Friday, December 23, 2011

Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol Review

Bad ass movie
THE MOVIE: CRITIC'S TAKE

After hearing about a fourth film in the Mission Impossible franchise, I wanted to facepalm. Why are they doing this again? Does Tom Cruise need money that bad? This franchise doesn't need another film. The 4th film is like a kill shot for most franchises but this one seemed to differ. Just like Fast and Furious delivered the goods, Mission Impossible 4 does about the same. It's action packed and gives us a few stunts that left our jaws opened. It's a good film to see to end 2011.

STORY

The story picks up in Moscow where Ethan Hunt, played by Tom Cruise, is being held captive. He was imprisoned for going ape shit after his wife was killed. He is enlisted to gather files about an agent code named Cobalt. Hunt and his team is found out by an unknown agent and the building is blown up. Agent Sidirov believes that it is Ethan behind the screwjob but the IMF is able to extract Ethan in time. The russians are calling this attack an act of war and are now planning on taking down it's enemies. The president, out of desperation, activates Ghost Protocol and sends Ethan on a mission with his new team.

Let it rock
The team is able to find out Cobalt's mission to destroy the world. He strongly believes that the only way for humans to evolve is through tragedy after tragedy. He wants to start a nuclear war that should jump start evolution. Yeah this guy is fucking crazy! All he needs is an activation code so he can start rearranging America. Ethan and his team galantly try to get the codes before they are exchanged but fail. It turns out that some people aren't always what they seem.


Like this guy
There is some trouble among Ethan's members because Ethan thinks that Brandt, played by Jeremy Renner, is a double agent. Ethan learns that Brandt was on assignment when Ethan's wife was murdered. He takes blame for Ethan's wife death and hopes to avenge it but helping Ethan. As the story continues some twists and turns emerge that will leave you gasping for air. The story is easy to follow and not to complex. I was pleased with this film and I think you will be too.
I know you love me
ACTING

The acting here is pretty good. Tom Cruise is his usual self; cocky, serious, sarcastic, and looking like he ages like a Highlander immortal. Jeremy Renner was a delight to see and Simon Pegg added the much needed comedy. The chemistry with the team was great to see but I felt the villians needed to be more menacing. For an action movie like this you would expect to have a chill run down your spine whenever they would walk on screen. I felt none but that didn't stop them from trying. Overall the acting is passable and surprisingly enjoyable.

I'm sorry
SPECIAL EFFECTS

The effects here are easy on the eyes. The action scenes are top notch and I could feel the action explode on screen. I was never fond of the face masking but it seemed to pay off in this one. Most of the action scenes are eyepopping and is worth seeing on the big screen. I perfer IMAX. How about you? P.S. You may get a little dizzy when Tom Cruise goes extreme on the worlds tallest building. Just hang on tight and try not to puke.

Hold your vomit!
WRITING AND DIRECTING

The film was written by Josh Appelbaum and Andre Nemac. They did a wonderful job putting together a great script. The movie has a nice pace to it and the action is plentiful. The dialog is fun to hear and they were able to make and introduce some exciting characters. The film was directed by Brad Bird and he surprised everyone. He is able to bring the action close to home and make this film one to remember. Brad Bird has a great future ahead and can't wait to see what he will do next.

THE END

The film is the best in the franchise. That's a hard thing to back up but watch the film and you might agree. It's a fun movie to see before the year ends. You won't be disappointed if you like these type of movies. Tom Cruise is back on top and I think Katie Holmes can finally breathe a little. His ego has been served.

OVERALL

STORY 7 out of 10
ACTING 7 out of 10
SPECIAL EFFECTS 8 out of 10
WRITING 7 out of 10
DIRECTING 8 out of 10

 OVERALL 7 out of 10 (MUST SEE)




 

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo Review (Minor Spoilers)

Just plain sexy

THE MOVIE: CRITIC'S TAKE

When I heard about this remake I thought to myself "You bloody Americans." The swedish version was a masterpiece that I thought needed no remake. Just like "Let The Right One In" it wasn't made to long ago, so an update is believed to be spurious. "Let Me In" proved that statement wrong, paving the way for foreign films to be remade for the American public. The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo is an adaption of an adaption. The book is always better but I think David Fincher may have a winner here. It's not better than the swedish version but it's not worse either. I didn't read the book so I don't know how far both films strayed away from it but I can say that both films stand on their own two feet. The American version is just as good as the other.

