Movie Review - Thor: Love & Thunder

Director: Taika Waititi
Genre: Science Fiction/ Action/ Adventure
Runtime: 119 minutes
Year: 2022
Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Christian Bale, Tessa Thompson, Taika Waititi, Jaimie Alexander, Russell Crowe, Chris Pratt, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, Bradley Cooper, Vin Diesel, Pom Klementieff
 
Description: Thor (Chris Hemsworth) enlists the help of Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson), Korg (Taika Waititi) and ex-girlfriend Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) to fight Gorr (Christian Bale) the God Butcher, who intends to make the gods extinct.

Review: A viking from space who uses his magic hammer to cross the universe on a rainbow road. An absurd fact that director Taika Waititi fortunately knows how to deal with. He continues the direction he took with “Thor: Ragnarok” and proves that Thor is justifiably the first Marvel original Avengers character to add a fourth film to his resume. “Thor”Love & Thunder” is a comic film of cosmic proportions.

The last time we saw Thor was in “Avengers: Endgame”, in which his body suffered a lot from eating too much. He is back in shape and ready for a new adventure. He is fights together with the Guardians of the Galaxy, but Thor feels he is lacking a piece of meaning. We follow the story of his journey to self-development, in which, in addition to thunder, love is central.

Which brings us to Jane, whom we last saw in “Thor: The Dark World”. And she herself gets to experience what it’s like to be a superhero. I was skeptic about this part at first, but I thought they handled this well and the reasoning behind her being worthy enough to pick up Mjolnir.

The way Chris Hemsworth gives color to his character certainly deserves praise. And with Taika Waititi’s great direction and the humorous and action-packed story make for an entertaining movie.

I do still think “Thor: Ragnarok” was better, but nonetheless Waititi did a great job with the fourth Thor movie, which I will definitely be rewatching.

Rating: 4/ 5

90s Movie Review - Heat

Director: Michael Mann
Genre: Drama/ Crime
Runtime: 171 minutes
Year: 1995
Starring: Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Val Kilmer, Jon Voight, Tom Sizemore, Amy Brenneman, Ashley Judd, Mykelti Williamson, Ted Levine, Dennis Haysbert, William Fichtner, Natalie Portman

Description: A group of professional bank robbers start to feel the heat from police when they unknowingly leave a clue at their latest heist.

Review: “Heat” is directed by Michael Mann and stars Al Pacino and Robert De Niro. The film has a good mix of action, crime, tension, romance and drama.
The title “Heat” refers to the heat you feel when the cops are just around the corner. Neil McCauley’s (Robert De Niro) life motto is that you should live a life that you can leave behind in 30 seconds. The heat comes from Vincent Hanna (Al Pacino), a detective who spends his days tracking down thugs.
When you see a professional at work in a movie, you easily sympathize that character. Even if it’s an unscrupulous serial killer, if he’s good at what he does and you see it through his eyes. In “Heat” they use this. McCauley and his gang and Hanna are all very good at what they do. Add the natural charisma both actors have and it’s really hard to pick a side in this cat and mouse game.
Besides the well-known elements in a gangster movie, director Mann shows us a different side of the leading characters. Workaholic Vincent Hanna is in a relationship that won’t work, because he’s never home and he has a stepdaughter with psychological problems. Neil McCauley falls in love with a woman, but can’t tell her the truth about how he makes a living. Chris Shiherlis (Val Kilmer)  is a gambling addict and the woman he loves (Ashley Judd) is cheating on him.  
The original story and the fabulous performances make “Heat” a breathtaking action thriller, one of the best in the genre.

Rating: 5/ 5

 

Ranking the Franchise - Thor

I just rewatched all the “Thor” movies. And although it’s not one of the most consistent Marvel franchises, it is spectacular and memorable. This franchise is not finished yet, so I will probably ‘rerank’ this series when “Thor: Love and Thunder” is released. But for now, here is my ranking of the three “Thor” movies we already have.

