Top Film Reviews

Jaws

Release Date: 1975 Length: 124 min

“Y’know the thing about a shark, he’s got… lifeless eyes, black eyes, like a doll’s eyes. When he comes at ya, doesn’t seem to be livin’… until he bites ya. And those black eyes roll over white, and then…” -Quint.

Director: Steven Speilberg (Known for E.T., Jurassic Park, Indiana Jones and the Raiders of The Lost Ark) Writers: Peter Benchley (Known for The Deep) and Carl Gottlieb (Known for The Jerk) Actors: Roy Scheider (Known for Marathon Man, The French Connection, Klute), Richard Dreyfuss (Known for American Graffiti, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, What About Bob), Robert Shaw (Known for From Russia With Love, The Sting, The Taking of Pelham One Two Three)

Summary: When a massive killer shark unleashes chaos on a beach community off Long Island, it’s up to the local police chief, a marine biologist, and an old seafarer to hunt the beast down. -IMDb

Overall Thoughts: This is, without a doubt, one of my all-time favorite films. Even though this film is over fifty years old now (its fiftieth anniversary was on June 20th of this year!), it still remains and always will be one of the most terrifying films ever made. I think that you almost cannot say that about any other film, really (maybe apart from Psycho). This film is so scary that I can guarantee that anyone who watches it will think twice before stepping into water ever again. This film is the literal reason why humans are so terrified of sharks, even when there are rarely any actual shark attacks. In fact, I can say that I have probably seen this film about a dozen times, and yet I still find it extremely difficult to watch the first five minutes because it is so disturbing. Speaking of the beginning sequence, I also think that it is incredibly challenging to find other films that can set up the rest of the story quite as well as Jaws did. It’s the kind of scene that not only can attract the audience with the suspense, but it also introduces the horror that will be the rest of the film. Before I go into detail as to how amazing the director and the actor’s performances are, I feel I should mention just how outstanding the special effects are for this film. The shark props that they used in the film are so realistic that they can make some of the million-dollar CGI sharks used today look awful in comparison. Again, I feel it’s important to mention that this film is fifty years old! I think that when you look at how incredibly groundbreaking and instrumental to pop culture this film was, it comes as no surprise to learn that Steven Spielberg is the director of this film. Almost all the well-known classics were made by him. It’s pretty impressive, though, to learn that this film was one of his first pictures, just because it is so impressive. It’s the kind of film that even a seasoned director would be lucky to make. The way that he shoots this film adds to the tension so perfectly. The audience doesn’t even see the shark until about two-thirds into the film, but through Steven Spielberg’s direction, you are frightened of what you cannot see. The scenes where this mysterious shark attacks would not even remotely have the same alarming effect on people were it not for a genius like Steven Spielberg. The actors were flawless in this film as well. Roy Scheider is so wonderful at playing just this very normal guy who finds himself thrust into a terrible situation and somehow has to rise above his fear of the water. Richard Dreyfuss, who was pretty new to the spotlight before this film, is also extremely convincing as the shark expert who is both horrified by the death and yet also amazed by the creature itself. However, the best performance of the film comes from the great Robert Shaw, who plays Quint. He gives a monologue of the time he was on the USS Indianapolis, that sunk, and the surviving crew was attacked by sharks. It takes some truly great actors at their craft to simply talk as their character and still absolutely chill the audience to the bone. I think that the actor also performed the scene so well that the character gets an extra depth and emotion that is so rare. This is one of those films that I could probably go on for pages and pages because it is just so good, but no explanation that I could give would ever be able to convey the excellence of Jaws. I will stop here then, and simply say that in all honesty, this film changed my life. It introduced me to a greater art of filmmaking and gave me a special love for the classics that are, truthfully, responsible for shaping parts of our world today. I recommend this film to everyone because it is a film that will be influential long after we are all gone and will be stuck in the minds of anyone who watches it.

