Movie Review: World War Z + Book GIVEAWAY!

Title: World War Z

Director: Marc Forster

Actor(s): Brad Pitt, Mireille Enos

Rated: PG-13

Genre: Action, Drama, Thriller, Sci-Fi, Thriller (Zombies)

Runtime: 116 mins

Release Date: 21 June 2013 (Theaters)
Website: World War Z the movie

Buy/Pre-order: amazon.com

Synopsis: 

 The story revolves around former United Nations employee Gerry Lane (Pitt), who traverses the world in a race against time to stop the Zombie pandemic that is toppling armies and governments and threatening to decimate humanity itself.

My Rating:

*GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED*

  

My Review: Adapting books into movies is the new fad in Hollywood. With zombie mania taking over just about all aspects of multi-media, it's been getting increasingly more difficult to find a zombie tale that stands out. World War Z, based off of the popular novel of the same name by Max Brooks, is the first zombie movie in quite a few years that tries to take itself seriously. And for this reason I was intrigued. Okay, and maybe because Brad Pitt was starring in it. Zombies and eye candy, right? But anytime I hear about a movie being delayed for reshoots, I get nervous. Originally, World War Z had a December 2012 release date but due to extensive reshoots, it was decided to move the film to summer 2013. Before the movie hit theaters, I had planned on reading the book version, but once I learned that the movie was heavily deviating from the novel, I decided not to read it so I could go into the film with an open mind. I'm relieved I went with my instincts, because my 3 star rating probably would have been lower.

Here's the thing. I liked the story and the general direction WWZ was going in. Gerry (Brad Pitt), a man who once had a dangerous job as a United Nations employee, gave it all up for his family. The movie doesn't get into much detail here, but you get the sense that Gerry was tired of spending long periods of time away from his wife and daughters. It's also not stated what he currently does for a living but I sort of assumed he was a stay-at-home father and appeared quite happy at making his girls breakfast and packing their lunches. I like that Pitt's character doesn't fall into one of the many stereotypical male characters, ya know, the one where the husband/father gives up his dangerous career to make his family happy but secretly yearns to get back into the field and jumps at the opportunity when it comes knocking at his door. Nope, I never got that feeling from Gerry; he appears content and happy with his role as doting husband and father. However, this all changes when zombies enter the picture. In order to protect his family, he is forced to go back out in the field to help find the origins of this devastating pandemic. Yes, I mean literally forced. While his old UN ties help get his wife and daughters to safety, his old boss has his own agenda. If Gerry wants his family to remain on the ship with protection and 3 square meals a day, then he must go. If he refuses, him and his family will be dropped back off into the ravaged, zombie-invested city they barely escaped. I definitely felt bad for him because seriously, what kind of choice is that?

Let's back up for a moment. Gerry's previous job makes the beginning of WWZ somewhat believable as he navigates his family through the city of mass hysteria as people start changing into zombies within seconds. Although you don't quite know exactly what his previous set of skills were, you can tell by his calm, take- charge demeanor that he's had some kind of training. I actually liked his wife. Again going back to stereotypical characters, it was so refreshing to see that this wasn't the case with her. Instead of the typical, hysterical females we are used to seeing, Gerry's wife did everything he said, remained calm, no bitching or crying-- basically she appeared to have complete trust and faith in her husband and his abilities to keep them safe. Gerry's daughters on the other hand...I'll get to that later. I also liked the female soldier he meets up with later in the film. She was pretty hardcore, although she annoyed me towards the end when she...yeah, I'll get to that in a bit as well.

The zombies themselves were pretty interesting, even though you don't get a real up close and personal look at them until the end. They also deviate from some of the characteristics we are used to-- these zombies are super fast, not slow. Also, they are not drawn to people by scent. What gets these walking dead fired up is sound. They kind of walk around in a dormant like state until they hear something. Cool, right? Yeah, well, it could have been cool if it wasn't for...I'll get to that in a moment. I promise.

The last thing I liked about WWZ is the shift in priority "the cure" takes. There are so many zombie movies and books out there that focuses on finding the cure. But what if you find something that can camouflage you from the dead? I reviewed a zombie book earlier in the week called FIEND by Peter Stenson that focused more on the discovery of what they needed to do in order to NOT turn into a zombie rather than actually finding a cure. In WWZ, a kind of camouflage presents itself first, which takes precedence. I'm trying to be as vague as possible, but I guess what my point is, I like the twist and it is more realistic. After all, not all cures can be found in a week or a month. It may even take years.

If you are still with me so far, thank you for being patient. Because I am sure at this point you are wondering what possibly could be so bad after talking so highly about the movie. Here is where it all went wrong.  Remember how I said World War Z is the first zombie movie in awhile that tries to take itself seriously? Well, one thing I CAN'T STAND is a movie that tries to take itself serious yet is filled with cliche after cliche. Like I said above, the movie starts off solid. Gerry and his family are stuck in city traffic when zombies start to make their debut. They steal an RV which is smart since it's (a) big enough to push other unmoving cars out of the way and (b) can possibly serve as a temporary home instead of being cramped in a car. I was slightly annoyed with Gerry's daughters; I guess since his wife didn't fit the typical stereotype, they figured to make his kids do all the whining and not listening. But whatever, small price to pay if the rest of the movie goes smoothly, right? Just when I am thinking this, one of his daughter's has an asthma attack. And it JUST so happens they forgot the inhaler at home. Why I didn't see it coming when they had talked about packing the inhaler before they left the house, is beyond me. But it should have been my first warning that more cliches were coming. The asthma attack forces them to stop at a grocery store that has a pharmacy inside. Okay, cool, they can grab the meds and some supplies. Once they go inside, it is complete chaos. People, including police officers, are running up and down the isles, ransacking the place. So what does Gerry and his wife decide to do? Yup, you guessed it. They SPLIT UP. WTF! Isn't written somewhere or in some Survival 101 Guide, NEVER SPLIT UP??? Because you know what happens when they split up. Gerry's wife gets accosted, one of his daughters is screaming her head off. Oh, and let's not forget the RV is gone when they finally get back outside. Yup, cliche after cliche...

