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Season of the Witch

Genres Adventure / Drama / Fantasy Release Date January 7, 2011

Directed by Dominic Sena. Starring Nicolas Cage, Ron Perlman, and Stephen Campbell Moore.


	Two buddy knights desert their Church army and find themselves working for the Church once again on a journey through evil woods to deliver a witch to a Monk's sanctuary so they can deal with her.	Season Of The Witch is the tale of two devout Christian knights who have grown weary of their involvement in the Crusades, slaying innocent men, women and children. After being imprisoned for refusal to uphold their oath to serve the church in battle, they are forced to transport a woman who has confessed to witchcraft to the tribunals where she is to be tried for her practices.	Season of the Witch is a medieval tale set during the portion of the Crusades effected by the Black Death. It offers an explanation of the origins of the plague being caused by a woman suspected of being a witch. It's the job of a rag-tag group of a couple of knights, a priest, and a few other village people to transport this witch to trial at a monastery. Can they all make it to the monastery and try the witch before the plague takes more lives?
It's like...		A 14th Century Get Him To The Greek	Robin Hood meets Drag Me to Hell.

♪♬ Do you believe in magic, in a young girl's heart? ♬♪	If magic was real, this movie would have disappeared	A young girl's...? Yes. Then they get old and vile.	Ummm...what?!
Which Nicolas Cage showed up in this movie?	The one that didn't care to be in the movie	Not the drunk one from Leaving Las Vegas... That's for damn sure.	The same one that showed up in his last five disaster movies. Somebody seriously needs to fire his agent!
The Look	This looked like a million other movies. It's a period piece set in the time of the Crusaders with medieval castles and towns built out of straw that a pig would blow down.	It definitely had that early 1300s look it set out for. Most of the settings resembled those things I only remember from high school history class with castles, forts, and miles upon miles of barren land reserved for battle.	The movie is set in 14th century Europe, complete with castles and stone bridges and plenty of filth to make for realistic looking sewage running through the streets. However, the long shots looked very much like backdrops and it was very apparent that you were looking at a set. The lighting (mostly an orange glow in the scenes set around villages) had a major role in this effect as well. I won't even bother getting into the lack of effort put into the CGI...

The Feel	It felt as if the cast and crew just slapped this movie together with no ambition or heart. There were a lot of dead scenes and disconnected segments. If this movie was in a race, it wouldn't even get a ribbon for participation.	Its got a quite confusing feel to it. At some points it truly seems like a 14th century work, but then Cage & Perlman transition their dialog to a more modern dialect, removing you from the intended setting. It has it's moments of darkness but, as with most other aspects of the film, very little is consistent across the board.	SOTW was advertised as a thriller but nothing about it was thrilling. It attempted a "twist" at the end, but it was much too late to try to salvage the film by that point. Between the unsophisticated humor and the delayed climax, I FELT like walking out more than once.
The Story	This is a mashup of a buddy movie, period movie, supernatural movie, and road trip movie. The mashup didn't work...it had all the boring parts and none of the good elements from each of those genres.	The story was lame. It seemed like it was just a setup for what was supposed to be stellar performances, especially one from Claire Foy in her role as the witch. Sadly, the acting never shines through.	The story attempted to tie actual historical events to the tale to make it more relatable to the audience. I usually appreciate that (see: Salt) but most people, myself included, can't relate to the Middle Ages, so why bother with the obscure references? What do I care if they fought the Battle of Smyrna in 1337? Get on with the story, man! As mentioned before, there is a slight "twist" at the end that does nothing to save this fiasco of a film. I was able to figure out part of the twist as the movie progressed, and you probably will too, which makes the whole deal less radical and more overdue.
Favorite Part	Anytime Ron Perlman (aka Hellboy) spoke.	The opening sequence with the hanging of the three suspected witches was kinda cool. It's not great, but you're asking for my 'favorite' part, so there you have it.	When Nic's character and his buddy deserted the army. They may not have had a clear cut plan and they knew well the risks involved by deserting, but their morals were much stronger than their desire to continue fighting the church's "righteous" war.
The Worst Part?	Anytime anyone else spoke.	The great reveal at the end, which really ends up being quite 'less than great' because at that point, I no longer cared about anything going on.	The rope bridge scene. You kept waiting for something to happen and the direction built the scene up to make it seem as though something would happen, but nothing really ever did happen. Don't get my heart racing for no reason!

