4th Greatest Movie Ever Made: I Am Legend

Hey guys, I'm back with another amazing movie. Think I can't top Jurassic Park? Let's find out, shall we? Let's get rocking, and get this review stared!



Usually, a lot of critically acclaimed films end up in a person's list of best films. Mine have been dotted with them, but I also find that some movies get overlooked or are criticized for being too different. With this one, many of the complaints I found were more anti-religious than anything, which meant people had more of a problem with the movie's message than they did with the actual movie. But I still remember when I first watched this movie, and I enjoy it to this very day. A powerful tale of loneliness, humanity, and what it would take to save it. Ladies and gentlemen, it's time for... I Am Legend.

The Cast: Will Smith as Dr. Robert Neville
Alice Braga as Anna Montez
Charlie Tahan as Ethan
Salli Richardson as Zoe Neville
Willow Smith as Marley Neville
Abby and Kona as Samantha



The Plot: The last man on earth is not alone. Somehow immune to an unstoppable virus, military virologist Robert Neville is now the last human survivor in New York City and maybe the world. Mutant plague victims lurk in the shadows... watching Neville's every move, waiting for him to make a fatal mistake. Neville is driven by only one remaining mission: to find an antidote using his own immune blood. But he knows he is outnumbered... and quickly running out of time.



The Review:
Nothing special, but I love how in the opening they talk about the Cubs being a possible World Series champ. Of course, I know full well we're still a long way away from that
The ticker on the bottom of the news sequence is very, very cool. Almost prophetic at times.
The news sequence is a cool idea. A cure for cancer? Mankind would celebrate the hope of a better future.
3 years later: Hmm... maybe the whole "cure" thing didn't go as well as we'd hoped.
The desolate sprawl of urban New York is impressive and forbidding at the same time. Provides an interesting but eerie backdrop to the film.
That is an awesome car. Ford 500 GT, if I'm right.
I'm a big German Shepherd fan, so you know I love Sam.
Anyone notice the Superman/Batman poster in Times Square? Pity it never happened.
I love how the film only tells you bits and pieces at first. Obviously something has gone very wrong and you have a good idea what, but you're not sure how it all went down.
A unique aspect of the film is how they show Robert's lifestyle. Even though he seems perfectly normal, you wonder if he's completely sane.
Another point would be his routine, as you can see how typical all of this is to him. It's all very routine, though to us it's very weird. Of course, we eventually find out why.
The film may be an action film, but it possesses more than one scare.
The scene in the video store is a little creepy, as we realize just how lonely Robert is, and what it's driven him to.
As the movie progresses, we see how the virus affected every aspect of life, and how we reacted. It's more than a little disturbing.
when Sam runs into the dark after the deer, our anxiety surges, as we know something very bad has happened, maybe to someone we've begun to bond to.
Our first encounter with the Darkseekers is little unnerving. Not because of what they do, but because of how they act. They're very animalistic and savage, just mindless predators.
Will Smith's performance in the movie is an excellent one. The whole film is on his shoulders, and he succeeds wonderfully.
The properties of a Darkseeker are cool and unusual: high body temperature, hyperventilation, total hair loss, and sensitivity to UV rays. I don't know a film with such creatures besides this one.
The flashback sequences get more interesting the further along we get, as they reveal more of Robert's past and why he is who he is.
The score is a pretty good one, composed by the famous James Newton Howard. The main theme of the movie is a simplistic, yet very beautiful one.
Robert's reaction to there being a possible human being still alive is intense and emotional, as we see how desperately he wants it to end, how he wants to no longer be alone.
The second Darkseeker sequence is far more intense, even though we knew they were going to appear. The tension and atmosphere is perfect, as we fear what is inevitably going to come.
Well, maybe we didn't see Sam getting hurt so badly. Obviously, this film is not a feel-good film.
Robert's desperation to save Sam is futile, and therefore heartbreaking. She is the last surviving member of his family, and he is desperate to save her.
What's worse than infecting the lead canine of a film? Having the main lead be forced to kill said canine. Man, this scene is depressing.
With Sam gone, Robert's last grip on his sanity is lost, as well as his ties to the civilized world. Everything he knew and loved is now completely gone, and he is totally alone. Now, he has no point in living.
Though the Darkseekers are bloodthirsty killers, they do possess a form of pack mentality, with an alpha male as their leader... and our film's villain.
And with the final flashback, we finally see what happened to Robert's wife and daughter, and what changed his heart.
For some reason, I love seeing Shrek in this movie, though I don't know why. Oh, and because more than one person has made this mistake, Donkey is played by Eddie Murphy, not Will Smith.
Robert's mealtime conversation is a little rusty. Makes sense seeing as he hasn't seen a person in three years. That, and she ate his friggin' bacon. That'll upset anyone.
Robert's clash with Anna shows just how hopeless he has become since the loss of his family, and to meet someone who is full of hope is too much for him to tolerate.
There is one actually humorous scene in this movie, in which Robert quotes a lot of Shrek. For some reason, this is hilarious. Or maybe it's the spasm of a lunatic.
Anna's story shows a citizen's perspective of the fall of the civilized world. It's a different look, and one I would like to explore in a different medium other than film.
Despite Robert's despair, his continuous devotion to finding a cure is somewhat admirable.
When Robert and Anna enter Marley's room, it looks exactly as though she had just left it. It's quite clear he has not touched it since her death, because it would mean associating with a painful memory.
Robert is right. Anyone who does not know "I Shot the Sheriff" is unacceptable. It's one of the funniest, yet hippest songs ever.
"The people who are trying to make this world are not taking the day off. How can I light up the darkness?" Now, is this just a movie quote, or is this directed at me and you?
Anna's reasoning behind her belief in the survivor's colony is meant to look insane at first... but the film does not let it stay that way.
Anna and Robert's ceaseless clash of wills is very interesting, as we see a despairing atheist against a hopeful Christian in a lonely apocalypse. Who wins?
the final encounter with the Darkseekers is the most intense and dragged out yet, with plenty of tense action and intense violence to keep you on your toes.
The Alpha male Darkseeker is intense and brutal, as he is a thinking predator with an intense hatred for Robert. If we ever came across an apex predator that wanted us dead for a reason, it'd freak us out, too.
...Well, didn't see that coming. He found a cure...
Robert's plea to save the Darkseekers is the most symbolic of the film, for a very good reason. But more on that later.
Neville's sacrifice is powerful and meaningful. Though he dies, he dies in order to save what's left of mankind: a violent, bloodthirsty abomination that wants to kill him.


