Homefront - Movie Review

Director: Gary Fleder
Writer: Sylvester Stallone (based on novel by Chuck Logan)
Producer: Sylvester Stallone, Kevin King Templeton, Les Weldon, John Thompson
Stars: Jason Statham, James Franco, Kate Bosworth, Winona Ryder

The movie Homefront is about Phil Broker, a former drug enforcement agent who, looking to escape his past, moves with his daughter to a quiet tow. He soon discovers that the small town is not as quiet and peaceful as he thought and he soon takes on his old drug enforcement job because of a local meth druglord.

I was looking for a movie to see on Saturday night when I came across Homefront. On IMDb, this film was rated 6.7 by users, so I didn't go into it expecting too much. I was pleasantly surprised. Although the storyline wasn't completely original (I actually found it similar to Snitch, another movie I reviewed) the film was still interesting and I found the relationship between Phil and his daughter very touching.

The film was very suspense filled, right from the beginning.  Like action? This movie is for you. The story was a bit predictable because you know that he will obviously get into some situation with drugs again, otherwise the movie would not be interesting. Despite the fact that it was not entirely surprising, it was still intense and suspenseful.

Jason Statham did a great job as Phil Broker. He was perfect for the character and portrayed him very well. James Franco was kind of creepy as Gator, the druglord and this was a good effect for this character. The acting was very good.

If you are an action lover and have seen movies, such as Snitch, about similar topics and if you liked those films I would recommend this movie. As I stated earlier, I was pleasantly surprised with this film and it was much better than I expected.

My Rating:
8/10

Click here to watch the trailer for Homefront on YouTube.

The Book Thief - Movie Reveiw

Director: Brian Percival
Writers: Michael Petroni
Stars: Sophie Nélisse, Geoffrey Rush, Emily Watson

Set right before World War II, after the death of her brother, Liesel is fostered by loving Hans and his witch of a wife Rosa. Soon after she moves in, she discovers her love for reading and writing after stealing some books. At school, there is Rudy, a sweet boy from her new neighbourhood who immediately befriends Liesel. Soon after Kristallnacht, Liesel's family hides a Jewish man - Max, who she befriends quickly.

This movie was amazing! Interesting perspective of the Holocaust, through the child's eye. Although the film was set in a very serious time period with some very serious things going on in this family's life, including hiding Max, there was some comic relief in the film. I especially liked the scenes between Liesel and her friend Rudy. Their exchanges are very cute and often funny.

Brian Percival did an amazing job directing this film! It was spectacular. I want to be a film director when I'm older and its film like these that I really look up to and love to see. It was great and the sets were beautiful and so were the costumes and everything. It was filmed beautifully. 

Although this is a war film, I would categorize it more as a drama. It did not focus so much on the violence and brutality of war, but more on this little girl and her life in a new family in a new home during this horrible time. I really enjoyed it.

Overall, I would definitely say this was one of the best movies I have seen. It was so amazing and I would recommend this film to anyone. It is a must see and I would recommend seeing it while its still in theaters. There are some films you just want to experience on a huge screen in a movie theater and this is one of them. 

My Rating:
10/10

Click here to watch the trailer for The Book Thief on YouTube.

The Hunger Games 2: Catching Fire - Movie Reveiw

Director: Francis Lawrence
Writers: Simon Beaufoy, Michael Arndt (Suzanne Collins - Novel)
Producers: Nina Jacobson, John Kilik
Stars: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Sam Claflin

So this review is a little overdue - The Hunger Games 2: Catching Fire came out on November 22 and I have to admit I am kind of a huge fan of the series. So, being the huge fan that I am I saw the movie on the 22nd. I was super excited and I was not let down.

The film is based on the second installment of the trilogy, written by Suzanne Collins. I really love this trilogy - it is interesting, captivating and suspenseful. The first book, set in a dystopian future, is about Katniss Everdeen, ,who volunteers to take her sister's place in the Hunger Games - an annual event where 1 male and 1 female 'tribute', between the ages of 12-18 from each of the twelve districts is sent to an arena to fight to the death. The last child alive wins and returns to their home to enjoy a life of fame and fortune. The reason for the games is a punishment for uprisings that took place against the Capitol - who hosts and organizes the annual games. The second book or film focuses on Katniss's life as a victor of the games - though there is a very surprising twit. This is obviously not an amazing film - it is targeted towards teens and adults may find it predictable at some points - but as a huge fan, I was extremely pleased with the film.

