Underworld: Awakening

This one of my favorite vampire franchises and I was extremely excited for this one, the fourth in the series (even thrilled after watching it because it hinted to another movie).  The only thing that was a little "off pudding" was that Scott Speedman did not return to reprise his role of Michael.  Another actor, with a similar look and build stood in for him.  The good thing is that the movie is not based on Michael's character at all, involves him, but not about him.  When the movie opens, we discover that the human world has discovered the existence of Vampires and Lycans.  Seeing the two as a virus and a curse, they begin to eliminate as many members of each species as they humanly can.  In this pursuit, Michael and Selene are captured.  

Twelve years after her capture, Selene is aroused out of her frozen state (think Demolition Man) and gathering her senses she tries to meet up with who she believes is Michael.  She believes it is Michael because she can see what he sees and understandably so, she feels that is the only being she is connected to.  When she finds who released her, she is surprised at the discovery that it was a 12 year old girl who freed her, and this girl is now the subject of inquiry by both the Lycans and the company who held them both prisoner.  Selene immediately senses the need to protect this young girl who is neither vampire or lycan but a combination of them both, which has only been seen in Michael.  Who is this young girl and why is she so valuable?

This is another wonderful chapter in the Underworld series and if you are a fan, I recommend you watching it.

I give it an 8 out of 10.

Next up is "The Blitz."

A Dangerous Method

This movie traces the intertwined history of Sigmund Freud, Carl Jung, Sabina Spielrein and Otto Gross.  The story begins with the hospitalization of Sabina Spielrein, vividly played by Keira Knightly, who is overcome by a psychotic break and brought back to herself with the assistance of Dr. Carl Jung (Michael Fassbender).  Dr. Jung uses methods to treat Sabina taught to him by his mentor Dr. Sigmund Freud (Viggo Mortensen), who is also a trusted colleague and close friend.  Dr. Jung is aware of Sabina's desire to go to medical school and encourages her to do so.  After continuing to see each other, Dr. Jung and Sabina begin an affair that was strongly encouraged by Otto Gross (Vincent Cassell) who had openly admitted to having numerous relationships with his patients.  

Soon, their worlds begin to unravel, Sabina lost in her desire for Dr. Jung, Dr. Jung's desire for Sabina and feeling trapped by his loyalties to his wife and family along with his disagreement with Dr. Freud about the possibility of helping patients to find themselves.  Dr. Freud has his own demons surrounding his Jewish heritage and the fact that he believes that Dr. Jung feels that he is superior.  Freud also strongly disagrees with the spiritual side of psychoanalysis that becomes apparent that Dr. Jung is beginning to believe in.

The subject matter is extremely interesting and so I was intrigued.  Although, all of the key players in this film portray their characters with passion and true believability, the movie itself seemed to drag along and I could not wait for it to end.

I give it a 5 out of 10.

Next up is "Underworld: Awakening."

A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas

This third entry in the Harold and Kumar series (I didn't know that they had a second installment) we find that the pair are no longer best buds.  Harold is married and has a successful career in the financial field and Kumar has continue to abandon his medical career and sits at home getting high, over and over.  Harold is trying to impress his father-in-law and make certain that it is the best Christmas ever for his wife's family.  He has even volunteered to decorate the beautiful tree that his father-in-law has grown from a seed.  The tree is burned to a crisp after a visit from Kumar, who was dropping off a package that was mistakenly delivered to their old apartment.  Thus begins their adventure, where the two meet old acquaintances and realize how they have missed each other in an attempt to find a tree.

I was in stitches, particularly with Neil Patrick Harris who reprises his role, as himself.  He is hilarious.

I give it a 7 out of 10.

Next up is "A Dangerous Method."

Tower Heist

With the roster of actors starring in this film, I thought it would be comedy gold; despite hearing the reviews that it received when it was initially released in 2011.  I was horribly disappointed.  With the heavy hitters of comedy from Ben Stiller, Eddie Murphy and Matthew Broderick, my hopes were high.... maybe the critics were mistaken, maybe I would still enjoy it, maybe.... well it is a pure comic flop.