3. Thor: The Dark World (2013)
There is enough to enjoy in this sequel, but in general it’s a bit bland. And the villain, Malekith, isn’t very interesting and we don’t really get to know much about him. Chris Hemsworth does feel more comfortable in his role and the final confrontation is pretty cool.

2. Thor (2011)
A film like this makes or breaks with its leading man. And with Chris Hemsworth they got the perfect guy. Not only is her one of the most beautiful people Hollywood has to offer, but he’s also charismatic and can easily carry a film this big. “Thor” is a great first film in a series.

1. Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
When a sequel disappoints, it’s a very bold step to add another sequel and totally spin it around. That’s what director Taika Waititi did for “Thor: Ragnarok”. And I think all the Gods for bringing him in, because he dared to takes risks, add humor and self-mockery and make it a more colorful world. “Thor: Ragnarok” isn’t only the best movie centering its hero, but it’s also one of the best MCU movies to date. And are we lucky to have Waititi back for “Thor: Love and Thunder”.

10s Movie Review - Thor

Director: Kenneth Branagh
Genre: Adventure/ Action/ Science Fiction
Runtime: 115 minutes
Year: 2011
Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Kat Dennings, Stellan Skarsgård, Tom Hiddleston, Anthony Hopkins, Renee Russo, Idris Elba, Jaime Alexander, Colm Feore, Ray Stevenson, Clark Gregg, Jeremy Renner

Description: The powerful but arrogant Thor (Chris Hemsworth) is cast out of Asgard to live amongst humans in Midgard (Earth), where he soon becomes one of their finest defenders.

Review: Superheroes often carry a big burden. Whether it’s trying to control their super powers or hiding their identity; a hero has a big responsibility and has to deal with that daily. And that’s no different for Thor, the God of thunder.
The fate of the world is again hanging by a thread and the man with the hammer is the one to fight the evil. After he unleashes an ancient war with the Frost Giants, his father Odin banishes him for ignoring his orders and sends him to Earth. There it seems that Thor is unable to handle his hammer Mjolnir, until he shows that he is a true hero will he rekindle his powers.
Thor has a rich background story, as well from Norwegian mythology as the comic books that started in 1962. Thor is the only God amongst the Avengers. He comes from a world other then Earth. His world is visualized amazingly, it looks stunning.
Once Thor joins the Earthlings, there is room for humor. At first, Jane thinks he is a homeless guy, but when S.H.I.E.L.D. shows up Jane knows there is more to him. The humor never overshadows the action and the comedy is mostly very dry and always well-timed.
The creators try to avoid the black and white view on good and evil as much as possible. This makes for an interesting battle between brothers Thor and Loki, even though you know which one embodies good and which one is evil.
This is one of those films that makes or breaks due to the casting of its main hero. Chris Hemsworth stars in his first major role and he is the perfect choice. Hemsworth is undoubtably one of the most beautiful peope Hollywood has to offer, but with that he is also extremely charismatic and has humor that suits his character. Natalie Portman, who plays his love interest Jane, is mostly seen as the better actor of the two, but she never manages to step away from Hemsworth’s shadow. It feels more obligated for her.
“Thor” is a great film, highly entertaining and fun.

Rating: 4 / 5

00s Movie Review - Star Wars Episode III - Revenge of the Sith

Director: George Lucas
Genre: Action/ Adventure/ Fantasy/ Science Fiction
Runtime: 140 minutes
Year: 2005
Starring: Hayden Christensen, Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Ian McDiarmid, Anthony Daniels, Frank Oz, Kenny Baker, Jimmy Smits, Samuel L. Jackson, Christopher Lee, Keisha Castle-Hughes

Description: Three years into the Clone Wars, the Jedi rescue Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid) from Count Dooku (Christopher Lee). As Obi-Wan (Ewan McGregor) pursues a new threat, Anakin (Hayden Christensen) acts as a double agent between the Jedi Council and Palpatine and is lured into a sinister plan to rule the galaxy.