The Bottom Line: I think this film is rather misunderstood, and extremely underappreciated. A lot of complaints that I've come across cite the film touching upon Christian themes, and claim that this is a gruesome flaw of the film. Some have even said that the alternate ending for the film was better because it is more similar to the book upon which the movie is based. However, I would like to combat both of these viewpoints.
Firstly, I actually loathe the alternate cut, as it is a complete contradiction to everything the film has said so far. Though this ending is more loyal to the story of the book, it is the opposite of what this film has been saying. In this cut, the Darkseekers are shown to actually have retained some social aspects of their humanity, and are beginning to develop their own culture of sorts, while Robert has been killing former humans in dozens of failed attempts to save humanity. The film ends with the captured Darkseeker being returned to the Alpha Male, and Robert drives off with Anna out of New York, the cure in their grasp.
OK, I know why some say this version is better, but it's really not. The first problem is this: The Darkseekers are bloodthirsty killers and feed upon everything in sight without cease. Not to mention the few humans that remained were all eaten by the beasts, so if they're supposed to not be as evil as Robert believed, the film sure didn't do anything to make us think otherwise. And to add to that, if the Darkseekers are not so bad, why do we need to cure them? Why not just let them become a new civilization instead of leaving New York and reversing the spread? And on Neville surviving and leaving New York... man, that is an anti-climactic ending. It just stinks.
Secondly, the negatives about the religious undertones in the film simply come from an anti-Christian viewpoint. Now, you may say that I am biased for the film's undertones because I am a Christian. However, no matter what you think, you're going to be for one side or the other. There's no middle ground on this issue.
Now, with that out of the way, I can finally talk about what makes this film incredible. Most notably, one of the last scenes in the movie.
The Darkseekers are attacking, and are in Robert's lab, trying to finish off possibly the last remaining humans left in the world. The cure has been found, but the Darkseekers are blocking the only route of escape, led by a vicious male that wants to kill Robert himself.
Robert is in a fever; this is the moment he's been working towards for the last three years, but these things are out to kill him, and destroy the one thing that can bring and end to this madness. He screams at them begging for them to let him cure them, to redeem them from their state of bloodlust. "You are sick, and I can save you! I can save everybody! Let me save you!"
But they do not listen. They are intent on their prize, to kill Robert, and no Darkseeker is more intent than the Alpha Male. Shoving all the others out of the way, he personally attacks the glass, trying to break through. In the end, Robert gives the cure to Anna so she can take it out of the city, and he sacrifices himself to kill the Darkseekers.
Does this sound familiar, anyone? Let me tell this tale again, with a little change of scenery. Think of a cross at the place of the skull, where a man was killed for trying to save humanity.
I Am Legend is the story of man's fall and redemption. In a lonesome apocalypse, the war for humanity's future is waged, and we are shown that we cannot save ourselves. We need God's plan, we have to listen to Him to know what needs to be done. We may not understand the plan, we may not always see it come to fruition, but the results are clear: Mankind was redeemed.
Robert may be a Christ figure, but he echoes what was done over two-thousand years ago.
"This is his legacy. This is his legend.

Light up the darkness."



Well, that covers it for this week guys, I hope you enjoyed it. Now, I got some bad news: No reviews next week, or the week after that, as I will be on vacation. However, come the 5th of August, I will be prepared to finish this list, and show the three greatest films I've ever seen. I'll be ready to finish it, and eager to show you what they are. Stay tuned, guys. I'm out.

5th Greatest Movie Ever Made: Jurassic Park

Well people, here we are: The Top Five. The cream of the crop, the masters of their craft, the kings of the cinematic world. Each film in this group has earned their right to be here, with spectacular effects, great acting, and much more, Here we go, into the breach.




There are certain movies that have... what would one call it? Staying power. They hold a fascination for us, something childlike for us to enjoy. They never grow old, they'll never get old. Why? Because the child within never dies, even though he may grow quieter. And this movie fed more than just that fascination, it had great directing, great music, great design and legendary special effects. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome... to Jurassic Park!

The Plot: After an incident loading a mysterious animal into a park, wealthy CEO John Hammnd invites famous paleontologist Alan Grant, along with his friend Ellie Sattler, to a "biological" prserve off the coast of Costa Rica. Once there, they are shown an incredible discovery: dinosaurs. Living, breathing dinosaurs, brought back to life by InGen's incredible genetic knowledge and technology. However, the further they explore the park, the more they wonder if the park itself is a good idea. But when a greedy employee's virus cripples Jurassic Park's power, the dinosaurs are on the loose, and the survivors are running for their lives...



The Cast: Sam Neil as Dr. Alan Grant
Laura Dern as Dr. Ellie Sattler
Jeff Goldblum as Dr. Ian Malcolm
Richard Attenborough as John Hammond
Ariana Richards as Lex Murphy
Joseph Mazzello as Tim Murphy
Wayne Knight as Dennis Nedry
Samuel L. Jackson as Ray Arnold



The Review:

