Reviews

After taking a year off after the release of "Thunderball," James Bond returned to the silver screen, this time with Lewis Gilbert taking the helm as director. Following four solid movies had to be tough, and while "Thunderball" wasn't as great as the first three films, it never made any serious missteps. But, it was bound to happen sometime, and with "You Only Live Twice," that time has come. To be fair, it's not a bad film, and there is some really great stuff in here. Some of the content of the film could be considered iconic, but there's a lot of weak stuff that bogs it down.

After a bizarre opening set in space, we get MI6 orchestrating a scenario in which Bond fakes his own death to turn the attention of SPECTRE away while he investigates the disappearances of U.S. and Soviet spacecrafts. The film plays a lot on the Cold War tensions of the time, as previous films have, but once again, SPECTRE is pulling the strings and Bond is dispatched to Japan to find out what they're planning. Based on the premise alone, this is definitely already treaded ground, and there's only so much they can do to avoid feeling like it's just "been here, done that."

The biggest problem with this movie is the characters. Nearly everyone is forgettable here. The henchmen, allies, Bond women, none of them really leave any notable impact. The exception to this, however, is the brilliant Donald Pleasance as the often heard, but never seen Ernst Stavro Blofeld. This is an iconic villain performance that stands out as one of the best in the series. His unforgettable look, sinister delivery, and cold menace allow for a really great villain, but he is sorely underused. It's a testament to his performance, though, that he managed to be the standout given how little he is actually shown on film.

The other star of this film, for me, is production designer Ken Adam. His volcano lair set is probably the pinnacle of his accomplishments, giving us the ultimate evil hideout. As a matter of fact, once the film makes it to the volcano lair scenes onward, it's much better. That being said, it takes quite a while for the film to get to that point. The plot meanders about for quite a while, and Sean Connery isn't doing us any favors here. He seems bored, clearly having no further interest in doing Bond films for any other reason than for the paycheck. His heart's not in it, and that definitely leaves the viewer with a sense of apathy while watching it.

I don't think "You Only Live Twice" is a bad film, in fact the good aspects of it are really quite good. It just feels like nobody was really invested in it this time around, except for Pleasance and Adam. I really want to like this film, I really do. I just don't think it has all that much going for it, not adding anything new to the formula, but at the same time not doing the formula as well as it could be done. I don't hate it, but I don't love it either. It's just not particularly memorable.

By the time "Thunderball" came out, Bond-mania was all over the world. People were clamoring for it, and the formula had already been established by the time this fourth film was released. Notable for the legal disputes behind the scenes, the film is again based on the Ian Fleming novel of the same name, with creative help from Kevin McClory. Terence Young returns to the director's chair for a final time after being absent for "Goldfinger. When "Thunderball" hit theaters, James Bond was a global phenomenon, and it doesn't really stray from the formula all that much.

The film retains the idea of an unrelated action sequence before the credits, and it's easily the best part. The action in this opening scene is intense, and a number of really cool gadgets are put on display, like the jetpack, and the iconic Aston Martin makes a grand return. It's a bombastic, explosive action sequence that really stands out amongst the rest of the film.

From there, we turn to the main plot of the film, which involves SPECTRE threatening the US and the UK with nuclear destruction in exchange for money, and Bond is sent to the Bahamas to investigate. The plot takes a while to get going at first, but once Bond leaves the health clinic he spends the first half hour or so at, things really pick up. You get the feel right away that the stakes are higher this time around, especially through the MI6 scenes. Once he arrives in the Bahamas, things pick up a lot. Adolfo Celi as Largo makes for formidable villain, particularly when going toe to toe with Bond. Their verbal battles make for some of the best scenes in the film. We also get two Bond girls this time around, a heroine named Domino (Claudine Auger), and a villainess named Fiona (Luciana Paluzzi). Both make for pretty memorable characters, and it is refreshing to see two independent females, a rarity in these early films. However, some of the violence against women depicted in the film gets rather uncomfortable.

The biggest issue I take with the film is the fact that so much of it takes place underwater. The underwater photography is well done, and was groundbreaking for the time, but it feels incredibly labored now. The action feels lethargic, like watching a fight scene at half speed. There's also no dialogue going on underwater, so these scuba sequences just feel rather dull now. These sequences are a bit of a chore to sit through by today's standards, making the whole film lose its momentum in the climax.

All in all, "Thunderball" is not a bad film by any stretch of the imagination. In many ways, it retains a lot of what made the previous films so good. There are tons of great, iconic moments here, but it drags a lot due to the underwater sequences. It also has its fair share of really goofy moments, losing a lot of the seriousness of previous films. That being said, it's still got a lot of good. Tom Jones' title theme is great, there is a lot of fun to be had from lots of the action, but when stood up against its predecessors, it just sort of blends in. It's relatively standard Bond fare, one that I could easily throw on TV and watch once in a while, not the greatest but still worth checking out.

If "Dr. No" established the formula, and "From Russia with Love" improved it, then "Goldfinger" perfected it! This third film in the franchise is often the first one people think of when they think of James Bond. It's got everything you could want from a Bond film, it's got the action, the women, the gadgets, the villain, every finite detail of the formula is perfected here. This time around, the film is directed by Guy Hamilton, who does a fantastic job in retaining the style of the series, even though it's not as serious as "From Russia with Love."

