The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)

The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)

5/10

Starring

Leonardo DiCaprio

Jonah Hill

Directed by Martin Scorsese

The Wolf of Wall Street—I didn’t get what the whole hype was about. The movie isn’t bad, but it’s just not great either. It received positive reviews from critics, although its moral standing is kind of lost on me. It feels like the repercussions Jordan Belfort faced are portrayed in a way that makes it seem like everything he went through was worth it.

The comic style of the movie was also too raw for me to enjoy it that much. I just found myself straight-faced, not laughing as much as I was told I would.

The movie is based on Jordan Belfort's memoir The Wolf of Wall Street, where Jordan Belfort (Leonardo DiCaprio) is a small-time stockbroker who lands a job at an established brokering firm run by Mark Hanna (Matthew McConaughey). Mark advises Jordan to adopt the same lifestyle he lives—having casual sex, masturbating, and using cocaine to stay on top of his game.

Jordan has barely settled into his new job when the firm fails after Black Monday.

Jordan then gets a job at another brokering firm that sells penny stocks, and from there, Jordan blows up. He takes over the way things are run in the firm and launches out big by creating his own brokering firm, Stratton Oakmont.

After that, things go into the fast lane for Jordan and his friends. The money they were making was too much for them to spend, and they started doing shady deals to make more money, essentially robbing the poor masses.

This movie has been nominated for five Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director for Martin Scorsese.
The film is historically significant as the first major movie to be distributed entirely digitally. It’s also noted for being the drama film with the word "fuck" said the most in cinematic history. (Courtesy: Wikipedia)

I feel that many will find this raw comedy and lack of moral standing fun, given how movies have shifted to a new level where they use sexual references, sex, and vulgar language to keep the "vulgar world" happy.

I’ve been wondering when the world turned to such a place, where a line like, “Soon you’ll be jerking off thinking about money,” is considered funny.

As I said, The Wolf of Wall Street isn’t for me, but it might be for you, as many people do like it, so give it a try, you may like it too.

Captain Philips (2013)

Captain Philips (2013)

7/10

Starring

Tom Hanks

Barkhad Abdi

Directed by Paul Greengrass

Captain Philips and his trip via the Indian Ocean is a movie that surprised me—I actually enjoyed it, and I enjoyed every moment of it. This action thriller is based on a real-life event where Captain Richard Philips was taken hostage by pirates led by Abduwali Muse.

In the movie, Tom Hanks plays Captain Philips, and Barkhad Abdi plays Abduwali Muse. Although I don’t know who Barkhad Abdi is, I believe his role in the movie was exquisite. He was on point when he delivered his lines, and the precision in his acting made him the man to watch for the entire run of the movie. I actually enjoyed his portrayal more than that of veteran actor Tom Hanks.
For his role in this movie, he earned himself a nomination as Best Supporting Actor at the Academy Awards and the British Academy Film Awards, coming up later this year.

The captivating thing about Captain Philips is the pace—it keeps you glued. The way the events unfold makes you feel like a boat in the middle of a storm, not knowing which way the waves are taking you. That intense suspense kept me on the edge of my seat throughout the movie.

As mentioned earlier, the movie is about how Captain Philips was taken hostage as he tried to save his crew from harm, putting himself in the hands of the pirates, some very noble levels.

There are more reasons to see this movie than what I’m saying. Just go online and check out the audience and critics' ratings. Not only is it well-liked, but it’s also a financial success. Captain Philips made the best use of its scenery, as it was shot off the coast of Malta in the Mediterranean Sea. They did their best to make all the events seem true and real, as the movie is based on Richard Phillips's 2010 memoir, A Captain's Duty.

Another thing to cheer about is the casting. The four people cast to play the Somali pirates were just on point. They were the ones who made the film what it is, and I can bet they’re the reason this film got an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture.

Enough said—go see this movie, it delivers the needed thrill for the day. Although it’s nowhere near as good as Her (2013), which I believe is the best movie released in 2013.

Her (2013)

Her (2013)

9/10

Starring

Joaquin Phoenix

Amy Adams

Rooney Mara

Olivia Wilde

Scarlett Johansson

Directed by Spike Jonze

You need to stop what you’re doing right now and go see this film.