Ratings: Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 97% My Rating: 97%

28 Years Later

Release Date: 2025 Length: 115 min

“You remember the first time you showed me the angel, Dad? We drove near here with the car. We walked until we spotted it rising over the treetops. You said it would stand like this forever, like the pyramids or Stonehenge so when you look at it you’re seeing into the future. Do you remember that? Do you? I couldn’t have been more than seven or eight. “Was the two of us, real life time travelers,” you said. Falling into the future. And I got… I got scared! Because I thought you were being serious and we really had. How many hundreds of years have we fallen this time? Is it thousands or more?” -Isla

Director: Danny Boyle (Known for Trainspotting, 28 Days Later, Slumdog Millionaire) Writer: Alex Garland (Known for 28 Days Later, Ex Machina, Civil War) Actors: Jodie Comer (Known for Killing Eve, Free Guy, The Last Duel), Aaron Taylor-Johnson (Known for Kick Ass, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Bullet Train), Alfie Williams

Summary: It’s been almost three decades since the rage virus escaped a biological weapons laboratory, and now, still in a ruthlessly enforced quarantine, some have found ways to exist amidst the infected. One such group of survivors lives on a small island connected to the mainland by a single, heavily defended causeway. When one of the group leaves the island on a mission into the dark heart of the mainland, he discovers secrets, wonders, and horrors that have mutated not only the infected but other survivors as well. -IMDb

Overall Thoughts: I’m a huge fan of the first film in the series, 28 Days Later, so when I heard that the director and writer were making this film, I immediately got excited. I think that overall, this film definitely lived up to expectations. The first five minutes of the film bring the audience instantly into a state of anxiety, horror, and just absolute sheer terror. I love how the opening scene appeals to both viewers who have seen 28 Days Later and those who have not, as it conveys the same sort of feel as the previous film, while also reintroducing to new viewers the ugliness of what occurred in those early days of the pandemic. Another reason why I think that people should see this film is that it is filmed in incredibly clever ways. There is one scene in particular where two of the main characters are crossing this partly submerged bridge while a zombie is chasing them, and it doesn’t sound like it, but it is just so beautiful and stressful to watch at the same time. I have a lot of respect for the director Danny Boyle for displaying the film in so many innovative ways that add to the film’s suspense. This film does fall in the zombie horror category, but it is also so much more than that. To me, it’s about the bond between a mother and her child. For those who haven’t watched the film, the character of Isla, played by Jodie Comer, has a mentally debilitating illness that forces her and her son to travel in zombie-infested lands seeking treatment. One beautiful scene that really impacted me was when, in a particular moment, Spike is asleep and is almost killed by a zombie, and Isla protects her son. What’s so moving about this scene is that Isla is previously shown as someone weak both physically and mentally, and yet, the instinct to protect her child is so fierce that it transcends any barriers she faces. Obviously, this is an extreme scenario, but I think this scene and others like it serve as messages to the audience about the force that is motherhood, especially in the hardest of times. I also think that it goes without saying, but the performances of Jodie Comer and newcomer Alfie Williams are fantastic. It’s easy to forget while watching this film that they are just actors instead of mother and son. I also love the inclusion of Ralph Fiennes’ character in this film. Without going into too many spoilers, he plays a character who is a loner with respect and empathy for all life, including that of the zombies. I think that he brings hope to the main characters and the audience that there is still some good left in this scary and vicious world. His character, which he plays so well, really helps the film introduce the idea in the audience’s mind that all life is sacred and worthwhile. The only critique that I would have for this film (anyone who has read any other review for this film has probably already heard this) is that it should have ended 5 minutes earlier. In case you don’t know, many audiences did not like the ending scene because they found it to be too weird and confusing. I personally didn’t completely hate it, but I do agree that it is more confusing than mysterious. I know that the writer probably included it in this film to help with the continuation of the story in the upcoming films. Personally, I think the film would have been better if they had left out that scene and then made it the beginning of the next film instead. That way, this ending is not so disconnected from the rest of the film, and more intrigue is created at the beginning of the next one. In summary, no, this film is not quite as good as the original 28 Days Later. I do, however, strongly recommend it to any fans of the previous films, as it really does contribute nicely to the 28 Days Later universe and serves as a much-desired look into what happened long after the pandemic first began. I am very excited to see how the story unfolds in the next film that is coming out in 2026.