STORY

Mikeal, played by Daniel Craig, has ruined his professional life. He's a jouranlist who was convicted of libel. This destroys his magazine company that he owned and ran. He had no choice but to take another job as a freelance journalist. His duty is to write a biography of Henrik Vanger, played by Christopher Plummer. This only was a coverup because Henrik wants him to find out the truth about his missing niece. She was believed to be kidnapped or murdered by a man 40 years ago and he wants to end his pain by finding out what happened to her. Mikeal doesn't have much time to find the truth because Henrik is close to death.

Creepy as hell


He runs into a troubled girl named Lisbeth, played by Rooney Mara. She is a hacker and private researcher with a dreadful past. She lost her guardian due to medical problems and now has to deal with a man who plays deadly games with her. He wants more from her than she wants to give him but because he is in control of her life he thinks he can control her. He will learn never to mess with a girl who has a dragon tattoo.

Just fucking awesome


Together they learn that the past has alot to offer and everything wasn't all peachy with Henrik's family. Things do get a little confusing when the main storyline picks up again but everything comes to light when the secrets are revealed. I won't give away anymore spoilers other than the story takes you to dark places that may make your skin crawl. It tells a dark tale that can connect with almost any audience. This film is scary beautiful.

Scary Beautiful


ACTING

The acting for this film is dark and gloomy. The characters are all screwed up and the actors play their emotions to the bone. It just wasn't how they spoke but their factual expressions as well. You could see the pain in their eyes from beginning to end. The chemistry is breathtaking and proves that the casting director and David Fincher made the right decisions. You won't be disappointed with their performances.

What happened here?


SPECIAL EFFECTS

The effects here are great. The film relies on the setting and pace to give you chills and jumps. The scenery is depressing and I could feel the cold run down my spine. The movie presents itself as if you are watching someone's life on the big screen. The distrubing images may leave a few of you ready to go to the bathroom.
Sexy


WRITING AND DIRECTING

The film was written by Steven Zaillian and directed by David Fincher. Steven is able to write some intense scenes that will leave you on the edge of your seat. This includes the dialog. The character development is continued throughout the story which doesn't leave you bored. David has made some pretty dark films and this one is no different. It carries the same feel as Panic Room in some scenes which is a good thing. David knows how to ensue tensions of the characters, in tight situations, for a big surprise. It's a great movie by a great director.

THE END

It's a movie that needs to be seen in a dark lit theater. You won't be disappointed. It's worth every penny. The only drawback is that it may run to long for some. It doesn't feel like it if that helps but if you can sit through any Lord Of The Rings movie then this shouldn't be a problem. Besides Rooney Mara looks beautiful throughout, disturbingly beautiful but still a looker.

Or maybe not


OVERALL


STORY 8 out of 10
ACTING 8 out of 10
SPECIAL EFFECTS 8 out of 10
WRITING 8 out of 10
DIRECTING 8 out of 10


OVERALL SCORE 8 out of 10 (MUST SEE)



Thursday, December 22, 2011

The Adventures of TinTin 3D Review (Minor Spoilers)

Decent flick?

THE MOVIE: CRITIC'S TAKE

Steven Spielberg is one of the best directors Hollywood can offer. He has brought dinosaurs to the big screen like no other, made the american public fear getting into the water, and gave us our first glance at how talented Oprah could be. Now I never heard of The TinTin Adventures because I didn't start to live a life till I was 13 but I heard good things about his adventures. The film itself is filmed in 3D which would bring this comic to life. It seemed that they all had the right pieces to make this film a huge success. Rather it will be a huge money maker or not remains to be seen but I can say that this film is worth a viewing.

