fireworks freaked out his parents. And, as all animal parents do, the peacock's called in a fortune-telling goat named Soothsayer (original) who predicts that Shen will fall to a hero of black and white.

In a completely sane and justified move, Shen sets out and wipes out the entirety of the panda race. Apparently forgetting that skunks exist, Shen commits genocide against the pandas, believing he has avoided the prophecy. Again, I'd like to point out the skunks. 

After his genocidal rage calms down, Shen returns to his parents home, shocked when they are not pleased with his mass murder (seriously, this bird has issues).Instead, his parents banish him from the kingdom that would have once been his, leaving him to plot his revenge for 30 some-odd years and soon the old bird decides to just eliminate Kung Fu all together. Because that makes sense.

Little known to Shen, he missed one furry little bundle of joy who just so happens to be the Dragon Warrior. Bring on the showdown of "awesomeness."

Oh, this won't end well.

What I Liked:
The original Kung Fu Panda holds a special place in my heart. Its unique charm and humor made it one of my favorite animated movies, ever. Kung Fu Panda 2 did nothing but improve on the original, delving deeper into the characters and having more characters on the screen than Po and Shifu.
I particularly enjoyed the interactions between the characters. The conversations between Po and others seemed charged with emotions, the actors bringing a humanity to the animals that is rarely seen in a Dreamworks film.

Ugh. Dreamworks.

The writers also did a really good job with the plotline. I was afraid it would be run into the ground and make it super cheesy, especially after I heard it would be about Po's past. I was pleasantly surprised though when they maintained an originality that rivaled the first, along with some new wit and hilarity.
As usual, the animation was incredible, demonstrating some pretty cool Kung Fu sequences and firework explosions.

What I Didn't Like: 
Besides an original plot, there wasn't a whole lot of depth to it. Granted, this is a kids movie, but I felt like it could have been a little longer with a little more for the adults and teenagers to get out of it.
As I said above, they could have made it longer, taking a little more time to actually dive into Po's quest for "inner peace" instead of just "BOOM. I have inner peace now." They also delivered a "deus ex machina" into the final battle which I thought kind of detracted from the overall point of the original mission.
And, *SPOILER ALERT* they set it up for a third one. Pretty sure they should quick while they're still a little bit ahead.

Final Thoughts:
Overall, the movie was a gem, the rare sequel that matches it's predecessor. Taking a bold leap into a deep plot-element, Dreamworks handled it rather well. Know what you're getting into; a Kung Fu panda warrior on a quest to find himself and fight a deranged peacock. Remember that and expect nothing more and you'll enjoy this movie. 


When Should You See It? 
You wouldn't be missing much waiting for the DVD. Use Redbox and you'll save $6.50


Personal Rating: 6 of 10
Plot: 5 of 10

Spiritual Aspects: 2 of 10

I just had to include this. Cutest animated thing ever.

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides
Directed by: Rob Marshall
Cast: Johnny Depp as "Captain" Jack Sparrow
Penelope Cruz as Angelica Malon
Geoffery Rush as Hector Barbossa
Ian McShane as Edward "Blackbeard" Teech
Rated PG-13
*The following may contain spoilers*
Ah, nostalgia. You've been quite the frequent visitor this year and here you are again, bringing with you a fourth Pirates of the Caribbean movie.

The Pirates of the Caribbean (PotC) franchise holds a dear place in my heart being that it was the first franchise I really fell in love with. I was Jack Sparrow for at least three Halloweens and dreamed of being a pirate as my friends and I recreated battle scenes, swinging yellow plastic baseball bats instead of swords. Life was grand when Pirates was released and even Dead Mans Chest (Pirates 2) was enjoyable. Then, there came At Worlds End...

It was terrible for those of you lucky enough to not have seen it. The writers apparently thought it was a good idea to combine 4 different plots and hide the irregularity with CGI. It was such a jumbled, catastrophic mess of a movie that it successfully made me hate the franchise. Needless to say, I was a little tentative about On Stranger Tides and the lack of Orlando Bloom and Kiera Knightley did little to ease my fears. However, Jack once again won me back.

Overview:
Now that you know my history with the franchise, let's break down it's newest installment.

On Stranger Tides starts probably a few months to a year after At Worlds End, though the timeline is never made clear. After a very impressive and classic entrance, we learn that Jack is still possession of the chinese map with directions to the fountain of youth. After quickly reintroducing  Barbossa (now a member of the King's navy) and meeting Angelica (a former flame of Jacks...go figure), Jack quickly sets out for the fountain with Barbossa, the English and Spanish navies and Blackbeard close behind.

