The Count of Monte Cristo Review

Today I wanted to do a review on a great movie called "The Count of Monte Cristo," staring the amazing Jim Caviezel as Edmond Dantes, or the Count of Monte Cristo. This is a story of absolute betrayal and the relentless quest for revenge. Its dark, eloquent, and takes you on a great adventure. With the cast of Caviezel, Guy Pearce, Dagmara Dominczyk, and the late and great Richard Harris, this movie is a power house and worth the watch just for the acting alone.
To begin the story, young Dantes and his best friend (Guy Pearce) Fernand Mondego cross path with the infamous Napoleon who asks Dantes to deliver a letter to his sick friend. (Dantes can't read so he did not know the letter was really spy information.) Thus begins the down fall for our dear hero Edmond Dantes.

It starts off simple enough, Dantes is innocent, but put on trial for treason, why? Because his best friend was jealous of Dantes and set him up to be proven guilty, even helps aprehend him, and send his best friend to the deepest, darkest dungeon to be tortured and broken for years. YEARS!
Enter Richard Harris. From the moment he is introduced to the story things start picking up for Edmond, despite still being in prison. Harris teaches Edmond to read, write, philosophy, math, all the things you could think of, including sword fighting.
For years the two of them work together to escape the prison, and gain their freedom... I don't wanna tell you the whole story, because its worth the watch! Edmond is freed from his prison and begins his long quest for revenge against his former best friend, who by the way, is married to Edmonds old girl once he gets out of prison.... I know! How Edmond gets back at Mondego is fascinating, as well as all the others who were in on his betrayal. This story shows the depth of the human soul and the relentless force of revenge, but at the same time wrestling with love and regret.
I like this story very much and would recommend it to anyone!
4.5 outta 5.

Rise of the Planet of the Apes Review

It's the end of the world and Apes are taking over! Thats what I thought this movie was supposed to be, but it turned out to be a little more personal and reason driven than that. In this epic tale, you follow a genetically enhanced ape, Caesar, who was the main character more or less through the first movie as he has raised a family and society in the forest with his fellow, super intelligent, apes, and other primate breads. Today's review is about them in the movie "Rise of the Planet of the Apes."

The set up for the story is basically that the human race has been almost completely whipped out bc a virus, and Caesar and the rest of his family even wonder if there are anymore humans left, until a small group of them stumble upon Caesar and his kin. What follows is a heart felt story of trust, betrayal, and ultimately facing our own demons, realizing things are not always as simple as we make them out to be.
I like how they set this up where the humans are basically hanging on for dear life, but still hold to the idea that they are human, they are in charge, and what they say goes. Caesar makes it very clear very quick that that is not true and it causes some friction as you can imagine. Still despite everything, Caesar doesn't want to risk war or destruction to his kind or the humans, so they find a compromise.
The whole story is a fight for survival, but not from weather, starvation, or even war. Its a fight for the very soul. Right and wrong. Finding away to coexist, and sadly showing the true end to such things, or at least how they would more than likely play out.
The way the apes are made and designed in this movie is amazing and very entertaining. I love the fact that they communicate with sign language, even though they can speak actual words. Its like they do it because they feel speaking is a human's way of communicating and they want nothing to do with it. The first time you hear Caesar speak in the film, even though you know he can, is when the human's show up.
I liked the feel to this movie, the post apocalypse that i haven't seen before. Most are desert, and wasteland. Earth destroyed by man and thats how it came about, with this one it was more of nature overrunning the world and destroying man. So its a very flush and green world. Not your normal doomsday.
The movie was open ended so i do wonder if they plan on making a third anytime in the future.
I give this movie a 4 outta 5.

Unbroken Review

The other day I went and saw the incredible true story, "Unbroken." Directed by Angelina Jolie, this powerful work will make you stop and think, "Ya know, maybe I don't got it that bad." The title unbroken goes a long way to mess with your head as about 30 minutes into the movie I would consider myself to be broken. Seeing the hardships and endurance of the human body and soul in this picture really made me question my own personal strength, and despite my hope that when the day comes that the machines rise up, or the zombies overrun the planet that I would have the strength to pick up a weapon and be the hero of my own tale... looking at what this movie's main character Louis Zamperini went through as the hero of his makes me realize I would probably be the first one killed off.