This sci-fi movie is centered on two characters, and then it evolves like a black hole, sucking you, the viewer, in. Throughout the process, you keep telling yourself not to blink because you don’t want to miss a thing.

Joaquin Phoenix is an actor I’ve come to respect for his acting skills and his choice of movies. Her is a choice I know he’ll forever thank his agent and Spike Jonze for.
The screenplay in this movie is what drives me nuts—what class! And the thing is, it’s the first solo screenplay that director Spike Jonze has done, and it’s just classic. I’d put the screenplay on par with Before Midnight (2013). As a matter of fact, if you liked Before Midnight, you’ll love this.

The movie’s plot revolves around this couple: Theodore (Joaquin Phoenix) and Samantha (Scarlett Johansson). The twist? Theodore is human, while Samantha is an OS—an A.I. software created to evolve and learn as it interacts with its human counterparts.

Theodore and Samantha’s relationship starts on a companionship level, with Theodore needing someone to talk to, to take away the loneliness. But as their time together grows, a form of attachment starts to form. Theodore begins to grow fond of Samantha, and she (yes, she) grows fond of him too. Over time, their relationship deepens to the point where Theodore tells everyone that Samantha is his girlfriend (note: Samantha is a software with only a voice—no body). Samantha, in turn, helps Theodore get over his divorce and even kick-starts his career as a writer.

Their whole relationship is rosy until both Theodore and Samantha start to mature mentally, realizing that a relationship between a software and a person is complicated to maintain. How they resolve that… well, you’ll have to watch to find out.

Here’s a movie that’s sure to give Gravity (2013) a good run for its money at the Academy Awards, as Her was nominated for five awards, including Best Picture and Best Writing (Original Screenplay).
I have a feeling it might win both because this movie is just too wonderful to be overlooked for just Best Original Screenplay—an award it also won at the Golden Globes this year.

Make it a date to see this movie this week, it is worth your time. You’ll be glad you did.

47 Ronin (2013)

47 Ronin (2013)

3/10

Starring

Keanu Reeves

Hiroyuki Sanada

Directed by Carl Rinsch

47 Ronin. Read about it, watch the trailer, and then wait for the DVD to come out. Borrow it and watch the last 20 minutes—if you absolutely must see this film. If it’s also been a while since you’ve seen something truly awful, here’s one for you—a total load of nonsense.

Contains Spoiler
The movie boasts some of the best Japanese actors and even throws in The Matrix (1999) star Keanu Reeves. You’d expect an explosive movie, but to be honest, I had to struggle to keep my eyes open while watching this. The buildup to the final showdown was way too long, and when we finally got to meet the demons, I was expecting more than what I saw. These were the guys who trained the hero, but all they did was talk. Talk is cheap, men—do some moves! Free the whole illusion, paparazzi!

And when Keanu’s character had to take on the dragon lady, he sliced and diced her over and over, but the dragon kept coming at him. I began to wonder if the dragon was immune to pain or if her skin couldn’t be pierced.
But then, the dragon lady attacked the princess, and Keanu had to save her—isn’t that what heroes do? Since the days of Mario Bros., they’ve been saving princesses from evil villains, one of which was this dragon lady. By the way, throughout the entire movie, I never fully grasped her agenda. But let’s get back to what I was saying—when she went after the princess, all of a sudden, the sword pierced her skin. In fact, Keanu’s character had some hidden powers that we only got to see once in the whole 100 minutes of this movie.

WHAT A LOAD OF RUBBISH.

I’ve never seen a more boring face-off than this. When the main bad guy was taken on by the supporting hero, I was expecting a well-crafted fight, but again, I was disappointed.

The only good thing in the movie was the acting. And the only reason you should see this movie would be… well, to be honest, there’s no good enough reason to see this movie. I heard it’s also going to be a financial disaster. That’s not good news for any studio, but I’m not surprised.

Before I forget about the plot, here’s a summary: The bad guy wants to marry the daughter of another clan’s leader, who happens to like a half-breed named Kai (Keanu Reeves). The bad guy’s henchwoman is a witch who causes the death of the girl’s father and the exile of his protective guards—who happen to be samurai. Kai and the samurai are exiled from the village, then they reunite and seek revenge. (Something like that.)

