Rest In Peace: Bob Hoskins

I was sad to hear that Bob Hoskins passed away recently from pneumonia. Even if you are unfamiliar with the British character actor by name, you've probably seen him in something. He was the star of films such as The Long Good Friday, Mona Lisa, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, and Super Mario Bros. He also has major supporting roles in Unleashed, Paris je t'aime, Hook, Brazil, Mrs Anderson Presents, Neverland, A Christmas Carol, Snow White and the Huntsman, and Nixon. He also was nominated for several prestigious awards, such as Golden Globes, BAFTAs, and Emmys (for his role on BBC's The Street). He won the often sought-after Prix d'interprétation masculine at the Cannes Film Festival for Mona Lisa. He was beloved and will be sorely missed.

                                                              Bob Hoskins
                                                October 26, 1942-April 29, 2014
                                                                 (age: 71)
                                           (Image: Wikipedia)

Frozen: What the fuck?

So, I know I already reviewed this film and even put a shorter summary of my thoughts in my "Top 25 Movies of 2013" list back in February. I won't retread the same ground, however, I do feel I should express how my opinions on the film have changed. I am actually kind of pissed off by the mention of the film now. It has become so aggravatingly popular that it's getting extended runs in theaters, people are racing to their nearest store to buy the Blu-Ray or DVD, and it's now the #10 highest-grossing film of all time (without taking inflation into account), as well as the highest-grossing animated film. My main questions that's been bothering me for weeks: why? Why the fuck does this movie deserve all this praise? I know it's in my favorites of the year list, but if you notice it's considerably lower than most people would consider it worthy of, and the only films below it are Side Effects, Iron Man 3, Catching Fire, and maybe one or two others. And there's a reason why: my expectations were very high when I heard just how great this movie was. I go into the theater expecting some revolutionary shit. You know what I got? A decent animated film with overrated music and some nice humor. That's it. I personally felt the climax (and plot in general) was very rushed and anti-climactic (which completely misses the point of a climax). Like I just stated: the music is grossly overrated. And I've enjoyed the music the husband-wife team has done before (The Book of Mormon and Avenue Q). But this music is just very...meh. Nothing special, could be better. Not even comparable to...well...none of the other Disney songs are particularly good per se, they're just very catchy and memorable. So maybe these fit right in with the Disney motto of: it doesn't have to be particularly good or revolutionary music, it just has to be really catchy and popular, and get over-played to the point where it becomes mind-numbingly annoying. Honestly, if I hear "Do You Want to Build a Snowman?" or "Let It Go" (or even hear somebody make a pun or bad joke related to them) again, I might just go insane. Sure, Idina Menzel is a talented singer, but that doesn't mean the song is any better. That's like saying "Well Joel Schumacher has done some good stuff in the past, so that means Batman & Robin has to be good, right?" Again, the film isn't bad. It's just extremely over-rated and unnecessarily praised. it actually makes me angry when people don't admit that Frozen isn't the "greatest animated film of all time". Here's a list of much better animated films that actually deserve to be #10 highest-grossing movie:
Spirited Away
Akira
The Simpsons Movie (Yes, you're reading that correctly, The Simpsons Movie is more clever and is more entertaining than Frozen)
Finding Nemo (Even though this is also kind of over-rated)
Ghost in the Shell
Cowboy Bebop: The Movie
The Incredibles
Toy Story
Toy Story 2
Wreck-It-Ralph (from the same team as this film, and the vastly superior of the two)
The Princess and the Frog
Shrek 2
How to Train Your Dragon
Alice in Wonderland
The Lion King
Lilo and Stitch 
Fantasia
Howl's Moving Castle
My Neighbor Totoro
Toy Story 3
The Spongebob Squarepants Movie
Kung Fu Panda

The popularity Frozen is just aggravating to me. And I hate people who instantly shut themselves off to others' valid points. For example: I tried to explain my position on the film to a few Frozen fanatics, and they just said "No, uh-uh, it's good, you're wrong." That really just irks me to no end. Again: not a terrible movie. Not even a bad movie. But deserves to be #1 highest-grossing animated film? Fuck. No.

