Valentines Day

Summary:
More than a dozen Angelenos navigate Valentine's Day from early morning until midnight. Three couples awake together, but each relationship will sputter; are any worth saving? A grade-school boy wants flowers for his first true love; two high school seniors plan first-time sex at noon; a TV sports reporter gets the assignment to find romance in LA; a star quarterback contemplates his future; two strangers meet on a plane; grandparents, together for years, face a crisis; and, an "I Hate Valentine's Day" dinner beckons the lonely and the lied to. Can Cupid finish his work by midnight?

Review:
While I was certainly conned into watching this through a woman, it was released in 2010, I went in with the review in mind and watched it through. This is definitely your standard romantic comedy. The cast is well known throughout and in my opinion it was somewhat a waste of talent. There were certainly some laughs to be had throughout but there was nothing that made it rise above the rest. Just another romantic comedy men are suffered to sit through. It wasn't unwatchable by any means, just glad I didn't have to pay to see it in theaters. If you're being pestered to find a movie for the lady friend, it will work, but I'm sure there are better options out there.

The Losers

Summary:
A tale of double cross and revenge, centered upon the members of an elite U.S. Special Forces unit sent into the Bolivian jungle on a search and destroy mission. The team-Clay, Jensen, Roque, Pooch and Cougar -find themselves the target of a lethal betrayal instigated from inside by a powerful enemy known only as Max. Presumed dead, the group makes plans to even the score when they're joined by the mysterious Aisha, a beautiful operative with her own agenda. Working together, they must remain deep undercover while tracking the heavily-guarded Max, a ruthless man bent on embroiling the world in a new high-tech global war

Review:
Here was a movie I stumbled across simply because it had been released in 2010. This blog has me looking out for these kinds of things. I was pleasantly surprised when I made the dive into "borrowing" it and giving it a watch. "The Losers" is filled with B-list little known actors and actresses but they perform very well. The movie is not to be taken too seriously, and throws around a fair amount of humor throughout. There are a few moments in this movie where you cock your head to the side and drop a wtf? This was unsettling at first, but it was still overall highly enjoyable. The director, Sylvaine White has a short resume (only four movies previously) and I have not personally seen any of his prior work, however, I think he has found his niche and will produce some good films in the future.

Robin Hood

Summary:
Birth of a legend. Following King Richard's death in France, archer Robin Longstride, along with Will Scarlett, Alan-a-Dale and Little John, returns to England. They encounter the dying Robert of Locksley, whose party was ambushed by treacherous Godfrey, who hopes to facilitate a French invasion of England. Robin promises the dying knight he will return his sword to his father Walter in Nottingham. Here Walter encourages him to impersonate the dead man to prevent his land being confiscated by the crown, and he finds himself with Marian, a ready-made wife. Hoping to stir baronial opposition to weak King John and allow an easy French take-over, Godfrey worms his way into the king's service as Earl Marshal of England and brutally invades towns under the pretext of collecting Royal taxes. Can Robin navigate the politics of barons, royals, traitors, and the French?

Review:
Before watching this movie you have to set aside everything you know about "Robin Hood". This was quite a different take on the normal "Robin Hood" figure that we've all come to know over the years. I think it was still quite an enjoyable rendition of the story behind the name and well put together. Russell Crowe brings a strong sense of "Gladiator" to the movie in the action scenes which proved yet again to be quite effective at keeping the audience's attention. Crowe stands out from the other actors involved, however, Cate Blanchett plays a nice role as Marion Loxley, who proves to be a little rougher than previous renditions. This movie definitely had its downsides but overall very watchable and I certainly enjoyed it. I wouldn't throw it to the top of your Netflix queue but worth checking out if you're at a loss for movies. I still would prefer Robin Hood: Men in Tights - which should find its way to the top of your queue.

Unthinkable

Summary:
The story of a white american muslim, who claims to have planted three nuclear bombs in large cities of the US, threatening to kill millions. He is interrogated and tortured by an 'agent' who uses every possible mean to crack him into revealing the location of the bombs. It's a hard and brutal 'game', which challenges ever possible definition of right and wrong, as well as lawful versus criminal behaviours: how far would you go, based on a 1% chance the the bombs really exist and may kills millions, to protect those? And when even the most brutal acts of torture don't break your subject, what becomes the next 'unthinkable' boundary of human decency, which marks the difference between the terrorists and the order? Where do you stop? The movie goes really far in asking these questions and - correctly - leaves the answers to each viewer for him/herself.

Review:
I went into watching Unthinkable knowing absolutely nothing about it. I had never heard of it, nor ever intended on seeing it, but I am glad I did. Unthinkable may be a little harsh at times for some viewers as the torture scenes can be quite graphic, however, they are well portrayed. Samuel L. Jackson's character is absolutely phenomenal and they could not have chosen someone better to play the role. Samuel L. Jackson's character, H, shines out as one of the most complex yet straightforward involved in the situation. Carrie-Anne Moss (The Matrix) also plays a great role portraying the more humane side of humanity. Unthinkable throws some great plot twists in at the end of the film that pull the movie together as a whole. You find yourself choosing sides multiple times throughout constantly trying to figure out who really is the "bad guy" in the story. Unthinkable was a great watch, and I would recommend it to all.

