Soul Surfer

Everyone has been through rough times. Whether you lost your job, walked away from a relationship, or had to cope with the death of a loved one, we've all been there. Everyone has had at least one time in their life when they wanted to just give up. That takes me back to October 31, 2003: the day a young surfer named Bethany Hamilton was attacked by a shark. Luckily, she survived, but she didn't come out in one piece. She lost her left arm, and many thought the ability to ever surf again. As we all know, however, Bethany rose up and proved the world wrong, riding to victory in many surfing competitions and becoming one of the most famous surfers in the world. Now that's what I call not letting life get you down!
Soul Surfer begins by showing us the world of 13 year old Bethany Hamilton, who loves nothing more than grabbing her board and hitting the waves. But tragedy strikes when Bethany is attacked by a shark that rips off her left arm. Devestated, she turns to her family and church youth pastor Sarah Hill for guidance as she attempts to get her life back. With determination and her faith in God, Bethany comes to grips with her new reality and heads back into the world of surfing, not sure what to expect.
An uplifting story of courage and faith, Soul Surfer shows audiences a girl whose dreams of life as a proffesional surfer are shattered, until she lets God pick up and mend the pieces. At times hard to watch, the film won't let you look away. Bethany's struggles remind you that no blow is so great that you can't get back up again, and that's a powerful thing. Soul Surfer handles its difficult content with dignity, creating an amazing story that's all the more unbelievable because it's true.
The talented AnnaSophia Robb takes the reins to an incredibly hard role, but she was never better as the couragous Bethany Hamilton. Dennis Quaid and Helen Hunt co-star as Bethany's loving parents, and play their parts to a T. Carrie Underwood makes her film debut as Sarah Hill, the youth pastor, and doesn't do much to impress. Still, this is only her first movie, so you have to give her credit for putting herself out there and trying something new.
Soul Surfer (rated PG for some thematic material and an intense action sequence) is a clean, wholesome film with no swearing or inappropriate material of any kind. The scene it got is PG rating for, however, is one that might disturb more sensative people. When the shark attacks, we don't see it bite Bethany's arm. We see blood flow into the water, and some intense moments as her friends try to wrap her arm and drive her to the hospital (including more blood). The scenes are done tastefully, though, and aren't shocking in any way.
A truly inspiring film, Soul Surfer isn't one to be missed. Stellar performances from almost the entire cast and a heart-wrenching story about a girl who follows her dreams despite the odds make this one of the best Christian movies you'll see in a long time.

Water For Elephants

Most people have been to a circus at least once. It's an exciting experience: the lights go down, the ringmaster calls out the names of the acts, and beautiful animals and skilled performers take the stage in a stunning spectacle. But we don't really know what goes on before and after we enter that big-top. Water For Elephants, based on the book of the same name, helps us delve behind the scenes of what a ringmaster would call "the greatest show on earth".

Jacob Jankowski has a lot of things going for him, even as the Great Depression rages: he's about to graduate from Cornell University and become a veterinarian, just like his father, and maybe start a family. All that changes in an instant, however, when his parents are killed in a fatal automobile accident. Now left with nothing, he begins riding the rails...and lands on a train hauling an entire circus run by August Rosenbluth. Jacob joins the company and becomes their vet, taking a special interest in their newly aquired elephant...and August's wife, Marlena. However, things quickly become perilous in the seemingly quiet "family", as Jacob realizes just how unstable his boss really is, and he must make a choice: follow his heart, or stay alive.

Water For Elephants is a fascinating film, managing to show us Depression-era life and the workings of a circus without blinking an eye. The script is witty as well, and provides both humorous and tear-jerking moments. The cinemetography is beautiful, and every scene is painted like a picture.

The cast was truly perfection, something I rarely say about a film. Robert Pattinson shows he can be more than just a brooding vampire as he struggles through daily circus life, and Reese Witherspoon plays conflicted Marlena with ease. But it's Christoph Walts who really steals the show as August, the ruthless ringmaster who would do just about anything to make sure the show goes on.

Earlier, I mentioned Jacob has to make a desicion between following his heart and staying alive. But sometimes, your heart can deceive you. The movie portrays Jacob and Marlena's love as something beautiful, but you can't feel completely okay with it. Marlena is still officially married to her husband when she and Jacob begin their whirlwind romance, which is clearly wrong. Sure, August is a jerk, but that doesn't excuse her actions. It is commendable that Jacob desires the best for Marlena, and that he tries to help her, but the fact that they commit adultery is not. 