Review: Twenty eight years after “A New Hope” was released and changed cinema forever, George Lucas released “Revenge of the Sith”. With one mediocre and one bad film in the new trilogy, it’s safe to say that “Revenge of the Sith” is the better one in this series. Although Anakin’s transformation to Darth Vader doesn’t convince completely, seeing Vader in his totality and hearing that breathing feels like coming home .
Three years after the battle of Geonosis, the Clone Wars are coming to an end. Obi-Wan, now an accomplished Jedi-Master, gets the task to take out the leaders of the separatists: Count Dooku and General Grievous. During his absence, his apprentice Anakin falls prey to the temptations of the darks side of The Force. As Sith Lord he pleads allegiance to Chancellor Palpatine and helps him to form the Republic to the Galactic Empire. Obi-Wan has no choice to confronts his apprentice in a duel, which will change the universe forever.
Even the biggest “Star Wars” fans know that “The Phantom Menace” and “Attack of the Clones” never live up to the original trilogy. Neither does “Revenge of the Sith”, but still people looked forward to it. I guess us “Star Wars” fans are very forgiving. And it feels like in this final film, George Lucas is feeling more comfortable. The acting is better, where Ian McDiarmid as Palpatine steals the show. And I think all the nerd hearts started beating faster when we see Darth Vader being ‘born’.
But somehow the transformation from Anakin to Darth Vader isn’t all we hoped for. It suffers from the bratty kid we met in “The Phantom Menace” and the winey and poorly acting teen we saw in “Attack of the Clones”. This way it’s really hard to take the more adult Anakin in “Revenge of the Sith” seriously. The same goes for the relationship between Anakin and Padmé, which sometimes still feels cringeworthy. And Hayden Christensen, although better, is still not a good actor.
All those critical notes aside, it’s still a pretty spectacular space adventure and the best film in the second “Star Wars” trilogy.

Rating: 3,5/ 5

00s Movie Review - Star Wars Episode II - Attack of the Clones

Director: George Lucas
Genre: Action/ Adventure/ Science Fiction/ Fantasy
Runtime: 149 minutes
Year: 2002
Starring: Ewan McGregor, Hayden Christensen, Natalie Portman, Anthony Daniels, Samuel L. Jackson, Frank Oz, Jimmy Smits, Christopher Lee, Joel Edgerton, Rose Byrne, Ian McDiarmid

Description: Ten years after initially meeting, Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen) shares a forbidden romance with Padmé Amidala (Natalie Portman), while Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) investigates and assassination attempt on the senator and discover a secret clone army crafter for the Jedi.

Review: The sequel in this trilogy came out just a few years after “The Phantom Menace”, but is set 10 years later.
When Anakin Skywalker, now all grown up, reunites with Padmé, he falls in love with her. When an assassination attempt on her occurs, Anakin is send to protect her on a remote location. Meanwhile Obi-Wan tries to investigate and he stumbles upon a secret clone army.
“Attack of the Clones” is without a doubt the worst “Star Wars” film to date. And this is mainly because of the cringeworthy romance between Anakin and Padmé, with the absolute low-point being them rolling in the grass. That the two fell in love, I’m fine with that, but it’s anything but subtle. And the fact that Hayden Christensen’s performance is simple embarrassing in this film is also a factor.
There is enough action and that arena scene is really impressive. And I have to admit that the fight between Master Yoda and Count Dooku is pretty awesome. But overall the special effects aren’t always that great.
I actually rewatched “Attack of the Clones”, because I’m rewatching the entire series. But this is a movie I simply don’t enjoy much and it is really bad at some points.

Rating: 2/ 5

90s Movie Review - Star Wars Episode I - The Phantom Menace

Director: George Lucas
Genre: Action/ Adventure/ Science Fiction/ Fantasy
Runtime: 133 minutes
Year: 1999
Starring: Ewan McGregor, Liam Neeson, Jake Lloyd, Samuel L. Jackson, Natalie Portman, Frank Oz, Terence Stamp, Ray Park, Anthony Daniels, Kenny Baker, Ian McDiarmid

Description: Two Jedi (Liam Neeson, Ewan McGregor) escape a hostile blockade to find allies and comes across a young boy (Jake Lloyd) who may bring balance to the Force, but the long dormant Sith resurfaces to claim their old glory.