Ratings: Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 88% My Rating: 85%

The Fantastic Four: First Steps

Release Date: 2025 Length: 114 min

“I herald his beginning. I hearld your end. I hearld Galactus.” -Shalla-Bal

Director: Matt Shakman (Known for Cut Bank) Writer: Peter Cameron (Known for Werewolf by Night, Lost in the Pacific) Actors: Pedro Pascal (Known for The Mandalorian, Last of Us, Gladiator II), Vanessa Kirby (Known for The Crown, Mission Impossible: Fallout, Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw), Ebon Moss-Bachrach (Known for The Bear, The Punisher), Joseph Quinn (Known for Stranger Things, A Quiet Place: Day One, Gladiator II)

Summary: Forced to balance their roles as heroes with the strength of their family bond, the Fantastic Four must defend Earth from a ravenous space god called Galactus and his enigmatic herald, the Silver Surfer. -IMDb

Overall Thoughts: If I’m being perfectly honest, this film and The Thunderbolts have renewed my faith in the future of Marvel. I love how this film has done something completely different with the characters and story than the previous Fantastic Four groups. This is especially nice for people like me, who are not huge fans of the Fantastic Four series from the early 2000s, and most definitely did not like the 2015 Fantastic Four film. I think that the writer was really smart to not only have this film be on a separate Earth from the previous Avengers films, but to also have the film be set in the 60s. That gives the writer and director a lot of room for creativity and the ability to create a sense of nostalgia for the audience. It was pretty impressive to see all of the set props and costumes that were made in reference to that time in history. In my opinion, Marvel picked the perfect actors for these roles. I was already a huge fan of Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach before I saw this film; however, for me, Vanessa Kirby, an actress that I honestly had not seen in that many things before this, steals the film with her emotional performance as Sue Storm. I think that one of the flaws of the previous Fantastic Four films that this film does really well is that they didn’t highlight the really cool things that Sue Storm can do. Sue especially has a great scene close to the end of the film where she gets to showcase her power in incredible ways. Overall, though, this film’s greatest strength is in the chemistry between these four actors. They truly display to the audience a close-knit family that both supports and leans on each other. My favorite relationship is actually the friendship between Ben Grimm and Johnny Storm because they are completely different and yet complement each other very well. For people like me who are really close to their family, I think that the connection the characters have with each other will hit close to home. Julia Garner should also be praised for her incredible performance as the Silver Surfer in this film. I think, actually, if I had to think of a critique for this film, it would be that there weren’t more scenes with Julia Garner because she is just so cool to watch. I also feel like the full extent of the Silver Surfer’s abilities wasn’t completely capitalized in this film (although that may happen in another Marvel film, we’ll see). However, the Silver Surfer is a great addition to the characters and story. The Silver Surfer was even more compelling to see than the actual main villain of the film, Galactus. Spoiler alert, but the credit scene was also very exciting because it introduces the villain for the next couple of films, and how the Fantastic Four family may tie in to future storylines. In summary, I think that any fan of the Marvel Cinematic Universe should see this film. Although this film is not the absolute best Marvel film ever made, in my opinion, it really is a breath of fresh air from previous movies. I’m excited to see the Fantastic Four appear again in future Marvel films.

Ratings: Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 87% My Rating: 87%

Weapons-Spoiler Alert

Release Date: 2025 Length: 128 min

“The night before, at 2:17 in the morning, every kid woke up, got out of bed, walked downstairs, and into the dark. And they never came back.”

Director: Zach Cregger (Known for Barbarian) Writer: Zach Cregger Actors: Julia Garner (Known for Ozark, Inventing Anna, Fantastic Four: First Steps), Josh Brolin (Known for Avengers: Infinity War, No Country For Old Men, Dune), Alden Ehrenreich (Known for Solo: A Star Wars Story, Oppenheimer, Hail, Caesar!)