Last Words	This movie actually could've been kind of cool with the same storyline but executed a lot differently...like well. At least it wasn't in 3D...	The movie sucked. Don't go see it. Avoid it like the plague it portrays.	I wasn't at all disappointed by this movie. Only reason being that I went into the theater expecting to be disappointed. But, hey, there are those who will love this movie. Plenty of people at my screening were laughing harder than I'm sure the director even intended. That got to be quite annoying after a while, though, so if you're on the fence like I was, wait for this one to come on local TV in a couple of years and don't bother fast-forwarding through the commercials. I found out after watching the movie that it was initially set to release last March but had some tough contenders to go up against so the studio pulled its release until now. I suspect they chose this weekend since its only competition is a movie about a washed up country singer. Or maybe it has something to do with the star's birthday... Either way, it is bound to bring in more now than it would've then.
Was it a witch? Float or Sink?	SKIP IT!	SKIP IT!	SKIP IT!

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TRON: Legacy

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Genres Action / Adventure / Sci-fi Release Date December 17, 2010

Directed by Joseph Kosinski. Starring Jeff Bridges, Garrett Hedlund, and Olivia Wilde.


	TRON: Legacy is the highly anticipated sequel to the cult favorite Tron. It starts off where Tron didn't end. It's a totally different feel from the original but imo, went in all the wrong directions and made me feel dirty.	Tron: Legacy is the sequel to that old movie Tron. Tron flopped at the box office but developed a cult following. Tron: Legacy is gonna do the same. But I'm in that cult. Theatre concession stand Kool-Aid is delicious.	Tron Legacy is the long awaited followup to the 1982 film, Tron. It picks up with Flynn having disappeared shortly after being appointed CEO of ENCOM and leaving his only son orphaned and in the care of his grandparents. Fast forward 20+ years as his rebellious son investigates a page seemingly sent from within his father's office and finds his way into The Grid where Flynn is trapped. Will it be possible for Flynn and son to escape before the portal to the outside world closes forever?	TRON: Legacy is the sequel to TRON revolving around Kevin Flynn's disappearance and his son Sam Flynn's quest to find and bring him back from the Grid.
It's like...	I'll have to get back to you on that one	TRON	This year's Alice in Wonderland.	...

Did you see the original Tron?	Yup.	Yes I did	When I was 12, and only part of it because I got bored with it after 20 minutes.	If I did, I don't remember.
Daft Punk didn't age much, huh?	You're an idiot.	Shh… I don't think im supposed to be saying this, but one time me and Thomas were grabbing a drink and a bite at the pub and he accidentally revealed a secret. That pyramid is the fountain of youth.	Time moves slower on The Grid. Duh!	Irrelevant.
Who would win in a fight? Young Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges), Old Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges), or Clu (Jeff Birdges)?	The Dude, man!	Young Kevin Flynn, duhh... He's made of CGI.	Old Flynn is more experienced and knowledgeable.	Trust the Zen, trust Old Flynn.
Which game would you play? Disc Wars or Light Cycles?	Light Cycles, I would probably kill myself in my own trail but those bikes are just too cool!	Disc Wars, man. The only two points of contact vehicle I ride are my legs.	Light Cylcles! I play real-life Light Cycles everyday on the freeway! :-P	Light Cycles, hands down. Everyone's got the need for speed.
The Look	It looked pretty but it was pretty dark through the whole movie. Except for a few distinct scenes, the 3D was a waste and I didn't feel immersed in the environments. After about 20 minutes in The Grid, I was bored of it and wanted to get out!	Dude, it looked sick. Everything was so bright and neon and had a very crisp quality to it (whatever that even means). Oh, and I loved the glow that filled the room. Oh, and I didn't think Olivia Wilde could be any hotter than she is on House, but she looked it here. Oh, and although I am usually against 3D, I liked it here. There were times when I took the IMAX 3D glasses off to remind myself that I wasn't actually there.	From the trailer, you get a sense that this is going to be the most visually stimulating movie of the year. In all actuality, it is, but I was disappointed by the amount of 2D content, which was between 35 and 50% of the movie. I was also not too happy about the graphics used to create the youthful Bridges. At first sight, it was creepy, but when inside The Grid, it's not unbearably distracting.	Totally dark with a big graphics light show throughout, which would have been fine in complete 2D.