Lone Survivor (2013)

Lone Survivor (2013)

7/10

Starring

Mark Wahlberg

Taylor Kitsch

Emile Hirsch

Ben Foster

Eric Bana

Directed by Peter Berg

Lone Survivor is the name of the movie, and from the title, you can guess that in the end, there’s only one lone survivor. From the posters, you can also tell it’s Mark Wahlberg, so no surprises there.

Well, I guess a movie about soldiers dying for their country will always earn the audience’s respect, but that’s not what made Lone Survivor cool—it was the screenplay. The movie started with the regular intro of all the cast members, then it showed us the situation at hand, and then there was a huge bang. From that point on, the movie stayed on a high right up to the very end. That’s what makes Lone Survivor cool—the high. I’m not a drug user, but I can bet the high this movie delivers is equal to what a user might get from drugs, just saying.

The acting isn’t something you’d even want to criticize—it was first-class. The intensity was engaging, and at every turn, there’s something that makes you not want to miss a thing. Then there’s the depth the movie was able to convey in just a few minutes of the intro. I felt the pain of the dead soldiers’ families because the screenplay pulls you into their lives in just a brief moment.
Peter Berg did a great job with the screenplay adaptation of the book Lone Survivor by Marcus Luttrell and Patrick Robinson, which is based on a true story.

Class is what this movie delivers, and the sound is just epic. The sound of the gunfire caught my attention after I watched a clip about how guns really sound—the clip was trying to debunk some Hollywood myths. I was impressed by how this movie made good use of sound.

The film is based on SEAL Team 10's failed mission: Operation Red Wings on June 28, 2005. The mission aimed to capture and kill a notorious Taliban leader during the War in Afghanistan. (Source: Wikipedia)

To cap it off, at the end of the movie—before the credits roll—we’re shown the real soldiers who took part in this failed mission. I highly recommend this movie for everyone to see. It’s one that I believe will stand tall when you’re rating the best of the best in war movies.

Now I do not know how true the plot is, in comparison to what happened but, it was fun to watch.

Grudge Match (2013)

Grudge Match (2013)

5/10

Starring

Robert De Niro

Sylvester Stallone

Directed by Peter Segal

Here’s a half-and-half movie—one half being funny at every turn and the other being clichés all the way. But I laughed all the way through it.

Grudge Match is as stupid as it sounds: two old guys in their 60s decide to go one final round in the ring to put an end to an old feud. They’d met twice before, with each winning one bout.

As I said, it’s as stupid as it sounds. Well, there’s more to the plot than the summary above, but that’s the main thing the movie is about. The movie boasts two popular actors who’ve previously played boxers in critically acclaimed movies—Robert De Niro in Raging Bull (1980) and Sylvester Stallone in Rocky (1976).

So, like most people who went to see this movie, I only watched it because of what both of them represent to boxing movies. But regardless of the negative reviews, I really did enjoy this movie—it was funny and silly.

The final bout, when both took each other on, was very annoying. It just didn’t work for me, and I was more curious to see the fight end than to watch these old, out-of-shape dudes go at each other.
For me, both of these guys should take a step back and let the younger ones try out boxing movies because it seems like there are no boxing movies that can stand toe-to-toe with Raging Bull and Rocky.

Will Smith’s Ali (2001) wasn’t it at all for me, so let’s not even go there.

The screenplay in Grudge Match was, as I said, silly, and Kevin Hart brought his A-game. He was fun to watch and made me laugh every time he was the focus of a scene, which is something that does not happen often.

Grudge Match is a nice movie to loan and return because it’s not a masterpiece. Stallone didn’t really bring his A-game to this one—it seems like De Niro stole the show from the very beginning.

You can tell that the whole idea was to make money off the lovers of boxing movies.
The other sad thing about this movie is that Stallone has been nominated for a Razzie Award for Worst Actor for his role here, along with his roles in Bullet to the Head (2013) and Escape Plan (2013).
Bullet to the Head wasn’t it at all, but Escape Plan was a lot better, in my opinion.

