The Man in the Iron Mask REVIEW

It is review time!!! Today's review is of the 1998 film, The Man in the Iron Mask. In this film the evil and cruel King Louis XIV of France has a secret twin brother who he had locked away and his face covered. After the King has angered to many of the old Musketeers, they form up again to make a swap with the innocent brother and the cruel King that doesn't deserve the throne.

Well now first thing I want to say about this movie is that it is very enjoyable. If you ever need a movie one night to watch that you will enjoy the crap out of, this one will work perfectly. The story of this movie is actually kind of good. I like what this movie is about. As for the screenplay though, there are a few issues. I mean it seems like a cheap movie, the bad writing and dialogue really do show in this movie. The dialogue is choppy and doesn't flow very well in my opinion. I would also have to say that it is extremely corny in spots. There are points in the film where I laugh and then say to myself, "Did he really just say that? What was the point of that." That does not stop this from being a good movie to enjoy though. The cast of the film really makes the movie in my opinion. If they wouldn't have gotten the people they had gotten for each role, this movie would not be as good as it is.

Leonardo DiCaprio, Jeremy Irons, John Malkovich, Gérard Depardieu, and Gabriel Bryne are the main cast in this film and they do a great job with each of there roles. They are really what make this movie. Leonardo DiCaprio always does a great job in any one of his movies, and again in this movie he does a great job. I love how he portrays two roles in this film. When he has to switch characters and become the other brother, you can really see it in his eyes and I just love it. The chemistry between each on of these actors is good as well. I love when they bicker and banter back and forth, they do such a good job with it.

I also wanted to mention a couple last things in this review. One thing is that the cinematography really didn't work for me in this movie. It seemed to modern to me, and didn't portray the time zone of the movie very well in my opinion. With that being sad I also noticed a few things in the movie, prop items, that really weren't time zone appropriate. The sprinkler system, I mean, did they really have that technology then? I don't think so. Last thing I wanted to mention where the costume designs. They seemed lazy in my opinion, and not very good. What I mean by this is that they seemed to look fake instead of clothing from that time. The hair as well looked like it was ready to fall of some of the characters. This is my opinion though and I am just bickering.

Other than those few things this movie was extremely enjoyable. I love the story and the actor/actresses in this movie portray characters and a story that you will enjoy anytime you need a good movie for a movie night with the family or friends. For the ratings I want to give, The Man in the Iron Mask, a popcorn movie night rating. I would have to say that this movie only gets a DVD buy worthy rating, its worth a buy on DVD but not Blu-Ray. I will also like to say that this movie is perfect to rent . . . it is on Netflix though so if you have Netflix, just check it out on there. Now for the rating out of 10 stars I will give, The Man in the Iron Mask, a 6/10 star rating. It gets this for being an enjoyable story, and having a great cast to support the story. Enjoyable, in my opinion, is the strongest thing to have for a movie.

Well I am hoping that you have enjoyed this review of The Man in the Iron Mask. Have you seen this movie before? Let me know what you thought of in on the Motion Picture Buff's Facebook page, RIGHT HERE, or even leave a comment below. Now make sure you stay tuned for more . . . coming soon.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest

Continuing with the series here is my review of Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest. In this film Captian Jack Sparrow must race to get Davy Jones's heart to avoid being sucked into giving service to Davy Jones. This quest brings all other friends and foes together on the quest to see who will control the ruler of the sea, Davy Jones.

Well starting out this review I want to mention that the cast again is still fantastic. From the first film the return the cast and everyone does a great job. Johnny Depp really is the perfect Captian Jack Sparrow. As I mentioned in the review of the first film, the cast does a really good job at portraying their characters perfectly. There could be no one better to play each one of these characters. A couple new characters are introduced in this movie though. As mentioned above the character Davy Jones is in this film and he is played by Bill Nighy. Bill Nighy seriously does a fantastic job as the bad guy in this movie. Sure there is a lot of CGI when it comes to the character, but Bill Nighy has the greatest voice for this character along with just the look in his eyes. I know that is a weird thing to say, but you can just see the emotions in his eyes. Now the other character I want to mention is Lord Cutler Beckett, who is portrayed by Tom Hallander. Tom doesn't have a huge role in this movie, but in the next Pirates film he will. As for his performance, you have just got to love it. His posture is perfect. The character is a huge prude and Tom Hallander plays the part perfectly.

Now the other main thing I want to talk about story of the film. This is actually a huge negative for the film in my opinion. Do not get me wrong I really did enjoy this film, but I want to mention how choppy and slow this film is. There are scenes within this film that seriously make no sense on why they would be in the film. They just seem like added pieces to increase screen time, so I think they could have cut out quite a few scenes in this movie. You sit there in the film wondering, "Why is this important to the film?" Then there are also parts of the film where the order of things really does not make sense in the slightest. Like why is that there, when it should be there. Basically in my opinion the screenplay could have been written way better. Sure it is an interesting story but there are parts that could be touched up, rewritten, and taken out.

Now the last few things I want to mention are the special effects, the cinematography, and the music. So firstly I want to talk about the special effects in this movie. Actually this movie had won an Oscar in 2007 for it's visual effects. They are pretty darn good in my opinion as well, because the Kraken in this film is spectacular. Its hard to believe how good and real everything looks even though this movie was made in 2006. Next I want to mention the cinematography which I always appreciate in a movie. This movie does a great job with its direction of photography who was done by Dariusz Wolski. He has done some great work in the past and now future as well in, Prometheus. In my review for that film I mention how good he does, and with the Pirates series he also does very well. Now lastly I want to mention the musical score of this film, which for this film is under the hands of Hans Zimmer, instead of Klaus Badelt who did the first film. Hans Zimmer is seriously a great composer right alongside of John Williams. He takes some songs from the original score from the first film and gives it his own spin. He does a great job with the score and in my opinion it is worth a buy. I always have a thing for the musical score's of movies.