STORY

Steven Spielberg choose to imprint several stories from the comics to make one film. They are“The Crab With the Golden Claws”, “Secret of the Unicorn”, and “Red Rackham’s Treasure.” TinTin, played by Jamie Bell, is a young reporter who gets sucked into a whole hep of trouble. He is walking with his dog Snowy through a market when something catches his eye. It's a redesigned ship with a messgae inside. He buys the model and before you can say "WTF" his adventure begins.

I'm a fake Jones

He discovers the message inside when some scary looking foes kidnap the poor boy. They bring him on a ship owned by Ivanovich Sakharine, played by Daniel Craig. He wants to know how he got hold of it but TinTin is still wondering what is going on. He meets the old captain and they wind up escaping together. It turns out that the ship and the message has something to do with the captains past. With each clue they get closer and closer to their goal but Sakharine and his men are also on their tail. Who will come out on top? Watch the movie and find out.

ACTING

The movie is full with chemistry. It seemed as if the actors were having fun with their roles. The best performances were created by Andy Serkis and Snowy The Dog. Andy was a riot and brought the right humor to the mix but Jamie Bell was not believable for the part. He plays the character of TinTin well but its when he tries to be tough and pretend he's the CGI version of Indiana Jones I want to cringe. Overall the acting is better than most people will expect.

Got beer

SPECIAL EFFECTS

The special effects are top notch. The charcters look and act like real humans with emotion and swag. The action reminded me of Uncharted the video game mixed with Indiana Jones. The scenery alone is breath taking and watching them interact with the environment broke new ground with CGI. Overall the films special effects are some of the most impressive pieces of art cinema that I have ever seen. Watch it in 3D. You won't regret it.

We're out of beer!

WRITING AND DIRECTING

This movie was written by too many writers to mention and directd by Steven Spielberg. When you have more than two writers on a project things can get messy. Luckily this wasn't the case for the most part. They kept the characters within their boundaries and gave us some humor. The story flowed nicely and I can say that I wasn't bored. The directing was great as well. Steven didn't lose his touch and gave us some chilling and mind boggling action sequences. A great outing by a great team.

THE END

It's a must see for the holidays. The kids will love it and I think most adults will too. It has action, humor, and great special effects. Andy Serkis is the man to see in this film and that dog Snowy would make anyone smile. See it in 3D and have a family or date night!

OVERALL

STORY 8 out of 10
ACTING 7 out of 10
SPECIAL EFFECTS 9 out of 10
WRITING 7 out of 10
DIRECTING 8 out of 10

OVERALL SCORE 8 out of 10 (SEE IT)





 

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Rammbock: Berlin Undead Review (Minor Spoilers)

Damn good movie!

THE MOVIE: CRITIC'S TAKE

This is a foreign film from Germany that took a different approach to the zombie genre. I first heard about this through an AMC screening near where I live. I couldn't attend because I was just to damn busy but I heard great things about it. A few months later I was scrolling around NETFLIX and saw it listed. I had to jog my memory a bit before I realized what this film was. I'm glad that it caught my attention because this film is one of the best zombie films I have ever seen.

STORY

Michael is having a hard time saying goodbye to his girlfriend. Aganist his friends wishes Michael goes to her new place to drop off some keys. Once he gets there he notices something strange. Before he can think of a thought a plumber attacks his co worker at his girlfriends place before coming after him. Together they rush him outside of the house and barricade the door. They soon realize that Berlin is going ape $hit.

Fucking Nasty!

All Michael is thinking about is his girlfriend and how to get to her. They take some risks that causes more of the undead to visit the apartment. A neighbor asks them if they can get some meds in exchange for food. Being despite and hungry they decide to break down the wall and enter their neighbors home for the drugs. They are able to find some but attracted the wrong kind of attention. They manage to get out alive but only for Michael to find the awful truth.

Mother don't cry

Michael now has no choice but to make it to the nearest harbor for freedom. He gathers up a few more people to make a run for it. One of them turns into a turncoat and tries to escape with their equipment. This leads to an exciting ending that did not disappoint. This a great zombie film that made a right turn in the right direction.

Watch out!

