The Power of Editing: The Re-cut Trailer

Can we just take a moment and hand it to the trailer editors of Hollywood? Like really. What a fabulous job they have crafting trailers that fool the whole world into thinking a movie is good. Sometimes it makes me wonder why they're not the ones actually editing the movies when they do a lot better job of creating something compelling from the pile of garbage they're given. I firmly believe that editing can be your greatest ally or biggest adversary when making a film. So much power comes from editing and the way a story is told; the editor should have ultimate control in how the audience perceives everything. Really, how incredible is that? I'm not gonna lie, the power to manipulate and shape a story, is what inspired me to be an editor, and even though the road of my career hasn't always been bump free, I still love the role that I play more than anything. Great editing is seamless and helps tell your story with ease. But bad editing can just bring down and ruin an entire film. And TRAILER editing? It can change how you perceive a movie before you even see it....and giving you that thing called expectations.

So as an editing loving individual (and who knows maybe this played into my career decision too...,) I discovered long ago the joy in a REALLY well-made re-cut trailer. I have not personally dabbled in the making of these...but I have found much joy in watching the efforts of people who have. What is a re-cut trailer you people unfamiliar with youtube ask? Why it's a movie trailer remade to tell a very different story than what the existing film actually is....usually an entirely different genre. I was reminded for my love of re-cut trailers recently when we went to the Tower Theaters's sing-along production of West Side Story (they do these every couple of months and they're fabulously fun....and while I'm on the subject of editing, I gotta say that West Side Story's use of it is perfection.) You see...a long time ago, someone made an outrageously funny re-cut trailer of the 1960's epic love story musical....and they turned it into a flesh-eating-virus-zombie story!  Some of the shots the individual found who made the ahem...darker version of West Side Story were completely brilliant and honestly kind of make me laugh every time I see them now! They took a harmless image that I now can't NOT see as being ridiculously creepy. That there is power in editing. So I thought it'd be fun to celebrate my love of editing by presenting something of a best of re-cut trailer list. We'll start with the aforementioned West Side Story re-dux!

West Side Story. My favorite part? Hands down the girl drawing the creepy "ring" like circle with the chalk. Also.. "make it not be true!!!"

The Shining. This trailer really picks up around the :45 second mark when Salsbury Hill starts playing. Seriously how inspirational and heartwarming does this movie look? The shot of him...making out with...well...that person, in particular cracks me up here!

The Wicker Man. Okay...it really couldn't have been THAT hard for the person who edited this to make this film into a comedy! All the trailer really happens to be is a collection of the greatest moments in the film....and that of course makes it HILARIOUS.

Psycho. Have you ever wondered what Psycho would be like if it were a 1950's/1960's rom-com? Look no further than the link above to find out how Norman Bates would fare as a leading man. Sarah, this one is for you!

Harry Potter. Take out all the good vs. evil and defeating Voldemort plot lines and what do you get? An outrageous (yet still magical I guess...) teen comedy. Harry Potter Lite!

The Notebook. I have not made it a secret of the fact that I'm not really the biggest fan of The Notebook. Therefore when I found a portrayal of the romance that I felt a little bit more accurately described Noah's stalkerish behavior (even if he does look like Ryan Gosling...,) I was pretty happy about it.


Matilda. Speaking of people finally portraying a movie the way it really should be seen...check out this trailer where it's clear that Matilda fits the "creepy kid" trope all too well!

The Karate Kid. The other all too common type of re-cut trailer is to turn a film with a platonic friendship into a gay drama. But I have a special place in my heart for this one. And if you like that, be sure to check out their other pretty funny trailer...the long awaited prequel to the Mighty Ducks. Check that one out HERE

The Ring. It seems to me that it's a lot easier to make any movie look scary, but it's a bit more challenging to make a scary movie look like an inspiring one. This version of The Ring definitely looks like a weepie! Also, I've never seen the film Cabin Fever, but knowing that it's a horror flick made THIS trailer pretty funny too. "Sometimes dying teaches you to live." What a great tagline! Haha

Mary Poppins. And finally we'll leave you with one of the best! This version of Mary Poppins looks like an absolutely terrifying classic (not unlike the way it was for me when I read the book and saw how evil the character actually was!)
That's all for this edition! Feel free to link any other good re-cut trailers I may have missed in the comments!