The film opens with a high-octane bit of action to set the tone for the rest of the film. It's an unrelated mission with no ties to the rest of the plot, but it's great in the way it establishes Bond's character immediately, dropping you right in on the action. It's a great way to set up these films in the pre-credit sequence, which then leads into one of the most well-known Bond title songs, Shirley Bassey's "Goldfinger," and deservedly so. It's one of the coolest openings to a film, establishing everything you need to know about what to expect for the rest of the movie.

From there, the film's main plot kicks in, with Bond investigating the criminal activities of a man named Auric Goldfinger (Gert Fröbe), a man plotting to upset the world economy by contaminating the gold supply at Fort Knox. As I've said before, this film has everything you could want from a Bond film. Goldfinger is a brilliantly maniacal villain, and he plays off Connery brilliantly. Honor Blackman's Pussy Galore is one of the most memorable Bond girls, even if her character can come across as sexist. Blackman still does a great job in spite of some of these more uncomfortable scenes, and holds her own against the rest of the cast. We also get the classic MI6 scenes with Bernard Lee's M and Lois Maxwell's Moneypenny, as well as our first proper Q branch scene, with Desmond Llewelyn's Q presenting the assortment of gadgets that Bond would use, most notably the tricked out Aston Martin DB5 that has since become THE car associated with the series, and deservedly so. It's beautiful, and the way Bond makes use of the gadgets are so much fun.

This film also has what is probably Sean Connery's best performance as Bond. All the qualities he's established in the prior films are still there, but his suave swagger is perfected here. The standout moment of the film for me is the laser sequence, with the classic lines: "Do you expect me to talk?" "No, Mr. Bond, I expect you to die!" Even though this sequence has been parodied to death, it hasn't lost any of its intensity, and that's really down to Connery's performance. It doesn't happen often, but in this moment, Bond shows fear, and that's what elevates this performance. His uncertainty in this situation makes Connery's Bond feel genuine, giving a certain level of humanity to the role. We also get another great fight sequence at the end of the film, this time between Bond and the mute henchman Oddjob (Harold Sakata) in Fort Knox. It's a great fight scene, equaling the fight between Bond and Red Grant in "From Russia with Love."

It's hard to find things to say about "Goldfinger" that haven't already been said. It's the most iconic James Bond film, and with good reason. If you were to introduce someone new to the franchise, someone who wasn't familiar with Bond, this would probably be the film you'd show them. It covers so much ground in terms of defining what Bond is, and does it all so well. The action, the characters, the plot, the memorable gadgets, it's the definitive Bond film in nearly every way.

Following the massive international success of "Dr. No," audiences were clamoring for more of James Bond, so obviously, a sequel was put into the works. What audiences got was "From Russia with Love," a film that significantly improves on the previous film in a number of ways. Returning director Terence Young continues to develop the Bond formula here, building on a lot of what worked before, and polishing it to create a sequel that completely outshines its predecessor. This film does not the bombastic action flick that one might expect, even though the action sequences are really well done when they do come around. This is a much more tense, espionage spy thriller fueled by the Cold War tensions that were rife during the time "From Russia with Love" was made. The film's main theme perfectly fits the tone of the film, a constantly building ballad with Matt Monro's clear vocals that create a slow burn that leads to a richly satisfying conclusion.

This time around, Bond is sent to Istanbul, Turkey, to obtain a Soviet encryption decoder and, by seducing a former Russian agent, bring it back to MI6. However, the criminal organization SPECTRE is constantly pulling the strings, lurking in the shadows all the while. It's a rather complicated plot, and is difficult to sum up here, but in the film, everything ties together and makes sense by the end. A number of cast members return from the previous film, such as Sean Connery as Bond, Bernard Lee as M, and Lois Maxwell as Miss Moneypenny, and they all improve on their prior performances. Connery seems much more comfortable and charismatic here, but he never loses that cold, animalistic intensity. It's classic Bond, no question.

However, we're also graced with one of the best casts of characters a Bond film could ask for. Daniela Bianchi makes for a great Bond girl as Tatiana, and Pedro Armendáriz is a joy to watch as Bond's ally in Turkey, Kerim Bey. The film also boasts a great assembly of villains, SPECTRE and henchmen alike. Lotte Lenya's Rosa Klebb is suitably sinister, and in their limited screen time, Vladek Sheybal's Kronsteen and Anthony Dawson's mysterious Blofeld manage to leave an impression. But the most memorable villain in the film, and possibly in the whole series, is Robert Shaw's Red Grant. Everything about him is great, the way he's constantly watching silently from the shadows. He's intimidating, he's a formidable foe for Bond, and Robert Shaw does a great job going toe to toe with Connery. That fight on the train with Bond and Grant is one of the most iconic action sequences not only in the film, but in the entire series. If this film is remembered for one scene, it should be that sequence with Bond and Grant on the train.