Water For Elephants (rated PG-13 for moments of intense violence and sexual content) is a solid PG-13. Language includes uses of b----, b------, and a--, and s---. Other content includes a quick scene as two characters prepare to get intimate, the bare back of another woman as she takes her shirt off, and talk of getting into girl's beds. What people might find most disturbing however, is the violence. August is a truly mean guy who has men thrown off his moving train (we see their dead, bloodied bodies), and attempts to murder several other people. He also abuses his animals, repeatedly hitting them and drawing blood.

Water For Elephants is a beautiful film. The acting is of the highest caliber, and watching the characters struggle with right and wrong keeps you on the edge of your seat. If only some things could have been changed, the movie would have truly been perfection.



Red Riding Hood

We all have our favorite fairy tales. Maybe yours is the romantic Cinderella, or the more suspenseful Hansel and Gretal. Or maybe it's Red Riding Hood, the story of a young girl who meets a wolf on the way to her grandmother's house. I know Red Riding Hood was always one of my favorites, so when I heard there was going to be an updated version of the tale, the idea intrigued me. How could anyone possibly update such a popular story without it being, well, stupid? I was determined to find out.

Red Riding Hood begins as a love story: Valerie has been betrothed to a young blacksmith named Henry, but she can't repress her feelings for Peter, a simple woodsman. When she discovers he has feelings for her as well, the two agree to elope so they can always be together. Before they can put their plan into action, however, tragedy strikes: Valerie's sister is murdered by the werewolf that has always terrorized the village. The townspeople begin to panic; the wolf has never attacked anyone living in the village directly before. Terror escalates as a traveling wolf hunter named Solomon confirms the people's worst fears: the killer is one of their own. As the wolf begins to prey on more and more of the villagers, Valerie desperately tries to discover the identity of the creature, before she becomes its next victim.

Rated PG-13 for violence and creature terror and some sensuality, Red Riding Hood is part mystery, part horror, and part romance. And if you suspend some disbelief, it works. The movie constantly keeps you guessing as to the identitty of the wolf: Is it bad boy Peter? Love-struck Henry? Or the elusive grandmother, perhaps? The end is a complete surprise, and won't fail to disappoint. The script keeps everything moving at a brisk pace, with not a dull moment to spare.

The film has an excellent cast, and they all give believable performances. Amanda Seyfried is the best known name, and she delivers an excellent-as-expected performance as the love torn Valerie. Shiloh Fernandez and Max Irons also turn out enjoyable performances as the two men vying for her affections.

For a PG-13 flick, Red Riding Hood is surprisingly clean language-wise. No cursing is heard, which was a nice change. Violence is where it earns its mark: the wolf is vicious and tears apart several people barely off-screen. In probably the biggest gross-out moment of the film, it rips a man's hand off (we see it fall to the ground, bloody). A few people are stabbed, while another is cut open, then sewn back up again (mostly off screen). Other content is minimal, but includes discussion of a wife who has been unfaithful to her husband, and a few suggestive scenes where women begin to disrobe (nothing inappropriate is shown).

Red Riding Hood is one of those few scary movies that I would be comfortable with seeing in theatres again. It has it's violent moments, but it makes up for that by cutting out the profanity, and not having many other content issues. It's fun, exciting, and mysterious, and while it won't be earning any Oscars, it's a pretty thrilling ride.

