Movie Night: Aliens.

Review #574: Aliens.

Cast
Sigourney Weaver (Ellen Ripley), Michael Biehn (Corporal Dwayne Hicks), Jenette Goldstein (Private Jenette Vasquez), Carrie Henn (Rebecca "Newt" Jorden), Lance Henriksen (Bishop), Bill Paxton (Private William Hudson), Paul Reiser (Carter Burke), William Hope (Lieutenant William Gorman), Al Matthews (Sergeant Al Apone), and Mark Rolston (Private Mark Drake) Directed by James Cameron (#001 - Terminator 2: Judgement Day, #063 - The Terminator, #388 - Avatar)

Review
Back when I first reviewed the first film (#530 - Alien), I realized that if I ever managed to review the sequel, I had to answer the question that connects the first two films: Which one is better? Alien is a tense horror thriller that masterfully hides the alien for as long as it could to keep tension high. Aliens decides to use an alternate strategy. Aliens is an action-packed horror movie that still pulls a punch...and then some. We all know that trying to hide the aliens (A welcome change is to have multiple aliens) again is silly, so outright showing them all throughout is what Cameron does, more terror but also more awesomeness. Weaver is the big star and also the best character in the whole movie, right next to Bishop and Vasquez (You try to argue against an android who saves a character from dying while ripped in half; Vasquez is just fun to watch interact with the overconfident crew), the whole cast is great to watch interact with each other, the mood of the movie shifts from bravado to outright fear as the movie goes on, and everything works perfectly, especially the effects, which are still great. But here's the question: Is it better than the first movie?It all depends on what exactly you want, horror or action horror, but Aliens is the winner by a xenomorph egg. But we all can at least agree that the last two aren't up to par. Hopefully I'll get to the third movie sooner rather then forty reviews later.

Overall, I give it 10 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.

Review #573: E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.

Cast
Henry Thomas (Elliott), Pat Welsh (E.T.), Robert MacNaughton (Michael), Drew Barrymore (Gertie), Dee Wallace (Mary), Peter Coyote (Keys), K. C. Martel (Greg), Sean Frye (Steve), and C. Thomas Howell (Tyler) Directed by Steven Spielberg (#126 - Close Encounters of the Third Kind, #168 - Raiders of the Lost Ark, #169 - Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, #170 - Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, #302 - Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, #351 - Schindler's List, #480 - Jaws, #563 - The Sugarland Express)

Review
It's only fitting that I review this on my day off, E.T. is essentially a child's greatest fantasy come to life. It feels like if Spielberg bought the candy store that he went to as a kid and then made his own kind of candy. The movie feels like a time capsule back to the 80s (the Yoda costume, the same looking houses, playing RPG's...okay maybe it's not that old, Sesame Street...okay you could argue that's also a 70s/90s/00s flashback, faking sickness with a lamp - wouldn't be as easy to fake in this day and age), but also a trip back to youth itself, it makes anyone who watches it feel like a kid again. There are memorable moments such as when Gertie meets E.T., or most notably when E.T. and Elliott fly together on a bike. It seems that the kids are the only sensible ones in this movie, which I guess makes sense given the theme of this movie, which to me is all about friendship, about the bond of a kid and his alien. The effects on E.T. are good, it's not just some prop (Such as the ripoff Mac and Me), it's more than that. This is an emotional movie that pulls many punches and also pulls many parts of fun. I recommend this for everyone, as this is one of the better science fiction movies to watch and have fun with. Just don't play the video game based on this movie. For your own safety.

Overall, I give it 10 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Skyfall.

Review #572: Skyfall.

Cast
Daniel Craig (James Bond), Judi Dench (M), Javier Bardem (Raoul Silva), Bérénice Marlohe (Sévérine), Ralph Fiennes (Gareth Mallory), Naomie Harris (Eve Moneypenny), Albert Finney (Kincade), Ben Whishaw (Q), Rory Kinnear (Bill Tanner), and Ola Rapace (Patrice) Directed by Sam Mendes.