Live Long and Prosper

Move over Frodo & Sam and Luke & Han...there's a new (well..revived, rebooted...whatever you wanna call it) bromance in town! The long awaited sequel to 2009's Star Trek is finally in theaters and what is the relationship front and center in the film? No not Quinto/Saldana or even Pine/Eve. None other than the Kirk/Spock love fest (platonic of course) takes center stage in this film. And that's a very good thing. Star Trek: Into Darkness as a whole is wonderful entertaining fun...but it definitely wouldn't work half as well without these two and the bond between them. Their back and forth arguments and discussions of logic vs. passion just works! I'm not gonna lie, there was some pretty great dialogue in their spats (took me back to the ol Star Wars days!)

They, along with pretty much everyone from the first film reprise their roles in Into Darkness. It's great seeing all these characters (as well as their admittedly awesome technology) again and you can tell that everyone seems to be having a grand time. The most important edition to the cast is Benedict Cumberbatch who plays...well a really shady "guy." I won't say much else because I don't want to spoil anything...but he is fabulous in this role. The guy can convey so much with just the tone of his voice! And I guess his dead eyes don't hurt too much either! The story is always good, but once he enters the picture it really picks up. 

Not that this film ever drags. I was thoroughly entertained from start to finish and was amazed at how great the pacing in this film is for one whose length is almost 2.5 hours! It just breezes by! A lot of that is probably due to the fact that it has some REALLY well executed action sequences. Into Darkness always kept me on the edge of my seat and with a smile on my face. I thought this was far superior a summer blockbuster than Iron Man 3 (Gatsby meanwhile isn't really comparable to either and great for what it is,) so if you're looking for some really good popcorn thrills Star Trek is just the ticket. 

And can I just say hooray for JJ Abrams?! Really. I love this guy. He made me, a girl who was previously incredibly biased against Star Trek, now a big fan who hopes for its success. And I cannot WAIT to see what he does with Star Wars. Kathleen Kennedy you couldn't have picked anyone better. JJ brought a great touch to his first Star Trek film, and does the same with its sequel. Even though it may be impossible (and of course my loyalty is always gonna be to Star Wars if I have to pick,) somehow I hope maybe he will be able to do a third film because Into Darkness sets things up a sequel really nicely.  In short: go see Star Trek. It's fun. It's good. EMILY RATING: 8.5

Mommy Dearest

Happy belated Mother's Day everyone! How did I spend mine? By watching a double feature picked out by my own dearest, beloved and wonderful mother. The lineup? The Guilt Trip starring Seth Rogen and Barbara Streisand, followed up by Albert Brooks' Mother; two movies featuring sons having to deal with their very motherly mothers.  It was probably punishment for telling her she reminded me exactly of the mother in 50/50 and she felt it was her duty to show me a couple of worse movie moms. In her defense she hadn't seen The Guilt Trip...she just roped me into suffering along with her while viewing it. The film was pretty forgettable and I can't say I really recommend it. I definitely preferred Mother of the two, but if neither of those films scratch your mom issues where they itch, you could always check out Brave, Freaky Friday, Steel Magnolias, or of course Mommie Dearest to name a few. In the meantime, in honor of all moms everywhere I decided to celebrate a few of the truly memorable moms in film and television by compiling for you a nice list. We'll start with the television mom's!

10 Memorable Moms From TV and Film

LUCILLE BLUTH -

Lucille Bluth. They don't get any better than this. This master manipulating matriarch (how's that for some awesome alliteration?) has to be one of my favorite characters on this show (which is saying A LOT.) Lucille is adored by her son Buster, and pretty well hated by the rest of her offspring. Yet when push comes to shove, none of them would ever actually admit to her face that she's been a "horrible mother." And really....she has been a horrible, yet hilarious mother. It's hard to say who she had the worst influence on, but her legacy of being a bad mother has most definitely been passed down to her daughter Lindsay Bluth Funke. Will the buck stop at Maeby? Probably not. 

LORELAI GILMORE -

All that needs to happen to have the coolest mom around is for her to have gotten pregnant at 16, and then moved to the quirkiest town possible to raise you and discover her own independence. Then you will hardly be mother and daughter. You'll be BFF's! Not always the best scenario though. Plus you'll have to learn the talent of speaking a mile a minute and being as quirky as can be....but at least you won't have to put up with Emily Gilmore as your mom (settling for her as a Grandma is enough!)