Summing up this review I will say that Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, is a seriously enjoyable return to the world of Captian Jack Sparrow. We get all our favorite characters back along with a few new enjoyable ones. Sure it has its flaws but it is seriously a good movie. It is not great but it is good. As for the ratings I will still give this film a must-see rating because the Pirates trilogy are a classic film that everyone should see. I will say that it is worth a buy on Blu-Ray, but there is not need if you do not have the money or technology. It is just as good on DVD. The visuals will just look better with Blu-Ray. It also makes a perfect popcorn movie night. Sometimes I get together with friends for a Pirates of the Caribbean movie marathon. Now for the rating out of 10 stars I will give it a 7/10 star rating. 

Well I hope you have enjoyed this review of Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest. Sure it is not perfect but I hope you enjoyed it all the same. I will try and take some more time out of my days to make good quality reviews. Later today I will have the post about this week's trailer of the week. So stay tuned for more . . . coming soon.

Noah Mark Bitney

Captian America: The First Avenger REVIEW

The Motion Picture Buff would like to present a review of Captian America: The First Avenger. This film is about a man who is a solider at heart but is deemed unfit to serve. After countless of attempts to be enlisted he is chosen to become a new breed of super soldiers. This turns him into a solider who is branded by the USA to defend the United States, becoming the worlds first superhero.

So I am going to go out and say it that this Avenger film would have to be my least favorite. Like I had said in my Thor review, this film has way to much of a comic book feel to it. It is really childish and just silly. The whole feel of this movie just does not seem to be right in my opinion. This movie has a hard time trying to find what it exactly wants to be in my opinion. At one point it is focused one thing, but then it moves to the next and then the next. The movie (in my opinion) does not flow smoothly together. It seems choppy. The other thing about this movie is that it is boring. The villain (played by Hugo Weaving) is acted well by Hugo, but you don't care about the villain. He doesn't seem to have a reason for what he is doing and you don't get enough action with him.

Moving on I do like who they picked for the Captian America in this film. Chris Evans has been in a Marvel film before, as the Human Torch in Fantastic Four. He is a good superhero actor and it is nice to see him in a lead role. He pulls of the emotionality that is Captian Rodgers. Captian Rodgers isn't just some arrogant person who got picked to be a super solider, he was a wimpy kid who was shorter than most women even. Chris Evans did a great job. Most of the acting in the film was done great. They picked the right cast for this film. Tommy Lee Jones, Hugo Weaving, Stanley Tucci, Sebastian Stan, and many other were all just great in this film. The other things I did like about this movie was, how it really tied the rest of the Avenger movies together. The way they played out the movies actually did work and I am glad that Captian America: The First Avenger was the last one right before The Avengers. The last thing I wanted to mention was that I actually did enjoy the cinematography in this movie. It seemed to work for the feel this movie was giving off.

Now all-in-all Captian America: The First Avenger was a decent movie that with quite a few tweeks could have been a lot better. I mean it is a fine addition to the Avengers franchise, but it could have been a lot better. I will of course give this movie a must-see rating because it is a must-see in order to see The Avengers. I would say that it is really only rent worthy though, or I will go even as high as a DVD buy worthy. It works for a movie night, but its not a movie you want to watch over and over again, it is just not that good. As for the rating I will give Captian America: The First Avenger a 6/10 rating.

Well before I close this I want to say sorry about the lateness of this review, I hope you do enjoy it. I am trying to do more reviews . . . so I hope you will stay tuned for those. I plan on seeing Gravity tomorrow night so stay tuned later tomorrow night and into Saturday for the review of that movie. I am really excited for that movie. So again stay tuned for more . . . coming soon.

Noah Mark Bitney

The Core REVIEW

The Motion Picture Buff would like the present a review for the motion picture, The Core. This movie came out in November of 2002. It is about how inside of the core of our planet has stopped spinning. Without it spinning the world will come to an end and soon. They must go into the Earth's crust to save all of us. 

First of I want to say that I really did enjoy this movie quite a darn bit. It was intriguing and I LOVED the premise behind it. It was very interesting and I honestly could not take my eyes off the screen. Movies about the end of the world have always gave me some interest because it is just kind of cool to think of all the different things that could happen one day. The acting in the movie was decent. I am not going to say great because there were some points where each one of the actors could have done a little bit better with their performances. The actors and actresses who are in this movie include: Aaron Eckhart, Hilary Swank, Stanley Tucci, Richard Jenkins, and many more. They all do okay for what the movie is. I found it to be an enjoyable disaster movie. There are a lot of disaster movies out there, but I would have to say this would definitely hit some of my top ten disaster movies. The action keeps you on your toes and there is a part of you that actually does care about the characters that you learn about. I loved the science behind it. I mean yeah sure it probably isn't at all truthful but I still enjoyed it. 

Now what did I hate about this movie . . . well for starters the special effects sucked! For a movie from 2002 I still did not expect them to be that bad, but they were just absolutely terrible. Everything thing looked fake. The acting wasn't great either. Aaron Eckhart wasn't the best with the really emotional parts. I didn't believe it when he was sad, it just wasn't good. He just didn't seem real enough. All the actors in this movie could have done better, but they weren't terrible. Now the story in this movie of course is choppy and ridiculous, but remember it is a disaster movie. 

All-in-all this movie is a pretty darn enjoyable for what it is. I would say it is a perfect popcorn movie night movie. It was perfect for that last night when I watched it. I wouldn't buy it on blu-ray, but it is DVD buy worthy. Out of a ten rating I would have to give it a 7/10 rating. It was pretty darn good. 

Well I hope you have enjoyed this review of The Core. Go check the movie out one night when you need a good enjoyable disaster film. Stay tuned here for more reviews coming. Thanks for reading everyone!

Noah Mark Bitney 

Planes REVIEW

The Motion Picture Buff would like to present a review of the Disney film, Planes. This film is about a crop-dusting plane who has the dream of competing in a race that goes around the world. That is the simple premise of this kids animated film.

Lets begin with the negatives of this film. Hmm . . . well lets just say that there are quite a few things wrong with this film. First of all I would like to mention that the dialogue in this movie sucks. The voices for the characters are just choppy and obviously recorded. Normally when watching an animated movie I forget that its people giving the animated object its voice. This movie did not do it well though in my opinion. Moving on to the topic of the characters I would have to say that I did not give a care in the world about them. They were dull, obvious, and just not interesting at all to me. The last thing I do want to mention is the fact that the story was just obvious and so not intriguing. With this movie you have seen the same formula over and over again. So it was kind of a snore.