...And the cliches continue. Once they learn that sound is what attracts the zombies, you can guess what the rest of the movie is filled with. Yup, people making noises over and over and over again. Here are a just a few examples:

1) Riding rusty, SQUEAKY bicycles in the RAIN in hopes to get to the plane faster. Really??? They were better off walking quietly and letting the hard rain cover their footsteps!

2) The epic scene in the trailer where the zombies scale the walls in hordes. The only thing that saved that scene was how awesome it looked. But you know what caused it? A whole CITY of people singing and if I remember correctly, the sound was even louder because the singing was being projected through speakers.

3) Towards the end, Gerry and a couple of others need to get into a certain part of a lab that is overrun by zombies. Gerry says no guns since it will attract sound. Do they listen? Nope. Soldier chick not only takes a gun with her, but uses it. You're smart enough to imagine the consequences of that.

4) Gerry appears to forget his own advice to stay quiet as possible as he and his little group: (a) walk on broken glass, (b) "accidentally" kick something across the floor, (c) push a creaky door inch by inch instead of just opening it quickly.

World War Z had a lot of potential. The focus of the story was engaging, the non-stereotypical characters were refreshing, and the zombies were interesting. But why ruin a perfectly good movie with cliche after cliche? I'm not stupid. I get movies like this need to build suspense and I can handle a scene here and there. But when characters keep making the same mistakes over and over again, I can't help but get annoyed and extremely frustrated. Oh, and I forgot to mention the 3D. Or should I say, what 3D? I am not a huge 3D fan like some people, but after being blown away at seeing Man of Steel in that format, I figured what the hell. I now wish I hadn't because I can't remember one scene that was shot in 3D. A definite waste of a few extra dollars. A sequel to World War Z is apparently already in the works and I'm not quite sure how I feel about it. On the one hand, I can see the potential because of the way WWZ ends. But I cringe at the thought of sitting through another 2 hours of cliches.

GIVEAWAY

 Enter for a chance to win 1 of 3 e-book copies of World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War by Max Brooks, the novel this movie is based on! I have 3 e-copies of the book so 3 winners will be announced. This is an International giveaway!  All are welcome to enter! Ends 7/31
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Movie Review & Spotlight: LAWLESS

Title: LAWLESS

Director: John Hillcoat

Actor(s): Tom Hardy, Shia LaBeouf, Jessica Chastain, Guy Pearce, Gary Oldman

Rated: R

Genre: Drama, True Story

Theme(s): Moonshine, Prohibition, Gangsters

Runtime: 1 hr. 55 mins.

Release Date: 29 August 2012 (Theaters)
Website: Lawless

Synopsis: Lawless is the true story of the infamous Bondurant Brothers: bootlegging siblings who made a run for the American Dream in Prohibition-era Virginia. In this epic gangster tale, inspired by true-life tales of author Matt Bondurant's family in his novel "The Wettest County in the World", the loyalty of three brothers is put to the test against the backdrop of the nation's most notorious crime wave.

My Rating:

This movie review is going to be a bit different from how I normally write my reviews since I want to share my advance screening experience with everyone. A few months ago I joined the Philadelphia Film Society and one of the perks of being a member is getting to view movies before they hit theaters. About 3 weeks ago I had the chance to not only see Lawless, but meet Matt Bondurant, author of the book the movie is based upon AND who just so happens to be the grandson of Jack Bondurant (played by Shia LaBeouf). Talk about surreal, right?

The Book: The Wettest County in the World

Synopsis: Based on the true story of Matt Bondurant’s grandfather and two granduncles, The Wettest County in the World is a gripping tale of brotherhood, greed, and murder. The Bondurant Boys were a notorious gang of roughnecks and moonshiners who ran liquor through Franklin County, Virginia, during Prohibition and in the years after. Howard, the eldest brother, is an ox of a man besieged by the horrors he witnessed in the Great War; Forrest, the middle brother, is fierce, mythically indestructible, and the consummate businessman; and Jack, the youngest, has a taste for luxury and a dream to get out of Franklin. Driven and haunted, these men forge a business, fall in love, and struggle to stay afloat as they watch their family die, their father's business fail, and the world they know crumble beneath the Depression and drought. 

     White mule, white lightning, firewater, popskull, wild cat, stump whiskey, or rotgut—whatever you called it, Franklin County was awash in moonshine in the 1920s. When Sherwood Anderson, the journalist and author of Winesburg, Ohio, was covering a story there, he christened it the “wettest county in the world.” In the twilight of his career, Anderson finds himself driving along dusty red roads trying to find the Bondurant brothers, piece together the clues linking them to “The Great Franklin County Moonshine Conspiracy,” and break open the silence that shrouds Franklin County. 

     In vivid, muscular prose, Matt Bondurant brings these men—their dark deeds, their long silences, their deep desires—to life. His understanding of the passion, violence, and desperation at the center of this world is both heartbreaking and magnificent. 

 Matt Bondurant: Meeting the Author

 It's always exciting to meet an author. But to meet an author who's family is being adapted to the big screen is even more fascinating. After the screening of Lawless, Matt Bondurant took the floor and talked about what inspired him to write about his grandfather and granduncles, how the book caught the attention of screenwriter and music composer Nick Cave and director John Hillcoat, and how honored he was to have such an amazing cast of actors bring his family's story to life.