Starting his life off the wrong way, Louis, or Louie, is young and steeling, thinking he's not worth anything to anyone. Then his brother challenges him to try out for the track team at school and through hard work, discipline, and the simple truth his brother told him, "If you can take it, you can make it," he becomes an olympic runner who competed in Germany before the second world war broke out. Hence where things start to go very wrong for our inspiring hero. He becomes a crew mate on a bomber in the air force, raiding and bombing the empire of Japan. Ironically, during a rescue mission, the plane he is in malfunctions, sending all but three of the crew to their deaths in the vast ocean of the Pacific, and there begins the long hard journey of survival for Louie and his two crew mates. Now I won't go into too much detail, but lets just say I have a terrible fear of the ocean, and ESPECIALLY sharks, so this part of the movie was difficult for me to watch, but what is to follow the hellish journey on the ocean was far worse. Which is where my whole thought of being broken came from. If you split all the things that happen to young louie into 5 separate incidents, I'd been dead on part 1. I think most people would have been, but sadly that was just the beginning. 

Stick with the story from the moment of the crash till the end, and you will have witnessed the darkest cruelty of man, as well as the unbreakable spirit of our stories hero. This movie will make you cry, it will make you cringe, and it will make you want to stand up and scream, "For the love of GOD!" more than once. I give this movie 5 outta 5. 

A must see.

American Hustle Review

Today's post is going to be on "American Hustle." I'd heard good things about it, but I had never really had the urge to go see it in the theatre so last night I rented it for a buck and gave it a shot. As per usual the actors seen in this movie were a wonder to behold. Christian Bale did an amazing job as only he can in bringing his character to life. It was also entertaining to see other actors like Jennifer Lawrence and Amy Adams stepping into a more gritty role than I had ever previously seen them in. Bradley Cooper was very entertaining as well, and had a different vibe and presence to him as well. All around, A list cast, doing what they do best in a way at least I was not used to seeing them in.

The movie starts of in the life of a con artist (Christian Bale) as he crosses paths with his, I guess you could call her his soulmate (Amy Adams). The two of them start a business that is less than honorable, taking idiots for money by promising them a return of their investment, that of course they never deliver. Enter (Bradley Cooper) an undercover FBI agent who tricks them into taking his investment so he can pin them with fraud. Instead of throwing them in jail, the agent decides to use them, their connections and their knowhow to get bigger criminals and thus begins the long and soul wrenching story. It was great to watch these people, who weren't bad people trying to get bye and wrestling with the fact that they are busting others just like themselves, until Bradley Cooper's character decides to take them in even deeper and go after members of the mob. The story takes many twists and turns and you can't help but fear for these people and cheer for um to get out alive. This movie will make ya laugh, make ya cringe, and ultimately question your view on right and wrong.

5 outta 5 for American Hustle, its a must see for all. (Well maybe not your younger audience.)

Guardians of the Galaxy Review

Hello fellow readers and movie fans. Today I wanted to post a review for Marvel's "Guardians of the Galaxy! To be honest, I got nothing negative to say about this movie, as I went into the theatre thinking it was going to be stupid. I'd seen the previews, but knew nothing about the comics or even ever heard of them before, so I figured it was just a movie marvel threw together to make a quick buck with some effects and actors we knew to get us in the theatre. How Wrong I Was!

The Guardians of the Galaxy had everything I had been looking for in so many recent movies that let me down. Humor, romance, action, and a whole lot of heart. I guess going in with such low expectations made it that much more enjoyable for me, but I'm not trying to take anything away from the movie by saying that. Even if I had gone in with high expectations I would have loved this movie. The characters are something new and the chemistry between them all just works in a way that I haven't seen in recent films. The idea behind some the characters are even more priceless and unique. Drax "The destroyer" was probably one of my favorites in this tale. He is the biggest and baddest of the whole group but his comedic aspects make him more enjoyable to listen to, than to watch kicking butt. 

"His people are completely literal. Metaphors are gonna go over his head," said Rocket, the talking Raccoon. 

