I Am Number 4

Rating: 10/10

Director of Taking lives (2004), Disturbia (2007) and Eagle Eye (2008), D.J. Caruso, stunned me once more in this amazing action syfy flick called I am Number 4. The movie stars Alex Pettyfer, Timothy Oyphant, Teresa Palmer and Dianna Argon.

I Am Number 4 is a movie about these 9 people (well technically 6), who mask their true identities on earth in an attempt to elude a deadly enemy. John (Alex Pettyfer) is the 4th in this line of 9, and the three before him are already murdered, and he is next. The movie evolves around John, who I believe is the most important of the 9, how he decides to stop running, fights and goes to find the rest of his kind. He is supported by his guardian, Henri (Timothy Oyphant), Number 6 (Teresa Palmer) and a friend he makes in school, Sam (Callan McAuliffe). Of course there is the love interest, Sarah (Dianna Argon).

My reaction :)

To say i absolutely loved this movie, would be the biggest understatement of the year. But I did. I walked in expecting perfection, and I walked out feeling fully satisfied. The scenes in the movie moved pretty fast, and with back to back action going on, there was not enough time to catch my breath. Which is not something I am complaining about. Based on the way the movie ended, I am pretty sure there would be a sequel, which is good because I was slightly offended by the main character John, and his powers. But not to worry, this is thoroughly made up for by Number 6, and some. 

I am no expert, but I would say the graphics in the movie were 'on point'. Everything was balanced and even. Unexpectedly, there wasn't anything over-exaggerated. You know those movies where the bad guys make it so obvious that they have to loose, you can almost tell when they would go down to let the good guys win?? Well this was not one of them.

On a side note, Alex Pettyfer is hot. And to think I would be seeing him soon in Beastly.... Oh what a lovely spring this is turning out to be :)

All I would say about this movie, to avoid spoiling it any more than I have, is it just made movie of the year for me. If anything could have made this better, it would have been seeing it in 3d. Now that, that would be the shit.

The Eagle

Rating: 8/10

Aside from the fact that there was a lot of explaining going on in this movie, I really did enjoy The Eagle. The Eagle, a movie staring Channing Tatum, Jamie Bell, Donald Sutherland and Mark Strong, is a movie set in Britain, and focuses on the adventures, to put it so, of a man named Marcus (can't be bothered with the rest of his Roman sentence for a name), who sets out on a quest with the help of his slave to find the lost Roman Eagle Standard lost during his father's time. 

Marcus is played by one of my dearest actors, Channing Tatum, and his slave, Esca, is played by another of my dear actors, Jamie Bell. The movie starts off with Marcus as a centurion, and after a fight with the 'barbarians' that left him wounded in the left leg, he is given an honorable discharge from the army. However, since this did not let him fulfill the true reason he joined the army, he was not happy with his situation. Then between a stroke of luck and fate I guess, Marcus meets Esca, hears about the location of the Eagle, and sets out on a quest to restore his father's honor. 

I think that is enough spoilers for one movie. 

I absolutely loved this movie. It was fun, calm, easy to understand for the most part, and had enough action to keep my attention going. At some point in the movie, I imagined this was something similar to what the writer of 'In the name of the King' had in mind, except he missed a few key points the writer of The Eagle did not, such as actors with expression and life, scenes that were believable and more than three members of each clan represented.

One thing I noticed as well was the fact that there was no romance in the movie, which was new to me, but beautifully, not missed. Usually, most action movies in this genre, involve some woman in the story, who is either killed, kidnapped, or something of the sort, and must be avenged, rescued or something else. It was refreshing to not have that cliché played over in this show. Though I would say with all the symbolism placed in 'the Eagle', it was as close to a woman as it could get.

I would recommend this movie for the fun loving, calm action loving people. Or just anyone looking for a good watch. 

The Mechanic

Rating: 6.5/10

There are many constants in this life, and now I do believe one of them is the performance of Statham in American movies, or movies not directed by Tarantino. 

I walked into the movie theater for the mechanic with a feeling of anticipation, eagerness to watch some action and a slight dread, cuddled by some assurance, that Statham would fail to deliver. I walked out of the theater with one of my expectations fulfilled: Statham failed to deliver.

The mechanic, a movie staring Jason Statham, (Bishop) Ben Foster  (Steve) and Donald Sutherland (Harry), is a movie about a man, Author Bishop, who is a hired assassin, or as the movie called it, a 'mechanic'. One of his hits turns out to be that of his only friend Harry McKenna. The fact that he actually took the shot by the way shocked me to no end. Anyway McKenna dies, and Author decides to become his son, Steve's, mentor, and teach him the trade. Steve is played by Foster, and though an important character in the movie, it is sad that I forgot his name barely 10 minutes after I walked out the door. 

Says a lot about how much of a memorable performance was put on. Eventually they figured out the bad guys, I guess, and for the rest of the story, you would have to watch on your own.

