Movie Review: Titanic

Warning: May contain spoilers. You've been warned.

(out of four stars)

Happy New Year! As promised, a movie review for my all-time favorite movie! Naturally, I'd give it four stars. Haha. Here we go!

My History

Before we start, I just want to explain my unusual history with Titanic. I was 8 years old when this movie came out and before even seeing it, I became obsessed with it. I don't even know how to explain it. Everybody else in my class was saying how amazing it was (don't ask why 8 year-olds were watching that movie) so I wanted to love it too.

Sadly, I never saw it in theaters (which is why I'm so excited for the movie to be rereleased in 3D), but I made my dad go out and buy it for me the day it was released on VHS! Then I finally saw it and fell in love. To this day, I stand by that movie, it's actors, and the ship itself. I'm quite impressive with the knowledge I have about the ship itself. I'm a loser like that.

So that's my odd, random, and bizarre history with the movie Titanic. Now on with the show.

Story

We'll get the bad out of the way first.

Okay, bad is a strong word, but we all know that originality isn't James Cameron's strongest area. Pocahontas Avatar.... nuff said. Many would say that Titanic is Romeo and Juliet on a boat which is partially true.

The story that everybody focusses on is the most obvious one that Jack and Rose (J and R or Romeo and Juliet) want to be together but Rose is riches and Jack is rags and their love is forbidden. But mix in the fact that Rose and her mother are simply trying to keep their upper-class status although they are far in debt because of Rose's father's death and the story gets better. Rose is being forced to marry her fiancé, Cal, by her mother because of his wealth.

But that's all just the flashback! Let's going to present day where Brock Lovett is searching for the Heart of the Ocean, a priceless diamond that Cal gave to Rose while on the Titanic. Brock is desperate to find it and uses old-lady Rose to get information as to where it is.

So the story isn't Oscar-worthy. I would never say that it is. But I don't think people are very fair when judging it. Think past the obvious and you'll see a better story. Not amazing, but decent. Remember, it is James Cameron. The only amazing original thing he created was the Terminator!

The Actors and their Acting

Breakthrough and career-launching performances for Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet. Everybody gave amazing performances. Kate Winslet and Gloria Stuart both received Oscars for their portrayals of Rose.

I personally enjoyed watching Leo, Kate, Billy Zane (Cal), Frances Fisher (Rose's mother), Ewan Stewart (Murdoch), Victor Garber (Thomas Andrews), Bernard Hill (Captain Smith), and Kathy Bates as Molly Brown.

Directing

James Cameron may be a Nazi, controlling, perfectionist, but he wouldn't have gotten the Oscar for best director if he wasn't. Kate Winslet said that she would never work with him again unless she was paid a lot of money. Apparently, while filming Avatar, if anyone's cell phone went off while shooting, he'd nail it to the wall.

Special and Visual Effects

This movie did an amazing job with its effects…. particularly visual. During production, they only built half of the ship and used a mirror image to complete it.

The movie won Oscars for its costumes, music, sound, art direction, cinematography, visual effects, film editing, and sound effects editing. And they were all well deserved!

Overall

Nothing will ever be able to top this movie for me. I've loved it for 13 years now and I doubt anything will change that. It's one of the most underrated overrated movies made. It deserved all of the Oscars it won. I love it.

DVD Tuesday! New releases! 11/16

-Avatar: Extended Collector's Edition

-The Last Airbender

-A Christmas Carol

-The Kids Are All Right

-Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore

-Lottery Ticket

Finally, A Christmas Carol is released so I can see it! And I need to see the Last Airbender. Definitely buying Avatar. Hello, four-hour movie!

Top 50 Movies That Define the Decade (2001-2010)

With the year/decade coming to an end, I decided to compile a list of movies that I feel made an impression, will be remembered, and, essentially, defined this decade. The list is in alphabetical order so there is no ranking system. If there was, Harry Potter would take the top spot because it is a series that lasted throughout the entire decade.

These movies that are listed are movies that I have seen so if you're questioning why some aren't on there, it's probably because I haven't yet seen them, they didn't fall into the time restraints (2001-2010), or I just didn't like them. Haha. I also tried to be fair... so I included Twilight, much to my dismay, and I also tried to find movies from each year instead of focusing on those that were released recently. Also, each series represents one movie. For example, all 7 Harry Potter films count as one movie.

Enjoy!

