Good Will Hunting

          Good Will Hunting is absolutely brilliant. Seriously, its about Will Hunting (Matt Damon) who is a janitor at MIT who has a genius level intellect. In order to stay out of jail, he meets with a therapist (Robin Williams) who helps him through his relationship issues. Along with the character Will Hunting, the script is brilliant. Matt Damon and Ben Affleck won an Academy Award for Best Writing (Original Screenplay). This simple screenplay skyrocketed both of their careers and propelled them into stardom. 

          I would have to say that this is one of the most well written movies that I have seen this year. However, there were some minor acting problems, which did not degrade the writing at all. I must say that I was surprised about how wonderful the writing was due to the lack of writing experience by Matt Damon and Ben Affleck.

          The humor was incredibly well placed to relieve some awkward tension and fill in some slow spots. Robin Williams easily helped this because he is a famous comedian. That being said, he played his dramatic part incredibly well which is why he won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.

          Along with being an inspiring movie, I found the actions of Damon and Affleck stimulating.  Writing an original script in their early twenties and winning an Academy Award for that is incredibly encouraging because it truly shows that age and experience don’t necessarily mean success. Hard work and persistence are what matters.  Good Will Hunting was a fantastic movie and I would recommend it to almost anyone.

Its A Wonderful Life

          Its A Wonderful Life is easily one of the best and most well known Christmas movies of all time. Its fame is huge and it is even the 30th best movie of all time according to IMDB.  Not only is Its A Wonderful Life a tradition for many families, but it also demonstrates the value of life. 

          Personally, I think that the acting in many black and white movies can be a bit overdone, but Its A Wonderful Life definitely demonstrates the opposite. Jimmy Stewart is one of the most famous actors of all time as well as one of the best. 

          While some may watch Its A Wonderful Life for its “classic Christmas” feel, I watch it because of its life lessons. This film easily show how terrible life would be without a loved one and that every person truly matters. Also, it demonstrates the true spirit of Christmas and how people should really act.

          If you haven’t seen this Christmas classic, I would definitely advise you to do so because I have never met a person who doesn’t like it. Watching Its A Wonderful Life on Christmas Eve is slowly becoming a tradition in my family and I plan on watching it every year for the rest of my life.

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

          David Fincher’s version of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo is by far one of the best movies I have seen this year, but it is also one of the darkest. Although behind the veil of darkness lies incredible lessons and morals that are usually not talked about. That being said, this film is not for everyone so please research it before seeing it. To be honest, I am surprised that nobody walked out of the theater during this movie.

          The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo has the best title sequence I have ever seen. Much like the beginning of a James Bond film, there are various human forms that appear within the scene. Fincher’s goal for the title sequence was to show Lisbeth Salander’s mind as she’s going through a nightmare, which he accomplished flawlessly. Everything is dripping in a black liquid that consumes the viewers, which symbolizes both sex and powerlessness. This opening is one of the best hooks I have seen in a movie and this scene alone should win awards.

          For the film as a whole, David Fincher’s version of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo is better than the Swedish version because the actors are more accurate to the characters, the cinematography is better, and the film sticks more closely to the book.

          One of my biggest problems with the 2009 Swedish version is that Michael Nyqvist doesn’t look like Mikael Blomkvist. I felt that Daniel Craig, despite not having a Swedish accent, fit the look of the character more accurately. 

          Also, I felt that Rooney Mara looked played Lisbeth Salander more accurately. Noomi Rapace did a phenomenal job in the Swedish film but I felt that she looked more violent and aggressive than she should. Mara, looked innocent but could quickly turn into a ruthless, violent woman which made her character more lovable and believable. It is because of her emotional innocence that the viewers feel terrible about her getting raped.

          As shown in the title sequence, the cinematography is breathtaking and absolutely astounding. Jeff Cronenweth, the cinematographer of Fight Club, and The Social Network, and The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo did a terrific job. He is known for his dim lit scenes and his shallow depth of field in order to “keep the audience focused on what we wanted them to see.” 

          The biggest reason why The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo is such an amazing film is because of how close the script sticks to the novel. Things that were left out in the Swedish film made this story much more accurate and enjoyable such as Mikael’s daughter, Erika Burger, Millennium's financial troubles, and Lisbeth’s previous guardian. Sometimes, it is the minor details that makes us feel like the film is real. These seemingly innocuous facts were added to David Fincher’s film thus making it better. Some of my favorite examples of this are Lisbeth’s hilarious T-Shirts, Tjorven the cat, and Lisbeth getting a tattoo after she was raped.

          Known for his films with dark plot lines, Fincher did a magnificent job with The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, which revolves around rape.  While the rape scenes are not enjoyable to watch, they are very crucial to the plot of the film/book.  These are some of the most disturbing scenes I have watched, so beware. However, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo was successful at exposing me to the absolute horror that is involved in rapes.

          Overall, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo is one of best movies I have seen this year. This is one of those films that I could analyze for hours and watch repeatedly. I would advise you to see the film, but be careful because the material is highly disturbing. I cannot wait for it to come out on DVD so that I can buy it and watch all of the bonus features. All I can say is that there is a reason why The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo was on the best seller list and sold 30 million copies.

In Time

         While it may not be the best movie of the year, In Time was definitely worth watching. The film’s premise comes down to the saying “time is money.” People work for hours added to their life, and spend them on things like coffee and cars. While some live with only a day left showing on their arm, others live with centuries. Therein lies Will Salis’ (Justin Timberlake’s) goal: to reset the system and make everyone equal.

          Without a doubt, In Time has one of the greatest premises’ I have ever seen. Writer and director Andrew Niccol did a phenomenal job at turning a simple phrase into a full movie. He successfully created a world where people are constantly working to stay alive while others live without any fear. Along with Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Stranger Than Fiction, In Time definitely has one of my favorite premise’s of all time.

          Before watching In Time, I was unsure of Justin Timberlake’s acting skills. I haven’t really seen him in anything big, and because he used to be in the band ‘Nsync, I assumed he wouldn’t be that great. However, I was pleasantly surprised by his performance and only noticed one time where his acting was poor. To his benefit, it was a crying scene which I imagine is the most difficult area within acting. 

          Also, I was enthralled by Cillian Murphy, who is one of my favorite actors. One of the reasons I enjoy his films is because of his versatility. Not only does he play a terrific villain like in Red Eye, Batman Begins, and In Time, but he also plays protagonists very well like in 28 Days Later, Sunshine, and Inception.

          Personally, I would not buy In Time, but I definitely do not regret watching it. If anything, I would recommend it as an enjoyable action movie that can be watched several times.

Dexter Season 6 Episode 12 "This is the Way the World Ends"

          I don’t know what to say other than how awesome this episode could have been. The tension steadily rose throughout each episode, but my hopes for the conclusion were shattered. 

          The opening scene begins by showing Dexter drifting in the ocean on a piece of the boat until it becomes waterlogged and sinks. He than is rescued by a spanish fishing boat and taken to shore. One thing that I am thankful for is that he did not “simply” swim back to the mainland. This would have been extremely unrealistic and rather disappointing, but I figured that the writers wouldn’t be this cheap.