The action is less frequent here, as the film takes a more spy thriller approach. There's a constant build of tension throughout the film that, despite being slow paced, keeps the film from ever feeling dull. That doesn't mean there isn't enough action here, though, because the action is really well shot and choreographed. As I've already gushed about, the fight sequence on the train is a master class in film action. The movie is also notable for John Barry's score, which developed the trademark Bond sound that would remain as a mainstay for the rest of the series.

"From Russia with Love" is a masterpiece. It's got its fair share of strange moments, such as the scene at the gypsy camp, and it definitely shows its age, but like with "Dr. No," I can't fault it for that. So many defining elements of the series can be traced back to this entry, such as the stuff with MI6, the trademark Bond sound, the title songs, the cool gadgets that are a bit underplayed here, but still iconic, and of course, the iconic Bond himself in Connery's improved performance. It's a bit different from what you'd expect, but it's still got everything you could possibly want from a Bond film, in spades.

Bond. James Bond. One of the most well-known cinematic icons of all time, Agent 007 has lit up the silver screen and wowed audiences for over 50 years, and this franchise shows no signs of slowing down. The character first appeared in author Ian Fleming's 1953 novel "Casino Royale," but he's best known for the long-lived film franchise by Eon Productions. James Bond has since been ingrained as a major component of popular culture, redefining the film industry upon the release of the early films. Audiences hadn't seen anything like it at the time, and they couldn't get enough of it. Bond has since blown up on a global scale, and it all ties back to this first film, "Dr. No."

Despite being the first film in the series, "Dr. No" is actually based on Fleming's sixth novel in the series. As the inaugural Bond film, director Terence Young had a blank slate to work with. The clichés and archetypes that are instantly connected with the franchise today had not yet been established. Fleming wanted David Niven to play Bond, but the studio ultimately went with Sean Connery, who played a major role in defining what the popular view of Bond would become. He simply exudes confidence through his voice, appearance, and attitude. From that genre- defining first moment where we're introduced to Bond, he instantly slips right into the character. It's no wonder people often cite Connery as the definitive Bond, because his performance laid a lot of that groundwork for future incarnations. He's easily one of the best aspects of the film.

The film sends agent 007 on a mission to Jamaica to investigate the disappearance of a fellow MI6 agent, Strangways. While there, he teams up with CIA agent Felix Leiter (Jack Lord), a native fisherman named Quarrel (John Kitzmiller), and eventually, a woman named Honey Ryder (Ursula Andress) to investigate the goings-on at a mysterious island called Crab Key, owned by the sinister Dr. No, played with an eerie calmness by Joseph Wiseman. The plot itself is relatively standard Bond fare by now, but Dr. No makes for a satisfying villain, his plan is suitably evil ("World domination. Same old dream"), and his affiliation with the criminal organization SPECTRE leads to their recurring involvement in subsequent installments.

"Dr. No" has a unique, naive quality about it. There's no tongue-in-cheek self-awareness here, this is the first glimpse that audiences had to all the different tropes that would develop in the series, and they're done supremely well. I've already gushed enough about how perfect Connery is as Bond, but his supporting cast is also suitably talented. Ursula Andress sets the bar high for all subsequent "Bond girls" that would follow suit, and to this day, she's still one of the best. The production design by Ken Adam, while not yet achieving the grandeur of later films, is still brilliant, establishing the iconic island lair that has since become a staple of the series. Dr. No himself, while underused, is a suitably formidable foe, and Joseph Wiseman makes the most of his limited screen time.

The film is incredibly dated, and in many respects, it doesn't hold up well. However, I don't necessarily fault the film for that. It's definitely a product of its time, and if looked at through the proper context, it functions as a brilliant time capsule film, giving audiences a unique look into the cultural and geopolitical beliefs of the time. I would have loved to see audience reactions to this movie back when it first came out. It's a really revolutionary film, and at the very least, it's worth checking out if only to see where it all started.

Ever since his first appearance in Action Comics #1, Superman has been an American icon. Being the first real comic book superhero, it was only fitting that he be brought to the big screen properly for modern audiences. With Zack Snyder's "Man of Steel," I don't necessarily think this is the Superman film we've been waiting for all these years, but I do think what we got is something that set us off in the right direction.

This is another take on the origin story of Kal-El, a baby born in the last days of the planet Krypton who is sent to Earth by his father (Russell Crowe), where he is raised by a simple farm family, the Kents (Kevin Costner and Diane Lane). Raised as Clark Kent, he discovers that on this planet, he has magnificent powers that he eventually decides to use to protect humanity as Superman. This is a story that nearly everyone knows, but "Man of Steel" takes some different story beats that definitely lead down a darker, more emotional and realistic path that I really enjoyed.

One of the strongest elements of the film is the casting, particularly the casting of Superman and his fathers. Henry Cavill definitely showed flashes of greatness in this film, and while he hasn't given a character-defining performance here like Christopher Reeve did in Richard Donner's "Superman," I definitely believe that Cavill has the potential to grow into that perfect Superman for modern audiences. The true standouts, however, are Crowe and Costner as Jor-El and Jonathan Kent, respectively. Both of these men gave performances that elevated the emotional weight of this film beyond that of a typical comic book movie, Costner in particular. Amy Adams also does a fine job, probably giving us the best Lois Lane yet.

