Dawn of the Planet of the Apes Final Trailer
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpSaTrW4leg] Excited for this movie to come out next week! Who else is planning on seeing it?
Movie Review Monthly: June 2014
Greetings!
Here are all of my awesome reviews for the month of June. Enjoy!
As always, if you have any recommendations for movies that I should watch that are streaming on Netflix, let me know! I always appreciate getting pointed in the direction of new movies I haven't seen.
Thanks for stopping by!
Movie Review Monday: World War Z
Salutations good people!
Welcome to another Movie Review Monday! This week's film is World War Z, starring Brad Pitt.
This movie (loosely based on the book of the same name) is an interesting one for many reasons. First off, it had many production issues, creating a huge budget for the movie (nearly $200 million) as well as needing re-shoots to do the entire end of the movie over after the original cut didn't jive with the powers that be (the explanation of the original ending has some spoilers, so wait until you've watched the movie to find out how it was supposed to end).
The movie is also intriguing since it is so loosely adapted from the book. I haven't read it but I know at least that it is a journal retrospective of how the zombie apocalypse happened whereas the movie is more of a race against time action thriller. An adaptation of a book of faux interviews is difficult to be sure, but it could have been something more original with such a unique basis to pull from.
Alright, onto the movie itself. I watched the uncut version available on Netflix, which has more blood and violence than the PG-13 version shown in the theaters (check out the differences here after you watch the movie). I would recommend seeing this one since it is more of what the movie should have been. The violence gives the movie more of a tense, visceral feel that builds upon the best parts of the film.
For my actual review of World War Z; I enjoyed this movie. I enjoy the zombie genre enough and I like this different interpretation and worldwide scale to the story. Brad Pitt does well carrying the film, being in pretty much every scene. The zombies are great and I appreciate all the practical effects they used paired with CGI when it was needed. The tense action and investigative drama of the plot is engaging as you journey with Pitt's character to figure out this global epidemic.
While it could have been something completely different and original and isn't perfect, I enjoyed World War Z and would definitely recommend it. Stream it today and I hope you enjoy it as well!
Thanks for stopping by!
Strong Female Characters in Movies & the "Trinity Syndrome"
I stumbled upon this article recently and found it to be another thoughtful and relevant look into the images media is portraying for audiences today, similar to the "Flawless Rescue Stud" phenomenon I wrote about earlier.
I definitely agree with the author that Emily Blunt in Edge of Tomorrow was a great character, and I wish more females in movies were like her. It is disappointing to hear of a lot of recent films with strong females who are given nothing to do to further the plot. It seems like such a waste!
I always enjoy reading things like this so I thought I'd share. Let me know what you think about it.
Movie Review Monday: Equilibrium
Hey there!
This week's film is the 2002 sci-fi action movie, Equilibrium, starring Christian Bale, Taye Diggs, and Emily Watson.
I was turned onto this film years ago, which was also years after this movie came out. It is a hidden gem to be sure, a movie that had the unfortunate circumstance to live in the shadow of the more popular Matrix films of the early 2000s. The premise of the movie is that Christian Bale is a 'cleric' named John Prestion in the dystopic, futuristic, fascist society where emotions are outlawed. Bale must enforce these laws with brutal efficiency. He eventually becomes sympathetic to the resistance cause trying to overthrow the regime and starts to work both sides. Bale does well here playing someone who allows his emotions to come through and then becomes sort of addicted to feeling after not feeling anything for his entire life, questioning everything he has ever known. All the other actors in the film are people you've seen in other things before and do a fine job supporting Bale's protagonist in his journey. Sean Bean has a small role in the beginning of the film which is a fun sight now after his successful stint on Game of Thrones.
The sci-fi elements are pretty light and the action is solid. The drama of it all helps anchor the movie and prevent it from going into any hokey territory. It takes itself seriously and rightfully so. The tragedy of a whole society no longer feeling, no longer caring for one another, and most of all not being able to appreciate art or music, is given its due here. The message that feelings are important is a simple but important one. If we lose our humanity in the quest for peace, is it really worth it?
Overall, the plot is straightforward and simple enough, and the whole thing is a fun ride with some good twists and turns. So if you're looking for a good popcorn movie to watch, Equilibrium is definitely for you.
Check it out streaming now on Netflix and be sure to check out all my other movie reviews for more great stuff to watch.
Have an awesome day!
Movie Review Monday: Star Trek - Generations
The film this week is the seventh iteration in the Star Trek film franchise; Star Trek: Generations (1994), starring two Enterprise captains, William Shatner as Captain Kirk and Patrick Stewart as Captain Jean-Luc Picard.
I'm going to just start off by saying I wasn't a huge fan of this film. I'm trying to watch, at least, all of the Star Trek films, having just wrapped up The Next Generation's (TNG) TV run recently. I've seen a few of The Original Series' (TOS) films also, having enjoyed Wrath of Khan especially. I had high hopes for this movie but it fell apart quickly for me. There were many sub-plot threads that seemed needless, the stakes weren't that high, the action was lackluster, and it just overall seemed like an overinflated episode of the show. If this movie was a typical episode of the show, shortened down and focused, it would be great, but with a roughly two-hour run time, it just was a bit of a bore.