Review: Two Jedi are sent out to solve a violent trade dispute around the planet Naboo. During their mission, they meet a young slave who can restore the balance between good and evil.
For sixteen years, the patience of Star Wars fans was put to the test. Spiritual father George Lucas often let it slip that he was interested in a new trilogy, in which the transformation of Anakin Skywalker into the villain Darth Vader would be revealed. And that finally happened in 1999. With “Star Wars Episde I – The Phantom Menace” released, the reactions weren’t mild. The film was everything that the original trilogy wasn’t, the story of trade wars didn’t captivate and the character never did to us what Luke, Han and Leia did.
Yet, there is still plenty to enjoy in “The Phantom Menace”. New beautiful worlds have been created for the screen and the podrace is very entertaining. The final sword fight and its accompanied music remain impressive.
When fans saw this first film in the new trilogy, they knew it was never going to live up to the original series. But still, it’s entertaining and enjoyable enough.

Rating: 3/ 5

Movie Reviews - Annihilation

Director: Alex Garland
Genre: Adventure/ Drama/ Thriller/ Science Fiction
Runtime: 125 minutes
Year: 2018
Starring: Natalie Portman, Oscar Isaac, Benedict Wong, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Tessa Thompson, Gina Rodriguez

Description: A biologist (Natalie Portman) signs up for a dangerous, secret expedition into a mysterious zone where the laws of nature don't apply.

Review: It’s a new development for Netflix. It doesn’t only create its own films and TV shows, but also buys international distribution rights from the US. “The Cloverfield Paradox” was one that many viewers questioned. But “Annihilation” is different; Netflix bought a quality film.
“Annihilation” is the second film for director Alex Garland, who also made “Ex Machina” in 2014. This movie took a look at artificial intelligence and the place of humans on the evolutionary ladder. This second film also does that. “Annihilation” is based on the book with the same title, by Jeff Vandermeer. But Garland was mostly inspired by it and didn’t create an adaptation.
The film follows a strange phenomenon. Nearby a lighthouse, a meteor has hit the earth and it causes a bizarre happening, called the Shimmer. The area expands and knows a lot of mysteries. No answers, just questions. Expeditions send into the shimmer never return.
Lena is one of the people risking her life going into the shimmer, together with four other women. As soon as they reach the zone, everything goes wrong. Not only have they forgotten entering it and setting up camp, but they also start questioning each other. And what about the mutated creatures inside the Shimmer? “Annihilation” doesn’t give us a lot of answers, but raises mainly questions.
“Annihilation” feels uneasy. Just like the characters, you realize something is wrong inside the Shimmer. And any moment could be your last.
Visually it’s a beautiful film. And the cast is strong, especially Natalie Portman and Jennifer Jason Leigh. But it’s also an intelligent film, which makes it a film not suitable for a broad audience. But hopefully the Netflix platform will reach a more mainstream audience, because it’s worth watching. Because quality deserves a big audience.

Rating: 4,5 / 5

10s Movie Review - Song to Song

Director: Terrence Malick
Genre: Drama/ Romance
Runtime: 129 minutes
Year: 2017
Starring: Ryan Gosling, Michael Fassbender, Rooney Mara, Natalie Portman, Cate Blanchett, Holly Hunter, Bérénice Marlohe, Val Kilmer, Lykke Li

Description: Two intersecting love triangles. Obsession and betrayal set against the music scene in Austin, Texas.

Review: Again a cinematographic meditation by director Terrence Malick, about love and life. He takes the audience on a poetic journey to finding the meaning of life. As always, Malick doesn’t work with a straight forward screenplay and the (amazing group of) actors improvise.
Malicks style is very recognizable. It’s more a chain of images, because there are no real scenes. He creates a series of situations and it’s clearly his intuition that make his montage choices. The randomness of these images make me think of perfume commercials on TV. And that’s really not a compliment here. “Song to Song” kind of feels like a commercial, but then with the length of a film. And I think we could take off an hour, without losing any important moments.
There is no focus, because we see so many characters. And we don’t get to understand them, there is barely any development and their motives are unclear. Hardly any communication between the characters. Whispering voice-overs tell us some philosophical things and a lot of existential questions are asked.
The camera work is a big plus though. No steady images, always moving. The camera is constantly with the characters and switches between warm close-ups and distant shots. And the camera looks for the little things in the surroundings.
I never really understood Terrence Malick and I really don’t get why so many actors want to work with him. He always gets such big names to work with him and all the performances are really good by the way. But “Song to Song” is just a lot of improvising. Maybe that’s it, that the actors can let go of the rules for once. But all that cuddling and stroking, after a half hour I’m done! “Song to Song” is just not for me I guess.

