Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

When it comes to reviewing a movie like Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, the hardest thing to do is to keep expectations intact and not expect a film that will blow Raiders of the Lost Ark out of the water. It has no chance to beat that expectation, and the film will ultimately become a failure with that mindset. You have to look at this film as another one of the sequels, which isn't a knock at the The Temple of Doom and The Last Crusade; on the contrary, they're great films, but this is the caliber you should expect from the fourth installment of a film that hasn't seen a new addition to the franchise since 1989.

With this in mind, does the fourth Indiana Jones film succeed? The answer? An incredibly enthusiastic yes! After 19 years away, Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, and Harrison Ford have recaptured that magic that has made the Indy trilogy so successful and added a worthy sequel that stands right in line with the two sequels. The little Indy quirks are here: the Paramount logo fading into a mountain-like object in the background, Jones's insane phobia of snakes, the flight paths on the background maps, and the numerous references to the first three films. However, and give George Lucas and Steven Spielberg a ton of credit for this, the film is not simply a tribute to the first three films, but an intriguing, fresh story that is unlike any of the other three. This isn't Rocky Balboa where we have the same general story but given a new spin on it. While some fans will be upset about the departure from the familiar, biblical territory the first ones covered, I found it to be great to see a new, original Indy flick instead of a rehashed homage to themes previously seen.

Spielberg seems to have found that pitch perfect balance between action, humor, and humanity that made Raiders so special. This isn't a flat out comedy like Last Crusade seemingly was, though there is still plenty of humorous moments in this film (surprisingly, very few jokes and gags actually fall flat). This isn't two hours of non-stop action, as the film does take its time to establish the plot, detail the archaeological quests, and let us remember why we fell in love with these characters in the first place. In fact, the scenes with Marion Ravenwood and Indy together are gold. Don't get me wrong; a lot of the action is a blast. The car chase scene in the jungle is a great piece of film-making, and the first scene with Mutt Williams and Indy leave a lasting impression. Great action doesn't have to come in newer, advanced looking CGI extravaganzas, as Spielberg proves that traditional action set pieces are still the most entertaining kind there is.

Now, about the cast. The star is aging, the sidekick is from Even Stevens, Karen Allen hasn't been in a big movie in God knows how many years, and, for some reason, people were worried about Cate Blanchett in here role. Well, let me put the concerns to rest: the entire cast is established pitch-perfect chemistry and everybody plays their parts incredibly well. Harrison Ford is, for the first time in a decade, having the time of his life and it shows in his excellent return to the famed American icon. It's no secret that he has been campaigning for this movie for years, and it shows in his strong performance. Karen Allen shares fantastic chemistry with both Shia LaBeouf and Ford, as she provides a lot of the necessary charm to the second act of the film. Blanchett uses a heavily over-the-top Russian accent, but she finds just the right note between creepy and intriguing to make her the best Indy villain since Belloq in Raiders.

The major surprise, however, is indeed Shia LaBeouf. Remember the outstanding chemistry between Sean Connery and Ford in The Last Crusade? The chemistry between LaBeouf and Ford rivals that. He does a great job in this film. The entire cast is good.

A strong story and great performances don't imply that this film isn't flawless. It isn't, but the flaws are few-and-far between and didn't hinder my overall enjoyment of the film. The first 20 minutes are somewhat slow; it takes a little while to get to Marshall College. These first twenty minute aren't necessarily boring; it is still entertaining, but it could have used probably 5 minutes of edits and pacing corrections. This is my biggest problem with the film, and once Indy returns to Marshall College, the film really kicks off and turns into the roller coaster ride that everyone has been hoping for.

So, as you can see, I dug the film. I may have even loved it (repeat viewings should ensure this). It is the Indy film that you've been waiting for since it was announced, and the creative trio have proved that, with the right care and intentions, you can bring an American icon back from the dead and still have him own the competition. This film will go down as a very strong entry into the quartet and fall somewhere in the middle of the two sequels when all is said and done. The Indy film that you've been dreading? Not even close.

Indiana Jones is back.

U2 3D

I will start by saying that I am a little biased in this review because I am a HUGE U2 fan. I have seen this band live and up close many times. They are incredible live, no band grabs a hold of an audience the way U2 does.The new 3D film comes as close as possible to showing the viewer what it FEELS like to be at U2 concert. When this film was announced, I was afraid that the film would be a hi tech 3D thrill ride, while it might be cool to look at, the band would be obscured by the 3D theatrics. I was totally wrong! The way that the effect is used take nothing away from the performance. It doesn't feel gimmicky in any way. There are a couple of moments where there are some nice animated 3D graphics but they are used sparingly, but to great effect. The important element of the film of course is the band. U2 is still as passionate as ever, and even thought some critics have turned on them for being TOO BIG, they are as relevant as ever, This band's music has always been wide eyed and bigger than life.This film captures exactly that!My only wish is that so many great songs were left out of the film. U2 is the reason to see this film, not the 3D!

We Own The Night

What a movie! It opens with a stunning, sizzling sexy Eva Mendes scene (a tease). Then a walk through the night club sets a very cool hip vibe for the film. The movie has nothing less than a STELLAR cast! Joaquin Phoenix, Mark Wahlberg, Robert Duvall and the smoking hot Mendes, whom I mentioned. Already this is the makings of a must see. Drugs, sex, and parties! Phoenix role is a manager of a successful night club; you'll get an idea of Bobby Greens life. That is, one side. His family, well, they are a family of cops. Imagine how that goes over. Ha. This life has consequences, we soon see tragedy hits close to home. Well the shit hits the fan (so to speak) and Bobby Greens life starts to unravel. He pays costs he never imagined. Revenge is a bitch! And the ending is very great. The movie does drag its feet for a portion through the center. But at just that moment (before the yawn) comes a HUGE surprise and intense sequence will jolt your heart-rate back into action. The conclusion , though not surprising, is satisfying. Overall, it is very much worth watching. Check it out.

Cashback

Shear genius. But more than that this movie, shows us true love and its phenomenal power. I dare you not to gasp at the end of the film as the snow reveals...Ah, no spoilers here. You must see this film if you have ever loved and lost or ever wish to love as truly. I'm not usually the sentimental sort, but the combination of time, passion, love and art come together in this film like no other. Don't bother nit-picking continuity or the usual special-effects issues that accompany scenes where actors have to act as if they're frozen in time and try not move or blink. Instead, allow yourself to be drawn into the narrative and the story he is telling visually. The credits began to roll and I wanted so much more of his world. I'll be watching this movie over and over again

Waitress

What a thoroughly enjoyable movie! It’s a bit quirky and offbeat. Innocence bubbles throughout the film and follows the changes over a year for waitress, Jenna. She bakes pies. She sees life differently but she’s stuck. Her work ethic’s close to a monk’s. She’s lonely. She hands money over to her husband. She hides a little bit for herself to get out of town when she can. But, a pregnancy comes knocking, along with a kind married doctor, and the plan flies further south than she can control. The film’s honest to its characters, moves quickly and provides a few touching moments. One scene in particular is when she asks the jerk of a store manager if he’s happy. His response is simple and told in words that are true for him. The only drawback is the film’s handling of “serious” scenes of her controlling husband riding the edge of physical abuse. They don’t play as well given the wide-eyed tone of the rest of the movie. But then again, maybe that’s the point. The ending is also a bit too neat given the mess of circumstances that come before it. Still, it’s a sweet and pleasingly sentimental movie.