Green Zone

Summary:
Following the American invasion of Iraq in 2003 Chief Warrant Officer Roy Miller and his men are charged with finding the so-called weapons of mass destruction, whose existence justified American involvement, according to the Pentagon and their man in Baghdad, Poundsgate. Veteran CIA operative Marty tells Miller that there are no weapons, it is a deception to allow the Americans to take over the country and install a puppet leader. Also suspicious of Poundsgate is Wall Street Journal reporter Lawrie Dayne, who lets slip to Miller that Poundsgate told her he had secret talks in Jordan with an important Iraqi, code-named Magellan, who told him about the weapons, though it now seems likely Magellan's true information was to the contrary. So begins a hunt for the truth. Who's playing whom?

Review:
After the last movie (Vampires Suck) I was quite please to stumble across this diamond in the rough. Green Zone was surprisingly entertaining and well worth the watch. The cast fit the roles as perfect as anyone could have asked. Matt Damon plays an excellent leading role, with a great performance from Brendan Gleeson as well. Several of the military roles were filled by actual Iraq/Afghanistan veterans, not actors. One of the supporting actors, Said Faraj, shines through well for not having the extensive resume of his peers. While the film is a work of fiction, it takes an issue that we have all faced living in post September 11th America and gets you thinking about how things are really conducted overseas and if there is some truth behind the story. Green Zone is jam packed with adrenaline pumping scenes mixed with a level of intellect that keeps your mind focused on the depth of the story line. Would deffinitely give this one a watch, worth the download/rental.

Vampires Suck

Summary:
A spoof of vampire-themed movies, where teenager Becca finds herself torn between two boys. As she and her friends wrestle with a number of different dramas, everything comes to a head at their prom.

Review:
While vampires may suck, this movie sucks a bit harder. While there were some moderately humerous parts the time span between them made this not worth watching. Wouldn't reccomend wasting the time especially when there are far more entertaining movies available. Would deffinitely pass this one up. Not even worth a lengthy review...

Salt

Summary:
As a CIA officer, Evelyn Salt swore an oath to duty, honor and country. Her loyalty will be tested when a defector accuses her of being a Russian spy. Salt goes on the run, using all her skills and years of experience as a covert operative to elude capture. Salt's efforts to prove her innocence only serve to cast doubt on her motives, as the hunt to uncover the truth behind her identity continues and the question remains: "Who is Salt?" Written by Sony Pictures

Review:
Salt derrives its name from the main character Evelyn Salt played by Angelina Jolie. Angelina assumes a role as a spy working for the US, with an underlying Russian connection. This comes into play early in the movie when her loyalty to one state is brought into question. This is where the movie really starts to pick up the pace as an action packed chase ensues. The action scenes in Salt proved to be highly entertaining and deffinitely gets your adrenaline pumping. As the movie progresses plot twists arrive at every corner leaving you wondering just who is real and who is merely a facade of something less heinous. Deffinitely an exhilerating movie that will keep your eyes on the screen at all times with the aide of some eye candy as well (Angelina). Would love to see more lead roles that portray her strengths as this movie has.

Inception

Summary:
     Dom Cobb is a skilled thief, the absolute best in the dangerous art of extraction, stealing valuable secrets from deep within the subconscious during the dream state, when the mind is at its most vulnerable. Cobb's rare ability has made him a coveted player in this treacherous new world of corporate espionage, but it has also made him an international fugitive and cost him everything he has ever loved. Now Cobb is being offered a chance at redemption. One last job could give him his life back but only if he can accomplish the impossible-inception. Instead of the perfect heist, Cobb and his team of specialists have to pull off the reverse: their task is not to steal an idea but to plant one. If they succeed, it could be the perfect crime. But no amount of careful planning or expertise can prepare the team for the dangerous enemy that seems to predict their every move. An enemy that only Cobb could have seen coming. Written by Warner Bros. Pictures

Review:
     Inception captivates the audience from beginning to end.  Directed by Christopher Nolan, (The Prestige, Memento) Inception takes a completely new look at an everyday event - sleeping.  He has taken dreams and made them a controllable reality.  Within these dreams characters can interact with one another and engage in life-like scenarios.  The movie starts off with a fast paced introduction that really gives you a feel for the characters and their abilities in this dream world.  The movies intensifies as it progresses and character flaws come to light.  It comes to light that the main character Cobb, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, has a dark past with a former lover.  Many twists and turns leave the viewer constantly second guessing what is to come.  Leonardo DiCaprio plays an excellent leading role and clearly secures his seat amongst top actors with his performance.  Inception has an intriguing and complex plot that constantly entices the audience into wanting more.  I would reccomend Inception to viewers of all types as it is truly a great film.

Popcorn goes well with Salt...

Checking out Salt in addition to Inception, and of course a review will follow.

To the movies...

Going to see Inception at some point today, will let everyone know how it is with a review to follow.