                                                               MARGE SIMPSON - 

Growing up, I never particularly found Marge to be that funny of a character on The Simpsons. Looking back now on those older episodes now that I'm older too, I really can see the special mom humor that she brings to the show and I love it. Sure she doesn't have the most glamorous life or husband by any means....but she always makes the best of a sticky situation and devotes herself to her family and life as a homemaker. She's as patient a wife and mother as you'll ever find and honestly she really has her moments of hilarity.

CAROL BRADY - 

Carol Brady just always has the answer to everything doesn't she? She's pretty much the perfect wife and mother (although she gets a lot of help by hiring Alice to do all of her dirty work for her...) But I must say it's unrealistic impressive how easily their families were able to blend and that she could not only be an outstanding mother to her own kids, but act seamlessly as the mother to her husband's three boys. Really though, if you have an answer to a perplexing question it's probably just best to go to her in the first place before you wind up on some crazy Brady adventure.

                                                           ESTELLE COSTANZA - 

Sure, Jerry's mom is the one who reminds me more of my own mom, but George's mom's insanity is the clincher for her inclusion on the list. Her shrill voice, her demanding attitude and constant berating of Georgie are all just hilarious to watch. She might just be the mother on this list that I'd want the very least! (I'd probably rather turn out like a Bluth than a George Costanza!) Well actually scratch that...we've still gotta get to Psycho. But back to Estelle. Her existence is a huge piece of the puzzle into the character of George, and her scenes are always just a joy to watch.

MAMA GUMP - 

We have Mrs. Gump to thank for one of the most quoted film lines in the last twenty years. I'm not really sure why, but somehow Sally Field became the quintessential mama. Steel Magnolias was just the beginning, but it was this 1994 best picture winner (really?) that clinched this persona for her. Loving and full of wisdom, Mama Gump was a good one...even if I admittedly don't care much for this film.

                                                                 NORMA BATES - 

The mother of all mom issues can be found right here in the 1960 film Psycho. After all, "a boy's best friend is his mother." There's not much I really wanna say here without being too spoileriffic (that's a combination of using spoilers and being specific just so you know...), but if you've got mom issues...Psycho will make you feel a lot better about yourself. Maybe that's the reason why it's one of my favorite movies. Haha! I kid I kid!

LORRAINE MCFLY - 

Okay so this mom would kind of give you mom issues too....but only her teenage counterpart that has the undeniable urge to hit on you. Whenever the time period or alternate universe we drop in on her though her motherly instincts are always there, and there's no denying she cares for her son....even if it's accidentally in the wrong way! ha!

ED MCDUNNOUGH - 

When Edwina finds out she will never be a mother due to infertility and the fact that being married to an ex-con means she'll never be able to adopt, she and her husband take it upon themselves to find another way to become parents: by kidnapping a baby from a couple that has far too many to care for. This "mom" show love to her captive  baby by singing him some...interesting lullabies and insisting (unsuccessfully) that he not be around fugitive ex-cons OR that his diapers be stolen. That's love right there.

HELEN PARR/ELASTIGIRL - 

Holly Hunter makes a second appearance on this list, this time as an animated crime fighting superhero mom. There isn't much this mama wouldn't do to protect her very um gifted children. Then again, it doesn't hurt that she herself has some pretty handy powers to assist her. While being a tough fighter, her first and foremost duty is now her role as a wife and mother...and you can really see how important that is to her. "Mom to the rescue" takes on a new meaning after The Incredibles!

Honorable mentions: June Cleaver, Mom from A Christmas story (what? She really doesn't have a name!) Kate McCallister (Home Alone), Donna (Mamma Mia)

Well that's all folks. But really, let's give a hand to moms! I know I am truly grateful for mine :) 

THAT Gatsby!

Okay I know I should probably wait to post this on Friday, but seeing as there's been so many negative reviews popping up left and right, I just really felt like something positive needed to be said, and fast! It's still really early and hopefully the general critical consensus could very well change because as it stands right now this film is certainly not deserving of the amount of negative criticism that it's getting. That's not to say it's a perfect film (or even a truly accessible one); in fact there were quite a few things that I wished were done differently...but that kinda had a lot to do with my own expectations of the film which we'll get into shortly. But the most important thing you need to know from someone who has read the book as recently as a few weeks ago, I can tell you that this film is a completely faithful adaptation that captures the spirit of the book....and as far as film adaptations go what more do you really want?

