Munich (2005)

A very emotionally charged movie about the horrific tragedy that happened at the 1972 Olympics in Munich. Eric Bana's character, Avner, is a Mossad agent that is tasked with a team of five to take down the 11 people responsible for planning the kidnapping and killing of the Jewish athletes at the Olympic games. Geoffrey Rush and Daniel Craig are included in the mixed group that help Avner to execute their mission. The scenery of the movie is awesome as it takes place over various different geographical locations such as France, Germany, Greece, England, New York, Beirut, and Israel. I think the overall theme of this movie is that violence doesn't solve violence, it just escalates it. I know this movie touches on a very sensitive and divided topic about the Israel/Palestine debate. I think this movie tries to make arguments for both sides of the conflict but is definitely more towards the Israel side. This movie was very well made and I loved all of the different uses of languages. I think this is a good movie to watch for a glimpse into the unfortunate struggle of these people that has been going on for too long with no end in sight and no clear solution. Maybe it will make more people aware of this situation that is still very real.

Battle: Los Angeles (2011)

So I literally just watched this movie at the theater. Basically, it was a alien/war movie. I thought the emotional component was definitely there. I thought that the movie's overall theme was our human nature being tested. Our emotional and vulnerable sides being tested against unfeeling, robotic like creatures. Aaron Eckhart plays a conflicted staff sergeant who is struggling with ending his career as a marine after a horrible combat situation and fighting for his life with a group of marines who believe he was a careless leader. The movie also had a lot of comedic relief considering the intensity throughout the movie. I did think that we could have seen more of the aliens or maybe learned more about their culture, background, etc.

Sorry it has been awhile...

It has been awhile since I last posted anything. I have more time on my hands now and so I plan on keeping up with this blog much more regularly. I have still been watching tons of movies so more reviews to definitely come.

Elizabethtown (2005)

This movie was a really touching story. The main character, Drew Baylor played by Orlando Bloom, is having a really rough time. He was supposed to be this dream child at his job and came up with this really awesome, creative design that turns out to be the biggest failure in his company's history. To add insult to injury, his father passes and he has to go back to the town his dad grew up in. At first it is odd when he goes back to this small town that seems to almost idolize his father and therefore, accepts Drew with open arms. He realizes this is a whole portion of his own history that he never knew. On the way to the town, Drew meets a very friendly, quirky stewardess played by Kirsten Dunst. She is there for him and helps him to realize his life is not over because of his failure and he should take this opportunity to do something great with it. Will he do something bold?

Sidewalks of New York (2001)

This was an interesting film, sort of set up like a documentary about romance, love, and reality. It of course takes place on the streets of New York. Basically it is a tangled web of unrequited love and lust. Sort of like a he loves her, she loves this guy over there and on and on. Stanley Tucci plays a married guy who serially has affairs on his wife played by Heather Graham, she is unhappy and is thinking about possibly sleeping with a client. Really you are wondering why a woman like Heather Graham would be with a guy like her husband. Stanley Tucci's character is not really like able and in the end gets exactly what he deserves which is quite fitting. Watch the movie and decide for yourself.

Me Without You (2001)

This was an interesting story about two girls, Holly (Michele Williams) and Marina (Anna Friel), who are the best of friends from childhood. The story starts in London in the 1970s where the girls are next door neighbors and inseparable and continues through adolescence, college and adulthood. While the girls differences are celebrate and embraced when they are young, the differences become what tries to tear the girls apart. Although I can definitely sympathize with both characters, as Marina gets older she definitely gets less likable. While I think a majority of her issues stem from her family life, selfish mother, on again/off again father, there become a point where you need to rise against the hand you were dealt. Holly's character plays more of the victim in the story which is more relate-able but at the same time you just want her to DO something about it. It seems that Holly is too afraid to take any risks, and if she isn't careful she will end of losing something substantial. I don't think this was the greatest movie but it was definitely entertaining. I think this story illustrates how people grow apart but if you let it you can learn to love the differences in people again.

Gattaca

I know this movie came out in 1997 and it is ridiculous that I am just now getting around to watching it because it was a great movie! As far as science fiction goes, I thought this was a very realistic story. The main theme throughout this movie was how unpredicatable the human spirit is. Even in situations where you have genetically altered a human being's body and mind to be as perfect as it can possible be, fate and will power still need to be taken into consideration. Another amazing aspect of the human spirit is determination. Just because an individual has every disadvantage not to succeed does not mean that you should automatically discount them. This movie tells the story about a man who is so determined to accomplish something even though the odds are stacked against him and he still manages to succeed. I could see how a society such as the one in this story where you have genetically perfect people could eventually make people very lazy. You would have the individuals who weren't perfect or the Invalids that would just give up because they thought it was impossible to make anything of themselves. And then you would have the genetically perfect individuals or the Valids who would never have to challenge themselves because there is no guessing or striving to accomplish anything because it was always possible for them. Also, just because someone is created genetically perfect does not automatically guarantee a happy ending. I thought this movie told the story in great detail and with significant human emotion. Definitely loved it!