RBR: Paranorman

Thanks to the success of Pixar, we are inundated these days with computer animated kids films, so it's refreshing to see someone take a more old school approach to animated films. Using stop-motion technology, Paranorman tells the story of a young boy who has the ability to see and talk to dead spirits, which makes him an outcast in his town. The animation here is superb, but it's the only thing notable about this rather thin tale of acceptance. The film can be rather slow at times and is awfully morose for supposedly being a kids film. I found myself bored or depressed rather than engaged while watching most of it. I give the film credit for getting its message across in a way that is organic to the story and doesn't feel like ham-fisted proselytizing. And yet, I felt no emotional connection to the story or the primary characters. Those who are fans of this style of animation should definitely give this a watch as the film looks great, but from an entertainment perspective the film lacks more body than the zombies it depicts on screen. Rating: *** 1/2

Iron thrill

You saw the Super Bowl spot, now see the full extended trailer for Iron Man 3 right here.

Thirty shades of grey

The moral ambiguity in real life historical events seems to be a big theme among this years Oscar nominees. This is perhaps no more true than in Kathryn Bigelow's Zero Dark Thirty, which depicts the events that ultimately led to the finding and killing of Osama Bin Laden. Covering nearly a decade of history, the film claims to be giving an accurate representation of these events based on CIA reports, even if they do not always paint our country in the most favorable light.

The first half of the film focuses on the investigation and interrogation of several suspects hoping that they will divulge information on Bin Laden's whereabouts. Most of the film's controversy centers around the fact that the questioning of these suspects reportedly also involved torture tactics like waterboarding. Bigelow pulls no punches in her depiction of these scenes, which can often be difficult to watch. And yet, the film doesn't try to make the argument that torture is effective. Ultimately our discovery of Bin Laden was more due to dumb luck of finding key information in a lost file than it was by anything given up by detainees who were tortured.

Let me be clear that I in no way support these torture tactics, and yet from the perspective of the film's narrative I had almost wished that the torture had been more successful. The film spends a long time depicting the various dead ends the CIA deals with in trying to find Bin Laden. The resolution to this just falls flat and disappointing. I understand that history can't always provide the perfect Hollywood story, but I question why the film chose to spend so much time on this part of the story when it doesn't provide a proper payoff. I should also mention that the storytelling is also hurt by the fact that Bigelow chose to place the date on the screen before each key event. If you're someone who follows the news at all, then you would immediately recognize the dates and understand what was about to happen before it actually did occur on screen.

At the center of this investigation is a woman named Maya, played by Jessica Chastain. Maya may be a real life figure or an amalgam of many individuals involved. Chastain does her best to illustrate the steely resolve of this woman. She is committed to solving this case and will not let anything stop her. As strong as the performance is, I also would have liked more insight into what was driving her. Obviously, there were other people besides her who wanted to see Bin Laden dead, so what made her go on despite the numerous setbacks she deals with. Had there been more background on her personal life or even her career prior to 9/11, then I may have appreciated her determination that much more.

But for as frustrating as the first half of this film is, it turns around in the second half as it shifts towards planning the attack on the compound that is believed to be housing Bin Laden. At this point, the drama is ratcheted way up and is utterly captivating. It begins with the quest to get some sort of tangible evidence to confirm that he is actually inside this building. As the film progresses to Seal Team Six's actual raid, you find yourself getting completely caught up in the story, even though you know exactly what is going to happen. Though I wouldn't go so far as to say it is exploitative, I was actually surprised with how much of Bin Laden being killed was depicted. Some will find some catharsis in this, while others may cringe at the cold savagery of the events.

This is not the easiest film to watch and I certainly don't see myself seeing it again, especially any time soon. However, there's no denying that Kathryn Bigelow is a talented director. In both this film and her Oscar winning effort for The Hurt Locker she has proven that she knows how to effectively present this particularly period of our history. She finds a way of making you feel as if you're are right there amid all the action. And while some will criticize her and the film for its debated accuracy, I believe that a film like this should be seen so that productive conversations can be had both about the actions of our country and the film itself. I applaud the director for her effort to bring this subject matter out of the dark and into the light. Grade: B

Worst week ever

So there was a news story about a 70 year old liquor store owner in Syracuse who was shot in the eye. He's managed to recover and is already back to work. The remarkable thing about the story though is that he claims getting shot was not the worst thing that happened to him that week. To find out what was worse, watch the video below and you'll see why I chose to mention this story here on the blog.