However, this film is not without it's faults. I think the pacing felt awkward in the second half particularly. The film was primarily split off in two halves, a story-driven first half and an action-packed second. I enjoyed the action in this film for the most part, but after a while, it started to feel sort of dull and lifeless. It was borderline excessive for this movie, but I also think that the problem with the action in this movie is that it was so separated from the story elements. If the action would have been more interspersed among emotional, character driven sequences, they probably would have seemed more special when they happened, but instead, the action sort of felt redundant after a while.

Despite its faults, "Man of Steel" is a really enjoyable film. While it's not the Superman film I've always wanted to see, I think the groundwork has now been set. I'm very excited to see where the sequels take us from here, because now that everything is established, we can now have a Superman movie we've been waiting for. And as far as the origin story goes, "Man of Steel" is a great way to set up this DC Universe. I can't wait to see where Big Blue goes from here!

"This Is The End" is the directorial debut of screen writing duo Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, who also brought us "Superbad" and "Pineapple Express," and to be honest, this is their crowning achievement. This movie primarily focuses on a group of comedians trapped in James Franco's house during the apocalypse. Aside from having a great premise as it is, the film's main draw is the fact that all these actors are playing exaggerated versions of themselves, which becomes the basis for some truly laugh-out-loud moments. For the most part, the script is fairly loosely written, which leaves a lot of room for improvisation by the actors. Those improvised sequences are where the film shines, because it creates a sense of camaraderie among the actors which adds a lot to the enjoyment factor. You get a sense that all of these guys are really good buddies just having a good time making this movie, and that's something the film captures really nicely. But above all else, the movie is just plain funny. It is quite often very sophomoric and juvenile, but it never insults the audience's intelligence. For me, every single joke hit hard and made me laugh to a point where my face began to ache! Movies don't get much funnier than this, and the credit really goes to the cast for making this premise work so well. Towards the middle of the film, it starts to feel like it drags, but it picks right up again towards the end that I don't mind. I easily could watch this movie 10 more times, and laugh every single time. I can't recommend this movie enough, I loved "This Is the End."

While "Star Wars" laid the ground work and "The Empire Strikes Back" flipped the formula on its head, the final chapter of the epic Star Wars Trilogy brings everything full circle, at long last tying up the cliffhangers from the end of "Empire" in a perfectly satisfying conclusion to a truly remarkable series. Following an exhilarating rescue on Tattooine, the Rebels find themselves up against a Second Death Star. While the assault ensues, Luke Skywalker must confront his fate at long last, and face off against the evil Darth Vader, as well as the long-awaited appearance of the sadistic, tyrannical Emperor.

As with the previous films, "Return of the Jedi" is a great movie. While it isn't nearly as dark as "Empire," it doesn't have to be. It does its job just fine, wrapping up the trilogy in the most excellent way possible. The sequences in Jabba's palace and the speeder bike chase are some of the most enjoyable in the entire series, again showing how far technology advances from film to film. This is by far the most action-packed entry in the series, a high-energy movie that never leaves you bored.

What makes this movie for me, however, is the climax. The three overarching battles are incredibly engaging, and a complete thrill to watch. The battle on Endor is a very enjoyable action sequence, the dogfight with the Death Star is the best space battle of the series, and the scenes in the Emperor's throne room are simply captivating, completely commanding your attention whenever they are on screen.

"Return of the Jedi," while a bit lighter in terms of its tone, still retains that incredible level of "Star Wars" magic that its predecessors had, wrapping everything up in a simply perfect way. I consider it to be one of my favorite movies, along with the rest. "Return of the Jedi" confirms the Star Wars series as one of the greatest trilogies of all time. A perfect ending to a spellbinding series.

Following the monumental success of "Star Wars," this opened up the opportunity for George Lucas to release the final two movies in the trilogy he set out to create. That's not saying that "Empire" didn't run into its fair share of problems, but regardless, this feels much more polished than "Star Wars," and that is saying a LOT.

Now, I certainly think that "Star Wars" is one of the greatest motion pictures of all times, a fantastic, A+, perfect film. The sequel, "The Empire Strikes Back," however, is a complete game changer. Everything is bigger and better than ever. The visual effects are superior to the already impressive originals, and the actions sequences are more explosive, but even from a storytelling standpoint, "Empire" takes things to a whole new level.

The story continues with Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Princess Leia, and the rest of the gang at the Rebel base on the ice planet Hoth, but following an attack by an Imperial fleet, the team is split up, with Luke setting out to the Dagobah system to train with the ancient Jedi master Yoda, and the rest of the gang evading capture by the evil Darth Vader, who is back and more villainous than ever. The story this time around is much darker, much more mature, and more fleshed out. It develops the story without being a mere retread of the previous film, and yet, it still maintains that trademark Star Wars feel that made the first one so good. The comic relief is sharper and wittier, the characters are developed in a really natural and fascinating way, and the new characters like Yoda, Boba Fett, and Lando Calrissian also perfectly find their niche in Star Wars lore, fitting in perfectly with the rest.

