I'm Here (2010)

Finally got around to seeing Spike Jonze's latest short film 'I'm Here', a half-hour masterpiece about love and robots in L.A., based on Shel Silverstein's (of whom the main character is named after) 'The Giving Tree'.

Sheldon is a robot who lives an uneventful life in a society where robots and humans coexisting is commonplace. He works at a library, takes the bus, sits in his sparsely furnished apartment, recharges, then does it all over again the next day. Then by a chance meeting he comes in contact with Francesca, a robot who dreams, drives, listens to music, and collects tissue paper to mold into a family of rats.  As you can guess Sheldon fall head-over robot heels in love and in no time Francesca shows him everything he's been missing out on.

As the movie progressed, not unlike the tree in the book, Francesca begins to lose herself. And I mean literally. First she loses her left arm in the audience of a concert hall, then later she loses her right leg in some unknown accident, and even later on she loses much, much more. But for every limb and ligament detached from her body Sheldon offers up his in return. 

It's such a raw, heartfelt, heart-breaking film that deserves to be seen and appreciated. I'd urge everyone who reads this to give it a try.

I'm Here official site

Accompanying the movie is quite the soundtrack. With Sleigh Bells 'A/B Machines' and 'Crown On The Ground' blasting on car stereos, Girls' 'Hellhole Ratrace' appropriately playing at a party, and faux-band The Lost Trees accompanied by Aska Matsumiya and the movie's obvious theme song 'There Are Many of Us' which is used frequently and to great effect.

Moon (2009)

Now and then you'll see a trailer for a movie where you can pretty much guess the entire plot and outcome of it all. That's what I felt when I first looked up Moon (directed by Duncan Jones). I predicted everything after seeing the preview and figured that I knew all, however I was immensely struck with the need to see this movie. It looked like the perfect space opera follow-up to the unforgettable 2001: A Space Odyssey by the genius Stanley Kubrick.

First of all let me just say, while one or two of my predictions did come true for the most part I had guessed totally wrong and Moon had taken me by surprise, completely sucking me in and wanting me to see what actually goes on instead of what my imagination...imagined.

Sam Rockwell (Choke, Hitchikers Guide To The Galaxy) plays Sam Bell, a guy with a three-year contract from Lunar Industries to harvest a new, clean fuel from the moon and send it back to Earth. Sam works alone, with only GERTY (voiced by Kevin Spacey), a smiley-faced machine butler-of-sorts. Chances are you've never been to the moon, I haven't, I know lot's of other people who haven't, but it shouldn't be too hard to imagine how horribly isolating it must feel to not see or feel another human being in three years, especially when you've got a wife and kid who can only send you periodic video messages.

Things get pretty twisted and there'll be moments where you'll have absolutely no idea what to think. Sam's confusion becomes your confusion. But throughout it all you'll develop an attachment to the only character you've really gotten to know and you'll hope for the best outcome possible. Moon is a fantastic film that deserves to be seen and appreciated and I wish I could gush over all of the fantastic twists and turns it takes but if I continue any further I know I'll be entering spoiler territory.

Avatar (2009)

When i first learned about this movie i could only think one thing: Avatar not the last air bender.. and when i learned that it was directed by James Cameron I thought... okay great a overuse of CGI that is going to be completely obvious and not pull me into the movie at all. Let me just say that I am glad i was wrong. This had to be one of the most visually stunning movies i have seen since BBC's Planet Earth in 1080p.

As you are probably already aware, this movie is supposed to be over 90% CGI- that aspect is a little obvious when it comes to the blue people, but it is done so well to the point that it pretty much helps you believe that everything you see could quite possibly be real.. And the depth and detail of the world that you are viewing is incredible. Cameron helped create basically an entire ecosystem that interacts with the story itself. The flow from non-CGI to CGI is incredibly seamless. It is only really apparent when you view stills of the movie. I am hoping that Cameron has once again set the standard for the use of CGI in movies, like he did with Titanic oh so many years ago. However, don't get me wrong... I still highly dislike the overuse and overdependence on CGI in modern films- like in most of the recent of Burton/Depp films... where it is a completely insultingly blatant use... and where real sets, and real actors, and real action would of gotten the plot across better. I am for the clever/creative use of CGI, and the use of it when it is completely impossible to do otherwise. But I digress.

Aside from being visually appealing, the plot line was focused, direct and never let the action settle for too long. There was none of those "dips" in the plot where things slow down and get boring, also it was very light on the romantic interest side of it. Cameron kept it discrete, low profile but still enchanting. The cast was well picked, and I could not see better people in the roles. I enjoyed how they were not total unknowns, but up-and-coming actors: Sam Worthington who was in a few things including the latest Terminator movie, and Zoe Saldana whom you might know from the latest Star Trek. Save for Sigourney Weaver and Stephen Lang, who preformed fantastically as well.

