The Matrix (1999)

Okay, so I’ve never seen The Matrix until now.  I know.  No, I know.  I KNOW.  I’m behind in the times.  My coworker finally lent it to me, and demanded I watch it.  Thanks to him, I’ve finally seen the cult classic everyone quotes from all the time.

I’d like to start by saying that I totally understand why so many people love the movie. It must have been awesome when it first came out.  It’s a cool movie.  I wonder if kids these days still love watching it.  Any readers younger than fifteen want to weigh-in?  Matrix–yay or nay?

Anyway, I liked the idea of the movie, and the guy who played the unMatrixed computer dude was super delicious.  If you haven’t seen The Matrix (though I doubt there’s very many of you), then I recommend you go see it.  It’s a good time.  I’ve been warned against seeing the second.  I’m not even quite sure why there is a second movie.  The first seemed to have a definite ending.  I’m not sure how it’ll continue without being annoying.

Verdict: Yay.

Where the Heart Is (2000)

This movie is so weird.  The cast of characters is weird, the actors who play them are weird and the story itself was weird!  For example, the librarian was played by an actor who was also in The Tudors.  I believe he played Cromwell.  I giggled every time he came on the screen because I couldn’t picture him with an American accent.  Oh!  And Natalie Portman was in it!  She’s the main character.  Though she was fantastic, she still made me chuckle (there was just bundles of laughter occurring during this film).

The movie is about a young girl who is abandoned at a Walmart by her scumbag boyfriend while she was very pregnant.  She becomes famous after she gives birth in the Walmart (after she’s abandoned, she lives in the store).  The local community (filled with crazy people) rally together to help take care of her and her baby.

If you’re looking for a cutesy, slightly corny movie with romance, vengeful karma and a happy ending, I’d highly recommend this one.  It’s a fun time!

Boys Don’t Cry (1999)

Talk about being surprised by a movie!  I suppose this happens a lot to me though because I never do any research before watching a film.  It’s mostly my fault.

This movie is about a transgender teen from the south (played by Hilary Swank before she was big).  The film follows Brandon as he does his best to find a place where he is accepted.  Tragedy strikes (as it always seems to do) and ruins everything.  He’s eventually discovered, and the remainder of the movie shows the consequences of ignorance and intolerance.

What shocked me the most was the very end of the movie.  Just when the film is over, the real-life factual epilogue starts scrolling, detailing what happened to the remaining cast of characters.  Watching the ending was bad enough, but then finding out that there are people who REMEMBER these things happening?  That makes everything so, so much worse.

Anyone who likes movies that show the extreme, destructive behavior human engage in because of pure unjustified hatred would like this one.  It’s a very powerful film, and I think it does a good job of unashamedly showing what happened to Brandon.  Just one warning: there is female nudity and rape featured in this film, so younger audiences beware.

The Beasts of the Southern Wild (2012)

I went into this film already excited to see it.  The previews made it look spectacular.  First of all–the actress who played Hushpuppy was amazing beyond imagination.  I can’t even express how so very great she is.  There were about three moments during the film when she’s just reflecting on the world and her place in the universe and I couldn’t catch my breath.  Hearing a little girl say these things I am on the verge of discovering on my own, with such adult insight, is mind-blowing.

Do I recommend this movie?  Absolutely.  I think the beasts weren’t even needed in the film.  The story of Hushpuppy and her father is strong enough to be a great film alone.  The ending was perfect–everything about this film was amazing.  Go see it as soon as you can!

Arthur (2011)

I have to tell you a secret: I really like Russell Brand.  I think he’s a total scumbag, but I usually love his movies.  This was no different.  I could have done without the whole fiance bit–those parts were boring for me.  I much preferred seeing the relationship between Arthur and his nanny and his desired love interest.

The Reader (2008)

I wasn’t sure what I expected this movie to be about–I knew it was about love and books; possibly about the love of books.  I knew it took place in Germany during World War II.  That’s all I knew.  I certainly wasn’t expecting the movie to turn out the way it did!