All in all, "The Empire Strikes Back" takes everything that made the first film so fantastic, and improves it significantly, and then turns it on its head. If "Star Wars" is one of the best sci-fi fantasy films ever made, then "The Empire Strikes Back" is THE best sci-fi fantasy film ever made. One of the few perfect films in history. I love this movie, and I can't rave about it enough. It's a classic.

Since its release way back in 1977, George Lucas' epic masterpiece "Star Wars" has gone on to become quite possibly the most popular franchise in motion picture history, with one of the biggest fan followings imaginable. But no matter how much money this franchise makes, or how many people see it, no matter how many sequels or prequels or re-releases or remasters it endures, the original classic still remains to be a very personal film. Despite the success it has undergone since its release, the production of "Star Wars" was a highly troubled one, many people expecting it to not even get completed at all. The hard work and dedication that Lucas and his cast and crew went through to get this thing made definitely shows through, and that makes the movie all the more endearing to watch. Quite simply, it's an incredible achievement in movie-making.

Now, these films have been discussed to death, but I feel like I'd like to give my own two cents on the subject, and my thoughts could easily be summed up in five words: "Star Wars" is absolutely amazing. Everything about it, from the acting, the effects, the story, the mythos, the music, the incredible intrigue that has keep this series alive for so long, it all started here, and it's great. I don't feel like I need to go too in-depth with a plot summary, because this is one of the most iconic films in history, but basically, "Star Wars" follows a simple farm boy living on a desert planet named Luke Skywalker, who yearns to fight with the Rebel Alliance against the evil Galactic Empire. Before he knows it, he's thrust into an intergalactic adventure, along with an inventive cast of characters, as he tries to help rescue a princess and destroy the Empire's newest weapon: a space station with the power to destroy planets, called the Death Star.

As I said, this movie is awesome. The acting is fantastic all around, each one giving a perfect performance in these incredibly iconic, and unforgettable roles. The inventive special effects are some of the best of their time, and the action sequences are gripping and fantastic, never allowing a dull moment to come through. The story is incredibly fascinating, managing to blend science fiction through the space travel, droids, and aliens, with fantasy through the mystical Force, a defining trait of the Jedi Knights. The intrigue levels are really high here, and it's that intriguing quality that allows viewers to really get invested and really talk in depth about this movie.

This film defined a generation. To this day, people still talk about it, and I doubt that it will ever stop being discussed. "Star Wars" is one of the best sci-fi fantasy epics ever made, and will always be a binding Force of cinema for the rest of time.

It seems only fitting that the film that started the billion-dollar franchise is also one of the best films that Disney Pictures has ever released, and also one of the best adventure flicks ever made. "Pirates of the Caribbean" has a little in it for everybody, great action sequences, sharp, hilarious comedy, stellar characters, a great story, and of course, Jack Sparrow, who's impossible to not adore.

The film tells the story of Captain Jack Sparrow, a pirate who teams up with a blacksmith Will Turner as they attempt to rescue Elizabeth Swann, Will's love interest, who has been captured by a cursed crew of a pirate ship called the Black Pearl, captained by the evil Barbossa. However, Jack has ulterior motives in their mission, and from there the film takes off on one of the most exciting and enjoyable action romp of the decade.

The characters are all brilliantly fleshed out and interesting, and sympathetic, but the character who steals the show is Captain Jack. Johnny Depp gives the performance of a lifetime with Jack, masterfully crafting a character who is incredibly sly, charismatic, funny, and yet constantly gets himself into stupid situations. Never has a character like this been committed to film, and it's immortalized through Depp. He absolutely makes this film leap from good to great.

The film's special effects, while somewhat dated by today's (and the sequel films) standards, still maintain a sense of charm to them and the stunt sequences are all fabulous. The action is intense and entertaining, keeping you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. The swashbuckling never gets old, and the film is always great fun.

Thanks to this film, the pirate genre was redefined from silly and hokey, to what "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl" gives audiences: a strong story intertwined with intense action and humor. It's one of my personal favorite films, and definitely one of the best films to bear the Disney name. It's great, and I absolutely recommend anybody who wants to enjoy themselves with a movie to see it.

Despite a thick layer of cheese poured over the entire film, "Teen Wolf" is a campy, classic comedy of the 80's. Michael J. Fox stars as Scott Howard, a high school student who's going through changes, one of which being that he happens to be a werewolf. He eventually is able to turn the situation positive when he uses his werewolf persona to become the star of the basketball team and the new cool guy on campus. This movie is incredibly entertaining despite being cheap-looking and cheesy at times. The story is clichéd by today's standards, and it feels slightly dated, but for me that just increases the likability of it. The jokes hit fast and funny, and there's numerous memorable scenes and it ends up leaving you desiring more, and that's always a good sign when you don't want the movie to be over. Even though we never got a good follow-up to Teen Wolf, the original is still a classic film that was a huge part of my childhood and to this day remains to be a really fun movie despite some plot holes and cheesy dialogue and whatnot. I highly recommend it

The opening title to this film reads "A film with a smile - and perhaps, a tear." Truer words about a motion picture have never been spoken, for Charlie Chaplin's "The Kid" has a plethora of smiles from start to finish, and yes, a few tears as well. The film tells the tale of a woman who abandons her infant son, who is eventually stumbled upon by the famous Little Tramp character, played by Chaplin. The Tramp takes the baby into his own care. Five years go by, and the Tramp and the Kid, portrayed by a young Jackie Coogan, are getting along just fine. However, a turn of events results in the two being separated, and from there the film moves on as the Tramp desperately tries to be reunited with the boy he has grown to consider his son.