RBR: Trouble With the Curve

Before I get to the review, I just wanted to say that I was disappointed in myself for the lack of posting I had in January. So to make up for it, I've decided to do a little experiment. I'm going to see how many days in a row I can post a new movie review on here. My goal is to go at least a month, but we'll just take it one day at a time. And now on with the review...

At this point in his life, Clint Eastwood doesn't need to still make movies, but I'm certainly glad he does. In Trouble With the Curve, he plays Gus, a baseball scout who's struggling to keep his job as his eye sight begins to fail him. To ensure a successful scouting trip, Gus' daughter (the always adorable Amy Adams), who has an, at best, strained relationship with her father decides to go on the road with him. Being a fan of baseball, I always appreciate when it's the central focus in a film, but this is not one of the better depictions of the sport. Here, it pretty much serves as a backdrop for the father-daughter story. I'm perfectly fine with that though because I was engaged by that story. Adams gives a wonderful performance and Clint has the crabby old man part down to a tee by now. You also have likeable performances from Justin Timberlake as a young new scout and John Goodman as the head of scouting and Gus' best friend. I wish the film had a few more surprises. It is patently obvious how every storyline will play out 30 minutes into the film. Even someone with as bad of eyesight as Gus would be able to see what's coming. Thankfully the amiable cast and the usage of baseball make this an enjoyable film, especially on the small screen. If you happened to miss this one in the theaters, like so many people did, I suggest you give it a shot now that's out on DVD and Blu-Ray. This isn't a home run, but I'd say it's at least a satisfying double. Rating: ****

Are you ready to binge view?

Speaking of Netflix, they are set to have a potentially big weekend ahead of them. While a lot of buzz has naturally been about the upcoming fourth season of Arrested Development coming in May, Netflix is releasing a new series, starting tomorrow (February 1st) called House of Cards. It's a political thriller starring Kevin Spacey. Like the new season of AD, all episodes for this show will be released at once. If it's successful, it could be seen as a transformative moment in TV. This act of 'binge viewing' as opposed to weekly episodic TV (I believe I have to pay Michael Cole a royalty check for saying that) may just be the wave of the future. Whether you choose to watch these episodes all at once or periodically over time won't matter though if the show isn't any good, so let's hope this is some good quality viewing. You can get a sneak peek of what you can expect with the trailer posted below.

NMR: Everything or Nothing

Prior to the release of Skyfall last November, a documentary was released celebrating the world of James Bond in honor of the film franchise's 50th anniversary. The documentary is now available on Netflix Instant View which enables me a chance to finally see it. Given that this documentary did not receive a lot of fanfare or even a theatrical release made me worried that it would either be hatchet job or look cheap. Thankfully neither are true. I actually loved this depiction. While I certainly knew a lot of the information, I was pleasantly surprised that it did give insight into the franchise that I was not previously familiar with. It goes into a lot of detail about Albert Broccoli, the producer of the Bond films and his often contentious relationships with others associated with the films. We also get some insight from the various men who have played Bond. One of the things that struck me about their comments is that each of them, regardless of how long or successful their tenure was as 007 absolutely loved playing the role. You could tell that for each of them, this was more than just an acting job. The success of these films is nothing short of spectacular and you truly get a sense while watching this film as to how they've managed to keep the franchise alive all these years. Some of it was luck, but it also took a lot of talented people with a devotion to this character to constantly being driven to wanting to always make the best film possible. While Bond fans should absolutely check this out, I do think that those who don't care much for the series would still find the film interesting as well. Not too many franchises can say they've been around for a half century, so why not check out what make this one so unique. Rating: *****

Dying is easy, math is Hard

In anticipation for the new Die Hard movie set to come out in a couple of weeks, the Internet has once again come through in the awesome department by creating these thorough infographics for the previous Die Hard films, which go into painstaking detail about all of the statistics that make up the world of John McClane. Posters have only been made for the first three films, but I'd imagine one for the fourth will be out shortly. Check these out in all of there wonderful geeky glory.