The beginning of the movie was both awkward and touching–it was exactly what new, inexperienced love is.  I also liked the secret the woman hides during their affair.  It’s so easy for the audience to see that the woman can’t read, but the main character doesn’t see it?  At least not while they’re intimately together.  I thought that was great.  The second half of the movie was when it got serious and unpredictable.

The woman never redeems herself and I don’t think the main character is faultless either.  He teaches her to read but drives her to commit suicide?  He’s a flawed human, just as she is, though not nearly as great a mistake is made on his part.

All in all, I thought the movie was wonderful, but too long.  Also, for anyone who wants to see this film with family, be warned–there is full-frontal male nudity several times during the film (not to mention lots of boobage).  I recommend this one to you, though feel free to fast forward through some long middle bits.

Winnie the Pooh (2011)

I was really excited when I heard they were making this movie.  I read all of the Winnie the Pooh stories when I was in college and they touched me in a way I can’t quite explain.  Even just thinking about my experience reading them makes this warm bubbly feeling erupt inside.

The movie starts exactly the same way as all the other Winnie the Pooh movies (the cartoons from the 90’s), with the stuffed characters in Christopher Robin’s room.  It brought me back to the days when I used to spend my Saturday watching my Winnie the Pooh VHS tapes.

The story itself is nothing extraordinary, but the feeling of joy and the chance to reminisce about a happy past is definitely worth it.

I Am Legend (2007)

I’ve wanted to see this movie for a very long time.  I remember when they were filming and my friend Brianna told me how they had set up hundreds of potted plants everywhere and they were keeping her from getting to class on time.  Seeing Union Square and the potted plant scene was fun.  Also a bit creepy.  And sad.  I recognize those places–it was strange to see them in ruin.

If you like end-of-the-world redemption tales, I highly recommend this one.  And when you finish, tell me what you think of the ending.

The Hunger Games (2012)

Of course I saw this movie opening night, but I was surprised by all the open spots in the theater.  I suppose I’m used to Harry Potter opening nights where there are costumes and insane fans.  The movie itself was a very faithful adaptation of the book, and most of the characters looked EXACTLY as I pictured them.  Rue was absolutely perfect, as was Cinna and Foxface.  It was like someone photocopied my brain’s image of them and made it a real person.  Casting for this movie was really well done.  Katniss was the only one who I thought wasn’t cast well.  I pictured her with darker skin and with more umf.

Anyway, I was greatly disappointed by the games themselves.  The point was to show how completely disgusting the Capital’s society is to rejoice and entertain themselves with the perverted slaughter of teens by other teens.  I feel that they were too concerned with keeping their PG-13 rating, and the games should have been more violent.  Teens killing teens should make audiences feel uncomfortable.  We should wince and feel like we’re just a tad too similar to the Capital–paying money to be entertained by the deaths of vicious children.

I have no desire to see it again, though I think anyone who read the books should definitely see it.  It’s worth at least one viewing.

The Raid: Redemption (2012)

I’m a huge fan of these kinds of fight-to-the-death-or-else kinds of films.  It’s the reason I love zombie stuff so much–one wrong choice is the difference between living and dying.  The audience picks a favorite and you silently cheer them on until the end of the film.

This movie certainly didn’t skip on any of the violence and blood.  If that’s not your bag, then I suggest you stay away.  They don’t shy away from blood and guts.

The plot is full of revenge, twists and turns, crooked deals and betrayals.  I loved it!  It’s also a short one (compared to what’s been coming out lately), which really made me happy.  Sometimes three hour movies ruin the experience because they’re just too long.  This one was short and sweet and got right to the point.  They waste no time with unnecessary crap.

Oh!  And the movie takes place in Indonesia.  It isn’t in English, so there are subtitles (not like there’s a lot of time in between fighting for long talks).  Overall, I adored it and would definitely see it again!