The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

People like myself have been waiting for this movie since before The Fellowship of the Ring came out. It has been more than 10 years since they first announced they were going to make the trilogy, and everyone questioned if they would make its predecessor as well.

It took awhile but they did.

The Hobbit, for those of you that don't know, tells the story of Bilbo Baggins adventure while he tries to help a band of dwarves to reclaim their mountain from a Dragon named Smaug. This film, much like The Lord of the Rings is long. But unlike other reviewers, I don't believe it to be unnecessary "fluff". I feel as though each scene adds something to the movie story and moves it forward.

The acting, writing, and directing are all what you would expect from a Lord of the Rings, Peter Jackson film. And it will leave you on the edge of your seat without making you depressed like the end of The Fellowship of the Rings. It's much more light hearted, in a good way.

While not as ground breaking or amazing as The Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Hobbit is a great beginning to three part prequel to the series, and leaves me excited for the next one. To bad I have to wait a year... I hope the Mayans are wrong.

My Grade: A-

ATTENTION! I WILL BE RELEASING THE NOMINATIONS FOR THE MIKEY AWARDS JANUARY 10th COINCIDING WITH THE ACADEMY AWARD NOMINATIONS! I WILL POST THE WINNER ON FEBRUARY 24 DURING THE OSCARS!

Hitchcock

Good Evening.

It is no secret to my friends that Alfred Hitchcock is in my top 3 favorite people of all time. So I was especially excited for this movie when I first heard about it from my Friend Kevin Bridge. At least I think it was him.

So when I found out it was playing in Philly, which is a good 50 minute drive from my house, I didn't think twice before I made a day out of it with my friends. Funnily enough, it came out in the theatre 2 miles from my house 5 days later.

Either way, Hitchcock did not disappoint.

Anthony Hopkins, in a very convincing fat suit, portrays the infamous mastermind behind Rear Window, Rope, The Birds, Vertigo, North By Northwest, Dial M for Murder, Strangers on a Train, and of course Psycho. Hitchcock tells the behind-the-scenes story of the making of Psycho and the strain it put on his marriage to Alma Reville, played by Helen Mirren.

It delves deep into his psyche as he struggle with his obsession of not fading into irrelevance. As well as his jealousy towards his wife and her writing partner and his fantasy with his "Hitchcock Blondes".

Through all of this, he must independently finance and film his movie having 100% absolute creative control.

Some movies that I love, I can understand why someone else wouldn't like it. But not this. I don't normally say this about other peoples opinions, but on Rotten Tomatoes, this film has a 66%. The 34% that didn't like this movie need to be slapped in the face with a 2x4 with a nail in it. This movie, being nothing more than drama, had suspense that would make the Master of Suspense himself proud.

The acting, writing and directing (By the director of documentaries, no less) all prove to be in the top tier of 2012. With a perfect mixture of drama, suspense and comedy, Hitchcock proves to be one of the best movies of the year. Anyone who disagrees is just plain silly!

My Grade: A+

ATTENTION! I WILL BE RELEASING THE NOMINATIONS FOR THE MIKEY AWARDS JANUARY 10th COINCIDING WITH THE ACADEMY AWARD NOMINATIONS! I WILL POST THE WINNER ON FEBRUARY 24 DURING THE OSCARS!

Silver Linings Playbook

WARNING: Being from the Philadelphia Area, I have a small sense of obligation to like anything that has anything to do with Philly. So I may be a bit biased to this movie.

That being said, Silver Linings Playbook is a FANTASTIC movie.

Having just been released from a Mental institution, where he spent some time after an episode where he found his wife cheating on him, Pat (Bradley Cooper, Philly Native, you're welcome) finds himself back at his parents house trying to win the heart of his estranged wife back. He tries to better himself by working out and controlling his temper. Doing so, he meets a woman who also has had some issues since the death of her husband. The two agree to help each other out. She will give a note to his wife, who has a restraining order against him and he will be her partner in a dance competition.

Taking place in 2008, a rare great time for Philly sports, (Phillies 2008 World Series Champions!) Pat also bonds with his family over Philadelphia Eagles games. And the mention stuff about Philadelphia and such. And Cheesesteaks... did I mention Philadelphia? Sorry, it's rare that movies not by M. Night Shyamalan even mention Philly.

In all seriousness, Silve Lining Playbook is a warm hearted comedy that points out the humor in the flaws that make us all human. And really hits on the importance of family and friends, which everyone could appreciate. It is backed up by superb acting by all, including the greatly missed Chris Tucker! I missed him!

The only thing that would have made this movie better is if they mention the Philadelphia Flyers... This NHL lockout is driving me crazy! I NEED MY FIX! ESPECIALLY SINCE THE PHILLIES SUCKED THIS SEASON AND THE EAGLES SUCK RIGHT NOW!!!!!!

Ahem....

My Grade: A-

ATTENTION! I WILL BE RELEASING THE NOMINATIONS FOR THE MIKEY AWARDS JANUARY 10th COINCIDING WITH THE ACADEMY AWARD NOMINATIONS! I WILL POST THE WINNER ON FEBRUARY 24 DURING THE OSCARS!

Killing Them Softly

I had such high hopes going into this movie. Brad Pitt starring and Andrew Dominik directing. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford is my favorite movie and has been since I saw it in 2007. (If that seems random, Brad Pitt Starred in that and Andrew Dominik directed). But this movie just didn't meet my expectations.