To mention some good things that I enjoyed about this movie I would have to say that it was kind of cute. I mean most kid movies are pretty darn adorable. This movie looks a lot like the movie Cars, as it is from the people who made Cars. One thing I also enjoyed was the link between the Cars world and the world of Planes. It worked out well.

Well all-in-all this movie will most likely entertain any child, but if your picking a movie to watch with the kids your watching/babysitting this movie would not be it. So yeah its a kid movie that I would only buy for your kids on DVD, NOT Blu-Ray. For the rating I would give Disney's Planes a 2/10 rating. Its not a good movie in my opinion. I was bored watching the movie.

Well I hope you enjoyed this short review of Planes. Make sure you tune back in later today actually, I plan on reviewing another movie. So stay tuned for more awesomeness.

Noah Mark Bitney

Shakespeare in Love REVIEW

The Motion Picture Buff would like to present a review for the 1999 Best Picture Winner . . . Shakespeare in Love. This film is about a young William Shakespeare when he was writing his masterpiece, Romeo and Juliet. It goes on the story of Shakespeare short of cash and out of ideas, but then he meets a woman who inspires him to right one of his most famous plays.

Lets begin with the positives from this film shall we? Well I would have to say that I love the script and story of this film. I just fell in love with the story that Marc Norman and Tom Stoppard had created. I loved the characters. The love between Will and Viola was just incredible. So props to Marc and Tom for creating an amazing story, you definitely deserved your Oscar for this film. Moving on . . . next I will have to talk about the acting. EVERY single actor/actress in this film did a good to great job. Some of the stand out would have to be of course Gwyneth Paltrow and Joseph Fiennes. These two had amazing chemistry together. The way Joseph looked at Gwyneth was just incredible. You could just see the lust in his eyes, and he made you believe that he was truly in love with Viola. Other actors who stood out in this film would have to be Geoffrey Rush, Tom Wilkinson, Ben Affleck, and everyone was just great in this movie. I really enjoyed this movie, so I can't mention everything but I suppose for the last thing I would mention is the set direction. Seriously I love the scenery for this film. I felt like I was in the time period and when you forget that this is all actually fake I think that just makes it an even better movie.

Now some negatives I would have to mention about this film would have to be that at the beginning I was a little confused. It took a little bit for me to understand what was going on, but I finally caught up. The other thing I would mention is that the ending I wasn't really sure if Viola died, got stuck on an island, or what happened to her. I know that she was leaving for the new world, but then Will started talking about his next play. So I wasn't sure what actually happened with her?

So wrapping this review up I would have to say that this movie grabbed my heart. I would for sure watch it again and soon. Now the movie is a perfect date-night movie. So if you have a girl and need a movie to watch . . . look up Shakespeare in Love on your Netflix  and watch it will that special girl. Make some popcorn and cuddle up with that girl of yours. If no girl its still a great movie to just enjoy one night. You will love it, if there is any romantic in you . . . you will love it. I will give it a popcorn movie night rating, date-night rating, and out of 10, I will give this movie an 8/10 rating.

Well I hope you have enjoyed this review of Shakespeare in Love. I plan on doing a review of some non-oscar winning movies soon, it has been awhile and I have the prefect movie to rip to shreds. So make sure you stay tuned for that and more.

Noah Mark Bitney

Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me REVIEW

"I am back baby!" Here is the "Motion Picture Buff's" second review of the "Austin Powers" series, "Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me." In this film Dr. Evil has made another legendary return, but this time he has a "Mini Me" as an accomplice. Dr. Evil's new plan is to steal Austin Powers mojo, which drives him and makes his "shaggless."

So negatives to start off again. Well I think again the only thing to say here is that the film has complete and utterly stupid humor.

Other than that though this film is just again hilarious. Austin Powers gets us again with a comedy that we will all enjoy. Their is dumb comedy and then their is "Austin Powers." Mike Myers and Micheal McCullers wrote the screenplay for this film and the story is just as funny and just as engaging. Like the first Austin Powers film, you are laughing from beginning to end. The jokes are relatable and funny. The dialogue between the characters makes you laugh, and most of all the action is just hilarious. Good job at creating yet another hilarious movie. Mike Myers of course returns as Austin Powers and Dr. Evil, but their is a new character introduced in this film, Fat Bastard. He impresses you with all the characters he does become, because sometimes it is hard to tell that he plays all three of them. Heather Graham is the next Power's girl, and she really is a great Power's girl. I found her funny and the chemistry between her and Mike was really good. Robert Wagner, Seth Green, Verne Troyer, Rob Lowe, and more are in this film. They all help create a funny cast that have amazing chemistry together to make a great comedic film. Verne is great as Mini Me. Jay Roach returns yet again as director for the "Austin Powers" film, and he does just as great as before. This is a comedy you won't soon forget.

So all-in-all a great comedy that again goes down as one of my favorite comedies. For the ratings I will give it again a DVD buy worthy rating. It gets the popcorn rating again, along with family night flick as long as kids are at least older than 12. It will get a must-see rating again. As for the rating because of the stupid humor I will have to "Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me" a 3.5/5 rating.

Well thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed this review. Make sure you "like" the "Motion Picture Buff" on Facebook HERE! It really helps me out, along with spreading the word about the reviews. Thanks again and stay tuned for more . . . coming REALLY soon.

The Motion Picture Buff

Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery REVIEW

Here comes the "Motion Picture Buff's" first review in the "Austin Powers" series, "Austin Powers International Man of Mystery." In this film a 1960's hippie super spy is frozen to be there when Dr. Evil returns. When Dr. Evil returns Austin Powers is awoken and he must adjust to the new lifestyle, try and defeat Dr. Evil, along with getting the girl.

Well negatives shall we start with? Well yes this movie is hilarious but its that stupid kind of funny. I mean more on this later, but the only negative is that it is just the dumb funny.