What I Liked:
Immediately out of the gate, it's made clear that this will not be like any other Pirates movie. *SPOILER* In the first ten minutes, we learn that Jacks beloved ship, the Black Pearl, which served as the primary plot point of the first three movies, has been sunk. Right there, it's evident that this script will be new and original. It's about time. In the next ten minutes, Gibbs (Jacks first mate) has burned the Chinese map and by the 20 minute mark, we've pretty much lost all ties to every other movie.

From there, the film really starts to come together. What fans have known for a long time has apparently occurred to the directors: Jack Sparrow is the only reason to see these movies. The directors embraced that, focusing on Jack and keeping the plot centralized on one point, instead of spiraling away into four new ones and ending up with a crab lady.

"I make no sense as a character."

Speaking of crab ladies, the directors also seemed to catch on that one of the problems with At Worlds End was the fact that they explained everything away. As such, they avoided any outright explanations at all, choosing instead to drop subtle hints through dialogue. This created a better feel for the whole thing and gave me a sense of awesomeness when I was able to piece together a plot point.

As it turns out, On Stranger Tides was actually suggested from a book of the same title, written by  Jay Wolpert, who also wrote for the first three Pirates movies. Taking that to heart, the directors played the whole thing out like it was a fanfiction. The end result provi several "fanboy moments" appearing that previously only existed in our secret dreams such as combining zombies, mermaids, Penelope Cruz and classic Jack moments like when he climbs a palm tree backwards. we all knew he was capable of creatively getting out of a jam, we just never expected it to be THAT creative.
While on the subject of "fanboy moments", I think it's worth mentioning some of the others that made the film memorable. Besides the multiple Jack moments, such as starting a mutiny and escaping from a palace, there were two that really stood apart. It was really great to see Jack and Barbossa work together, a final collaboration of Captain and First Mate from a time before the movies. The other great "fanboy moment" came from the end when *SPOILER* Barbossa finally gets his own ship and crew, leaving him satisfied and any future vessel of Jacks safe.

To top it all off, Penelope Cruz and Ian McShane are exactly what the film needed to keep it fresh. Blackbeard provides the mysterious yet well known common enemy, while Cruz brings Jack his oh-so-deserved attractive and single love interest with some pretty great chemistry on screen.

And the best part? The distinct lack of octo-men and Krakkens.

What I Didn't Like:
There wasn't a whole lot I didn't like about this one, probably due to my hard-to-squash loyalty to the franchise. However, a couple things got to me.

There was a new spiritual battle type thing going on, with a cleric on Blackbeards ship continually telling the pirates to repent while they run around killing people. Meanwhile, Angelica battles for her fathers soul while Jack is working on a "as needed" basis. Overall, Im all for salvation, but it felt kind of out of place, forced and unessecary in the movie.

Speaking of forced and unnecessary, they threw in a romance.

NOT AGAIN! NEVER AGAIN!

As I said, the mermaids are kind of a crucial element in the plot and *SPOILER* the pirates have to kidnap a mermaid and get a tear from her. That's all fine and good, but throwing in a romance between the cleric and mermaid was just stupid and felt a little too similar to the first three. On top of being super random and idiotic, it made the ending a little unbelievable (for a pirates movie, that is), especially when they didn't resolve it...at all.
 
Summary:
Obviously, I'm a little biased as a critic, considering that this particular franchise practically defines my childhood. However, I'm pretty sure it was awesome in most everyone's mind. While there were a couple dragging moments in the plot and quite a bit less action than the previous two, the end result was impressive. With an original storyline that avoided most of the problems of the previous films, I think Stranger Tides far surpasses 2 and 3 and probably ties with Black Pearl in quality, making it my favorite in the series. If you love Jack Sparrow, you'll probably love this movie.

When Should You See It? All Pirates fans should go right now and be sure to stick around after the credits...
If you haven't seen the first three, you shouldn't really care. 
Personal Rating: 9 of 10
Plot: 8.5 of 10
Sexuality/Sensuality: 2 of 10
Spiritual Aspects: 6 of 10
Drugs/Alcohol: 1 of 10

Thor

Thor
Directed by: Kenneth Branagh
Cast: Chris Hemsworth as Thor
Natalie Portman as Jane Foster
Tom Hiddleston as Loki
Anthony Hopkins as Odin
Rated PG-13

*The following may contain spoilers*
Here we are again; another Marvel movie. For a quick trip down memory lane, Iron Man 2 (the last Marvel movie) was my second review ever. Kind of cool. Anyways, onto Thor.

