The Green Hornet 3D (2011)

Directed by Michel Gondry

Starring: Seth Rogen, Jay Chou, Christoph Waltz, Cameron Diaz

Rating: 5/10


"The Green Hornet" already gets a few notches down for being in 3D. I could probably eventually see it in 2D, but then I wouldn't be able to continue my hatred for 3D. That being said Michel Gondry's latest film was a hit and miss. A good cast along with a director I've enjoyed for years should equal to a pretty damn good movie. "The Green Hornet" fell a little short in many areas but was at the same time pretty entertaining. The 3D aspect of it all took away from the quality of the film, like it does with any other movie, so I'll take that out of the picture.

"The Green Hornet" is based on the series with the same name about a "superhero" and his sidekick, Kato, that take down crinimals. Kato, originally played by Bruce Lee, is the asian kick-ass part of the equation while the Green Hornet is more the leader. After his father's death Britt Reid decides to take some initiative and reduce crime along with Kato, his father's trusty friend. Britt finds taking over the family newspaper business is boring and so the essence of The Green Hornet starts.

Seth Rogen stars as the Green Hornet/Britt Reid and was also a big part of the writing for the film. I was somehow unaware of this coming into the movie, but after I noticed it in the credits, I was not surprised. He has SO many lines that at times I thought he was the only person in the movie. Don't get me wrong, I am a big fan of Seth Rogen. His awkwardness is true and he's just plain funnier than a lot of actors out there today. A million lines and all, his performance was the only one that made sense to me.

Apparently there were other people in the film though. Christoph Waltz plays the "villain" as Chudnofsky. He's humorous and a great actor, but the movie didn't allow him to really do anything. He's in three scenes maximum and I don't really understand him at all. The only thing I know about Chudnofsky is that he has a badass double barrel shotgun/handgun thing that I want. I guess there does have to be a villain to every hero story.

Jay Chou plays Kato and is exactly what I expected him to be. He's the asian sidekick that beats everybody up. Fortunately he isn't portrayed as the "sterotypical asian", because that just gets plain old boring. He plays his part well but like the others he isn't given much and there's not a real story behind where he really came from. Speaking of not doing much, Cameron Diaz was in the movie. She plays a new hot assistant at Britt's newspaper company that looks into all the crimes involving the Green Hornet. Nothing against her, but her part can be completely cut out and the movie would be better. Not by much, but at least we wouldn't have to fit her into some absurd love triangle with the Green Hornet and Kato.

I guess I would have to place a lot of the blame on Michel Gondry. Being the director I would assume there would be an actual story behind the film. It seems like it goes; action scene, pointless drama, action scene, confusing plot jump, and then a final action scene. To be honest, I was surprised after loving Gondry for films like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Maybe I expected too much out of it. The bottom line is the plot was a mess and some of the characters were leaning toward pointless. If you like Seth Rogen and the original Green Hornet series you will at least be entertained. As a movie, "The Green Hornet" is one you can eventually rent. There are plenty more movies out right now that are more enjoyable.

The Fighter (2011)

Directed by David O. Russell

Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Melissa Leo


Rating: 8/10


"The Fighter" didn't knock me out, but I was pretty entertained throughout the length of the movie. Based on the story of boxer Micky Ward and his struggle to top tier status of the boxing world. Dragged down by his family and peers, Micky is forced to make the decision to stay with the family or actually proceed in his career.

This movie came at an interesting time with the whole boxing industry at a little bit of a downfall. The fights people want aren't getting made and fans are starting to turn in other directions of entertainment. For those who are fans of the sport, Micky Ward's story is very interesting. For others I feel this becomes just another rags to riches story, which isn't the worst thing.

Micky (Wahlberg) finds himself in the shadow of his family and a brother that once made it big in a fight with Sugar Ray Leonard. Since his brother's fight, he's been the one Micky always looked up to and the focus of the family. Dickie (Bale), his brother, has found himself in a slump, addicted to crack, and filming an HBO special that focuses on his "comeback." Micky learned eveything he knew from Dickie and has been with the family from the start of his own career. After losing a few fights a change needs to be made. A couple setbacks through his brother and a new girlfriend shape together to make a happy ending.