          For one of the few times in this season, the relationship between Dexter and Harrison is actually shown. Usually the two only appear in a scene casually as Dexter arrives home, but Dexter was seen spending quality time with Harrison playing and talking. Being the last episode of the season, their relationship must wrap up somehow to begin again in the next year.

          One by one, the pieces and questions in this enormous puzzle are finally being put in place and answered. The 3 most prominent examples of this is when Dexter covered up his relationship to Travis by punching a hole in the painting of him, Deb finding out she loves Dexter, and finally witnessing him kill Travis.

          Of all the things I have seen in Dexter, Travis kidnapping Harrison was quite predictable, but also incredibly creepy. However, as all this was happening I felt a level of anxiety that has disappeared since season 2. Dexter playing with Harrison one moment, losing him the next, than almost witnessing him being sacrificed made for an incredible build up that made my blood pressure rise and my mind go blank. This being said, the conclusion to this drama was incredibly disappointing. Not only was Travis not instantly murdered by Dexter for nearly killing his only son, but Travis was gone. One thing that I realized in this scene is that it subtly represents the story of Jesus. Dexter plays the role of God, watching his only son be sacrificed by his nemesis (Travis). Luckily, this episode doesn’t conclude like the bible, where the innocent son dies. 

          Now that I think about it, it only makes sense for Dexter to kill Travis in the church where many of the rituals were performed. Except now, a guilty person is being killed instead of an innocent one. For the first time in a while, Dexter performs his ritual on Travis 

          The religious banter flies between the mouths of Dexter and Travis as we watch and soak in the profound quotes. So far, the best quote of the season happens here. While making the sign of the cross, Dexter says, “I am a father, a son, and a serial killer.” While this is an incredible quote, it is also one to summarize the season. These are the 3 things that really matter to him. He does not believe in a god, and leaves him out of his life. Just as I said earlier, Dexter has started right where he left off, not knowing if God is real or if he should believe in him. It is for this reason that I think that Brother Sam’s character was virtually meaningless. 

          As viewers, we not only see Travis twisting the bible, but also are aware that Dexter is doing it as well.  I am incredibly disappointed by this seemingly unnoticeable act because it feels like Dexter has forgotten all that Brother Sam had taught him. He has stooped to the level of Travis, while committing a murder. Dexter and Travis may have more in common than they thought: they both kill based on principle and beliefs, they speak to their victims before they are murdered, and they both believe that they are doing the right thing.

          While the ending was good, I also found it unbelievably disappointing. It was blatantly obvious that Deb would walk in on Dexter as he was killing Travis for several reasons. First, Deb told Dexter to go there that night and finish up the blood work. Second, Dexter told Jamie Batista that he was going there in order to finish a task. Third, if you have been watching for 6 seasons, you should be able to notice how the writing works and make reasonable predictions. Fourth, doesn’t it seem like it would be the perfect twist? Yes. That is why it wasn’t the perfect twist, because we could see it coming. A twist like Rita’s death in the end of season 4 was perfect because it came out of nowhere and surprised us all. Fifth, this was hinted at in the finale of season 5, except Deb let Dexter and Lumen go. In this episode, Dexter (and the writers) failed to create Dexter’s kill room, which would have provided cover for Dexter (just like last time). The ending of season 5 could have easily been the same if the plastic wrap were to be missing. 

          As I watched the episode drawing to a close, I became furious. Lewis’ character was never explained. His creepiness around Dexter turned out to be a meaningless red herring that wasted time. While it felt like something cool could come out of it, nothing arose. Showing Dexter his serial killer game was bizarre, but buying the Ice Truck Killer prosthetic illegally and writing things on it was meaningless. While these things could be explained in season 7, I find that unlikely because people aren’t going to be focused on that at all compared to the new drama with Dexter and Deb.

          The “surprise ending” will make for an incredible 7th season, but in retrospect, season 6 was only slightly above average. Dexter didn’t change any of his beliefs, Deb realized she is in love with her brother, and all of the cute relationships (Deb and Quinn, and Batista and LaGuerta) were destroyed. This season had an enormous amount of potential and it was simply ruined. My love and respect for the writers of Dexter is virtually nothing now. 

          In conclusion, the only word I can think of right now is disappointed. 

Dictionary definition:

disappointed     disəˈ point id  

adjective

(of a person) sad or displeased because someone or something has failed to fulfill one's hopes or expectations

Thesaurus:

Upset, saddened, let down, cast down, disheartened, downhearted, downcast, depressed, discouraged, displeased, dissatisfied, frustrated, disgruntled

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows

          Well Guy Ritchie did it again. Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows was extremely confusing but managed to be entertaining. At the moment, I find it hard to say if I liked it or not. It was well directed, written, and acted yet my mind seemed to not follow what was happening. 

          Not only was it more confusing than the first film, it also had a lot more violence. I found that much of the action replaced some of the witty dialogue between Holmes and Watson along with scenes showing Holmes’ impeccable intellect.  All of the action scenes were wonderfully choreographed and turned out beautifully on camera. Much of this is because of the delightful cinematography. 

          If someone were to ask me what the best part of the new Sherlock Holmes was, I would have to say the cinematography. While beautifully crafted, the scenes successfully conveyed the film’s desired emotions such as anxiety, fear, and confusion. Ritchie used a great deal of slow motion within certain scenes which was magnificent. These scenes are absolutely mind blowing. Unlike many movies, Ritchie made sure not to overuse slow motion which made those few scenes more memorable.

          Just like the first film, the acting and casting was terrific. I couldn’t think of better actors to play the characters.  The on screen chemistry seemed to be real, but also unique due to the amazing dialogue.

          While it may not have been an instant success in my mind, I cannot fully judge the film until I see it a second time in order to fully appreciate and understand it. Hopefully I will enjoy it more in the future.  

Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol

          To be honest, I expected Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol to be much worse. One of my biggest pet peeves is movies that expand past a trilogy like Shrek, Indiana Jones, and Pirates of the Caribbean, but this was one of the few that turned out incredibly well. Personally, my 3 favorite trilogy expansions are Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol, Live Free or Die Hard, and Terminator Salvation. 

          Before seeing it, I was skeptical of how it would turn out partially because of the director Brad Bird. Originally an animator for Disney, Bird has made other movies such as The Incredibles and Ratatouille, but I did not know if he would make a good live-action director. I consider the movie to be a success so that issue has been resolved. 

          However, I probably should have recognized that J. J. Abrams (director of Lost, Mission Impossible 3, Star Trek, and Super 8) was producing and writing MI4 and began with higher expectations. Luckily, I was proved wrong because Ghost Protocol was phenomenal.

          Like any other Mission Impossible film, the gadgets are absolutely amazing. Every mission includes something new that takes your breath away. I would rather not give away the details because it makes for a good surprise, but I will say that they rival gadgets from the James Bond films.

          During and between missions, the dialogue between characters is hilarious.  I found that most of this is due to Simon Pegg and the writing of J. J. Abrams.  The wonderful dialogue keeps the viewers entertained during the slow parts. This makes for a fast paced movie because you don’t necessarily recognize the slow parts.

          Without revealing too much, I will say that I loved Jeremy Renner and his character. I feel like he is slowly breaking from his normal characters which I have been waiting for. Hopefully, he will completely break free in The Bourne Legacy. His character has an emotionally conflicting past that adds to the film’s complexity.  When his character and his motives were revealed, my jaw literally dropped.