Charlie Chaplin is a true master of filmmaking, and this film is one of his best. His direction is truly remarkable, being able to manipulate the audience's emotions so much without sound. He is able to do more with silence than any living filmmaker could do with an insurmountable budget. He manages to make you laugh almost non-stop from start to finish, and even wind up causing you to shed a tear. It's so emotionally gripping, and you just fall in love with these characters from the get-go. Even though the Tramp may not have the best living conditions or resources to properly care for the Kid, his love and loyalty to his job of caring for the boy makes their relationship a truly beautiful piece of cinema.

As emotionally wrenching this film is, it's simply hilarious. This film has some great slapstick humor, and Chaplin is a true master of it. Jackie Coogan is also great. If I had to find one flaw with the film, it would be the slightly odd and silly dream sequence, but it is symbolic of the rest of the film and I don't really mind it, despite being odd and out of tone with the rest of the film. Overall, The Kid is a film that can make you laugh out loud one minute, then tug at your heartstrings the next. It's an absolute riot, but one of the most emotionally satisfying pieces of cinema I've ever seen. And to think that Chaplin did all this without a line of dialogue, it's just incredible. And not to mention the music is just stellar too, Chaplin is a master at composition. The Kid is one of my favorite films, and anyone who has yet to see it should definitely get on that!

With the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki still fresh in the minds of Japanese society, the original Godzilla film was designed to be an allegory for nuclear destruction. Godzilla himself is a product of nuclear testing, a prehistoric monster that was mutated by the radiation of bomb tests and goes on a rampage throughout Tokyo. This movie presents Godzilla as a destructive force of nature, a violent beast that destroys everything in its path. Despite being merely an actor in a rubber suit, Godzilla looks very good, particularly for the time it was filmed. Obviously, the highlight of the film is the all the scenes with Godzilla, but the human characters here are sympathetic and interesting, particularly the tormented Dr. Serizawa, creator of the one thing that could potentially defeat Godzilla. The film is dark and eerie in tone, and it carries a very heavy message with it. Overall, it's an entertaining and thought-provoking monster movie and despite it's slow pace, it's still everything you could want from it. It is definitely a classic, and of course it introduced the world to Godzilla, the real King of the Monsters.

Toy Story is a tough act to follow. The first film is nearly perfect in every way imaginable. But Toy Story 2 not only meets the high standards set by it's predecessor, it comes close to surpassing them.

Tom Hanks and Tim Allen return as Sheriff Woody and Buzz Lightyear respectively, and this time, Woody is stolen by a greedy toy collector. Woody and the gang discover that he is actually a rare toy based off of a classic 1950's TV show called "Woody's Roundup." He meets the rest of the toys from his roundup gang in the collector's apartment, including Jessie the Yodeling Cowgirl, Bullseye the horse, and Stinky Pete the Prospector. He soon discovers that him and his new friends are set to be sold to a museum in Japan. All the while, Buzz gathers up a group of toys to go rescue Woody from his captor and bring him home.

All the original cast returns in this sequel, and some new cast members appear as well, including Joan Cusack as Jessie, Kelsey Grammar as the Prospector, and Wayne Knight as Al McWhiggin, the toy collector. All the new voice talents and characters support the old ones as well as help develop them further.

This time around, the animation is much improved upon. The characters and environments look more realistic and detailed. Another aspect that is improved upon in this film is the comedy. While the first film is also absolutely riotously funny, the sequel ups the ante a bit, and the film is even funnier than the last one.

Overall, Toy Story 2 is a magnificent picture. The writing is tight, witty, and clever throughout, the characters and story are moved forward in a positive direction, and it leaves you feeling good afterward. Another thing I failed to mention in my Toy Story 1 review is the musical score by Randy Newman. I'm personally not a fan of Newman, but his work on the Toy Story films is by far his best work. Toy Story 2 is one of my favorite animated films made, and while it doesn't quite pass up the first, it comes pretty darn close.

I love Toy Story. Plain and simple, it's a phenomenal film. Not only is it one of the most well-made animated films ever made, it's also one of my favorite films in general. It's incredibly appealing story, the voice acting is perfect, the characters are very likable and fun to watch on screen, and the animation is stellar for it's time.

The basic premise of TOY STORY is life seen through the eyes of a toy. The film centers around the toys belonging to a boy named Andy, particularly following his favorite toy, a stuffed cowboy doll named Woody. Woody is primarily the one in charge of Andy's room, but his authority is threatened when Andy gets a new spaceman toy named Buzz Lightyear. The only problem is that Buzz doesn't know he's a toy. He genuinely thinks that he is a real space ranger.