Although the story is based on Micky Ward the story focuses on his sourrounding cast. Alice (Leo), his mother, is convinced family comes first and cringes at the thought of not being listened to. Melissa Leo puts in an amazing performance portraying a woman that doesn't take shit from anybody. She's the type of woman that sees things in a straight line, and anything outside of that line is ridiculous. She always has that cigarette in her hand and her posse of daughters that support her more out of fear. Leo's performance along with Bale's is one to be looked at admirably.

Being not a big Christian Bale fan, I went into "The Fighter" with thoughts that Bale would make the film more dissapointing. What got me to like his character even more was a little part at the end showing an interview with Micky Ward and his brother. I could of sworn the two were identical which really made me enjoy Bale's role even more. A crack addict with a past that follows him, Christian puts in the right attitude and is really believeable.

Amy Adams is great and really attractive, again, but Micky's part of their relationship isn't showed very well. I understand the focus is on the story and not Micky himself that much, but it feels like he's almost disconnected from the story. He comes in for his fights, put his two cents into arguments but his character isn't powerful enough. This is not Mark Wahlberg's fault. He did an alright job with the parts he was given. Personally, I just wanted to see Micky and the boxing in general a little more lively.

All aside Micky Ward is a good story that was put together well. Overall, I just wanted a little bit more out of it, but I was entertained and liked "The Fighter" nonetheless.

Black Swan (2011)

Directed by Darren Aronofsky

Starring: Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, Vincent Cassel, Winona Ryder


Rating: 10/10



"Black Swan" by Darren Aronofsky is a great start for movies in the new year. Based around the theme of the classic ballet "The Black Swan", this movie is more than a depiction. The film actually centers around dancer/perfectionist Nina Sayers (Portman) and her road to getting the lead role in the play as the black/white swan. The pressure put on her is often overwhelming, which leads to a load of psychological problems all the way to the finale.

The character of Nina is by far the most interesting, as it should be. Her journey goes from working to get the lead role, receiving the role, and then perfecting the role. A ballet student for all her life following in her mother's "career," the opportunity to become truly noticed comes up and she takes it by storm. Coached by genius Thomas Leroy (Cassel), Nina has to force herself to be like someone she's not in playing the black swan. Nailing the role of the white swan with grace and vulnerability, she is forced to be reckless and powerful as the black swan. She slowly makes her way to becoming the role so much that it takes her over. From hallucinations to pure insanity she finds herself right where she started, being perfect.

Aside from Portman's stellar performance, Vincent Cassel is a key part of the film. I personally feel Cassel is really underrated in the roles he's been in. He has a powerful voice and a rugged accent that makes him seem like a big shot. Everything he does, no matter how inappropriate it may be at times, is to make this play a masterpiece. As a director he has to be admired and feared, making him an important factor to Nina's actions. Along with dancer Lily (Kunis), Nina's mind is brought to places she never imagined being in. Lily provides the part of being the ideal "black swan", providing jealousy that Leroy supports very well.

Kunis's performance surprised and impressed me as well. She plays a very demanding role as Nina's fantasy enemy. She is reckless and unique while at the same time being a pretty good dancer. Playing into Nina's hallucinations and real life, her tone is very convincing playing into both parts. Throughout the whole movie she was the only one who made me second guess what was actually going on in the movie.

Darren Aronofsky found a way to make me feel uncomfortable for almost the entire film. Definitely much darker than some of his latest films, the little things in "Black Swan" made me cringe. Blood was featured as a big part of the film, but it was never put in any gory feature. There was always just enough blood to get the point across and squint your eyes a little. The most uncomfortable scenes were the simple parts of clipping fingernails with a regular pair of scissors. The audible sound had me scared something terrible was coming very soon. These little things kept me attached and into the film more and more as it progressed.

"Black Swan" really makes you see how much pressure can be put on people at times. It can come from your friends, your boss, and most of the time the worst is the pressure you can put on yourself. This psychological thriller is one of Aronofsky's best, and I look forward to his future productions.