I Am Number Four

 There are a lot of alien movies out there: Signs, Independence Day, and War of the Worlds, to name a few. And plenty of them have been blockbuster successes. I Am Number Four hopes to be the next film boasting visitors from other planets to be a runaway hit.
The movie opens on a boy living somewhere deep in the jungle, who is awoken from his sleep by a loud noise. Within minutes, he is killed by terrifying creatures called Mogadorians, and it turns out he isn't their first victim. They are tracking down all nine of the surviving natives from the planet Lorien. First, they took down Number One. Number Two followed. And now that Number Three is taken care of, they've moved onto...Number Four. After accidentally revealing his alien powers to a group of humans, Number Four and his mentor, Henri, are forced to leave their hiding place, and move to Paradise, Ohio. Not realizing their leaving gave the Mogadorians the clues they needed to track them down, Henri allows Number Four, under the alias John Smith, to attend the Paradise local high school. There he befriends UFO fanatic Sam, and he meets the girl of his dreams. But when John and Henri realize their mysterious enemies are pursuing them, Number Four is forced to confront these frightening creatures who are no longer bent only on his demise: now they want to destroy the entire human race.
I Am Number Four, rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action and for brief language, seems to be a mix of Twilight, and Percy Jackson, with some elements of the Bourne Trilogy mixed in for good measure. And that's not a bad thing. The movie has romance, action, and some elements of mystery sure to keep you on your toes. While it drags a bit towards the middle, the excitement quickly picks back up again. 
For a movie geared at teens, I Am Number Four has a solid cast. Even though many of them are pretty faces, that's not all they are. Alex Pettyfer is likable as Number Four, and Dianna Agron and Callan McAuliffe are excellent as well.
The special effects are simple stunning to look at, and are extremely well done.
As expected, the film is violent, and there is plenty of kicking, shooting, and stabbing (however, aliens disolve into dust when killed, so we aren't forced to look at bloody remains). A few humans are murdered, but it happens off screen. Unfortunately, some profanity marrs the script, mostly when characters are in danger. Words such as s--- and a-- are used most frequently.
With huge franchises such as Twilight and Harry Potter coming to an end, studios are out looking for the next big thing. And I Am Number Four might just be it. It started out as a young adult novel (the author has six more novels planned for the series), it has a talented and likable cast, and it has been hyped up enormously. Personally, I wouldn't mind if this series took off. It's entertaining and, even with its flaws, it's still cleaner than a lot of teen movies out today. The language is a bit of an issue, and I seriously wish it could have been toned down, but on the upside the characters are a loyal, brave, and un-superficial bunch we can root for. And after seeing so many movies with arrogant, stuck-up teens who are terrible role models, that's a huge thing. Who can say which film franchise will capture the world's attention next, but if it happens to be I Am Number Four, I can't say I'll be disappointed. 

The Green Hornet

"You're great just the way you are. Don't ever change!" How many times have you heard that one? If you're like me, countless times, from movies, music, and even friends and family. The Green Hornet takes this idea to a whole new level. 
The Green Hornet (rated PG-13 for language, sequences of violent action, sensuality, and drug content) opens on a man called Chudnofsky, who is a violent and unpredictable drug lord terrorizing L.A. Switch scenes to wealthy party animal Britt Reid, who has absolutely no interest in helping his father run their newspaper, The Daily Sentinel, or in anyone other than himself. But when his dad is found dead, the paper is thrust onto Britt, who wants nothing to do with it. Befriended by his deceased father's mechanic/coffee maker, Kato, Britt experiences a new look on life: one where he could use his wealth to help people. Taking the name "The Green Hornet", he transforms himself into a masked super hero, aided by Kato. But Chudnofsky isn't about to let go of his grip on the city without a fight.
The Green Hornet was not what I expected, to say the least. Britt Reid is a horrible antagonist, leaving viewers caring little about him or his predicaments. The film also takes on a rather childish tone, causing me to wonder who exactly this PG-13 film's target audience is. Needless to say, the movie LOOKS cool, with all its sleek special effects and CGI magic, and it has its funny moments. But I walked away wondering, "What the heck was that?", certainly not a good reaction, in my opinion.
Seth Rogen tackles the famous role of The Green Hornet, but doesn't leave a lasting impression. His take on the iconic character is not a good one. Rogen's Britt Reid is an annoying, self-absorbed, idiotic jerk, and he doesn't change. There's no scene where he realizes how cruel he's been to his friends and family and vows to change his ways. Michael Gondry, the movie's director, seems to ask to us to accept Reid the way he is, jerkishness and all. And I had a hard time doing that. For a hero, Britt sure acts like a villian (a stupid, insipid one at that). Cameron Diaz, who co-stars as Britt's secretary, Lenore Case, tries her best with her role, but fails to bring anything new or fresh to the silver screen. The rest of the ensamble cast is fairly dull as well. The one shinging beacon of hope in the acting department of The Green Hornet is Hollywood newcomer Jay Chou. Chou steps into Bruce Lee's shoes as Kato, and acts his part well. His dry humor and excellent acting skills helped me make it through the movie. When Britt Reid was in danger, I just said, "Eh, whatever." When Kato was in jeopardy, however, I was sitting on the edge of my seat, yelling, "Don't kill off Kato or the rest of this movie will be garbage!"
Now comes the part of the show where I type out all the things morally wrong with this movie. First off, the profanity problem here is crazy, And when I say crazy, I mean INSANE. Some form or other of cursing is used about every five to eight minutes of the film, counting. Favored words are a--, b----, d---, s---, and a dozen others. So when I say this movie has language issues, I mean LANGUAGE ISSUES. Britt Reid seems to enjoy getting drunk, and does so on several occasions. We also see that he is quite the player, and we get a full scene of him in bed with a girl he apparently doesn't even know (it's played for laughs). Nothing is shown, but we're still left with a bad taste in out mouths. Violence is typical of a super hero flick, and includes, punching, kicking, shooting, and two stakes being driven through a guy's head. 
When I think of the phrase "be yourself", I envision a girl who isn't afraid to say that she's a tomboy. Or a jock who admits that he enjoys knitting. I don't think of a guy who acts like a moron to his friends, yet still wants them to accept him, because he's "just being himself". That's certainly not a very good message to send to kids, or anyone for that matter. But with its childish script, plot, and tone, young folks are just who it seems this film is after. Hollwood literally shoves Britt Reid in our faces, begging us to like him, and feel sorry for him. "He's a poor sap who's dad dies! Embrace him for who he is, an egocentric jerk who won't change, because he's just being himself!" Uh, yeah. I think I'll pass. When they give Jay Chou/Kato his own movie, give me a call. Until then, I'm going to go hang out with Batman, or Spider-Man.....REAL heros.