Well it turned out there were still some things I wanted from it, but that had more to do with my expectations than the film's actual quality. I'll get to that, but first and foremost I want my readers to know what Gatsby does have going for it, because honestly it does have a lot. This film's greatest merit is that it boasts a stellar cast that makes all these characters from the novel come to life. There's not a false note among them and honestly I could write a paragraph for each person's performance! (But I'll try and limit myself to a good sentence or so each.) Let's start with the man whose performance this whole film rides on: Leonardo DiCaprio. Leo provides us with a very layered and complex Gatsby, as he should be. Jay Gatsby is a very morally ambiguous character and Leo really makes it up to the audience whether or not they want to side with Nick in being able to say that when it came down to it, he has enough goodness to be considered generally a good  man at heart. I thought he nailed the part, and can I just say the man has never looked better? Director Baz Luhrmann sure knew how to make him look like a bona fide movie star in this film! His introduction was without a doubt one of my favorite moments in the film.

After Gatsby comes the hardest role in the film to cast: Daisy. Carey Mulligan did a fine job with the role. Her voice was exactly what I pictured and you could sense her complexities. I only wish we could have seen more scenes between her and Gatsby that I hadn't already seen from the trailers. The way their meeting was handled couldn't have been more like the book which made me incredibly happy. Another scene when she's touring Gatsby's house and seeing all his fine apparel also was masterfully done. I didn't think there would be any way for the audience to connect with that scene, but Luhrmann somehow made it work. After Daisy comes Tobey's Nick Carraway. Tobey did a great job, but was probably the least like his book counterpart to me. That's not because his acting wasn't fine, it's just because Tobey is so darn dopey! But in a film that was for the most part humorless, his rendition of Nick Carraway worked for me. Before I move on from performances I also must mention Joel Edgerton's Tom Buchanan and newcomer Elizabeth Debicki's Jordan Baker. Both were splendid and again exactly how I pictured them. Edgerton was really very good and adds a nice menacing presence in the film; I only wish we'd seen more of Debicki's character!

Aside from the cast, the cinematography as expected is breathtaking. Like I mentioned earlier, they sure know how to film their actors and actresses. Glamour shots galore! I loved the way certain shots were overlayed, and how occasionally words would just appear on the screen as Nick was writing the tale to truly emphasize the novel's words. If it's one thing this film does, it's to truly honor Fitzgerald's words. Rarely was there a line that didn't come directly from the book and really almost all of my favorite lines made its way into the film. Along with the cinematography, the production and costume design is absolutely top notch...they certainly created a beautiful world to look at!  We saw the film in 3D, and I read an interview with Luhrmann saying why that choice was made... (that since Fitzgerald was always into the new and modern, Gatsby should come out in the newest and most modern format,) but I must admit that it didn't really add much. It didn't really bother me, but some of my companions said that it took a lot away from the movie for them. 

To fully explain where I felt let down within the movie, first I must explain where my sky high expectations came from and how they influenced my viewing of The Great Gatsby. Sometime in the last few months, I'm not sure exactly when...but I noticed the more times I saw the trailer for The Great Gatsby. the more I was enthralled with it. At first the modern music really threw me off and I just hated it. But each time I watched it I grew to appreciate that it was an incredibly well-made trailer, and the music suddenly just started working for me. Then when the next trailer after that came out...it sealed the deal that this movie I would be looking forward to more than almost any other. Even though I have loved Baz Luhrmann's previous work, I had been apprehensive about him having the job to adapt this novel....but after those trailers I embraced it and even looked forward to the touches he could bring to the work. After all, I do love Moulin Rouge! as well as his adaptation of Romeo + Juliet. So to keep my excitement alive I went ahead and rewatched the films in his "red curtain trilogy" which includes the two films I mentioned as well as Strictly Ballroom (I left out his other film Australia...because I don't know if I could ever sit through that again!) It was then I grew really comfortable with the idea of Gatsby being as stylized as possible and completely in your face. Then when I listened to the soundtrack and heard so many great songs, I became really excited to see where they'd all fit in.