Matt is known for doing extensive research before writing his books. But what I think is interesting is how The Wettest County in the World came about. While Matt knew that his grandfather and granduncles had been bootleggers, he never knew about their infamous exploits or their "dangerous reputation". It was only until his father, Andrew, found some old newspaper clippings about a shooting at the Maggodee Creek Bridge in 1930 that pieces of a story started coming together. When Matt's father asked grandpa Jack if the shooting really happened, his only answer was to raise his shirt to show a bullet hole. The living piece of history had nothing more to say and unfortunately they were never able to get his account of what happened out of him before his death in 2001 at the ripe age of 91. But it was enough to spark a fire of curiosity and this driving force is what helped Matt Bondurant manifest a clear picture of what kind of legends his grandfather Jack and granduncles Forrest and Howard truly were.

Matt said that the book-to-movie adaptation came about when Nick Cave and director John Hillcoat were looking for a Prohibition era piece to collaborate on. John Hillcoat, who directed the film The Proposition, wanted to do something different with the gangster movie genre-- he wanted the audience to relate and root for the "Bondurant Boys" when in most gangster films we are happy to see those kinds of character punished for their crimes.

While J.K. Rawlings (Harry Potter series) and Stephanie Meyer (Twilight saga) are authors known to have been deeply involved in helping their books come to the big screen, not all authors are so lucky. Matt never dreamed he would be getting calls from the director, screenwriter, and even some of the actors. They took the material seriously and wanted to make sure they were adapting the story right. Matt even was invited to the set. I think one of the funniest stories is about Tom Hardy who plays Forrest Bondurant, one of Matt's granduncles. I told Matt I was not only blown away by Tom Hardy's performance, but I loved the "Mr. Rogers" sweaters and cardigans he wore in the film (I will come back to the sweater/cardigan thing later). Matt laughed and said it was actually Hardy's idea. Hardy is known to dig deep when getting into character and at one point he showed up on set with a beard and smoking a pipe. Matt said everyone was too intimidated to tell Hardy that the beard and pipe made him look a little too old for his character. Not Nick Cave! Apparently, Nick was the only one who had the guts to say, "Tom, you look like a f*cking idiot. You look like their grandfather not their brother! Get rid of the beard and pipe." Hardy took the advice and instead went with the cardigans and cigars.

My Review: LAWLESS

While I have not finished reading Matt Bondurant's The Wettest County in the World in which the movie is based upon, I have read enough to confirm 2 things. One, Lawless follows the book surprisingly well and two, if you think the blood and violence was added in by Hollywood, think again. Matt himself forgot all the violence in his book. When he saw the movie for the first time, he told a friend how shocked (in a good way) he was by all the blood and violence in which is friend replied, "Duh, your the one who wrote it!" But that is the beautiful difference between a book and a movie, right?

I absolutely have nothing negative to say about Lawless. Some critics have complained that while the acting was top notch, the story itself was derivative. Are there elements of the plot that we've seen in other films before? Yes. But does is straight up copy another movie? No. But let's get it straight. The point of Lawless was never to give us something we've completely never seen before. Come on, this is not the Matrix. But as I stated above, Hillcoat's vision was to give us a twist on the gangster genre, give us something a little less conventional. So while there were elements that felt familiar, there were also scenes that you just didn't expect; scenes that perhaps you expected to go one way, but ended up playing out completely different. I have a couple scenes in mind but I don't want to spoil anything.

In my opinion, Nick Cave did a great job with the script and the soundtrack. I liked Jack's bits of narration throughout the film. The movie was well paced-- my mind never wandered nor did I feel bored. So if some of you are hesitating to see Lawless because you're worried that the action or scenes of violence are far and wide between, you have nothing to worry about. Cave is more known as a song writer and composer then he is for writing scripts. So I had a feeling the soundtrack was going to be interesting. It was a breath of fresh air. Instead of going with the traditional sound of straight up blue grass, country music (remember this movie is part western, part gangsteresque), he somehow mixed in some new with some old.

Now to the outstanding cast of Lawless. You may disagree with everything I've said so far, but one thing that cannot be denied is the amazing acting in this film, even for those who have less screen time. I'll be the first to admit I am not a Shia LaBeouf fan. Walking into this movie, I thought I was going to have to just ignore him and pray the other actors would be able to carry him. While I still won't be the first person lined up to see his next movie, I have to give credit where credit is due: Shia LaBeouf can act. From his southern drawl to his convincing performance as a boy that still hasn't quite transitioned into manhood, I think he did a great job playing Jack Bondurant.

Jason Clarke who portrays the eldest brother in the Bondurant clan Howard, was a bit overshadowed by other performances, but I won't soon forget those eyes. They are eyes that have seen things that no man should ever have the burden of seeing and it's no surprise why he drowns himself in moonshine. The way Clarke was able to sometimes appear "tuned out" out was impressive.

Gary Oldman as gangster Floyd Banner was electrifying, but shorter then expected. It's one of those cases where Hollywood uses an actor's name to draw people into the film, but they aren't actually in the majority of it.

Jessica Chastain is a great actress so I wasn't surprised by her solid, strong female performance as Maggie. I loved how she could walk into a room and instantly remind the rough-around-the-edges Bondurant boys of their manners in the presence of a lady. The other lady in the movie, Mia Wasikowska, who plays Bertha (Jack's love interest) was as perfect as always. She is young but can hang with the heavyweights as she has proven in previous performances in Jane Eyre and Albert Nobbs.

