Buried

Buried, 2010, Thriller
Plot: A contract worker in Iraq wakes up inside of a coffin, buried underground with only a lighter, a pen, and a cell phone.

Thoughts: While this wasn’t the “film of the year” it does deserve some recognition. As you may have guessed, this film takes place all within the coffin and Ryan Reynolds delivers an excellent display of his talents as basically the only actor in the movie (although for the most part it was just him screaming). The use of cell phone and lighter as key lights in the film was very inventive and the director crafted this film very carefully with his cinematographer. Great movie that you should see.

Imaginative use of practical lighting

3.95

Legacy

Legacy, 2010, Thriller
Plot: An ex-Black-Ops agent who was set up by his Senator brother returns to the States to confront him.

Thoughts: This movie features Idris Elba at his best. The weird style of directing really helped his schizophrenic character. The slow devolution is really powerful but I didn’t care too much for the casting choices. This was less of a political thriller and more about the character.This was a decent, not great, movie.

2.6/5

Lizard Kings: On the Trail of the Monitor

Lizard Kings: On the Trail of the Monitor, 2009, Documentary

Plot: A look at the various sub-species of the Monitor Lizard.
Thoughts: This was an intriguing documentary that looked at lizards that aren’t talked about too much. I had3. little clue that they were as smart as the documentary presented and I was impressed at the dedication of some to preserve this simple type of lizard. Interesting.
3.1/5

Secrets of the Dead: China’s Terracotta Warriors

Secrets of the Dead: China’s Terracotta Warriors, 2011, Documentary

Plot: A look at the China’s infamous Terracotta Warriors.
Thoughts: This was an interesting look at the Terracotta Warriors. I had never really studied or looked in-depth at the statues. It is remarkable that each statue was different from the next, I would have loved to see the beautiful colors that were originally on the statues as a very bright and patient color. As an artist, I would have loved to see exactly how so many were completed in such a short amount of time.
3.1/5

Real Steel

Real Steel, 2011, Action

Plot: A father bonds with a son he’s never known as they charge their way to the top of the robot boxing league in the not-too-distant future.
Thoughts: This movie was surprisingly better than I had imagined. I only went because I had a ticket to an advanced screening and I was very pleased with the entire production. The animation was flawlessly done, at times it was hard to determine whether or not the robots were real or still animation.

The acting wasn’t great, but it was honest. Everyone really delved into their respective roles and were believable. The writing was cliched but it was done in a way that was fresh and still heartwarming.The best part about this film was that there was something for everyone; kids, adults, college students. I recommend catching this movie when it hits theaters.

3.6/5

Night Catches Us

Night Catches Us, 2010, Drama
Plot: Based in the 1970s, a former Black Panther who has been labeled as a snitch comes back to his old neighborhood years later where he is treated with disrespect.

Thoughts: Anthony Mackie did a decent job holding down the lead role for this film but the entire movie seemed to lack direction. The supporting actors were believable, this was just a story that need not be told but was. The ending was predictable while the in-between was at times confusing. This film seemed like it should have focused on other strong themes, although I did enjoy the Black Panther references, though.

1.9/5

Super Capers

Super Capers, 2008, Comedy
Plot: A wannabe superhero is put on a team of superhero misfits in an attempt to rehabilitate him and develop his powers.

Thoughts: This was a family friendly movie that was overly cheesy. It was on the scale of Dana Carey’s Master of Disguise (which is one of my guilty pleasures). The plot was entertaining and the homages to various films were an added touch that you can tell the director wanted everyone to see. Decent film, just too campy.

1.8/5

Brotherhood

Brotherhood, 2010, Thriller
Plot: When a fraternity prank turns very sour, the members must figure out a way to get out of it in a night full of drama.

Thoughts: This movie started off very intenses and was a breath of something original. After the first 25 minutes, however, it began to feel like the plot of “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie”. The casting was well done and it was very believable that these guys were in a fraternity. The acting was smooth and unforced while the story felt unnatural. I think this movie would have been better had they done a more believable storyline rather than a murderous plot that tried to be a thriller so that it would keep your mind thinking.

2.6/5

On Deadly Ground

On Deadly Ground, 1994, Action
Plot: A government agent tries to make a difference in his Alaskan homeland by eliminating big oil companies in the unorthodox way of killing them along with the people on their staff.

Thoughts: Stevie Seagal comes through again, this time with the name Forrest Taft (unpredictable). His character is a guy that teaches people to become better men,  but won’t hesitate to kill them if they act stupid. Michael Caine was also in the movie, sporting an American accent at the beginning that reverted to his usual English diction. Although the movie was cheesy and classic Seagal, I must say that I was surprised by Seagal’s speech on environmental protection (though I doubt that he cares too much about it seeing as he drives some sort of SUV in every movie he’s in.

2.1/5

Scene from the film (featuring the guy from Black Dynamite):

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