I basically believed the film would be just like the trailers: full of loud music and fast editing. Then I saw the movie...and the pacing was: exactly. like. the. book. And the music? It was really only prominent in a handful of scenes. After getting to know the soundtrack so well it was kind of a bummer not to have some of the more powerful songs be more prominently displayed. Since I just had read the book, this pacing really held for little to no surprises and consequently made the movie feel pretty long. I guess I kind of wish more liberties had been taken with the source material because they gave us a very safe adaption when I was kind of expecting outrageous. But honestly these are just small gripes. I just need to see the film again to get used to what it actually is versus what I was wanting it to be. I'm still not entirely sure it will be an accessible film to the masses (compared to Iron Man 3 which required zero brain power, it's definitely kind of like sitting in listening to an English class...but in the best possible way.) Another reason I'm not sure the average Joe Schmo will take to it is because really it's kind of a dark story when you think about it....but if you loved the book, go in with your expectations in check and I think you'll enjoy it just fine. MY RATING: 8/10

Better late than never... Top Ten of 2012

Yep. Once again it's taken me 5 months to be able to compile my Top Ten list for 2012. Truly sorry about that...but hey don't blame me! Blame Silver Linings Playbook for taking its SWEET time to come out on DVD. You've already waited long enough, so let's just get right down to it shall we? We'll start at number 10 and work our way up to my top choice of films for 2012.


10. Lincoln. - Previous thoughts on the film HERE and HERE. Steven Spielberg's Lincoln features some of the strongest performances of the year. Daniel Day Lewis' performance alone is enough to merit a spot on the list, but the film has a lot more going for it than just that. The story is both compelling and inspiring, however I'm not quite sure it will have much of a rewatch factor (then again, it's not like I've watched Schindler's List ten times and that doesn't exactly diminish its quality...)

9. Zero Dark Thirty. I couldn't believe this movie was being made so soon after the events that inspired it. In some ways I still kind of think that's questionable, but I can't deny that I'm glad this movie was made...if only to give praise to the unsung heroes that really made the siege happen. Jessica Chastain does a marvelous job, which is a really good thing because the movie almost rests entirely on her shoulders! I wish the film was a bit more tightly edited, but also can see how the filmmakers wanted to stress every detail to make the viewer understand what a long process it really was to find Bin Laden.

8. 21 Jump Street. Any of my honorable mentions could have definitely filled this spot, but you know what? I needed a nice well rounded list that included a bit of comedy, and 21 Jump Street happened to be my favorite comedy of 2012. This film had me in stitches all throughout the first time I saw it. And who knew Channing Tatum was anything more than a mimbo!? (That's a male bimbo for those who are unfamiliar with Seinfeld.) This is probably the best work he's ever done to be honest! And while we're talking about the cast I have to say I love little Dave Franco in his supporting role. Really though you can tell that everyone is having a ball in this movie!

7. Liberal Arts. Original review HERE. Josh Radnor wrote, directed and starred in this Sundance hit about the "in-between" stages of life...and like his other work, it really resonated with me. It's not a perfect film by any means, but I really identified with far too many of the things it had to say. Plus I really appreciated that I wasn't really able to predict everything that was going to happen (to be honest, I was too engaged in the dialogue to focus on what may or may not happen next.) I don't know...I just thought it was an incredibly refreshing film.

6. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. Original review HERE. Yeah I know people have their issues with this film... but honestly I've seen it three times now and I've loved it every time. I love the character of Bilbo Baggins (as well as Martin Freeman who plays him), and I found the first part in his story to be highly enjoyable and entertaining. No it's not a carbon copy of the Lord of the Rings films, nor does it have to be. The two film series rightfully have completely contrasting tones, and I for one am perfectly fine embracing that. Besides, who doesn't love a little time in middle-earth? Especially with an excellent as ever Gollum this time around!

5. Argo. Previous thoughts on the film HERE. Ben Affleck does a masterful job of building tension in this incredibly true (well...true yet highly dramatized apparently) story. How this scheme to rescue a group of kidnapped Americans in Iran plays out was both incredibly fun and tense to watch! From the characters conceptualizing the idea, to carrying it out, each phase is important and interesting. It also doesn't hurt whenever you throw Alan Arkin into the mix!


4. Silver Linings Playbook. Yet another film packed with wonderful performances by a terrific ensemble cast finds its way onto my list. Bradley Cooper in particular is absolutely excellent in this story of a bi-polar man trying to get his life back together (even though he pretty much wants to make the same mistakes that got him into the mess he's dealing with in the first place!) There's definitely a lot going on here and honestly it's hard to categorize the film into any one genre, and that's kind of what I love about it.

3. Ruby Sparks. Previous posts on the film HERE and HERE. This is the third relationship film to find its way on my list...(yes I must admit I have a weakness for them,) and this one is definitely my favorite. This film has a bit of magic to it that I adore; it's kind of like Stranger Than Fiction meets The Purple Rose of Cairo in the best possible way. When it comes down to it, it's about loving a person for who they are, not for who we want them to be, or think they should be. The script is funny, smart and incredibly poignant all at once.

