Hollywood has imagined yet another way to destroy a helicopter – a 600 pound, suicidal gorilla leaping from the Golden Gate Bridge, landing on the helicopter, causing it to crash into the bridge and be completely destroyed it. This completely unrealistic yet amazing scene defines “Rise of the Planet of the Apes.”
“We Married Margo” is a movie about coincidence, timing, and dislike between those forced into close proximity. Directed by J.D. Shapiro, “We Married Margo” weaves humor into a tale of tragedy. The movie is based upon a true story about two men who are forced to live together after they both marry and divorce the same woman (Margo) at different times in their lives. These two men, however, could not be more different from each other.
Building on the increasingly popular comic-book-turned-hit-movie formula, “Captain America: The First Avenger” is the kind of feel-good movie that leaves you wondering, “Where can I get a shield like that?” While the common superheroes contain inherent talent and must learn to use them for good, Captain America is the extreme opposite, featuring a scrawny kid with nothing but a huge heart.
“A skull is more interesting than a naked woman” is a quote that describes human interest in both death and lust and that when faced with a choice between the two, death dominates. “The Seventh Seal,” a 1957 Ingmar Bergman classic opens with Antonius Block, a knight who is worn out and fatigued after fighting in the crusades for the past ten years. He is accompanied by Jöns the Squire, who is an intelligent and well-versed man who writes his own music and whose speech is as smooth as silk.
Sometimes even the most avid movie-goer can become frustrated with the latest releases and turn to older films for entertainment. And although there are many worthy classics, a lesser known, yet equally admirable option is “The Ox-Bow Incident.” This 1943 film follows the tragic actions of a lynch mob in 1885 Nevada to expose the irrationality of the mob mentality.
The human brain keeps a rolling record of the last eight minutes of a person’s experiences. The record stops at death, but can be retrieved and projected into the mind of another person by high-tech software thanks to quantum physics and parabolic calculus. This eight minute window effectively contains an alternate reality where the actions of the one reliving these memories can learn and do new things, possibly heroic ones. That is the premise upon which Source Code is built.
“Black Swan” is a psychological thriller about a ballerina’s mental struggle to be perfect. It is a complex movie that pulls viewers in and keeps them intrigued. Director Darren Aronofsky is known for his brilliant yet shocking films, and “Black Swan” certainly fits this reputation.
“Sucker Punch,” the fifth movie to be directed by Zachary Snyder, shows true artistic talent with a camera and modern special effects. “Sucker Punch” is visually stunning, but it lacks one of the main factors of a movie, a plot.
The classic western has always been popular with American moviegoers, as it encompasses so many of the elements that make movies a good experience, while still grasping the spirit of the freedom that makes it fun. “True Grit,” starring Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon, and Hailee Steinfeld, is no different. In an age when conspiracy theories, fast-paced gun fights, and mind-bending alternate realities are what reach the top of the blockbuster charts, “True Grit” reminds us of a time when life was simpler and decidedly more definite. What you see is what you get.
“The Adjustment Bureau.” Even the name screams mysterious government agency. This action thriller follows the life of David Norris (Matt Damon), a man who rose from an impoverished life in the Bronx to become a New York State senator, while being manipulated by the invisible hand of the Adjustment Bureau.