          For a director that has never done a live-action film, Brad Bird used some incredible cinematography. The scene where this is the most noticeable is with the Burj Khalifa, the worlds tallest skyscraper in Dubai. If you have seen the trailer, you would know that Tom Cruise has to climb on the outside of the building. For a person who isn’t scared by heights, I felt quite anxious because of the well planned shots.

          I am not sure if this was because of the movie theater or the sound editing within the actual film, but I thought that the sound effects were much too vibrant. It wasn’t the volume but the amplitude of the gunshots, doors slamming, and windows breaking.  I found it quite distracting and it almost gave me a headache.

          MAJOR SPOILER ALERT!!!!!!

          While I thoroughly enjoyed MI4, there were some things that I was displeased with. Josh Holloway (Sawyer from Lost) was killed in the very first scene which was a major disappointment because he seemed so awesome. The film definitely started out with a bang, than was silenced with his death. I felt like his character’s death was necessary to the plot but I was sad to see him go so quickly.

          At the beginning, I was upset that Ving Rhames was not apart of the film. In one of the last scenes, he is introduced with a very non-dramatic entrance which was incredibly disappointing.

          Also, I was upset that Michelle Monaghan was killed off in this film. Her character was lovable and added to Cruise’s character. However, I was quite pleased by the plot twist of her actually being alive. Her death was a cover up to protect her from people against the IMF. In the end, I was very happy with her character’s reappearance and the amazing storyline thanks to J. J. Abrams.

          Overall, Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol is one of the best action movies I have seen in a while. I have already made plans to see it again. So far, it is the best of the series and I am hoping that the franchise keeps going.

Dexter Season 6 Episode 11 "Talk to the Hand"

          While the show Dexter usually doesn’t effect me, I find that Travis’ religious rantings are disturbing. Hearing him talk about being called by God to kill people is beyond messed up. This is one of the reasons why he is an extremely effective villain to this season.  Having emotions toward a character is usually the result of good acting and writing. If you love or hate a character, it is most likely because you have some sort of emotional tie to the character. This can be seen in Dexter’s third season. In season 3, the Skinner played a small role compared to that of Miguel Prado. Much of the storyline was directed in Prado’s direction, leaving the Skinner behind. In the beginning, Miguel was a likable character but later became detestable due to his hatred for Ellen Wolf. The Skinner was just background music and became another show filler.

          As Beth was walking into the homicide department with Worm Wood, I realized that this is a repeat of what happened in season 4 when Arthur Mitchell entered Miami Metro looking for Dexter. Luckily, the situations ended entirely different which is a wonderful sign that the writers still haven’t lost their abilities.

          Once again, I am loving the communication between Deb and Dexter. It adds a wonderful emotional aspect to the seemingly emotionless show.  What I think many people don’t realize is that these emotions play a major part of the show. Dexter is a serial killer who kills murderers who have escaped the justice system, but it surprisingly has a great deal of deep and emotional content. So far, my favorite scene in season six is the conversation between Dexter and Deb after Beth activates Worm Wood. The love is nearly palpable yet Dexter is keeping his emotional armor tight. Deb on the other hand realizes that despite his dark times, Dexter will always have his sister’s back.

          Another thing I am enjoying about this season is the incorporation of Tom Matthews. While he usually plays and extremely minor role, he has moved up to a lesser known major role. I find his character interesting, especially with the call-girl case. Despite persuading Deb to call of her investigation of him, I find him honorable. I hope Deb will do the right thing and turn him in. Sadly, my two hopes for his character are contradictory. I want to remain a series regular, but I also want him to get caught.

          Just like the Skinner in season 3, Mike Anderson has been on the back burner for this season. I understand that there are so many character additions to be made, but I also find his character to be a filler. It almost would have been better if they would have just left his character out for this season.

          Part of me wants to scream “I told you so” when it comes to Lewis. I had always figured he was up to something, but I had never known what. His intentions are not yet clear, but they seem devious. Because little has happened recently with his character, I am assuming that there will be a major plot twist with him in the season finale.

          Probably the most awkward scene of the season occurred when Deb was in a session with Dr. Michelle Ross’. Implying that Deb has “feelings” for Dexter both makes sense and is outrageous. A great deal of respect for the writers would/will be lost if Deb falls in love with her brother. This is one circumstance where emotions can ruin a show. This being said, I found the scene humorous due to Deb’s fury at Dr. Ross’ idea, and the fact that Jennifer Carpenter (Deborah) and Michael C. Hall (Dexter) were married for a time until they recently got a divorce. The dream that Deb had definitely supports this theory of Deb’s love for Dexter but it is a terrible theory. Why on earth would the writers even propose this? They should know that the viewers will become furious if this actually happens. Honestly, it may keep me from watching the show, which is saying a lot!

          For the most part, Dexter is well written. However, I always find things that don’t make sense. For example, Dexter sending a video message directly to Travis is an incredibly dumb decision.  Dexter’s face has now made an appearance on Travis’ incredible paintings (which will probably be found by the police).  Just as expected, the show has become extremely complex and it is impossible to determine the outcome from here. Much like Lock, Stock and Two Smokin Barrels, Dexter’s multiple plots intertwine to make the tension unbearable.

          While this episode started out extremely strong, the final ten minutes were terrible. Dexter became extremely arrogant and sloppy while trying to kill Travis, he also failed by not going to the emergency room, and Deb seems to be falling in love with her adoptive brother. As much as I love Dexter, this is one of the most disappointing episodes I have ever seen. If this continues, (which I have faith that it won’t) my respect for the writers will be close to nothing. A lot is riding on the next episode so they better not screw this up!

Dexter Season 6 Episode 10 "Ricochet Rabbit"

          Within the first few minutes of this episode, it is revealed to us that Travis has been the Doomday Killer all along.  This whole time, we thought that Professor Gellar was the one who was influencing Travis but we were misled. Travis stole a sword and gave it to Gellar which became the reason why Gellar was fired. Gellar thought that Travis was delusional and that he needed help. To prove that they are the chosen ones, Travis stabbed Gellar to show him that they cannot be hurt. Gellar obviously died and was turned into a subconscious projection in Travis’ mind. While the situation makes sense, it seems a bit funny. Travis stabs Gellar in the chest saying, “See you can’t die,” and than he dies. I wish that Gellar’s death would have been out of rage instead of an accident. Murdering Gellar over not accepting his beliefs seems to fit in with Travis’ psychotic personality.

          One of my favorite quotes of the episode is, “Travis’ dark passenger is apart of him. He can’t be saved from it any more than I can from mine.”  This statement broadens a great deal of Dexter’s motives. He thought he could get rid of Travis’ Dark Passenger by killing Gellar because Gellar seemed to be alive and manipulating him. Little did he know, that Travis’ Dark Passenger had already taken hold of him. I find these words quite depressing because it makes me feel like there is no hope for Dexter. He wants to be rid of his demons but finally realizes that it cannot happen. The closest he had gotten was with the help of Brother Sam, but with Sam dead, the Darkness has reemerged.

          While I am not sure why Deb was freaking out at the crime scene, I must say that I like it. One of the things I love in stories is unique character development and so far, Deb has been emotional, but very strong at work. The change seems subtile, but feels like it could lead to further positive development.

