"I was struck by lightning once..." The Curious Case of Benjamin Buttons.

The first time I had ever heard of this movie was about 8 months before it was released. I thought the premise was very interesting and really wanted to see it. I am a huge fan of the film's director, David Fincher, who is one of the most underrated filmmakers of all time. With films like "Fight Club", "Seven" and "Zodiac" to his record, he has become one of the most acclaimed filmmakers of all time. All of his movies contain a quality that is rarely seen in movies today. Brilliant but quiet special effects, engaging charactors, and great story telling.

I waited until the DVD was released to watch this film. I am a Criterion Collection supporter and bought their edition of the film. When I was finished watching, I was blown away. This was one of the most powerful movies I have ever seen. The narrative is brilliantly told. A man is born an old man and dies a baby. How much more interesting can that get?



The special effects of this movie are groundbreaking. The appearance of Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett throughout the movie looks incredibly realistic. This was by far one of the greatest films that I have ever seen. I don't want to give much more away. See it!

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

4 out of 4 stars

"Space, The Final Frontier."

As a child, I remember my parents watching Star Trek: The Next Generation. I was always fascinated with the series and found myself watching the reruns after the show ended in 1994. When I was nine or so I began to watch the Shatner crew. Up until that point in my life I thought the Next Generation crew was the only cast.

Star Trek: The Motion Picture was my introduction to the Original crew. This film blew me away! Within a few weeks, I became obsessed with the original Enterprise crew.

It has been ten years since my first introduction with Star Trek: The Motion Picture. Now I consider myself a true Trekkie. I have seen every episode of the original series many times and still enjoy viewing of the film series.

I have been looking forward to this new Star Trek for at least a year and a half. I have always been a fan of the film's director, J.J. Abrams, and his hit T.V. show "Lost". I had hoped that this film would re-launch the Star Trek franchise, the same way that "Casino Royale" did for James Bond, and "Batman Begins" did for Batman.

I planned to see this movie at Imax and went last Saturday. Not only did this film exceed my expectations, I left thinking that this was one of the best movies I have ever seen. I went and saw this film with my girlfriend. She is not at all interested in Sci-Fi films, so I hoped that it would be somewhat entertaining for her. The second the film ended, she told me that it was her new favorite movie. I was so proud of what J.J Abrams did to this film.

The casting was brilliant. Chris Pine takes over the role of James T. Kirk with great success. He brings his own touch and toughness to the role. William Shatner's Kirk ego still shows, but without being an imitation of him. The reason for Kirk's rebellion throughout the franchise is finally explained in this film. The role of Spock is played very convincingly by Zachary Quinto, well known for his role in the series "Heroes." He was also wonderful in the role that is world renown. He brings the level of seriousness and intensity needed for the character of Spock; a character who is dealing with the inner conflict of self discovery. Karl Urban portrays Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy, the doctor who really hates space. Urban in my opinion deserves an Oscar Nomination for his role in this. He doesn't even seem to be acting. His passionate, sometimes difficult or irritating attitude is brilliant to watch. We learn how McCoy gets "Bones" as a nickname. Urban is a brilliant supporting actor, and steals every scene he is in. Another great performance to watch is Simon Pegg as Scotty. He brings the comical personality of the chief engineer. There are many other great performances in the movie, including a great cameo by Leonard Nimoy! This film balances intense action and hilarious dialogue.

The music of this film is amazing! Instead of using the Jerry Goldsmith theme, which was also the theme of The Next Generation, composer Michael Giacchino used the original series' extraordinary theme music. The music is a vital part of the emotional experience in this movie.

Overall this is one of the most exciting films released in years, with great performances to accompany it. The special effects are brilliant and the music is extraordinary. I did not want to give the plot away but let me just say that it is very satisfying. This film exceeded all expectations that I had for it. It is simply a sci-fi masterpiece.

Star Trek

4 Out of 4 stars

The Godfather: Coppola Restoration

In the early 70's, The Godfather and The Godfather Part II exploded on the silver screen. The films dominated the box office as well as the Academy Awards, winning Best Picture in 1972 and 1974 respectively. The films brought Marlon Brando out of an acting slump. Al Pacino, James Caan, Talia Shire, Robert Duvall, and Diane Keaton were now at the top of the "A" list of Stars. Robert De Niro won his first Oscar for his performance in the second film. Francis Ford Coppola went from living off of nothing to being one of the greatest directors of all time. Over the last 30 years, both films have stood the test of time, but the negatives have not been so lucky. The images have become so faded that we do not know what the original film looked like in its full glory. Until now...