The Force is strong in this one

Sorry Star Trek fans, J.J. Abrams has decided to jump off the Enterprise and board the Millenium Falcon. For more on Abrams deciding to direct the new Star Wars film, here's the story from The Wrap:

J.J. Abrams will direct the next "Star Wars" film for Disney, taking stewardship of one of Hollywood's most iconic and lucrative film franchises, an individual with knowledge of the production told TheWrap.

"Argo" director Ben Affleck was also in contention, another individual with knowledge of the talks told TheWrap.

Ever since Disney bought Lucasfilm last year and announced it would make new "Star Wars" films, fans, members of the media and industry executives have speculated about which director would take the job. Abrams' name always came up, but he told Entertainment Weekly in November that he wasn't going to take the job.

He did say "Star Wars" was the first movie that "blew my mind" in terms of special effects.

Lucasfilm Chief Kathleen Kennedy has been courting Abrams, one of the most successful directors and producers in Hollywood -- and a man beloved by fanboys. He runs one of the industry's top production companies, Bad Robot, and created or co-created television franchises like "Lost," "Fringe" and "Alias." He has also directed film spectacles "Mission: Impossible III," "Star Trek" and "Super 8."

The lure of the Jedi was too strong, and it will no doubt complicate his relationship with Paramount, where Bad Robot is a top supplier. Abrams has been feverishly working on "Star Trek Into Darkness," his second Star Trek film since he rebooted the franchise in 2009. "Into Darkness," still in post-production, opens May 18.

Though he has several producing jobs in front of him, Abrams had been uncommitted as a director. He will have to jump right into "Star Wars," which Disney has slated for a 2015 release. "Little Miss Sunshine" screenwriter Michael Arndt is penning the script.

Reached by TheWrap, Lynne Hale, spokeswoman for Lucasfilm, declined to comment immediately. Neither CAA, which represents Abrams, nor Bad Robot immediately responded to requests for comment.

RBR: Premium Rush

2012 was quite a year for Joseph Gordon Levitt who costarred in blockbusters (The Dark Knight Rises), Oscar contenders (Lincoln) and had a breakout performance in Looper. However, I doubt he's as proud of this film about a bike messenger who's being chased by some bad dudes in the streets of NY. On one hand, I do have to give the film some credit by offering up something different in the action/chase genre. However, watching this film it becomes clear why bikes are not used more often in action films. The first chase scene offers something fresh and new, but it gets tiresome very quickly. The repetitive nature of the bike scenes make this film feel like it's 3 hours long when it's barely half that time in actuality. The director's attempts at playing with the narrative timeline don't help matters and only make the story more muddled. The fact that the film's climax involves a flash mob should tell you everything you need to know about whether or not this film for you. In case it's not clear, this is not the film for me. The lone salvation is Gordon Levitt, who remains a likeable presence on screen despite the lackluster material he has to work with here. Hopefully his other successes in 2012 will allow him to pass over projects like this in the future. Rating: ** 1/2

Odds are you'll have fun

It's January, which means it's once again time for the Royal Rumble. To get ready for one of the most entertaining matches of the year, you can watch the video below and see what makes this match so special...by the numbers.

A brief time of history

On the eve of the innauguration of President Barack Obama's second term as Commander-in-Chief, it seems fitting that I had the opportunity to finally see Steven Spielberg's Lincoln, which primarily centers around the start of our 16th President's second term. That is just one of the many parallels that can be drawn between the events of the film and our current day situation in this captivating drama that is currently a heavy favorite to win Best Picture at this year's Academy Awards.

As the title suggests, this film offers a detailed look into a president who's life and actions have taken on mythic proportions in the years since his assassination. The beauty of this film is its ability to provide viewers with a perfect encapsulation of who this man was while only depicting a short period of his existence. Instead of making this a complete life story, Lincoln focuses on the last few months of his life as he furiously worked on having the 13th Amendment passed before the Civil War ended.

The primary reason why this man comes to life is because of the magnificent performance by Daniel Day-Lewis. He fully embodies Lincoln in this performance and displays why he was such a dynamic individual. In his quest to have the Amendment past, we see both his idealism and his ruthlessness. But we also learn how he was a storyteller and a man who could easily captivate an audience with anything he had to say. No matter how long winded any of his speeches were, Day-Lewis' performance holds your attention throughout. You can give this man the Oscar right now, because there was no better acting performance this year. It truly is amazing to see him so seemlessly fall into this character.

