Hugo

IMDB bills this as "Set in 1930s Paris, an orphan who lives in the walls of a train station is wrapped up in a mystery involving his late father and an automaton." False. This movie is about movies. More specifically old movies. Even more specific a man who made old movies. This film starts out like it is about the title character Hugo (Asa Butterfield), but it is actually about a sad shop owner Goerges Melles (Ben Kingsley) who was, in the past, a visionary film make in the birthing days of the movies. There are good actors in this movie Ray Winstone, Christopher Lee, Jude Law, Sacha Baron Cohen. And they all do great work. The only thing is that they are totally a waste of space. You spend quite a bit of time following them to no actually advancement or relevance to the main story. They show this mechanical man like it has some big mystery and will come alive. Nope. It just draws pictures. What I really liked about this movie is that they talk about movies is the way I feel about movies. Like they are dreams. Or a physical manifestation of what we can create in our minds. An Escape. In that aspect this movie touched me. Which I guess is the point, however I really do not need all of the extra junk getting in the way of that message. It would have been better billed to me as a story about Goerges Melles. Martin Scorsese does however put 3D to excellent use. It brings a depth and a fell that really does immerse you in this world. It also brings a fabulous look to all the old movies they show. I could have sat for two hours and watched all those in 3D. This movie is not for everyone. As a matter of fact, it is for very few people. And only if they can make it through all the unnecessary stuff to get to the meat. I enjoyed it for it's message, but that's about it.

Immortals

The thing that tipped me off to no liking this movie as much as i thought is that when i left i felt like it should be much later. Which is to say that it felt long. Epic movies like this are expected to be longer, but you shouldn't notice it. You should come out feeling like it should be earlier than it is. That the movie is so engrossing that you lost track of time. Having said that there are a lot of good things about this movie. The action was real dope. Bloody and rough. Henry Cavill is Theseus. Who initially looks like the bad mama jamma that you don't want to mess with, but he seems to get bailed out by the Gods more than i would expect. Zeus' faith often seems misplaced. But he does do his fair share of good killing. Everyone does. Theseus, the gods, and King Hyperion (Mickey Rourke) all lay serious waste. Hyperion has it out for the gods who he felt let his family die. Freido Pinto is also a delight, and so is her butt. There is a part where her character Phaedra and Theseus are about to get down, and she is undressing then the next shot is her butt. Well I ASSume it's her's. It could be a double, but either way, all the men that have seen this thank you. The music was something that I noticed, but in a bad was. you would have your traditional epic score of horns, drums, and such. However on occasion i remember the noise of an electric instrument that stood out. This movie got billed to me as a 300 type movie, and it was. Just not as action packed and interesting. They gave me a story, but let it drag. They gave me great visuals, and blew it with crappy 3D. This  delivers on the action and dude stuff, and is enjoyable if you can make it through the drag which begins to be more apparent the deeper in you get. This film has a truly epic feel that reels you in, and tries its best to keep you in.

Zookeeper

Zookeeper... What else can I say, but, "Meh." This is another one of Kevin James cookie cutter "I'm big but lovable  movies. Griffin gets shot down by the woman he loves, and when the chance to win her back arises the animals that love him so much coach him through winning her. But he finds love somewhere he didn't expect but was there all along in Kate (Rosario Dawson). Their chemistry was fine cause she is nice and you can't help but like James. my favorite part was the animals. Nick Nolte, Adam Sandler, Sylvester Stallone, Cher, Judd Apatow, Jon Favreau, Maya Rudolph, and last but definitely not least Don Rickles. The better actors were not the focus., but it was fun to figure who they were. Another thing I liked was Ken Jeong and Joe Rogan were quite entertaining despite not being their normal over the op selves. But the thing that drug me down was for the most part it was kind of boring. If you are going to do something as wild as animals talking make it crazier and not so serious. Just a meh like a couple other of James' movies cause it had ist moments and misses. kids would like it because of the animals.