Summary: When all but one child from the same class mysteriously vanish on the same night at exactly the same time, a community is left questioning who or what is behind their disappearance. -IMDb

Overall Thoughts: I’ve watched a lot of horror films in my life, making it difficult for me to truly get scared. This film, however, definitely terrified me in certain scenes. What I love about this film is that it can make the audience afraid of the very simplest of things that inherently shouldn’t be scary, and yet they are. For example, a scene that appears several times in the trailers is the character of Marcus, played by Benedict Wong, running through the streets for a long time until he reaches Julia Garner’s character, Justine Gandy. That explanation by itself doesn’t sound scary in the least bit, but the way that the character runs and the expression on his face are what bring the terror in that scene. With this thought in mind, it’s important for me to mention what an incredible cast this was. I think that for many people, it will come as no surprise when I say Julia Garner and Josh Brolin excel in this film, because it is difficult for them to do bad in any role. However, the performances of the supporting cast members like Benedict Wong and Austin Abrams are also extraordinary. Without a strong supporting cast, this sort of film would never be able to succeed. I’m also a huge fan of the way the director Zach Cregger chose to tell this story. For those who have not yet seen this film, it is shown as a nonlinear narrative. This simply means that the film is presented in separate chapters from several different characters’ points of view, with each perspective adding key information for solving the mystery. I love this because I think it leaves the audience in suspense and immersed in the mystery, while also allowing each character to shine. Now here is where I give my one critique to this film. Before I do so, I want to reiterate that I really do love this film and recommend it to anyone who is a fan of mystery and horror. However, what initially attracted me to this film was the idea that these children never return, and the community must try to solve that mystery. I think that explaining the mystery at the end and having the children actually come back (even though they technically weren’t supposed to) destroys the terror and intrigue. The exact moment we as the audience find out who is responsible for the disappearances is the exact moment that I became unfraid of this film. Everything up until then, however, was scary to me. Believe me, I get it, no one likes not knowing what actually happened, but what if that actually is the best ending? I also think that would have been a great ending to show what usually actually happens in these sorts of terrible situations, where a child goes missing, which is that the family never finds out what really happened. Perhaps showing the community grappling with that loss would have been better. Again, none of these critiques should take away from the fact that this is a great film and a must-watch for mystery fans.

Ratings: Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 94% My Rating: 85%

Sinners-Spoiler Alert

Release Date: 2025 Length: 137 min

“Last time I seen my brother, last time I seen the sun. And just for a few hours, we were free.” -Stack.

Director: Ryan Coogler (Known for Black Panther, Creed, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever) Writer: Ryan Coogler Actors: Michael B. Jordan (Known for Black Panther, Creed, Fantastic Four), Hailee Steinfeld (Known for True Grit, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, The Edge of Seventeen), Jack O’Connell (Known for Starred Up, Money Monster, Lady Chatterley’s Lover)

Summary: Trying to leave their troubled lives behind, twin brothers return to their Mississippi hometown to start again, only to discover that an even greater evil is waiting to welcome them back. -IMDb