If you are looking for a villain you will hate as much as the characters do in the film, then you will love Guy Pearce's spin on Special Deputy Rake. Pearce is probably one of the most underrated but brilliant actors around and I am glad that the part went to him since Rake as a character is quite interesting. He's from the city, wears perfume, appears to look the part of a gentlemen but we soon realize underneath the nice clothes, coifed hair, and girly smell, there's something not quite...right. Like the gloves he wears and the naked African American girl in his room that he has sitting on newspapers on top of his bed. Yeah...check it out, you will see what I mean.

I think the character that I least expected to connect with was Cricket and the credit has to go to Dane DeHaan. I kept thinking he was the younger version of Leonardo DeCaprio and I don't know why but his performance in Lawless reminded me of DeCaprio as Arnie in What's Eating Gilbert Grape. The physical likeness of the two is uncanny. I can't wait to see DeHaan evolve over time.

Okay, so I had to save the best for last and I am sure by now everyone is seeing cross-eyed by this long post. I promise to keep my praise of this next actor as short as possible since there are really no words that can fully describe his performance. You just need to see it. Tom Hardy was compelling as Forrest Bondurant, the middle brother and the head of the family. I read somewhere that the director John Hillcoat was "awestruck" by Hardy's performance. I think I was awestruck when I saw Hardy as Bane in The Dark Knight Rises, but let me say this: I don't need any more proof, he is a phenomenal actor. Remember the comment I made earlier about loving the Mr. Roger's cardigans Hardy chose to wear in the movie? Any actor that can wear a Mr. Rogers' cardigan and remain sexy, masculine, and still be the baddest mother f*cker on screen is just amazing. Hardy always makes Forrest appear relaxed, yet intense. His mannerisms such as the way he walks, talks is a pleasure to watch. Forrest is the glue that keeps everything in his world together and I am not just talking about his importance as the businessman in the family. Forrest has to keep a watchful eye on his older brother Howard who can fly off the handle in a second, who can at times appear tuned out and sometimes wonder if it is all from the moonshine or from the horrors he saw at war. Then on the other end is young Jack, his baby brother that he knows isn't quite cut out for the lifestyle but knowing and trying to convince the youngest in the Bondurant family are two different beasts. I'm not saying Forrest couldn't have been played by another actor, but Tom Hardy brought something special to the character that could never be replicated.

I think John Hillcoat has succeeded in his goal. He has given us a western/gangster flick that feels familiar yet still maintains its freshness.  If you're looking for a film with a solid story, great acting, with nicely paced bursts of violence, look no further. Lawless has arrived. But let us not give all the credit to Hollywood for there would be no movie without Matt Bondurant and his novelization of his grandfather and granduncle's legend sized escapades. I read somewhere that Matt Bondurant's one regret was that he never spent enough time with his grandfather as so often happens with young people.  That maybe writing Wettest County in the World was his way to honor the memory of the man he knew and the man he wished he had had the time to get to know. Don't worry, Matt. Grandpa Jack would be proud.

LAWLESS TRAILER

Movie Review: THE DARK KNIGHT RISES, a Review by Frank Venuto

Title: The Dark Knight Rises

Director: Christopher Nolan

Actor(s): Christian Bale, Tom Hardy, Anne Hathaway, Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Rated: PG-13

Genre: Drama, Action & Adventure, Mystery & Suspense

Runtime: 2 hr. 45 min.

Release Date: 20 July 2012 (Theaters)

Synopsis: It has been eight years since Batman vanished into the night, turning, in that instant, from hero to fugitive. Assuming the blame for the death of D.A. Harvey Dent, the Dark Knight sacrificed everything for what he and Commissioner Gordon both hoped was the greater good. For a time the lie worked, as criminal activity in Gotham City was crushed under the weight of the anti-crime Dent Act. But everything will change with the arrival of a cunning cat burglar with a mysterious agenda. Far more dangerous, however, is the emergence of Bane, a masked terrorist whose ruthless plans for Gotham drive Bruce out of his self-imposed exile. But even if he dons the cape and cowl again, Batman may be no match for Bane...

Frank's Rating: 

Frank's Review: Well it's finally time for my review of The Dark Knight Rises.... Why did I wait a couple weeks? Two reasons. One, I needed to process what I saw by seeing it twice. Secondly, I wanted to give people enough time to see the movie and make up their own minds....so let's get to it!!!

I will start by saying Christopher Nolan is one of a couple directors whose name immediately causes me to want to see a movie and he has never disappointed me. He has unequivocally delivered again!!! The scope of this movie is grand. Nolan decided to set his goals high, he leaped and grasped those goals fully. This  movie for those who don't know (you must live under a rock) is the capstone of Christopher Nolan's Batman Trilogy. We have followed the character of Bruce Wayne from his childhood to who we now know is a man willing to give everything to protect his beloved Gotham City. 

The movie has 3 distinct acts. The first one might complain feels a bit jumbled. I would argue it is not jumbled but you must be an intelligent watcher. The story reintroduces the storyline where The Dark Knight left off and also deftly introduces several new, important characters to this growing encyclopedia of people we have grown to love.  

The second act finds Bruce confronting what he cannot conquer without fully understanding who and what he is. Nolan, again, gives us rich character development that after two other movies I have to admit I didn't think there was much more to Bruce. Man was I wrong!!! Bruce Wayne is an amazing character study. When you juxtapose him to the villains he is fighting throughout the story lines, you literally could write volumes of psychological debates on who is the good guy and who is the bad. 

The third act, and in my opinion the best act out of all 3 movies, is epic in scale. It at times reminded me of other great movies such as Braveheart. The battle between the police and the rebels in the streets of Gotham is what I like to refer to as organized chaos. You felt as though you were a boy in blue, fighting alongside those brave men beating back the oppression of the terrorists.