Ender’s Game (2013)

Ender’s Game (2013)

5/10

Starring

Asa Butterfield

Harrison Ford

Hailee Steinfeld

Viola Davis

Directed by Gavin Hood

Ender’s Game was just a waste of my time, but I will give the movie one thing… it had my attention all the way through. It kept me glued as the movie unfolded, and I was expectant of something grand to happen. In the end, it did (well, in one way), but it wasn’t as grand as I expected.

Ender’s Game is a sci-fi action thriller based on the novel of the same name by Orson Scott Card. Hollywood had been waiting to adapt this movie since the book was published in 1985, but due to Scott Card’s reluctance to let go of artistic privileges, Hollywood had to wait. Finally, Card wrote a script, which was then developed by screenwriter and director Gavin Hood. The screenplay here is a fusion between the books Ender’s Game and Ender’s Shadow.

All this build-up I’m writing is just to let you know that after about 28 years of work and waiting, the result, to me, was just pointless. I guess that’s to say I won’t like the book either, since it’s an adaptation. If this is how things went in the book, then I most definitely won’t be buying it in the near future to see how it really happened.

As far as acting goes, Ender’s Game made the best use of Harrison Ford. I was drawn to see the movie because he was in it, and I enjoyed his role in the movie more than I did the movie itself. The directing was also something to pat Hood on the back for, and I did enjoy the battles and the way Ender came up with strategies to face the opponent.

In the end, the idea that Ender was a deep thinker who could understand his opponents well enough to take them down wasn’t well conveyed. I just saw him as a curious kid, which is basically how every kid turns out.

The movie is set in the future, where a young Ender is recruited by the international military to help fight against an alien race, the Formics, who attacked Earth in a previous invasion and lost. It’s believed that the Formics will launch another attack, so Earth is training the best of the best to defend itself.

In conclusion, I think the movie is good for the eyes, but the story wasn’t as deep as it should have been, making the ending a bit of a letdown.

Argo (2012)

Argo (2012)

7/10

Starring

Ben Affleck

Bryan Cranston

Alan Arkin

John Goodman

Directed by Ben Affleck

Finally, I swallowed the beef I had towards Ben Affleck and watched Argo. I have to admit, it’s one movie that I really agree is worth its Academy Award for Best Picture. Based on a true story about how Iranian students stormed the American Embassy in Iran, took 52 hostages, and six people escaped and hid in the Canadian Embassy.

So, Tony Mendez, a CIA operative, went to Iran under the guise of making a film. He brought fake passports and fake backstories for the six, having them play producer, director, screenwriter, and crew to help them escape Iran.

The movie is an adaptation of Tony Mendez’s book The Master of Disguise and Joshuah Bearman’s 2007 Wired article The Great Escape.

Now that we have all this background out of the way, back to the film. The most captivating thing about this movie is the screenplay. At every turn, things seemed to be almost out of sync with the plan, but one way or another, things got back on track. It’s those heart-thumping moments that make the movie worth the time I spent watching it.

I kept imagining myself in the shoes of the six, going through the Iranian streets pretending to be Canadians. There was a time when they almost got swallowed up in a riot—at that point, your mind starts racing about how they’re going to escape. Then, after they made it through, there was another pending riot set to break out in a market-like setting, with your mind also racing at the possibility of getting out of this mess.

All through the movie, you’re kept on the edge of your seat. This dramatic adaptation of what seemed like the biggest trick back in the day will have you feeling sorry for the other 52 hostages who didn’t get the opportunity to get away.

One other reason I liked this movie is that after watching it, it makes you want to read. I had to go do some research and read up on what happened to the other 52 hostages. When you’re done reading about what happened to them—how they underwent mock executions, torture, and pain—you pray to God that you never witness such things.

At the end of the movie, you know you just witnessed a great escape, truly.
I don’t know if I’m truly looking forward to seeing Affleck mount the Batman mask, but whichever way it may turn, there’s a Batman vs Superman showdown on the way, and Ben Affleck is now our new Batman.

Way of the Dragon (1972)

Way of the Dragon (1972)

6/10

Starring

Bruce Lee

Nora Miao

Chuck Norris

Directed by Bruce Lee

Way of the Dragon is a movie we all must see if you like martial arts and don’t mind some lame scripting that leads to the fights.

