American Sniper - 10 stars out of 10

American Sniper - 10 stars out of 10

“American Sniper” is even better than I thought it would be.  I had a high expectation, both because the trailer looked great and because I’ve learned to expect excellence from director Clint Eastwood, but I could not have anticipated the effect that the film would have on the audience (myself included).  The silent procession of 100 people out of the theater at the conclusion of the film spoke volumes to me.  I have never experienced anything like that in my life.  “American Sniper” has everything going for it – an inspirational true story, great acting, tons of emotion, and tactical military action that is easy to follow.  This is one of the most user-friendly approaches to military strategy that I have seen and I wish that “Zero Dark Thirty” could have taken a lesson from Eastwood.   Every mission, every tactical decision, and every sniper shot makes sense to the average layman, while the violence and bloodsplatter is so effective that you will forget that this is not real footage.  A biographical film like this one is bound to bring criticism, but nobody can deny that Chris Kyle is a true patriot who put his country before everything else.  Bradley Cooper delivers an amazing performance as Kyle, dawning his Texas accent and getting completely ripped for this role.  It is hard to believe that he has earned three consecutive Oscar nominations but they are completely warranted.  He has shown tremendous commitment and growth as he has shed his dumb comedy stereotype in favor of these dramatic performances.  While Eastwood is very public about his anti-war sentiments, this film actually had the opposite effect on me and made me wish that I would have enlisted and served my country.  This is a tough story to tell, as it digs very deep into the trials faced by the Kyle family; however, the film succeeds in celebrating “Legend” for his heroic deeds instead of tearing him down for his struggle to acclimate back into society.  I’m not sure how “American Sniper” will fare in the Oscars but the amazing portrayal of the war in Iraq and highly charged emotions are sure to secure it as an important staple in the military movie repertoire for decades to come.

[Pictured: Cooper's facial expressions tell the story just as much as the special effects]

Mr. Turner - 4 stars out of 10

Mr. Turner - 4 stars out of 10

“Mr. Turner's” Oscar nominations speak volumes.  The film is beautiful to look at (Cinematography, Production Design, Costume nominations), but the story is pretty dull (no Screenplay, Acting, or Picture nominations).  The character of J.M.W. Turner is pretty interesting with his curmudgeonly attitude and unique approach to painting.  I've never seen Timothy Spall in anything outside of a character role but he puts on a noteworthy performance, particularly as his character’s health declines.  Still, I feel that Turner’s artwork, long ahead of the impressionist movement, is more important than the man himself.  Even with its visual beauty, I don't think that "Mr. Turner" will take home any Oscars.  The film does serve as an interesting period piece by offering perspective into romantic era England, particularly the musical performance in the salon and later on, Mr. Turner's first photograph.  2 1/2 hours was a pretty rough endurance test but even if “Mr. Turner” had been compressed into 90 minutes, I still think that I would have been uninterested and bored.

[Pictured: Beautiful to look at but not so much fun to watch]

Into the Woods (2014) - 8 stars out of 10

Into the Woods (2014) - 8 stars out of 10

I never really cared for "Into the Woods."  Until I watched this screen adaptation.  And now I love it!  Sondheim's genius rings clearly through his constant flow of lyrics in this overwhelming presentation of artistic design, special effects, talented singing voices, and impressive acting.  From the first lines of the 15-minute Prologue, I knew that this film would be magic.  My largest criticism of the show has been a lack of catchy songs that stick in your head, but the music translates better in this production than in the 1991 stage recording.  "No One Is Alone," "Giants In The Sky," "I Know Things Now," "Stay With Me," "Any Moment," "Agony" - they are all so great.  Dare I say that I'm going to buy this soundtrack ASAP?  These songs have me in the mood to go watch "Sweeney Todd" right now.  Rob Marshall and Disney faced a big challenge in making this film accessible to a diverse audience while preserving the original story and style, but they struck a balance of capturing the essence of "Into the Woods" while keeping it PG.  I was so happy to see that Sondheim and Lapine gave their blessing to adapt this story into a more family-friendly version, and even helped Disney to do it!  The elimination of the affairs will make it easier for parents to share this with their children.  It isn't as extreme as the original but it's still one of the most interesting fairy tale mashups ever.  I also feel that the exclusion of a few songs and several reprises was wise.  It felt like the longest 2-hour movie of my life, as is the nature of a film with such an intense flow of melodic dictation (especially when you aren't familiar with the music), but any longer and I may have started wanting it to end.  The artistry of this film transports us into a stunning fairy tale world and it has a shot at Best Production Design.  The costumes are incredible and the scenery makes the woods more mysterious than ever.  But the true magic comes from the acting.  This production was so perfectly cast that the characters jump right off of the screen.  Anna Kendrick will steal your heart in the role of Cinderella.  The timbre of her voice is fantastic and she really taps into the insecurity of this character, all while perfectly looking the part.  I am not very familiar with James Corden but his comedy is a great match for the Baker.  He has great chemistry with Emily Blunt, who brings warmth to the Baker's Wife and turned this into my favorite of her performances.  Meryl Streep makes us all think "she is the best ever," as usual. It seems as if any role that she plays is automatically considered for an Oscar nomination, and there is nothing unreasonable about that.  I wasn't buying her nomination at first, but her transformation and "Last Midnight" sealed the deal.  Every vocalist is just so good, especially Lilla Crawford (Little Red Riding Hood) and Daniel Huttlestone (Jack, and played Gavroche in "Les Mis").  Autotune is inevitable in a movie with this much singing (90% of which was recorded before shooting), but I was still blown away.  You know that it was amazing when I don't even have time to mention Johnny Depp and Chris Pine.  Whenever a big production company decides to put a well-known story onto the big screen, you have to question whether they will get it right or if we'll be seeing another attempt in a few years.  I am confident that we will never see another movie version of "Into the Woods" - they captured it perfectly.