The only drawback to such a dynamic performance is that at times, the lesser performance of those on screen with him becomes that much more noticeable. I believe Spielberg makes a mistake in stuffing the screen with so many other famous actors to play the various other key roles. Few, like Tommy Lee Jones' portrayal of Thaddeus Stevens, are fleshed out, engaging performances. But in most cases, you become too aware of who the actor is without learning or caring about the man he's supposed to be portraying. Similar to what happens when watching an animated film that uses a whole cast of known actors in the voice roles, I watched Lincoln playing 'Spot the celebrity'.

What's interesting about this film is that it is equally about the passage of the 13th Amendment as it is about Lincoln's life. The ramifications of the bill and when and if it could be passed make for one of the most compelling moments in U.S. history. I found a lot of the backstage politicking and covert deals to be fascinating. Some of the film's best scenes involve a group of Republican operatives (which include James Spader and John Hawkes) lobbying Democratic Representatives in hopes of getting them to vote for the Amendment. Similar to a way a lawyer selects a jury, I loved the way these men who study their targets to determine who was most likely to be won over. Everything building to the vote is good drama, but I felt empty by the way Spielberg depicted the passage of the bill and the scenes that followed. It felt like a collection of 'feel-good' Hollywood cliches that did not do justice to the complex nature that its passage created. Perhaps the scenes did not work for me simply because of the problems that our current government has put us in. It's hard in today's world to feel any satisfaction when progress is made knowing that half the country will remain bitterly against any decisions that are made.

I also should point out that while the film primarily focuses on Lincoln's efforts to get this Amendment passes, Spielberg also makes the decision to include scenes of the troubles in Lincoln's home life. Namely, the tension that's creates by his son's (played by Joseph Gordon Levitt) desire to join the military. Each of these scenes feel forced and underdeveloped and frankly added nothing to my appreciation for who Lincoln was. I have a feeling my reaction toward him would be the same if those scenes had been excised from the film.

While there are no doubt history buffs who will want to see this regardless, truly the draw of this film is Day-Lewis' performance. It is truly mesmerizing and worth the price of admission alone. Whatever flaws the film otherwise has, can be forgotten when you this actor truly embody our 16th President. This is not my favorite film of the year, but I have no problem with it being in the discussion as one of the year's best. This is a thought-provoking film that will no doubt spur discussion both of the events depicted in the film and the comparisons that can be made to today's political scene. If you haven't seen it yet, go check it out - it's worth every penny. Grade: B+

Better RED than dead

Just seeing Helen Mirren holding a big ass gun is enough of a selling point for me to be excited to see this sequel. Here's your first look at RED 2

Fan-ning the Faves

Yes, it's already time to talk about Survivor, the cast for the latest season was just announced today and once again includes some familiar faces. They are re-doing the fans vs. favorites season, so half of the players are returning for their second try at the million. I have to say that the list of so-called "favorites" is pretty underwhelming. However host Jeff Probst is very enthusiastic about this season and he's typically not phony about his feelings, so maybe there's something there that I'm missing right now. Regardless, I'll be sure to tune in Feb. 13 when the new season debuts on CBS. Below is the cast photo and some more intel on the cast and season overall courtesy of EW.com

Survivor will try to follow up its best season in years by reviving a concept from one of its best seasons ever when Survivor: Caramoan — Fans vs Favorites premieres Feb. 13 on CBS. And the names of both the new fans and returning favorites can now be officially revealed. This marks the show’s second Fans vs Faves venture after Survivor: Micronesia, widely considered one of the program’s strongest offerings. And one of the Fans from that season, Erik Reichenbach (who was most famous for giving up his immunity necklace and then being voted off), will now be making the jump to the Favorites. He will be joined by another person who gave away immunity only to be voted out, Brandon Hantz (Survivor: South Pacific).

Also on the Favorites tribe will be John Cochran (South Pacific), Dawn Meehan (South Pacific), Phillip Sheppard (Redemption Island), Andrea Boehlke (Redemption Island), Francesca Hogi (Redemption Island), Corinne Kaplan (Gabon), Brenda Lowe (Nicaragua), and Malcolm Freberg, who began filming on the new season only two-and-a-half weeks after he came in fourth place on Survivor: Philippines. (The seasons were shot back-to-back in the Philippines in the spring of 2012.)