ACTING

The acting here was top notch. Everyone had chemistry together. You could feel the suspense through your screen. The actors did a great job making their characters feel and act like normal people. I hope other actors can take note here. These foreign guys and gals truly out did themselves.

Like these guys

SPECIAL EFFECTS

The special effects were good enough. It wasn't too gory but it does have a lot of blood. The blood and cuts looked real enough. It is a low budget film that looked like it could have been shot with more money. Overall it's a zombie movie that doesn't overdue the gore and unnecessary death scenes.

Except for this

WRITING AND DIRECTING

The film was written by Ben Hessler and directed by Marvin Kren. Ben did a great job with the pace of the film. He wrote some interesting dialog and decent character development. For a 60 minute movie he did a great job with the suspense and the reality factor. I can see Marvin doing great things in the future. He filmed it nicely and gave it a sense of realism. The film is not too dark but slightly gritty. I wish to see more films like this.

THE END

This is a must see! If you're into zombie films then this is for you. The movie is only an hour long but it's a fun hour to watch. The ending is unique and I found it oddly comforting. Go to Netflix and enjoy.

OVERALL


STORY 8 out of 10
ACTING 8 out of 10
SPECIAL EFFECTS 7 out of 10
WRITING 8 out of 10
DIRECTING 8 out of 10


OVERALL 8 out of 10 (MUST SEE)




Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Alvin and the Chipmunks Chipwrecked Review (MINOR SPOILERS)

Yeah we cool

THE MOVIE: CRITIC'S TAKE

Why o why are they making another movie about singing chipmunks? O that's right... it's all about the money. They should have known though that the third installment never really lives up to the last two. I bet they were hoping that since the last two did well to decent and that it is a children's film that maybe they can luck out with some extra dough. From the looks of things they were wrong and should have left it at two. This film didn't suck but it is completely forgettable.

STORY

Ha! What story? It felt like it should have been on an episode of their television series. Jason Lee's character took Alvin and his gang on a much needed cruise. Alvin pulls some antics that makes his adoptive father want to pull his hair out. The chipmunks and their lovely dancers are now stranded on a island with a Cast Away look alike. Lucky for Jason Lee that she was pretty cute. Their old producer is hot on their tales to rescue them or strangle them one last time. They have to deal with an erupting volcanoe and other horrid conditions. Will they make it off the island alive and intact? Gee I hope not!

I'm going to get you sucker!

ACTING

The acting here is bearable. Jason Lee keeps pulling off that lovely scream of "ALVINNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN!" so well. Jenny Slate did a nice job keeping the movie fun and the laughs coming. Everyone seemed to have chemistry with each other which made the film enjoyable for what it was. The acting here wasn't the problem for the film. This was one of the few departments that they got right.

Alvinnnnnnnnnnnnnn!

SPECIAL EFFECTS

Here is what makes the movie. The special effects are great. The little CGI chipmunks are just adorable. Their songs are pretty catchy too. The island looked like one big prop but that's not much of a downer. This film didn't disappoint with their CGI, thank goodness.

Will you marry me?

WRITING AND DIRECTING

The film was written by Jonathon Aibel and Gleen Berger. They put together some funny dialog and antics but the story was a piece of crap. I couldn't get into it for any reason what so ever. If it wasn't for the CGI and those cute chipmunks I would have fell asleep. The directing was ok by Mike Mitchell but don't expect anything special from him. The only major downfall was indeed the story and character development. They should have left it at number two.

THE END

I would actually skip this one. No need to bring the family or kids unless they're fans. It feels like a type of movie you would show at the house or in school. The movie itself is decent but I hope it's the last film of the franchise for sometime. It can't go any lower... can it?

I love you like a love drug baby!

OVERALL


STORY 3 out of 10
ACTING 7 out of 10
SPECIAL EFFECTS 7 out of 10
WRITING 5 out of 10
DIRECTING 5 out of 10


OVERALL 5 out of 10 (WAIT FOR VIDEO)



Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows review (Minor spoilers)

I'm back baby
THE MOVIE: CRITIC'S TAKE

Needless to say I was not surprised by this movie being made. I didn't catch the first one so I don't know where this franchise left off but I heard the first was a decent movie. Decent enough to garner a sequel. After some debate I choose to check it out. I walked in hoping to see good things about this film but left unhappy. Maybe it's because I didn't see the first one or maybe it's because I'm not a fan of these type of films, but I left the theater wishing I saved my time. It's not a bad a film but not a film for everyone.