(Image: Wikipedia)

Rest In Peace: Mickey Rooney

A few days ago, the film industry lost one of it's most iconic stars, as well as one of it's most prolific. Mickey Rooney has been in films since the end of the silent era, and on stage since he was an infant in 1922, with projects ranging from A Midsummer Night's Dream to Santa Claus is Comin' to Town to The Fox and the Hound to It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World to Breakfast at Tiffany's to Night at the Museum and The Muppets. He had one of the longest careers in the entertainment industry, spanning from 1922 to 2014. He was a beloved actor, and it's guaranteed everyone who has seen a television show, movie, or TV special has seen this man on screen, possibly more than a few times. Even those who don't recognize the name will recognize the films he made and the characters he played. It's a shame that he passed away, even though he was over 90, it still seems too soon. It's weird... there's been more celebrity deaths than usual in the past year, and probably more to come. Truly a shame, so many great stars, just...gone.

                                                                Mickey Rooney
                                                   September 23, 1920-April 6, 2014
                                                                    (age: 93)

                               (Image: Wikipedia)

                                            

The Grand Budapest Hotel: Wes Anderson's latest quirky visual masterwork

Today, I'll look at Wes Anderson's newest acclaimed film.

The Grand Budapest Hotel:
In present day, a young girl holding a memoir visits the "Old Lutz Cemetery", where she finds the gravestone of "Author". Flashing back to 1985, we see the elderly Author giving an introduction to his memoir, which focuses on a trip he made to The Grand Budapest Hotel in 1968. He finds it mostly empty, except for a few employees and guests, and the owner: Monsieur Zero Moustafa. Over dinner, the Young Writer learns that Moustafa once served as a lobby boy during the 1930s, and he narrates the story of how he and his mentor and friend Monsieur Gustave, a concierge, went on an adventure through a fictional alpine state: the Republic of Zubrowka (where the hotel is located) to solve a murder mystery and avoid the authorities, as Gustave was falsely accused of the crime. Taking place during a fictitious version of WWII (complete with "ZZ" officers from a fictitious German-esque country), this film is incredible. I'm not the hugest fan of Wes Anderson, but when he does something good, I won't let my dislike of some of his other films hold me back from enjoying it immensely. Using some stop-motion techniques he picked up during the filming of Fantastic Mr. Fox, Anderson gives this film a unique visual flare. The cast is great. Cast against type, Ralph Fiennes is excellent as the awkward, eccentric, debonair, and eloquent Gustave, who is strange but also very likeable and funny. Tony Revolori is great as the quiet and adventurous young Zero, who is loyal and close to his employer. F. Murray Abraham serves as a great narrator, and although he doesn't look at all like an older Revolori, it's his performance that makes you believe he really could be an elderly Zero. Jude Law, although his role is small, is cool as the curious and passionate Young Writer. Tom Wilkinson makes a cameo as the older and more experience Author from 1985. Sairose Ronan appears as Zero's shy and helpful love interest Agatha. Some Anderson regulars who appears in minor and supporting roles are Bill Murray, Willem Dafoe, Owen Wilson, Jason Schwartzman, Tilda Swinton (who is nearly unrecognizable), and Edward Norton. Dafoe plays a creepy and psychotic murderer and assassin named Jopling who was hired by the film's main antagonist. Speaking of which, Adrian Brody appears as the obnoxious, foul-mouthed, and weird villain Dimitri, who utterly despises Gustave. Jeff Goldblum plays Deputy Kovacs, a smart lawyer who is an acquaintance of Gustave. Lea Seydoux, Mathieu Almaric, Harvey Keitel, and Bob Balaban appear in funny and odd supporting roles. The cast are all amazing, and do their best even in minor roles or cameos. Funny enough, I was surprised by how violent and vulgar the movie could be, but it didn't bother me at all, in fact, it made it kind of cool, as it was something fresh from Anderson, who's previous few films have all been PG to PG-13 fare. There are actually quite a lot of twists, turns, close calls and false alarms in this movie to kept anyone on the edge of their seat. But it's also quirky and hilarious, as well as touching and heart-warming at times. The dialogue is well-written and odd, and there's some vibrant visuals and beautiful sets and costumes. The camerawork is original and the editing is impressive. The soundtrack is brilliant and intriguing, and there's a cool little animated part during the end credits I'd recommend staying for. The Grand Budapest Hotel showcases Anderson's talent for making fantastic and highly entertaining and fun movies, and shows he's still got it. It's got an interesting and kind of complicated plot, and an exquisite screenplay, which is inspired by the literary works of Stefan Zweig. The performances, writing, and visuals are astounding, and even people who don't typically care for Anderson may find themselves reconsidering their positions, I know I am. 4.5/5 stars.

(Image: Wikipedia)

The Muppets Movies: A modern take on timeless and iconic characters.