          I also loved the references to room 103 in the first season. This may be because the first season is my favorite, but I loved how Dexter referenced his past and emotionally connected to Deb for the first time in a while. I’m hoping their friendship will grow even farther. Once it get strong, Deb may finally find out Dexter’s secret.

          It seems strange that Dexter is throwing everything he has learned about religion out within one or two episodes. I feel like if he doesn’t go back to it, than my hopes for the season will be crushed. In every season, Dexter starts out living normally, learns somethings new and changes his behavior. Than by the beginning of the next season, he reverts back to his old ways. Season 1 was all about family and connecting to people. Season 2 was about his ritual and not getting caught. Season 3 was about friendship. Season 4 was about being a killer and a family man. Season 5 was about revenge and helping others. Finally, season 6 seems to be about faith. Very little of the themes intertwine between seasons which makes me sad. Looking back, Dexter is the virtually the same person he is in season 1. He kills because of his Dark Passenger, he can’t connect to Deb, and he wants to get rid of his need to kill. Nothing ever changes. The biggest change was obviously the death of Rita, but in the long run, everything is the same.

          One thing that I noticed within this episode is the clever cinematography used whenever Harry is in a scene. To give the feeling of Harry not being real, he is “transported” throughout a room. Here’s an example: When Dexter breaks into Holly’s house, Harry is behind Dexter, but as they enter the house, the camera pans to show Harry standing beside a closet inside the house. Finally, I noticed that Harry is rarely seen moving. He is always standing still, than seen standing somewhere else. This lack of movement also helps the viewer feel like Harry is a ghost or mental projection of Dexter.

          One of my favorite dialogue moments is when Deb is talking about the relationship between Travis and his sister. She says, “Its so weird. His sister seemed so convinced he was a good guy.” Dexter chimes in and replies, “Maybe she didn’t know.” Walking away, Deb concludes by saying, “Anything’s possible.” This conversation screams for attention because this is exactly what is going on between Dexter and Deb. I have a feeling that Deb may die because of the similarities between Dexter and Travis. This is the last thing I want, but it could happen.

          Along with this, I loved Dexter’s narration saying, “I AM the Bay Harbor Butcher!” It was comedic and quick witted. I was amazed that Dexter hated Lewis’ game idea of being a serial killer. For the first time, I feel like we have the perfect insight into his life. Dexter doesn’t want to be a killer, but is forced to by his Dark Passenger. He didn’t choose to be a serial killer and nobody else should be able to choose that either.   Lewis believes that the game is a “vicarious thrill,” but Dexter strongly disagrees. I think that Brother Sam and Christianity have finally taken hold of Dexter wether he likes it or not. Because Dexter rejected Lewis’ idea, I’m pretty sure something is going to go majorly wrong with Lewis. The fact that Lewis bailed on his plans with Jamie because he was upset provides evidence to my theory that Lewis was using his relationship with Jamie just to get close to Dexter.

          I found it fascinating that Dexter called the police for a greater cause, but what intrigues me more is that Batista’s life is on the line and that Worm Wood is going to be planted at Miami Metro Homicide. How this is going to be stopped, I don’t know. I’m hoping that Batista will survive because he is an amazing character with an infectious personality. The intensity is significantly increasing and is almost becoming unbearable.
          I would love to hear opinions and theories on what is going to happen so let me know what you think!

Immortals

          To my surprise, I was not totally pleased with Immortals. Around the time it was in theaters, I watched the trailer and thought that it looked like a mix between 300 and Troy. After finishing the movie, I decided to watch the trailer again. Immortals turned out to be a prime example of a trailer featuring the best parts of the movie. Immortals was about an hour and a half long and probably featured only ten minutes of fighting.  I found this extremely disappointing and feel that the trailer was misleading.

          However, within those ten minutes of fighting, the cinematography was unbelievable. Rivaling Zack Snyder’s 300 and Sucker Punch, Immortals packed a solid punch and definitely created a “wow factor.” 

          I feel like if you’ve seen one movie about Greek Gods, you’ve seen them all. Troy, Clash of the Titans, and Immortals all have similar stories and similar action scenes. While Immortals had the best fighting of these three, it was balanced by having the worst story.  Filled with plot holes, Immortals definitely relies on its visual aspects instead of its storyline.

          Despite my harsh criticisms, the casting and acting turned out to be solid. Many actors had worked in similar films before which may have helped with their performances. Mickey Rourke is the most well known actor followed by Henry Cavill (playing Superman in the 2013 Zack Snyder film Man of Steel). 

          To summarize, I would say that Immortals is worth watching if there is nothing else left. There are dozens of movies that are more interesting and entertaining that should be watched before this. I would love to hear an opposing argument and know what you thought of this film.

Braveheart

          If I were to compare Braveheart to anything, it would probably be my relationship with an old friend. No matter how much time passes, we remain close, but when we are reunited, I couldn’t be happier.  After winning 5 Academy Awards and being nominated for another 5, Braveheart is definitely one of the greatest war films of all time.

          Braveheart is one of the worlds finest films and should be seen by everyone before they die. While it is one of the greatest historical war drama’s of all time, it does have its flaws. 

          First of all, the film is extremely historically inaccurate.  One reviewer even said, "The events aren't accurate, the dates aren't accurate, the characters aren't accurate, the names aren't accurate, the clothes aren't accurate—in short, just about nothing is accurate." Based on what I have read, her statement seems to be valid. She suggests that you watch the film like a fantasy such as Star Wars, because saying it is a ‘historical film’ is a lie. That being said, the story of Braveheart was phenomenal. The screenplay was even nominated for an Academy Award.

          Because I watched the movie on a large BluRay television, I was able to notice a great amount of detail. About an hour into Braveheart, I began to notice a few of out of focus shots. Based on what I have learned, a shot is in focus if the character’s eyes are in focus. As the movie progressed, the out of focus shots became more and more prevalent. I am assuming that many people have not noticed this because the focus was alway very close to its target. 

          Finally, my largest problem in the film is Sir William Wallace’s relationship with the Princess Isabelle of France.  In the beginning of the film, William Wallace marries Murron, his childhood friend and promises that he will be with her and her alone forever. Long after Murron’s death, Wallace randomly ends up having sex with Princess Isabelle. Watching this made me extremely disappointed in William Wallace. After all, Murron’s death was the beginning of his violent streak. I wish that his relationship with Isabelle would have been developed more or completely removed from the film.

          Along with Gladiator and the Patriot, Braveheart is one of my favorite “historical” war films. The brutal violence and patriotism within this film makes it a part of the “man movie collection.”

Dexter Season 6 Episode 9 "Get Gellar"

          One of my favorite things about this season is the emphasis put back on Deborah. Jennifer Carpenter’s acting has come a long way since the first season, which helps in her frequent emotional breakdowns.  Seeing a shrink is something that she has needed to do for a long time and it is good to see her trying to fix her relationship with her brother. Later on, her shrink tells Deb that she can fix her messed up life by changing her habits. This is something totally new for her character and I cannot wait for it to happen. I’m somehow getting a “sixth sense feeling” and I guessing that Deb will somehow tie into this religious theme.