The Feel	The feeling was epic. This is a monstrous movie with a lot behind it and a lot in it. There's already a backstory thanks to the original film but on top of that, the creators of Legacy decided to add a whole lote more mumbo jumbo into this one. There are huge crowd scenes which make you feel like a peon and there's this whole end of the world thing going so yeah, epic.	It felt like experiencing warm apple pie for the first time. So Epic.	I will admit I was as excited to see this movie as I was to see Avatar this time last year. My excitement quickly faded as the movie slowly unfolded before me. The pace was slow but not the least bit steady. I felt like I was watching a mini-series that climaxed early and was only finishing the season to appease the few fans they had remaining still interested in how it would all end. Kinda like "Lost." You know, I still don't know how that ended?? But anywho...	You could sense that the makers were trying to make it monumental and heroic, but the staleness of the script barely keeps your attention and never puts you on the edge of your seat. That being said, though, you could still pick up on the effort to make the whole thing feel massive in sensory stimulation yet with little to no emotional encouragement.
The Story	What story?	The story is the weak point of the film, and I still feel it sufficed. It was just slow at times, but I felt the buildup was necessary to create that epic feel.	The story was the simplest I've seen for a Disney movie since Catch that Kid. But try as they might, they couldn't make it anymore complex than it actually is. You are introduced to characters you care nothing about and realize you didn't have to because they're gone in the next scene. Flashbacks are interspersed with present day with irregular flow patterns to the point where you think to yourself, "That could have really just been narrated without the colorful illustration for all the good it did."	With so simple a script, there's not much else to say.
Favorite Part	Olivia Wilde in the those tight leather pants :D.	<---------	The light cycle races, of course! I especially liked the detail put into the bikes themselves and the initial buildup phase as the light sticks are pulled apart to activate them.	The neon suits, even Zeus' and his sidekick's outfits. For some reason they make the characters look sharp and untacky, which is a big upgrade from 1982. Can I get one for Halloween?
The Worst Part?	The part where nothing happened...so just about the whole thing.	Anytime CGI Jeff Bridges smiled	Towards the end, when Flynn was going into yet another flashback explanation of what he's been up to in The Grid all the time he's been missing, I was so bored my eyes actually relaxed several times as I fell into mini-naps. Snoozefest!	Is it me or is Clu/Young Flynn in CGI really, really creepy...like Polar Express creepy?

Last Words	We're going to have another Star Wars rebellion on our hands. Joseph Kosinski meet George Lucas.	Everyone is hating on this movie. This movie is to the original Tron what Desperado is to El Mariachi. It's a remake, modernized and altered just enough to pass as a sequel. And I liked Tron, Desperado & El Mariachi.	I have been disappointed by movies in the past but this one hurt the most. They could have reappointed more of the budget to the script and direction to save this horrific production.	The lights and music are enough to bring kids and other victims of boredom to marvel at the awesome effects, but unless you're part of the original cult, your 3D money is better spent elsewhere. Like I said, I don't remember watching the first TRON, and I suspect that 20 years down the line from now, I likely won't remember much from TRON Legacy.
end of line.	SKIP IT!	SEE IT!	SKIP IT!	SKIP IT!

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Black Swan

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Genres Drama / Thriller Release Date December 17, 2010

Directed by Darren Aronofsky. Starring Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, and Vincent Cassel.


