#27--Edge of Darkness--Day 29

Ahh...I'm getting very behind. I've been busy with schoolwork, actual work, and the Superbowl, but hopefully I can get caught up today. Hopefully.

Sooo...Mel Gibson's "comeback" film, or at least he's hoping. First and foremost he should probably stop insulting reporters while the cameras are still running, being an anti-Semite, and mass producing children with young women if he wants to make a legitimate comeback. But all that aside it was a fairly decent movie. I was surprised by the beginning because I assumed based on the commercials that his daughter was kidnapped then found dead or just found somewhere dead, but Thomas Craven (Mel Gibson) finds his daughter in his house before she is dead and she actually dies in his arms, which is much more haunting. He then goes on a rampage to try to uncover why she has been so brutally murdered. It takes a little bit for Mel Gibson to morph into a killing machine, but once he does it is good.
I thought this movie was going to be too Taken-ish but it really wasn't. Mel Gibson uncovers secrets he didn't think he was going to and once he finally gets into killing people the pace of the movie really picks up. I approve of this movie, but not really of Mel G. as a person.

3 out of 5.

#26--The Stepfather--Day 26

This movie was in some ways better than I thought and in some ways worse. It was better in the sense that I actually made it through the whole movie. It was kind of a suspenseful movie, but it lacked any real scariness. Which was surprising because the movie starts off creepy as hell. Dylan Walsh leaves his house and his dead step kids and wife are scattered around the house. I was braced for a ridiculous movie, but it got progressively worse. It was just worse in the sense that it was too long. The movie would have been a lot better if it was shortened by at least 45 mins. There was waay too much "suspicion" and unnecessary content. The ending was good, I thought it would have been better if more people had been injured and/or killed. That's all I'll say without giving it away.

3 out 5.

#25--New York, I Love You--Day 26

I'm a sucker for anything with multiple story lines. At first I didn't think that I would like this movie, but my opinion was very quickly changed! This movie illustrates so many different, unique, life experiences and traditions that we don't even realize all exist. I love how this movie emphasizes that all of these completely different stories or experiences take place in NYC. I love the subliminal message of coexistence in this movie. Furthermore, it dispelled a lot of stereotypes about men, women, African American, White, Orthodox Jew, mentally challenged, etc. I've never seen a movie grapple so intricately with such issues. I also loved that each story line dealt with very different emotions: love, comedy, strength, pain. I highly recommend this movie if you're in the mood for something different and real.

4 out of 5.

#24--Blood Diamond--Day 24

I know this isn't a new movie. I've decided that every now and then if I don't have the opportunity to review a new movie due to time or money limitations (b/c of college) I'm just going to review some of my random favorite movies. You will just have to deal with it because this is MY blog. Kidding. Kind of. So for tonight I've decided upon one of my more recent favorite films.

This movie delves into the very bloody, dangerous, and deadly African diamond trading corporation. Djimon Hounsou (who won an Oscar for this role) stars as Solomon Vandy who has discovered a giant diamond that he is hoping to barter for his son back (his son has been kidnapped and brainwashed into being a child soldier). He teams up with Leonardo DiCaprio, a South-African, who has promised to help him get his son back and Jennifer Conolley, an American reporter.

Like most Leo DiCap movies it's depressing and incredibly moving. The first time I saw this movie I cried and then vowed to never buy an African diamond. It really makes you think about the price other people are paying around the world for things we take for granted. We walk in or past stores full of diamonds and never think about the fact that people are dying or having their families ripped apart just for our hands to look nice.

4.5 out of 5.

#23--I Hope They Serve Beer In Hell--Day 23

Worse than the book...how is this possible!? Tucker Max's adventures from the same titled book, "I Hope They Serve Beer In Hell" chronicles the adventures of a drunken, womanizing, asshole. The book was semi-interesting because it's almost impossible to believe that someone so horrible actually exists, but that should have been the end of it. This book should have never become a movie. Not only should Tucker Max not be able to make a living off his dick antics, but its pathetic that there are women in this world that solicit him for sex. Mmm...there's nothing like ignoring the Women's Liberation Movement and wanting gonorrhea. This movie makes me sick.

0 out of 5.

#22--2012--Day 23

This movie is amazing! Yeah, like all end of the world movies the main stars manage to survive death defying situations multiple times, which is highly unlikely in real life. Nonetheless, the special effects in this movie are incredible. I particularly like the part where LA falls into the ocean. Woody Harrelson is hilarious as a nutty radio broadcaster who has unveiled a sinister agenda. The movie is a little long, but a lot of it is necessary. I didn't feel as though anything could be cut out, which is how I felt about Avatar. Furthermore, even if I hated the whole movie the ironic ending of what and where is now classified "The New World" is genius; definitely some subliminal messages.

Two of the people that went to this movie with me said it was cheesy (which was interesting 'cause they have horrible taste in movies), but I will acknowledge this claim. The fact that John Cusack and family don't die about 20 times is cheesy, but like I said the special effects and ending are too great to cast this movie aside. I was very disappointed in some of the bad reviews because I thought it was really good. I've definitely see movies that were WAAAYY worse that were classified "Awesome!" cough. Inglorious Basterds. cough.

4 out 5.

#21--The Final Destination--Day 22

This final destination movie has pretty much the same plot as all of the rest. Kid has a premonition, some people get saved from a freak accident, and then death follows them around and knocks them off one by one in the order they were supposed to die. Basically, these movies are interesting merely because it is impossible to figure out how the writers will figure out how to kill everyone off in such ridiculously fascinating ways. This movie was average, the best final destination movie will always be the first one because that is when you are introduced to the concept of death hunting you. All the rest just follow the same blood bath suit, but I made it through it without falling asleep so it def. wasn't terrible despite having the same plot.

2.5/3 out of 5.