Overall Thoughts: Sinners is probably my favorite movie of the year and is definitely in the list for my favorites of the 2020s. It’s easy to try to describe this film as a vampire horror movie and call it a day, but it is so much more than that. To me, this film is about culture, love, family, and ultimately about life over death. It’s one of those rare films that you can’t stop thinking about long after you’ve left the theater. The direction and writing of Ryan Coogler are so unique and inspiring. To make a film like this is a risk because so much is said in between the dialogue, and to be able to pull that off truly takes a master. The group of actors selected for this film is also one for the books. Michael B. Jordan is especially fantastic at playing two characters, so much so that I forgot by the end that this was one actor and not two. I could go on forever discussing the many reasons why you should watch this film, but for the sake of being brief, I will mention four of my top reasons. Be aware that there are spoilers in this explanation. The first reason is quite simply the cinematography. This film just looks absolutely beautiful, and the set was just so perfectly picked by Ryan Coogler. He also does some incredible special effects that look very real, and it didn’t take a 700 million budget to do so. The second reason for me is the soundtrack and the singing of the actors is just so amazing. I’ve been listening to the soundtrack for months after going to see it in theaters, cause I liked it that much. Miles Caton, who plays Sammie in the film, has such an incredible voice. The soundtrack also plays to the setting of the film. The third reason that I would watch this film is quite simply for the ending. I think that the ending symbolizes a choice between everlasting life and death. What choice would we make if we were ever able to decide that for ourselves? To me, what makes this movie special is that the vampires themselves are not really villains in the classical sense of the word; they’re actually, I think, a community that just decided to cheat the natural law of death and instead choose life. The ending scene is just two of the main characters discussing why one chose that life over death and why the other did not. I think it makes you question what it really means to be alive. You could live 100 lifetimes and never really truly live. I also like that you can sense the love between the characters, even though they took two very different paths. Finally, the best scene in the entire film, in my opinion, occurs halfway through when Sammie begins to sing (this explanation will not do the scene justice), and everyone dances to this hypnotizing music that is so magical that the past, present, and future all come as one. To me, this scene symbolizes a group’s cultural identity that is a combination of everything that came before and after. For anyone who loves music just as I do, this scene shows how great music can transcend space and time. I will never be able to put into words just how wonderful this scene is, but I will say that I have never seen anything like it. In summary, I recommend this film to anyone and everyone, even if you don’t particularly like horror films, because this movie goes past any conception of genre. I feel that regardless of who’s watching this film, they will leave feeling that they have seen something incredible and never done before.

Ratings: Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 97% My Rating: 97%

2001: A Space Odyssey

Release Date: 1968 Length: 142 min

“I am putting myself to the fullest possible use, which is all I think that any conscious entity can ever hope to do.” -Hal.

Director: Stanley Kubrick(known for The Shining, A Clockwork Orange, and Dr. Strangelove) Writers: Stanley Kubrick and Arthur C. Clarke(writer of the novel) Actors: Keir Dullea, Gary Lockwood, and William Sylvester

Summary: After a monolith of alien origins is discovered on the moon, a team is sent to Jupiter to try and locate the source. On the way, they encounter technical problems from the communications system called H.A.L. that result in deadly consequences.

Overall Thoughts: This film was ahead of its time when it came to the science behind space travel. The designs of the spaceships seen in the movie are incredibly accurate, like the “Ferris wheel” looking spacecraft that created artificial gravity through centrifugal force. Even the little details that are easily overlooked were clearly researched extensively, like the small detail of no sound in space and the overall look of the characters floating in space. All of this is even more impressive when we remember that this movie was made 1 year before the first men walked on the moon! The movie was even more accurate than some of the modern-day science fiction films. The story of the film is also a work of genius that incorporates a ton of subplots that all come together to create one cohesive idea. The film does not have just one underlying theme, but several, like evolution, the search for extraterrestrial life, and the creation of Artificial Intelligence. For me, the film’s best scene is when H.A.L. begins to beg the main character, Dr. David Bowman, not to kill him. You finish watching the scene, truly feeling like you just witnessed a murder, but then you remember that H.A.L. isn’t human. It makes you wonder what the future holds as the world advances further in the realm of AI. Will AI become more human than humans? How much control will we have over something that can, in essence, think for itself? I’m not familiar with any of the main actors outside of this film, but I can say that they were all perfect for this film. In particular, Keir Dullea, who plays the main character, shines in the final 30 minutes of the film, which cannot even be explained in words except to say that it truly leaves one with questions, but in a good way. I have been a longtime fan of Stanley Kubrick, so it will be no surprise when I say that this film could never have been made without his genius behind the camera. I cannot overemphasize enough how great Stanley Kubrick is at creating epics that stay with you long after they end. I cannot even imagine the amount of research and soul-searching that this film took, but it clearly can only be done by the very best. Overall, this movie is great for anyone who wants to see a realistic science fiction film that is left to be interpreted by the audience.