Rating: 2/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2017 - # 84: Jackie

Director: Pablo Larrain
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 100 minutes
Year: 2016
Starring: Natalie Portman, Peter Sarsgaard, Greta Gerwig, Billy Crudup, Beth Grant, John Carroll Lynch, Max Casella, Richard E. Grant

Description: Following the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy fights through grief and trauma to regain her faith, console her children, and define her husband's historic legacy.

Review: After president John F. Kennedy was murdered during a parade in Dallas, he got an almost mythical state. But how his wife Jackie experienced this all, no one really knows. What images she was left with. Director Pablo Larrain and leading lady Natalie Portman give us these insights.
It takes a while to get into it. At first because it looks like Portman is just portraying a character. But when the film gets more serious and dramatic, like the depression that Jackie feels after her husband’s death, we can see the amazing performance Portman is delivering.
If you never saw the real Jackie Kennedy, or heard her speak, it looks like a character. But Portman really did a fantastic job portraying her. She looked like that and she talked like that.
The film evolves around an interview that Jackie had with Theodore H. White, for Life magazine. And between we switch to Jackie’s life with Kennedy and everything that happened after the assassination. And the film is really detailed.
“Jackie” is a stunning looking film with an amazing lead.

Rating: 4/ 5

Top 5 Thursday: Kick-Ass Female Characters of the "Star Wars" Franchise

We still have to wait until the end of 2017 for a new “Star Wars” film and everyone is always focusing on the male characters of the films. I decided to list my favorite female characters of the franchise, because they matter just as much.

5. Padmé Amidala
Although the prequels are universally hated by many, there is one bright spot: The mother of Darth Vader’s kids, Padmé Amidala. Be honest, without her we wouldn’t have Luke or Leia.

4. Maz Kanata
She may have had only a minor role in “The Force Awakens”, but with her sharp tongue she left an unforgettable impression. Even on a hero like Han Solo. And she is also something to trust, because she was trusted to keep Luke Skywalker’s light saber safe.

3. Jyn Erso
Jyn isn’t a damsel in distress nor is she a great jedi. She is a rebel with a job to do. And nothing is going to stop her from doing it. Jyn is not afraid to fight dirty, hides her emotions and is willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for the sake of hope alone.

2. Leia Organa
Leia is probably one of cinema’s most iconic characters ever to be created. A princess that fights her own battles.

1. Rey
Every new story needs a hero. And for this trilogy we get ours in the form of Rey. A scavenger from a desert planet. She eventually accepts the force within, while at first against the fate laid out before her.

They Almost Made the Top 5: -

Top 5 Thursday: Movie Performances by Children

Sometimes it’s the kid that steals the show in a movie, so here is a list of the best movie performances by children.

5. River Phoenix (“Stand By Me”)

His performance as Chris Chambers in “Stand By Me” left an indelible impression on his generation. So sad he died at the age of 23, because Phoenix had a bright future as an actor.

 

 

4. Christian Bale (“Empire of the Sun”)

You could already see that he was an intense and dedicated actor, he holds up amongst all the adults, for instance John Malkovich and Miranda Richardson.

 

 

3. Natalie Portman (“Léon”)

Just 13-years old, Natalie Portman did a fantastic job as Matilda, a girl who lost her entire family and seeks help from hitman Léon.

 

 

2. Abigail Breslin (“Little Miss Sunshine”)

It’s impossible not to love Olive Hoover, and it’s all thanks to the endearing performance by Abigail Breslin. She wasn’t ignored, because she got nominated for an Academy Award.

