The Fighter (2010)
★★★★½
I was hooked from frame one of this film. Thankfully THE FIGHTER is more than a boxing movie. It's a movie about family above everything else, and the struggle of a young boxer to overcome the obstacle that is his own family.
Great performances all around. I haven't liked Mark Wahlberg in a while, he's great here. Amy Adams also turns in a great performance. But, the standout here is Christian Bale as Dicky. Wow. I've never seen him this good.
On all levels, THE FIGHTER is one of the best of 2010. Glad I finally saw it!
The Other Guys (2010)
The first half of The Other Guys is 100% hilarious. Unfortunately the movie fizzles in the second half, but all around, this is still a very fun movie.
I wish they had the budget to keep Samuel L. Jackson and Dwayne Johnson in the movie longer. It could have made for a better second half.
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The Searchers (1956)
I consider The Searchers to be John Wayne's best film and one of my favorite Westerns of all time. Having only seen this on VHS at my grandpa's house, I was stunned at the clarity and color of the Blu Ray. It's a wonderful transfer.
The Searchers isn't some goofy Western. It's actually a very well written revenge tale of a Confederate Soldier who goes after the Indians who murdered his family. John Wayne is at his best here and worth checking out if you've never seen it.
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Replicant (2001)
Whenever I find a Jean-Claude Van Damme movie in a bargain bin, I have to buy it if I don't already own it. I don't know what's wrong with me, but that's the way it is. So, for $3 I came into possession of yet another movie where Van Damme plays 2 roles (Maximun Risk, Double Impact, even Timecop). Replicant! No, this is not a sequel to Blade Runner.
Replicant stars Jean-Claude Van Damme and MICHAEL ROOKER! That's what hooked me. Fuckin' MICHAEL ROOKER is in this!!
Well, the movie's not very good (surprise) but it is damned entertaining. It's also yet another movie where Van Damme has to act like a "man baby" and learn about the world around him. He learns a lot in a short amount of time. He even learns about pre-mature ejaculation! (And spends the rest of the movie in those soiled sweat pants)
So, for $3 I don't feel ripped off. I'm a fan of Van Damme even in the shittiest of movie. Replicant isn't his worst, it's middling and somewhat enjoyable with a few beers.
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9 (2009)
Shane Acker's 9 is nowhere near as bad as I'd been hearing. It's actually a breath of fresh air and superbly animated and designed.
I agree that the story loses it's way in the third act, but the visuals and concept made up for that. I really enjoyed this more mature animated film.
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Amadeus (1984)
This is a masterpiece and never gets old. What a wonderful movie.
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Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole (2010)
Wow. I was prepared to hate this movie and it ended up blowing me away. Legend of the Guardians is now one of my top animated films of 2010. Sure, the story is a simple "Hero's Journey" but that didn't spoil anything for me (pssst....it's a KID'S movie). The animation is breathtaking, the voice work impeccable, the story is simple yet serviceable and the score is also very well done.
Also, for those of you who griped about the Owl City song in the middle of the movie...GET OVER IT. It's 3 minutes of a 2 hour animated feature. I didn't find that scene even remotely annoying.
So, I loved this movie. My kids (the film's target audience) LOVED this movie and are now obsessed with owls. Totally worth watching if you've been on the fence.
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Battletruck (1982)
Unlike some of the other flicks in Shout Factory's Roger Corman Cult Classics collection, Battletruck wasn't the cheese-fest I'd hoped it would be. It's actually a pretty straight forward low budget 80s post-apocalyptic flick in the vein of Mad Max (but not as good).
Everyone is really trying here, and for the most part, the flick is pretty enjoyable yet forgettable. I have a feeling that if David Carradine was in this, I'd like it more.
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Easy A (2010)
Easy A was a surprise. Emma Stone is adorable, the script is witty, supporting performances are spot on. This is one of my favorite comedies of 2010. A must see!
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Elf (2003)
The best way to spread Christmas Cheer, is singing loud for all to hear.
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