The opening sequence is both ominous and terrifying, as it leaves you with no doubt the tone of the film.
The film has an air of mystery early on, as you know little of what's going on.
The main characters of the film are presented in a fairly welcoming manner. We're introduced quickly into their way of thinking and what makes them different from each other.
Grant's quite a storyteller. A creepy one, though.
The film contains an All-Star cast of actors and actresses. Each one of the main leads were huge names.
We're given enough of a teaser for Hammond's park to interest us, and make us want to really see more.
Nedry's an idiot, but very funny.
Williams, as usual, delivers a stellar score. Behind Star Wars, this might be his best ever.
Our first encounter with a dinosaur is mesmerizing and memorable. One of the iconic scenes from this film.
The film's tour scene is a little weird, but shows how quickly the people behind the park are disregarding the power they have.
The birth of the velociraptor is beautiful, as we get to see something that we've always dreamed about.
Ian Malcolm is an oddly memorable character, as his wry and sarcastic nature was quite entertaining.
Though we never see the velociraptors feast on the cow, we don't need to. The reactions of the characters is enough to show how violent it is.Hammond and Genarro's "lack of humility" is eerie. When man does not rspect the power he wields, it ultimately comes back to haunt him.
Timmy aggravating Grant marks the beginning of Grant's growth as a character, as he's forced to put up with kids and has no choice but to be polite.
Samuel L. Jackson. Pretty much all we need.
"Dennis, our lives are in your hands and you have butterfingers??"
The triceratops. How many kids must've remembered this after seeing it in theaters.
"That is one big pile of ****." Sorry, but this line is hilarious. How often is crap shown in a movie?
The very rapid deterioration of the island is pretty cool. Adds a lot of tension to the overall feel of the film.
The T-Rex's entrance deserves special mention. Just its footsteps inspire terror.
The CGI in this movie is twenty years old, and it still looks pretty darn good.
The animatronics are fluid and beautiful. These dinosaurs could fool you into believing its real.
The T-Rex attack scene is extremely intense, and delightfully frightening.
The acting is among the best I've ever seen. Truly stellar work all around.
We knew the fat guy was going down. We just didn't know it would be so entertaining when it happened.
Ariana Richards as Lex is hysterical. She definitely knows how to freak out.
T-Rex chase scene is a different kind of intense, as we get to see the creature show its full strength and speed.
As the film proceeds, we see Grant's character sine forth as he does whatever he can to protect Lex and Tim. It's nice to have some kind of decent person as a hero in a film nowadays.
Sattler's discussion with Hammond is the turning point for the CEO, as he realizes the fatal flaw of his work at the park. When the chips are down, he finds out power and control do not matter: those we love matter.
The film isn't as grim as my review suggests. There are plenty of lighter-hearted moments that can get some laughs. Remember, filmmakers knew children would want to see this.
Despite the park's attempts, life found a way. A good symbol for how little control man really has over nature.
"Hold on to your butts." Jeez, this movie has a lot of good lines.
No matter how violent, no matter how gory, Tim's reaction to the T-Rex killing a dinosaur proves young boys will always be fascinated by dinosaurs.
The velociraptors have been hinted at throughout the movie. The moment that they're loose, the film enters a whole new level of fear. A powerful, stealthy predator with the ability to kill in seconds flat is horrifying.
HOLY CRAP! Did not see that raptor coming! This films loves to keep people on edge.
Muldoon was a premiere hunter, who knew the world's top predators. Even he is easily outmatched by the velociraptors.
The velociraptors in the kitchen is terrifying. Just terrifying.
Just when it looked like the raptors would feast... BA-BOOM! Enter the T-Rex! Man, what a great way to finish the adventure on the island.



The Bottom Line: Jurassic Park had it all: A stellar cast, a legendary crew, and possibly the greatest director who ever lived. Add it all up and you have a film that creates a legacy all its own, and needs help from no one. Everyone knows Jurassic Park, and generations will come and discover the magic of this film for the first time, and they'll think of just how awesome dinosaurs are. This film will most likely still be around even after I'm dead, simply because of the spell it put us under, and how glad we were to see its wondrous adventure.

Well, that's it for this round. See you in two days, with another great movie!
  

 

6th Greatest Movie Ever Made: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

Well, it's been quite a while since I've been back, hasn't it? No worries, I've got another great movie for you, and an epic film in size and scale. You ready? Let's get rocking!



Star wars was a series for the ages, universally hailed as the greatest trilogy of all time. However, a very big problem came into cinema during the mid 1990's to the early 2000's: Film just sucked. For the most part, cinematic entertainment took a nosedive during this period of about ten years, and the majority of films were forgettable, and very few were genuinely good. I can think of very few that had real staying power.
Then came a new trilogy, one that would easily rival the original Star Wars trilogy as the greatest film trilogy ever, and was universally hailed as a masterpiece of filmmaking. The Lord of the Rings came into the picture, and utterly dominated the world of motion pictures during its reign. So ladies and gentlemen, I give you Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King!

The Plot: War is on the horizon in Middle Earth. Though the race of Men scored a victory at Helm's Deep, Sauron's forces are on the move, and intent on destroying the free world. In a freak incident, Gandalf and the others are given a glimpse into the plans of the enemy, and realize he intends to besiege Minas Tirith, the capital of Gondor, and home of the king. Rohan, along with Aragorn and the remaining Fellowship, go to the aid of the great city, and take part of the battle that will decide the fate of Middle Earth. But deep in the enemy's territory, Frodo, Sam and Gollum move closer to Mount Doom, and the end of Sauron once and for all...



The Cast: Elijah Wood as Frodo Baggins
Ian McKellen as Gandalf the White
Liv Tyler as Arwen
Viggo Mortensen as Aragorn
Sean Astin as Samwise Gamgee
Cate Blanchet as Galadriel
John Rhys-Davies as Gimli
Bernard Hill as Théoden
Billy Boyd as Peregrin Took
Dominic Monaghan as Meriadoc Brandybuck
Orlando Bloom as Legolas
Hugo Weaving as Elrond
Miranda Otto as Eowyn
David Wenham as Faramir
Andy Serkis as Gollum/Smeagol