Today, I look at the new Muppet films, including the latest release. (I know this is a bit late.)

The Muppets:
In a small town in America, two brothers (Gary and Walter, who are fans of the Muppets, and the latter of which is a muppet himself, along with Gary's girlfriend Mary) decide to go on a trip around the world to recollect the original Muppets so they can put on a live show to raise money to save Muppets Studios, which is in danger of being shut down and destroyed by a rich oil company owner due to lack of business. Filled with the series' trademark plethora of celebrity cameos, musical numbers, slapstick, and jokes that will probably go unnoticed by most kids, this was surprisingly good. I would have reviewed it when it was first released in 2011, but I wasn't actually a movie reviewer back then, so I figured with the release of the sequel I might as well touch upon it now. The main human characters are actually pretty well-written. Jason Segel and Amy Adams (who play Gary and Mary, respectively) have good chemistry on-screen, and are relatable leads. Chris Cooper serves as the over-the-top villain, and does a surprisingly good job, he's basically just a prick. Rashida Jones (Parks and Recreation, The Office) has a supporting role as a network executive at a television network. The new muppet character Walter seemed (from the promos I saw) like he was going to be irritating and a forced new character. But he actually was a welcome addition to an already massive cast of characters. He's kind of an outsider to both the muppets and the humans, so he kind of has to find his place in the world, which makes him surprisingly a relatable lead, as everyone kind of goes through a similar thing. The celebrity cameos are funny and well-done, and there's so damn many, here's just a few: Zach Galifianakis, Alan Arkin, Emily Blunt, Jack Black, Whoopi Goldberg, Neil Patrick Harris, Sarah Silverman, Ken Jeong, Judd Hirsch, James Carville, Donald Glover, Jim Parsons, John Krasinski, Micky Rooney, Bill Cobbs, Dave Grohl, and Selena Gomez. A lot of them are self-deprecating, and those are definitely the funniest. The whole movie is just really entertaining and is the definition of a "family movie". As much as I hate the term, as many films have kind of shat on that genre (The Smurfs, Alvin and the Chipmunks, Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore, etc.), it is technically a "family film", as it can entertain anyone of any age group. It's just a well-written movie. Props to Jason Segel and Nicholas Stoller for penning a great screenplay. Christophe Beck also composes an upbeat and fun score, which is modern and new, but also very reminiscent of the old Muppets TV show of the 1960's and 70's. Flight of the Conchords' Bret McKenzie wrote most of the songs in the film, and won the Oscar for Best Original Song for "Man or Muppet". I didn't love the music in the movie, but it was catchy and was better than most of the shit we see in musicals today. (Admit it people, "Let It Go" is overrated!) The Muppets is a great movie. It's heartfelt, uplifting, and genuinely touching and funny. 4/5 stars.



Muppets Most Wanted:
After wrapping up the filming of 2011's The Muppets (a fourth wall break which one expects from the franchise by now), Walter and the Muppets immediately sign on for a sequel and get a new agent: the manipulative criminal Dominic Badguy. He is working with Constantine, the "world's most dangerous frog", who disguises himself as Kermit and gets the real Kermit locked up in the Gulag. Without a proper leader, the Muppets run wild as Dominic and Constantine begin their quest to steal the British crown jewels. Kermit all the while, must survive the harshness of the Gulag and try to escape. Sam the Eagle reluctantly teams up with an Interpol agent to track down the thieves and catch them before it's too late. This, while not as good as the first film (which the movie openly acknowledges), still manages to capture the fun spirit of the franchise, especially as a sort of spiritual successor/reboot of the film The Great Muppet Caper. But, now that I think about it, it's not even technically a sequel, as it ret-cons the original by revealing that even in the universe of this film, the first movie was just that: a movie. The human leads are great. Ricky Gervais brings his sarcastic British wit to the franchise as Badguy, and Ty Burrell is great as the obnoxious Interpol agent Jean Pierre Napoleon. He and Sam Eagle have such great chemistry they deserve their own fucking movie! Tina Fey has a supporting role as Nadya, the head of the prison guards at the Gulag, who seems to have a strange interest in Kermit. There are even more celeb cameos this time around, including: Tony Bennett, Ray Liotta, Jemaine Clement, Frank Langella, Hugh Bonneville, Sean Combs (P. Diddy), Rob Corddry, Mackenzie Crook, Celine Dion Dexter Fletcher, Lady Gaga, Zach Galifianakis, James McAvoy, Chloe Grace-Moretz, Sairose Ronan, Usher, Danny Trejo (as a Gulag prisoner who is also known as Danny Trejo), Ross Lynch, Dylan Postl, Tom Hiddleston, Tom Hollander, Salma Hayek, Christoph Waltz, Josh Groban, and Stanley Tucci. They aren't as good as the ones from the previous film, but they're pretty funny. This movie is also full of clever film references (including The Shawshank Redemption and even 2011's The Muppets) and has a cool end credits moment. Nicholas Stoller returns as writer and James Bobin as director. Bret McKenzie and Christophe Beck also return for songs and musical score, respectively. They are better than in the previous film, so hopefully they win some awards. McKenzie's Flight of the Conchords buddy Jemaine Clement (as mentioned above) makes a cameo in the film. Although this film is a little too fast-paced, it's filled with slapstick, subtextual jokes, and visual gags. Muppets Most Wanted may be a little disappointing, but it's a sequel, it's kind of common sense it wouldn't be as good. Putting the negatives aside, it's a funny and charming film I would definitely recommend if you enjoyed the first one. 3.5/5 stars.