With undertones of the Recession being shoved in your face at every scene and nothing really quite flowing, Killing Them Softly is about greed and the effect the recession has on Mob bosses and their employees. Interesting concept, but it comes off as everyone just being a whiny little bitch (excuse my French).

When three nobodies rob a mob controlled game and frame one of the card sharks for it, The mob bosses bring in an enforcer, played by Brad Pitt, to control the situation. And he does. But the entire time, everyone is just complaining about the recession and how it has affected times. But they're mob bosses in a non-Martin Scorsese gangster movie, so you don't care about them.

This is another case of a movie trying to be something that it's not. It couldn't decide what it wanted to be. It wanted to be a gangster movie but also have a deeper meaning, while also pointing out how bad President Bush was (We get it. He's the reason your life sucks, now move on!).

If this film had just been a gangster movie about a hit man hired to take out the idiots that knocked over the card game, it could have been great! But that wasn't enough.

This movie wasn't completely bad, though. It had great acting by everyone involved, and very good cinematography. Although, the writing and story left something to be desired.

My Grade: C

But, as always, form your own opinion. You may enjoy this movie more than I did.

ATTENTION! I WILL BE RELEASING THE NOMINATIONS FOR THE MIKEY AWARDS JANUARY 10th COINCIDING WITH THE ACADEMY AWARD NOMINATIONS! I WILL POST THE WINNER ON FEBRUARY 24 DURING THE OSCARS!

Life of Pi

Tom Hanks had it easy in Cast Away. He just had to open coconuts with an ice skate and fish with a hand made spear. Pi had to share a life boat with a tiger.

Life of Pi is the story of a man who is shipwrecked in the middle of the Pacific and loses his entire family. He finds himself on a life boat with a tiger.

Funny thing about tigers. They like to eat. A lot.

Pi must learn to survive with the tiger, rationing his food while also feeding the tiger which is the connection he still has with his dead family. Through the struggles of living on a 12 foot boat with  a tiger, Pi finds that behind the instinct to kill for food, predators as well as all other animals have souls.

This movie is hard for me to write about. While I did enjoy it, nothing really stood out to me. Suraj Sharma was pretty good in his silver-screen debut, but not incredible. The special effects were good, but not great. The writing was solid, but not outstanding.

The story, however, is compelling and moving enough to keep you watching and keep you from staring at your phone. Which is the main goal of any movie.

Irrfan Khan, however, surprised me in his relatively small role. His role was more emotional from the other characters I have seen him portray. He usually plays a man in a suit. At least in the English films he's been in. I haven't seen any of his Indian films.

My Grade: B

Skyfall

I'm not a fan of the Bond series. I don't dislike them, but I don't claim to be a fan. So I don't know if Skyfall is a good Bond movie. But it is a damn good movie by itself.

After a mission goes awry that leave M and the rest of MI6 believing Bond is dead, and the names of several agents in the hands of a cyber terrorist, 007 must come back from his retirement to help MI6 find the man responsible. Bond-esque chaos ensues.

Directed by Sam Mendes, who has directed everything but action movies, Skyfall has one of the best villains of not just any Bond film, but of any film. Javier Bardem steals the spot light, in my opinion, as the flamboyant and eccentric villain out for vengeance against M.

Playing a completely different kind of evil from his evil character in No Country For Old Men for which he won the Oscar, I believe his performance will bring the first Oscar consideration for acting in a Bond Film. And along with that, I believe Daniel Craig might receive some consideration as well, although I think it is less likely.

Skyfall is a fun, action packed movie with great cinematography thanks to the GREAT AND POWERFUL ROGER DEAKINS.

My Grade: A

Lincoln

Steven Spielberg, Daniel Day-Lewis, Tommy Lee Jones, Sally Field, John Hawkes, James Spader, Tim Blake Nelson, Jarred Harris, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Music by John Williams.

Do I need to give you any other reason to see this damn movie?

Depicting Lincoln and his cabinet and the House of Representatives in January 1865 as they proposed, discussed and voted on whether or not they should adopt the 13th Amendment. The writing in this film is so eloquent that it makes me hate hippies and whoever invented rap music, television, MTV Cribs and the internet for dumbing down the English Language. Seriously, listen to any speech given by FDR, Churchill or Eisenhower during World War II and then compare it to a speech by Obama, Clinton or either Bush and you'll realize how much art the English language has lost.

I personally blame 16 and Pregnant, but I digress.

Everything in Lincoln is up to par with Spielberg's reputation. I am slightly biased, seeing as how President Lincoln is my historical hero, but I believe this movie is Spielberg's best to date. Better than Jaws. Better than Saving Private Ryan. Better than Jurassic Park. Not only does it tell a great story, but it is also humorous for those who don't care for the historical aspect of it.

As per the usual, Daniel Day-Lewis gives an Oscar worthy performance and is damn near unrecognizable as America's 16th President. When the trailer was released for this movie only but a short 3 months ago, all other Best-Actor hopefuls groan in disbelief.

As of now, I believe this is the best movie of the year. Can any of the releases in the next month change that? Or could I possibly see a better movie released sometime this year that has fallen through my radar?

My Grade: A+