In this film though the dumb funny works too. So the positives right? Yes the dumb funny can be annoying but in all reality the dumb funny is also HILARIOUS. In this film it just works. I like how they make fun of what movies always do too. Just helps add to the humor. Mike Myers wrote this film and I have to say that he does a good job at making all of us laugh. He jokes you get, they are humorous, and they will have you laughing all the way till the end. It has pointless humor, but Mike does it in a good way. Mike Myers also stars as Austin Powers and Dr. Evil. I believe that helps with the humor, and he plays both roles perfectly as well. Elizabeth Hurley, Seth Green, Robert Wagner, and others are in this movie. Everyone helps make the film even more funny. I just loved it. Whenever I am in a bad mood, these films always cheer me up. Jay Roach is director of this film and he has a way with this film that just helps add to the humor. The score and theme of Austin Powers is phenomenal and if you have seen this film you will remember it forever. Just has that crazy Austin groove to it. I want to say props to the costume and make-up department too because you really are put into the 1960's at point and they did it so well.

So all-in-all a freaking hilarious film that will keep you laughing. I will give it a DVD buy worthy rating. No need to go get it on Blu-ray. I will give it the popcorn flick rating along with family night film, just make sure your kids are at least 12 years or older. It is a classic to me because I grew up with these movies so yes a must-see film rating "Austin Powers" is going to get. As for the rating I can only give "Austin Powers International Man of Mystery" a 3.5/5 rating. This does not stop it from being one of the funniest comedies out there.

Thanks for tuning in for the review. I hope you have enjoyed it. Sorry about lack of reviews, I have been busy moving. I got some time today so I thought I would do some. So stay tuned for more . . . coming REALLY soon.

The Motion Picture Buff

Beetlejuice REVIEW

In the Halloween spirit the "Motion Picture Buff" would like to review a Halloween classic, "Beetlejuice." In this film a couple of newly made ghosts hire a "bio-exorcist" to help get ride of the obnoxious new family that moved in to their house.

Shall I begin with the positives that come from this film? Well lets begin with the acting in this film. Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis were the two newly made ghosts in this film and I thought these two had amazing chemistry together. They really seemed like the perfect couple and I really enjoyed their characters. Oh and I never realized how awesome Alec Baldwin used to look. Jeffery Jones, Catherine O'Hara, and Winona Ryder (as a teenager) were the Deetz family that moved into the house. These three did a good job, but Winona stood out the most. I really enjoyed her performance in this film. Moving on I thought the story and screenplay of this movie was actually very well done. The whole story seemed to just work, and it was very interesting. It was funny when it needed to be, and it was the good funny that actually made you laugh and remember why you were laughing which makes you laugh again. Director Tim Burton did an excellent job with this film . . . right up until the end (more on that later though). The music in the film isn't bad either, it is pretty darn enjoyable. As a movie as a whole though, I will have to say it is extremely enjoyable and it keeps you watching. Originally I wasn't going to watch it all the way through, I kept telling myself, "One more commercial and then I will go do my homework." Instead though I watched the entire movie, and ended up doing my homework late into the night. I hate to love how a movie can do that to me.

So what are the negatives of this film? Well the last maybe 15-25 minutes of the film were completely timburtonized. The word timburtonized means that it is completely over-the-top weird and just down right creepy and dumb. In this film the that is what you endure for the last half-an-hour about. I just found it annoying. Then the only other thing was Micheal Keaton's performance as the character Beetlejuice. It was completely over-the-top and just down right annoying.

So all-in-all a extremely good Halloween flick that you and your family or friends should enjoy. I can see why it is a classic. For the rating I will give it a must-see rating along with a popcorn flick; which includes for a family-night. It is probably Blu-ray buy worthy but you can probably pick it up on DVD too. As for the rating out of five, "Beetlejuice" is going to receive a 4/5 rating.

Well thanks for reading and I hope that you have enjoyed this review of a Halloween classic. Make sure you stay tuned for more . . . coming soon.

The Motion Picture Buff

Dr. No REVIEW

The "Motion Picture Buff" would like to present the beginning of the James Bond reviews with the first Bond movie, "Dr. No." In this film James Bond must investigate the death of a colleague in Jamaica. This leads him to a mysterious island, which also leads him to the mysterious Dr. No. Dr. No has plans to end the United States space program.

So shall we begin this with some positives about this film? Well the acting I am going to say I enjoyed. Sean Connery was the perfect James Bond for the age. He had the looks, the voice, and he played the part perfectly. Ursula Andress, Jack Lord, Bernard Lee, and others were also in this film. I thought the acting from each individual was enjoyable. Not amazing, but good enough to enjoy. Moving on I am going to have to say the whole premise of James Bond is quite interesting to me. I love spy mysteries. They are good, especially when they are played out well. This one seems to be pretty good and keeps you interested at what is happening. I will say I did like the direction by Terence Young. I thought it was pretty good, and I felt like he helped create an intriguing film. Oh I did also want to say that the score and the James Bond Theme is just AMAZING. I give a lot of credit to Monty Norman for creating a great score. I loved it.

Other than that though I have a bit about this movie to complain about. I am going to start with the end of the movie. Well I feel like it was WAY to quick. I mean they had about an hour an a half build up to the end and it ended in a matter of maybe five to ten minutes. I just felt like it could have been a better battle between the good and evil in the end.  Then there is the fact that this movie at some points could be extremely slow and boring. I mean there are points in the film where nothing happens for at least 10-20 minutes. Just dialogue and some of it not even that interesting. Their is also the villian Dr. No. Maybe I missed it but do they explain what was wrong with his hands? Like what happened to them?

So all-in-all a decent start to a franchise that is still going on today. "Dr. No" came out in 1962 and "Skyfall" will be released in the US in less than two week. Their have been 23 Bond movies today, and "Dr. No" definitely set the tradition for the Bond films. I enjoyed it and if you enjoy a good spy film, so will you. As for the ratings, I will give it a DVD buy rating along with a popcorn flick rating. A must-see? I am going to have to say no. For the rating out of five, "Dr. No" will get a 3/5 rating.

Well thanks for reading and I hope you have enjoyed. Their are more Bond movie reviews coming soon so make sure you stay tuned for them. I did also want to say that make sure you "like" the "Motion Picture Buff" on Facebook HERE. Thanks again ands stay tuned for more . . . coming soon.