STORY

A lot of bad things happened after the first film. It seems that Sherlock Holmes has met his match when he learns that Professor Moriarty, played by Jarred Harris, may be behind the bombings in France and Germany. Moriarty is a very intelligent and rich man that is using his talents to make Sherlock's life hell. He talks to an old friend about the professor but that proved to be a dumb move. He poisons her which leaves Mr. Holmes torn apart. Moriarty warns him if he continues snooping around that he will kill Watson and his new wife.

You son of a bitch!
Moriarty is able to find Watson and his wife on their honeymoon. Holmes is able to save them but causes tension between the two friends. Despite Watson's true feelings toward the situation he joins Holmes on his quest to stop the madness. They are able to gather some information and learn that the next bomb will be at an opera event. Thinking they were two steps ahead the duo was ready to foil the professor's plans, only to realize it was a big hoax. Instead of the opera being bombed it was something much bigger. The Game of Shadows AKA the game of wits had finally begun.

I hope no one's home

The two masterminds battle with wit against wit. The duo encounters many battles and a lot of surprises along the way. Some of those battles was with each other. It ends with a sense of urgency but everything turned out for the best. Overall the story was not to desirable and may have left Conan Doyle scratching his head.

The man behind the story

ACTING

The acting was good here. I loved the chemistry between Jude Law and Robert Downey Jr. They acted a lot like brothers instead of friends. The fights between them seemed real enough to pass for a film like this. The star of the movie has to be Jarred Harris. He was able to keep his mannerisms while acting like a psychopath. He's the type of person that could give you a life changing lecture and stab you in the face, without blinking an eye. The supporting cast wasn't too bad either. A good outting by everyone.

RUN!

SPECIAL EFFECTS

The special effects weren't the best. You can tell that some settings were soundstages and cheap props. The clothes looked decent enough for that time period but I felt something was off. The expolsions looked decent and the fight scenes were ok but nothing special. Overall I don't see too many people complaining about this department because when you see one period piece (rather action or not) you've seen them all.

This was pretty cool

WRITING AND DIRECTING

The film was written by Michele and Kieran Mulroney. They did a good job with the dialog and the characters, the main characters that is. I felt that they could have went deeper with some of the other characters, if only to spice some things up. The pacing of the film was a little slow but it was used to setup the mind games between Holmes and Moriarty. Guy Richie didn't disappoint as a director and he filmed it beautifully, adding a little grittiness when needed. A good job by all three men.

Pimps for life

THE END

It's a good film to watch if you're into these type of films. You have your action and a lot of twists and turns. Some were a let down but others weren't. If you're a Robert Downey and a Jude Law fan then this picture is for you. Their chemistry lights up the screen and makes them one of the best crime solving teams ever. It's something to think about for the holiday season.

OVERALL

STORY 6 out of 10
ACTING 8 out of 10
WRITING 7 out of 10
DIRECTING 8 out of 10
SPECIAL EFFECTS 6 out of 10

OVERALL 7 out of 10 (WORTH SEEING IN THE THEATER)



Saturday, December 17, 2011

The Sitter Movie Review (Minor Spoilers)

Who said this movie is kid friendly?

THE MOVIE: THE CRITIC'S TAKE

The sitter AKA Adventures In Babysitting, the guy version. That's what I first thought when I saw the trailer. The trailer looked promising and funny. Jonah Hill is a funny guy all around so I knew I was going to be entertained. This movie is forgettable but it is a fun ride. I doubt people will remember this but I hope it becomes a cult classic like S*uperbad.

STORY

It begins with Jonah's character getting suspended from college. He returns home to live with his mother. His mom wants him to get his life together but all he wants to do is eat, play video games, and try to get oral sex from his girlfriend. An emergency happens where the neighbors needs a babysitter. They want to introduce his mom to a nice guy and if they aren't there it won't happen. He agrees and soon finds himself babysitting a bunch of monsters.