          This season has revolved around religion from the first episode. Through Brother Sam and Prof. Gellar, Christianity has been pushed onto the viewers in a normal way (Brother Sam) and a psychotic way (the Doomsday Killers). For the first time, the opposite position has come into view. Dexter believes that Gellar’s next victim is going to be a devout atheist who is also a professor at a university. 

          Like many people, Dexter is trying to live his life through Travis. By killing Travis’ Dark Passenger, Travis will be free from the burden that Dexter has always faced. What Dexter doesn’t realize is that this isn’t going to make him feel better. The exact same situation occurred with Lumen in season 5. She wanted to kill the men who raped her just as Travis wants to kill Gellar for murdering his sister. After Dexter and Lumen finished off Jordan Chase, Lumen’s Dark Passenger was gone. This left Dexter alone once again.

          After Quinn and Batista retrieve Quinn’s belongings, they get in a fist fight over personal matters. Surprisingly, this is the first time this has come up. In the beginning of season 6, they were seen smoking weed together and now they’re fighting. I guess that’s what weed does to people. From there, Quinn and Batista appear at the next crime scene together and do not talk. At first, I thought this was a plot flaw but than realized that since Angel’s car broke down, a day has gone past.

          While Prof. Gellar’s next kill seems simple, the bowls of wrath make the scene gruesome. Much like the room 103 in season 1, blood was spilled all over the homicide team. I must say that I called this one as soon as Dexter mentioned the draining of the victim’s blood (another homage to Brian Moser). The kill was way too simple and the bowls of wrath was not explained in any way. That being said, I had no idea what what going on with the severed hand (another Ice Truck Killer reference) until it ended up in Travis’ sink.

          So far, one of my favorite scenes with Deb happened in this episode. She finally breaks her pattern of accepting LaGuerta’s demands and stands up for what she truly wants. This scene is total proof of the saying confidence is attractive. In the beginning of the elevator scene, I thought Deb’s hair and clothing were odd and not very attractive. A few minutes later, things changed. 

          Once again, the writers blew me away with the involvement of Captain Matthews. I had no idea that he would be the one who performed CPR on the girl who overdosed. Now that Deb is reopening the case, LaGuerta and Matthews intend on stopping her. The drama within the homicide department is becoming tangible and is adding to the intensity to the show.

          Not to toot my own horn, but if you have been reading my Dexter reviews, I stated that Lewis had a major crush on Dexter. By possessing the stolen piece of the Ice Truck Killer investigation, he proves that he is either obsessed with Dexter or serial killers. I would like to reemphasize my theory that Lewis will turn out to be a killer. I’m even going to guess that he is going to take over for Professor Gellar.

          I thoroughly enjoy the tie in to the previous theme of Dexter trying to be a good father. This concept has not been prevalent in the recent episodes and I am pleased that it has returned. These deep themes of trying to be a better father, being religious, and Deb changing her habits make for a wonderful show.  The deeper the context and story is, the easier it can connect to the viewers. While shows and movies with mindless violence can be easier to write, things with deeper meanings usually turn out to be more popular.

          One of my favorite things about Dexter is how the writers can throw a left hook out of nowhere. My mind is still trying to wrap around the entire twist. I find it incredibly interesting that Dexter has his vision of his Dark Passenger (Brian) and Travis does too (Gellar). They both killed their loved ones, possibly for the same reasons, and now they’re coming back to haunt them. One thing that I don’t understand is how Travis went along with Dexter’s idea of killing Gellar. Wouldn’t Travis realize that Gellar is dead because he killed him? He could be playing along, but if he was trying to get rid of Dexter, he could have done it at various times. I’m almost positive that he is actually crazy, and less like Dexter than I originally thought. I believe that much more will be explained in episodes to come and I cannot wait for the next episode. This feeling of excitement and anxiety is one I thoroughly enjoy. 

House M.D. Season 8 Episode 8 "Perils of Paranoia"

          For the first time in a while, there was a terrific introduction to this episode. Most of the time, the show begins by showing a normal person having a severe problem such as losing vision, vomiting blood, or having a seizure. However, this episode opened with a court scene, which was tastefully different. For the first few minutes, I forgot what show I was watching and became enthralled by the courtroom drama. Instead of being overly dramatic, the Tommy simply said, “I think I’m having a heart attack.”

          It is interesting how Foreman lied to the patient in order to get House to take the case.  This could be a random occurrence but I feel like it is possible that Foreman is slowly becoming more like House. Only in the context of lying to a patient in order to get his way.

          While Adams and Park are driving to investigate the patients house, several unique camera perspectives were used.  Throughout the scene, cameras were attached to the bumpers of the car and pointed at the characters to give a new perspective on the scene. Creative cinematography is a wonderful thing if used properly. In this instance, I found it distracting because these shots have never been used before in this show and they feel a bit “artsy” for being a medical drama. Despite the distractions, I did enjoy the unique angles.

          To my surprise, I have started disliking Park in this episode. She may be a brilliant doctor, but her people skills are horrendous and her personality is abrasive. Park seems to defend her opinions about the case like they are her children. People can tell her she is wrong, but she will need proof to believe it.  This could be because of different writing in this episode, or could be part of her character. Either way, I am not a fan.

          I absolutely loved the reference to Black Friday by Taub.  Although, I am not certain if it was supposed to reference the woman who maced people waiting outside of a store so she could get an Xbox 360. He says, “I don’t think stockpiling weapons is the most reasoned response but given what I’ve seen at Bloomingdales’ on Black Friday, I wouldn’t say it rises to the level of mental illness.”  I love when writers add cultural references into movies in shows. By doing this, they manage to connect to the readers through relevant information.

          While searching for a gun in House’s apartment, Wilson triggered a booby trap (set by House) and got caught in a net suspended above the ground. It is these unique bits of comic relief that make this show addicting and incredible.

          To be perfectly honest, this felt like a forgettable episode. It was fun to watch, but there weren’t any big changes (other than Foreman going out with a married woman).

There Will Be Blood

          Overall, I was displeased with There Will Be Blood. However, I loved how there was little to no dialogue for the first 15 minutes. This shows  that the makers of this film are skilled enough to keep our attention without dialogue. 

          One thing that I have realized after watching many movies and television shows is that when I hate a character, it is usually because of incredible acting and writing.  In There Will Be Blood, Eli is a character I cannot stand for several reasons.  First, I find him extremely annoying. He is the pastor of a church in a small town at a young age, so he thinks he has great power. At one point, Eli calls his father Able stupid and lazy, which at the time would have earned him a harsh beating.  The worst part is that he gets away with it. In that scene, Eli holds his head very high so that he is physically and metaphorically looking down his nose at his father.  He even shows his dominance by tackling Able and scolding him for being stupid and lazy.

          Also, there are subtile things that disgust me about him.  While getting beaten by Daniel Plainview, Eli screams like a little girl, and fails to fight back. 

          I wasn’t a fan of the cinematography in this movie. I found there to be many long shots that carried on for no particular reason. Also, the framing of some shots made me feel uncomfortable.

          Probably the reason why I did not enjoy this movie is because I was confused about the storyline. 

          One of my biggest problems with some movies is not being able to distinguish a basic storyline. Someone once told me, if you can’t explain your idea in one sentence, the idea isn’t simple enough.  This is exactly how I feel about There Will Be Blood. Throughout the movie I have been trying to figure out what the premise of the movie is. All I have been able to distinguish is that it is about a man’s life who is in charge of an oil company. His business and family begin to fall apart and he loses control.   