I'll admit that with the first movie, leaving the theater I was disappointed.  I felt as though it was rushed and they did not capture the main relationships and character's personalities very well. This time, I found that the film was exactly like the book, even some lines that were used in the films were directly from the book.

Jennifer Lawrence is amazing as Katniss, I guess she didn't get that Oscar for nothing! Personally, I don't really like Josh Hutcherson as Peeta Mellark - Katniss's fellow tribute and victor, although I'll admit I liked him better in Catching Fire than in the first film.

Overall, if you are a fan or have read the books and liked them, you will probably be pleased with this film and really enjoy it. If it doesn't sound interesting, you're not missing much. The film is mainly targeted towards the huge fanbase of the books. If you have not read the books, you will probably be entertained by this movie but I would reccomend reading the books first. It really makes the experience much better.

My Rating:
7/10

Click here to watch the trailer for The Hunger Games 2: Catching Fire on YouTube.

Gravity - Movie Review

Director: Alfonso Cuarón
Writers: Alfonso Cuarón, Jonás Cuarón (George Clooney - Script Collaborator)
Producers: David Heyman, Alfonso Cuarón
Stars: Sandra Bullock, George Clooney

*Warning: Spoilers*
 
A few weekends ago I saw the very popular movie Gravity, starring Sandra Bullock and George Clooney. The movie was about two astronauts, Ryan (Bullock) and Matt (Clooney), who become the targets of space debris and are sperated from their space ship. The two astronauts cannot be saved, so Matt sacrifices his life so that Ryan can make it back to earth.

The film was fantastic. They had some beautiful shots of space and the earth that were breathtaking and seeing it in 3D made me feel as though I was almost with them. Bullock did a great job as Ryan. She was the sole subject for the majority of the film and it was exciting the whole time.

The film was extremely suspenseful and emotional - hoping that Ryan can get back to earth. It takes all her will to constantly keep going and the film was constantly thrilling - never a dull moment. The concept was very interesting. I haven't ever seen anything like it.

I really loved the concept of this film. It was a really unique idea and the whole film was very interesting. I really felt for the characters and I think I may have even teared up at a couple points.

This movie was very suspenseful though some comic relief was creatively entwined into the film with Clooney's character, the very witty Matt.

I recommend this movie to almost anyone. If you've heard of it and think it is something you would like, you probably will. I really enjoyed this film.

My Rating:
8.5/10

Click here to watch the trailer for Gravity on YouTube.

12 Years a Slave - Movie Review

Director: Steve McQueen
Writer: John Ridley
Producers: Brad Pitt, Anthony Katagas, Arnon Milchan, William Pohlad, Steve McQueen, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner
Stars: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender, Lupita Nyong'o

Based on the true story of Solomon Northup, 12 years a slave was a compelling, eye-opening, spectacular film showing us the appalling ways that African Americans were treated as slaves. It was true and had no limitations in showing the horrendous ways these people were tortured.

Solomon Northup, a free black man from New York, is captured and sold into slavery. The film shows the conditions in which these slaves lived and it showed the unforgivable ways in which they were treated.

I have wanted to see this movie for a while and I am so glad I finally have. The emotions portrayed in this film and the brutality of the way people have been treated was horrendous, I can not describe it. The film was done so well and did not hold back to show these conditions, making it not only extremely eye-opening but tear-jerking as well.

Chiwetel Ejiofor did an amazing job as Solomon Northup. He was amazing and portrayed this character extremely well, as all the actors in the film have done.

I just want to give a shout out to Steve McQueen, the director of this film. It was truly one, if not the, most amazing movie I have ever seen. I strongly believe that a film needs a good director to be great and this film was beyond great.

I warn you that this film is very brutal and shocking, but it is worth seeing. It will open up your eyes to how fortunate we are and it is a must see! It is violent at many parts and the horrendous treatment of these slaves may scare and disturb people, but you must see it. It was the most amazing film.

My Rating:
10/10

Click here to watch the trailer for 12 Years a Slave on YouTube.

Requests?

Hi everyone! With the weekend coming up, I figured I'd take some requests. If anyone has any movies they want me to watch and review, just comment below! I look forward to seeing your requests!