As most of you probably know, Marvel is in the middle of what is probably the greatest buildup in the history of Hollywood. In a bold move that got nerds everywhere excited, the studio began making movies of their greatest heroes, starting with Iron Man in 2008. In three years, Marvel has released The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man 2 with Thor releasing on May 6 and Captain America headed to theaters in July. All of these surprisingly great movies are leading up to The Avengers in 2013, a huge project that will throw all of these heroes together for one seriously epic movie.

Thor focuses on the story of it's title character, the Norse god of thunder. True to the comics, Thor is an arrogant, selfish god about to take the throne of his home "realm" (or planet or whatever) Asgard. But, since it is a movie, right before he's crowned, a group of ancient enemies called Frost Giants attempt to steal an artifact. Enraged by this act of treachery, Thor gathers his team of warriors and heads to the Frost Giants realm to confront them, against his father, King Odin's orders. Long story short, Thor loses his temper and, after a pretty awesome battle scene, reignites a centuries old rivalry and threatens to plunges the universe into war.

Seriously ticked off, Odin strips Thor of his rank and powers and banishes him to earth, cursing his hammer so that only those who are worthy may pick it up. Now, stripped of his powers and lost in the new world, Thor must find his way back home to stop the treachery building in the kingdom, while trying to protect his new mortal friends from his own enemies.

What I Liked: 
Just like every other film in the "Avengers franchise," Thor is mainly a springboard to prepare the nerds of the world (myself included) for the amazingness that will be The Avengers so there was a ton of subtle hints to other heroes and movies, which are always fun to spot.
The writing was solid and the plot managed to stay somewhat original, even though the comic strip has been around for 40 years. Also, Natalie Portman is always a good thing to put in a movie.

Dear Hollywood, please put her in EVERYTHING

The special effects were pretty spectacular as well, creating pretty believable realms that were both visually dynamic and creative, helping to once again bring the comics to life.

What I Didn't Like: 
Despite it being convincing most of the time, there were a couple times when the CGI was just kind of terrible.
Also, though it was creative and new, the movie kind of jacked up Thor's basic origin story (banished and convinced he was a physicist until he found the hammer). While I appreciate the creative freedom (because it's Stan Lee and he can do whatever he wants), some die-hards might not appreciate it.
Finally, the plot seemed a little uneven and rushed. I can understand some of it needs to be cut in editing, but it kind of seemed like Thor was changed and influenced in a day and a half (granted, it's Natalie Portman so that could be an accurate time line) but for a conceited prince it doesn't seem likely. And then it ended really abruptly, setting up for a sequel that I'm not sure it deserves.

Final Thoughts:
Overall, Marvel has released yet another great movie to raise the standards that superhero movies should be held to. Despite the slight drag in the plot at times, Thor held it's own as a lead-in for The Avengers but as a stand alone movie, I can't say I was blown away. However, of you're as pumped about Marvel movies as I am, you'll probably enjoy it as much as I did.

When Should You See It?
Like I said, it's not great as a stand alone movie, but if you can't wait for the greatest superhero film ever go check it out NOW!
And don't forget to stick around after the credits (all of them) for a quick taste of The Avengers and it's possible villain.

Personal Rating: 6 of 10
Plot: 7 of 10
Spiritual Aspects: 9 of 10

Sucker Punch

Sucker Punch 
"If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything."
Directed by: Zach Snyder
Cast: Emily Browning as Baby Doll
Abbie Cornish as Sweet Pea
Jena Malone as Rocket
Vanessa Hudgens as Blondie
Jamie Chung as Amber
Carla Gugino as Dr. Vera Gorski
Oscar Isaac as Blue Jones

Rated PG-13
*The following may contain spoilers* 
 Freedom. Everyone wants it. From the time you're a child, you want to be free from your parents. Later, you want to be free from school and authority. The girls in sucker Punch want to be free from their own personal hell.

Based on a graphic novel of the same name, Sucker Punch follows the story of a girl who is placed in a mental hospital after her mother and sisters death. Her stepfather signs her away to be lobotomized in 5 days, paying the head doctor $2,000 to make her "disappear." We never learn the girls name, instead we only know her as Baby Doll, a name the other patients gave her.