To say I was disappointed in the movie would be a misguided statement. Disappointment is something felt when one's expectations are not met. But when I decided to see the movie, I expected an action filled story line - which I got when you ignore all the unnecessary scenes, obvious wins on Author's part and predictable acts. I also expected guns and explosions, which I got to my fill. And finally, I expected Stratham's languid performance- which I also got; undiluted.

Though he had a huge part to play in it, I would not blame the entire unsatisfactory outcome of the movie on Stratham alone. The mechanic is a movie that had the passion for greatness. I felt the writer's dream, saw the director's vision, but did not see or feel the actors and actresses passion. As testosterone pumped up as the movie was, the actors lacked the passion and energy needed to pull it off. There was also the fact that all through the first 3/4 of the movie, I felt I had missed the prequel, which I was sure held most of the running, explosions and missing pieces that seemed to plague the story acted before me.

The mechanic picked up speed towards the end for about three scenes, then it came to a sudden conclusion. Since I spent almost 2 hours being bored to death and regretting every minute of it, when the movie picked up, it felt as though  I had just walked into the theater to see the action movie I paid for, and then that came to a sudden halt. Imagine my sudden shock as I saw the credits ready to roll by. 

I felt cheated in some way. Like I payed $6.75 to see a 30 minute movie.

I would not go all out and say Stratham is a horrible actor - and worse at action mainly because his face, which he chooses to keep expressionless no matter the role or scene, is unreadable, and not in the 'oh cool I want to know what he is thinking' sort of way. -No.  I admit he was brilliant in Snatch,  he was made to be Turkish, loved him in The Bank Job, The Expendables.... ran out. Rather, I would advise, if my opinion was sever ort on the matter, that Stratham stick to British movies, preferable those directed by Tarantino. For some reason, the genius director alone seems to know how to bring out the chard and passion that I am so blindly believing, despite proof of the contra, lurks within Stratham.

The Oxford Murders

                                                 Rating: 8/10

If you had a brain the size of a goldfish's times a little more like most of us do, yes this is an obvious exaggeration, then you would find this movie a bit of a bore. Between the discussions about philosophy, physics and math, I was almost convinced that I was watching this for a class and not for fun in the beginning. By the twenty-eighth minute mark, fun left the equation and I was sure I had accidentally walked into a class....still trying to figure out what class it is.

The Oxford Murders, a movie staring Elijah Woods, John Hurt, Leonor Watling and others is a movie about a professor and a student, who worked with Scotland Yard to solve a series of murders. They did this by trying to decipher a series of codes or symbols with mathematical equations. 

If you manage to get past the first five minutes of the film, I do applaud you. But after you have gotten up to thirty minutes into the movie, I don't know how, you would feel it is now your solemn duty to complete it. Then you pay extra attention to the movie and discover the brilliance in it. You feel it, can almost see it, then it eludes you. And just when you want to write the movie off as a total waste of time, it creeps back up on you at the final scene, and squeezes out that applause from you in the end. A similar brilliance to the Black Swan's, but this time a bit more coy and evasive. 

Elijah Woods stars as Martin, a young graduate student who is almost overly obsessed with a world renowned Professor Aurthur Seldom, John Hurt, whose brilliance is doubted by me at several points, but proven true by the rap. In order not to give any spoilers, I would say this:

I think the one thing that put the movie together was a statement Seldom made twice in the movie: The butterfly that flutters its wings and causes a hurricane at the other side of the world. 

Remembering this would give any the understanding, or the key, they need to unlock the secrets of this film. I personally found Watling character in the movie, Lorna, like a breath of fresh air each time she appeared. Though her character and Wood's were romantically involved in the movie, her scenes seemed totally out of place for the most part and a bit chaotic with the bulk of the script. Yet this did not come off negatively, but felt more like taking a breath of fresh air once in a while or coming up for a breather. Like commercials during a soap opera.  

Like all things not perfect, this movie was no different. For instance, there was a certain young man who shared a study with Martin, whose name I can't be bothered to recall, whose character still remains a mystery to me. I would guess it might have had something to do with him looking like a suspect for the murders, but this was never truly explained as he was suddenly missing from the movie. I could not decide if he was close to having a psychotic break or just a weirdo. I guess I would never know. 

Then there was the romance.

I believe I can safely say that Woods has some difficulty in portraying fake sex. That being said, the sexual or bedroom scenes in the movie left much to be desired. For some reason though, I also got the vibe that I was watching one of my younger siblings in the act. And believe me, that did not feel too good. 

All the same, I would recommend this movie if you have time and patience and don't mind thinking and mind reading because The Oxford Murders gives you all those are more. I would advise though that if you get to the thirty minute mark of the film, then do watch it to the end, despite the few parts that make your senses plead for you to stop. Because in the end, the last ten minutes of the movie, I managed to change the ratings of the movie from a 4, to a 6, then a 7, back to a 5 and finally settle for the 8 it is. 

the Black Swan experience

Rating: 9/10

Every movie star (that matters) has 1 movie that kinda becomes their "the one"; the movie of their career. the movie that the star is well-known for, so to speak-

Tom Cruise: "Oh, the guy from Mission Impossible."