Wild Child - Movie Review

Director: Nick Moore
Writer: Lucy Dahl
Producer: Diana Phillips, Eric Fellner, Tim Bevan
Stars: Emma Roberts, Alex Pettyfer, Natasha Richardson

So, it's an older movie but tonight my sister and I had a girl's night and watched the movie Wild Child. I figured, even though it is not recent, that I would review it. Wild Child is about a spoiled troublemaker, Poppy Moore - from Beverly Hills. When she takes things too far at home, her father ships her of to Abbey-Mount, a boarding school in England. Things are not as fabulous at this school as they are at home - no cell phones, good shops or internet connection! Soon, Poppy and her four room mates create a scheme to get Poppy expelled; one major scandal they have planned is 'snogging' the headmistress's charming son, Freddy. At first this seems like an amazing scheme, but it may not turn out so amazing once she gets close to these girls and Freddy.

Lets be honest, this movie is not Oscar winning material. It is a chick flick, intended for fifteen year old girls. Aiming at this target audience, it did its job. It was a bit predictable, but I did find it funny at many points and honestly I liked it. Maybe it's because I'm a fifteen year old girl.

I would say the acting was good for the film and Emma Roberts did a good job in portraying the Beverly Hills brat. The rest of the characters were good too. Again, nothing spectacular.  The film did its job in making a funny rom-com intended for teen girls.

Even though this was a simple movie and kind of cheesy, I did find it very cute and in the end, the message of the film was (although predictable) insightful and I found that I could connect to it.

If you are looking for a good chick flick for a girl's night in and are somewhere in your teens, this is a good choice. If you do not fit this description, don't say I didn't warn you.

My Rating:
6/10

Click here to watch the trailer for Wild Child on YouTube.

Carrie (2013) - Movie Review

Director: Kimberly Peirce
Writer: Lawrence D. Cohen, Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, Stephen King (novel)
Producer: Kevin Misher
Stars: Chloë Mortez, Julianne Moore, Gabriella Wilde

Carrie, the third film remake of the Stephen King novel, is a film about a misunderstood, outsider who struggles socially. Carrie, lives with her extremely religious mother and the viewers really feel bad about the way she is treated by her classmates, as well as her struggles with her home life. Soon, Carrie discovers that she has a great power which she can use as revenge for all the years of humiliation and torture.

I actually saw Carrie because of the fact that the movie I was going to see in theatres was sold out. I wasn't exactly sure what to expect, but went into it with an open mind. I was excited to hopefully see something frightening and suspenseful.

This movie started off and got right into the action. There was some extreme bullying within the first ten minutes of the film. It instantly captured my attention and I was eager to see how this film turned out.

As Carrie discovers her powers, the intensity builds and builds. Carrie is discovering the power that she can have, at the same time that she continues to be tormented by her classmates at school and through social media.

I thought that Chloë Mortez did a fantastic job with portraying the misunderstood Carrie. I really believed her, despite having seen her in multiple other films, especially ones that were much less intense (such as Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Hugo etc.). In addition, Julianne Moore did an amazing job as the overly religious and troubled mother of Carrie. I was honestly very scared of her.

I never saw the 1976 version of Carrie, but after reading other reviews, I read that it was nearly identical. So, if you have seen other versions, I am assuming you should not go into this movie expecting something completely new and surprising. Though, having not seen the other versions, it was not what I expected. I expected something completely terrifying and I found it was not. This does not mean I did not like it. I liked it for its suspense and I found it interesting and captivating. So, I liked this film for that. Do not go in expecting something completely different from the other film adaptions or something very scary, but you can expect a film that is pretty good.

My Rating:
7/10

Click here to watch the trailer for Carrie on YouTube. 

It's A Boy Girl Thing - Movie Review

Director: Nick Hurran
Writer: Geoff Deane
Producer: Steve Hamilton Shaw, David Furnish, Martin Katz
Stars: Samaire Armstrong, Kevin Zegers, Sherry Miller

A movie that that I recently saw was a movie called It's a Boy Girl Thing.  It is a comedy where two neighbours and enemies, Nell and Woody, find themselves trapped in each others bodies. The two must work together to figure out how to get out of this situation and how to live in each others lives.

This movie was a great comedy. Although it could be compared to movies like Freaky Friday, I found that it had its own unique qualities; it was also much funnier. I found myself laughing out loud many times as each of the characters have their own personality with their own sense of humour.

I found that although this movie is obviously not Oscar or Golden Globes material it was surprisingly good. When I chose to watch this film, I was not expecting much from it, just a couple hours of entertainment. I got more than that because it was more than I expected. It was absolutely hilarious and the story was more interesting than I had expected.