The Review: The opening scene is kind of bizzare, but shows the incredible power the ring has over people. It's more or less rather creepy.
The CGI was amazing for its time, and still looks pretty good now.
The film has a quick, witty humor that stops the film from being too grim.
The extra scenes in the extended edition aren't unnecessary, and add good stuff to the film.
The attempted redemption of Saruman and Grima is interesting, and is good symbolism of people's choices when it comes to redemption.
A lot of the film -and much of the series in general- contains a great deal of Christian symbolism. Many a scene could contain a double meaning if one takes a little time to mull it over.
The acting, as always during this trilogy, is among the best of the postmodern era (1989-present) of cinema. LOTR was a game-changer when it came to film epics.
The music during the entire series has been excellent, and this film is no exception. In fact, its probably the best of the trilogy, and some of the best of all time. Howard Shore is a master of his craft.
Merry and Pippin's growth as characters is most apparent in this film, Pippin in particular. Though they are the film's primary source of comedic relief, they have a deeper seriousness about them.
As usual, Gollum's split-personality is unbelievably creepy, and far too close to reality than many would like to admit. Even if one doesn't have split-personality disorder, the parallels of a dark and light side of a man is apparent.
Frodo and Sam's  disagreement over Gollum's treachery. The more Frodo relies on Gollum instead of his longtime friend, the worse his condition becomes. To my mind, its very much a symbolism for sin, as Gollum's lies promise help and better times, but only lead to ruin.
The plot is fairly straightforward, as it is just a continuation of the running plot of the entire series. But does that mean its bad? Heck no, this is the epic chapter we've been waiting for!
Théoden is much improved over Two Towers, as he's nowhere near as depressed and weak-willed. In this film he portrays far more confidence and strength, and shows himself as a real ruler.
LOTR will make you want to visit New Zealand very badly. MAN, this place was beautiful!
The meeting with Denethor begins Pippin's arc as a character, and defines the change in his personality.
The film has the greatest amount of differing viewpoints, four actually at one point. That the film achieves a balance between them is incredible.
The sets used in the film are among the best of all time, and they sport an incredible amount of detail. It simply astounds me just how well-done they are.
The dialogue is very fluid, with the perfect mix of modern and archaic dialects to achieve a good balance.
The special effects in the film, as usual, are solid as can be. Filmmakers should take note on how they made it all work.
The Orc suits and such are astounding, and look far more lifelike than much of today's CGI.
On a fanboy note, my brother and I always liked Boromir, even though he was kind of tragic. Faramir is even more awesome.
The camerawork when it comes to the action scenes is well-executed, and the intensity is easily evident. More proof that a simple shot will always overcome a more cutting-edge one.
Merry's decision to join in war is the final arc of his growth as a character, which started back in Two Towers. Once a troublemaker, his realization of what has to be done to keep the Shire safe has come full circle.
The Nazgul deserve particular mention out of the enemies due to their utter efficiency and brutality as warfighters. When such an enemy takes a great deal of manpower to down, they should be mentioned.
Denethor, out of all the villains in the LOTR series, is the one I loathe most. Disgusting man, a weak-willed steward, and a horribly pitiful father. Madness consumes him because of the darkness in his heart. Good riddance to bad rubbish.
Above Aragon, more than Legolas more than anyone, Sam is the freaking bomb. Favorite character of the LOTR series and one of my favorite movie heroes.
The film has a great sense of despair about it, as the heroes of Middle Earth are on the edge of utter defeat. Faramir's sacrifice is probably the greatest example of this.
Eowen's tragic story is a unique one, and memorable for reasons I'm not even certain of. Something about her is resonant, but is beyond my range or depth at the moment and I'm not sure why.
The scope of this film is the biggest of any film I've ever seen, and perhaps of any film ever. Hundreds upon thousands of enemies and soldiers, all in for a titanic battle.
The Army of the Dead is pretty creepy. If I need an army, I'd take these guys.
Aragorn's arc, like all of the characters in this film, is finally finished in this film, as he goes from ranger to king, fulfilling his destiny. His was probably the most exciting to watch, as his had more style and action than the others.
I gotta admit, I love it when Gandalf beats the crap out of Denethor.
Shelob, along with her entire lair, is rather intense and scary. I'm not arachnophobic, but a spider that size would send me into hysterics.
The Sam vs Shelob fight was one that lived up to the hype. Unlike the hype many of Star Wars' lightsaber fights were surrounded by, this one manages to be satisfying.
Rohan's great charge. So many of the battle scenes were just awe-inspiring.
And as if to cap off that fact, the Haradrim. This movie holds nothing back in terms of the battle's scale.
Man, Eowyn is pretty hardcore. Taking down a Nazgul's steed and killing the Witch King is pretty remarkable.
As if we needed more awesome moments in this movie, does anything really top Legolas taking down an entire Mumakil and its crew?
Good grief, The Mouth of Sauron is disgusting beyond belief! Just looking at him is intolerable.
The final moments of The War of the Ring are just... the movie's been around ten years and it still sends chills up my spine.
There are never enough reasons to hate Gollum.
In this movie, somehow, all bad things that could happen end up happening. Think about it; just when the Ring could be destroyed -Frodo loses it.
The Ring's sitting on the lava...come on, be destroyed already... almost... The Ring finally melts away. Cue freak out moment.
Unlike a lot of movies that end once the climax is over, this film keeps going for quite a while after the final battle, giving a neat glimpse into the lives of our heroes after their journeys.
The film, at least in the Extended Edition, explore the effects of war on a person. We see rather clearly how the Hobbits, Frodo in particular, are unsure of how to start living after their experiences. Seeing as Tolkien was a veteran of WWI, this makes sense.
The film ends on the perfect note, with the end of the Fellowship and the departure of Gandalf and Frodo. The journey is over.



The Bottom Line: The LOTR trilogy lasted for only three years, but during those years it dominated the world unlike anything I've ever encountered in cinematic history. Think back to this time: everyone, and I mean EVERYONE talked about Lord of the Rings... all the time. Even now, ten years later, the films are still discussed as among the best in history, and many call it the greatest trilogy ever.
What are my thoughts? Honestly, I really don't know. The original Star Wars trilogy and the LOTR trilogy are equally brilliant in their own right, but may be too different to perform a comparison.
But back to Lord of the Rings. What these films were able to do was a triumphant piece of cinematic genius, boasting incredible shots, beautiful special effects, brilliant music, and an epic story full of heroes and villains, and unforgettable friendships that brought unlikely individuals through even the darkest hours, bringing them through in a masterpiece. No matter how far we go into the future of cinema, the Lord of the Rings will always remain.



Well, that's it for this review, people, and this marks the end of the Bottom 10. Coming up next are the Top 5, the very best of cinema. These films are enduring brilliance, the best I've ever seen, and it will take an incredible film to push these films down the list. And at the top of that list is the one, the greatest film ever made. See you Wednesday, when we start the beginning of the end.

Pacific Rim

I must confess something here: I love giant monsters. Always have, always will. Giant monsters are my childhood, more than even Star Wars or Nintendo or anything else ever were. I remember watching old Godzilla movies as a kid and loving them, desperately searching toy stores to see if they had Godzilla toys (they never did, of course), and always begging my mom to run to the video store so I could grab another one.
Now that I'm older, I haven't shaken off that old childhood love of kaiju films, but instead I found my appreciation of them has deepened into a respect for when a truly masterful monster film was made. I'll admit when one is terrible, but I'll defend the good ones to the end.
So imagine my excitement when I heard about Pacific Rim. Giant monsters against giant mechs called Jaegers, in vicious battles to the death.
I was apprehensive at first, seeing as I knew little about the film and wondered if it would be any good. My uneasiness was heightened when I read the very first plot description. It sounded cliché, and I was immediately on edge. Cliché doesn't help when an often-mocked genre is being displayed on the big screen.
My unease was put to rest when I finally got a hold of a trailer back in December, and my excitement and anticipation for this movie was ignited. This looked AWESOME! I ate up whatever information I could find, grabbed merchandise when I could, and simply counted down the days till the movie came out. And so, today at 9:00pm , my wish was fulfilled.
I saw Pacific Rim.



The Positives:

The movie grabs you and pulls you into its well-built, beautifully designed universe. I haven't seen such richness and depth to the world of a film since...well, the only one I can think of that beats this one is Star Wars.
No bullcrap shaky cam here, the camerawork is solid and well-executed. I could see the action clearly in all is glory.

The movie looks absolutely stunning. I mean stunning. I can think of only one or two shots in this entire movie that didn't look good, and that's it. Besides that...pure perfection.

The CGI and special effects are the best I've ever seen, bar none. Every shot of a Jaeger looks great, the kaiju look spectacular, and the underwater scenes are excellently done.