          Later, the movie skips ahead 16 years and avoids all of the problems that were created in the first section of the movie. Daniel Plainview tells his son that he’s adopted, which doesn’t make sense because he abandoned him than took him back out of love and regret. Than Eli comes back and is randomly murdered by Plainview. 

          There Will Be Blood definitely is on my “never to watch again” list. Two and a half hours of my life were wasted and I will not be getting them back. Two thumbs way down.

Gladiator

          Without a doubt in my mind, I can say that Gladiator is a film that holds a significant place in each man’s heart.  While people don’t normally say it, I firmly believe that Maximus Decimus Meridius is a man that is highly looked up to by men today.  My reasoning behind this bold statement is simple. Maximus displays all of the virtues necessary to be a good man. His honor, strength, loyalty, courage, and determination are the reasons why Gladiator is a phenomenal film.  If you were to survey the male population about the best guy movies, I’m positive Gladiator would be on the list along with Braveheart, Scarface, and Caddyshack.

          While the movie isn’t jammed with violence, it definitely has its moments.  To my surprise, much of the brutality is not shown in the film.  Ridley Scott would pan the camera away quickly but leave enough information on screen for the audience to use their imagination.

          Most of the movie is dialogue and storyline, which is a little unique for a “guy movie.” Luckily, the writing is good enough to keep the viewers interested in between fight scenes.  Unlike most movies I watch, I found it difficult to find flaws within Gladiator. The dialogue and storyline was realistic, the acting was superb, and the fighting was graphic and life like. 

          Along with Gladiator, Hans Zimmer has composed over 100 film soundtracks including The Lion King, Black Hawk Down, Pearl Harbor, Pirates of the Caribbean, The Dark Knight, Sherlock Holmes, and Inception. He is without a doubt my favorite composer and never fails to make a successful soundtrack.  Of his work, 50 soundtracks or songs have been nominated for awards. Gladiator alone won a Satellite Award, a Critics Choice Award, and a Golden Globe.  I have no idea how he does it, but every movie he composes for is extremely enhanced by the quality of his music.

          One of the best qualities that Gladiator exhibits is the wonderful characters.  While watching the film, one of my friends kept saying how much he hated Commodus.  What he probably didn’t realize is that the love or hatred for a character derives from the phenomenal acting and character creation.  Without Joaquin Phoenix, the film would have been severely lacking in quality.  The same goes for Maximus; if the character were poorly created or terribly acted, he would not be loved by the audience and the film would not have been as great of a success.  Little known fact: Mel Gibson was originally considered for the role but turned it down because he felt that he was too old. If he had taken the role, he would have starred in 3 famous guy movies: Gladiator, Braveheart, and the Patriot.

          If you’re reading this, I am assuming that you have seen Gladiator and am hoping you share my enthusiasm for it.  If not, than I am surprised that you read this far.  All in all, I love Gladiator and would definitely put it in my collection of guy movies.

Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels

          Probably the biggest reason I love about Guy Ritchie films is because of the heavy incorporation of British humor. RocknRolla, Snatch, and Sherlock Holmes are perfect examples of this.

          The storyline for this film is absolutely unbelievable. The complexity of the rivalries between the various groups of characters is spectacular and captivating. While the beginning is a bit slow, the movie steadily increases in intensity until the final scene. One of the reasons why I love this movie is due to this rising action. Just as the tension becomes unbearable, the movie ends and leaves the viewer with the choice to make up their own ending. Either the ending can be comedic, where Tom throws the guns off the bridge, or it can be a happy ending, where Tom answers his cell phone first. Either way, the ending is magnificent. 

          I found the cinematography to be memorable, but not revolutionary. This could be because this is one of Guy Ritchie’s first movies.  Still, I feel that it is above average.  One scene where I was truly captivated was the drinking scene after the successful robbery.  I absolutely loved how sections would be sped up slightly, than slowed down to give the scene a time lapsing party effect. Also, I thoroughly enjoyed the long shots with wide pans to fully show the environment. I feel like this is one of the few situations where this technique is used perfectly. Finally, I was thrilled by the extreme camera tilts. Multiple scenes have the camera flipped from 90 to 180 degrees. By doing this, Ritchie was able to capture the drunk-like feel of the party. 

          To his benefit, this seems to be one of Jason Statham’s better roles. Usually he is a complete monster, fighting unrelenting enemies sporting various weapons, shirtless, covered in oil. This film showed a more realistic side of him with better dialogue.

          Along with Statham, the rest of the cast was well chosen. Each actor seemed to fit their role perfectly.  

          Overall, Lock, Stock and Two Smokin Barrels is an astonishing film. While it is Guy Ritchie’s first film, it is also one of his best. 

Bones Season 7 Episode 3 "The Prince in the Plastic"

          I can say without a doubt that Daisy Wick is the worst character on Bones. While making comments that are illogical, she manages to ruin every episode she is in. However, she is the perfect example of a crazy girlfriend. In this episode, she focuses on the tragedy of a barbie-like doll being “murdered” instead of the actual murder. While this is insensitive, it also doesn’t make any sense. Who in their right mind would do this?

          On the other hand, I would like to congratulate Emily Deschanel for single handedly destroying my views on this season. I just learned that she became pregnant and ruined this season. I don’t understand why they couldn’t have hid her pregnancy from the camera. The Cosby Show did this for an entire season while Mrs. Cosby was pregnant. During that season, she was always shown with close up shots, or was having her stomach covered up by something. Open refrigerator doors and large teddy bears made hiding her pregnancy possible. This same technique could have been used on Brennan and the show would have remained wonderful.

          In the middle of the episode, the murder looked like an accident but later turned out to be murder. I would have much preferred an accident because most of the episodes turn out to be emotionally driven.

          Dr. Sweets just acquired his license to carry a firearm which makes absolutely no sense.  Shrinks stay in their offices and analyze people while real FBI agents go out into the field. Why would a shrink need to carry a gun if he’s going to be in his office?  It almost seems like the writers are trying to replace Bones with Sweets, which is a terrible idea.

          Because of all of the inconsistencies, I would have to say that this is one of the worst episodes of Bones that I have ever seen.

House M.D. Season 8 Episode 7 "Dead and Buried"

          The beginning surprisingly doesn’t open with a patient in the process of getting sick outside of the hospital. Subtile changes like these make the show interesting without changing any major dynamics of the show.

          I know I give a great deal of praise to this show. I am sorry, but I am going to give a bit more.  Within almost every episode that I have seen, which is all of them, there has been a great deal of medical speech. I understand very few operations and diseases that they talk about, but love when they explain things.  For the first time, I noticed that there is tons of banter between House and his team. Normally, House talks about personal issues residing within his employees while they avoid the personal topics by suggesting theories. To me, only half of the dialogue was interpretable which added to the power of the understandable. Without thinking, I ignore what I do not understand and wait for House’s side of the conversation to begin. While both conversations are complete, only half is understandable which makes that part more important.

          Much like Sherlock Holmes, House isn’t interested in helping other people, he is interested in entertaining himself. To society’s benefit, this so happens to be in the form of a doctor who takes on cases nobody else can solve.  Also, he happens to fake and play off of human emotions to get what he wants, which makes him a more personable character and slightly likable by his peers.