1. Atonement (2007)

2. Avatar (2009)

3. The Bourne Series

......-The Bourne Identity (2002)

......-The Bourne Supremacy (2004)

......-The Bourne Ultimatum (2007)

4. Brokeback Mountain (2005)

5. Chicago (2002)

6. Children of Men (2006)

7. The Dark Knight (2008)

8. The Departed (2006)

9. District 9 (2009)

10. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)

11. Finding Nemo (2003)

12. Finding Neverland (2004)

13. The Harry Potter Series

......-Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001)

......-Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)

......-Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)

......-Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)

......-Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)

......-Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)

......-Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part I (2010)

14. How to Train Your Dragon (2010)

15. Inception (2010)

16. The Incredibles (2004)

17. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)

18. The Iron Man Series

......-Iron Man (2008)

......-Iron Man 2 (2010)

19. Juno (2007)

20. King Kong (2005)

21. Knocked Up (2007)

22. Lilo & Stitch (2002)

23. The Lord of the Rings Series

......-The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)

......-The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)

......-The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)

24. Minority Report (2002)

25. Monsters, Inc. (2001)

26. The Notebook (2004)

27. Pan's Labyrinth (2006)

28. Pearl Harbor (2001)

29. Peter Pan (2003)

30. The Pirates of the Caribbean Series

......-Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)

......-Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006)

......-Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (2007)

31. The Prestige (2006)

32. The Saw Series

......-Saw (2004)

......-Saw II (2005)

......-Saw III (2006)

......-Saw IV (2007)

......-Saw V (2008)

......-Saw VI (2009)

......-Saw 3D (2010)

33. Shelter (2007)

34. The Shrek Series

......-Shrek (2001)

......-Shrek 2 (2004)

......-Shrek the Third (2007)

......-Shrek: The Final Chapter (2010)

35. Slumdog Millionaire (2008)

36. The Spider-Man Series

......-Spider-Man (2002)

......-Spider-Man 2 (2004)

......-Spider-Man 3 (2007)

37. Star Trek (2009)

38. Star Wars: Episodes II and III

......-Attack of the Clones (2002)

......-Revenge of the Sith (2005)

39. Superbad (2007)

40. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)

41. Toy Story 3 (2010)

42. The Transformers Series

......-Transformers (2007)

......-Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009)

43. The Twilight Saga

......-Twilight (2008)

......-New Moon (2009)

......-Eclipse (2010)

44. United 93 (2006)

45. Up (2009)

46. V for Vendetta (2006)

47. Wanted (2008)

48. War of the Worlds (2005)

49. WALL-E (2008)

50. World Trade Center (2006)

Honorable mentions: Easy A (2010), The Hurt Locker (2008), Kick-Ass (2010), the Paranormal Activity series (2009 & 2010), Borat (2006), Mean Girls (2004), The Day After Tomorrow (2004)

Avatar: Special Edition DVD Trailer

45 minutes of new footage. That's all I'm saying.

Vote for SCREAM!

Spike TV's annual Scream Awards show is coming soon. I've never actually watched the awards, but given the subject matter of the awards (Sci-Fi, Fantasy, and Horror movies), I'll probably be watching this year.

But we need to vote!

Click here to vote for the Scream Awards!

Most of my votes went towards Inception, Avatar, Kick-Ass, Zombieland, Alice in Wonderland, etc. DO NOT VOTE FOR TWILIGHT!

Can't wait to see this movie...

Check out this video promoting You Again. If only Jamie Lee Curtis were in it! Sigourney makes this video. Just wait until the very last second...



AVATAR! Haha.

Retro Review: Avatar

Warning: May contain spoilers. You've been warned. This entry will also include spoilers for the rereleased version, Avatar: Special Edition.

Wow, a second top ten movie in the same week. Pretty impressive, right? I would have reviewed this already, but I was waiting to see the special edition with the new footage and I did not see it in the "amazing" 3D the first time around.

Well let's get right into it.

The Story

The story... let's just get that out of the way right away! James Cameron is no storywriter. The only good story he actually wrote was Terminator. In my opinion, James Cameron is best at fanfiction or taking an idea that someone else has created and take it a step further. His specialty is sequels. His original Terminator was a success, but Terminator 2 topped that and got his 4 Oscars. Ridley Scott's Alien was just okay compared to Cameron's sequel Aliens which he wrote. And then there was the AMAZING Titanic which won 11 Oscars but was NOT nominated for Writing.

Titanic and Avatar are in the same boat (bahaha). When I tell someone what I think about Titanic's story, I say it's simply Romeo and Juliet on a sinking ship, which is basically all it is. However, everybody knows what Avatar's story is. It's Pocahontas in the future. But what overpowers the unoriginal idea for a story is the portrayal of the story on another planet, in the future, with visually amazing and original aliens.

The Acting & Cast

The cast is so amazing. Sam Worthington isn't quite at his peak in his acting ability, but this role, his role in Terminator Salvation, and Clash of the Titans is really putting him out there. I think he is really good at the scenes where you feel embarrassed for him. You know... those awkward scenes. He's good at those. Haha. Zoe Saldana was superb. She was really into her character and I feel like she made it her own. Like her character's immaturity when she was told that she needed to teach Jake; she would like whine and complain like a child.