Ratings: Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 90% My Rating: 90%

Tombstone

Release Date: 1993 Length: 129 min

“All right, Clanton… you called down the thunder, well now you’ve got it!… You tell them I’m coming… and hell’s coming with me, you hear? Hell’s coming with me!” -Wyatt Earp

Director: George Pan Cosmatos (Known for Rambo: First Blood Part 11 and Cobra) Writers: Kevin Jarre (Known for Glory, Navy Seals, and The Mummy) Actors: Kurt Russell (Known for Escape from New York, The Thing, and Elvis) Val Kilmer (Known for Top Gun, Batman Forever, and Heat) Michael Biehn (Known for The Terminator, Aliens, and The Abyss)

Summary: Looking to leave the gun-slinging life, Wyatt Earp and his brothers, Morgan and Virgil, head to Tombstone with their families to make money in the overfilled saloons. Due to Wyatt Earp’s famous reputation as a lawman, the brothers are soon met with opposition from the dangerous Cowboy gang that runs the town. As much as they try to ignore the ongoing violence that surrounds them, they soon, with the help of infamous outlaw Doc Holliday, trusted friend of Wyatt Earp, become the only law and order in town brave enough to stand against the Cowboy gang.

Overall Thoughts: This is by far my favorite Western film. From beginning to end, the movie is filled with convincing dialogue, accurate sets, astonishing cinematography, and imaginative action scenes. I love how much attention to detail goes into every aspect of the movie, such as the inclusion of women in the suffrage movement. The historical accuracy of the story is also pretty impressive. For example, a good portion of the dialogue in this film was actually said in real life by the characters. One of my favorite things about this film is the suspense that is present in nearly every scene. Even before the cowboy gang goes up against the Earp brothers for the first time, the tension between the conflicting groups is undeniable. Even though the characters try their hardest to keep the peace, war almost seems inevitable. The performances of Kurt Russell and Val Kilmer, especially, are just out of this world good. Kurt Russell is great at playing a man who wishes to live a normal life, but who ultimately cannot escape his past and true nature. On the other hand, we have Val Kilmer whose character is not conflicted in the least. Often, film critics speak about those rare performances that are just absolutely perfect, and to me, that is Val Kilmer in Tombstone. Doc Holliday, on the outside, seems like this fearless and tough gunslinger whose mind is his greatest weapon. But in reality, this exterior shell hides a man crippled by disease and loneliness that pulls him to the character of Wyatt Earp, the only person that he has ever felt a love for. The actors do an incredible job at highlighting the differences in their personalities, while also never making the audience doubt the strong love that the two characters share. It’s crazy to think that George Pan Cosmatos, a director who was previously most famous for Cobra, directed this film. I heard a rumor that has been partly confirmed in interviews with the cast that the majority of the film wasn’t actually directed by Cosmatos, but in fact by Kurt Russell himself. To me, that makes more sense because the attention to detail and storytelling speak instead to a director who has mastered the art of film. Overall, this film is a must-see not just for those who love a good western, but also for anyone who wants to see an emotional action epic.

Ratings: Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 76% My Rating: 96%

Joker

Release Date: 2019 Length: 122 min

“For my whole life, I didn’t know if I even really existed. But I do, and people are starting to notice.” -Joker.

Director: Todd Philips (Known for Old School, The Hangover, and War Dogs) Writer: Todd Philips, Scott Silver (Known for 8 Mile, The Fighter, and The Mod Squad) Actors: Joaquin Phoenix (Known for Gladiator, The Village, and Her), Robert De Niro (Known for Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, and Goodfellas), Zazie Beetz (Known for Geostorm, Deadpool 2, and Wounds)

Summary: Arthur Fleck is a mentally ill party clown who dreams of becoming a stand-up comedian in an impoverished Gotham. After losing his job, Arthur begins to become more and more unhinged. After realizing that the world he once knew was gone, Arthur begins to accept who he really is and starts on a path that will change the course of history forever. This is a story of how society’s cruelty can shape a man to become evil.