  (Images: Wikipedia)

Captain America- The Winter Soldier: Marvel Studios' latest superhero sequel, and definitely it's best

Last night, I got the chance to see the latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and I was pleasantly surprised.

Captain America, The Winter Soldier:
After the events of The Avengers, Captain America and Black Widow have been doing special ops missions for Nick Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D. They've been building a friendship, and Cap has been trying to get reacquainted with the world, considering he's missed over 70 years of history and pop culture. He's also become friends with an ex-soldier named Sam Wilson. Unfortunately, Cap soon finds out that S.H.I.E.L.D. may have been compromised, and that he can trust no one, not even Nick Fury or Black Widow. He also finds himself a fugitive on the run from corrupt politician Alexander Pierce and many S.H.I.E.L.D. operatives. All the while, Cap must face his past when a mysterious figure known only as "The Winter Soldier" (who bears a striking resemblance to someone from his WWII days) attempts to assassinate him and his colleagues on several occasions. Cap and Black Widow must hide out from S.H.I.E.L.D. and unravel the mystery of who's behind this government conspiracy, and, even more interesting, who is this Winter Soldier? This movie was surprisingly good. After the satisfying but also somewhat lackluster Iron Man sequels and the disappointing Thor: The Dark World, I was curious how they were going to follow up to the first Captain America, which I initially was indifferent towards but have grown to like over the last three years. Somehow they did it. In my opinion this is the best sequel in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and my favorite of the "Phase Two" films so far. It's the best of them besides Iron Man and The Avengers. It's more of an espionage thriller with some superheroes thrown in the mix, a sort of Jason Bourne and Skyfall meet Marvel. The cast were excellent. Chris Evans continues to show he is the ideal person to play Captain America. He's humorous, heroic, charming, quick-witted, and all around bad-ass, and he has that aura of an action hero from an old movie that you kind of need for Captain America (which is kind of obvious considering he's a hero from days gone by). Scarlett Johansson is always great as Natasha Romanoff, aka the Black Widow. She honestly made the movie ten times better, not just for her looks (but those definitely helped, too) but because she has a really great personality and wit in this movie. She and Evans have excellent on-screen chemistry, despite that she's kind of a tease, as she leads him on while also telling him to date other women. On another note, I liked how the filmmakers didn't go with the route from the comics, where she turns out to be a secret HYDRA operative, because I felt that would have been a bit dumb considering how this film universe has been set up. Anthony Mackie was fantastic as Sam Wilson, aka the Falcon. Although you could say he's just a rehash of Rhodes from Iron Man (i.e. the hero's cool black friend/sidekick), I thought he was a great addition to the series and he and Evans genuinely seemed like good buddies on screen. Sebastian Stan reprises his role as Bucky Barnes, Cap's best friend from his WWII days, now long dead. He appears in flashbacks and archive footage (the latter of which is shown in the fictitious Captain American exhibit in the Smithsonian). Cobie Smulders reappears as Maria Hill, Fury's right-hand woman and a dedicated S.H.I.E.L.D. agent. Emily VanCamp appears in a supporting role as Sharon Carter, aka Agent 13, another tough female S.H.I.E.L.D. agent who is assigned to look out for Captain America. Frank Grillo portrays Brock Rumlow (known as Crossbones in the comics), a member of Captain America's elite team of S.H.I.E.L.D. operatives. He's a pretty bad-ass character, actually, whether or not you agree with his decisions is a completely different story. Hayley Atwell reprises her role as Cap's former lover interest and British secret agent Peggy Carter, now an elderly woman. It was nice to see their relationship have closure. Veteran actor and director Robert Redford portrays the film's main antagonist: Alexander Pierce. A supporting character in the comics who is loyal to Nick Fury, in the film he is portrayed as a corrupt politician working withing S.H.I.E.L.D. who betrays Cap and Black Widow and brands them as fugitives. He's one of the few Marvel Cinematic Universe bad guys (besides The Mandarin, Loki, and Obidiah Stane) who wasn't all that disappointing and was actually a real threat. He's not the first character to be completely changed for the Cinematic Universe, but I think he's the first major villain to be based on a completely non-villainous