CrystalsBonusAndReviews

This is one film where the trailer is scarier than the actual film. Based on the novel by Susan Hill it is a creepy film but not scary with no Harry Potter comparisons. Daniel Radcliffe known for Harry Potter fame plays an Attorney Arthur Kipps who is sent to a village to settle the affairs of a deceased client. The opening scene shows Arthur getting ready to leave his young son Joseph played by Misha Handley to travel to the village. Artur is a man full of sorrow because he lost his wife during child birth leaving him to raise Joseph on his own. This is also evidenced by the scene where Joseph gives him a calendar he drew for him counting down the days until they would be reunited. He drew his father with a frown and told him that’s how he always looks. This film moves very slow, but once it gets going it does hold your attention.

It is a slow thriller without a lot if any thrilling moments. There were some pretty good cinematography especially the scene where the tide comes in and the shots of the murky water raging in is just exciting because you see the force of nature and how powerful it can be.  And as quickly as the tide rolls in by morning it has receded and the road is visible and accessible again.

The film is very dark and morbid, but it is also very well acted. Daniel Radcliffe delivers a good performance along with Janet McTeer who plays Mrs. Daily a woman haunted by the ghost of her son. She delivers a fabulous performance as a tortured soul. You really can see the pain and anguish of her character. Because of the good acting this film gets 3 out of 5 popcorn bags.

Phenomenal! This film is what film making is all about. Being that it took George Lucas over 20 years to make this film it definitely was worth the wait. From the opening to the last scene this film holds your attention. The characters draw you in since the film is based on true life events because the Red Tails were real men who risked their lives for our country. They were regarded as incapable and inadequately suited for combat by their white counter parts and they completely proved them wrong. The entire cast delivered spectacular performances. Terrence Howard delivers a brilliant performance as Col. A.J. Bullard who believed in his pilots ad fought to get them real meaningful missions.

Cuba Goooding Jr. does a good performance as Major Emanuelle Stance. The Tuskeegee Airmen did a lot for this country. They are responsible for sending many US Soldiers back home to their families safely. The film also depicts the racism they had to endure. The special effects are awesome!  It is trilling to watch the Tuskeegee Airmen take flight. The arial battles are thrilling! Lucus definitely put his stamp on it because the battles remind you a bit of Star Wars.

The film shows their struggle to be accepted. They had to work twice as hard to show their worth. They are truly remarkable men. The scene where they are escorting the bomber shows just how itense their job is and they never failed a mission. The explosions are huge and loud. The scene where Lightning blows up stuff is a thrll because it shows just how skilled he pilots are. This film is historical and a must see for the whole family. It definitely gets 5 out of 5 popcorn bags.

Emotional! This fim is spectacular! You will definitely need plenty of kleenex for this heart warming story based on the novel by Jonathan Safran Foer. Tom Hanks plays Thomas Schell a Jeweler and a Father who loves hs son Oskar played by Thomas Horn more than anything. The bond they share is very special because they share  love for adventure. He would devise these missions or treaure hunts for his son to embark up on. Sandra Bullock plays his wife Linda Schell who has no connetion with their son. As always Hanks delivers  a brilliant performance. Thomas Horn does a wonderful job as well. He really draws you into his character to the extent that you feel what he is feeling. He makes you want to jump through the screen and give him a big hug.

September 11th was a horrible day. This film gives us a glimpse into the life of a family that lost a loved one on that day ad how they cope with life with out him. The film opens with the relationship Oskar had with his Father.  In the opening scenes we see them spending time together and interacting with each other. The scene where Oskar is listening to his Father’s voice on the answereing machine is sosad because you can see just how much he misses his father.  The scene wherehe goes ino his Father’s closet and finds the key is powerful because he looks at it as a sign from his father and gives him a purpose.

It is good to see Max Von Sydow acting again on the big screen. He delivers a flawless performace as the silent  renter. Even though his character don’t speak his performance says a lot. This is an extraordnary film and one that is a must see. It gets 4 out of 5 popcorn bags.