Overall Thoughts: When a movie makes the audience feel so many different emotions at once, the film becomes more than just entertainment. The movie stays in the viewer’s mind long after it has ended. When watching this film, I was shocked by how the insignificant things we do can completely change someone’s life. I also loved how the writers showed such an elaborate and complicated past to a character that has played such a huge role in pop culture for decades. The movie has a very dark tone, which I think fits the character perfectly because the Joker has been something of a mystery to the readers since he was first introduced into the comics. I also love the homage the movie made to Heath Ledger, who played the role of Joker perfectly in The Dark Knight. To say that Joaquin Phoenix was incredible as Arthur would be an understatement. The way that the character is portrayed by Phoenix is nothing short of perfection. His ability to make the audience loathe and sympathize with the Joker is not common in movies today. At the beginning of the movie, you already know that Arthur will transform into the Joker, but when you get to the end, you are still left surprised because Phoenix can make you have conflicting feelings about him. If the movie had been directed by anyone else, I believe that it wouldn’t have been as impactful. The director goes from comedy straight into a dark drama filled with pain, which is very interesting to see. I think that this also shows how great he is because a lot of the time, we see directors work on very similar movies, which was not the case for Todd Phillips. I also love how he was unafraid to tackle all of the topics that are considered controversial today. Just because these things are hard to talk about doesn’t mean that they should just be left unsaid. The director doesn’t show a strong and tough villain that is hated by the audience, but a weak and ultimately forgettable man whose life experiences lead him on a downward spiral.

Ratings: Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 68% My Rating: 80%

Planet of the Apes Trilogy

Release Dates: 2011-2017 Length: 104-140 min

“There are times when it is necessary to abandon our humanity to save humanity.” –The Colonel.

Directors: Rupert Wyatt [Rise of the Planet of the Apes] (Known for The Gambler and Captive State) Matt Reeves [Dawn of the Planet of the Apes and War for the Planet of the Apes] (Known for Cloverfield and Let Me In) Writers: Matt Reeves Rick Jafa (Known for Jurassic Park and In the Heart of the Sea) Amanda Silver (Known for Jurassic Park and In the Heart of the Sea) Mark Bomback (Known for The Wolverine, Live Free or Die Hard, and Total Recall) Actors: Andy Serkis (Known for Black Panther, Star Wars, and Lord of the Rings) Toby Kebbell (Known for Ben-Hur, Kong: Skull Island, and Warcraft) Karin Konoval (Known for X-Files and Bates Motel)

Summary: The three movies revolve around the events that led to the planet Earth in the original movie, Planet of the Apes, made in 1968 with Charlton Heston. The first movie, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, is about a doctor who raises an ape named Caesar (Andy Serkis) who has heightened abilities due to experiments for a cure to Alzheimer’s disease. Caesar never felt like he belonged with his human family, and after several incidents, Caesar is put in a facility with other apes. After witnessing the terrible treatment of the apes in the facility, Caesar eventually decides to save the apes. This therefore creates a huge resistance of apes against humans led by Caesar. The second movie, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, begins with what remains of Earth after a deadly virus, unintentionally created by apes, kills most of humanity. The apes find themselves on the brink of war with the remaining humans for the resources that are left. The third and final movie, War for the Planet of the Apes, continues with the battle between the humans and apes as they continue to fight for their lives, and the conditions on Earth become closer and closer to how they were in the original 1968 movie.

Overall Thoughts: The entire series is heart-wrenching from beginning to end. Each little detail of the story is carefully calculated and crucial to the plot. The special effects of the movie are so great that I almost forget that the apes I’m watching are people acting and not actual apes. I also am thankful that the apes are played by actual people and green-screen technology and not just voice acting because it makes everything so much more realistic and authentic. The way that the movie demonstrates the horrors of dehumanization, war, and oppression is what most people mistake for just a simple action movie. These hidden themes are so beautiful because that way, people who go in wanting an entertaining sci-fi movie come out with a new understanding of important topics. I love the way the roles of the humans and the apes are switched. For example, the apes are animals, yet they show morality and responsibility, while the humans are primitive and savage. I am extremely impressed with how the actors are able to portray apes in the movies. It is one thing to say that an actor is great at transitioning from one character to a completely different character altogether. Still, it’s another thing to say an actor is awesome at transitioning from human to ape. The preparation to play each individual role must have been very extensive, which makes me appreciate the movie even more. I am especially impacted by the way Andy Serkis plays Caesar because I always feel like a new layer of the character’s personality is revealed in each new movie. Whenever there is a movie that requires a ton of special effects, there is also a lot of direction that is needed to make everything work. The director was great at transforming a beloved story into something more modern and enjoyable for today’s audience. I love how the movies fit together because sometimes when there are movie series, they don’t always make sense when they are put together. This definitely was not the case for this trilogy.