Francis Ford Coppola returned to his two greatest cinematic achievements to begin a restoration that would last years. He turned to Robert A. Harris to lead the restoration project. Harris' previous projects include Lawrence of Arabia, Spartacus, My Fair Lady, Vertigo, and Rear Window. Harris and his team begin a process that lasted many years. The end result is far more than fans could have ever hoped for.

The Coppola Restoration includes the '72 and '74 films, as well as the third film which was released in 1990. The Godfather Part III is a very well made film but doesn't quite reach the heights the first two did. I bought my Coppola Restoration a few weeks after it was released and was excited to see the finished product. I was completely blown away!

The picture is one of the greatest restorations that I have ever seen. The original negative was extremely faded and the colors were not vivid. Now you see every color for all it's worth. The picture is full of rich reds and yellows. The dark scenes are more clear and the outside shots look as if they are actually outside. The entire picture has been restored to a digital look. The sound has also been remastered to a 5.1 surround sound format. This film has never looked or sounded better.

This link include some more great information about the release. You can also scroll down and see pictures comparing the original negative with the restored negative.

http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/34769/godfather-the-coppola-restoration-giftset-the/

This wonderful set includes: All three films in addition to two extra discs full of special features! This set is sure to be a hit with any Godfather fan...buy your copy today!

The Godfather Restoration

4 out of 4 stars

Picture courtesy of Google images

Mickey Rourke is back!

Twenty years ago, Randy "The Ram" Robinson used to be the greatest wrestler of all time. Today, he is struggling to pay rent on his broken down trailer. To make ends meet, he wrestles in fixed matches in different underground clubs. The only two women in his life are an exotic dancer and his daughter; one only considers him a client and the other doesn't even consider him. Randy retires to make more time to fix his life. This is the beginning of a journey that will change him and everyone around him.

This was one of the most brutally true movies that I have ever seen. The highlight of the film is the performance by Mickey Rourke. Rourke is so convincing in this role that sometimes we wonder if he is even acting. In Rourke's real life, he has had many experiences in this type of sport, becoming a professional boxer decades earlier, which brings even more intensity to the role. In some of the scenes you cheer for him, in others you scream at him in anger. Rourke gives one of the greatest performances that I have ever seen in a film. Two other performances are worth mentioning, Marisa Tomei and Evan Rachel Wood. Tomei plays Cassidy, a stripper who Randy feels a connection with. Wood plays Stephanie, Randy's daughter, who wants nothing to do with him. Both supporting roles were brilliant.

The films director, Darren Aronofsky, has brought a unique look to this film. As with his earlier films, Aronofsky mixes fast editing and extreme close-ups. The camera for the most part interacts with the characters in the film, from walking the streets to standing in the ring. The masterful documentary style brings an honest look to Randy's dishonest life.

I will always remember this movie. The powerful impact of Randy's self discovery will stick with you long after viewing.

The Wrestler

4 out of 4 stars

Picture courtesy of Google images.

Was Henry Poole Here?

I just finished watching a little movie called Henry Poole is Here. Henry Poole moves back to his old neighborhood, and right off the bat we see that he is clearly at a low point in his life. He doesn't seem to care much about anything in his life. We learn that Henry does not plan to be around very long. Is he going to die? We don't know yet. One day Henry notices a stain on the side of his house. He thinks it is just a mildew stain, but his neighbors are convinced they are looking at the face of Jesus. Soon Henry's backyard is filled with people who want a glimpse of the miraculous. Henry's life begins to change dramatically as miracles start to take place and he is tested spiritually.





This film is very good. It is one of the most inspiring movies I have seen in a long time. Luke Wilson does an amazing job in this film as Henry. In my opinion, Wilson should have at least received an Oscar nomination for his role in the movie. He gives us a truly remarkable performance.





My only problem with this movie is its pace. The film had many scenes that dragged on and on. Twenty minutes in I was left scratching my head asking myself, "Is the entire movie going to be this slow?" I gave the movie a chance and am glad I did.





This movie should be seen by anyone who is in the mood for some inspiration, but keep in mind it does start out slow.





Henry Poole is Here


3 out of 4 stars

Photo found @ Movieposters.com

I love the Cinema!

This is my very first movie blog. I have loved movies since I was little and have always liked to talk about them. In fact, most of my conversations with my friends are about movies. My goal for this blog is to share my views on movies that I have watched in the past and the movies that are currently in my DVD player. I welcome your comments and look forward to reading your thoughts.