Michael Fassbender plays Brandon a sex addict. This film takes you into the world of a sex addict and shows the damage it can do to ones life. He delivers a gripping performance. His scenes are very intense. You can see the torment in his eyes and the disgust with himelf and his actions. Cari Mulligan is the biggest surprise. She too delivers a good performance. She plays his little sister Sissy who is just if not more damaged than he is. She also substitutes sex for love. Th difference between her and hm is that she wants to be in a relationship and be loved, but he doesn’t want a relationship and he has deep issues with that. There is a lot of nudity in this film from both Cari and Michael. The setting is New York. The darkness of the film in the scenes where he is on the hunt for someone to have sex with is a bit like an animal looking for its prey.

It is disturbing a bit because he has sex with anyone with outregard for safety from STD’s. The film moves very slowly in the beginning. The scene where Cari Mulligan is singing in the night club seems to take for ever. It is the longest rendition of “New York, New York”, you’ve ever heard. The trumoil these two are in is very apparent by their portrayal of their characters. The scene where Brandon breaks down crying in the street is a real turning point because it shows how remorseful he is for his actions.

The film shows how out of control their lives become. There are many powerful scenes in the film that show his sex addiction and the lengths he will go to quench his thirst for sex. It gets 3 out of 5 popcorn bags.

Mark Wahlberg plays Chris Farraday a former smuggler trust back into that life of crime in this thrilling tale of smuggling. Kare Beckinsale plays his wife Kate. Caleb Ladry Jones plays Kates brother Andy who turns their lives upside down when he messes up a drug run. Resulting in his almost getting killed by the drug dealer Tim played by Giovanni Ribisi. As always Wahlberg gives a good passionate performance. He always puts such passion in his work and this film is no different. The story flows and the screen play makes sense. The film gives us a glimpse into the world of smuggling and shows the risks involved.

There are some very intense moments in the film such as the scene where Chris is in Panama buying goods and it goes wrong. The scene where he and Danny played by Lucas Haas are caught in a shoot out with police is very intense because you don’t what the out come will be. Although there are plenty of intense moments there are also some humorous moments such as the scene when Captain Camp played by JK Simmons comes out in his underwear to find drug dealers in his house. So the humor definitely balances ut the intensity.

This will definitely win no awards. Still it is chalked with action and suspense. There aren’t many amazing stunts but it does hold your interest. Mark Wahlberg really makes you care about his character and hoping that everything ends well for him. It is an entertaining film. Mark ahlberg fans will not be disappointed. Another member from the Wahlberg family Robert Wahlberg also appears in the film as John Bryce.  If you like action and suspense you will enjoy this film. It is a should see for everyone 14 and over due to it’s strong language. It gets 3 out of 5 popcorn bags.

Thrilling! This film is intense and very heart warming. The story of a boy and his horse being separated by war and situatioins beyond their control. Under the direction of Steven Spielberg all the actors delivered brilliant performances. This film has so many touching moments such as te scene when Albert played by Jeremy Irvine plows the field for his father Ted played by Peter Mullan. It is so touching because he does this for his father and he encourages his horse Joey to not give up. The horse did a phenomenal job in this scene as well as through out the film. His horse Joey is the real star of the film because endures some amazing things.

The special effects were amazing! The war sequences seemed so real. Joey went through a lot and he and young Albert can relate to each other on a deeper level because they both experienced the horror of war. They grew up together even though they were apart. Joey encountered many people on his journeys. He also endured manyhardships like when he had to move a gun to the top of a hill for the Nazis. The costumes stay true to the period and the all of the sets give you the feel of war time.

The cinematography is breath taking it really captures he beauty of europe even though the period is during war. This film is a must see for the whole family. It also shares a bit of history as well. It is definiely Oscar worthy! It gets 4 out of 5 popcorn bags.

Enthralling! This film really holds your attention. Daniel Craig plays Mikael Blomkvist a writer hired by a wealthy man named Henrick Vanger played by Christopher Plummer whose haunted by the disappearance of his niece Harriet. Henrick  wants Mikael to probe into the mystery of her disappearance. Mikael in turn hires Lisbeth who is the girl with the dragon tattoo that helps him solve the mystery whch goes deeper than either of them could have imagined. played At first the story moves a bit slow and you wonder when it will speed up and get some action. This flm is not action packed but it does have its moments like the scene when Lisbeth chases Martin played by Stellan Skarsgard on a motorcycle and his vehicle blows up.

he cinematography is beautiful as it captures the snow covered country side. Th story flows and toward the end begins to make a bit more sense. If you like intrigue you’ll like tis film. It gets 3 out of 5 popcorn bags.