character. Of course, you can't deal with S.H.I.E.L.D. without dealing with it's director. Samuel L. Jackson returns in full-force as the bad-ass, one-eyed, stern, and secretive Nick Fury. He's honestly one of the best supporting characters in the series, and he never ceases to be cool. Eagle-eyes may spot a cool easter egg: near the end of the film, something belonging to Fury has a quote from the Bible on it (Ezekiel 25:17), the very same he quote he famously recites in Pulp Fiction (which is 20 years old this year). Toby Jones reappears as Arnim Zola, Red Skull's Swiss scientist partner, who is closer to his comic book counterpart this time around. Maximiliano Hernandez appears as Jasper Sitwell, a higher-up in S.H.I.E.L.D. Having appeared in numerous Marvel "One-Shots" and in The Avengers, he should be a familiar character with many fans by now. Garry Shandling reprises his minor role as smug politician Senator Stern from Iron Man 2. Georges St. Pierre appears as Georges Betroc, a French mercenary and skilled martial artist who has an intense fight with Captain America in the film's opening action sequence. He is based on the classic Captain America villain Batroc the Leaper. Callan Mulvey appears as Jack Rollins, one of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s best counter-terrorism strike force operatives and Rumlow's colleague. The World Security Council are portrayed by Bernard White, Chin Han (The Dark Knight), Alan Dale, and Jenny Agutter, who is the only one to also appear as a council member in The Avengers. Gary Sinise has a voice-over cameo as the narrator of the Smithsonian's Cap exhibit, and Stan Lee cameos as a museum security guard. Ed Brubaker, the creator of the Winter Soldier, cameos as an evil scientist working with the assassin. Joe Russo (one of the directors) appears as a doctor, and the writers cameo as interrogators. This movie is actually one of my favorite films of the year so far. It feels fresh and new for a Marvel film, and is tied in directly with The Avengers: Age of Ultron, but doesn't feel forced, like in the way Iron Man 2 shoved the upcoming Avengers down the viewer's throat. It has enough superhero action and sci-fi tech to keep fans of the series and comics happy, but also enough intriguing spy fare and twists to keep general audiences entertained. The music by Henry Jackman may be very similar to the score of The Avengers, but it does a good job getting you excited during an action sequence or just before a huge action set-piece. Speaking of which, the action and fight sequences are stunning and exhilarating. The mind-blowing special effects blend in seamlessly, too. From the opening sequence on a shipping freighter, to the well-choreographed one-on-one fight between Cap and Batroc, to the car chase between Nick Fury and some corrupt cops/S.H.I.E.L.D. agents, to the close-quarters fight between Captain America and S.H.I.E.L.D. agents in an elevator and his subsequent escape, to the gun battle between the Winter Solider and Cap & Black Widow, to the final battle sequence aboard the S.H.I.E.L.D. helicarriers and inside The Triskelion (S.H.I.E.L.D. HQ), every one of the these sequences is entertaining and explosive, with tons of intense hand-to-hand combat and fire-fights. Joe and Anthony Russo are mostly known for their work on comedy series such as Arrested Development and Happy Endings, so I was surprised they could pull off a violent and fast-paced superhero film so well. The writers (Stephen McFeely and Christopher Markus) do a great job adapting the material to the big screen, and putting their own original twist on it. I also felt they got the tone right. As much as I love The Avengers (and don't get me wrong, I really fucking love it), you do get the sense it's too light-hearted at times, example: putting jokes in inappropriate places (like having a character say a funny line moments after Agent Coulson is stabbed by Loki), this one was closer to the original Iron Man (and the intended tone of the series before Disney took over): has humor and fun flashy visuals, but knows too much will drown out the more serious parts. It also realizes that when shit gets real, you can't put jokes in immediately afterwards, you have to let the seriousness of the situations at hand sink in, or else you'll be accused of not taking the material seriously yourself. Captain America: The Winter Soldier just got it right. It's got a great cast, a surprisingly intriguing plot, a darker tone, more mind-blowing action set-pieces, a decent musical score, and some excellent writing for an action film. The only problems: a few logical flaws (which are common in action films), but mainly it's the release date. Why early April and not May like usual? What the fuck, Marvel Studios? That's almost as bad as Thor 2's November release date. 4.5/5 stars.

