Movie Review #30 The Master (2012)

- Who is your master?

First on a personal note, I'd like to thank those who read my reviews from black and white month. Overwhelming success, especially when looking at the hits for my Persona review, so thanks!

I was invited to watch The Master with a friend and really I couldn't see any reason not to watch it. It has a pretty solid cast, and a director who is meticulous, which is certainly something that I can understand. While I have seen very few movies by director Paul Thomas Anderson (PTA) of the ones I have seen, I wasn't bored even if the story wasn't my thing. He might just bring the best out of his cast, and so when added with actors whom I already appreciate going into the movie, I couldn't see why it wouldn't be my money's worth...

Movie Review #29 Strangers on a Train (1951)

- Perhaps not his best, but Hitchcock still delivers.

When I decided to do a black and white film month back in March, I thought yeah, I'll dive into some classics and give them quite the lashing. But, as you can see from the previous three reviews, I've seen nothing but good to great films. While Chaplin's comedy didn't quite resonate with me, Persona isn't for the everyday viewer and The Apartment doesn't dive deep into serious issues, each certainly have cause to view and this week's is no different with the twisted mind of one Alfred Hitchcock.

Movie Review #28 The Apartment (1960)

- Romance Comedy, not so light-hearted.

I sat down to watch this film along with Some Like It Hot, both directed by famed director Billy Wilder. Both movies were also co-written by Wilder and I.A.L. Diamond. However, after watching Some Like It Hot, I almost dreaded watching The Apartment. I felt Some Like It Hot played out too many stereotypes and the believability of all the hi-jinx was rather difficult. But, in essence they were both romantic comedies from the outside looking in and so, I flicked on The Apartment. I can safely say that The Apartment was far superior, an engaging romantic comedy with some serious undertones that aren't just there for a few free laughs.

Movie Review #27 Persona (1966)

- Playing with your mind for two hours

I'll admit that when I first sat down to watch Persona, I hadn't watched any Ingmar Bergman movies nor had I any idea who that was. So when I first sat down to watch Persona the only thing I knew was that it shared its name with a video game and that was all. So calling me an unknowing viewer was probably an understatement. Of course now, some two years later I have watched more Bergman movies due to again the IMDb Top 250 and have been ever so pleased with what I have seen from him. It is my opinion that Persona is the best work I have seen by him thus far (The Seventh Sign and Wild Strawberries).

Movie Review #26 The Kid (1921)

- A light-hearted laugh with a serious undertone

When I started this blog back in February, I really wanted somewhere to throw down my thoughts about particular movies in a venue that didn't have a character limit, and with an added bonus could get a reader base that was not just limited to my circle of friends. To that point I have been successful, however another goal, not as apparent, was that I wanted an excuse to watch older movies, as I had seen very few movies made prior to my creation on this earth. Last year I started watching the “greats” and since then I have been watching many of the IMDb's Top 250, and so all this month I'll be reviewing old black and white films that just happen to be on that list and you can compare my rating to theirs. I figured I'd start with a real oldie on this special month, a movie from 1921 to be exact. Yes, Charles Chaplin's first full feature and a 91 year old film. So, not to state the obvious, but it's a silent film by a great slapstick comedian.

Movie Review #25 The Expendables 2 (2012)

- The 80s action film will never die.

Prior to the first Expendables movie I was sure that I was in for a feast for my eyes, a collective hodgepodge of destruction and star power. What I got from the first one was a messy star-studded action film that came out with no memorable lines and only a few short action sequences that were above the normal. What could the sequel bring that the first didn't deliver on? I was going into this movie with tepid anticipation, to say the least. If you have read my other sequel based movie reviews, you'll notice that for me, bad movies spawn worse movies, but I always give a movie a chance or two (though sometimes years in between). In Expendables 2 I was promised more Bruce Willis, more Arnold Schwarzenegger and the addition of Jean-Claude Van Damme and Chuck Norris. Maybe with this boost in star power and the change of writers they'll nail this action extravaganza.

Movie Review #24 Battleship (2012)

- We want you! (To sit through this movie)

Every time I have a string of acceptable or downright enjoyable movies, I never sit back and enjoy the time I had with them. It isn't until I get to a horrible movie that I look back at them and wish I was still watching those movies. Thus begins my review of Battleship. This movie was based off of Hasbro's board game of the same name. The movie is just over 2 hours long and if you have ever played the board game you already know that the movie couldn't possibly have 2 hours of references and it doesn't. So if you're looking for a deep rich movie that brings back those fond memories of you playing the board game, forget it. Someone bought the name and literally threw in a couple throwbacks to the script that was probably written years before. This was a big goofy movie with a big budget, high on great special effects but with a piss-poor story that sends its viewers mixed messages about who is the bad guy.