And you gotta love Sigourney! What's great about her in this movie is that, I feel, she is very real. Like I think that is how Sigourney herself would act if she were in that situation. You know, the swearing and honest and rude comments. She is amazing and I'm so sad that her character died.

And, naturally, James Cameron added a manly female character played by Michelle Rodriguez. She did the same thing in Aliens and I don't understand why he does that. It's like one of his trademarks. But, regardless, I love Michelle and her character, so it all worked out in the end.

The two bad guys are both equally assholes and annoying. Stephen Lang plays the Colonel who is in charge of the military on Pandora and Giovanni Ribisi is the man funding it all. He plays Parker and he just wants to get his hand on the unobtainium no matter who or what is standing in his way. But. But. If an actor you like (Giovanni Ribisi) can make you hate them through their acting, then they're a very good actor.

The Visual Effects & 3D

Two words... with a hyphen: mind-blowing. The visual effects at least. They had no competition in the race for the Visual Effects Oscar. It was so amazing. The entire planet was incredible, the wildlife was so inventive, and the natives were brilliant. Everything was so real looking. I also thought the neon color style was original too. The nighttime scenes were mesmerizing to watch. This vindicates James Cameron for not putting a movie out in ten years!

I went and saw it originally back in December 09 in 2D. In all honesty, 3D isn't my favorite. 3D should just be an animated kids movie thing. However, I did enjoy the 3D version of this movie when I went to see the Special Edition rerelease. At first it was annoying because there is just so much going on on-screen that it's hard to focus your eyes. Eventually my eyes adjusted, but I didn't find it as amazing as everybody says it was. It was just... 3D.

The Special Edition

The Special Edition rerelease version of the movie featured 9 minutes of new footage. You may think it's only 9 minutes... how special could it be and why would I want to sit through a now 2 hour and 50 minute movie. Well, the deleted footage, I thought, was important footage and I don't quite understand why James cut it. Yes, the movie does make sense without it, but I think it helps people understand more. One key scene that stands out the most takes place when Jake, Grace, and Norm venture out for the first time together. They walk into Grace's former school. In the regular film, they just mention that she built a school and she used to be welcome in the tribe, but then something happened and they shunned her and closed the school. But in the new scenes, they go to the deserted school, Grace explains a little (not a lot) about it, and we see bullet holes in the side of the school. So it does help the story of what happened to Grace.

Another scene was one that I just thought was so cool. They shouldn't have cut it. It's right after Jake bonds with his banshee (the flying creature) and he's just learned how to fly. The tribe is following a stampede of hammerhead titanothere and we see The People riding banshees and direhorse trying to hunt them. I just think it's an awesome scene.

Sequels

Avatar is said to be having 2 sequels. The first one is set to be released in 2014. That's a freaking long time, but since James is so good at sequels, I'm sure it'll be worth the wait. I just hope the visual effects won't be obsolete by then. Avatar 2 will have Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldana return for their roles and it is said that the focus of the story will be on Pandora's oceans, which I think will be cool. So I'm excited.

If you haven't seen Avatar in theaters yet, I'd go see it now. I don't think watching it at home has quite the same effect as on the big screen whether in 3D or not. I doubt that it will be released into theaters again for at least 25 years. Just make the time to go see it. You won't be disappointed!

TITANIC in 3D!!

I've known this was coming for probably a year, but I'm letting you know now.

James Cameron's 1997 film Titanic and my absolute favorite movie on the face of the Earth will be rereleased in theaters in 3D.

This is his current project at the moment before working on his next movie which I believe is Battle Angel and then Avatar 2.

They're hoping for it to be released in April of 2012 which will also be the 100th anniversary of the ship's sinking. I don't think there is a better way to remember that event! I will be the first one in line and the one sobbing during the movie like its my first time watching it. Haha.

I'm a total loser when it comes to this movie. I love it.

Movie Review: The Hurt Locker: Part II

Warning: May contain spoilers. You've been warned.

Click here for Part I.

So, it's been about 32 hours since I watched The Hurt Locker, and for some reason I'm still thinking about it. And like I said in part one... a Best Picture winning movie should keep you thinking after you watch it. So I decided that I should write a second part to my review to satisfy my urge to keep talking about the movie (whether I know what to say or not).

I'm not thinking about what the movie meant, but I'm more so replaying the film in my head and the more I go over it, the more I like it. It really was a good movie. It didn't have much of a story but it was still interesting to watch.

I was also thinking about movies that are about the Iraq War or terrorism in the Middle-East. Movies like The Men Who Stare At Goats, Jarhead, Body of Lies, Syriana, The Kingdom, Rendition, Brothers, In the Valley of Elah and this one. I've only seen this one, Jarhead, Syriana, and Rendition and all of these films, to me, seem to have no point (much like the war they represent) and they all flopped at the box office.