My reviews of the original film and the other Phase One movies:  http://mattcottermovies.blogspot.com/2012/05/avengers-movies.html
http://mattcottermovies.blogspot.com/2012/05/avengers-movies-part-ii.html
My review of "Iron Man 3": http://mattcottermovies.blogspot.com/2013/05/iron-man-3-is-it-possible-to-really.html
My review of "Thor- The Dark World": http://mattcottermovies.blogspot.com/2013/11/thor-dark-world-marvels-latest.html

(SPOILERS BELOW POSTER)
(Image: Wikipedia)




(SPOILER SEGMENT): About halfway through the film, Captain America discovers The Winter Soldier is his best friend Bucky Barnes, who, after having "died" during WWII, has been genetically enhanced, cryogenically frozen, and has had his memory wiped. He is now a stone-cold killer and an unstoppable force. For people like me, who've read the comics, this was not a surprise, but I figured I'd put it down here anyway in case people who haven't read into it want to see the film. Also, Cap and Black Widow discover Red Skull's right-hand man Arnim Zola had transported his consciousness into an old supercomputer before he died in 1972. He reveals he was recruited by the SSR after WWII to found S.H.I.E.L.D. Unfortunately for the heroes, he used this as an opportunity to regrow HYDRA (Red Skull's Nazi-supporting terrorist organization) and that's why most of the agency has been compromised. He developed a genius "algorithm" to detect people who could possibly be threats to S.H.I.E.L.D./HYDRA, and had the hypnotized Bucky/Winter Soldier dispose of them. It is implied he is responsible for the "accidental" deaths of many of Cap's old friends, including Howard Stark. This is closer to his comic book counterpart than in the previous film, as in the comics he is a disembodied head inside of a robotic body who controls other organisms using his knowledge of biology. Here he is a disembodied mind inside a computer who used his intellect to control an entire organization. He is accidentally destroyed in an explosion meant to kill Cap and Black Widow. Characters such as Senator Stern, Rumlow, Rollins, and Jasper Sitwell are revealed to be secret HYDRA operatives, and Sitwell is brutally taken out by Winter Soldier for revealing Zola and HYDRA's plans to the heroes. By the end, the villains are stopped, S.H.I.E.L.D. is shut down, Cap, Hill, Widow, and Wilson look for new occupations (Hill applies for a job at Stark Industries), the remaining HYDRA supporters (including Senator Stern) are arrested, and Nick Fury fakes his own death so he can live a peaceful life away from all this government conspiracy and espionage stuff. Cap and Black Widow have a moment, and Cap and Falcon vow to track down Bucky and save him from his horrible existence as the Winter Soldier. In a mid-credits sequence, we see an underground facility run by the villainous HYDRA leader Baron von Strucker (played by Thomas Kretschmann). He is talking with one of his associates, who is concerned about them being exposed as HYDRA operatives. Strucker tells him not to worry, as they have something valuable. They look on as scientists study the staff used by Loki in The Avengers. They also discuss the dangers of genetic experimentation, and discuss disposing of the bodies of failed test subjects. They also discuss what will happen to the "Twins", the two surviving test subjects: Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch (played by Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Elizabeth Olson, respectively). Strucker looks on with evil glee as they experience their strange new powers while locked in containment cells. (They are no longer Magneto's mutant children as in the comics, but rather the product of experimentation, as Fox has the rights to X-Men). The second end-credits sequences shows the confused and traumatized Bucky in casual clothes looking at pictures of him and Cap from the 1940's in the Smithsonian museum exhibit, and begins to realize the gravity of the situation he's in. The film then has a text that reads: "Steve Rogers will return in The Avengers: Age of Ultron". I personally feel the Bucky one should have gone first, because it feels lackluster after the Strucker one. But it was still really satisfying and leaves me super excited for Guardians of the Galaxy and The Avengers 2. (END OF SPOILERS)

Top 50 Movies of All Time: Volume 2

Since it's March, I figured I'd continue my monthly countdown of my favorite movies of all time. So here's the second volume. Again, here's the rules...

