Alien (1979)

Reviewed by: Zack

Rating: 7.2

Alien, I can say, was a very interesting movie. The kind of movie that needs a certain taste to appreciate.

Alien was a movie that was meant to change the world's view of sci-fi movies forever. It did. Sci-fi films used to be all about aliens coming to us. Now we come to them. Alien not only is a sci-fi movie but also has a horror touch to it. The crew is a great cast and the Alien was well done, especially for the time.

The Alien didn't come and we just keep trying to shoot it up, but when you try to shoot it up it'll bleed through the hull killing everyone. The beginning was somewhat slow and the ending was slightly lacking. The suspense is nice but the camera was kinda annoying at times.

The movie really finds its merit in the first original sci-fi movie of all time. The movie is interesting and kind of creepy. The Alien is a "perfect life-form" and is a very scary adversary.

Alien was interesting, cool, and original. Besides lacking a few areas such as camera and the stupidity of some of the crew members, Alien is a must see movie that defined the genre as we know it forever.

Ace Ventura (1994)

Reviewed by: Zack

Rating: 7

Ace Ventura was not a great movie in itself. It is a GREAT character played by the only person that could have achieved that state of utter pointless stupidity: Jim Carrey.

The movie had a very stupid and predictable plot and the acting (besides Carry) was all crap. The story, if not done by Carry, would have put me to sleep giving this movie about a 2. But Jim Saves the day by adding a whole 5 points to the rating. Jim is so funny and his expressions and tone of voice will kill you. I cried and rolled on the floor from his movements and gestures. If anyone else said the same jokes and lines then they wouldn't of been even half as funny. He is the comedy master and this is definitely one of his best works.

This is a movie full of laughs and more laughs that will make an excellent addition to your comedy library. It fits your shelf, "like a glove."

The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

Reviewed by: Zack

Rating: 10.1

This is the best quality movie ever made and that will ever be made. No exceptions. I believe that no movie, not even Forrest Gump, can ever top this masterpiece.

The Shawshank Redemption is a movie with an amazing plot filled with all kinds of genres. The powerful story will not move you but rather throw you about in every way possible as it deals with huge topics that other movies have tried to tackle and failed. The story is not only awe inspiring but is portrayed with astounding acting and narrated by the best narrator of all time and forever, Morgan Freeman. If that's not enough, it's super believable, anything but predictable, and won't bore you. The characters are all developed and loved and the theme of the movie is so powerful that you can't go wrong.

This is hands-down the best movie ever made and needs no redeeming as it is beyond perfect. The Shawshank Redemption is the umbrella that all other films have to huddle under. It is without blemish, fault, or mistake and will always be remembered for its undying theme, "Fear can hold you prisoner, hope can set you free."

The Usual Suspects (1995)

Reviewed by: Zack Short

Rating: 9.8

This movie is one you're going to have to watch more than once. The entire movie is shrouded in a thick fog and when the ending is revealed you have to go back and see just how amazingly the movie was done. I also believe that it is disgraced by not being nominated for best picture.

The Usual Suspects is the best criminal story ever created by an extreme long shot. The incredible creativity of the plot is so well done that Lord of the Rings might even be challenged. The story goes straight forward and is like any other criminal movie until the end when the plot line twists, contorts, and even backtracks to create the most stunning and intricate story made by man. If that's not enough, watch Kevin Spacey make his mark in time as Verbal Kint.

In all honesty, I can find no beef with this movie except that the first run through of the film is a little slow, however, is mostly needed.

This impacting film will make its mark on time forever as one of the best movies to ever be created and far exceeding even my expectations, which were extremely high. If you want a movie with everything you could possibly want or need then this movie will only start there and give you the ride of your life.

Gladiator (2000)

Reviewed by: Oliver
Rating: 10
I'm not really sure where to start with this review, how about by saying that this is my favorite movie of all time! It deals with revenge, emperors, lust, love, death, and some unmatched, smooth flowing action scenes that will keep you moving out of your seat and closer to the television in suspense. The cinematography in this film is amazingly beautiful, and the score to the film is the icing on the cake. The story plays out perfectly and the characters, yes even the bad guys, are so well developed that they seem real. And the acting is superb and could only have been tackled by Russell Crowe and Joaquin Pheonix. I think the best part of this movie is how perfectly it combines the coolest "man movie" fight scenes ever with a heart breaking story that will put you to tears at parts, and inspire you in others. This film shocked me and introduced me to what a real movie should look, sound, and feel like. A monumental achievement for Ridley Scott and a magnum opus for Crowe! A MUST own in any household.