[Pictured: Anna Kendrick continues to become a brighter and brighter star]

A Day at EPCOT Center - 6 stars out of 10

A Day at EPCOT Center - 6 stars out of 10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHJaWWKXbiQ

This souvenir video from 1991 perfectly captures an era of EPCOT Center history that has been lost throughout the years.  While the addition of thrill rides has increased the popularity of the park, this nostalgic look back to the early 90’s version of EPCOT Center displays the park’s original concept.  Walt’s original vision is preserved in this more educational, future-oriented park.  Anybody who visited EPCOT Center in this era will enjoy reliving the afternoon airshow above the lagoon, The World of Motion, Horizons, and the appearance of Robin Hood (the fox) in England.  The shows and restaurants in the World Showcase have changed but the architecture and concept are still the same.  Contrastingly, Future World has experienced a complete overhaul since this video.  Whether this video brings back memories or lets you explore the old EPCOT Center for the first time, this is worth a half-hour of any Disney fan’s time! 

[Pictured: EPCOT Center has always had a cool, futuristic look]

Mad Max (1979) - 3 stars out of 10

Mad Max (1979) - 3 stars out of 10

Reading the synopsis of “Mad Max,” one would think that this is a high-octane, action-packed thriller for the ages.  In reality, I found this film to be slow, underwhelming, and quite forgettable.  I love dystopian films and walk into each with the expectation that it will be on pace with “Gattaca” or “A Clockwork Orange.”  This one fell far short of that expectation.  I didn’t develop an emotional connection with any of the characters, feel surprised at any moment, or believe the scenes that transpired onscreen.  I know that the critics love this film but I just can’t get into it.  Probably the best thing that I got out of this was the opportunity to see Mel Gibson at age 23 – he didn’t even look like himself!  I definitely expected more of this iconic film but I’m sad to say that “Mad Max’ is up there (or should I say down there) with “Death Race 2000” on my list of dystopian films.

[Pictured: It's hard to believe that this is Mel Gibson]

Cool Runnings - 6 stars out of 10

Cool Runnings - 6 stars out of 10

“Cool Runnings” is one of those films that isn’t really a Disney classic but still provides clean family fun.  The historical accuracy of the story may not be precise (or even close) in relation to the actual 1988 Jamaican Bobsled Team, but the themes of hard work and perseverance ring true.  I am probably the first person to coin the phrase “bobsled propaganda,” but it is fascinating how this film popularized bobsledding with kids growing up in the 90’s.  We may not have ever tried bobsledding ourselves, but it became a favorite winter Olympic sport in my household because of this film.  You do not need to look beyond the cast list to see why this film was warmly received by critics and families alike.  The writers created a diverse group of characters and the casting directors successfully created this balance of serious (Leon), goofy (Doug E. Doug), intimidating (Malik Yoba), self-conscious (Rawle D. Lewis), and redemptive (John Candy).  All of the actors play their roles well, particularly Candy in his last film released before his early death at the age of 43.  “Cool Runnings” isn’t the greatest sports film ever made but with a lot of comedy, great casting, and Jimmy Cliff’s recording of “I Can See Clearly Now,” you can’t help but smile from start to finish.  "Feel the rhythm!  Feel the rhyme!  Get on up, it's bobsled time!"

[Pictured: It's impossible to dislike bobsledding after watching this movie]