carlosgz

The Hunger Games book trilogy is one I could recommend to anyone, and as a fan of it, there was only one thing that left me unsatisfied: how Katniss ended up basically becoming a housewife with Peeta. Her true destiny was to live adventurously ever after with Gale *sob*. And I really thought this final installment would give Katniss the ending she deserves. All in all, however, this is a solid and complete final chapter for a franchise that has made young people learn about the idea of standing up for yourself and understand how the misuse of power can make for a corrupt, violent environment. As a fan of the books, I am left satisfied, if not for how they sticked with the book's ending. Also, having appreciated Francis Lawrence's previous adaptations, I didn't expect less. Jennifer Lawrence (who sometimes I overpraise) is purely magnetic as the Mockingjay and I don't think anyone else could've played her as wonderfully as she did. Conclusion: The Hunger Games ends its run somewhat similar to Harry Potter's in the way that it didn't compromise the authenticity of the literary works for commercial aspects. Franchises, after all, tend to be disgusting (Divergent, The Maze Runner, etc., etc.), so it's a glorious feeling that all fans will get to experience such an emotional yet genuine closure.

The clay, the snow, the crimson peak. It's a magnificent film Guillermo del Toro has crafted here. Visually rich and beautiful, it captures the viewer's eye throughout its entirety. During the film, however, I caught myself concentrating on the technical aspects, rather than the emotional ones, but still completely got an appreciation for the compelling performances, especially Chastain's and Hiddleston's. It's by far the most scary and gory work del Toro has produced (not including The Strain). I was legitimately surprised by how much blood there is, and found the suspenseful setups brilliant. Why a 4-star rating? I thought about that a lot, because it really is a smart film. The truth is that, regardless of how dark, emotional, mystical even, it manages to be, the plot is quite boring: two siblings in search of a female, wealthy suitor in order to finally get a machine to work. There's something about that that feels dull to me. Also, the final act is a masterpiece in its execution.

This is definitely not a film for everyone. But it happens to be my type of movie. And I loved it. The level of pasive-agressiveness is crazy. I laughed way too much. All four actors are horribly magnificent (if you do watch the film, you'll understand why I use "horribly"). But Winslet and Waltz - I mean - what else can I say?. Roman Polanski did something incredible here. Same set, same four actors, the entire film. Just recently I found out this was based on a play. Now it makes sense. The dialogue really plays out like a play and it works out very well here. At 88 minutes, it manages to not tire. What's more, I didn't wanted it to end.

Hipster came to mind while I watched this film. Then I reasoned: this is so unlike any other coming-of-age film. It's not necessarily hipster, it's just completely unique. Alejandro Gomez-Rejon crafted such a human film led by unlikeable characters. The actors made me see their complex characters through their raw performances. I love love loved the film. It's beautiful. Witty, too. I feel like I could watch this film endlessly and would still shed tears from sadness and laughter.

To say this is my kind of film is an understatement. I get to see two of my favorite actors (Levitt and Blunt) kicking ass in an intelligent film I am sad I took this long to watch. Every shot is crisp and the whole concept is original. Rian Johnson (annoyingly, Rian with an "i", but whatever) made this movie feel so cool. But the truth is, that's not the point. It's smart. At some points, I had to pause the film to check I understood everything. Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Emily Blunt, and Pierce Gagnon are amazing. Gagnon impressed me very much. There's a whole other part of this film that comes through: it's also psychological. One of the best time-travel/action/drama films ever. Never once during the film did Inception come across, so there's also that.

Never boring and with an all-star cast, this movie proves to be a thrilling and exciting experience for kids and adults alike. It really is very fun. Very funny, too. I guess the only thing I didn't enjoy was the predicatability. I would've also loved to listen more to Disgust and Fear. Amy Poehler and Phyllis Smith as Joy and Sadness are amazing. This may very well be the best Pixar film to date. Pete Docter manages to create the best scenarios possible for this complex concept with an ever so vivid universe.