I want to stay away from spoilers as much as possible but having said that, Nolan does not disappoint when it comes to jaw dropping moments. The beginning airplane takeover scene is amazing. It truly captures something on film that I'm not sure I have ever seen before. Without giving away anymore of the spectacular moments, let me just say I found myself on at least 3 occasions reminding myself to close my mouth because it was agape in awe as to what I was seeing on the screen.

When it comes to the acting, all are pretty much spot on. Christian Bale delivers another great performance. The rest of the usual cast of characters such as Caine and Freeman deliver on their end as usual. Freeman serves up his witty banter and Caine when on the screen gives a depth to Alfred and his relationship with Bruce that makes us all wish we had our own Alfred around all the time. Anne Hathaway does a great job playfully flirting her way through the movie as Catwoman. I have had a few debates as to her needing to be in the film. I say Catwoman was done PURRFECTLY!!! Where we see her and Batman end up helps the character arc of Bruce come to fruition. Nice Job Anne! 

Now onto BANE!!! Of course at the outset of this movie I knew I, as well as everybody, would compare Tom Hardy's Bane to Heath Leadger's Joker. I feel that does a disservice to both actors but admittedly understand why it would happen. Heath was amazing and deserved every accolade he received. I stand here today calling for an Oscar for Tom Hardy as well.  If I could, I would have rewound every scene he was in to watch over and over again which I have done several times on the Internet. His ability to convey emotions in the way he did without the benefit of the audience being able to see most of his face was stunning. Some complained about his voice being hard to understand. I felt his interpretation was spot on. The way he walked, talked, and brutally destroyed those in his path were chilling. To watch him methodically break down the Batman was scary. 

I could write about this movie for hours and hours. I saw it on IMAX as well as normal digital projection. This movie played well on both as I am sure it will when I purchase the blu-ray the first day it comes out and put it on my 47 inch LCD TV.  The movie, in my opinion, is meant to be seen on IMAX at least once to see the directors true vision. 

A storm did come in the form of the Batman Trilogy. I am sad to see it over but I could not have asked for more. Mr. Nolan, Thank You for these movies.

P.S.  Please make another one!!!!

P.S.S. Thanks for reading my review. Leave a comment!!!!

Like Frank's review? Want to know more about him or have a question for him? Check out his Guest Blogger Introduction HERE! Also, check out his review for Oliver Stone's SAVAGES HERE!

Movie Review: SAVAGES, A Review by Frank Venuto

Title: Savages
Director: Oliver Stone
Actor(s): Taylor Kitsch, Aaron Johnson, Blake Lively, Benicio Del Toro, John Travolta, Salma Hayek
Rated: R
Genre: Drama, Suspense, Mystery
Runtime: 2 hr., 9 min.
Release Date: 6 July 2012 (Theatrical)
Frank's Rating:


Synopsis: Laguna Beach entrepreneurs Ben (Johnson), a peaceful and charitable Buddhist, and his closest friend Chon (Kitsch), a former Navy SEAL and ex-mercenary, run a lucrative, homegrown industry-raising some of the best marijuana ever developed. They also share a one-of-a-kind love with the extraordinary beauty Ophelia (Lively). Life is idyllic in their Southern California town...until the Mexican Baja Cartel decides to move in and demands that the trio partners with them. When the merciless head of the BC, Elena (Hayek), and her brutal enforcer, Lado (Del Toro), underestimate the unbreakable bond among these three friends, Ben and Chon-with the reluctant, slippery assistance of a dirty DEA agent (Travolta)-wage a seemingly unwinnable war against the cartel.

Frank's Review: Let me start by saying I have always been a fan of Oliver Stone's movies. From his conspiracy theory laden JFK to his ultraviolent take on crime and journalism in Natural Born Killers and of course who didn't love Wall Street.  Yes, I can even admit that I enjoyed parts of the oft panned Alexander. SAVAGES is no different. Starring Taylor Kitsch, Blake Lively, Aaron Johnson, Benicio Del Toro, and John Travolta, the story revolves around the definition of savages: members of society that are regarded as primitive and uncivilized. That is what all the characters in this movie are in some way, shape, or form. I am jumping ahead a bit.
           
Stone uses a camera like another character in the movie. His uses of vivid colors interspersed with gray shots of the ocean splashing on the rocks are beautiful. He never ceases to amaze me with the way he sees the world in colors. Different ways of handling the filming either via hand held or in some instances using a security camera to tell the story keeps the audience interested and involved.

As far as his character development goes, I do feel Stone drops the ball here a bit. All of the characters fit into the story a little too neatly. But the actors pull off these characters well. Kitsch (Chon) and Johnson ( Ben) play the lead roles of the best pot dealers in the US. Kitsch is Hollywood's newest "it" guy and I feel this role was perfect for him. I at times felt like I was watching him in Friday Night Lights again. The journey of Johnson's character from the peaceful botanist to the do-anything-for-love-savage was my favorite storyline in the movie. The rest of the cast was good. However, Del Toro was GREAT. His turn as the strong-arm for the cartel was amazing. He is so smarmy and gritty you can almost smell him through the screen.

Where Stone falls short is this: I feel he sold the movie as an action packed flick. In reality, it is a drama and commentary on the USA's war on drugs mixed with shots of brutality. Stone's strengths in his movies usually lie within the conspiracies, but I feel he stretched it in this one. If he would have given us a straight popcorn movie I probably would have loved this film. Instead, because Oliver tried to shovel the atrocities of this story at us and then cop out in the end, he didn't allow the audience to see all of the people as Savages.

 All in all Stone gave us a good summer movie. The visuals were at times stunning and the acting was good. Out of 5 stars I would give SAVAGES a 3. Thanks for reading my review.