2. Life of Pi. Original review found HERE. Ang Lee's Life of Pi was without a doubt the most visually stunning film to grace the screen in 2012 (maybe though had Gatsby not been delayed there would have been more competition!) And although as spectacular as it was, that cinematography wasn't all that Life of Pi was able to boast. in its favor. I was stunned this film was as riveting as it was! Honestly I was on the edge of my seat the entire time...and once it was over I thought about it for days. It's definitely a film that stays in your mind, not only visually, but intellectually as well.

And now.....my #1 favorite film for 2012 was:

1. The Impossible. Original review found HERE. This film was without a doubt the most powerful film of 2012. Nothing even came close to making me feel the emotions I felt while I was sitting in that theater. The performances of everyone involved were honestly...beyond remarkable. Somehow these actors made you truly believe that they were a family; that they had this bond. You can just FEEL their love and concern for one another...and that on its own is powerful. This film deserved so much more recognition than it got and it is truly a shame that more people haven't taken the time to see it. Honestly, I can't even say enough how wonderful a film this is. It is one of the most brutal you could possibly watch, but truly rewarding and wonderful all at the same time.

Honorable Mentions: The Dark Knight Rises, Les Miserables, The Amazing Spider-man, Looper, Bernie.

Third Time's the Charm?

Last night I unexpectedly got to start the summer movie season a day early by attending a screening of its very first blockbuster: Iron Man 3 (thanks Jen!) So was this installment featuring a new director to the series, Shane Black, the best of the bunch in its franchise? Well...it all depends on what type of viewer you are. Let's definitely just say right now that it is a huge improvement over the second film...I think that's a given. You may even think it's better than the first. To be honest, I'm still undecided...and there's a big reason for that. Before we get into the meat of this review let's get one thing straight right now: whether I'm telling you that you should see and will likely enjoy Iron Man 3 (which I am) is not the same thing as me telling you that it is an amazingly great superhero film for the ages (it's not.)

Iron Man 3 is entertaining and fun, there's no denying that. Once again it's full of enough wise cracks to have an audience slapping their knees in delight throughout the whole run-time. There's a good portion of the film where Tony Stark interacts with your average kid character with hilarious and quotable results. But wisecracks aren't your concern! Action is! Yes there is plenty of action to spare....unfortunately for me this is kind of where most of my problems come in because there is an awful lot of it that is pretty head scratching and kinda made me feel like the filmmakers didn't respect their audience and felt like they could get away with anything. And they do get away. With. Everything. Sure every now and then, we as an audience are required to roll with the punches and take a leap of faith....but there are quite a few outrageous leaps we are expected to take in this movie. Obviously it becomes apparent that this kinda the type of movie to just shut your brain off and enjoy the ride. That works for the most part, yet still....there are just a few moments when it kinda becomes too much and you're just like REALLY??

As for the cast, all the returning regulars are good as usual. I gotta say though, I unexpectedly loved Ben Kingsley in his role. He had so much overexposure in the previews that it was nice to see a big surprise in store with his character that I truly did not see coming and found to be one of the best parts of the film. Rebecca Hall and Guy Pearce had much bigger roles than I was expecting, yet somehow still kind of seemed a bit wasted.I[SPOILER] I must say I wish I'd seen more depth in Pearce's character. It kinda felt like the EXACT villain story from The Incredibles...that story worked there because that was a cartoon. And Hall's motivation was way too unclear. [/SPOILER]

The finale is quite grand (albeit full of those previously mentioned WHAT THE moments), but can I just say I much prefer seeing only ONE Iron Man suit in action? You don't get multiple Batmen, Supermen or Spider-men clones in their movies and they always manage to pull off grand finales on their own! When it gets to multiple Iron Men...it kinda starts to feel like I'm watching Transformers. I guess when it comes down to it, Iron Man isn't really a hero or a franchise that I deeply love or that truly resonates with me. It's all fun and games...but kind of shallow. Still, it's blockbuster season and it's just the fun you're looking for! This film is outrageously action packed and perhaps surpasses the original...but there were probably too many leaps in logic for me to prefer it. I guess once The Avengers happened there was a no holds barred in the things that could happen in the Iron Man series. So no I don't love Iron Man 3 and think it's the greatest thing in the world, but yes it is worth seeing and is a good time. My rating: 7.0

Now. Bring on GATSBY!!!