          Another thing that grabbed my interest is House’s passion to figure out the case of a dead child.  He has never done this before and is broadening his curiosities. Because of his obsession and addiction with puzzles, House figured out how a child died while potentially saving the lives of two of the family members.

          Two flaws that I noticed within this episode correlated with the dead child case. First, the child was in excellent condition after being buried for 5 years. The skin was still intact and was not dried up and leathery. Second, when House opened the coffin, the smell from the decayed body would have been terrible. House failed to cover his nose or even show a change in smell.

          However, I am confused how is House getting away from being off the hospital grounds all the time. The show said the signal was jammed for only 45 minutes in the beginning.  Luckily, he got caught and punished in the end to show that he was breaking the rules and this wasn’t entirely a plot flaw.

          Finally, I loved the use of split personalities in this episode. While it is commonly talked about in psychology classes, it hasn’t yet occurred on the show. Multiple personalities isn’t a “medical diagnosis,” but it did serve as a cause to other diagnosis’.  To my discontent, this case ended abruptly because the focus was on the dead child case. While I wish the focus could have been on both cases, I feel that the writers did an adequate job bringing emotion into the other case.

Elf

    Elf is by far one of my favorite Christmas movies. Because kids are the targeted audience, the acting isn’t the best, but it is still extremely enjoyable.

          One thing many people probably don’t know is that Jon Favreau, director of Iron Man and Cowboys and Aliens, also directed Elf. Along with directing, he also plays the doctor the doctor who gives the paternity test.

          Once again, Will Ferrell is playing his usual perfect role, which he does flawlessly.  His roles usually consist of dumb jokes and hilarious lines, but this movie also shows a more sensitive side of Ferrell. Along with Everything Must Go (which was a disaster) and Stranger Than Fiction (one of my favorites), Elf shows a more fragile version of Ferrell which brings a wonderful change to his routine.

          One of my favorite lines in the movie is when Buddy (Ferrell) says, “I think you have the most beautiful singing voice in the whole wide world,” to Jovie (Deschanel).  I love this because Deschanel is actually a famous singer for the band She and Him. The casting for Jovie is perfect because she is a character who is a wonderful singer but is nervous about singing in public. I would have to agree with Buddy that she has one of the most beautiful singing voices in the world.

          Also, I found it humorous that Emily Hobbs (Mary Steenburgen) is Ferrell’s adopted mother because she plays his mother in the movie Stepbrothers. Once again, she plays a mother who is loving, caring, and extremely supportive.

          I am surprised when I saw the wonderful use of forced perspective in the film. This was used whenever the elves and Buddy were in scenes together. With a steady camera, the elves would be a great distance away from Will Ferrell in order to make the viewer think that they were smaller. This was also used in the Lord of the Rings franchise with hobbits and humans.

          Overall, I would have to say that this is a modern day Christmas classic that will be watched for many years to come due to the wonderful writing and acting.

Dexter Season 6 Episode 8 "Sin of Omission"

      One thing that I feel that the show Dexter has been missing recently is the close interaction between Dexter and Deborah. Since season 1, they have been very close and have shared mostly everything with each other. After Rita was killed, Dexter pulled away and their relationship has become even more distant since Deb became the Lieutenant.  To my displeasure, it only seems to be getting worse. Dexter keeps shutting Deb out of his life and Deb cannot take it. I am really hoping that they will get back on track because that is when the show seemed to be the best. Watching Deb in pain over her lost connection to Dexter is heartbreaking to say the least. All she has been trying to do this entire show is connect with people. All of her boyfriends are for a desire to connect because she cannot truly get this from Dexter. This being said, I would be very happy if Dexter opened up to Deb about his Dark Passenger and how he kills people. Not only would this bring them closer, but it would add complexity to their already confusing relationship.

          I must say that I am extremely disappointed that Brother Sam is out of the season so quickly. I know he died a few episodes ago but his funeral made me realize how much I actually miss him.  

          I don’t understand why, but Lewis is seeming a bit more like a creep. Usually the writers downplay something like this for a dramatic reveal in the final episodes.  

          I am actually enjoying the interactions between Dexter and Travis. Dexter has started reading the bible, something I am confused about but also proud of him for. By doing this, he is able to connect to Travis in a way he could not earlier. It would be interesting if they somehow teamed up against Gellar. Dexter seems to be taking on possible apprentices. Jonah who killed his mother, Travis who is in need of guidance, and Lewis who seems to be more of a stalker than an apprentice.

          Despite being Tom Hanks’ son, Colin still can’t act. The scene where he found out his sister was turned into the Whore of Babylon was very hard to watch. I have no idea why the casting crew chose Colin Hanks for the part of Travis Marshall but it was definitely a mistake.  So far, he has been the worst actor on the show, surpassing Julia Stiles.

          As Dexter wandered through the abandoned church where Gellar hides out, the tension became unbearable. For the first time in a while, Dexter donned his kill outfit and lurked in the dark. To add to the creepiness, Gellar saw Dexter come after him. Like a game of cat and mouse, the suspense built until the episode ended. It is this kind of cliffhanger that I have been waiting for all season. There are only 4 episodes left and so little time to answer all of my questions.

House M.D. Season 8 Episode 6 "Parents"

          While this is probably the most boring episode of the season, it has some of the deepest values. The story revolves around familial problems and what it means to be a good parent (which House says is an oxymoron).

          I loved the familial background stories of each of the characters within this episode. Probably my favorite one is Chase’s. He explains that his mother locked him in his fathers study while she would drink because she couldn’t handle him. After a while of crying and banging on the door, he had to find something else to do so he read books on medicine. This horrible memory created his love for medicine and started his career.  He simply states, “We all have family disfunction. Its why were successful, to fill that hole.” Strangely, I find this comforting because it reassures me that every family has their problems and that I am not alone with mine.  

          At the end of the scene, I was surprised to find that Chase called House so that he could hear Adams “open up” about her background. To my disappointment, she somehow figured this out and foiled Chase’s attempts. I don’t exactly understand why Chase is helping House. Hopefully this will be explained later.

          I did not see the biological dad sexually molesting the son. This gave the son syphilis which caused all of his problems. That was definitely a unique diagnosis and an interesting ending to the rather boring episode.

          Adams seems to be the only person on the show that always see’s through House and his maniacal plans. Wilson on the other hand, was not so lucky and was conned out of his ring-side seats by House and Foreman. 

          Being a college student trying to find my place in life, I found the following quote comforting. “Following your heart is easy, following your brain is tough.” Many of the things I love, I am terrible at but sometimes, you have to make sacrifices in order to be successful. I overheard a speech relating to this topic recently from the singer of Slipknot and Stone Sour, Corey Taylor.  He was asked by Oxford University to speak on campus and delivered a phenomenal speech about how to choose a path to follow. http://www.metalhammer.co.uk/top-posts/video-slipknots-corey-taylors-full-oxford-lecture-online/

Dexter Season 6 Episode 7 "Nebraska"

          Wow. Each episode this seasons continues to top the last. With Brian Moser (Christian Camargo) back in the show, my excitement has skyrocketed. I am absolutely ecstatic because the writers included Brian and the Trinity killer.  I love it when they incorporate previous seasons like in seasons 4 and 5.