The action is, to put it simply, friggin' amazing. The movie may be rated PG-13, but the Jaegers and kaiju tear the crap out of each other. The violence is bloody and visceral, and more than once I was thinking, "MAN that's gotta hurt."

The score rocked. Literally, as guitarist Tom Morello aided Ramin Djawadi more than once on this film. But the score fits the film perfectly: Heroic, strong, and powerful. It adds to the film's sense of scale.

The Jaegers are brilliantly designed, and just evoke a sense of awe when you see them. A Jaeger could just be walking along and you' still freak out in childish glee.

Each Jaeger evokes a different kind of feel to it. Gipsy Danger feels like a cowboy, Stiker Eureka feels like a brawler, Crimson Typhoon feels like a Tai Chi warrior, and Cherno Alpha is akin to a tank.

The suits for the Jaeger pilots are impressive and as unique as the Jaeger. I'd wear one if I could get my hands on one.

The kaiju are just as impressive, looking gorgeously rendered. Where the Jaegers evoke a sense of awe, these nasty beasts evoke a sense of terror and ferocity. On a small note, these kaiju are actually the first ever created for a film outside of Japan. Why? Cause only Japanese monsters are always kaiju. Anywhere else and they're just a monster, except for here.

The kaiju have some pretty sweet names, and more than one have a subtle meaning to them. Leatherback doesn't mean anything, (I tried, but I couldn't find anything to translate Otachi) while Axehead, Knifehead and Bladehead are self-explanatory. Raiju refers to Japanese mythology, which is pretty cool. But Onibaba? Means "old hag." Scunner is a Scottish word for "strong dislike." And Slattern -I kid you not- means "slut, harlot, etc." Hilarious.

What do you think of when you think of a baby? Cute? Cuddly? Now think of a baby kaiju. Killer, gross, and disgusting come readily to mind.

The film has an international feel, instead of the usual "Go America!" films that are so common in modern American cinema. as director Guillermo Del Toro himself put it, "it's the world saving the world." I'm not anti-American by any means (Cause let's face it, we DO save the world) but a kaiju is an international threat, so it should an international effort to beat it,

I love that they call the monsters kaiju, and the mechs Jaegers. Seeing as kaiju is Japanese, its a nod of respect to the masters of the genre. And Jaeger...well, it's just plain cool.

The plot seemed fairly straightforward. But I was pleasantly surprised by more than one twist entering into this movie, and I felt it was an added boost.

The pacing for this movie felt pretty solid. It was high-octane when it needed to be, and more relaxed when it should be calm.

The movie avoids many, MANY of the filmmaking clichés that are so common in today's cinema, such as shaky cam. Del Toro's too smart to let that crap fly.

The characters were fun as all get out. I enjoyed watching whoever was on the screen, all the time. Which leads to...

The acting was pretty good overall. Perhaps not very deep, but I did get the sense the actors enjoyed their roles.

Shoutout for Rinko Kikuchi, who played Mako Mori in the film. I would say she's the best actor in the film, and was very enjoyable to watch. She walks and carries herself like she's tough, but emotionally she's very vulnerable and scared. I felt like I bonded to her more than any other character, mostly because I'm very similar. She's a perfectionist, and hates failure more than anything.

Mako's flashback to Tokyo is the most emotionally charge scene of the movie. Young Mako's terror at being targeted by Onibaba is intense, and pulls at the viewers heartstrings.

Sorry, but this positive cannot be spoken of without spoiling things, so I'll make this tiny. Read it later: Yancey's death is a pretty intense way to die. Heck, getting killed by any of these kaiju would be a sucky way to go.

Idris Elba as Stacker Pentecost was just... let me put it this way: Samuel L. Jackson, eat your heart out.

Raleigh and Mako's relationship was enjoyable because of what it DIDN'T do. When I first heard the plot synopsis talking about a "washed up veteran and an untested trainee" I could easily see it leading to a romance between the two. It did, but not in the way I feared it would, so I was very happy. The attraction between the two originates because of some reason I found believable, but won't go into because of spoilers.

GladOs makes a voice appearance!

The origin of the kaiju is really unique, even for a kaiju film. I won't say what cause of spoilers, but it was pretty darn cool.

Cause I can't say this without spoilers, I will revert to tiny text. Read this after you've seen it: The Anterverse and the Precursors were cool. Very cool, and felt very organic, as I heard someone say.

Newt and Herman driving each other insane is hilarious The two are important characters, but provide some comedy relief to keep the film from being too grim.

In fact, Newt might be my favorite male character in the movie. His hilarious awkwardness is pretty dang funny.

Ron Pearlman as Hannibal Chau is a pretty memorable performance. He gives an aura of toughness, wit, and piracy. Yeah, I said piracy. He's quite a character.

The film's sets, architecture, and practical effects look amazing. The conn-pods (the place where the Jaeger pilots are held) are beautiful and brilliantly designed. They range from looking sleek and modern to something out of WWII.

The bad guys are winning. THEY ARE IN CHARGE. When things go south at the battle of Hong Kong, you realize just how powerful the kaiju are, and how they're adapting to fight the Jaegers. When a Jaeger falls, they're brought down and absolutely destroyed. It's just another showcase of this film's visceral combat.

Slatter, the only Category 5 kaiju in the movie, makes one heck of an entrance. The moment he comes in, you know it's gonna be bad.

The Drift. You see, one pilot is not enough to handle a Jaeger. The machine is connected to your brain, so one person can't handle the neural load. It requires a team, and together they meld minds, initiating a stream of memories called "The Drift." One of the most original ideas a film has had in decades.

The human cast, when the time comes, rises to be heroes. Even the dirtbags rise up to the challenge, and do what needs to be done.

Another tiny text positive:
I like that the movie closes out on a note that doesn't require a sequel. No hints at another movie coming (even though I know one is being discussed), but instead a satisfying end. Oh, and the after credits scene is pretty funny.

At the end of the credits, there was a mention "In honor of Ray Harryhausen and Ishiro Honda." This is important, because the film is honoring the two masters of the monster genre. Harryhausen did a lot of special effects work in US films (Most notable being "The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms" and the original "Clash of the Titans") while Ishiro Honda is the original director of the Godzilla series, his most notable being the original 1954 classic, among other great sci-fi films.



The Negatives:

The human plot wasn't fantastic. There were moments where it could've gone deeper with the main characters, but fails to do so. Oh well.

While most of the side characters are fun, a few were underdeveloped(The Wei Triplets and the Russian pilots for example) and could've used some more screen time. I would've liked watching them.