Intriguing! Robert Downey Jr. returns as Sherlock Holmes and Jude Law returns as Dr. Watson. Jared Harris plays the villain in the film Professor James Moriarty, who is such a gentleman. This time Holmes has met his match. This may be the one that cannot be caught. Matched in wits and brains Moriarty definitely catches his attention by his dastardly deeds. He likes to go around blowing people up. The special effects are wonderful! The scene where Holmes and Watson are on the train and it explodes is loud and perfectly timed. The fight sequences are also very effective. The scene where Holmes gets in a fight is interesting because he acts out the fight in his head and we see it playing out in slow motion. Then he does it in real time and the fight goes right according to his plans.

This film has more action and bigger and louder explosions. The scene where they are running through the forest as they flee the Germans is amazing because the Germans are shooting missiles and bombs at them. The cinematography of the German countryside and the ocean view when they were on a ship is simply beautiful. This film is truly an adventure on a grand scale.

One of the most intense moments of the film is when Holmes ad Moriarty are playing chess and matching wits against eachother. No chess game has so much riding on it. The fate of the world depends on this one. Holmes really demonstrates what a true genius he is, although Moriarty doesn’t make it easy. You can really see just how much mutual respect they have for one another. Yet they both despise each other. This film is full of intrigue and action. It’s a must see. It deserves 4 out of 5 popcorn bags.

A masterpiece! Scorsese has done it again! Asa Butterfield delivers a brilliant performance as Hugo a remarkable young boy who saves the life of a brilliant artist the great Georges Melies played by Ben Kingsley a billiant film maker back in the silent film era. Chloe Grace Moretz plays Isabelle who befriends Hugo. The 3D effect under the direction of Scorsese is used in the right way which defi itely ads something different to the film. The beginning of the film does move a bit slow but once it gets going there’s no stopping it.

The world of Hugo is within the walls of a train station during 1930′s in Paris. After his Father playe by Jude Law was killed he had to move in with his Uncle Claude played by Ray Winstone. This is where his adventure begins, because Claude teaches Hugo to keep the clocks running on time at the station. As Hugo moves through the walls of the station the 3D kicks in and enhances the whole experience. The gears and gadgets of the clocks become larger than life as they spin and grind. The swinging pendulum swings right at you as you duck for cover. The graphics and colors are so bright beautiful and golden.

The sets are precise and give the feel of Paris. The costumes are true to the period. It is nice to see the work of Georges Melies on the big screen once again. Sorsese as icluded actual footage from his films. It’s te perfect homage to a legend. Under the direction of Scosese al the actors deliver brilliant performances. If  you love films you will enjoy this film.  It’s definitely 4 out of 5 popcorn bags.

Nostalgic! Kermit and the gang are back in a race against time to save their legacy. This new crazy off beat musical is introducing the Muppets to a whole new generation. Jason Segel plays Gary a guy whose best friend is Walter who happens to be a Muppet. Amy Adams plays Mary Gary’s girlfriend. The musical numbers remind you of the classic films where everyone breaks out into song dancing in perfect synchronicity. The new songs are catchy too and the laughs are in abundance. It is traditional Muppets with a new twist. Chris Cooper plays the villain a rich Texas Oilman named ironically Tex Richman who wants to destroy the Muppets. He also does an interesting rap about himself.

This movie is full of surprises like cameos from stars like Mickey Rooney, Whoopie Goldberg, Niel Patrick Harris and Selena Gomez to name a few. The list goes on. Everyone has lent their talents for the lovable Muppets. Jim Henson would be proud to see how his vision and life’s work is being revitalized for a new generation. But those of us who grew up with the Muppets are in for a treat as well. The songs we all  know and love such as Rainbow Connection, Moving Right Along, The Muppet Show Theme and other Muppet favorites are introduced once again to be enjoyed.

The Muppet Show is also referenced in the film along with clips from their past shows with some memorable guest hosts like Steve Martin. The Muppets are apart of history and it is nice to see them back again taking those of us who know them back down memory lane to be loved and enjoyed for a new generation. If you want to recapture your youth and bring joy to your young ones then you must seethis movie. It gets 4 out of 5 popcorn bags.