Pierce Brosnan: "Oh, the guy from James Bond."

Leonardo DiCaprio: "Oh, the guy from Titanic."

Angelina Jolie: "Oh, the chic from Tomb Raider."

Now, it's true that Natalie Portman has previously proven herself on countless occasions; V for Vendetta, Star Wars, Closer. but in all honesty, as far as i'm concerned, the girl simply outdid herself in her role in Black Swan.

when i walked into that theater, i expected a thriller, yes, and i also expected some kind if fantasy-related theme. by the end if that movie, i kinda felt like i do after a ride on a roller coaster; i feel a little queasy and scared as hell, but damn, i wanna do that again.

it was honestly an experience. the way to know an actor /actress has played their role to a perfect T is when at some point you stop thinking about that actor in terms of themselves, and start thinking of them in terms of the role they're playing on the screen before you- Natalie Portman completely became intense and disturbed ballet dancer, Nina Sayers.

the plot of the movie developed at the most perfect pace, without leaving any of the characters behind, and Nina's metamorphosis as we get to the meat and bones of the story is simply beautiful.

i have to admit that i'd never thought much about Natalie Portman; dont get me wrong, she's a really good actress, but she's not the only one.

however, after Black Swan, it became obvious to me that every movie she had ever done had been leading to this one. i can now honestly say that i will never forget Natalie Portman ever again, and i thank her, and the director who chose her as his main character, for the experience.

The Craig's List Killer

                                                                               Rating: 4/10

I guess this post would be more on the killer than the movie.

If you don't get my stand on the movie from the first sentence, then I would put it simply: I believe the movie was almost a total waste of tv space. Not because of the story it was based on, but because I feel it was poorly put together. Should it have been based off fantasy, I think this review would be the same.

It began as what most thrillers would, portraying the soon to be devastated family and group of friends in their normal lives and daily routine, then soon spiraled into what turned out to be a fiercely summarized series of juxtaposed parts of Mr. Markoff's life, from college till death.

At some point in the movie, I was sure Markoff was having a psychotic break (still wondering), and that this had to do with some things that occurred in his childhood. Say abandonment or abuse at the age of 7 (I simply picked this number because there was a scene in the movie where Markoff failed to answer properly about a child's diagnosis because, as his supervisor put it 'he was getting personal' or something of the sort).... I don't know. Though the movie raised all these questions, sadly, none of them were answered. Leaving me with many holes to fill on my own.

Before I watched this, I had heard nothing about the said 'Craig's list killer' and simply assumed that for a person to get a title in America as the 'bla bla killer' he or she had to be some sort of gruesome murderer or a serial killer. It was based off this assumption I watched this movie, and thus was the reason I was thoroughly baffled when the killer was not as, lets say, 'enchanting' as I thought he would be.  No, I am not infatuated with killing and do not admire the act whatsoever.

Let me state here that I am by no means condoning what he did or undermining the fact that the ladies he attacked were victims, no. But I believe the media and the police force (assuming they reacted as they did in the movie)over escalated what could have been an accident and gone as man slaughter. To clarify why I came to this conclusion, I would write what I believe happened based on what I read online and watched in the movie. I am no expert here, I did not know the man or any of the people so I could definitely be way off topic.

I believe Markoff was a straight A college kid with all the expectations of all around him for him. He was, as stated before, the American dream. This would put pressure on anyone. Now having a bondage fetish or 'S and M' fetish is really not part of the 'lifestyle of the American dream' and he needed a way to, lets say, get off. Granted his choice would not win an award for 'World's smartest', but humiliating women, i.e, making them masochists psychologically was what he did. Taking their underwear was part of his sick fetish too I guess. To each his own. Unfortunately for him, since his victims were not masochists, they did not find his acts as much fun as he did. Miss Brisman panicked and so did Markoff (I believe) who shot her. From what I gathered, prior to this, what I choose to call an accident, all Markoff was, was a thieving pervert.

But being tagged as the 'Craig's list killer' by the media, put him on the same page as the BTK, The Zodiac and all the other names in the 'killing industry'. To be honest, I think that put even more pressure on this 'American dream now turned bad boy'. Yes he was a murderer because he did commit the crime, but I don't believe he was a killer. That, to me, requires a plural body count at least. This is because the definition for a killer is someone who kills. That of a murderer can go two ways: Someone who commits murder or someone who murders. I think if he was treated as the 'thieving pervert who killed a girl' that he was, things would have gone down differently.

But hey what do I know right? I never met him or any of his victims. All I did was watch a movie and read the news. Things could have gone down, in reality, differently from how the rest of the world saw it, and this website is not for court cases but a movie review site. So as a movie, I think the 'Craig's list killer' was really not on the list of 'Top ten Birthday presents I got this year' (Yes, it came out on my birthday). It turned out to be a tragedy for both parties: offender and victim. Not even the chance to be 'happy when the villain is caught' like all 'good guy-bad guy' movies are meant to go in fantasy world. And boy, do I hate tragedies.

That's all folks.