 

 

1. Haley Joel Osment (“The Sixth Sense”)

In my opinion the best performance. Haley Joel Osment captured us all in this amazing thriller and made us feel for him. He will always be remember as troubled Cole Sear, but there are worse things right?

 

 

They Almost Made the Top 5: Henry Thomas (“E.T.: The Extra Terrestrial”), Daniel Radcliffe (“Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone”), Macauley Culkin (“Home Alone”), Kirsten Dunst (“Interview with the Vampire”), Jodie Foster (“Taxi Driver”), Leonardo DiCaprio (“What’s Eating Gilbert Grape?”), Chloë Grace Moretz (“Kick-Ass”), Linda Blair (“The Exorcist”), Mara Wilson (“Matilda”), Ivana Baquero “(Pan’s Labyrinth”), Jamie Bell (“Billy Elliot”), Tom Holland (“The Impossible”)

Movie Battle: V for Vendetta Vs. Children of Men

The Movies I choose this time are both sci-fi films set in the future, where most countries in the world are near destroyed by natural disasters, riots and war. England has established a totalitarian regime that shields the country from outsiders. In both movies the society is portrayed as extremely racist and xenophobic and the main characters are part of an underground movement. To battle it out, here is “V for Vendetta” Vs. “Children of Men”.

 

CAST

V for Vendetta: Hugo Weaving plays lead character V, a freedom fighter wearing a Guy Fawkes mask. His performance, even without ever seeing his real face, is breath-taking and phenomenal. Natalie Portman also does a great job, especially the rooftop scene.

Children of Men: Clive Owen, who a lot of people say can’t act, does a fantastic job. He plays main character Theo Faron. Julianne Moore and Michael Caine also have solid roles, but they don’t have very big roles.

STORY

V for Vendetta: Great Britain is now a fascist state. A man named V uses terrorist tactics to oppress society. He rescues the young Eve from the secret police, and she becomes his ally. It’s based on a graphic novel, that I have read. It’s very close to its source. The story is great, the character of V even more.

Children of Men: Dystopian London, surrounded by violence and warring nationalistic sects. People are no longer aloud to have children. The youngest citizen, just 18 years of age, has just died. Then a young pregnant woman is discovered and the desperate journey to deliver her to safety starts. Great idea for a story.

EFFECTS

V for Vendetta: There are some amazing fight scenes in it. Especially the one in the dark tunnel (I believe it’s a tunnel). The while movie has a dark, greyish tone.

Children of Men: This also has a certain tone, more the grey, bluish tones. They makers made London look like a worn down plays, filled with violence and war.

WINNER

Although both movies are amazing, with great acting and fantastic stories, I will have to go with “V for Vendetta”. That’s a movie I’m more willingly to re-watch.

100 Movie Challenge 2014 - # 48: Thor: The Dark World

Director: Alan Taylor
Genre: Action/ Fantasy/ Adventure
Runtime: 110 minutes
Year: 2013
Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Anthony Hopkins, Tom Hiddleston, Renee Russo, Kat Dennings, Stellan Skarsgård

Description: When Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) is possessed by a great power, Thor (Chris Hemsworth) must protect her from a new threat of old times: the Dark Elves.

Review: A year after the happenings in “The Avengers”, Thor has to face a new enemy: Malekith. He’s the leader of the Dark Elves and out for revenge.
“Thor” was in 2011 a pleasant surprise and the superhero got even more popular after “The Avengers”. Alan Taylor took over the role as director from Kenneth Branagh. Taylor keeps the balance between action, drama and humor, but you also feel it all could have been a bit better.
The main antagonist, Malekith, doesn’t really shine and you hardly learn anything about the Dark Elves. Only the confrontation between him and Thor is a spectacle to look forward too.
Chris Hemsworth is starting to feel more comfortable as Thor. He really manages to shine and he’s a joy to watch in every sense of the word. His chemistry with Natalie Portman is still there, I like them together. And Tom Hiddleston, as Loki, does a solid job as well.
“Thor: The Dark World” is, like part one, a good Marvel film. Very entertaining and enough to keep me quiet for two hours.