Tom Hanks voices Woody and Tim Allen voices Buzz, and both do a stellar job. I couldn't ever imagine anybody voicing these two characters besides Hanks and Allen. The supporting cast does a wonderful job as well, such as Jim Varney as Slinky Dog, Wallace Shawn as Rex, Don Rickles as Mr. Potato Head, Annie Potts as Bo Peep, John Ratzenberger as Hamm, and others. The characters are so fun to watch, and you truly care about them as you watch Woody and Buzz form a friendship. At it's heart, Toy Story is a buddy movie, and one of the best made at that.

While the animation seems somewhat dated today when compared to PIXAR's more recent films, the film does still look very nice. Looking back at the film, it truly is a technological achievement as well as a film-making achievement in general.

Being the first animated film done entirely through computers, Toy Story had a lot of expectations to meet. And not only does it meet expectations, it surpasses them to infinity and beyond.

OK, let me start by saying that I LOVE Alien, Aliens, and Predator. All three are excellent movies, with great stories, characters, and thrilling action sequences and incredible suspense. And when this movie is compared to those sci-fi classics, this film absolutely pales in comparison. But, I enjoyed it nonetheless. When I first saw this film, I had never seen the original films, so I didn't know what to expect. Before I go any further, let me say this: AVP is not a good film. Not by any means is AVP even in consideration to be called a "good" movie. But, I still enjoy it. I mean, yeah, the dialogue is cringe-worthy, the acting is mediocre at best, and the story sounds like a crappy fan fiction written by some 12 year old kid. It's stupid, but, it's entertaining. It does feel like the violence is severely held back, but in the long run, I don't think it negatively affects the movie that much. This film isn't even in the same league as the original films, but I still enjoyed it because it's a fun, action-packed experience. I enjoyed it despite it's blatantly obvious flaws, and it definitely is a guilty pleasure of mine, along with its sequel that suffers even more from the same problems. In the end, AVP is a fun, yet unbearably stupid film. 6/10

Sherlock Holmes is one of the most iconic fictitious characters of all time. Created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in the late 1800's, Holmes is an incredible detective who is able to solve a case out of the mundane details in life that nobody else seems to be able to notice. However, prior to this movie, I was not very well-educated on the character. So, I went in with a fresh, open opinion and was very pleased with what I saw. This tells the story of a man named Lord Blackwood, who is supposedly involved in black magic. He is caught by Holmes and his partner, John Watson, early on and is sentenced to death. However, Blackwood is resurrected, and Holmes needs to solve the case. I wasn't so keen on the black magic elements of the story, but when the explanation came at the end, I was really pleased. It made me really appreciate the rest of the film a lot more. I liked the characterization of Holmes, and the mannerisms given to him by the fantastic Robert Downey, Jr. Downey plays Holmes perfectly, getting every little quirk the character has exactly right. There were a number of small things in this movie that I absolutely loved, like the little banter between Holmes and Watson, Holmes and the Inspector. However, what is quite possibly the best thing in this movie is the scenes where Holmes is shown sitting there, but you can hear all the other conversations and noises around him. That is really what defines his character, displaying his brilliance perfectly. There were some problems I had though. The film does run a bit long, and there are a number of scenes that could have been trimmed. The ending is also a big problem. It ends on a cliffhanger, and while I don't mind, I wish they would have saved the cliffhanger stuff for later installments. But, despite that, I really liked Sherlock Holmes, and am looking forward to further installments in this series.

In Back to the Future Part III, Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) goes back in time again...waaaaay back. For the past 8 months, Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd) has been peacefully living in the year 1885, since the time machine was struck by lightning. After finding out that Doc is murdered, Marty goes back to the Old West to save his friend and return to 1985. This movie is my least favorite of the trilogy, but it's still a good movie. After the hectic Part II, Part III is a bit more laid back. I like this movie a lot, and although the first two are better, it's still a fun movie that I'll watch every now and again. By the end of the film, it's sad to know that the adventure's over, but it still was one hell of an adventure.

That's exactly what I said after viewing this movie for the first time years ago. Back to the Future is one of the most successful films of the 80's, and today no film has done better at keeping you on the edge of your seat, and laughing the entire time. Michael J. Fox stars as Marty McFly, an average high school kid of the 1980's who ends up accidentally getting sent back in time to the year 1955 after his friend, Doc Brown (played by Christopher Lloyd) builds a time machine out of a DeLorean. Now, trapped in time, Marty has to find a way to get back into his own time. There's more elements to the plot, but I don't want to spoil the entire movie for you. Most people have probably seen this movie at some point in their life, but if you haven't, it's a must see. It has everything you could want from a movie: comedy, action, suspense, and great special effects for it's time. I love Back to the Future. It's one of my favorite movies, and it definitely deserves recognition as one of the best movies of all time.

