Popcorn and Some Positive Reviews

A lot of these were in theaters quite a while ago, but better late than never!

 

Avatar 3D Re-release: Just as Good as Last Time.

I went to see the re-release of Avatar because my boyfriend was not fortunate enough to see it in 3D when it was originally in theaters. I was hesitant about seeing the film again because although it was fantastic, I have seen it SO MANY times and was worried I would be bored. Luckily I had about 9 extra minutes of footage to look forward to! While many of the extra scenes were gratuitous at best (I mean, they had to show the actual alien sex scene)- there were a couple that really added something extra that was missing. The addition of the scene where Tsu'tey dies really does add closure to his story and serves as a more tangible re-entry of Jake Sully into the clan. The sex scene between Jake and Neytiri must have been for the people who couldn't figure out how it all worked, although I thought that seemed pretty straightforward the first time. If anything it might have de-sexualized the sex (if that makes any sense) because the bond is formed in the same way as all other bonds with the creatures of Pandora; either that or it more sexualizes those other bonds- yet another case of the "rape-like" interaction between Jake and the flying creature. Also, seeing the film again on the big screen re-drew attention to oddities like the fact that the Avatars had 5 fingers on each hand while the natives had only four. Overall just as enjoyable as the many other times I had seen the film with a little more closure to some storylines.

 

The Expendables: Entertaining, but Expendable.

Entertainment: 3.2/5

Story: 3/5

Film: 2/5

Average: 2.7/5

The biggest problem with this film was that it was by Stallone and all about Stallone- I understand that it was a gimmick to have all THE action stars, but if you've got 'em, use 'em! There was so much potential with all these great action heroes, but the movie was simply too caught up in one man; it really needed to utilize its full arsenal. It wasn't a bad movie, in fact it had some great comedic and action moments, but that's all they were-- moments. Image from crazycritics.com

The Last Airbender: Good, but Not Great

Entertainment: 2.5/5

Story: 2.5/5

Film: 2.5/5

Average: 2.5/5

"Good, but not great." Kinda says it all. This is definitely a film that is a part of a series and in that sense it made me want to see what comes next, but I'm worried that that may only because I found this first installment lacking. There were some great effects, but when a potentially major film is supposed to be carried by kids, it often comes up short. Image from entertainmentflicks.com.

Toy Story 3: A Heartwarming End to The Toy Story.

Entertainment: 4/5

Story: 4/5

Film: 4/5

Average: 4/5

In many ways this film brought an end to an era for many of us. It was such a heartwarming and tender end while simultaneously serving as a kind of a beginning for a new generation. Really wonderful. Image from disneydreaming.com

Robin Hood: An Intriguing Twist to the Legend.

Entertainment: 3.5/5

Story: 4/5

Film: 3.5/5

Average: 3.7/5

This is not the romantic tale we normally think of when we think of the legend of Robin Hood; the romance has been stripped away and a more dark reality has replaced it, and I kinda like it. Don't get me wrong, I'm a girl that loves some romance, but there's something about taking a legend and trying to recreate the possible reality that offers so much potential to a film- the chance to travel back in time and get a glimpse of real life. Cate Blanchett steals my breath away as Marion, a disenchanted version of our beloved princess, she is actually an un-merry widow. She is rough and beautiful, and her challenging circumstances make her a more powerful heroine. Russell Crowe's performance is reminiscent of "Gladiator" but without the same charisma and magic. His performance really fell short for me, but he did fit the rugged outlaw-type. I don't think I would have enjoyed this film in the same way if it were not for Cate Blanchett. Although many critics didn't really look kindly on this interpretation of the beloved legend, I found it to be powerful and refreshing and insightful.

Image from cinemovie.net.

The Karate Kid: Surprisingly Impressive, but Don't Pretend to Remake a Classic.

Entertainment: 3.5/5

Story: 3.5/5

Film: 4/5

Average: 3.7/5

I went in to the theater not expecting much, I mean it's a remake of "The Karate Kid" but they don't even do karate (it's Kung Fu!)- that alone made me question the quality of the film. But I was so pleasantly surprised. Jaden Smith really turned out a captivating performance and proved himself a force to be reckoned with as he gets older and hones his skills. And Jackie Chan's subtle performance was outstanding; he was able to move away from the goofy comedic actor from the "Rush Hour" films and really provide a serious and deep performance and still give us subtle comedic moments. Really enjoyable, even if there were moments that were too absurd for words (like the snake hypnosis moment during the final fight scene). I was impressed, but I really don't think they should have worried about calling it "The Karate Kid"- especially since he was doing Kung Fu and not karate!

Image from cinemovie.tv