The Motion Picture Buff

(500) Days of Summer REVIEW

The "Motion Picture Buff" would like to present a review for the movie starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, "(500) Days of Summer." In this film we follow a man who falls for a woman who doesn't believe that true love exists. This man thinks he found it though, in her.

Lets begin this review with the negatives shall we? Well there are times when the movie jumps around and you can get lost at what is really going on. So I guess what I am trying to say here is that it can be confusing at points.

Really though I think that was all I could think of going back on it. I am a big romantic comedy drama person and this movie really appealed to me. The way this movie flowed was perfect. I liked the fact that they didn't follow the (500) days in order. It was sort of neat how they jumped around and told the story in a unique and fun way. Made the story more intriguing I think. The jumping around is what made it confusing but in a way it was also good. The twist in this movie was really great, and it just made me LOVE the ending of this film. So an excellent screenplay written by, Scott Neustadter and Micheal H. Weber. Now Joseph Gordon-Levitt really has became an excellent actor, and I think this film is what brought him to fame! He is really one of the greatest actors I have ever seen and he just pulls off an amazing performance every single time. Good job also to Zooey Deschanel . . . I usually always love her, and in this film she did equally as well. She just has this essence in a film that I just love, and she always seems to fit the part just right. I do also want to mention that I LOVE her voice. Not sure what about it is but I just do. Everyone else in this film also did quite a great job. Thanks for making this film enjoyable.  Now the music in this film was also extremely enjoyable, I thought it was very well done with the movie. Helped build the scenes I think. The last thing I really want to mention was the fact that this love story is just so unique in every way that you just can't help but love it. There is just a way you connect to it I think, I know I did personally.

So all-in-all a really unique film along with a unique love story. Watching it you will personally connect to it in some way. Now for the ratings I am going to give this film a date-night rating along with a must-see film. It really needs to be seen, but I will give it a DVD buy rating. As for the rating out of five, "(500) Days of Summer" is going to get a 4.5/5 rating.

Well thanks for tuning in to read this review, and I really do hope that you enjoyed it. As I am building up my list of movies I have seen now the TOP TEN FILMS list might be changing soon, so make sure you stay tuned for more . . . coming soon.

The Motion Picture Buff

The Green Mile REVIEW

The "Motion Picture Buff" would like to present a review for the movie, "The Green Mile." In this film  the lives of guards on Death Row are affected by one of their charges: a big black man who is accused of child murder and rap, yet has an extraordinary gift.

Well I might as well start off this review with the positives. So, the acting in this film is great! Tom Hanks really gives another great performance like he always does of course. He is really Paul Edgecomb in this film for sure. Then of course I have to mention Micheal Clarke Duncan (may he rest in peace). He really is amazing in this film. I have never seen this movie before, and I was truly moved by his performance in this film. He really gave an amazing performance as John Coffey. David Morse, James Cromwell, Sam Rockwell, Doug Hutchinson, Harry Dean Stanton, Jeffery DeMunn, and Michael Jeter are also in this movie. Well done, well done to all of you! I love it when a movie has a great cast that really fits there characters. It makes a movie so much more enjoyable. This movie script does really good with all the emotions that are in this situation that we are watching. You laugh, you cry, your even terrified, and then at one point your even horrified at what happens. So yes, I thought the movie did a good job with those emotions within the film. The story or premise I guess behind this film was also very good. It was very interesting to watch it play out. Now I do want to mention that the sound effects in this movie were awesome in fact. I usually don't mention sound effects, but in this film I actually noticed how good they were to the scene. I thought the sound team did a good job with this film.

Now I do have a negative to say about this film and I really think that this is the only thing I can think of, otherwise this film was in fact really good. "The Green Mile" really just DRAGS and DRAGS onward slowly. This film probably could have been about two hours long, but instead it is over three. This film just moves along so slowly, and in some spots to slowly. There are points in this film where you are just waiting/ hoping for something exciting to happen, but it probably won't happen for at least another five to ten minutes. Their are actually two more things I wanted to mention. First of all, how and why does John Coffey have the extraordinary gift? I really think they should have explained that? Then there is the fact that would a life sentence last that long? I feel like it would be a lot quicker right?

So all-in-all a slow moving movie that has truly phenomenal performances baked into it. For the ratings I am going to give this film a must-see rating because of Micheal Clarke Duncan's performance along with everyone else's. They all do a really good job. I will give it a DVD buy rating too along with a tour-de-force rating also. As for the rating out of five, "The Green Mile" is going to receive a 3.5/5 rating.

Well thanks for reading this review and I really hope you enjoyed it. Sorry for the delay in reviews, been busy around here but remember I can't promise one everyday anymore. I am attending Full Sail University and I have to work alongside that. I do promise some more tonight though. So make sure you stay tuned for more . . . coming soon.

The Motion Picture Buff

Bridesmaids REVIEW

The "Motion Picture Buff" would like to present a review for the comedic film "Bridesmaids." In this film a competition arises between the maid of honor in a wedding and a bridesmaid to see who is the best friend. During the war the friendship is threatened along with the maid of honor's sanity.

Well lets start with the negatives first shall we? Well the only thing I guess I could say is that there is one part of the movie that is just extremely predictable. You can probably see it coming from a mile away its that obvious.