	Black Swan is a thrilling rendition of Swan Lake continually overlapping over itself as the ballet production, life of Nina Sayers, and the movie itself all share the same twisted storyline.	BLACK SWAN is the tale of Nina Sayers, an up and coming ballet star, and her quest to shed her white swan nature in an attempt to embody the essence of the black swan, for her ballet company’s production of Swan Lake.	Black Swan is a psychological thriller that explores the world of ballet and takes you deep into the solo ballerina's struggle for perfection. But could somebody be out to knock her from her top spot?	Black Swan is a theatrical thriller about a ballet dancer's struggle to be perfect. It's packed with twisted conventional drama and the right cast to deliver stunning performances. The screenplay is good, really good. It may even confuse you.
It's like...	The Neverending Story for adults where the book is the ballet production.	REQUIEM FOR A DREAM meets CENTER STAGE	I'm not sure what it's like...kind of The Others meets Shutter Island-- just not as spooky.	Fight Club (but with female characters battling it out in a dance company) with Center Stage (but revolving around a smaller, deeper cast).

Would you be the White Swan or the Black Swan?	White Swan. I'm too nice.	I’d be the white swan because I’m way too forgiving	I AM the Black Swan!	Black. The color matches better with everything, especially with my crimson wardrobe. The Black Swan knows what she wants and how to get it. After all, the film wants the audience and characters to gravitate toward this fun, carefree black swan persona, aka my persona.
How about that kiss??	dayuuuuum. love me some Mila Kunis...Natalie Portman was there too. Hold on, picturing it again in my head...awesome.	It was good while I watched it, but I had completely forgotten about it by the next day.	Wasn't meant for my benefit, but I don't feel they gave Megan Fox and Amanda Seyfried a run for their money...	You know, they actually cast me to fill in for Mila Kunis' stunt in that scene. Natalie's a good kisser, if you couldn't tell from watching. And no, she didn't bite me.
What did you think of the dancing?	I was really impressed...I kept looking for doubles but it looks like Natalie and Mila did a lot of training and pulled it off quite well.	The dancing was not only phenomenal, but it was shot very well. That being said, I know absolutely nothing about ballet	It was great, but didn't grab my attention as much as everything else. I mostly was surprised by how well the actresses danced being that they're, well, actresses	My expertise lies in the footwork of escaping people not performing arabesques in front of them, but the dancing is impressive. Shows how hard the actresses trained.
The Look	It had a grainy feel of a handheld camera which made it feel real and amateur as if the cast of the ballet were filming themselves. Every now and then it got completely demonic and dark but then pulled back to still be dark but...normal. It was friggen cool.	It was shot very well, with even the dancing scenes grabbing my attention despite my lack of care for ballet.	I loved the angles BS was shot in, especially the shots of Natalie Portman's back, portraying her constant worry that somebody is out to get her.	Apparently, it looks like eye candy to most of the male population. To me, it looked twisted, but realistic until all the goose skin and feathers started popping out. That almost ruined the end. Almost.