All of the returning players come from relatively recent seasons and will be playing for the second time. None come from the first 15 seasons of the show, and only Erik and Corinne did not appear in one of the previous five installments. (Survivor: Caramoan — Fans vs Favorites marks the show’s 26th season.) According to host Jeff Probst, the emphasis on more recent returnees is no accident. “We realized that we had to make a decision,” Probst told EW.com. “Do we only bring back our oldest iconic stars, or do we begin to birth new stars. And when we sat down with the list and said, okay let’s look at the people that we haven’t brought back yet, we felt like we had a really good group. And it was a bit of a turning point for us to say, we’re now going to look at the next generation of Survivor all-stars.”

Of course, many of these all-stars are known more for their big gaffes in the game. In addition to Erik and Brandon handing away immunity, Cochran made a hotly-debated flip that led to his demise, and Francesca was the very first person voted off her season after she openly took on Boston Rob. In fact, after seeing whom he was playing against this time around, Cochran fretted about the company he was keeping. “I was looking around all the CBS stuff to see if I could find a logo for the season somewhere because I’m dying to know what this season is subtitled because it sure isn’t being called Greatest Survivor Players of All-Time,” Cochran told EW.com right before filming began in May 2012. “I’m afraid it’s going to be some sort of unflattering thing like Dunce Island where we have to wear dunce caps instead of buffs or something. Because there are a lot of people that made weird moves or poor moves like me.”

As for the 10 new players who will comprise the “Gota” tribe taking on the “Bikal” tribe of Favorites, they include Miss Missouri 2011, a firefighter/EMT, a female racecar driver, and former United States Marine Corps Sgt. Shamar Thomas, who gained a measure of Internet fame after a video posted of him berating New York City police officers for excessive force during an Occupy Wall Street demonstration. (The full list of 20 new and returning players is below.)

And while Survivor: Caramoan will not feature the 21 straight days of rain that fell on the contestants last season, Probst promises that “The weather is a problem. This is a difficult season. The Survivors get pummeled. And there are evacuations. There are things out of the norm that happen this season that will be very memorable. I was on the boat a lot, going back and forth between camps.”

Probst also teases that love will be in air this season. “There’s also some romance early on which continues to blow my mind! It knocks me over that people want the jungle love! As much as you can’t believe we still do a final three, I can’t believe romance happens in front of other people in a game like Survivor.” (He’s right — I do hate the final three format.)

RBR: Total Recall

I only saw the 1990 version of Total Recall a few years ago and while I really liked the movie, I also recognized that it is one of the few good films that could actually benefit from a makeover. Though cutting edge at the time, the film's visual effects look particularly cheesy today and there are certainly better thespians out there than Ah-nuld. So when a remake was announced, I had great anticipation to see what they could do. Having now seen this latest adaptation of the Philip K. Dick short story, I couldn't be more disappointed. In essence, director Len Wiseman seems to have totally missed what made the original film so appealing when making this new film. Visually the film is most dark with the exception of an overabundance of lens flares that serve no purpose. Gone are several of the interesting characters, who are replaced here by either robots or wooden actors. The whole aspect of Mars has been eliminated so don't expect to see any aliens or mutants. And as for the mind-bending twists of the original, the ones that still remain in this remake don't offer anything new or thought-provoking. What we're left with is a lot of chase and fight scenes. There's nothing wrong with those, but they didn't need to drag the good name of Total Recall down in order to make them. Most of the performances from Colin Farrell, Kate Beckinsale, and Jessica Biel are totally forgettable. And I don't know what Bryan Cranston was thinking joining this film as Cohaagen. I see no redeemable qualities of this film so please just do yourself a favor and stick with the original. For those of us who have seen it, we can only hope a place like Recall exists in the future to help scrub our mind of this memory. Rating: * 1/2

Back from the dead...sort of

2013 has not gotten off to the best of starts for me. What began as a simple cold a few days after Christmas has lingered and grown over the past two weeks and put me down for the count. It's easily the sickest I've been in a long time. I'm still not back to a 100%, but I'm at least well enough again to have the energy to throw up (poor choice of words) some new content on here. So sorry for the lack of posts lately and let's all just hope that I'll remain healthy for the remainder of the year.