I won't get laid
One wants to be a celeb so bad she dresses like one of the girls from the Jersey Shore, the other is a pint sized gangsta from every latino movie ever made, and the other kid is just well lame. They mess with him throughout until he gets some good news. His girlfriend finally wants to give him some action. He does what every horny man would do and takes the kids with him.

They all are legal age. Trust  me!

This begins an adventure that is over the top. They encounter thugs, guns, lots of curses, and retarded situations. All in the name of fun. Shockingly it has some good morals and lessons to learn from. It ends with Jonah finally getting what he deserves. A mother that loves him and maybe a bright future.

ACTING

The acting was shockingly good. Everyone had a funny moment that made me laugh. The chemistry was top notch for a comedy. The children was a delight to see and was the driving force of the film. The acting deserves two thumbs up.

Nice party

SPECIAL EFFECTS

This movie relies on its wild antics to deliver the special effects. It all looked fake but I didn't mind. It was funny to watch. This film really didn't need half of the wild antics to make this film funny.

This some bullshit!

WRITING AND DIRECTING

The film was written by Brian Gatewood and Alessandro Tanaka. They did a great job with the humor and dialog. The movie flows nicely and doesn't take long for the fun to start. The film was directed by David Gordon Green. His directing remided me of The Hot Tub Time Machine. It was a fun movie to watch and I think his style of directing was a good fit.

The best night I ever had

THE END

This is a funny comedy. I would recommend waiting for video though. No need to rush to see it. You'll enjoy the film more at home with your special someone or a good party. Through in a few booze and a little helping herb and you'll see a masterpiece.

OVERALL

STORY 6 out of 10
ACTING 6 out of 10
WRITING 6 out of 10
DIRECTING 6 out of 10
SPECIAL EFFECTS 4 out of 10

OVERALL 6 out of 10 (GOOD FILM BUT WAIT FOR VIDEO)




The Muppets review (Minor Spoilers)

We didn't die afterall!

THE MOVIE: CRITIC'S TAKE

I swear I thought this film franchise died. I guess not. After almost 12 years of people not giving a damn, The Muppets return with an all new movie. I have to say that I was not interested in this film. The only reason I saw it was due to some free tickets. You know you can't give up something if you got it for free. It isn't my type of film but it was a decent movie. I'm sure the kids will love it.

STORY

Gary is a human. Walter is a puppet. They have two things in common. They are brothers and they both love The Muppets. Gary plans a vacation with his girlfriend to LA to see The Muppet theater. He brings his brother along so he can finally meet his idols. Gary's girlfriend doesn't think his relationship with his brother is a good one. She thinks he's inteferring with their relationship. Gary doesn't pay it any mind and continues along with his brother. Once they get to the theater they realize that the muppets aren't doing so well.

This is fun!

The place looks like a hurricane hit it. Walter wonders off and overhears that the owners are going to sell the theater and destroy it. Walter doesn't want this to happen. He finds Kermit The Frog chilling at his million dollar mansion. He convinces him to get the gang back together to save the theater. There's two major problems though. One, they have to raise 10 million dollars in order to save the theater and two, Ms. Piggy doesn't want to rejoin the group.

I'm a bad bitch!

Walter and Gary have a rift and goes their separate ways. The muppets are having a hard time finding a tv station for their program. Eventually they do indeed find one but the station isn't all it could be. To make matters worse they need a celebrity guest but none wants to come to their aide or they're just to damn busy. Can the Muppets get everything together before it's too late? Watch the film and find out.

ACTING

The acting was weird and over the top. It's hard to have chemistry with a bunch of muppets and the actors didn't succeed. The feeling of the actors were either dry or silly. Even with the humans it felt a little off. I don't think they could have done a better job even if they tried. Overall the acting was average and nothing to rave about.

Gang bang?

SPECIAL EFFECTS

Given the budget the special effects were decent. They did a great job with The Muppets. They captured their original look and feel. They looked just like I remembered them. The world they made is enriching and brings you into the film. Too bad nothing else in this film can compare.