Rating: 3,5/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2014 - # 40: Hesher

Director: Spencer Susser
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 107 minutes
Year: 2010
Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Natalie Portman, Rainn Wilson, Devin Brochu, Piper Laurie

Description: The young TJ (Devin Brochu) has lost his mother and is losing touch with his father (Rainn Wilson) and the world around him. Then he meets Hesher (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) who manages to make his life even more chaotic.

Review: Is there anything Joseph Gordon-Levitt can’t do? From a child star he grew to be one of the most diverse actors of his generation. In “Hesher” he portrays an asocial head banger with strange morals.
He pops into TJ’s life, who just lost his mother. TJ can’t share his grief with his dad, who has gone into a big depression ever since it happened. And his caring grandmother can’t help him either, because she is constantly confused. Why Hesher is there and what he’s doing, no one knows.
There are more movies about dealing with the loss of a loved one, but they are hardly ever as unconventional as “Hesher”. By adding this notable character, director Susser turns this film from a standard drama to a special and refreshing film. When you dig a bit deeper you can tell Hesher symbolizes death. TJ and his dad have to learn to deal with it and grandma is the only one who accepts it immediately.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt shows us again his qualities, because even as the strange Hesher he succeeds to convince everyone. Rainn Wilson was surprisingly touching, because he’s most known for his quirky role as Dwight Shrute in “The Office”. Piper Laurie was fantastic as grandma and Devon Brochu was mesmerizing. Natalie Portman was solid as always.
“Hesher” was lifted to its level by the cast, but the story loses his power toward the end. The debut of director Spencer Susser shows a lot of guts and he dares to be different.

Rating: 3,5/ 5

Movie Battle: No Stings Attached Vs. Friends with Benefits

Both movies came out around the same time and have similar themes. Two friends decide to have casual sex, without any feelings or complications.

CAST

No Strings Attached: I adore Natalie Portman, but I’m not so much an Ashton Kutcher fan. I have to say that this isn’t Portman’s finest hour though. Kutcher does what he knows best, look pretty and shallow. I don’t recall any other actors in this film. At least the didn't leave an impression on me.

Friends with Benefits: Again I love the female lead, I think Mila Kunis is amazing. She lights up a room, or in this case the screen. I like Justin Timberlake just as much as I like sauerkraut, which means not at all. He’s just not a very good actor. He should just stick to making music. Kunis and Timberlake do have awesome chemistry. Besides, some nice supporting roles by Patricia Richardson, Richard Jenkins, Woody Harrelson and Jenna Elfman and small appearances by Andy Samberg and Emma Stone.

STORY

No Strings Attached: Not very special, but because this was the one that came out first it’s the more original one I guess. I never laughed out loud though.

Friends with Benefits: This is a bit more explicit, visually and verbally. I also believe I laughed ones or twice. Especially because of Patricia Richardson, she’s hilarious.

EFFECTS

No Strings Attached: Again, not very special. I shows both Portman and Kutcher’s best features.

Friends with Benefits: The scene with the flashmob was shot very well, I actually liked that scene. But overall, everybody could have made this movie.

WINNER

They’re both not on my favorites list, but “No Strings Attached” bored me and “Friends with Benefits”didn’t.

In the Picture: The Characters from "Léon"

"Léon" is one of the coolest movies of the 90's and it brought us three very memorable characters as well. Here are the characters from "Léon".

Léon
Played by: Jean Reno
Léon is a hitman, or a cleaner is how he calls it. He lives a solitary life in New York. The only living thing in his life is his plant, who he calls his best friend. When Matilda enters his life, he feels things he never felt before.

Matilda Lando
Played by: Natalie Portman
Matilda lives with her dysfunctional family. She has an abusive father, self-absorbed stepmother and a shallow half sister. The only one she cares about is her four year old brother. When her family is killed, she goes to Léon for help and an unlikely friendship develops.