Happy New Year

Mayans be damned, we've actually made it to 2013. Professionally, 2012 was a very good year for me as I finally finished my dissertation and received my doctorate degree. Now I can only hope for a full time professor position in the new year. Here's hoping everyone has a wonderful new year. Thanks as always for reading this blog and look forward to a whole bunch of new content in the next 12 months!

Here's a release date. No, I'm witholding it. Look at me getting off.

UPDATE: Netflix has since confirmed that the new season will be released sometime in May but would not give a specific date. So only 5 more months of waiting now. Huzzah!

Those Arrested Development folks sure like to toy with our emotions. Earlier today, it seemed like the release date for the Season 4 episodes on Netflix had been announced only for Netflix to rebuke the claim. We do know that they'll appear only sometime in 2013, but for now, we'll just have to wait a bit longer to see when exactly it will be. If you're interested, here's a story from Boing Boing.net reporting on the incorrect release date.

Let's end 2012 with some truthiness: gossip site Oh No They Didn't got wind of some new details concerning the fourth season of Arrested Development and its upcoming premiere on Netflix. Apparently, a publicity site for Fox prematurely posted a new image, a May 4, 2013 premiere date, and a list of episode titles before taking it all down. A few sites have reported this as the official release date, but Vulture contacted a Netflix representative who said the date "is wrong."

A debunked rumor is not the most fun way to start out a year of heavily-anticipated entertainment, but at least we know it's on its way! (I'd still count on a May premiere. Seems like it would make a lot of sense -- just as all the network shows are ending, the Bluths swoop in and save us all from summer programming.)

2013 Movie Preview (#6 - 1)

#6. Elysium (August 9)

Plot: In the year 2159 two classes of people exist: the very wealthy who live on a pristine man-made space station called Elysium, and the rest, who live on an overpopulated, ruined Earth. Secretary Rhodes (Jodie Foster), a hard line government official will stop at nothing to enforce anti-immigration laws and preserve the luxurious lifestyle of the citizens of Elysium. That doesn't stop the people of Earth from trying to get in, by any means they can. When unlucky Max (Matt Damon) is backed into a corner, he agrees to take on a daunting mission that if successful will not only save his life, but could bring equality to these polarized worlds.

Personal Opinion: After District 9 was the surprise hit of 2009, everyone has eagerly anticipated what director Neill Blomkamp has in store for a follow-up. While this was originally set to be released in March, fans will now have to wait until August to see this sci-fi thriller. What puts this one over the top for me as it relates to anticipation is the fact that Matt Damon stars, someone who's work I always enjoy and who has become the hallmark of consistency recently with the films he's starred in.


#5 Anchorman: The Legend Continues (December 20)

Plot: A sequel to 2004's "Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy." Will Ferrell, will return to the title role with supporting cast members Steve Carell and Paul Rudd said to be involved as well. The original film also starred Christina Applegate, David Koechner, Fred Willard, Fred Armisen, Chris Parnell and many more.

Personal Opinion: I cannot understate how much I loved the original Anchorman film. It is one of the best comedies ever. I'm beyond thrilled that the Channel 4 News Team is reuniting, but like any fan there's always that trepidation that the sequel won't be able to live up to the original's greatness. Given that it's taken so long for this sequel to happen and the passion that those involved have for making this good, I've got faith that fans won't be disappointed with the latest adventures of Ron Burgundy.


#4. Monsters University (June 21)

Plot: Mike Wazowski and James P. Sullivan are an inseparable pair, but that wasn't always the case. From the moment these two mismatched monsters met they couldn't stand each other. "Monsters University" unlocks the door to how Mike and Sulley overcame their differences and became the best of friends. Screaming with laughter and fun, "Monsters University" is directed by Dan Scanlon ("Cars," "Mater and the Ghostlight," "Tracy") and produced by Kori Rae ("Up," "The Incredibles," "Monsters, Inc."). The film opens in U.S. theaters on June 21, 2013, and will be shown in Disney Digital 3D� in select theaters.

Personal Opinion: The last sequel Pixar did was the worst film in the studio's history and then they followed that up with the lackluster Brave. So why the high anticipation for this one? It's real simple. To begin, this sequel is working from better source material. Second, the trailer that's already been released provided more laughs than the last two Pixar films combined. I really love the idea of watching these characters within the setting of college. This one definitely has a great chance of appealing to parents and kids equally.