          After killing Nick (Brother Sam’s murderer) Brian shows up as the Dark Passenger.  This is the first time we have seen the physical presence of the Dark Passenger since season 1.  About halfway into the episode, I thought I wanted Brian (Christian Camargo) to be a series regular instead of a guest star. Although only a few minutes later I retracted that. Brian started out being the happy brother who was encouraging Dexter to kill innocent people, but later began trying to force Dexter into this decision.  At Dexter’s breaking point, he had random sex with a grocery store clerk, stole a gun, and went on a street sign shooting rampage.  It was a little bit over the top, but I’ve had bigger problems with the show.

          Prof. Gellar and Travis Marshall have been on the back burner in the last few episodes due to the problems occurring with Dexter and Brother Sam. Hopefully these next few episodes will show more of them. 

          I am very happy that the rivalries between LaGuerta, Quinn, Deb, and Batista are dissipating.  While Deb and Maria smoothed out a little, Deb and Quinn finally patched things up between them. I am still hoping that they end up back together because they were such a cute couple. Their characters seem to be written perfectly for them to be together.  

          I noticed a couple great camera shots throughout the episode. My favorite one was when Dexter is talking to the pot farmer and Brian stabs him with the pitchfork. The camera rotates behind the farmer and reveals Dexter holding the tool.  I thought this was scary because Dexter seemed to have almost no control over the situation. Brian (the Dark Passenger) quickly possessed Dexter’s body and took over. Normally, the Dark Passenger encourages and tempts Dexter, just like Jordan Chase in season 5.

          The situation with Jonah was extremely captivating and thought provoking. I assumed that Jonah didn’t take on the persona of Trinity due to his hatred of his father. Also, it seemed way to obvious. After watching the Dexter seasons repeatedly, I have managed to figure out how the writers work, and have realized that usually the first guess is the wrong one. I am still hoping that Dexter will somehow adopt Jonah into his life. Despite being a killer, I can see Jonah acting like Dexter’s son. At that point, Dexter would train and mentor him just as Harry did.

          I’m glad that Dexter’s rebellious streak has dissipated, and Harry is back in his life as the Light Passenger.

          Lewis (Masuka’s intern) seems to be getting even creepier. If you didn’t notice, Lewis managed to get into Dexter’s house with permission by going out with Jamie Batista.  I’m guessing he only did this to snoop around. Maybe he’s another apprentice of Prof. Gellar, maybe he’s in love, or maybe he’s just looking for a role model.  It doesn’t matter. Lewis is creepy.

          Great episode. The season is getting better and has already surpassed my rating of season 5. 

          What did you think of it?

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang

           First, I love Harry (Robert Downey Jr.) as the narrator. In the beginning he says “I don’t see another narrator so pipe down,” which I love because this actually makes us feel something for the narrator instead of a storyteller. Personally, I feel bad for the narrator because he seems lonely and nobody else would want to narrate so he did.  The quality of Robert Downey Jr.’s narrating is totally unique. Unlike most movies, Harry is a terrible narrator by jumping around in the story, criticizing his own narrating, telling whats going to happen next. The final scene where the narrator is actually shown (Harry) was funny and also unique.

           The ironic circumstance of Harry’s escape from the police is absolutely hilarious. The fact that the casting call was for a man who got his partner killed (just as Harry did) makes Harry break down sobbing, and results in him getting a job. He went out to rob a store, and ended up getting a successful acting career. Also, this situation gave him a way to hide from the police.

          One of the few things that infuriates me about movies is unnecessary nudity. At the party in the beginning of the movie, Harry is scene talking to a beautiful woman who is a porn star. They quickly cut to a shot of her topless screaming while being beaten by a man in a wolf costume. Absolutely unnecessary along with the few other scenes with nudity . This doesn’t add anything to the storyline, it just adds a cheap thrill for horny guys. It is because of this scene that I wouldn’t watch this movie with a lot of my friends.

          One of my favorite quotes from the movie was when Harry said, “But who the hell was he, he was just the writer.” I love this quote because it truly shows that characters can come to life. Even if the writer says the character is fake, that doesn’t mean that you have to believe it. It puts a false sense of reality into literature which makes an emotional connection to the reader.

          There are various reasons why I love this movie but the two biggest reasons are for the attempt at realism of the characters and storyline, and the humor between Harry (Downey Jr.) and Gay Perry (Val Kilmer). When Harry is narrating, he points out all of the flaws and cliche’s which make the stereotypical moments original.  Yes there are some inconsistencies and cliche moments, but I feel like there are less than other movies.  

          I am not sure if the humor comes from the writing or Robert Downey Jr.  I would just like to know if his sarcasm and wittiness is applied just as thick in person or if it is due to the writers of his films. Along with Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, other movies with this similar humor include, Ironman, Ironman 2 and Sherlock Holmes.

          A bit like Family Guy in the sense that they love to make fun of things such as Christians, Baltimore, and homosexuals.

          As hypocritical as this sounds, I thought the acting and realism of Robert Downey Jr. was poor when his finger was severed.  He would probably be screaming and swearing instead of just standing there asking for Harmony (Michelle Monaghan) to pick his finger up.  

          The more I pay attention, the more flaws I find in the film which is disappointing because it started out spotless. 

          Overall, it was entertaining, but probably not worth buying. Robert Downey Jr. and Val Kilmer are the best parts of the film with their sarcastic humor. The storyline isn’t very memorable but multiple scenes are. I enjoyed it, but let me know what you thought.

Sucker Punch

          I must say that I am surprised by the outcome of Sucker Punch. Having only seen Dawn of the Dead and 300, I was expecting a shallow movie with incredible special effects, much like The Matrix, (directed by the Wachowski brothers) but I was wrong. The film turned out to be a film about a group of women trying to escape a mental institution. In the end, some of the women sacrifice their lives for their friends security, which made the film deeper and more enjoyable.

          Visually, Sucker Punch was one of the best movies I have scene, along with the Matrix, 300, and Inception.  The cinematography and directing was unbelievable and made the film worth watching again and again. The post processing and special effects add to the overall “grungy feel” of the film. 

          The soundtrack played a vital role in the movie. Much of the movie’s emotions and dialogue was created behind the unspoken words.  The remixed version of Where Is My Mind was incredible and was successfully incorporated into Sucker Punch.  Part of the reason I loved this was because Where Is My Mind is also used in Fight Club (one of my favorites).

          To me, Baby Doll seemed highly sexualized due to her big lips and other ample features.  I felt like this was distracting from the character and was only added for visual appeal. Also, the rest of the girls were incredibly good looking as well.  Even though they were used for a sexual visual appeal, I thought that they looked too beautiful to be in a mental institution. Realistically, the wouldn’t be wearing ridiculous amounts of makeup and would be somewhat dirty. 

          Morally, this movie is pretty messed up. Girls stuck in a mental institution are forced to dance and become prostitutes.  This added strong motives for the women to escape from the institution.

          Even though I found the beauty of the women unrealistic, I did enjoy it.  Watching scantily clad women with silenced machine guns destroy undead German soldiers is appealing for any guy. Along with machine guns, these women use tomahawks, swords,  pistols, and gatling guns to kill dragons, orcs, samurai, and robots. What guy wouldn’t like this?