I went in feeling a little bit unsure whether I would like it. I wanted to like it because I love Nancy Meyers. I didn't love It's Complicated, though. Surprisingly, I thoroughly enjoyed this film. I even left feeling satisfied. Robert De Niro was as charming as ever. Anne Hathway did a great job playing a conflicted, unlikeable woman without making her likeable. That is, many actresses make their characters likeable because they feel they must be, which is not true. It's an interesting premise, which Meyers turns into an intelligent plot. The only thing I didn't like about this film was that De Niro's character was a perfect human being. He's flawless, which doesn't seem real. Otherwise, it made me laugh plenty and even tear up in a scene. It's very moving and charming.

Creepy. Very creepy. Even better: it's effective. A sleek psychological thriller that features exactly just that. Joel Edgerton managed to produce something that's enjoyable, interesting, and clearly, well thought-out. The three lead actors do a good job, though director-writer-actor Edgerton clearly takes the final bow. The directing choices by Edgerton impressed me. He didn't play it safe at all. Conclusion: intelligently psychological, or is it psychologically intelligent?

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]

This is what a sci-fi action movie should be. By all means, a return to form from Ridley Scott, who maybe left us a little bit unsatisfied with last year's Exodus. Back to the film, it offers competition for Mad Max, and that is saying A LOT. It manages to be witty, dramatic, charming, somber. There are seamless transitions between those moments in the film. A formidable cast and crew prove plot is in no way a limit for their skills. And Go Matt Damon! He, as expected, delivers a star performance as a (supremely intelligent) man trying to survive the dreadful odds. Every part of this movie is increasingly satisfying (though a cameo by Sigourney Weaver would've been incredible). Think of it as Moon meets Interstellar meets Gravity, just through Ridley Scott's splendid eye for dramatic action with a touch of funny.

What an amazing movie! What an amazing actress! I just felt immersed in the film; beginning to end. Watching Sandra being such a flawed and damaged worker fight for her job (and emotional health) was truly an experience to treasure. Watching Marion Cotillard delivering one of her best is a highlight of cinema. Besides, this film has such an independent feel to it that just makes me fall in love more. So looking forward to the directors' next project.

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]

Amidst so many negative and unsatisfactory comments about this highly anticipated sequel, I think it was a good effort. This is taking into account just how impossible it was to top the first one. Pitch Perfect was probably the funniest (teen-oriented) movie of 2012, blended with Tina Fey-ish humor and devastating jokes. Coming up with an equally excellent sequel would be like coming up with a good sequel for Mean Girls: just too damn impossible. I'd say it is a sequel that deserves much more respect. I liked it so much that I can't wait for the third installment.

It's raunchy, foul-mouthed and showcases a trio of unlikeable leads who make you cringe at the mean stuff they do. Nevertheless, it's consistently funny and surprisingly dark. Kirsten Dunst is amazing in this.

This movie made me crack up countless times. Not just a belly laugh. I'm talking a real crack-up. A hit my leg kind of laugh. Engaging story, direction, photography, as expected. The performances, especially Byrne's and Statham, are hilarious. But obviously, the real winner in this film is McCarthy. She just walks on with her sad costume and proves everyone just how bad-ass and agressive she can be while remaining the character with the wittiest, funniest one-liners. Paul Feig: you are a genius and can't wait for your Ghostbusters movie to come out next year.

Talk about disappointment. While Sinister offered a cool, dark, indie, horror story, this sequel proves to be useless. Take into account that I'm a weasel in horror movies, but can actually have an appreciation for the good ones. Put simply, NOT a deserving follow-up. Even the actors, man. After having Ethan Hawke in the first one, I'd at least expected some quality performances. To end on a lighter note, it's not the worst horror film ever, but falls short from that list.

If I had to use just three adjectives to describe this film, I would use: real, refreshing, and real. Why twice? Because it's a totally relatable, darkly humorous story of a young human seeking an identity. The electrifying element of the movie, though, evolves as the movie progresses with the interpersonal relationships that Aura, the protagonist, makes or develops. I truly recommend watching this film. I am so sad I waited all the way until 2015 to watch it, five years after its release. An added bonus is experiencing the directorial, writing, acting debut of Lena Dunham (a true genius) and Jemima Kirke being wonderful. Do watch!