Norman Stansfield
Played by: Gary Oldman
Stansfield leads a group of corrupt DEA agents and is responsible for the death of Matilda’s family. He’s trying to find her now. He has a great passion for classical music, preferably Beethoven and has a unhinged and unpredictable personality.

Tony
Played by: Danny Aiello
Tony is a so-called mobster in Little Italy and he helps out Léon. He keeps his money safe and is responsible for giving everything to Matilda when Léon dies.



Favorite Character: Léon

Top 5 Thursday: Amazing Kids in Adult Movies

I work with kids and I know how awesome they can be sometimes. They are always very honest. I came up with this list and here are some great kids in adult movies.

5. Chloë Grace Moretz in “Kick-Ass”
Lets face it, she is the star of the film. I know it’s supposed to be about the wannabe hero Kick-Ass, but Moretz steals the show as Hit Girl.

4. Natalie Portman in “Léon”
Although she was only 12 or 13 years old while shooting “Léon”, she acted very mature. Normally it sounds funny when a kid uses the f-word, but she’s serious!

3. Haley Joel Osment in “The Sixth Sense”
Unfortunately Osment never really did anything memorable after this movie, everyone was mesmerized by his performance. He even got an Academy Award nomination.

2. Christian Bale in “Empire of the Sun”
I’m so glad Bale wasn’t just another child star. He is the leading actor and he carries this movie, just like he does now as an adult. Fantastic performance.

1. Abigail Breslin in “Little Miss Sunhsine”
Don’t you just love Olive? Well, I do and no one other than Abigail Breslin could have done it. She is adorable and loveable.

They Almost Made the Top 5: Elliot in “E.T.”

The Many Faces of... Natalie Portman

Natalie Portman is a fantastic actress with a lot of talent. I decided to dedicade this item to her and show you her different looks. Here they are.

Face # 1: Leon
Role: Mathilda
Comment: How young she was!!
Rating: 3/ 5

Face # 2: Heat
Role: Lauren Gustafson
Comment: Still very young, but a bit more grown up already.
Rating: 3/ 5

Face # 3: Star Wars Episode 1 - The Phantom Menace
Role: Queen Amidala
Comment: She also has another role and look, but this one stands out more. You can barely recognize Natalie.
Rating: 3,5/ 5

Face # 4: Anywhere But Here
Role: Ann August
Comment: Pretty.
Rating: 4/ 5

Face # 5: Where the Heart is
Role: Novalee Nation
Comment: Such a natural beauty.
Rating: 4/ 5

Face # 6: Star Wars Episode 2 - Attack of the Clones
Role: Padmé
Comment: This is the other role and I just love this look.
Rating: 5/ 5

Face # 7: Cold Mountain
Role: Sara
Comment: Natalie doesn't need make-up to look pretty
Rating: 5/ 5

Face # 8: Garden State
Role: Sam
Comment: Nice...
Rating: 5/ 5

Face # 9: Closer
Role: Alice
Comment: Natalie can also look seductive and sexy.
Rating: 4,5/ 5

Face # 10: V for Vendetta
Role: Evey
Comment: Only she can get away with it, but I prefer her with hair.
Rating: 3/ 5

Face # 11: My Blueberry Nights
Role: Leslie
Comment: Don't like this look.
Rating: 2/ 5

Face # 12: Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium
Role: Molly Mahoney
Comment: Great, cute look. And a perfect smile.
Rating: 5/ 5

Face # 13: The Other Boleyn Girl
Role: Ann Boleyn
Comment: Classy but bitchy.
Rating: 3,5 /5

Face # 14: Hesher
Role: Nicole
Comment: Nerdy Natalie.
Rating: 3/ 5

Face # 15: Black Swan
Role: Nina Sayers
Comment: A bit to skinny for my taste. For the rest.. gorgeous.
Rating: 4/ 5

Face # 16: No Strings Attached
Role: Emma Kurtzman
Comment: Pure Natalie.
Rating: 5/ 5

Face # 17: Your Highness
Role: Isabel
Comment: Kick ass and beautiful. Maybe even my favorite look.
Rating: 5/ 5