This movie is a great romantic comedy and although it would not appeal to all audiences, if it sounds like something you would watch, I can assume it is very likely that you will like it. I would definitely watch this movie again.

My Rating:
6.5/10

Click here to watch the trailer for It's a Boy Girl Thing on YouTube.

After Earth - Movie Review

Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Writers: Gary Whitta (screenplay), M. Night Shyamalan (screenplay), Will Smith (story)
Producer: James Lassiter, Caleeb Pinkett, Will Smith, Jada Pinkett Smith
Stars: Jaden Smith, Will Smith, Sophie Okonedo

A few weeks ago, I watched the movie After Earth. This movie was enjoyable and had an interesting plot. The film was about a father working for the military and his teenage son who crash land on Earth, far into the future. In this time period, Earth is a very dangerous planet, which is not suitable for humans. Kitai, the son, must set out on a journey across Earth to save himself and his father.

The film was action packed and very suspenseful, which meant that it was very captivating. There are many unique creatures in this film and Will and Jaden Smith did a great job with portraying their characters.

I found that I expected more from the film. There was lots of promotion for this movie and the trailer looked very interesting, but after seeing the movie, it was a little less than I had expected. I had expected more because I had expected it to be different. In many ways it was, but in many ways it was similar to lots of other films.

Overall, this movie was fun to watch. I might not watch it many times, but I'm glad I saw it once. I would reccomend it for action lovers. It is not a bad movie, I just expected more. See it once and it will entertain you for a few hours.

My Rating:
6/10

Click here to watch the trailer for After Earth on YouTube.

Parental Guidance - Movie Review

Director: Andy Fickman

Writers: Lisa Addario, Joe Syracuse
Producers: Peter Chernin, Billy Crystal, Samantha Sprecher

Stars: Billy Crystal, Bette Midler, Marisa Tomei

The movie Parental Guidance is a comedy about Artie and Diane Decker who agree to watch their grandchildren while their parents go on a business vacation. Artie and Diane and their grandchildren, Harper, Turner and Barker, do not exactly think the same at first. Artie and Diane's parenting styles are very different from those of their daughter's, and their grandchildren are not used to it. As the movie unfolds, a relationship starts to develop between Artie and Diane and their daughter and their grandchildren.

This movie was hilarious and it was definitely a great comedy! The situations that the characters find themselves in are so funny and I don't think there was a scene where I didn't laugh! I was basically laughing the whole time! I know there are lots of comedies that end up being boring and are not funny; this was not one of them!

The movie was funny, but it was also interesting. There was a story, as opposed to those comedies that go on with no point. The characters each had their own personalities and each was likeable in a different way. The acting was great and each actor was perfect for their part!

Overall, this movie was great and if you are looking for something fun and hilarious, I would recommend Parental Guidance! It was a great kids movie, but it was funny regardless of your age. I would watch this movie many more times, and I found it very enjoyable. I definitely suggest watching it!

My Rating:
7/10

Click here to watch the trailer for Parental Guidance on YouTube.

Life of Pi - Movie Review

Director: Ang Lee

Writers: Yann Martel, David Magee

Producers: Ang Lee, Gil Netter, David Womark

Stars: Suraj Sharma, Irrfan Khan, Adil Hussain

Although Life of Pi was released back in 2012, I really wanted to write a review on it, so I am going to. Life of Pi is about Piscine (Pi) Patel. After escaping a sinking ship, to which he lost his whole family, Pi is left on a life boat in the middle of the ocean... with a tiger. 

The move was interesting, dramatic and suspenseful. The story was unique and interesting, making it stand out. In the film there was some comedy, which helped the film as a whole, given its plot that is partially sad and at times scary.

The acting in this movie was great! The filming was amazing as well, especially when considering that a large part of the film is supposed to be in the middle of the ocean. Even when filming in water, they still managed to take some spectacular shots.

Working with animals in film is also, I can assume, quite difficult. We can appreciate how much work it must have taken to be working with a tiger, in addition to some other animals as well. 

The story in this movie was very interesting, unique and intriguing. I would see it again in a heartbeat. It was truly an amazing movie. This film was great and definitely deserved the four Oscars that it received, including the Oscar for best directing. If you have not already, I recommend that you put it on your list of movies to see.

My Rating:
10/10

Click here to watch the trailer for Life of Pi on YouTube.