Review
Skyfall tries to do two things: Celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Bond franchise without going overboard (I'm looking at you Die Another Day), and to try and make people forget about Quantum of Solace and get back to what makes Bond work. Does it do its goals? Yea, pretty much. Without completely veering off into how even though Quantum of Solace tried its hardest to bring a theme of coldness and still entertain and fail, Skyfall manages to be fun to watch and have a level of change. By the time this film ends, we have a new Q, a new Moneypenny...and a new M. The gadgets are simple (a gun that only firs to the one who holds it and no else and a radio), but the villain is complex, yet enjoyable to watch. Bardem can be energetic to watch, but he can also be a chilling equal to Bond. Daniel Craig is magnificent, it seems he has grown into this role fully, and he works especially well with Dench, who is given more time and therefore is given her moment to shine in Dench's swan song as M. Fiennes is entertaining in the amount of time he's given, and I do look forward to seeing him in the next film soon. The realization of what exactly Skyfall means is a nice twist. In the end, this a good way to continue the franchise that has been chugging for over 50 years now, and I can't wait to see what happens next. Skyfall is Bond's childhood home.

Overall, I give it 9 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Captain America: The Winter Soldier.

Review #571: Captain America: The Winter Soldier.

Cast
Chris Evans (Steve Rogers/Captain America), Scarlett Johansson (Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow), Sebastian Stan (Winter Soldier), Anthony Mackie (Sam Wilson/Falcon), Frank Grillo (Brock Rumlow), Cobie Smulders (Maria Hill), Maximiliano Hernández (Jasper Sitwell), Emily VanCamp (Kate/Agent 13), Robert Redford (Alexander Pierce), and Samuel L. Jackson (Nick Fury) Directed by Anthony Russo and Joe Russo.

Review
You might be wondering why I waited two weeks after the movie premiered to finally watch and then review this movie. Well, I wanted to give this enough time to subside and not have as many people (That and I actually had plans to do stuff on the Friday it came out, the ACT was on the week after and a talent show on last Thursday, so I had to get a few things done first), and yet there was still a good crowd of people going to see this, which is a good sign. To make a good sequel, you have to make it good enough to make you forget about comparing it to the first movie, in which that it is good enough to stand on its own. So how is this movie? It's a real blast that also manages to be a game changer in terms of this movie universe. This movie feels like a thriller from way back when, so naturally Robert Redford is in this. And he is wonderful, managing to have great chemistry with everyone, and is fun to watch, and he's really just one piece that makes up a good supporting cast, along with Samuel L. Jackson, who is given more depth and given more to do.

But do the main cast members fare well? Yes, yes, yes, and yes. Evans and Johansson have great chemistry together, they do well together, and you feel the connection between the two. Mackie is a welcome addition to this franchise, a good newcomer that is also a cool superhero to watch because it is always fun to watch people fly. Sebastian Stan doesn't have much to do for dialogue, but his character is interesting to watch and cool to look at. His character arc does go somewhere, and he is intriguing to watch. The movie delivers a clever twist that actually does manage to make sense and even connects with other films of this universe. The action and the effects are really good and show the filmmakers know what they're doing. The movie has a level of suspense but also a level of fun, a hearken back to the old days of thrillers with an exceptional cast and exceptional values that make for a really good movie. Go see it before it's out of theaters. Hail Hydra.

Overall, I give it 9 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Beavis and Butt-head Do America.

Review #570: Beavis and Butt-head Do America.

Cast
Mike Judge (Beavis, Butt-head, Tom Anderson, Principal McVicker, and Mr. Van Driessen), Demi Moore (Dallas Grimes), Bruce Willis (Muddy Grimes), Robert Stack (ATF Agent Flemming), Cloris Leachman (Old woman), Richard Linklater (Tour bus driver), Dale Reeves (President Bill Clinton), and Greg Kinnear (ATF Agent Bork) Directed by Mike Judge.

Review
To be honest, I never really watched this show (Of course not being alive when this show first aired helps), and while I know about the two characters, I watched this in the morning with a mostly open mind. It should be noted that following Gone with the Wind is a tough challenge, but at least this didn't last over 3 hours. So how is the film? For all of its weirdness, the movie is pretty funny. This is a rambunctious, wild, and out of control movie that is perfect for these two (no point in lying) dummies. The cast is enjoyable, all of the randomness and bizarre nature make for a movie with much enjoyment. The animation is silly but fun to watch, even during the hallucination sequence, which is as random as it gets. You want a movie that sums up the 1990s? This is for you.

Overall, I give it 8 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: Gone with the Wind.

Review #569: Gone with the Wind.