The final fight, where Bruce Lee takes on Chuck Norris, was what kept me glued. I was expectant of the showdown, and I was not disappointed at all. It was as grand as I would have expected the fight to be—fast, ruthless in a way, and I loved the die-hard attitude of both fighters.

As mentioned above, the movie isn’t well-scripted. It’s meant to be some sort of action-comedy. The action hit home, though (and while watching, I kept seeing where Jackie Chan got Rumble in the Bronx (1995) from). But the scripting, on the other hand, needed some work. It was just awful, if I must say. The comedy kept going over my head, as it looked like Bruce Lee knew what he wanted and the message he wanted to pass across, so he just filled in the gaps with enough story to last the movie for over 90 minutes.

But who cares about the story and script when we have Bruce Lee wielding the nunchaku? First, he used two, showing off his mastery of the weapon. Then he dropped one and went on to show off how great he is with this particular weapon of choice.

One reason why this movie won’t contend with films like Fist of Fury (1972) and Enter the Dragon (1973) is because of the story. But when it comes to the fights, I believe this movie delivered better fights than the other two.

In this movie, Bruce Lee’s character is sent to Rome to help out a Chinese restaurant owner who is having issues with some thugs trying to take over her business. When he showed up, he didn’t fully understand the gravity of the situation at first. But when guns started to appear and bullets started to fly, he shaped up. Using darts, he crippled the hands of those who wielded the guns and kicked the ass of anyone who tried to take him on.

Well, who else would you prefer on your side?

This guy beat Chuck Norris, and I heard that the only reason Chuck Norris is still alive today (2014) is because Bruce Lee is dead. He’s afraid of dying and meeting Bruce on the other side, only to get his ass whooped again.

National Treasure: Book of Secrets (2007)

National Treasure: Book of Secrets (2007)

6/10

Starring

Nicholas Cage

Ed Harris

Justin Bartha

Jon Voight

Directed by Jon Turteltaub

This is what happens when a movie makes a hell of a lot of money at the box office. National Treasure (2004) was good but not a masterpiece, and after making over three times its production budget ($100 million) at the box office alone, Disney had to make another.

This time, though, we’re not only hunting for treasure—we’re also trying to clear the Gates family name in the assassination of Abraham Lincoln.
Ian (Sean Bean), the villain from the first film, is in prison, so don’t think this is a movie about revenge. A new villain was dug up: Mitch Wilkinson (Ed Harris), who was also after some treasure.
The story wasn’t as eventful, nor will it make you sit on the edge of your seat like the first film, where you were trying to see how Gates would find the treasure and stay alive. But it will leave you inquisitive.

That’s what I liked about the movie. It wasn’t as grand a story or as grand an adventure as the first, but again, a bunch of clues lying around in old American relics is what I find fascinating. The writers made up these bogus clues after some very nice research into American history—research you have to appreciate.
The quest looked weird and seemed off, but it was a quest nonetheless. This time, the screenplay didn’t pack a punch like the first. In the first film, the crew of Gates, Chase, and Riley had little financial help and always seemed to be at a disadvantage. Here, all they were trying to do was use all the resources at their fingertips to clear the Gates family name.

The name got stained when Patrick Gates (Jon Voight) was giving a lecture about the assassination of Lincoln and how his great-grandfather helped. A man named Wilkinson produced a page from a book that Patrick claimed his great-grandfather tore and threw into the fire to save the country from the KGC (a cult trying to win the American Civil War). On the page was Thomas Gates’ (Patrick’s great-grandfather) name as one of the chief conspirators in the assassination of Lincoln.

Well, the acting here was much the same as the first, and not much excitement could be found like in the original. We get to see Benjamin discover things, but audiences like me still enjoyed the movie, even though it wasn’t a critical success. In fact, according to critics, it’s worse than the first. The movie did end up making over three times its budget again, and talks are going around that National Treasure 3 is in the works.

National Treasure (2004)

National Treasure (2004)

6/10

Starring

Nicholas Cage

Sean Bean

Justin Bartha

Jon Voight

Directed by Jon Turteltaub

National Treasure is a movie I found very interesting. I think it was because I, along with Benjamin Gates, was solving riddles and clues left behind by his forefathers as we tried to find the lost treasure—a treasure so great that it’s too much for one nation to own.