The gist of the movie, a group of devoted employees of one of the priciest residential locations in New York have been wronged by the penthouse tenant.  Bernie Maddox wronged.  They decided to exact their revenge by robbing him blind and getting their pensions back.  Trying to accomplish this on Thanksgiving Day during the Macy's Parade.
Just was disappointed by the entire film.  It is a definite skip.

I give it a 1 out of 10.

Next up is "A Very Harold and Kumar 3D Christmas."

The Vow

Here's a beautiful love story inspired by a real couple who experienced the similar twist of fate.  A young, lucky in love couple Paige (Rachel McAdams) and Leo (Channing Tatum) who have a terrible car accident that wipes the past five years of Paige's memory.  The past five years that include her meeting and falling in love with her husband.  Both Leo and Paige are devastated by her injury, Paige feels scared and unsure about what her current life has presented to her.  She is an artist and free spirit, the exact opposite of the law student and apple of her parents' eye that she remembers.  She also remembers being engaged to another man.  Leo is crushed by his wife's failure to remember anything about their love and their life.  He is determined to return things to normal, as soon as possible despite the apparent destructive impact that it eventually has on the couple.

Can she eventually remember how they fell in love? Or is their love doomed?  It is a beautiful love story and worth the watch.  I was drawn even more into the film because it was inspired by a real life couple and what they have endured.

I give it a 7 out of 10.

Next up is "Tower Heist."

Psych: 9

I initially had so much hope for this movie, the description read well and had me intrigued.  I love independent and small production films just as much as the big blockbusters.  It also included Cary Elwes... my favorite from "Kiss The Girls" and "The Princess Bride," so it had to have some type of substance to it right?  I was sadly mistaken.    The biggest failure of the film is that there was too much going on.  There was a serial killer, a crazy lady, a spooky hospital as a backdrop, a creepy doctor, an intrusive but noneffective detective and way too many loose ends.  All of this and it felt like the movie kept dragging.  I kept looking at the clock.

Meet Roslyn, a beautiful yet fragile young woman who takes on the night shift at a recently closed hospital.  Her job is to collect and organize the files to have them relocated to another location for storage.  She is told that it is a boring job and she would be the only one there besides the security guard and the doctor completing the same job that she was about to begin on the Psych floor.  She wanted this shift so that she could spend more time with her husband.  Their relationship is horrible, there is a serial killer on the loose and she believes her husband might be him.  Then there are other crazy things going on and you have no answers at the end of the movie.  You sit there wondering why did you spend the ninety minutes watching.

I give it a 2 out of 10.

Next up is "The Vow."

Cowboys and Aliens

I have eagerly been awaiting this movie to show up in my movie list and it did not disappoint.  With an all star line up, this movie was truly entertaining until the closing credits.  In the opening, you meet a cowboy in the desert, wounded and unable to recall anything about himself aside from the fact the he can speak English.  This cowboy (Daniel Craig) makes his way to a fading rural town and instantly runs into trouble.  Taking down the town bully (the son of a bitter old colonel) much to the happiness of the town and eventually being recognized for being on a wanted poster.  He learns of his name as he awaits his fate with federal agents.  His name no longer a mystery, but his past and the odd metal bracelet that he is wearing remains so.  

The town soon becomes tangled in a war with aliens and their only salvation is the mysterious cowboy Jake Longeran wearing the bracelet.  To save themselves, they all join  sides despite their differences and ride off into the sunset to make everything right with the world again.  The movie also stars one of my favorite actors of all time, Harrison Ford.  The rest of the all star cast includes Adam Beach, Sam Rockwell, Olivia Wilde, Keith Carradine and Clancy Brown (Some names you may not recognize, but once you see their faces you realize that you have been watching their movies for a long time).

It is a great action and adventure movie with a ton of Sci-Fi mixed in.  

I give it a 9 out of 10.

Next up is "Pysch 9."