Reviewed by: Zack

Rating: 9.4

This movie was winner of the year 2000's best picture and took the night with many other awards. Gladiator is a critically acclaimed masterpiece. But we often disagree with the critics, don't we? Well let me state that I couldn't agree with them any more. This movie is a masterpiece and deserved all it was awarded.

The movie gained its publicity by using the fame of Russel Crowe as well as the genius of Ridley Scott. Many people saw it and many people loved it.

The movie's plot of revenge and the reasons why a man should keep living is powerful enough by itself. They also throw in great fight scenes that keep you away from boredom every second. The acting portrays the hard to live through emotions better than many movies I've seen. The screenplay is one of the most effective ever created.

My only beef with this movie is affection between Maximus and Lucilla. It is pointless, unneeded, and takes away from the more important parts of the story.

This movie is possibly the best action film ever and is a must-have. To this movie, "all else is dust and air."

The Bourne Trilogy

Reviewed by: Zack

Trilogy Rating: 9.5

Bourne Identity(2

002): 8.9

Bourne Supremacy (2004): 7.2

Bourne Ultimatum (2007): 8.1

Robert Ludlum's series put Tom Clancy out of business for a while when his stories hit the shelves. The movies were anticipated by fans and they flipped from pure excitement when Matt Damon was going to play the infamous Jason Bourne.

The story is the powerhouse that made the movies so renowned and adored. Flashbacks and memory loss make it a confusing and intriguing t

(2

ale of action, drama, and suspense. Jason Bourne is the perfect action hero and Matt Damon is the perfect Jason Bourne. The mystery continues through all three movies revealing only a little at a time throughout all three.

The beginning of the trilogy is the kick-start to the mystery that winds its way through the trilogy. Jason knows almost nothing and his journey to find himself is greatest in this installment.

The ending is so filled with goosebumps that you can barely blink. He is so close to finding his goal that the suspense will knock you over. It doesn't have the mystery of the first film but the readiness to find answers will nearly kill you all the way through.

The middle loses a little of its touch in where it doesn't attain as much of an unknowing felling as the first and not as much suspense to know the answers as the last. However the film is still cool and will need to be seen anyway.

The films all contain action, mystery, suspense, and, as Bourne is known for, cool car chases(yes in every one). The trilogy is worth owning as it is the defining movie for all action trilogys and I know that the beautifully woven tale of Jason Bourne will never die.

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (1966)

Reviewed by: Zack

Rating: 8

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly is the most classic western flick ever made. Clint Eastwood stars in this "spaghetti western" and makes his mark on history again.

The movie is full of twists and the plot is so simple but the movie itself is still so interesting. The three main players in the story are always teaming up and double crossing each other till you can't trust anyone with anything and you never know what's going to happen next. The end scene drags out for such a long time but is the most intense and intriguing scene in the entire movie.

The only big letdown is the incredible length of the film due to some parts that seem to just not be needed. Also the language difference (all the characters except the good, bad, and ugly speak in Italian and are dubbed over in English) makes the lip to voice unsynchronized and very annoying.

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly is a classic western tale and most likely the best. The movie is suspenseful, even for the length, and is a good watch over, and over, and over again. Compared to other westerns, this is the one with the gun, and they are the ones who dig.

The Matrix Reloaded (2003)

Reviewed by: Zack

Rating: 6.7

The Matrix was such a hit and left a hanging ending so, why not make a sequel? Well all I can say is, there have been worse.

The Matrix Reloaded is cool. That's about it. The story is lacking in some areas but cool in others. Its a real drift from the first film. The sequel is more focused on how awesome Neo is and the extreme strangeness and coolness of Mr.Smith.

To sum up, this movie really could have been done away with but its still cool and dives deeper into the matrix's universe.

Toy Story 3 (2010)

Reviewed by: Zack

Rating: 7.5

First thing I thought when I saw this movie's teaser trailer was, "Oh NO! Not another." But let me tell you right now, this movie was the most pleasant surprise I've ever gotten.

Toy Story one blew us away with an amazing story and funny quips and lines told by unforgettable characters. Well those characters are back and they are funny as ever. The laughs and drama continues in the third installment to an already classic series. The darker scenes of the first film continue again in this one. But the most rewarding scene of the film is the absolutely heartwarming ending that will make most cry and others leave the theater with a big grin on their face.

The story doesn't completely live up to the first one and some of the new characters are just there to be extra characters.