#3. Monuments Men (December 20)

Plot: "Monuments Men" is an adaptation of Robert Edsel's 2009 book by Robert Edsel, which is described as follows: At the same time Adolf Hitler was attempting to take over the western world, his armies were methodically seeking and hoarding the finest art treasures in Europe. The Fuehrer had begun cataloguing the art he planned to collect as well as the art he would destroy: "degenerate" works he despised. In a race against time, behind enemy lines, often unarmed, a special force of American and British museum directors, curators, art historians, and others, called the Momuments Men, risked their lives scouring Europe to prevent the destruction of thousands of years of culture. Focusing on the eleven-month period between D-Day and V-E Day, this fascinating account follows six Monuments Men and their impossible mission to save the world's great art from the Nazis.

Personal Opinion: I can't see how anyone wouldn't have at least some interest in seeing this film after reading that synopsis. It's almost like a real life Ocean's Eleven. It should come as no surprise then that George Clooney is not only starring in this, but also directing it as well. He's also surrounded himself with a fine cast of supporting actors including Daniel Craig, Bill Murray, Matt Damon, and Cate Blanchett. I expect this one to do big business at the box office and during the awards season.


#2. Star Trek into Darkness (May 17)

Plot: In Summer 2013, director J.J. Abrams will deliver an explosive action thriller that takes "Star Trek Into Darkness." In the wake of a shocking act of terror from within their own organization, the crew of The Enterprise is called back home to Earth. In defiance of regulations and with a personal score to settle, Captain Kirk leads his crew on a manhunt to capture an unstoppable force of destruction and bring those responsible to justice. As our heroes are propelled into an epic chess game of life and death, love will be challenged, friendships will be torn apart, and sacrifices must be made for the only family Kirk has left: his crew.

Personal Opinion: I think everyone was caught off guard by how good Abrams' first Star Trek film was, so now the expectations are sky high. A lot of speculation has been made as to who exactly the villain for this film is. Could it be Khan, another villain from Star Trek history, or someone completely brand new. Given that I was never a fan of the original series, that doesn't concern me as much. As long as the story, acting, and action are on par with the 2009 film, then I'll be one happy moviegoer.


#1. Iron Man 3 (May 3)

Plot: Marvel Studios' "Iron Man 3" pits brash-but-brilliant industrialist Tony Stark/Iron Man against an enemy whose reach knows no bounds. When Stark finds his personal world destroyed at his enemy's hands, he embarks on a harrowing quest to find those responsible. This journey, at every turn, will test his mettle. With his back against the wall, Stark is left to survive by his own devices, relying on his ingenuity and instincts to protect those closest to him. As he fights his way back, Stark discovers the answer to the question that has secretly haunted him: does the man make the suit or does the suit make the man?

Personal Opinion: So we've finally made it to the end of the list and of course, Tony Stark is #1, as he believes he always should be. Just like with Thor, everyone is eager to see how they go about following up on The Avengers. Based on the first trailer, this looks like it's going to be awesome. We know Robert Downey Jr. will bring it again and I'm really looking forward to seeing Sir Ben Kingsley ham it up as the Mandarin. You better believe I'll be there for this one on opening weekend.

NMR: Mansome

Directed by noted documentarian Morgan Spurlock (Super Size Me), this is a small film that explores the recent increase in grooming habits by men. Separated into several segments about what makes a man, the information is interesting even if the people always aren't. For instance, one segment explores beard and mustache competitions. The segment would have been much more engaging had the person they chose to follow didn't come off as such a pretentious douchebag. That unfortunately was a trend throughout the film. The narcissistic nature of the people that care so much about their looks was a turn off, even if I was interested the habits themselves. To counterbalance that, however, there were several talking head segments featuring a lot of comedians like Adam Carolla, Judd Apatow, and Zach Galifianakis to offer some levity to the topic. Best of all there are several interludes featuring Jason Bateman and Will Arnett, who also co-produced the film, attending a day spa while comedically discussing their own personal grooming habits. The subject matter is too slights for mass appeal, but if you enjoy Spurlock's work, you'll likely enjoy this film as well. Rating: *** 1/2