Like Frank's review? Want to know more about him or have a question for him? Check out his Guest Blogger Introduction HERE!

Introducing Guest Blogger: Frank Venuto!

Happy Friday, my Muses!

So I am truly feeling back on track! I not only was able to post my first review in over a month this week, but now I am about to introduce everyone to my next guest blogger! I just want to thank everyone for their support and the positive feedback that has been pouring in over my last review! I've been making my rounds with checking and following new blogs and visiting some of my old blogger friends. I have only just begun, so if I haven't stopped by to say hello yet, I will!

Okay, now to the good stuff. I am honored to share the thoughts of this next person on The Muses Circle. He is not only a colleague of mine, but he has a deep passion and love for film as I do. We might not always agree on liking the same movies or share the same opinion, but I can always count on great discussions and debates! Good or bad, I enjoy listening to what he has to say about a movie or a tv show and I've been trying to get him to review something for my blog for almost a year now!

Well, the wait was worth it! Recently we both had the chance to see Oliver Stone's SAVAGES and I am super excited to post his review of the movie tomorrow! Until then and without any further adieu. I introduce everyone to my next guest blogger, Frank Venuto!

FRANK VENUTO

I am a high school history teacher, husband to an amazing wife, father of 3 boys, lover of the arts (especially films as can be seen by my fat gut, JK), coach, and I will have my vengeance (Gladiator...get it?).

In all seriousness, all of those things are true ...especially the fat gut, hahaha. I have always loved movies since I was a kid and have enjoyed in my free time playing with my kids, hanging with my wife, writing, acting, singing, etc. I am currently in school getting my Masters in School Leadership.

If you ever want to contact me you can reach me at:
bubba4crst@comcast.net or Facebook me HERE.
Hope ya enjoy my reviews or at least argue with me. that's always fun...Talk to ya!!!!

Updates: A Few Changes

Happy Saturday, my lovely Muses!

There are a few quick updates I wanted to bring to everyone's attention that will be going into effect this week at The Muses Circle.

Movie Review Saturdays & Movie/TV Series News & Highlights

If you've been following my blog, then you know I try to post movie reviews on Saturdays. However, lately I've been so busy that the movie section of my blog has been severely neglected. So, I came up with this idea. Instead of posting nothing on Saturdays if I can't get around to writing a movie review, I will post the highlights of movie/tv series news that week. It could be about casting news, a movie trailer that was just released, etc. I really like this idea since I am constantly on movie websites, trying to find out new scoops on upcoming releases. It's my pleasure to keep everyone in the loop!


Monday's "My Picks of the Week": Books/E-books & Blu-ray/DVD

On Mondays I post my weekly "Picks of the Week" which is basically a list of new releases (books and movies) that either I plan on buying or what I think the masses would find interesting.

After each book or movie, I embed links. If it's a book, there is usually a link to the author's website and a link to pre-order or purchase the book on amazon.com or bn.com. The link I use that sends you to amazon.com or bn.com is usually for the hardback or paperback copy of the book. Since e-books have become so popular, I decided that I will also include a link to the e-book version if one is available.

As for movies and/or tv series, I post a link to its official website and a link to pre-order or purchase it on amazon.com. Usually, the link I use directs you to purchase it on blu-ray first, and if the movie or tv series has not been released yet on blu-ray, then to the dvd version. I recently realized that not everyone may know what blu-rays are, so here is a quick lesson.

Blu-ray vs. DVD
I know that some of you know what the difference is between dvd and blu-ray. Some of you may not. If you don't, you can go HERE which explains the technical differences between the two. All you really need to know is that blu-ray discs are superior in the quality of picture, sound, and special features. So if you have a big, flat screen tv (37" or more), it probably makes sense to start upgrading your dvd collection to blu-ray. Just like vhs movies are basically obsolete, one day dvds will too, now that blu-rays are so popular.

But don't despair. While blu-ray discs can only be watched on blu-ray players or PS3's, dvds can be played on both dvd AND blu-ray players. So here is my suggestion. Many movies now are being released in a blu-ray, dvd combo set. That is what you want to look for and buy. Here are the reasons why:

1) If you haven't upgraded to blu-ray yet, you can still view the movie on dvd, but will still have the blu-ray once you decide to upgrade

2) If you already have upgraded, blu-ray/dvd combo sets are great because you may not have a blu-ray player in every room, therefore the dvd comes in handy. Or, maybe the kids want to watch something in their room but they only have a dvd player. Get my point?

So from now on, I will embed a link for the blu-ray and dvd versions of each movie and tv series. I will also try to mention if they are available in a blu-ray-dvd combo set.

NIFTY BLOGS SECTION

A few weeks ago I mentioned that I wanted to create a section on my blog where I collect buttons from other blogs that I check out on a weekly basis. Scratch that idea. At least for right now. Thanks for my blogger friend, Intricate Knot, I became aware of the Blog Roll option. So you will notice to the left of my blog a little section called "Nifty Blogs I Love!" For right now, I limited it to 10 blogs, but that doesn't mean I only check those. I just want to try it out for a little bit and if I like it, I will probably add more blogs to the list.

Well, I think that is it for right now. So all of these little changes/updates should go into effect starting Monday. Until then, I hope everyone enjoys the rest of their weekend!