Tiny Text Negative: Jeez, Crimson Typhoon and Cherno Alpha go out like sissies. I was disappointed cause I wanted to see them get some more screen time. At least their deaths were intense.


The final battle was pretty underwhelming. I knew each of the individual kaiju by name, so I was hoping they'd get more action than they did.

...And that's all I can think of. Seriously.



The Bottom Line: Pacific Rim isn't a mere kaiju film. Guillermo Del Toro, just like me, is a fan if Godzilla and other Toho greats, so when he made this movie, he knew what kind of film it had to be and what he wanted it to be. It's a love letter to the kaiju genre, a throwback to the days of being a young kid, and watching a new Godzilla film for the first time. During much of the opening portion of this film, I had my hands to my mouth just to cover my smile, I was so happy. That intoxicating sense of awe and wonder I had as a child, watching those giants fight to the death... Pacific Rim brought that awe to the new age, giving it all the top-notch special effects the genre deserves to be gifted with.
Without a doubt, Pacific Rim is the movie of the year.
I heard someone call this movie, "Star Wars for the new generation." At first, when I read that I thought that was pretty bold, but now it makes sense to me. Children will discover the kaiju genre for the first time, and it's going to impact them in ways that many other classic films did. Is this movie perfect? Nah, but it was a spectacle for all ages, and a shoo-in to win the Academy Award for Special Effects.

Having watch this, any fears I have about Legendary Picture's next monster film are put to rest completely.
What's that next film you ask? The very film that even allowed Pacific Rim to be made. The kaiju of all kaiju, the King of the Monsters...

Come May 16th, 2014, Godzilla shall return. And after Pacific Rim, I will be waiting with eager expectations.



The Final Score: 9.5/10

7th Greatest Movie Ever Made: Star Wars Episdoe V: The Empire Strikes Back

Hey everyone, I'm back. It's a Friday evening, so it's time for yet another movie review. I'm betting this one is gonna stir some controversy, simply because of the movie I reviewed last. All ready? Here we go!



There's a recurring problem in the film industry: Great movies are usually followed up with disappointing sequels. Think about it, how many legendary movies have entered into our media consciousness only to be followed up by mediocrity? Rarely does a sequel have the same success as the original creation, let alone match it. The big problem with sequels is they either try to play off the success of the original work and fail, or they differentiate so drastically from the first film they end up making some that is very unfaithful, and very bad. Sure, there are exceptions that prove this rule, such as Aliens, but for the most part...sequels aren't very good. So what happens when a great movie is followed up by an even greater one? It gets on people's radar in a big way. Here we are, for my most controversial review yet, I give you... Star wars Episode V!

Plot: It is a dark time for the Rebellion. Although the Death Star has been destroyed, Imperial troops have driven the Rebel forces from their hidden base and pursued them across the galaxy. Evading the dreaded Imperial Starfleet, a group of Freedom Fighters led by Luke Skywalker has established a new secret base on the remote ice world of Hoth. The evil lord Darth Vader, obsessed with finding young Skywalker, has dispatched thousands of remote probes into the far reaches of space...



Cast: Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker
Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia Organa
Harrison Ford as Han Solo
Billy Dee Williams as Lando Calrissian
Anthony Daniels as C-3PO
David Prowse as Darth Vader (Voice by James Earl Jones)
Kenny Baker as R2-D2
Peter Mayhew as Chewbacca
Frank Oz as Yoda
Jeremy Bulloch as Boba Fett



The Review: Well, let's get started. The opening sequences for this film are a departure from the series' previous entry. Where the first film started off with action, this film simply tries to make you uneasy. It works pretty well, and sets the tone and pacing for the movie.
Something sequels have over their predecessors is that they don't ahave to establish a universe. Episode V takes advantage of that, and goes a little deeper into the civilizations and lifestyles that have existed and now exist in the galaxy.
The romantic tension between Han and Leia is well executed and original. Sure, the good girl and rebel has been done before, but usually it's between the lead male role and the leade female. Han's a side character, so it's cool to see a side character have a greater focus.
The relationships between the characters in this movie show a maturity and depth that did not exist in the previous entry. Three years have passed since the events of A New Hope, and the banter and habits between the main three are proof of such. You can see they know how each other will react to certan things.
Luke's early exploration of the Force is a cool one. We saw only brief glimpses of its use in the first film, but early on we see Skywalker's undeveloped powers being tested. It gives us a look into a larger world, as well as hinting at Luke's own potential.
I mentioned n my last review that the acting was good. In this one it's even better, stellar really. I don't know how they did it.
Oh, and just on a fanboy note: That Super Star Destroyer is plain awesome.
The returning cast and characters feel more fleshed out than they did in the previous entry. The aura of mystery surrounding some of them begins to lift, in a way that does not disappoint the viewer.
Darth Vader gets far more focus in this film than in Episode IV, and I love it. Seriously, just add more Darth Vader to everything and you're pretty much good.
Another fanboy note, but also a technical one: The AT-AT's rock. One of the most iconic pieces of machinery in the film, right behind the X-Wing and the TIE Fighter.
I may get a little flack for this, but I believe this is John William's best score of the Star Wars saga. As I've grown up, I've come to realize that many a score used in this film would later go on to be used in much of the Star Wars entertainment media, such as video games and so on. I recognized more of his work in this film than I did any of the others.
Ah, the asteroid field chase scene. A high point of the film and special effects wise it still looks pretty good. Granted, not as good as the rest of the film, but I've come across an interesting fact in the time I've spent watching movies: asteroids almost never look good. The fact that this film kinda breaks the rule on that is astounding.
As the film progresses, we see some of Darth Vader's mystique start to unravel, as we learn that he is not a machine as some thought, but is no mere man as well...
Yoda is just plain hilarious. Brilliant awesomeness wrapped up in a green midget.
And what's Yoda's best trait? He's constantly calling out Luke's whiny bullcrap. About time someone did that for us. Thank you Yoda, for shutting him up.
Out of the main three, I found Han to be the most developed character. At the start of the film, he's somewhat similar to how he was in Episode IV, though with some heroic traits mixed in. Ad the movie goes on, however, we see him fall in love and change from a scoundrel and into a hero the galaxy needs.
Oh, and Boba Fett. Enough said.
Luke's struggles between good and evil are an interesting visual for our own battles between good and evil. His use of the Force creates an imbalance between right and wrong for him, clouding his judgement and pushing him further and further away from his days as a simple farmboy on Tatooine.
How often do the bad guys win? Not often. How often do they win decisively? Almost never. But this badly? Unheard of. The Empire crush the Rebellion underneath their boots right from the beginning and never stop once. It's a pretty grim Star Wars film all around.
The Empire Strikes Back also gives us another great scene in the form of our first real lightsaber batle. A great scene and a fantastic display of actual swordplay. Yeah, the Original Trilogy's lightsabe duels are based off real sword fighting techniques.
Darth Vaser's revelation about Luke's heritage. Holy crap, I cannot imagine what it must've been like to witness this in theaters.