The story, although not as awesome as the first, finds its merit in the ending to an amazing trilogy that will live down in movie history with characters that will always be quoted and remembered for infinity and beyond.

The Matrix (1999)

Reviewed by: Zack

Rating: 8.7

The Matrix was the next big thing in sci-fi movies. Its hardcore action and awesome effects were anticipated worldwide. But is that enough to make an epic and time changing movie?

You bet it is. The Matrix changed history because it was such an amazing concept and yet the storyline and characters were powerful and effective. Every character is wonderfully developed. The concept of our world being a computer is so original that nobody could call this movie cliche. The awesome slow motion scenes make the action anything but choppy.

Agent Smith, Morpheus, Cypher and of course, Neo, will go down in history for being a part of this new and inventive world. The slow motion scene is still referred to today. None can deny that this movie made an impact, not only for being cool, but for being such an interesting story.

However, the love between Neo and Trinity is very sudden and unbelievable.

Aside from that and some minor stupidities, The Matrix is cool, interesting, cool, an awesome concept, cool, and revolutionized sci-fi forever. Did I mention cool?

Up (2009)

Reviewed by: Zack

Rating: 7.8

Ah, Disney, you've done it again. Ever since Finding Nemo expectations for this company have been high. However, Up came through with an amazing, and of course, creative story that once again blew the minds of critics and viewers alike.

The movie has a touching and character building beginning, a creative and funny middle, and another heartwarming ending. The characters are beautifully developed and created. They are once again characters that you will come to love.

The movie does have its downs as well as ups (pun intended). The villain, and how is he is portrayed, is not as powerful as that of the main characters' presence and he has a cliche feel about him (His dogs however are some of the very abundant comic relief). Disney villains usually have a very original feel about them, and that brought the rating down quite drastically.

Aside from some other very minor problems, the movie in itself is a powerful tale of looking past the past and "up" to a bright new sky. If Disney Pixar will ever be challenged by any other animated movie company, watch and laugh as this movie blows them "sky high."

Donnie Darko (2001)

Reviewed by: Zack

Rating: 9

Donnie Darko was not advertised and almost never made it to theaters but it became a cult classic from the very beginning.

Donnie Darko, in the words of a critic, "will knock you flat." The reasons for this movie's success lie behind its very unusual, disturbing, and indescribable theme of time travel and divine intervention. The first time you watch this movie you will be stunned and instantly say, "... WHAT?!" However, after diving deeper into its plot and twists, you will discover its true potential as one of the 2000's best films.

Donnie's journey through these 28 days (when the world will end) is filled with fear and tough questions that everyone faces such as predestination and the existence of God. Donnie lives with having to make a decision that terrorizes his very way of life and Frank (a hallucination[maybe?]) seems to be only an instigator of this fear. Donnie's life becomes more and more complicated and it seems as if death might be his only escape, creating a suspenseful and impacting story.

The film's only major drawback is how many beautiful scenes are left out of the theatrical version that would have made the film absolutely perfect. Also some scenes could have been done without making this the only (easily fixed) contrast.

The film's dark and strange overtones, along with the seemingly impossible journey of Donnie, all summed up with the character of Frank engraved in movie history, makes this film a defining movie that will be forever etched into movie history.

Reviewed by: Oliver
Rating: 9
I have nothing to to Zack's review except two plain simlple words. WATCH IT! Unless of course your depressed, ADHD, drunk/high, are planning on watching Brazil or Space Odyssey 2001 right after this, have to much time on your hands to spare thinking about it for days, only watch movies for cool action, going through a break up, or pregnant (just kidding!), or value your sleep, because this film will keep you up for nights thinking. other than in these cases watch this movie!

The Dark Knight (2008)

Reviewed by: Zack Short

Rating: 8.6

The Dark Knight. the movie that is famed for being one of the few sequels to far surpass its predecessor and make the world rock three times over. But why? I think we all know why. Fame now goes by a new name: Heath Ledger.

The Dark Knight wasn't only good for its amazing acting (although it engraved Ledger into the world of film forever as the Joker) it also dealt with hard topics such as, choice between life and death, reason vs. insanity, the difference between a hero and a villain, and how fast a hero can fall. For these reasons this film's story will rock you, move you, disturb you, and set the standard for superhero movies forever.

Along with all these great elements the film does have its downcasts. First off, Ledger steals the spotlight from all the other characters and their development is minimized, leaving you with less care than you should have for them when they face danger and death. Parts of the film seem very disconnected at times as well.

Aside from these very small faults, The Dark Knight is a film filled with great acting, story, and powerful, moving topics, as well as scenes that are so believable that they will throw you right out of your seat.