Your resident Muse,

Movie Review: Machine Gun Preacher

Title: Machine Gun Preacher
Director: Marc Forster
Actor(s): Gerard Butler, Michelle Monaghan
Rated: R
Genre: Action, Drama, Biography, Crime
Theme: Born Again Christian, True Story, Kony, Sudan
Runtime: 129 mins
DVD Release Date: 21 May 2012
Buy: Amazon.com
My Rating:


Synopsis: When ex-biker-gang member Sam Childers (Butler) makes the life-changing decision to go to East Africa to help repair homes destroyed by civil war, he is outraged by the unspeakable horrors faced by the region's vulnerable populace, especially the children. Ignoring the warnings of more experienced aide workers, Sam breaks ground for an orphanage where it's most needed-in the middle of territory controlled by the brutal Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), a renegade militia that forces youngsters to become soldiers before they even reach their teens. But for Sam, it is not enough to shelter the LRA's intended victims. Determined to save as many as possible, he leads armed missions deep into enemy territory to retrieve kidnapped children, restoring peace to their lives-and eventually his own.

My Review: Machine Gun Preacher is one of those movies that sneaks up on you, grabs your heart, and doesn't let go. Going into this movie, I'm a bit embarrassed to say I not only hadn't heard of Sam Childers and his work over in Sudan and Uganda, but had no idea who Joseph Kony was, the leader of the LRA (Lord's Resistance Army). But I guess that is the point of movies like this-- to educate and inform people about very serious current issues going on in the world. As a blogger, a teacher, and the type of person that is not afraid to speak my mind, I knew before the end credits rolled that I would be reviewing Machine Gun Preacher and dedicating the post to the children of Uganda and Sudan and to spread awareness so that Kony's reign of terror will end.

Gerard Butler does a great job portraying Sam Childers, former drug dealer, heroin addict, motorcycle misfit whose first moments on the screen is him being released after doing a stint in prison. I like the fact that the movie doesn't try to sugarcoat how Sam used to be--you can add verbally abusive to his wife and not much of a father figure to his daughter to the list. But after a life changing incident, he allows his wife to clean him up and take him to the church that helped her find God (she was also a former addict & stripper).

Now many may think this movie is "preachy" since it shows Sam being baptized and he later builds his own church--but I'm setting the record straight, this movie's agenda is not to "convert" or "recruit" people to Christianity. This is not a film in the fashion of Fireproof and Courageous. The solid R rating should attest to that. But Sam IS a born again Christian and the movie IS about his life, so of course it's going to play an important part of the film. I just wanted to clear the air for those people that may have been thinking about skipping the film because they thought Machine Gun Preacher was going to be "preachy".

I don't want to give too much away as far as describing specific scenes since I think this movie is much more effective by watching it with your own eyes, but let me say there are definitely some shocking moments when Sam is over in Africa. Children being maimed, tortured, burned, children forced to kill other children, etc. The one scene I will divulge that pissed me off-- as it did Sam-- was actually the scene where he asks a rich businessman who praised his work over in Africa, for $5,000 which would help keep the orphanage running for another 6 months. The man invites Sam and his family over to a huge, lavish party where he hands him an envelope. Sam excuses himself to the bathroom, opens it, to find a check for....$150 dollars! WTF?? Sometimes I forget how selfish and self centered people can be!

What kept me from giving this movie a complete 5 star rating was more a directorial/writing/casting issue. The first thing that bothered me was the time transitions or lack there of. In the beginning of the movie, there was a little blurb that popped up to let everyone know what year it was. The rest of the film is not so kind. I'm not saying every scene needed a little blurb to let me know that time had passed, but there were definitely a few awkward time transitions that confused me. Most movies that are based on true stories will say something like, "2 years later" or something to help the viewer acclimate to the time change. In this movie, one minute Paige, Sam's daughter, is 5 years old, then she is suddenly in her young teens. This wouldn't be a big deal but I had to rewind it because while everyone else looked the same, there was an older actress playing Paige. I think a little blurb stating that time had passed would have been helpful.

Another awkward scene is when Donnie, Sam's best friend, tries to take over his nightly duties as a father. It's sweet that while Sam was over in Africa, Donnie would keep an eye on Lynn and Paige. But there is just this part where Donnie is telling Paige goodnight, and she asks, "Aren't you gonna read me a book?" Followed by her saying her dad normally kisses her on the forehead and he can do that if he wanted to. Now this isn't the 5 year old Paige asking this. It is the 13-14 year old Paige asking. I work with middle/high school kids and...I don't know, I just felt that that particular scene was creepy and awkward. Not many kids that age that I know would ask their dad's friend for a kiss on the forehead. That's just my opinion!

My last issue is a small one, more like a goof. There is a scene where Sam is at the airport to leave for Africa and Lynn, Paige, and Donnie walk him right up to the departing gate. I think everyone knows that doesn't happen anymore, especially after 9/11.

Like I said, these are just minor issues I had. If you plan on buying Machine Gun Preacher, it is due out on dvd and blu-ray on June 5th. When you get your copy, make sure you don't turn the film off right away. While the end credits role, there is some real life photos and footage of the real Sam Childers, his close friends/freedom fights Deng and Marco, etc. I am going to end this post with something the real Sam says:

"For me to sit here and give all kinds of excuses to make it right, I can't do. But what I want to ask everyone out there, everyone that has a child, everyone that has a brother, a sister: if your child or family member was abducted today, if a mad man came in, a terrorist came in, abducted your family member or your child and if I said to you I can bring your child home...does it matter how I bring them home?" --Sam Childers

JOSEPH KONY

Joseph Kony, leader of the LRA (Lord's Resistance Army), is responsible for the deaths of an estimated 400,000 people. He is also responsible for the kidnapping of over 40,000 children, in which these innocent babies are raped, tortured, sold into sex slavery, and even forced to carry guns and kill their own people.

Kony needs to be stopped. For more information on how you can help stop this evil tyrant, visit the Invisible Children website.