Star Trek at its best is when it is able to have stories about ethics, morality, loyalty, values, friendship, and diversity. This movie had none of the above. It does seem that all of the Star Trek movies I've seen tend to just default to sci-fi action movies, which can be fun, but never really capture what makes the television show so special and beloved, and that's saying a lot from a diehard Star Wars fan.
This is a rare negative review so I recommend you pass on Star Trek: Generations. Just go watch Star Trek Into Darkness on Netflix if you want a better Trek flick that's streaming right now.
Thanks for stopping by!
Book Review: American Nerd
The 2009 book, American Nerd: The Story of My People, written by Benjamin Nugent, is an exploration of the history behind the word "nerd" intermixed with stories from Nugent's past. It reads like a long blog post or magazine article on the subject, covering the wide breadth of the issue of bias toward nerds. I just finished reading it and I found it to be a light, engaging read on the subject, a tad different from my previous review of Nerds by David Anderegg. Anderegg is an academic and Ph.D, while Nugent is a writer, which definitely benefits the latter in the feel of the book. They cover very similar territory but where American Nerd differs is in the personal stories and a more thorough delving into the history, where Nerds goes more into why the bias against nerds is bad by extrapolating about what it means for our future.
I found Nugent's anecdotal stories from his past to be spot on of my own experience with fellow young nerds back in the day. The reasons why people are "nerdy" are highly complex and diverse. It might be an escape or it might be a bonding mechanism, both of which can take varying shapes. Nugent also gives a nice overview of different aspects of nerd culture for those who may be unaware, which I appreciate since it allows for this book to lean towards a wider audience.
This book is great for simply existing and expanding the conversation of the issues facing the geek/nerd community. I'm excited to keep engaging in the literature behind the debate so that I can be the best informed I can be. I definitely recommend this book as a great place to start for anyone interested.
Check back soon for another review! Thanks for stopping by!
What I Was Geeking Out About: May 2014
Hello fellow geeks and nerds!
In an ongoing effort to better serve up my delicious content to you, here is a monthly wrap-up of all my recent geek outs! Enjoy!
Have an awesome week!
What I'm Geeking Out About This Week - 05/30/14
Hello friends! Here is what I'm geeking out about this week!
- Bioshock Infinite: Burial at Sea - Episode II
I (finally) finished this bonus mission the other day, completing my time with this game that I have written much about. To say it simply, I love this game and the Bioshock universe. This final episode ties together the universe beautifully while revamping the gameplay to keep the entire thing feeling fresh. If you haven't played it yet, I recommend getting the core game, and both Burial at Sea episodes. You won't be disappointed, especially if you have played the original Bioshock (if you haven't, shame on you, and just get the PS3 version, which comes with the original game included).
Community is one of my favorite comedies of all time. It's up there with The Office and Parks & Recreation. I still rewatch old episodes and enjoy them multiple times through. The story above details the latest in the developing story of it coming back on Hulu, since there is a previous relationship there with the entire series streaming exclusively on the site. I'd be really happy to see the show just get to the pinnacle of #SixSeasonsAndAMovie that the show's avid fanbase has galvanized around. I'll be sure to post any new details as they come through.
I am a big fan of Edgar Wright. I appreciate his originality and creativity when it comes to entertainment, whether it is his early work with the TV show Spaced, his cult favorite film Shaun of the Dead, or one of my favorite movies of all time, Scott Pilgrim VS The World. I looked forward to what unique qualities he would bring to a big Marvel Studios movie, but alas, they did not seem to share that optimism. I'll be interested to see where this project goes and if it turns out to be a success in the end.
Keep on geeking on & have a great weekend!
What I'm Geeking Out About This Week - 05/23/14
Hey everyone!
Here is my week in geek!
I'm getting more excited for this movie as the buzz becomes overwhelmingly positive. It is Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes (click above) with impressive marks from critics and audiences alike. I was worried it was going to be too busy and fall under its own weight (like Amazing Spider-Man 2 started to do), but this movie seems to get the complex story right. I'll be seeing it this weekend so I look forward to sharing more detailed thoughts later.
- Graduation
I just have to share briefly this milestone (which I'll delve into deeper with a separate post) that I recently graduated with my Master's of Education in College Student Affairs from Rutgers University. It was the final ceremony for a week full of good vibes with convocations and commencements for myself and my partner. It is always really great seeing excited graduates and proud families at all of these events. Never fails to put a smile on my face! Cheers to all the other graduates out there this year!
So I was originally born in Maine but I consider myself more from Delaware, since I grew up there for 20+ years. I went to school there (college included), made a lot of memories there, and always like to go back when I can to either visit my brother or swing by the University of Delaware. My partner and I had the great idea to take a long weekend down here for my birthday and our graduations, so I am currently enjoying some sun by the beach in Delaware. I got to see my Mom (who is visiting from Maine) and my brother, which is a rare treat and I am very happy! I encourage you all to check out the "First State" and let me know if you need some recommendations. It is a small but mighty state that I know you'd have a good time at if you're looking for a quiet, relaxing time away.
Thanks for stopping by! Have a great weekend!