Car pool

WRITING AND DIRECTING

The film was written by Jason Segal and Nick Stoller. They put together some funny moments but overall it was a drag. The dialog was corny and the pace of the film was too quick. The directing was just as bad. I think James Bobin needs to go back to directing school. I was not impressed at all.

Aren't I pretty?

THE END

This movie is great for little kids and Muppet fans. Everyone else might be too old to appreciate the film. It didn't bring the kid out of me. It might be because I'm not a kid anymore and no longer care for The Muppets. I think It's because the film was stupid.

OVERALL

STORY 5 out of 10
ACTING 5 out of 10
SPECIAL EFFECTS 6 out of 10
WRITING 4 out of 10
DIRECTING 5 out of 10

OVERALL 5 out of 10 (WAIT FOR VIDEO)



Hugo Movie Review (Minor Spoilers)

Gotta love the key

THE MOVIE: CRITIC'S TAKE

Martin Scorsese is one of the best directors alive today. He mostly does gangsta and mob pictures. So I was surprised when I heard he was directing a kiddie movie. I saw the special effects and was impressed with Martin's style. I loved the cast he put together and it seemed like it was going to be a great film. After watching it I realized it didn't live up to the hype. It doesn't mean that this film was bad. It just means I was left unsatisfied.

STORY

It's 1931 Paris where Hugo, played by Asa Butterfield, is enjoying himself with his father, played by Jude Law. His dad is a clock maker and enjoys his job. He takes his son to the movies where Hugo falls in love with Georges Melies films. Soon tragedy hits when his father dies in a museum fire. His uncle, played by Ray Winstone, takes him in. This is where his troubles really begins.

I hope I don't fall

His uncle isn't the nicest man in the world and treats him nothing like his father. The uncle is a watchmaker and an asshole. He teaches Hugo how to maintain a watch and a clock but soon leaves him high and dry. Hugo is left living in the walls of the train station and running from inspector Gustav, played by Sacha Baron Cohen. He wants to catch the kid and throw him out on his ass. He also has a shady toy owner that wants to ring his neck. He steals from him to continue work on his father's last piece of work, a mechanical man that can write with a pen. How exciting!

Weird

He meets the toy store owner's goddaughter, played by Chloe Moretz. She isn't allowed to watch movies for some odd reason and Hugo is inspired to show her what she's missing. This angers the toy owner so much he winds up stealing the blue prints to Hugo's father's project. There is one thing missing though, a heart shaped key. This leads to a race to find the missing item and complete the project. Little did they both know that what they were looking for was with them the whole time.

What a date!

ACTING

The acting was ok. I liked the chemistry between Asa and Chloe. It seems like Chloe can work with almost anyone. Sacha was his usually self and put on a decent performance. I felt that something was missing. It seemed like some of the other actors weren't into the film like the children were. That was disappointing because the acting could have been phenomenally.

Like this picture

SPECIAL EFFECTS

The special effects was something for the eyes to see. I love the world that he brought to life. Everything looked as real as it could. I loved how the mechanical man interacted with the boy. The 3D was better than what I expected but I still think they could have done more. Overall, it was an all around good job for this department.

I think I'm in love

WRITING AND DIRECTING

The film was written by John Logan and directed by Martin Scorsese. John did a wonderful job with the dialog. It was his pacing of the story that left the audience bored. He could have gave more time to Sacha's character and less of the toy owner. I think that could have been more exciting to watch. The directing, however, was one of Martin's best. He proved that he can film in 3D and I think Martin is a director that can survive in any era.

Help I'm stuck in a fucking book

THE END

The film is a must see. You will love the 3D and special effects. The acting was decent at best but Asa and Chloe shines. It's a film for the whole family and is perfect for the holidays. Just try not to fall asleep before the action begins.

OVERALL


STORY 7 out of 10
ACTINBG 6 out of 10
SPECIAL EFFECTS 8 out of 10
WRITING 7 out of 10
DIRECTING 8 out of 10


OVERALL SCORE 7 out of 10 (MUST SEE)