As her stepdad walks away, the story shifts. The dingy and musty hospital is now a smoky, vibrantly colored club. This club is run by Blue Jones who is also the head doctor. The club is a back part of the hospital, which appears to be a type of brothel in which the girls dance for potential clients before they're "hired." It's a sick and twisted world these girls are forced to reside in and though its never made perfectly clear, I believe the club is just a fantasy to try and easy the pain with some type of glamor.
Baby Doll quickly makes friends with four other girls known as Rocket, Blondie, Amber and Sweet Pea. Together, they decide to escape, not only to save Baby Doll from her surgery but to save what little souls they have left. Forming a plan, the girls begin to fight their way to freedom each knowing their lives hang in the balance.

What I Liked: 
As you read above the plot for this movie is slightly insane, in an incredible kind of way. It's difficult to capture the true essence of what made Sucker Punch spectacular through text, but I'm going to try.
The plot itself was a thing of beauty. Creatively exploring the girls pain, it not only followed their actions, but their emotions. The whole film was super charged with raw energy that came from the girls being utterly burned up and desperate to escape by any means necessary.

To help the plot along were some outstanding visual effects. *SPOILER* The girls need to find four items (a map, fire, a knife and a key) in order to escape. To do this, they must distract the men who have these items and take them from them. Baby Doll turns out to be an exquisite dancer, capable of practically hypnotizing the men with her skill. This is their distraction; Baby doll dances while the other girls "pickpocket" the items from them. And, here's where the plot comes back into play.

Instead of just watching Baby Doll dance for two hours, Sucker Punch takes us into the girls imaginations as they glamorize what they're doing in their minds. This is a really cool idea. It not only allows for some amazing fight sequences with dragons, stone ninjas and Nazi robots to make some kind of sense, but also uses an amazing amount of imagery that you rarely seen these days. For example, the "fire" item will come from a lighter and the only lighter Baby Doll had seen recently had a red dragon on it. So, when they attempt to get the lighter, she imagines that they're fighting a dragon. Make sense? Well, it's cool anyways.

What really tied the whole experience together was the sincerely epic cinematography. Besides having one of the most fantastic opening sequences I've ever seen, the camera was almost another actor, adding even more depth to the overall feel of the movie. Using mirrors, reflections and slow motion, Sucker Punch managed to expound actions and deepen conversations, just by the camera angles. It was quite impressive.

Add to all of that the dragon, stone ninjas, Nazi robots and space train theft while blowing up robots and you get one insane kick-butt awesome movie.

What I Didn't Like: 
Personally, I thought the whole thing came together beautifully and really don't have any personal complaints. However, in an effort to be informative, I'll mention the "un-homeschooled" parts here.

As I mentioned above, the club appears to be a type of brothel and though nothing in that area is ever expressly admitted, there are lots of illusions. On top of that, Baby Doll's dances (which the audience never actually see) are described as "gyrating and moaning." The girls also dress rather provocatively, even in their imaginations and the skirts tend to ride a little high as they jump, flip and shoot.

Also, since they're busy blowing things up, the violence gets a little heavy, employing the "Samurai Jack" method of spraying other things from the wounds instead of blood; white light, jets of air and robot parts are all used in Sucker Punch. While not nearly as graphic as real blood, it's still effectively violent. In the real world, Blue gets stabbed and is shown bleeding. There are several other instances of violence and blood, but those spoilers are a little too big to give away.

The violence really was the biggest "bad" part, however there was a little bit of language. Four uses of the s-word and one use of GD. Amber shouts "holy...!" but the second word is drowned out and Blondie (Vanessa Hudgens) shouts "Take that, Mother..." and mouths the second half of the phrase. So much for that Disney Channel image.

Uhh...Disney what?

Final Thoughts: 
Overall, Sucker Punch blew me away. Visually dynamic, emotionally captivating and unexpectedly dark and thought-provoking, Sucker Punch is what every comic book movie aspires to be and sets the standard for everything in the future. However, it is only for a certain audience. Due to the violence and outfits, I would suggest that no one under 13 see it. Hear that kiddos? Spencer says no. Ask your parents.
As for the older crowd, if you're into kick-butt action movies, you need to see Sucker Punch like right now.


When Should You See It? NOW! Weren't you listening?? Or, if you're cheap just wait until I buy it on Blu-Ray the day it comes out and borrow it then.

Personal Rating: 9 of 10
Plot: 9.5 of 10
Sexuality/Sensuality: 6 of 10
Drugs/Alcohol: 1 of 10