Avatar losing to this film still has me befuddled. The Hurt Locker might just be one of those movies that few understand because they look past the story. Kind of like Donnie Darko... either you get what the movie is about, or you don't (but oddly enough, that one I understood completely). I should also mention that The Hurt Locker won the Oscar for Best Screenplay. ...It beat UP!

Right now, I'm trying to decide how I would rate the movie if I had to give it a star rating. And... I'm sorry. I don't think I can. I simply suggest that you go rent the movie, or wait til it airs on television. Trust me, you won't have the need to see it until then. Avatar... you should see right away so you know what EVERYBODY else is talking about!! ;)

Official statement: I enjoyed The Hurt Locker.

Movie Review: The Hurt Locker

Warning: May contain spoilers. You've been warned.

I must say that I expected more, but I was satisfied at the same time.

I'm always confused when it comes to some Best Picture winners. When I go into watching a Best Picture Oscar winner, I expect to feel blown away when the credits start rolling at the end of the movie. I want it to get me to think. I want my adrenaline to pump. I want it to make me want to watch it over and over again. An example of a movie that doesn't do this, No Country For Old Men. Yes, that movie does make my adrenaline pump... Yes, I bought the movie... Yes, I did somewhat enjoy it... But after watching it, the only thing I thought was "what the fuck just happened?," "what kind of ending is that?"

Then I think, what criteria does the Academy have for best Best Pictures? Why did this movie beat Avatar? I found Avatar to be more entertaining and to actually have a story (although it's just Pocahontas in space).

Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed this movie. It was very intense. But I didn't think it had much of a story. We follow three soldiers around as they dismantle bombs. That's pretty much it. And then, the movie just ends. I just don't get movies like that. But I still found it entertaining. I'm in an awkward place with the movie. I will buy it though. Haha.

I LOVED(!) Jeremy Renner. He deserved that Oscar nod! I'm wouldn't go as far as to say he deserved the Oscar (because I haven't seen Crazy Heart) but he deserved the nod. I really hope he makes more mainstream films! And I'm glad Kathryn Bigelow beat her ex-husband, James Cameron, for Best Director. It's time a female won.

I'd recommend seeing the movie, but don't go into it expecting to be blown away. That's all I gotta say!

Movie Review: District 9

Warning: May contain spoilers. You've been warned.

This movie surprised me.

Prior to seeing it, I heard mixed feelings about it. Not about the story, but about how it was filmed. I heard that the entire thing was shot like a documentary. Then, I heard it wasn't. Then, I heard it was a hybrid of documentary style and normal cinematic-style. Well, I've watched it and it's the latter (meaning the hybrid).

In the beginning I thought they were going to lose me with the documentary-style of the film. I don't want to say it was boring, so I'll say it was interesting. It kept you interested. You're learning about this new alien race that lives on Earth with humans.

I want to say around 30-45 minutes into the movie, the story kicks in and the movie actually begins. It's very violent throughout and lots of swears. Just the way I like it. Lol.

The aliens are weird. Definitely like the cockroach guy from Men In Black. It's very interesting that the mothership hovers over a city in South Africa. I liked this. Even in the very, very beginning of the movie they mention that it's odd that it's not over New York City, Chicago, or Washington D.C. instead.

The movie reminded me of Blood Diamond with Leo and that black guy whose name I can never pronounce: Djimon Hounsou. Two unlikely people team up, one is only thinking of himself and the other is fighting for his son and his people. Right?

Anyways, great movie. Deserved it's Oscar nods. It was nominated for Best Picture, Best Screenplay, Best Editing, and Best Visual Effects. It lost to The Hurt Locker, Avatar, and Precious. Oh well.

New on DVD today!

NOT AVATAR!!! UGHHHH!

-The Lovely Bones (very good movie)

-Crazy Heart

-The Young Victoria

-Crazy on the Outside (At Target only)

I assumed Avatar would be out today because it's Tuesday, but no. The 22nd falls on Thursday, which is Earth Day. So I guess it makes sense. 2 days til Avatar! ;)

New on DVD today!

-The Great Mouse Detective

-Pirate Radio

-Tenderness

-Defendor

-Haunted

-Nightmare of Elm Street Collection

Nothing special... :/

Next week is Avatar!!!

Avatar to DVD!

Avatar is coming to DVD!!

Mark your calendars for April 22, 2010!

What's incredibly stupid and pisses me off is it is being released in the most basic and boring way. The Blu-ray and DVD will feature no fucking features!!

That's right. The menu and movie. That's it. First run that is. Apparently, it will be released in different editions in the future, but for now it's just the movie and the reason is that James Cameron wants to make space for the most optimal picture and sound and it's original 16:9 format.

This sucks. I don't want a plain, boring DVD and DVD case. Lame. I'll wait for the other editions. Or maybe I'll buy both. :)