The Feel	This movie is incredible tense at points. It'll make you squirm in your seat and turn away from the screen. But then other times you're just in a joyous emotion of wonderment...obviously one feeling for the Black Swan and the other for White. It's also funny, sexy, and depressing at points...it'll get you on every level.	It was really dark, which in my opinion is what made everything else about the film so good.	I was so immersed in the movie that I felt as paranoid as Nina, expecting something to reveal itself with every scene change. It was a good jumpy, though.	To some, it may feel confusing at times. It feels dark, but exciting. It keeps you on your toes (notice the pun?)--kind of like how I make a living.
The Story	The story is the classic Swan Lake remixed in the mind of a mad man! The director decides to combine the White and Black Swain into one role which basically destroys the life of Nina, the Swan Queen. As she strives for perfection, she has to battle the personal swans inside. I love the way there are so many similarities on the different levels of the story.	was quite captivating in that it’s about the production of a ‘swan lake’ show, yet the life of Portman’s character parallels the role she’s preparing to partake in.	Having never heard the story of Swan Lake, I appreciated the background on the ballet as well as enjoyed watching the parallels unfold on the screen. I might be able to watch a Swan Lake ballet without falling asleep. Might...	The story drives the film. The plot goes hand in hand with the ballet being performed, so it's important for the audience to know the story of Swan Lake to interpret what's going on with Nina & company.
Favorite Part	The emotions you can see on the actors' faces are priceless...they did such a good job in this one.	The constant scenes where Nina envisioned somebody else to be herself	The end. And I don't mean that in the usual sense. It just took me until the very end to realize just how good a movie BS is.	Nina's realization in her dressing room before the final act. It all comes together for her, and for those in the audience who are still staying with the movie at that point.
The Worst Part?	Knowing this movie won't get a wider release and be accepted by the average moviegoer.	Walking out and watching the confused look on the faces of people that didn’t get it. It was an amazing film, but I’m sure it’s going to go over a lot of heads. Sucks to be them.	The hangnail. Shudders I can't look at a hangnail the same after that scene. Definitely not for the squeamish...	The train ride with creepy old guy. If they cut that scene out, nobody would miss it.

Last Words	This makes me wanna see the ballet...almost.	Its a really good film. Natalie Portman went all out for this role portraying a woman going all out for her role.	You'll walk out of the theatre questioning your own sanity--it's that intense!	For having a storyline that's been done time and time again, this film will still grab you until after the credits. Pay attention and don't blink.
Black or White?	SEE IT!	SEE IT!	SEE IT!	SEE IT!

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The Fighter

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Genres Drama / Biography / Sport Release Date December 17, 2010

Directed by David O. Russell. Starring Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale, and Amy Adams.


	The Fighter is a biopic of Micky "Irish" Ward, a boxer from Lowell, Massachusetts who has to battle his family, town's expectations, and himself to become the fighter he wants to be.	"The Fighter" is about the early career of boxer Micky Ward. Micky is trying to make a name for himself in boxing, training under the shadow of brother Dicky Eklund, a washed-up boxer trashed by drug addiction and trouble with the law. Micky has to decide whether he wants to continue with the guidance of his trouble-making brother and mother or abandon his attached family for outside parties (including a love interest) promising him greater opportunities in the boxing arena.
It's like...	Rocky on crack.	Any other boxing movie inspired by an "incredible true story."

Have you heard of Micky Ward or Dicky Eklund before the movie?	nope	Nope.
Christian Bale was a crazy good crackhead, you think he smoked up for this role?	I dunno about this role, but I'm sure he's done stuff before...the dude sold that part way too well!	Probably. How else would he have gotten that skeletally scrawny?
Which sister was the ugliest?	omg, all of them...did people really use to look like that?	The one with a mustache, or was that all of them? Hey, fun fact: Conan O'Brien's sister was cast as one of the sisters. And she looks just like Coco.
Where the hell is Lowell and would you ever visit?	It's near Boston and right next to the dump. I wouldn't even drive through that town.	The accents give you a general idea. Somewhere in Massachusetts? I..don't..think I'll visit any time soon. I'm afraid of the sisters and their offspring.
The Look	The Fighter was shot in many different ways. It starts off as a documentary, has some close personal shots, mock archival footage and old boxing special tapes, mixed in with a couple montages.	It looks like the boxing movies made before it. Part of the cinematography includes documentary style.

The Feel	It felt grungy while in the boxers' hometown and grand while in the ring. There were a lot of different camera shots that kept the movie moving and giving you different perspectives.	Intense and dramatic. The acting is so good and on point that you can feel the emotional fervor in your bones.
The Story	This follows the true life story of Micky "Irish" Ward. It's a typical rise to greatness story mixed with the family drama of middle America in the 80s and 90s (yes, just a few years ago!)	The story is typical in the scheme of things: boxer goes through tough challenges to make it big in the boxing world. But the fact that the plot gets personal is what makes the drama so good, which is how other boxing films have become successful.
Favorite Part	The ending where the culmination of everything that Micky had to endure comes to fruition. It actually gets really emotional and is quite powerful. It'll make you tear up a bit.	Whenever Amy Adams' character got feisty with Micky's mother and/or sisters.
The Worst Part?	There are a lot of weird cuts primarily in the beginning and middle of the film that just seem out of place as if the director was trying too hard to impress.	Can't think of any at the moment. Every scene seemed necessary.