  

True Grit

I always try to tell the truth, so that's what I'm going to do. I'm not going to start off this blog entry by saying, "I was so excited to see the new western, True Grit!" I won't say, "As I settled into my slightly uncomfortable theatre seat, popcorn in hand, I waited eagerly to be taken back to the old west, a place of danger and excitement, a place I'd been a million times before and couldn't wait to return to." Because both of those statements would be lies. The truth is, I had only seen one other westen before in my life, and I hated it. It was so boring, I actually fell asleep, something that had never happened to me before (it's happened since, but that's another story). The movie was so dull, I can't even remember the title. So when my brother decided to go see True Grit, I can't say I jumped at the chance. I actually started to say no...when a realization hit me. Was I actually prejudiced against westerns? As stupid as it seemed, the more I thought about it, the more I realized it was true. After that one awful western film, I had avoided seeing another at any cost (something that's hard to do when you have a brother obsessed with the old west, believe me). To make a long story short, I decided I was being absurd, and that I had to give this film a chance. Heck, I didn't even know what it was about.
The film, rated PG-13 for some intense sequences of western violence including disturbing images, is the story of Mattie Ross. Her father was murdered by his partner, Tom Chaney, and Mattie is determined the killer be brought to justice. She engages the help of aging U.S. Marshall Cogburn, whom she's told has "true grit", to track down Chaney. But barely have they started out when they discover another man, LaBoeuf, is after him as well, and a sort of rivalry ensues. However, the three soon realize that beating the others is the least of their worries when they find that Tom Chaney is in the empolyment of devious outlaw Ned Pepper. If they want to complete their mission, they won't only have to capture Chaney, but fight for their very lives.
I never thought I'd ever hear myself say this, but True Grit was probably one of the best movies I've seen in a long while. I not only liked a western, but loved it. The film's best attributes are it's witty dialouge and likeable characters, which it uses to its advantage. Characterization is key, and by the film's end, you feel like you've known the characters for years and not just for the two hour, eight minute running time. The movie starts off slow, but quickly picks up pace as it nears the climatic ending. Humor is sprinkled into the otherwise dark film, keeping the tone lighter than expected, but True Grit doesn't mess around: it's no comedy, and although the ending might leave you with a tear in your eye, it makes you feel good, in a strange way, that they didn't try to sugar-coat things, but told it like it was. 
Every character-from young Mattie to gruff Cogburn to big-headed LaBoeuf-touches you in some way, and a lot of that is thanks to the incredible actors involved. Jeff Bridges and Matt Damon, who play the two male leads, are excellent as always, but the real surprise comes from newcomer Hailee Steinfeld. The fourteen year old actress plays the role of Mattie with confidance, and makes the old-fashioned way of speaking seem totally natural. 
Of course, every movie has its downside, and True Grit is no exception. While the friendship and bravery of the three main characters are admirable, one has to question whether their true mission is. "Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, 'Vengence is mine, I will repay, says the Lord'". This verse, Romans 12:19, states clearly that revenge is not the answer. So, should Mattie have gone so far to kill Tom Chaney? True Grit is just a movie, and I took it as such, but it's still an interesting question to ponder.
The old west was a rough place, and this movie doesn't try to hide that fact. The film's violence is obvious, and is shown right on screen. We see men hanged, dead corpses, one guy's fingers get chopped off right before he's stabbed, and a whole lot of shooting. This is a western, so it's expected, and it's not terribly bloody, but I still believe everyone should have fair warning, since everyone's tolerance levels are different. The only other concern (which is, once again, not mentioned in the film's rating) are smatters of profanity through-out the film. Nothing terribly harsh, but it's there.
I walked out of True Grit surprised...pleasantly so. If you can stomache the violence, I reccomend it highly, and while the movie has its rough moments, overall it's a cinematic masterpiece. If I could say one movie I think will make it, one that will be remembered in years to come, I'd say this one, because it has true grit. 