The Bottom Line: This movie took risks, just like its predecessor. It stood on what the earlier work had already done, and took the next step. It pushed things farther, and tried to do what hadn't been done yet, and succeeded brilliantly. Rarely does a sequel turn out to be this good, and this film leaves viewers with a torturous cliffhanger. When this movie was released in 1980, I bet fans went into comas because of Darth Vader's reveal, and they would have to wait three more years to find out if it was actually true or not. IS Darth Vader Luke's father? Time would have to tell.



Well, that is it for this review. I will NOT be comng back this Monday, as I will be busy the 12th of next week with Pacific Rim and I will be out of town that evening. I don't want to start a week of reviews if I'm going to be able to finish, so just hold out till the 15th, and I shall return with another fantastic movie.

8th Greatest Movie Ever Made: Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope

Well, it's Wednesday, which means it is time for another amazing movie to be brought forth into the light. I'm hoping some of you have seen this, as it IS somewhat popular in mainstream media.



Every once in a while, a very, very rare movie comes along in cinema. One that changes not only its genre, but also changes how any kind of movie is made. Rarely does a film of that caliber come along, and when it does that film goes down in history, and if it is not mentioned as a timeless piece of cinema, something is -quite frankly- wrong with those who think otherwise. I can only think of one film that changed theatrical entertainment so powerfully, and it is the subject of my review today. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you...Star Wars: Episode IV.

Plot: It is a period of civil war. Rebel spaceships, striking from a hidden base, have won their first victory against the evil Galactic Empire. During the battle, Rebel spies managed to steal secret plans to the Empire's ultimate weapon, the DEATH STAR, an armored space station with enough power to destroy and entire planet. Pursued by the Empire's sinister agents, Princess Leia races home aboard her starship, custodian of the stolen plans that can save her people and restore freedom to the galaxy...



Cast: Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker
Harrison Ford as Han Solo
Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia Organa
Alec Guiness as Ben (Obi-Wan) Kenobi
David Prowse as Darth Vader (Voice provided by James Earl Jones)
Peter Cushing as Grand Moff Wilhum Tarkin
Anthony Daniels as C-3PO
Kenny Baker as R2-D2
Peter Mayhew as Chewbacca



The Review: Well, why not start with the opening crawl? Who doesn't automatically think of this the moment Star Wars is mentioned?
And come to think of it, this film is pretty gutsy. Think about it, this movie drops you into the middle of a civil war and doesn't tell you who anyone is or what -well, I was gonna say what on earth but that doesn't work here- is going on. This film took a whole lot of risks, and everyone knew it.
But everything was gonna be alright the moment Darth Vader stepped into the picture. Seriously, the greatest movie villain of all time.
There's plenty a franchise that has an established universe. Halo, Star Trek, Lord of the Rings...none of them can compare to the built-in universe that came with ONE Star Wars movie. One film and there's hundreds of things to explore.
Another risk Star Wars took was the universe itself was...well, dirty. Everywhere you go you see beat-up starships, weathered droids and vehicles. It has the look of an aged and ill-used galaxy.
What other risk did this film take? The protagonist of the picture doesn't appear for nearly twenty minutes into the thing. What's even more astounding is how the film kept us entertained the whole time anyways.
I'd like to bring something up that may confuse some people: The Star Wars series, at least the Original trilogy, evokes the feel and style of the WWII era. A good example would be Luke's eagerness for news on the Rebellion and his desire to join the conflict. Think of a world where the Nazis won WWII and you might have something similar to this.
"Help me Obi-Wan Kenobi, you're my only hope." Who can forget the game-changer, the catalyst that sparked Luke's journey? One of the most iconic and unique scenes in cinema.
Something that was only recently pointed out to me, though I do believe it's true, the Star Wars saga has an air of mystery about it. There are tantalizing and tempting hints about the galaxy's history and secrets of its denizens, but little is explored. We are left with mind-numbing curiosity.
John Williams is good. We all know he's good. But Star Wars? Whole other level. Williams' best score hands down came with the Star Wars saga.
The sound and special effects, despite being nearly forty years old, still look and sound great. Iconic sounds and sights are familiar from my childhood.
Anyone remember Vader's first Force choke? Our first glimpse of how the Force can be wielded is as evil as it is exciting. We're repulsed by how it's being used but want to know more...
But onto a more technical note, as the acting must be examined. It's good, no doubts about that. The cast did a fantastic job.
And how do we know they're good? Their characters were enjoyable to watch. We bonded to them, we developed a connection to them. That proves it.
And I just gotta say: Star Wars tech is just awesome. I will always wish I had an X-Wing or a real Lightsaber. Why? Cause I'm a guy and that stuff was plain cool.
Star Wars is so ingrained into our social consciousness that one scene almost everyone knows is the Mos Eisley Cantina. We all know the music, we all know what happens there. It's iconic, pure and simple.
Oh, and I do need to say this right now: Han shot first. That is all.
Speaking of Han, his character is probably the best as it's hinted to be the most sordid and scummy. He sparks our interest cause we want to know more of what happened to this dashing rogue.
And what of the Death Star? I mean, blowing up a whole dang planet was kind of a first.
"That's no moon...that's a space station." The realization that they're in trouble is a pretty cool moment, as we get to see just how massive the Death Star truly is.
Oh, just a quick little thing here. Anyone ever notice the Stormtrooper smacking his head on the door frame? Yeah, keep an eye out for that, cause no one ever seemed to catch it when they put the film together.
Han serves as an interesting character, something I've mentioned previously. But one of his most hilarious aspects is that his personality clashes so strongly with that of everyone else. Where the others are selfless and moral, he's self-centered and greedy. Seeing personalities bounce off each other is always fun for a viewer, and this is no exception.
So the movie is named Star Wars, and you'd go in expecting some, I dunno, space scenes. The movie delivers. Excellently, as they still look gorgeous today.
And one scene in particular delivers most impressively. So impressively, I would say, that it is the crowning achievement of the entire Star Wars saga: the Death Star Trench Run. Nothing like it has ever been attempted, and no one will every dare try to. It stands on its own forever.