"Nothing goes over my head... My reflexes are too fast. I would catch it."
There are fun little moments like this all throughout the movie, and every character has their own little moments of genius smart ass humor, and it really sets them up as a dysfunctional family in a lot of ways.
All and all, the only thing I was missing from this whole adventure was an actual romance between the two characters you watch the whole time and KNOW are gonna hook up eventually, but its just not gonna happen in this movie. I'm all for building up a relationship and all that but the romantic in me wants to see more than just a few hints to it now and again, especially when its so painfully obvious they are gonna end up together. That aside, this movie is amazing and worth the watch.
4.5 outta 5

Batman Returns Review

This weekend I was watching an older take on the universe that is known by the masses as Batman. A lot of people today hear that and think Christian Bale, Dark Knight, or the even more recent trend, Ben Affleck, which most people say with a sneer or cringe. Honestly I'm not sweating it. Every actor to throw on the cap over the years was hated by batman fans before the movie released, all of them changing their tunes ones the movie was in theaters. I'm willing to bet this time around wont be any different.
Anyway, I'm not looking to talk future for Batman, I'm talking past. For me it was WAY past simply because it was before my time, or at least my recollection. In 1992 ( I was two years old.) Tim Burton released his follow up to his 1989 hit "BATMAN." The reviews for the film were strangely cross for the film, as 50% of people said it was way darker than the first and perhaps too much, while the other half claimed the exact opposite saying it was too light and slightly aimed for children more than adults. For me, I think I saw it for the first time when I was maybe five or so, WAY too young to fully comprehend all the sex and crude humor, but old enough to see a cool suite and the guy in it kicking butt, and thinking to myself, "I could do that... One day I will be a superhero." Then a few years later I was introduced to the world of fighting crime, or at least fighting the "Bad Guys" and I found out ya don't win with a single punch to the face like Batman did in this movie, and when someone hits you, its harder than it looks to just turn back and keep fighting on.

First childhood beat down flashback aside, lets talk about the film itself. Over the weekend I watched Batman Returns for the first time in a long time, and found myself once again captured in the life of the Bat, and more so than previously watch, captured by the whole steamy romance between him and Catwoman. Read my book "The Blood of the Dragon," and see some of my reading choices in the past few years, it becomes pretty clear I'm a sucker for a good romance. This was one of my favorites and has been my whole life, movie, comic, whatever, because its one of the most complicated romances in recorded history. I'm sure comic nuts can counter that statement with a million other relationships that are complicated and cheers to um, but for me this one take the cake. Especially the way it's portrayed in Batman Returns. Batman and Catwoman have always been complicated, but in this movie the odds are stacked when the alter egos of them, Bruce and Selina meet and get together and feel something for one another, while they are also doing battle with each other on the rooftops of Gotham without their knowledge. The funny thing is even in the heat of battle the two share some seriously saucy moments that beg the question, aside from the fact they are fighting and she is trying to frame him for murder... are they into each other...?

Anyway, watching the movie I stayed the corse and followed the story where it went, all the while, secretly waiting for the next Batman/Catwoman rendezvous. The movie itself is entertaining, dark, gritty, and gives fans what they want when they need it, and much to my frustration, leave ya wanting more between the two mask draped lovers instead of bringing their romance to what a true romantic would see as a climactic end. "Ridding off into the sunset," or in their case, the moon light, but true to the Batman Universe, Batman and Catwoman are, as Bruce Wayne stated, "The same. Split right down the center." They both have major issues that they gotta work out and that ultimately keep them apart... at least until their next throw down on the rooftops. Gotta love it, and gotta love the story, and the movie. In general it is worth the watch and ya can't beat that romance. 

Like all movies I like, it gets 5 outta 5. 

Reviewing "Of Beast and Beauty"

I gotta give this book five stars! It was very well written and took all the aspects that I loved so much from Disney's beauty and the beast and gave them a whole new look, edge, and rules. The world Stacey Jay created was very interesting to read about, starting with the spirit of the planet/ God i guess you could call it...
Then comes the introduction of the princess with her tragic history which draws you in, but not more so then the fact that she takes on the work, scaling rooftops like a cat, fearless... and did i mention blind. Yeah... SHE'S BLIND.
Stacey Jay did a wonderful job creating this character, and giving her this strength despite her condition, while at the same time leaving her vulnerable enough for the hero of the story, "THE BEAST" to come to her defense... even though the beginning of their relationship is what you would call... rocky... they do eventually build a friendship that leads into... well you should read it.
It was nice to see a story that isn't just straight up, "Oh my God, I love you more then anything!" "I love you too, You're sooo beautiful!" This story has a lot of building to be done between these characters before they can love each other. Hell, they have to stop hating each other first. This story has many levels that connect with different story lovers. Adventure, suspense, romance, and many many aspects you hope to find in an epic tale.

Of Beast and Beauty is worth the read for sure! I recommend it to all who need a good heart thumping tale to read through.