Cast
Clark Gable (Rhett Butler), Vivien Leigh (Scarlett O'Hara), Leslie Howard (Ashley Wilkes), Olivia de Havilland (Melanie Hamilton), Hattie McDaniel (Mammy), Thomas Mitchell (Gerald O'Hara), Howard C. Hickman (John Wilkes), Alicia Rhett (India Wilkes), Barbara O'Neil (Ellen O'Hara), Rand Brooks (Charles Hamilton), and Cammie King Conlon (Bonnie Blue Butler) Directed by Victor Fleming (The Wizard of Oz)

Review
When asked what is the greatest movie of all time, some answer Citizen Kane, others answer Vertigo, some answer The Empire Strikes Back (Or A New Hope, take your pick), or Battleship Potemkin. But some answer the question with this movie in mind. How is the movie? The best word I can use to describe this movie is enduring. It's an endurance to sit through a movie that runs nearly 4 hours long, but if you make it through, you realize that this an epic that is stylish in design, and a movie with some resounding performances. But would I call it one of the greatest? That depends on what we're going on here, but I'll get to that later. Gone with the Wind is great to look at, the camera practically serves as a character around the movie. Gable (A charming performance all in all) and Leigh (who does exceptional at acting to this character perfectly unlikable) do extremely well together, the cast is all well and interesting to watch, though sometimes they seem like set pieces than actors.

There may be at least one person wondering what I think of the movie's portrayal of slavery. While McDaniel does a fine job (even winning an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress), it doesn't excuse the fact the movie mosly sweeps it under the rug, never really touching on the issue, which is a drawback for anybody wanting to look up on history. This is a movie of its time, and while we aren't as willing to cover the rug (If you want to watch a movie about slavery, go watch 12 Years A Slave), we should remember the movie, not just forget about it, the good and the bad.

The movie has some memorable moments such as the burning of Atlanta, which is a spectacle to watch, and the last scene is certainly poignant to end a movie on, with the most memorable line in a motion picture. It is an endurance to watch and takes time to gain steam, but it certainly pays off. Is it overrated? It could be argued that people hype this movie a bit too much, but I do understand the hype. Gone with the Wind may be regarded as either a classic, a slightly overrated but good movie, or both, but this movie certainly has a place in movie history.

Overall, I give it 10 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: 21 Jump Street.

Review #568: 21 Jump Street.

Cast
Jonah Hill (Morton Schmid), Channing Tatum (Greg Jenko), Dave Franco (Eric Molsen), Brie Larson (Molly), Rob Riggle (Mr. Walter), DeRay Davis (Domingo), Ice Cube (Capt. Dickson), Dax Flame (Zack), and Chris Parnell (Mr. Gordon) Directed by Phil Lord and Chris Miller (#540 - The Lego Movie)

Review
21 Jump Street is based off the television series of the same name, and is not a remake this time, so at least that's going in the movie's favor. The movie even features cameos from Johnny Depp and Peter DeLuise, the two original stars from the show, trying to connect the two together, and it works. But how is the movie? It works pretty good. Hill and Tatum are a good duo together, both with their own characteristics, neither getting more screentime than the other, they have good scenes together (Such as the scene where they both try to jump a car, also the scene where they celebrate their first arrest), and they make a good team, they're funny to watch and they never get on your nerves. The movie is a deconstruction of cliches, it has a good deal of bite and a good deal of fun with the source material, never wearing its welcome. It's a movie with a good supporting cast (Ice Cube is a pretty decent actor who can be funny at times with the right material, such as this movie) and just the right amount of fun to make this tolerable and fun to watch.

Overall, I give it 8 out of 10 stars.

Movie Night: The Ladykillers (1955).

Review #567: The Ladykillers.

Cast
Katie Johnson (Mrs Louisa Alexandra Wilberforce), Alec Guinness (Professor Marcus), Cecil Parker (Major Claude Courtney), Herbert Lom (Louis Harvey), Peter Sellers (Harry Robinson), Danny Green ('One-Round' Lawson), and Jack Warner (Police Superintendent) Directed by Alexander Mackendrick.

Review
Today is the 100th Anniversary of Alec Guinness' birth. Whether you remember him as Obi-Wan Kenobi (as I do) or Prince Faisal in Lawrence of Arabia, Guinness was a great actor of his time that will always be remembered for his charm and his ability to act as any type of character, and that goes for this film as well. Guinness acts well among a variety of actors (including a young Peter Sellers), in fact everybody in this film do splendid jobs, they all act well together in their own way. The movie has many moments of hilarity, especially at the end, but spoiling that ruins the fun. One of my favorite moments though is when all the characters try to capture a bird back into its cage...and fail miserably. I don't know why I find it so funny, maybe it's just a scene that shows how strange yet funny the movie can get. However you choose to honor Guinness' birthday, this is a good film to showcase the very best of Alec Guinness.

Overall, I give it 9 out of 10 stars.