The Bottom Line: I can't imagine a world without Star Wars. It's as odd and foreign to me as envisioning a world without Jesus or the Beatles or books. It just doesn't make sense to us anymore, because Star Wars has made such an impact in our social consciousness that we cannot imagine that is was never there. When a New Hope came on the scene, it truly changed filmmaking and motion pictures forever, and was a major turning point in cinema. Star Wars was not the first Summer blockbuster, but it certainly paved the way for others to attempt the same journey through the heat of the year.
Now, take a moment to think about this: This film could have been a disaster. No, really. This film wasn't just weird, it was weird. Fifteen minutes in we've seen space battles, talking robots called 'droids', a guy wearing a respirator and dressed in all black, some midget aliens wearing robes, and that's just the start of it! Seriously, this film is out there! It could have repulsed people with its strangeness and never been heard from again. But instead, we loved every moment of it, and the world of cinema was changed.
Star Wars proves a point about motion pictures that I firmly hold to: Science Fiction is the most accessible, most imaginative, and most innovative genre in all of filmmaking. What you can do with sci-fi is different from what you can do with any other kind of film. Sci-fi breaks barriers. Or in this case, it decimates them.



Well, that's enough for tonight. See you Friday, my friends, with another fantastic movie!

9th Greatest Movie Ever Made: Aliens

Well, it's been a while hasn't it? Bible & Beach was exellent, so I atleast spent my time somewhere worthwhile. But it's time for another review, and I am ready to dish it out. Here we go!


I don't really enjoy horror as a genre. For the most part I find it an overly sex-saturated genre, and an overly violent and soulless one. Most horror films are extremely violent to the point of gross, not very good, and filled with terrible acting. Rarely do they achieve cinematic greatness. However, one movie that was always respected as a solid piece of filmmaking was the 1979 horror film 'Alien.' Being a scifi fan in general, I was always intreagued but since the film was rated R, I didn't have the chance for several years to watch it, and finding it on TV was a challenge. But held in even higher regard was its sequel, made during the highpoint of horror and often considered a highpoint in filmmaking in general: the 1980's. Ladies and gentlemen, the next movie on our list: Aliens!

The Plot: It has been 57 years since the Nostromo was destroyed, and Ellen Ripley has just been found alive drifting in space. Despite her insistence, the story of her encounters is met with great skepticism. Her life goes in a downward spiral as she loses her livelihood and her nights are filled with horrific images. But when communication is lost from the colony on LV 246, she is requested to accompany a squad of Colonial Marines down to the surface..and when they arrive, they find things are even worse than they could have imagined...



Cast: Sigourney Weaver as Ellen Ripley
Michael Beihn as Corporal Dwayne Hicks
Jennette Goldstein as Private Jennete Vasquez
Carrie Henn as Newt
Lance Henrikson as Bishop
William Hope as Lieutenant William Gorman
Bill Paxton as Private William Hudson
Paul Reiser as Carter Burke



The Review: Well, the opening scene is a gorgeous one. A beautiful view of space, and quite an odd one seeing as the film is a pretty ugly universe.
The special effects, sets, miniatures, and technology of the film are all brilliantly detailed. No CGI here, just pure imagination and skill used to bring it to life. Just about everything in the film looks excellent.
Ripley's nightmare scene is an intense reminder of what the series is at its core. No matter what, Alien will always be horror.
The world of Aliens is grim, cold and gloomy, but also a believable one. If we were ever to travel through space, five bucks it'd be a whole lot like this.
Ripley's struggle with PTSD are disturbingly realistic. Come to think of it, this movie coverong such a disorder might've been a first for media.
The Alien franchise shows just how space travel will be in the future, if it ever comes to that: horrible. I'll stay on Earth, thank you, it just looks too realistic.
Have I ever mentioned I love the US military? Yeah, I really do. Have I mentioned I loved military humor? Combine the two and I get a double winner. this movie reeks of military style.
How many iconic lines does this movie have? Quite a few. Hudson's "Game over, man! Game Over!" might be the most famous, but there are plenty of others.
The acting is good, remarkably good, actually. A few key members of the cast of the 1984 film Terminator would have roles in this film, and more than one (the most well-known being Sigourney Weaver) would be staples of James Cameron's filmmaking work.
Speaking of staples, the Colonial Marine tech is something I've seen in theaters before. Take a look at some of the machines, namely the Loader and the Dropship. Now take a look at the Walkers and Dropships in Avatar. They're almost exactly the same.
I personally, along with millions and millions of others, owe this film a debt of gratitude. The Space Marine genre would begin with this film, a genre that would be defined decades later by the popular gaming series Halo. Thank you Aliens, for bringing us Master Chief.
I don't like James Cameron much. I think he's a snobby, elitist, liberal dirtbag. But there's no denying it: back in the 80's he was friggin' good, and this is his best film by far.
James Horner, the man who scored the film, was better earlier on in his career, same as Cameron. His work is creepy and adds to the scary atmosphere of the film.
The plot of the film is excellent in every way. From the overall plot to the subtle layers of smaller plot points, the story feels strong and cohesive.
I must give special mention to Sigourney Weaver, as her acting in this film is pure brilliance. From the intensity of a warrior, to the fearful looks of a struggling woman to the tenderness of a mother figure, I would easily declared Weaver one of the best actresses of all time.
The environments are detailed, gritty, and scary. Not to mention unfriendly as can be. These places are frightening and places I would never dare tread.
The sequences with the Aliens themselves are exciting as they are terrifying. It's different action than what is around today, but very fun to watch.
The relationship between Newt and Ripley is admirable, and the redeeming factor for the film morality-wise. Horror can be a pretty heartless genre, so it's nice to see something that goes against the typical grain.
Facehuggers, no matter what, shall always be freaky. An icon of horror and fear they will remain until the world ends.
And, I just gotta say: The Alien Queen is just plain nasty!
The final sequence and the fight between Ripley and the Queen is the most iconic scene in the movie, and a very exciting conclusion to the film. A very violent, but very fun finale.



The Bottom Line: Holy cow this was fun! Creepy, exciting, funny all in one film. Aliens is a thoroughly entertaining ride and an iconic one, as it showed how subtle changes in a horror film's style can give it a greater variety, as well as essentially spawning an entirely new genre of films. However, it IS rated 'R' for a reason, so be careful of who's around when you watch it. Unlike my earlier review of 'Akira," I can recommend this film, as I feel it has more obvious redeeming aspects than 'Akira' does and presents them more effectively. So please, feel free to enjoy. And feel free to freak out when an Alien scares the living daylights out of you.


Well, that's it for this round. Adios, see you on Wednesday with another great movie!