Criteria:
Personal opinions
No TV movies or mini-series
I can have two films tied, or an entire series or trilogy combined into one slot.

40. Ed Wood: One of Tim Burton's best, it follows the fascinating and oddball career of one of Hollywood's most eccentric and notorious filmmakers: Ed Wood, who is often labeled "The Worst Director of All Time". It chronicles the making of his three of his most infamous films: Glen or Glenda, Bride of the Monster, and (the "worst film ever made") Plan 9 from Outer Space. It's got a fantastic score inspired by cheap B-movies from the 50's (the films Wood was best known for) and a stellar cast, featuring Johnny Depp in one of his better performances, and Martin Landau, who is so good as Bela Lugosi, he almost becomes him. Landau was so good in the role he won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. It was definitely well-deserved.

 

39. Blade Runner: Ridley Scott's visually stunning and dark adaptation of Philip K. Dick's cult sci-fi novel, Blade Runner was a commercial and critical flop when first released in 1982, but has since gained a strong fan following and has been hailed by audiences and critics as one of the best science fictions films of all time. A moody movie that paints a dark portrait of Los Angeles in the future, it's basically a classic noir film in a sci-fi setting. The shadows, smoke-filled rooms, and characters all scream classic detective movie. Harrison Ford is cast a bit against type, as a gruff, but ultimately compassionate gumshoe detective who would be right at home in a 1940's pulp magazine. Rutger Hauer also gives a creepy performance as the film's villain Roy Batty (a fitting name for such a crazy character), a renegade robot who has come looking for his creator. A terrifying force to be reckoned with, Batty is absolutely insane and will stop at nothing to accomplish his goals, and also delivers one of the more gruesome deaths in sci-fi cinema: gauging a dude's eyes out and crushing his head in. Everything about this movie is awesome, from the acting, to the thrilling action sequences, to the multiple controversial endings, to the complex storyline, to the synthesizer score, to the amazing visuals and special effects, there's no way to not like this movie even just a little bit.



38. Who Framed Roger Rabbit: A childhood favorite of mine, it's a parody of noir mystery films, involving cartoon characters. In a world where cartoons and humans live side by side, a detective who hates cartoons must prove the innocence of a famous and slightly crazy cartoon star named Roger Rabbit, who is framed for the murder of Marvin Acme, a prank shop mogul who was having an affair with Roger's femme fatale wife. It's more for the nostalgia than anything, but you can't deny it's a timeless and very entertaining movie. It's also one of the few times that animation and live-action blend perfectly. It's also the only time you'll probably ever see Donald Duck and Daffy Duck or Mickey Mouse and Bugs Bunny together on screen, and that's pretty awesome.




37. Interview with the Vampire and Bram Stoker's Dracula (tie): I couldn't decide between these two amazing vampire movies, so I gave them both their own slot. The former is the dark and somewhat erotic adaptation of Anne Rice's Lestat book series, well, the first book. It follows Brad Pitt, who becomes a vampire in the 1700s after he is bitten by the mysterious and somewhat malicious vampire Lestat, portrayed by Tom Cruise, who surprisingly really owns the role. The whole movie is really well-done, but it's also very tense and kind of fucked up. Pitt is the narrator of the film, as he is being interviewed by a reporter played by Christian Slater, and you can tell after all the horrific shit that's happened to him over the course of his life that he's a really jaded, bitter person, and the movie portrays the world as this evil, cruel place where no one is safe. It's really messed up and bleak, but I really like it, but maybe I'm just a morbid bastard. The latter is Francisc Ford Copolla's big budget, star-studded adaptation of Bram Stoker's classic novel. Although Winona Ryder and Keanu Reeves aren't good in it, they are made up for by the amazing Gary Oldman and the fantastic Anthony Hopkins, who both own their roles as Dracula (in several forms) and Van Helsing, respectively. Oldman puts on an incredible Romanian accent, and has an impressive range, going from suave and seductive to terrifying and malevolent in seconds. Hopkins is a great Van Helsing, and also puts on a convincing German accent. The visuals and special effects of this movie are pretty inventive and are astounding for the time. I can't get enough of these movies, and I definitely recommend you give them a watch around Halloween, or any time really.