West Side Story

A best picture that truly was. A beautiful re-imagining of the old tale of Romeo and Juliet. There are so many good things about this movie. The Dance fights, the music, the love. The Jets and the Sharks are rival gangs fighting for the same turf, when one night two star crossed lovers catch each others eye across the gym. But can their love overcome their situation. Tony (Richard Beymer) and Maria (Natalie Wood) are our Romeo and Juliet, and a fine couple they are. They personify the old ways of romance in film both in song and acting and it is fantastic. When they are in the scene it becomes only them. The way they are meant to feel. A Gang war ruins their chance at happiness. Riff (Russ Tamblyn) and Bernardo (George Chakiris) are the leaders of our gangs Jets and the Sharks. Who seem to hate each other and determined to settle the score in sometimes awkward, but always delightful, dance fights. They guys and gals make you understand their hate, and yet also let you have fun eith them.  The beginnings feels like a fake fun filled romp through the city filled with laughs and jokes.It transitions to a true drama. A drama of death and loved loss that leaves you with a sad satisfaction, but also of enjoyment of earlier parts in the film. I have never been on much for Shakespeare, but this version is truly a credit to his story which I had the supreme pleasure to enjoy on the big screen like few of my generation can.

Red State

I had high hopes for Red State because I like Kevin Smith and i like the majority of his work. I also think the lunatics that he is portraying are just that lunatics, and I love him making fun of those terrible people who protest funerals.  But it just fails to satisfy me. First on acting/ There are only2 standouts: John Goodman and Michael Parks. Goodman as the man who is called to come deal with the situation at this compound. And Parks as the head of these murderous crazy people who see themselves as cleaning the earth of the wicked. His calm nature makes him very creepy. Everyone else just was meh, and forgettable. The first scene in the church is actually pretty good, where the Park character distorts and perverts the word of God for his own means, it is both irritating and disturbing. But it goes on too long. You get then point and he is still rambling. I found myself wanting everyone in that compound to take a lead implant to the face, but i do not get my wish. The end left me wanting. Sure they were locked up, but show me some punishment. And the reason they basically turn themselves over is a bit of a stretch. It was also bland. Flet like the movie had no identity. Not horror, thriller, action, or comedy. It has aspects of all, but doesn't really give me much of any. It just hit so many mosques with so few shining points it was hardly worth finishing. Want an entertaining farse about religion? watch Dogma. Very funny.

Anonymous

This movie is billed as "Was Shakespeare a Fraud?" However, it is about more than that. It is about the Earl of Oxford's (Rhys Ifans) life and relationship with Queen Elizabeth (Vanessa Redgrave). And more so about that and their crusade against free speech rather than about fraudulence. The look of this movie is excellent. This movie could be split in two it would have been better. One that was actually about William Shakespeare (Rafe Spall), and one about the private lives and politics of the nobles. There were a couple of times where I totally forgot about poor William and his art, or Oxford's art, then they would show a play and I would remember, "Oh yeah! Thats what this is supposed to be about." The acting for the most part was well done with a few exceptions where severe over acting occurred, but nothing to ruin this already confusing endeavor. Except for Shakespeare himself. He just didn't belong. He seem like he rode back in time to take advantage. His tone, speak  and overall demeanor just didn't work with the feel of everything else. (although he was enjoyable, just out of place) I feel like in trying to tell two stories here they fail to tell wither properly. After I left this movie I like it less and less the more I thought about it. It brings you in with a false pretense and then tells you a different story. At least it's focus seems different. Split them up. Re-do them. Then call me. If my words fail in their attempt to disuede the, then seek ye not this film if the fire or your heart seeks a story of Shakespearse's not.

A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas

Harold (John Cho) and Kumar (Kal Pen) jot down a another chapter in the legacy that is them. They do so with I raunchy, politically incorrect, drug laced romp to rekindle their long lost friend ship. What is great about this movie and the other two is they are jokes and they know it. nothing is take serious. It feel like everyone is there to screw around and have a good time which makes all the dumb/crazy humor acceptable. Because they are not appealing to your intelligence, they are appealing to the moron in all of us. They introduce new friends to the franchise like Danny Trejo as Harold's Father in law, and bring back old ones like the hilarious NPH as himself back from the dead. This movie delivers on many aspects of entertainment, and one that i always complain about is 3D. Except now, Again the tradition of not taking themselves seriously they go all out with the 3D. using every reason to throw things in your face. From glass, to eggs, to syrup, to smoke. And it is so good! Kudos to them for not making me hate it. There is nothing phenomenal about this movie (except the 3D). But it is a good bromance that certainly entertains and delivers on it promises.