Other than that we can move onto the positives. Here comes another great movie to add to the list. First thing I guess I am going to say is that this movie is just hilarious. It is just the greatest humor I have seen in a long time . . . and it defiantly is going to hit my list at one of the funniest movies I have ever seen. The script just flows perfectly, has amazing dialogue, and is just the perfect kind of funny but yet heartwarming when it needs to be. It might be extremely raunchy in some spot but it is just great humor. Kristen Wigg and Annie Mumolo wrote the screenplay for this film and they definitely deserved that Oscar nomination. The music used in this song just added more humor to the already humorous scenes. They picked the perfect songs for the scenes. Now I the main thing I really want to touch on here is thought the acting that went along with the screenplay! HOLY SHIT (pardon) these women can act. Kristen Wigg, Maya Rudolph, Melissa McCarthy, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Ellie Kemper, and Rose Bryne all play the "Bridesmaids." They all were perfect for their roles and they all had such incredible chemistry together. For sure one of the funniest groups of cast members I have seen.  I am 100% certain that they couldn't find anyone better to play any of those roles. I of course have to touch on Melissa's nomination for an Oscar for her performance in this film. HOLY SHIT (sorry again) you can play one crazy awesome hilarious chick. I loved you in this film Melissa, you were definitely my favorite character. Of course there is still some more amazing cast in this film and they all do a great job at being extremely humorous too. Rebecca Hall, John Hamm, Chris O'Dowd, Matt Lucas, Micheal Hitchcock, Jill Clayburgh, and of course more. Everyone involved in this film made and incredibly hilarious film that cheers me up anytime.

So all-in-all a GREAT comedy film. Good comedic films are hard to come by when it comes to me. I hate over the top and ridiculous funny, but this film made the cut and was terrific. So I am going to give "Bridesmaids" a Blu-ray buy worthy or DVD. This is one of those films you don't need to buy on Blu-ray because it is just not necessary. It is a must-see film . . . if you are over at least 15-16. I will give it a popcorn rating too because it is a great movie to watch with friends some night. As for the rating out of five, "Bridesmaids" will get a glorious 5/5 rating. That freaking funny!

Well thanks for reading and I really hope that you enjoyed this review. I do want to let you know that I am working on something for the blog . . . probably won't be available for awhile yet, but I thought I would let you know in advance in case you see weird things going on here. Well thanks again and stay tuned for more . . . coming soon.

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One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest REVIEW

The "Motion Picture Buff" would like to present a review for the movie, "One Flew Over the Cuckoos's Nest." In this film, R.P. McMurphy arrives at a mental institution. After arriving he becomes a rebel and rallies the patients to fight back against the oppressive Nurse Ratchet, a woman who is more of a dictator than a nurse.

Well shall we begin this review with the negatives? First thing I really would like to say is that this film can be extremely slow at some points. There are times within this film where you are just waiting and waiting for something interesting to happen. Then there is the other thing, which is the ending of the film. As to not give anything away all I am going to say is that I am not sure really why he did what he did? I was a little bit confused.

Other than that I loved this film, it really was magnificent. Jack Nicholson really did deserve his Oscar for his performance in this role. You really fell in love with him and his character. Louise Fletcher played Nurse Ratchet, and she also deserved her Oscar she got in this film. Holy crap, there were sometimes where I just wanted to punch her. Ugh she could really make you angry and Jack Nicholson really helped you feel it too. Now the rest of the cast was fantastic as well as these two. Danny DeVito got an Oscar nomination for this film and he really did deserve that. I was just shocked by his performance. He really could play a person with a mental disability. Sydney Lasswick played Cheswick, and let me just say great job man. Oh his character could really get on your nerves throughout the film and he did it perfectly. Will Sampson, Brad Dourif (who does a GREAT job), Scatman Crothers, Christopher Lloyd, and more were also in this film. This was another on of those films with a great cast! Milos Forman was in charge of directing this film and I think he did a superb job with it. You really were on the edge of your seat there at some points. Then there was the screenplay which had great dialogue. I love a film with good dialogue. It also had a great message this film did and it displayed it fantastically. I also loved the cinematography of the film was just great also. I did also want to mention the score of the film which I enjoyed also. So good job by composer Jack Nitzsche.

So all-in-all this film is a very enjoyable film that has a great message for all of us to learn. This film will break your heart and at the same time give you some warmth and happiness. It has some of the best acting too. "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" is going to receive a must-see film rating along with Blu-ray buy worthy or DVD. For that decision it is really up to your preference and budget. Its one of those films that is just as good on DVD as Blu-ray. This film is 100% a tour-de-force too. As for the rating, "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" deserves a great 4.5/5 rating.

Well thanks for reading and I really hope you enjoyed this review. Now one more thing before I end this review here, make sure you "like" the review site here on Facebook. To do so either CLICK HERE, or click the "like" button in the sidebar. Thanks again but make sure you stay tuned for more . . . coming soon.

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The Prestige REVIEW

The "Motion Picture Buff" would like to present a review for the movie, "The Prestige." In this film a rivalry between two great magicians gets worse when one of them performs the ultimate trick. A trick that tops them all.

Shall we start with the negatives first with this review? Well I think all I really have to say here is that the film sometimes you get really confused in. In the end it doesn't explain everything and it leaves you with a few questions.

Other than that I am going to say I throughly enjoyed this film. Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman were fantastic in this film and they had amazing chemistry together. I thought they were really made to play there parts in this film. The look in their eyes were just phenomenal and I mean that. What I mean by this is that they had this look in there eyes when they acted that just helped me believe that they were their characters. Scarlett Johansson is in this film as well and I thought she was only good in "The Avengers" but I was way wrong. She does a very good job in this film. Micheal Caine, Piper Perabo, and Rebecca Hall are also in this film and they all do a great job. Then again Micheal Caine usually always gives a great performance. I do want to mention on the cinematography as well from this film because the look and feel of the film is just great. Wally Pfister is the cinematographer of this film, he got an Oscar nomination for it and he definitely deserves it. The sets of this film were also great. They really put you in London back in the day. Now this is a Christopher Nolan film, which means he did indeed directed it. What do I have to say about his job in this film? Well I thought he did a good job with it. The film was very engaging and it really kept me on the edge of my seat. The screenplay for this film was done by Christopher Nolan and also his brother, Jonathan Nolan. They did a really good job with it. I really enjoyed the dialogue in this film, and plus this film had some pretty incredible twists that I never would have seen coming at all. I will give them high props for that.  The only problem I had with it was mentioned above.

So all-in-all what is this film going to get? Well firstly I want to say that it is a very intriguing drama/mystery. They had a very good premise and they made a very good movie with it. I am going to give "The Prestige" a must-see rating actually because it really is a enjoyable film that people should see. Your preference on the way you want to purchase this film. DVD or Blu-ray would do equally as good (I would buy Blu-ray though because I enjoy it more). A defiant popcorn flick and I could see it as a date-night flick, there is some good romance in there. As for the rating out of five, "The Prestige" will get a 4/5 rating.

