Category Archives: Five Stars

Star Trek (Theaters)

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Star Trek was an outstanding film. J.J. Abrams has absolutely outdone himself with this wonderfully cast and brilliantly directed film, mixing the old with the new, and pushing its limits without ever straying too far from original Trek universe. With one single stroke, J.J. has revitalized what was once a fading franchise.

Without giving too much away, I wanted to mention the well written screenplay. In all honesty, I had no idea what the story entailed, and was rather surprised with the direction Abrams took. Rather than it being a remake of original Star Trek, the film was actually a complete reboot of the franchise. At its core, the story centers around a youthful and rather eccentric James Tiberius Kirk, the relationships he developed with his future crew members, and his ultimate rise to captain of the USS Enterprise.

The casting for this film was top notch. Each character played off the other very well, and I was completely taken back at how closely they resembled their original counterparts. Chris Pine plays the ideal Kirk, and his mannerisms, intelligence, and brash decision making in the film nails the role of the Captain Kirk we all know so well. Zachary Quinto put on a brilliant performance as Spock, a man torn between his mixed heritage of Vulcan and Human. The balance of logic and emotion was done almost flawlessly, and we are able to witness the internal battle within himself to honor both sides of his ancestry.

Overall, I was very pleased with this film. Star Trek will definitely appeal to a very broad audience and besides being such a technical marvel, it combines a great storyline with an incredible cast which definitely makes it a worthwhile experience. If your a fan of Sci Fi features, I suggest you don’t wait for this on DVD. Get the full experience and see it on the silverscreen. Its definitely worth your time. “Live Long, and Prosper”.

The Wrestler (DVD)

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When I watched The Wrestler, I didn’t really know what to expect. I knew a little about what the movie was about, but I didn’t think it would wind up being anywhere near as engaging and inspirational as it was. Every wrestling fan has a favorite wrestler who they think they know, due to their public portrayal and in ring persona. This movie takes you so far beyond that and humanizes the wrestling world.

The movie follows the story of Randy “The Ram” Robinson (Mickey Rourke), a wrestler who at the peak of his career packed stadiums across the world, and is now relegated to doing backyard shows in high school gyms.  Once a world renowned superstar, he struggles just to pay his rent and is sometimes winds up having to sleep in his van. He is plagued by nagging injuries from his premium wrestling days along with new injuries incurred from his latest low budget wrestling shows. His only comfort is with an aging stripper named Cassidy (Marisa Tomei) who is going through her own fade from the limelight as her customers often opt for younger, “hotter” strippers instead.

After a heart attack, his doctor orders him not to wrestle anymore or he could die. The Ram then finds a job at a deli, cutting meat and scooping salad with a side of sarcasm.  Some of the best scenes take place in the deli as Rourke spouts one liners while serving the patrons. Despite all the hard knocks thrown his way, The Ram remains optimistic and is actually a really likable person. Despite his only family being a daughter that hates him,  he always has time to befriend the local trailer park kids. The other scene that stands out is the “video game” scene. Without ruining it, the irony of it all is just hilarious and you’ll know the scene once you watch it.

When the opportunity for a 20th anniversary championship rematch between The Ram and his former nemesis The Ayatollah comes his way, The Ram must choose whether to play it safe and continue cutting meat or risk everything, including his life, to grasp a spark of the glory he lost so long ago. 

The directing style borders on a documentary, with just enough voice to keep things well paced. It works really well with the subject material and allows the characters to really shine. Marisa Tomei really got a makeover for her role and she seems believable both physically and emotionally. Her performance is solid and serves as the perfect compliment to Rourke’s larger than life wrestling persona.  Rourke is amazing in this role. It is the role he was born to play. Similar to The Ram, Rourke has had quite a few ups and downs in his career. When you see him playing The Ram, the emotions and feelings are genuine to the point that you almost believe he is a real character.  These are the two characters that are most prevalent throughout the movie, but make no mistake- this is definitely Rourke’s movie and he pulls it off perfectly.

You don’t have to be a fan of wrestling to appreciate this movie. If you like watching triumphs of the human spirit, you’ll like this movie. I can understand that it may not be for everyone, but I loved it and highly recommend this film. It is definitely one of the more unique and sincere movies to come out in a while.

Slumdog Millionaire (DVD)

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I’ve been wanting to watch Slumdog Millionaire for a long time but I just never got around to it. Other movies, combined with a busy schedule just didn’t give me a chance to check it out in theaters. I’m a huge fan of director Danny Boyle’s work, particularly 28 Days Later and Trainspotting. Finally I got the chance to watch this movie and see what all the hype was about, and I’m happy to say that the film did not dissappoint me at all.

Slumdog is the story of a young Indian Muslim named Jamal, who is selected to appear on India’s version of ‘Who Wants to be a Millionaire.” The story begins where we see Jamal detained and beaten at the local police station since he is suspected of cheating on the show, as he is the only contestant ever to make it to the final million dollar question.

The rest of the movie jumps back and forth between the past and present as it gives a brief look into Jamal’s troubled life experiences that coincidentally and unforgettably explain how he knows the answers to the each of the game show’s questions.

The story is top notch. As always, Boyle takes some of the most unsettling images and presents them with a style and freshness that is disturbingly enjoyable.  While the plot centers on Jamal and the game show, the story of his life revolves around his relationship with his brother, Salim, and an orphan girl, Latika, with whom the brothers’ fates have been intertwined since they were young. The movie does an excellent job of portraying the hardships and tribulations of life in the slums of India and one can’t help but root for Jamal to come out on top after everything he has been through.

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