Mud and Miscellaneous

Only two more days until blockbuster season hits and I couldn't be more excited. Summer is far and away my favorite time of year and this month in particular has a lot going for it. Two of my most anticipated films of the year are set to debut in May with the release of The Great Gatsby and Star Trek: Into Darkness. But May is more than just movies. We've got all the season finales to look forward to....as well as the fact that one of my most beloved t.v. series Arrested Development, triumphantly returns to the air at the end of the month. But maybe like me you're trying to figure out how to bide your time til then. So if Iron Man 3 just doesn't do the trick, you can check out some of these movies I've recently seen. However....being that a lot of these were dollar theater films, not all of them are actually worth seeing.  We'll start with the higher quality films first.

MUD -  - Every now and then a film comes along that manages to just fly completely under my radar. Mud is one of those films and I don't even know how since it made its debut at Sundance and usually I keep a close eye on those films! Somehow though Mud comes out of nowhere to achieve a highly rare 98% rating on Rotten Tomatoes as well as 4 stars from various critics shouting praises at Matthew McConaughey's performance. Instantly I was intrigued and got myself to the theater to see what all the fuss was about. And well...I loved it too. Go see it. This film made me feel like a child again...despite these 14 year olds' salty language. But just the idea of young adventure is all over this film and I loved that. It's a very layered film with a lot of human emotion and story at the core. The characters and performances are all quite good and I never really found it easy to predict where it would go. It kept me tense and on the edge of my seat. If you're looking for a film to see in theaters this summer other than the big ones...this is it. EMILY RATING: 9/10

GANGSTER SQUAD - Rented this film last week and I have to say I had a really hard time getting into it. I hated Crazy Stupid Love with a passion, but held hope for the movie that had Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone's reconciliation since they had so much promise the first time. The second film they made together? A bit more likable and mildly amusing...but still meh. These two should stop featuring in ensemble pieces together, and really this time I'm not sure i loved either in their roles. Emma Stone felt somewhat miscast to me (it's hard for me to see her as some vixen when she just seems like a goof ball in real life) and whatever Ryan Gosling was doing with his voice just wasn't working for me. The move is hardly just about them though...it's more of a Josh Brolin/Sean Penn show. Once it gets going and the plot is finally moving it's a much better movie...I just had higher expectations for this one. 6.5/10

DARK SKIES - This alien thriller film featuring Keri Russell was surprisingly the best of the dollar theater bunch. Dark Skies was widely panned by critics so I had zero expectations that it would be anything other than awful...which made it all the more delightful to find how entertaining it actually was. Is it a masterpiece that will be remembered from years to come? No. Is it even a great film? Nope. Just an entertaining movie that borrows a bit from other films, yet still manages to keep your attention. Plus it had some really genuinely tense moments! It was really a perfect dollar movie. My biggest complaint is that the setup goes on for a bit longer than needed...that trope of the unbelieving spouse is at its most annoying here! 6.5/10

SAFE HAVEN - A year ago I wrote THIS POST about Nicholas Sparks films after seeing The Lucky One in the dollar theater. After my dollar theater trip to see Safe Haven I have to admit I'm a little saddened that the movie wasn't more awful!! Okay it was still pretty bad...but far more middle of the pack Sparks (ie Dear John, Nights in Rodanthe) than bottom of the barrel Sparks (The Last Song, The Lucky One) if you know what I mean. Still I have to admit I got a kick out of the fact that Sparks seems to have taken a few notes from Charlie St. Cloud this go 'round....so that alone might make it fit right in between the middle and bottom of Sparks' resume. 4/10

THE INCREDIBLE BURT WONDERSTONE - I swear this film had been out less than a month before it made its debut at the dollar theater....and deservedly so. This film about dueling magicians Steve Carrell and Jim Carrey is awful despite featuring a pretty strong cast. I mean really, who wastes Steve Buscemi AND Alan Arkin?? It wasn't completely without a laugh...but almost. It will probably make its way onto my worst of the year list since so far it is probably the worst film I've seen all year. But um....I guess you could see it if you really wanted to. But....it's not really even worth a dollar haha and some of Jim Carrey's gags are just painful. Also we're supposed to buy an Olivia Wilde and Steve Carrell romance? How dumb does Hollywood think we are anyway? By the existence of Burt Wonderstone the answer must be PRETTY DUMB. 3/10

Well that's all folks. In just two days we've got big movies coming every single week!!! I can hardly wait! Stay tuned for lots of reviews coming your way!