Well thanks for reading this review. I hope you enjoyed it and that you will check out the film. Now make sure you stay tuned for more reviews of motion pictures . . . coming soon.

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Taken REVIEW

The "Motion Picture Buff" would like to present a review for the movie, "Taken." In this film a retired CIA agent goes on a hunt for his daughter after she was taken by some fugitives who kidnap young women for prostitution.

So lets begin this review with the negatives from this film. Well first of all this movie just has no break. Its like one thing is happening and then it doesn't even stall and then BAM the next thing is already happening. The plot and everything isn't the best, it is just the movie moves along way to quick and it feels rushed. The other thing that bothered me is that it really never does a good job explaining things, and it leaves a few things unresolved in the end I thought.

What does this movie have going for it though? Well Liam Neeson is the main reason this movie excels! He just pulls off an amazing performance within this film, and his action sequences within this film are just BAD-FREAKING-ASS! He really can play a bad-ass protective father. His voice too was just perfect for the role. Maggie Grace as Kim is also really good, I did enjoy her performance. The chemistry between her and Liam I thought was very believable too. The next thing I did enjoy was Pierre Morel's direction of the film. The camera angle and shots were always perfect and helped us feel like we were in the middle of the action. Speaking of which the action sequences in this film were just awesome. I loved it and in some scene you just have to cringe at what Liam Neeson does to some of the bad guys. The film was very engaging in this film and you really cared about Liam Neeson's character and what he was fighting for. I thought the writers did a really job setting that up. I also thought they had an interesting idea for the film. It was a very simple idea and they went with it in a decent way I thought. I do also want to mention the score of the film which I thought helped a lot with some action sequences and brought something to the scenes. So well done Nathaniel Méchaly.

So all-in-all this film is a great bad-ass film! It is very intriguing and engaging and I promise you will enjoy it if you love Liam Neeson. I am going to have to give it a must-see rating along with a DVD buy worthy. It is close to Blu-ray, so if you wanted to go ahead . . . it will be worth it. It is 150% a popcorn flick for a movie night and it is again BAD-ASS! As for the rating out of five I will give, "Taken" a 3.5/5 rating.

Well thanks for reading and I am hoping that you enjoyed this review. Make sure you stay tuned because now I am off to see "Taken 2" and the review of the film will be up as soon as I get home. So if you are thinking of going to see it this weekend you can see if it is worth it here. Well stay tuned for more motion picture reviews . . . coming soon.

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Pulp Fiction REVIEW

The "Motion Picture Buff" would like to present a review for the movie "Pulp Fiction." Well in this film the lives of two mob hit men, a gangster's wife, a boxer, and a pair of bandits are intertwined. This film shows tales of redemption, violence, love, and life.

So yes like almost the rest of this world I LOVED the dialogue in this film. Of course I did right? It is a dialogue based film so of course I am going to love it. Quentin Tarantino defiantly wrote the best possible dialogue for this film. The dialogue is what carries the movie through. Yes there is some good action, but the dialogue is really the main premise of this film. This movie is also EXTREMELY original in so many ways. It goes by chapters, and the chapters don't even go in order. I did love that! SO yes Quentin Tarantino defiantly deserved his Oscar for the screenplay. It was incredible, probably one of the greatest ever. This movie was funny, racy, and just plain old enjoyable. Next thing is the cast! Oh my yes it is a huge cast and I am not even going to begin to mention everyone that is in film. Many and many actors and actresses are in this film that are relevant to the story, if you want to know the main cast just click on the poster to see everyones name. About the cast though, INCREDIBLE job by everyone. I do want to mention Samuel L. Jackson though. He was my favorite for sure. Maybe it was his character I liked the most, but I just loved it when he was on screen. The soundtrack in this film was also amazing it just added the perfect tone to the scene that was happening. I do now want to mention the direction that Quentin Tarantino did with this film. I thought he did a great job with it, especially with the action scenes. They had you sitting on the edge of your seat clinging on wanting to know what was going to happen.

Now of course there is a negative or two to this film I have to add. I do want to say though that some people consider this film to be one of the greats right? I do not see that. I feel like at sometimes the movie just dragged slowly on. I know that contradicts what I said about the dialogue making this film, but its just sometimes your sitting there waiting for something to happen. The other thing that bothered me really is that is there really a message or point to this film? If so I never saw it or caught up on it?

So all-in-all a GREAT film that has amazing dialogue that keeps the movie going the whole time. Its hilarious even when something serious happens. It is a great film, but I can't say it is one of the greats like everyone tells me it is. I will give it a DVD buy worthy rating, and it is a must-see film due to the great dialogue and amazing acting. For sure a popcorn flick for you and your buddies. (WARNING: not a popcorn flick with parents). Thought I would give you that heads up. As for the rating out of five, "Pulp Fiction" will receive a 4/5 rating.

Well thanks for reading and I am hoping that you enjoyed this review of "Pulp Fiction." Make sure you vote on the poll in the sidebar . . . only a few hours left. So stay tuned for more reviews of motion pictures . . . coming soon.

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Zombieland REVIEW

The "Motion Picture Buff" would like to present a review for the movie, "Zombieland." In this film a home-bound college student, a master of arms tough guy on a quest to find a Twinkie, and two sisters on there way to an amusement park team up together to travel across a zombie infested America.

Well I had no hopes for this film. Lets just say I thought the whole thing was going to be a joke, gladly I was actually surprised to fine out that I loved this film very much.This film was extremely enjoyable, here are the reasons why. The whole story line was just great. I was engaged in the film the whole time, wanting more and more. All of the characters stories in this film you actually cared about, and the people playing the characters did a great job. This films main cast includes Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone, and Abigail Breslin. I thought each and every one of them did fantastic. Woody Harrelson really did steal the show though with his performance. Another thing this film had going for itself was that the humor in this film was actually enjoyable. I loved it, the funny parts made me laugh and it wasn't over-the-top funny. "I haven't cried like that since 'Titanic.'" Thought I would slip that in there. I did like the direction of the film, I thought Ruben Fleischer did a good job with it. I like when Jesse's character did one of his rules that it would pop up on the screen with a neat effect. Speaking of effects though I loved the looks of the zombie's. I also enjoyed how they didn't use the generic zombie where they hold there arms out and walk slowly. In this movie they sprint and I thought that made it more realistic (even thought the whole thing really isn't). Now the look of the film I also enjoyed. Cinematographer Micheal Bonvillian, was at the helm of this movie's cinematography and I thought he captured the film in a unique way. So yes in the end I did enjoy this film, it kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time.