Rating: Rotten Tomatoes Rating (Rise of the Planet of the Apes): 82% My Rating (Rise of the Planet of the Apes): 89% Rotten Tomatoes Rating (Dawn of the Planet of the Apes): 91% My Rating (Dawn of the Planet of the Apes): 92% Rotten Tomatoes Rating (War for the Planet of the Apes): 94% My Rating (War for the Planet of the Apes): 94%

Gangs of New York

Release Date: 2002 Length: 166 min

“And no matter what they did to build this city back up again—for the rest of time—it would be like nobody ever knew we were ever here.” -Amsterdam

Director: Martin Scorsese (Known for Taxi Driver, The Departed, and GoodFellas) Writers: Jay Cocks (Known for The Age of Innocence, Silence, and De-Lovely) Kenneth Lonergan (Known for Margaret, Manchester by the Sea, and Analyze This) Steven Zaillin (Known for Schindler’s List, Mission Impossible, and Hannibal) Actors: Leonardo DiCaprio (Known for The Departed, The Revenant, and Titanic) Daniel Day-Lewis (Known for Lincoln, The Crucible, and The Age of Innocence) Cameron Diaz (Known for The Holiday, Charlie’s Angels, Being John Malkovich)

Summary: After the death of his father, Irish gang leader Amsterdam Vallon returns to New York City to get revenge against his father’s killer, William Cutting, who is another gang leader. In order to do this, he must become an insider of Cutting’s gang and wait for the right time to strike. As time goes by, it becomes increasingly difficult for Amsterdam to keep his cover as he witnesses the horrors done by Cutting and the people that he used to know.

Overall Thoughts: Although the setting of the movie is in the 1800s, the film shows many conflicts and problems that are still happening today. For example, they show how the gangs fight for territories of New York City which has been seen several times in the past. The hatred that the Americans in the film have towards the immigrants is interesting to see; it addressed the very conflict that we find ourselves in now, 17 years after the movie was released. The film shows how history repeats itself. It also displays the brutality that people inflict on others. I also like how there are historically-correct background stories hidden in the plot. For example, the corrupt political parties, such as Tweed from Tammany Hall, do things to help the community which disguises their greed and need to be re-elected. The only critique that I would have for this film is that I felt that Cameron Diaz's character is somewhat pointless and very clearly only there as a romantic interest for Leonardo DiCaprio's character. I feel that by the end of the movie I didn't learn much about her, but I also don't care to know anything. Leonardo DiCaprio is as perfect as always! The character Amsterdam is so conflicted and yet very determined, which makes the audience question what the right thing to do is. The way that DiCaprio can show such contrasting emotions in the same scene really proves how talented he is. To me, however, the performance that stands out is that of Daniel Day-Lewis. He plays the character so convincingly that you can't help but both love him and hate him as Amsterdam does. The character is very hypocritical because even though he hates the Irish and degrades them, he loves and respects DiCaprio's Irish character. The chemistry between the two characters is performed incredibly well. Martin Scorsese is a renowned director who has made so many movies that can both relate to the past and the present. Scorsese has never been afraid to step out of the norm of movies and create a unique masterpiece. His choice for the credits song is very appropriate, not only because it is performed and written by one of the most famous Irish bands, U2, but also because the meaning pertains to the topics of the movie, such as hate, patriotism, and racism.

Ratings: Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 73% My Rating: 85%