Prayers For Bobby: A Book/Movie Analysis by Guest Blogger Brian Warriner

Title: Prayers for Bobby: A Mother's Coming to Terms With the Suicide of Her Gay Son
Author: Leroy Aarons
ISBN: 0062511238
Genre: True Story
Theme: Gay Bashing, Suicide, Homophobia, Religion vs. Homosexuality
Length: 288
Binding: paperback
Published: 9 August 1996
Buy: Amazon.com
Brian's Rating:


Synopsis: Bobby Griffith, at the age of 15, realized that he was gay and in conflict with his religious upbringing. Through Bobby's journal entries and his mother's reminiscences we learn of the emotional torment that led Bobby to take his own life. Prayers for Bobby takes readers through his mother's anguish and disbelief to her transformation from biblical literalist to enlightened parent.




Title: Prayers for Bobby
Director: Russell Mulcahy
Actor(s): Sigourney Weaver, Ryan Kelley
Rated: N/A
Genre: True Story
Theme: Homophobia, Gay Bashing, Teen Suicide, Religion vs. Homosexuality
Runtime: 91 mins
DVD Release Date: 14 December 2010
Buy: Amazon.com
Brian's Rating:


Synopsis: Academy Award nominee and Golden Globe winner Sigourney Weaver stars in this emotional true story about a deeply religious suburban housewife and mother who struggles to accept her son’s homosexuality. Mary Griffith (Weaver) is a devout Christian who has raised her children with a conservative religious perspective. When her son, Bobby (Ryan Kelley), reveals that he is gay to his older brother, the entire family dynamic is forever shifted. While Bobby’s father and siblings slowly come to terms with his homosexuality, Mary turns to her steadfast beliefs in an attempt to “cure” her son. Alienated and quickly becoming more detached from the safety of his close-knit family, Bobby’s depression drives him to take drastic – and tragic – actions. PRAYERS FOR BOBBY is the multiple Emmy Award and Golden Globe Award nominated true story of a mother torn between her loyalties, challenged by her faith, and moved by a tragedy that would change her life, and the lives of others, forever. Based on the book Prayers for Bobby by Leroy Aarons.

Brian's Comparison & Analysis: Prayers for Bobby is based on a true story. The lives of mother and son cross. After finding out that her teenage son Bobby is gay, his mother, Mary Griffith, sets out on a course to “cure” her son of his homosexuality. Her faith and religious upbringing has taught her that being gay is an abomination. Adding to her worry is the constant fear of her family not being together in the afterlife. She not only posted index cards all around the house with Bible saying on them but also made Bobby go to therapy to get "fixed". Bobby, being raised in such a God-fearing environment, was also afraid of being sent to hell for being gay. He didn’t want to be gay for fear of God’s wrath for “choosing” to live this lifestyle. In truth, Bobby couldn’t come to terms with who he was.

This story is set in the late 1970’s early 1980’s where the AIDS Epidemic started. Also, you had Harvey Milk being elected to the Board of Supervisors and the Stonewall Riots. Being gay was slowly making its way into the media. Most of the attention was on the negative side, painting gays as sex crazed perverts who are a danger to our children. This is what Bobby heard and saw, so he most likely personalized it. After all, he was a young gay man, trying to find himself in the world he lived in.

In the book by Leroy Aarons, Bobby seemed to slowly come to terms with his homosexuality, but his small progress would be cut short after hearing his mother's voice say, “You are going to burn in Hell if you don’t change.” His struggle would start all over again. What is not covered in the movie, is Bobby starting to embrace his homosexuality. But from the excerpts from his journals, Bobby Griffith was full of self-hatred. Now when I read Prayers for Bobby, I often asked myself, How is it possible that one person could fight against and have so much self-hatred for who they are?

As you read the excerpts from his journals, you soon realize that Bobby couldn’t accept himself because it brought him away from his family and what he believed in. He strongly believed that no one loved him, not even his family. It was the fighting, the struggling, the trying to “cure himself” and the feeling of being unloved that brought Bobby to the end of his life. Bobby completed suicide by jumping off a freeway overpass directly into the path of an 18 wheel truck which killed him instantly. He suffered severe internal injuries, that couldn’t have been repaired. Bobby was finally free from his hell.

Now for his mother Mary, whose journey begins after her son Bobby’s ends so tragically. She constantly questioned whether Bobby made it to heaven or ended up in hell. Both the movie and the book make it clear on how his death rocked Mary. Not only did she question where Bobby's soul ended up, but after meeting Rev. Larry Whitsell of the Metropolitan Community Church, she started to question everything she believed in and was taught throughout her life.

Prayers for Bobby, the movie, was directed by Russell Mulcany and starred Sigourney Weaver as Mary Griffith. In the film, Rev. Whitsell introduced Mary to PFLAG (Parents, Families, & Friends of Lesbians And Gays). As Mary listened to the other parents discussing when they knew their child was different, it started to cause the wheels in her head to turn. It finally came to her when she realized that Bobby was different. “My son was always different, his difference began at conception, I knew it I felt it...I now know why God didn’t heal Bobby, because there was nothing wrong with him.” From there, Mary became enlightened to the fact that her son is in heaven and that there was nothing wrong with Bobby.

From then on Mary started speaking and soon she became a fighting force for LGBT Youth through California and the country. In 1996, she spoke in front of the U.S Congress. The truth is, you can’t mention Human Rights without mentioning Mary Griffith, who has made it her life’s purpose to help Gay and Lesbian youth. So in conclusion, I want to dedicate this article to Mary Griffith for her work in bringing change. And also to the memory of Bobby Griffith and Leroy Aarons, may you both rest in peace. Much love to you both.

Comparison and Analysis Written By:

Do you like Brian Warriner's comparison/analysis of Prayers for Bobby and want to know more about him? Check out his Guest Blogger Introduction HERE. Also, Brian can be contacted at otherside_connections@yahoo.com .