A good treasure hunt is something we all wanted to experience as kids when we watched films and read books about pirates and all that. Then, add the flair and adventure that Indiana Jones brought to finding his relics, and you’ve got me hooked. I truly enjoyed this movie.
It’s totally fictional, and the idea or the story is what’s fascinating to me—a fictional story about a treasure hunt where all the clues are hidden around U.S. historical monuments is just fun.

Many of the clues and riddles are so bogus that you just laugh, but it was the idea that I liked, not the authenticity of the clues.

The story starts when young Benjamin Gates hears a story about treasure and clues from his grandfather, John Adams Gates (Christopher Plummer), much to the disapproval of Benjamin’s dad, Patrick Gates (Jon Voight). When Gates is grown (Nicholas Cage), the hunt for the treasure begins with the help of a wealthy financier, Ian Howe (Sean Bean).
Things started smoothly, and Gates, along with his friend Riley (Justin Bartha) and Ian and his crew, found the first clue, which then pointed them to the second clue hidden behind the Declaration of Independence.

Ian offered to steal it for Gates, but Gates refused to be part of stealing such a historic document. After an explosion and shots being fired, the group parted ways.

Gates now wants to steal the Declaration of Independence before Ian does, knowing well that behind it is another clue that will lead them to the treasure.

The actors in the movie were just on point. When you put the story aside and look at the acting, you’ll be impressed—the cast was good at their task. The movie is a comedy-adventure, with most of the humor coming from the interactions and weird events between the leads. Regardless, Sean Bean’s character, Ian, was an intelligent villain, but by the end of the film, he did something that seemed stupid and somewhat off. I believe the writers didn’t know how to end the movie, so they just wrapped it up quickly to put an end to the adventure.

Here’s a good movie I didn’t regret spending time watching again. During its release, it wasn’t a critical success, although audiences liked it, and it ended up being a financial hit, which led to a sequel: National Treasure: Book of Secrets (2008).

Last Vegas (2013)

Last Vegas (2013)

6/10

Starring

Michael Douglas

Robert De Niro

Morgan Freeman

Kevin Kline

Directed by Jon Turteltaub

Last Vegas is just The Hangover (2009) for oldies. It’s an exact replica of The Hangover (2009), the only difference being that this time, the Wolf Pack is called the Asshole Pack, and it’s a bunch of old guys in their 60s (or 70s) trying to live life as if they’re still in their 30s.

The movie has this weird "sacrifice by giving up the girl" thing that felt just off. The real standout here is the cast—it’s out of this world. We have Michael Douglas leading the pack, followed by Robert De Niro, Morgan Freeman, and Kevin Kline. All four of them put out their best acting, making sure you enjoy every scene.
And when it comes to life in Vegas, these guys just didn’t fit in—and they didn’t even try. That’s what I liked about the movie. Their attempts to be hip were funny. The comedy was well-placed and cool, but the beef between Douglas’s character, Billy, and De Niro’s Paddy was really stupid. It didn’t flow well with the movie, and at one point, when the issue was brought up, I wished I could skip forward.

The movie had a lot of funny moments, though some might rub you the wrong way if you’re nearing 50. But if you’re younger, you probably won’t mind the sex jokes and the "free pass" reference. One thing you’ll enjoy is how these guys were completely out of touch with new-age tech.

The movie is about four best friends who’ve managed to stay close for over 58 years. One of them, Billy (Michael Douglas), is still a bachelor and finally decides to get married to a woman half his age. He calls up his old friends for a bachelor party in Vegas. They all show up and decide to have one day where they get to feel young again.
That’s what the movie is all about—their time in Vegas.

On their way to Vegas, Sam (Kevin Kline) is given a "free pass" by his wife. Archie (Morgan Freeman) has to get away from his overprotective son by lying that he’s gone on a church retreat. And Paddy (Robert De Niro) has to be convinced to get over his grief about his dead wife and come along.

I enjoyed the time I spent watching this movie, and I think you would too, you only have to put in some effort not to think too much about the script.