And so, the adventure continues, thrusting Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) into another trip through time to change the future. After visiting the future, Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd) returns to bring Marty to the year 2015 to straighten out the future of the McFly family. However, while they're they're, an event occurs that creates an alternate 1985 where Hill Valley is a hell-on-earth. Now, Doc and Marty must venture back to 1955 again to stop this alternate present from ever existing. However, they mustn't interfere with Marty's previous trip. This movie is non-stop suspense from start to finish. Once it starts, it never lets up and you're constantly on the edge of your seat. However, this sequel doesn't measure up to the first film. Part II has some casting changes that really irritate me, but they're acceptable. The roles in question are small parts anyway, but I still think that Claudia Wells is a way better Jennifer than Elizabeth Shue. The replacement for Crispin Glover is more acceptable, though, because the scenes he's in are so small that if you blink, you'll miss him. Despite it's flaws, Back to the Future Part II is an energetic film that's does what it's supposed to do: entertain.

Evil Dead II. After Sam Raimi, Rob Tapert, and Bruce Campbell delivered the Ultimate Experience in Grueling Horror, they're back for more with Evil Dead II: Dead by Dawn! After losing all his friends to flesh-possessing demons, Ash is forced to continue to hold up in the cabin and fight off the demons. However, when a group of strangers arrives at the cabin, Ash discovers that one of them may hold the key to stopping the demons once and for all.

Evil Dead II is a great follow-up to the original gore-fest. The film does change in it's tone, but the dark humor is fantastic. The special effects are also great. The acting is, as like the first, awful. However, Bruce Campbell is perfect.

Even though it's been thoroughly explained many times, people still insist that Evil Dead II is a remake. All one should do is skip the first 7 minutes of simplified recap, and watch on. It's a sequel. They didn't add a "II" at the end just to sound cool.

In the first film, Ash was rather wimpy. However, in Evil Dead II, he's just sick and tired of the constant onslaught of demons, and he becomes the ultimate movie badass. From his chainsaw hand to his sawed-off shotgun, Ash is finally the guy that you don't wanna mess with.

So, all in all, Evil Dead II is awesome, about on par with the first. It's funny, it's scary, and it's fun as hell. I loved Evil Dead II.

Jaws. Just saying the title makes John Williams' haunting score ring in my ears. When I first saw this movie when I was 7 years old, my life was changed. I'd never seen anything like it. It was breathtaking. For those who don't know, Jaws tells the tale of three men who set out on a perilous journey to try and stop a killer shark that has been terrorizing a small New England island. For the majority of the film, the shark is never seen. This builds up the tension until the big reveal. Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw, and Richard Dreyfuss play the three men who set out to catch the shark, and they all give stellar performances. However, Shaw stands out the most. His speech about the USS Indianapolis is riveting, and each line he gives is perfectly delivered. The film also stars Lorraine Gary as Scheider's wife and the perfectly cast Murray Hamilton as the persistent Mayor Vaughn. The screenplay is written perfectly, and the character development is simply fantastic. Jaws is a great movie, and it will always be one of my favorites.

In the year 1933, audiences were given a film unlike anything the world had ever seen before. Merian C. Cooper and Ernest B. Schoedsack introduced moviegoers to KING KONG, the Eighth Wonder of the World. The film tells the tale of film crew on a ship that sets out to make a film on an uncharted island in the middle of nowhere. They arrive there, and when the lead actress is kidnapped by a giant gorilla, the rest of the crew has to go out and save her. The island is inhabited by dinosaurs, giant bugs, and a giant gorilla known as Kong. This film has a great story, and the acting is good, but the thing that had audiences captivated was the special effects. Willis O'Brien created the stop-motion armitures and puppets that brought Kong to life. Kong is a great character, and you grow to love him, despite his temperament. This movie brought the special effects industry to where it is now, and it inspires many great filmmakers. KING KONG is a classic monster movie, and when you watch it, you know that it is something truly legendary.

Stephen King is one of the greatest American novelists in the past century. While he is dubbed a "horror writer," he is much more than that. He is a character writer, and while his novels are intended to scare, characters are the central point of the novels. They rely so heavily on backstory that the characters are practically real. However, this is very hard to do on film and it can result in making the story seem unimportant. So, as you can expect, I was not eager to see how they could ruin The Shining. Well, after reading the spectacular novel, I moved onto the film. After watching the film, I was flaming mad. The film The Shining does not fail from their overuse of backstory. These characters are completely shallow and you don't care about them. King novels are hard to adapt, but they can be done well. Carrie is an example of that. However, this movie is an awful adaptation. Kubrick basically took some character names, some locations, and made his own "scary hotel" movie. Why he couldn't just make his own "scary hotel" movie, I don't know. The acting is, for the most part, garbage. Shelley Duvall gives one of the worst performances I've ever seen. She's just so awful that you want her to get killed, as opposed to the novel. I just felt that I didn't care about anybody in this film. It felt empty and like there was no point to anything in the end. King said that he doesn't like the film because it doesn't make you feel. I agree completely with that. I felt nothing other than lack of interest when I watched this stinker. It wasn't even passable as a good stand-alone film. I hated every minute of this film. It was supposedly psychological horror, but it didn't make me think at all. This movie is horrible, and I hope book readers never have to witness an adaptation as bad as this atrocity...well, okay, there is the '97 TV movie, but even that's not as bad as this crap!