 

36. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets: This one is more of a nostalgic thing for me. However, it is well-acted (especially from the supporting cast of adults, which includes Maggie Smith, Kenneth Branagh, Alan Rickman, Jason Isaacs, John Cleese, Robbie Coltrane, Warwick Davis, Julie Walters, Richard Harris, Richard Griffiths, David Bradley, and Fiona Shaw) and has great special effects for 2002. This film is also a bit darker than the first film, and has more action. This is also actually the longest film in the series, which I was surprised by, because it moves at a brisk pace and feels shorter than it is. It's got a surprisingly good story and it's my personal favorite of the series.



35. Sin City: In Robert Rodriguez's incredibly detailed and visionary adaptation of Frank Miller's graphic novels, we take a journey to Basin "Sin" City, a shadowy hellhole plagued by corruption, crime, and morally ambiguous characters. With an all-star cast, heavily stylized and ultra-violent action sequences, a surreal but intriguing universe, compelling characters, a unique musical score, and groundbreaking special effects, it's no wonder this one was a box office and critical success. I love this movie and the books it's based on for the noir-esque writing and narration, the incredible action scenes, and stunning visuals. I can't wait for the long-postponed sequel scheduled to come out in August.

 

34. Trainspotting: Danny Boyle's cult hit about junkies in Scotland is a fantastic movie that I only recently watched (summer 2013), but I loved it instantly. Ewan McGregor leads a stellar cast featuring Ewen Bremner, Jonny Lee Miller, Robert Carlyle, Kevin McKidd, Kelly Macdonald, and James Cosmo. A twisted and unique film, the first half is a dark comedy about heroin addicts and sociopaths, but the second half takes a hard left turn, and becomes a disturbingly harsh and real story of what happens when you lose yourself to addiction. With a bittersweet ending and a killer soundtrack (featuring great artists like Iggy Pop, Lou Reed, David Bowie, Joy Division, and Damon Albarn), it's almost impossible not to love this film. It's highly acclaimed and loved for a good reason: it's absolutely brilliant, funny, dramatic, and very real. 



33. The Blair Witch Project: I thought this was definitely the scariest and most influential horror film of the last 20 years, and I still think it's the best found footage movie of all time. It's got this amazingly detailed and eerie backstory which was further explored in spin-off documentaries and websites, and the film itself is so raw. It's a very disorienting and distressing film, that shows the deteriorating state of mind the characters go through as they get lost in the woods and begin encountering possibly supernatural forces. This film really exemplifies the horror film principle of "what you don't see is more horrifying than what you do see". From eerie moments like the explanation of what happened to a scouting party from Blair, Maryland when they got lost in the woods; to the heartbreaking and iconic scene where one of the main characters breaks down crying on camera in the middle of the night, confessing to the camera and apologizing to her family and friends and the peers of her fellow crew members that she has accepted they will die in those woods, almost every scene in this harrowing movie is perfectly executed, and it's one of my favorite horror films of all time.



32. Batman: Although it's not the best Batman film, it was the first major Batman film to be true to the tone of the comics. Even though it's typical Tim Burton (style over substance, creepy, etc.), it really worked for the time, and it broke box office records. Michael Keaton may not be a great Bruce Wayne, I personally feel he plays it a bit too awkward and eccentric, but he's a fantastic Batman. Just his voice and the way he does it is amazing. Jack Nicholson was the best choice to play the Joker at the time, despite the fact he really just plays a more demented version of himself. Kim Basinger is a bit irritating, but she does okay. The action scenes are a bit few and far between, and are a bit awkward at times (Keaton's rubber suit looks pretty constricting), but overall it's an entertaining and faithful superhero film that's moody, darkly comical at times, stylish, and fast-paced.



31. Airplane!: This classic parody film is a bit sophomoric at times, and does feel a bit dated at certain points, but I still think it's hilarious. It's absurdist spoof humor at it's best, and the filmmakers working on parody films today should take note (I'm taking to you, Seltzerberg). A laugh-out-loud look at disaster films that were very popular in the 70's (The Towering Inferno, The Poseidon Adventure, Earthquake, etc., but in particular the Airport series). This was also the film that completely changed Leslie Nielsen's career, he shifted from serious performances to deadpan spoof comedy, and proved he was actually really good at the latter. You really can't not like this movie, it kind of appeals to everyone. It's almost timeless in a way, and it shows how great spoof movies used to be. If more modern parody films were more like this, the world would be a better place for moviegoers.

(Images: Wikipedia)

Runner-ups: American Graffiti, Tombstone, Highlander, Half Baked, Scream, Tremors, Gremlins, Singin' in the Rain, Chicago, Watchmen, Saw, Insidious, Sinister.