  
  

The Tourist

Angelina Jolie. Johnny Depp. Venice. The first two are known around the globe for their incredible acting abilities, and the second is one of the most beautiful cities in Italy, if not the entire world. Add a sprinkle of intrigue and a dab of romance and you've got the new thriller The Tourist. The film, rated PG-13 for violence and brief strong language, is currently still in theatres at the the time of this review.
Elise is exotic and mysterious, and turns heads everywhere she goes. Frank is a math teacher from Wisconsin who can't seem to figure out the difference between speaking Italian and Spanish. When the two end up sitting together on a train bound for Venice, Italy, sparks fly-or at least, Frank thinks they do. Suddenly, in the middle of his attempts to woo Elise, a gang of thugs show up, bent on his demise. He quickly learns that his new flame is caught up in a crazy conspiracy, and that she has tricked the police into believing that he is a well-known thief, Alexander Pierce, with whom she is in love. And unfortunately for Frank, everyone wants Pierce's head on a platter, including a notorious crime boss. Confused, the bewildered teacher doesn't know where he can turn: is Elise telling the truth? Can he possibly get the police to believe he's innocent? And where is the real Alexander Pierce? Frank must race against the clock to discover what's really going on...and time is running out.
The Tourist is a fun, fast paced film that leaves you on the edge of your seat. I literally ate an entire bucket of popcorn during the hour and forty-three minute running time, and it took me a while to scrub all of that fattening butter off my fingers. The movie throws you through several loops, and leaves you realizing you can't trust that everyone is who they say they are, or that they're playing for the same team as you. The plot and script were both witty and clever, leaving me with my mouth hanging open in shock in several instances.
As one would expect of two stars of such high caliber, the acting was spot on, and the rest of the ensamble cast was excellent as well.
Now, to my gripe: I really wasn't at all pleased with the ending. Maybe it's just me, but I felt that some characters who should have repented of their misdeeds got away clean, and certain people did things out of character. Yes, it was a shocker, but I wasn't entirely pleased.
As for content issues, The Tourist was a pleasant surprise. There were some instances of mild profanity (although in another review, the f-word was mentioned as being said, although I didn't hear it), and obviously some violence (we see a man strangled on screen, and a few other men shot in the back) but nothing surprising or messy, just the norm for a thriller. The movie is surprisingly tame in other respects, (it is mentioned that a wife slept with other men before marriage to her husband, and a character says a woman lived with a man for a year that she was not married to), and while a few things are mentioned, nothing inappropriate is shown on screen.
To sum up, The Tourist is a fun, action-packed movie, but I don't believe it is going to be a movie that is remembered long after this year is over. It's your typical thriller, and although I enjoyed it immensely, it's not much different from the next action film, or the next, or the next. So, I say see it, you'll probably like it and enjoy the fact that it's not ladden with as much content baggage as many movies are today, but don't expect to be blown away.