Though I do have some negatives to add to this review of, "Zombieland." Firstly (and mainly) I want to talk about the flow of the movie. I felt like this movie just flowed to quickly. It is about an hour and a half long, but I still think for a movie that it was fast-paced. It is like one thing is happening, but then little break and then WHAM on to the next thing. The ending I really didn't enjoy to much either. It left a lot of unanswered questions and things that could have used a bit of more explaining. I think that was about it though.

So all-in-all for being a somewhat of a horror film, I actually enjoyed it very much. I am going to have to give it a DVD buy worthy rating along with popcorn flick. You and your friends will definitely enjoy this film on a halloween movie night. As for the rating out of five, "Zombieland" will get a 3.5/5 rating.

Well thanks for reading this review of "Zombieland." I am hoping that you enjoyed it and will tune back in for more reviews. Do make sure you subscribe by email (in the sidebar) as to not miss my next post. By subscribing you will be emailed when I upload my next post. Make sure you also hit that like button. Now thanks again and stay tuned for more reviews of motion pictures . . . coming soon.

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Despicable Me REVIEW

The "Motion Picture Buff" would like to present a review for the kids film, "Despicable Me." In this film a criminal mastermind, Gru, uses orphan girls to help in his attempt to steal a "shrink-ray" from yet another criminal mastermind. He does find that their love has changed him though . . . for the better.

Lets begin with the positives shall we? Well Gru is voiced by Steve Carell and I think they could have found no one better for the job. He just fits the character extremely well. Russell Brand and Jason Segel are also in this film and I think they are great for their characters as well. I do also enjoy Miranda Cosgrove, Dana Gaier, and Elsie Kate Fisher as the orphan girls. Perfect job finding the right voices for the film! The characters you care the most about are the orphan girls and Gru, but who you are going to love the most is "the minions." The little yellowish creatures that you can see in the poster above. They are the main comedic relief in this film, and what I enjoyed most about this film. The minions are what also keep the parents enjoying the film along with the kids. It is great when a kids movie can bring enjoyment to the children and the parents or the older kids that have to sit and watch it with them. The film has a good message to it which is love and family. I think the directors of this movies, Pierre Coffin and Chris Renaud, did a good job with a great kids film. I believe it must be hard to make a good kids film that parents and children enjoy, but they did it just perfectly. This movie also just looks cool, you know what I mean? It has a good look to it. The animation I guess is what I am trying to get at is just visually great.

Negatives though that I will have to give it? This being a professional (in a way) review I have to say that the plot is jumpy and seems to be rushed. It is all that inventive (if you know what I mean) either. The action that is involved in this film is short and just over-the-top. Not at all that interesting also.

So all-in-all what is this film deserve? Well a GREAT kids film and a good family film for everyone to enjoy! It will get a popcorn night rating along with a DVD buy-worthy rating. You and your kids will want to watch it again sometime. As for the rating out of five, "Despicable Me" will get a well deserved 3.5/5 rating.

Well thanks for reading and I am hoping that you enjoyed this review. Now, make sure you like the "Motion Picture Buff" on Facebook: either CLICK HERE or click the like button on the bottom of the sidebar. Thanks again and make sure you stay tuned for more reviews of motion pictures . . . coming soon.

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Cast Away REVIEW

The "Motion Picture Buff" would like to present a review for the movie starring Tom Hanks, "Cast Away." In this film Tom Hanks plays a FedEx executive who was involved in a plane crash in the middle of the ocean. He must now transform himself to survive on a deserted island.

Well lets get the negatives out of the way first shall we? Well I am not sure how I feel about the plot and the flow of the story. To me it just seemed like it was very jumpy, and it just didn't show enough of his transformation on the island. They show like the first couple days of him being stranded, but then they skip to four years later and him plotting his escape now. I dunno I guess really what I am complaining about here is the plot. It just seemed to flow wrong in my eyes. It was also extremely slow in spots. Along with the plot though, the dialogue in this film was a bit unnatural. I think if you have seen this you will understand what I am trying to say. All-in-all dealing with the screenplay . . . it was an interesting premise for a film and done okay, but could have been way better. The only other thing that bothered me was Helen Hunt. Her performance in this film was just okay. I felt like she was just reading lines.

Now for the positives. I am sure you can guess (if you have seen it) that I am going to talk about Tom Hanks performance. What I wanna say here is that this man can act. WHOLY SHIT! I was freaking impresses. He can really give an outstanding performance. That one scene with Wilson (his volleyball) friend. I seriously started to tear up because of him. Well done sir . . . well done. Robert Zemeckis does the directing for this film and I want to say good job also. I loved the angles of the camera and the look and feel he gave to the film. I really did enjoy this film. Where the movie should be slow usually because it is a man stuck on a deserted island, he makes it somewhat interesting (except mentioned above). So props to that. I so love how they kept the film quite in these parts and just made the sounds of the waves. It was fantastic, so props to the sound team too for a great job with the waves. I thought it was brilliant.

So all-in-all a decent enjoyable film that has a great premise but could have been told better. I will say that it is DVD buy worthy and that it is a must-see because of the performance by Tom Hanks. It is really that great, "WILSON!" Anyways for the rating out of five for "Cast Away" I will have to give it a 3/5 rating because of the plot (that seemed to really bother me).

Well thanks for reading and I am hoping that you enjoyed this review of "Cast Away." One thing before I end this review is that make sure you like the blog here on Facebook. Click the like button in the sidebar to do so. Thanks again and make sure you stay tuned for more reviews of motion pictures . . . coming soon.

The Motion Picture Buff