Last Words	This was the best sports film of the year. It has its flaws but it's a great story that I'm glad was told. It's true Americana and a snapshot of an era that probably could have only been done right with the main characters still alive giving their two cents. (Dicky and Micky are both still alive).	This film isn't just about boxing or even the road to beat the tests and trials towards success. It's about balancing home, security, and family with love, chance, and sensibility. The performances are Oscar-worthy for sure.
Knockout?	SEE IT!	SEE IT!

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The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

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Genres Adventure / Family / Fantasy Release Date December 10, 2010

Directed by Michael Apted. Starring Ben Barnes, Skandar Keynes, and Georgie Henley.


	Third installment of the popular family-friendly action adventure Chronicles of Narnia inspired by the Bible...I mean C.S. Lewis' Bibles!	Some kids go to the magical Narnia to help a king save some "Lords" whose disappearance has brought forth an evil that resides on a distant island. Really?!?
It's like...	Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, and The Golden Compass but with faith.	Alice In Wonderland meets Pirates of The Carribbean
Did you read the books or see the other movies?	I was actually supposed to read these in school but I'm not a reader...I prefer movies ;) I did see the first one but the 2nd one seemed to slip by me...must've been out flying.	I'm not much of a reader.
Did you feel like you were being preached to?	YES. I couldn't stand it...it was so blatant.	I didn't feel like it as the movie progressed, but probably because I hadn't seen any Narnia flicks before and didn't know it was essentially a Sunday Mass. That being said, after I made all the correlations, I kinda felt religion dirty and wanted to roll around in some mud.
Who would win in a fight, the Narnia kids or Harry Potter?	Harry Potter, hands down. He's got magic and an army of girl groupies...what do they have? God!?	The Potter kids, duhh... Magic trumps religion every time.
Why do Narnian animals know how to sword fight?	I have no idea...why do Narnian kids know how to sword fight? And when are we going to see some machine gun action in Narnia...they have them in the war in the real world...	All animals sword fight... Just not when man is around.
The Look	Have you ever stared at the ocean? It looked like that...most of the movie is set on a boat. And not like I'm on a boat! with T-Pain.	It looked like your typical live action / expensive for no reason CGI hybrid film. There's people fighting animals, all kinds of artificial scenic 'shots', and lots and lots of fake fog. The Dark Island or whatever its called made an attempt at being really dark and dreary, and I guess it kinda achieved it in the purely aesthetic sense.
The Feel	These movies go for the epic feel mixed with an adventure mystery. The whole movie has you pondering why the kids are there in the first place and it builds until the epic battle climax.	The movie had a false sense of epicness. It was all grandeur, yet I felt nothing ever really happened worthy of the the scale on which it was presented.
The Story	The two younger Pevensie kids get drowned into Narnia with their useless cousin Eustace. They board the Dawn Treader where they join King Caspian in a quest to convert everyone into Christians...I mean Narnians.	A bunch of people and animals get sucked into a picture & they have to help the people on a ship rescue their lords.
Favorite Part	Liam Neeson as God.	Ending Credits
The Worst Part?	The overbearing religious slant.	Opening Credits
Last Words	These movies are too much for me...they're targeted to churches and religious groups. It's kind of hypocritical for me to watch all these religious lessons and see kids wielding swords.	This movie was like a nap taking scrimmage game. Got in a bit of practice and afterwards I felt I was ready to take on a full night's sleep.
Dawn Treader or Yawn Treader?	SKIP IT!	SKIP IT!

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