Inception (2010)

Reviewed by: Oliver
Rating: 8.4
Christopher Nolan stuns us again with another one of his always original and different works of art. It was entertaining and well made, though not his best work i highly recommend it to anyone. The movie is based off of what I think is one of the most poetic and interesting concepts I've ever seen. That being said it's also one that could have gone in any direction, and while the direction Nolan took it was fantastic, there are countless possibilities that may have worked better. Once more DiCaprio steals the screen, so much so that it seems like he is the only character with too much development. But these are all small things I noticed, take from this film what you will. But do see it please, it is quite an excellent film.


Reviewed by: Zack

Rating: 8.4

This movie was highly anticipated especially after Christopher Nolan hit us with the Dark Knight. Inception reminded me much of The Matrix in it's cool and intriguing concept filled with action and excellent characters and storyline.

Despite this, many scenes were just not needed in the film since it was mainly just about one character. The other people's lives seemed to be distant and not really as deep as DiCaprio's role (which was astoundingly well done).

The animation and cinematography were very well executed but where the movie found it's strongest point was in the ending to the very intriguing story of Cobb(DiCaprio) and his past, family, and purpose. I don't think they could've cast this movie any better.

The parts that make you wonder are evident throughout and, upon watching again, it is very incomprehensible.

Inception was interesting, symbolic, believable, and, above all else, just plain cool. If you are a fan of action, drama, romance, or The Matrix, this is your movie.

Robin Hood (2010)

Reviewed by: Zack

Rating: 7.6

I watched this movie and, unlike everyone else, didn't expect to see Gladiator or anything close to as good. The critics expected Gladiator all over again instead of a movie that was a new twist on Robin Hood, which it was.

This movie was very well done, no matter what people think. The acting is top notch and the story is intriguing, but a little long. The screenplay is original and definantly the best part of the movie hands down. The awesome and "goosebump" lines are anything but cheesy. However, the movie could have done without a few cliche scenes scattered throughout.

Robin Hood is a very easy character to mess up after the standards set by Kevin Costner in Prince of Thieves, but this Robin Hood is the best so far. His character is explored on a much deeper level than the previous films and is a good fit for Russel Crowe.

WARNING. DO NOT EXPECT GLADIATOR. This film was put down and stoned due to the fact that it wasn't "just like gladiator." Of course it wasn't. Why would you make two movies exactly the same? If you walk into this film expecting Robin Hood, you will get it in a way that you've never seen it before. You will get the reborn Robin Hood.

District-9 (2009)

Review by: Zack

Rating: 9.5

This was one of the most anticipated movies of the entire summer. Fans were created after this movie literally smashed through theaters all over the world. The question: Is it worth the hype? The answer: A big fat yes!

This movie is, first off, visually STUNNING. The aliens are beautifully mastered and rival that of the Avatar aliens. The powerful and moving story will blow your mind out of the back of your head. The cinematography is new, different and it works. The acting isn't as amazing as the rest of the movie's masterful scenes, but it's still amazingly done compared to some of our other 2009 summer blockbusters. The only con in this otherwise perfect movie is the lack of dialogue that doesn't include the f-bomb. It gets extremely tiring after 2 and a half hours of cussing with no end.

District-9 is amazing for some smaller reasons as well as the astounding larger ones. The most amazing and powerfully moving attribute of this picture is the prawn's (alien's) eyes. They are exactly like human eyes. So when the aliens are beaten and murdered the pain can be seen in their eyes, pain and ultimate anxiety for their lives and families. The hard hitting story focuses on human greed overpowering the value for life and how something is classified as valuable. This story moves your heart and set the new standard for sci-fi movies. It was robbed by the critically loved "Hurt Locker" which only wishes it could make an impact as powerful, standard-setting, and masterful as this film.

Reviewed by: Oliver
Rating: 9.7
District 9 is remarkable to say the least. It tries out a completely different view for alien movies and it works! so what you end up with is a non-cliche alien movie with a good idea that was perfectly executed! finally a new alien movie that doesn't suck! It also masterly portrays real problems, such as discrimination, in a fictional way. And not only is the directing and acting superb, but it wasn't until 10 minutes after the movie ended that I realized the aliens were special effects. Yes, they're that good. Okay, now for the bad part. The only bone I have to pick with D-9 is the frequent overuse of the F-word. It was easy to ignore the first couple of uses but became a bit annoying after awhile, then just pointless. That fact aside, District 9 is still hands down the best film of 2009, period.