Why does it always rain on me?

Two days left of April can you believe it? Seriously where did this month go?? Not that I'm complaining or anything... Obviously I'm completely stoked to be greeting summer with its warm weather and blockbuster flicks, but this month flew by so quickly I barely had any time to think! Fortunately the last few days have been VERY nice now that we've been enjoying some GORGEOUS weather and life seems bright and sunny again, which makes the list I'm about to present seem a little out of place! For you see, it is time for my monthly installment of themed lists for Courtney's blog...so in honor of the month that is famous for rainy showers I present to you the ten best movie scenes that greatly uses RAIN...aka the murkier days that a month like April has to offer. Also I have to mention that I forgot to include the great scene from Cinema Paradiso on my list...so just know that it should be there in spirit!  So head on over, check out the list and let me know what you think!

10 Best RAIN Movie Scenes!

Welcome to Jurassic Park

Only one more week til the summer movie season begins. Unfortunately though, until then our cinematic options remain limited and if you're looking for something to do this weekend, I'd recommend Oblivion if you haven't already seen it yet....otherwise you should really spend some much needed time at Jurassic Park. I saw the 3D re-release of the Steven Spielberg 90's classic a couple weeks ago and I've got to say...it was a pure delight! The film marks its 20th anniversary this year, and still holds up remarkably well. In fact most of the special effects have barely aged and remain some of the most convincing in the history of film.

Let's go back twenty years and talk about why it was important then and how it's still important now on both personal and broader levels. First we'll go with personal. Twenty years ago, six-year old little Emily was not allowed to see Jurassic Park on the big screen (and rightly so...for she would have been terrified.) Instead, she was dragged to see the utterly forgettable (well it WAS 20 years ago) Once Upon A Forest, while three of her older siblings were treated to the cinematic experience of a lifetime. The tinge of jealousy immediately struck once they came home and RAVED of its sheer amazing awesomeness....an awesomeness I could only dream of.... Instead I was stuck with this :(

An undisclosed amount of time later once the film had made its way to video and I was a little bit older, I discovered its greatness for myself and have watched it countless times since. Jurassic Park was and is just a solid reliable movie. One I could put on any time and truly enjoy....a movie that you can truly get lost in. I've been thinking a lot about compiling my Top 100 favorite films of all time and listing them in installments here on the blog. I might have to look into it, but one thing is for sure...this film definitely has a place on that list, and might be as high as my Top Thirty or even Twenty. So what did it mean to me finally seeing it on the big screen? Even after all these years, it was an absolutely thrilling experience.. and something my younger self really thanked me for doing. You see, I found the biggest screen I possibly could by seeing it in IMAX 3-D. I'll be honest...the 3-D part wasn't what was cool (though a few moments it really added a lot, during others it looked distractedly unfinished,) it was seeing this film on the size of screen it was meant to be seen.

On a cinematic level, Jurassic Park was a truly important film too. It followed in the footsteps of Jaws, Star Wars and Indiana Jones in establishing that summer is the time for blockbusting thrills. Probably most importantly as I mentioned before, it was a milestone in the advancement of special effects. It challenged other films and pushed the boundaries of what could be put onto film...what an audience would be able to believe. From here on out, the sky was the limit. That limit has been tested time and time again, but as I said, the fact that even twenty years later the film is still as believable as the day it opened is really beyond impressive.

Okay so it's a good film that influenced movies in general back in its day. But why is it worth seeing on the big screen today in 2013? Well for one thing it STILL dances circles around many of the big films released nowadays. Besides really awesome looking effects, the film provides genuine unparalleled thrills. It's been able to do that on a small screen for twenty years, but seeing them on that big screen (either again or for the first time) magnifies those thrills 100 times more. The story takes the audience on an incredible ride from being truly in awe to experiencing downright terror. But besides all of that, it has some pretty great dialogue and some really fun characters. Ian Malcom and Dr. Grant are obviously awesome, but what about Dennis Nedry or the guy that's obsessed with raptors...or Samuel L Jackson!? Really everyone has their moment to shine in this film (as annoying as Lex is, even she provides her handiness occasionally!) So honestly, do your past younger self a favor and see this film the way it was meant to be seen...on a screen as big as those dinosaurs deserve.