Movie Review: The Martian (2015)

The Martian has arrived to much fanfare. I have seen some refer to it as a return to form for Ridley Scott. I was going to disagree with that sentiment, but then I looked over his recent filmography, and in my book this is easily his second best film in the past decade. Surprisingly, I had not noticed how many merely decent films he has been making of late. It is a good thing this isn't about his past, it is about his present, which is pretty darn good. The Martian may not be the most exciting film he has made, but there is something quietly excellent about it. It is an entertaining film that features some fine action and covers a lot of ground.

Movie Review: The Zero Theorem

So, last week I had the opportunity to see Terry Gilliam's latest feature on the big screen. Before going any further, I have to recommend that whenever you have the opportunity to see a Gilliam feature in a theater, you should jump at it. Even when he is not at the top of his game, his films are pretty fascinating, either thematically or visually. No matter whether you like it or not, you will have a reaction to it, even if your reaction does not reveal itself in logical fashion. With The Zero Theorem, Terry Gilliam has crafted a film that is as newly Gilliam as it is reminiscent of his past successes. To that end, I enjoyed this, even as I do not love it.

Critical Capsule: The Monuments Men

So, the other night I saw The Monuments Men and today I thought I would share a few words but I really don't want to spend a lot of time on it. You see, while I love the story that is its basis, this movie just feels poorly executed and filled with missed opportunities. Its tone is all over the place, the characters do not have all that much chemistry and it feels disjointed as the characters spend a lot of time going in different directions. It is a movie that could have used a few more passes or actually made the interesting real life story interesting on the big screen.

Movie Review: Elysium (2013)

It has been four years since I first learned who Neil Blomkamp is. It was 2009 when District 9 arrived in theaters and proceeded to wow audiences all over, even earning four Oscar nominations (including Best Picture and Adapted Screenplay). Needless to say, I loved that movie and have been anxiously anticipating his follow up. It has finally arrived. The big question is whether or not it lives up to Blomkamp's prior outing. I will say I did have a few worries based on the trailer, so with cautious optimism, I eagerly entered the theater and experienced Elysium.