As another aside, I can see why people are getting clinically depressed over this movie. This world appears to be so much better than ours; they are in-touch with a true deity who is not some unreachable omnipotent being, but pretty much the planet itself. And the natural topographical features are beyond anything i could comprehend.... But then again, I would not want to live there... Build a Starbucks or two and we'll talk

If you are still one of the ones who haven't gone out and see this movie, DO IT. They will be talking about this one for some time. Also, you might want to shell out the few extra bucks for the 3D or IMAX.. or hell, both. Because it is worth it.

Avatar on IMDB

It's Complicated (2009)

Okay, before I start on an actual review I just have one thing to say: Nine out of every 10 frames/scenes had a pretty noticeable boom slip in it. It was impossibly to ignore and became downright distracting. I figured "oh whoops, guess they didn't catch that" when early on in the film you saw a black, fuzzy oblong item hang over Meryl Streep's head. Then as it cuts to a new, pulled back angle you can plainly see the majority of it, stick and fuzzy thing and all. You'd think somebody would notice before it actually got out to theaters, but no, in almost every shot you'll see it and you'll cringe.

However, despite it's poor editing It's Complicated-starring a fantastic as always Meryl Streep, probably the cutest man in cinema John Krasinski, and Alec Baldwin-is a cute, funny, adult romantic comedy that will have you walking away in both high-spirits and misty eyes.

It follows Meryl's character Jane as she copes with her ex-husbands (Baldwin) new, younger wife, and living alone after all of her children have either departed for school or just graduated from it. The catch is that she and her ex strike up an affair of their own, not unlike the one that caused their breakup. It's kind of a cute concept and it holds up fairly well. Now I personally can't stand Alec Baldwin, everything he says just sounds sarcastic and flat, but I guess maybe that worked to his advantage here considering cheating on two wives makes you the scum of the earth in most books.

Now for some favoritism. There is no secret that I have a hobby of watching Mr. Krasinski, whether on the tube or the big screen he's just so, so, so... so great. Unfortunately he didn't really get as much screen time here I was hoping but with such big names as Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin, and Steve Martin I wasn't really surprised. John is definitely an actor (and now director) to watch and I anticipate his future roles.

When it comes down to it It's Complicated is a fun movie that even your mother will enjoy. The humor is constant, the characters are likable (most of them at least), and Ms. Streep is definitely on her A-game, especially channeling a little Julia Child (ala Julie & Julia) in her numerous kitchen/bakery scenes.

Where The Wild Things Are (2009)

A children's movie to end all children's movies? Perhaps. But I wouldn't dare call it a children's movie in the first place. Sure, kids might find the big furry creatures funny and charming, but it's the movie's warm, soft core of sentimental story-telling that will reach it's older viewers.

Based on the acclaimed book by author Maurice Sendak and adapted to the silver screen by Spike Jonze (Being John Malkovich) Where the Wild Things Are is a tour de force in the lost memories of being a kid and having an imagination that could rule the world. We've all had Max (played by the awesomely-named Max Records) moments at some point in our childhood, like looking to engage on some exciting adventure to get away from the troubles of youth, of divorced parents, of siblings too old and busy to pay attention to you. Sometimes we even created our own worlds to escape to, and weren't we always the kings and queens in them?

Though there's been plenty said about how the darker moments of the film have had kids crying and parents astonished, it's really these intense scenes along with the heart-breaking ones and the exciting, uplifting ones that will instill themselves within you. Who didn't feel their eyes water when the Bull (my favourite wild thing) asked Max: "When you go home, will you say good things about us?" I could barely contain myself!

With the aid of James Gandolfini (Carol), Lauren Ambrose (KW), Catherine Keener (Mom) and many other fantastic actors who have lent their voice and presence to the film (along with Karen O and the brilliant soundtrack she cooked up) Spike Jonze has duplicated the imaginary world we flocked to and told us that no matter when we come back home there'll be a hot meal waiting for us.

Where The Wild Things Are on imdb

2012 (2009)

YouTube Trailer

I saw this on the midnight showing when it was first released (November 13, 2009) in theaters... The theater was packed.

This movie, first off, was not what I expected. I thought it was going to be a clever, thought out all-the-shit-that-can-go-wrong-is-going-wrong kind of movie... TOTALLY unlike The Core (2003), or The Day After Tomorrow (2004), or Knowing (2009)... I figured director Roland Emmerich would take into serious consideration the fact that all these freaking disaster movies always downplay the disaster and throw in some unneeded romance, or stupid plot device to make the story seem like an actual story... While this is attempted in 2012, it still dose not make it out to be 'plot of the year.'

Now do not get me wrong, I enjoyed this move, allot actually. The all-star cast of John Cusack, Amanda Peet, Woody Harrelson, and Danny Glover was great, to say the least. The diolouge was spotty at times, and as I have been saying about most of these "Modern Movies" the diolouge was unnecessary... they could of gotten the point across by doing that old fashon thing called acting. But all in all it kept me entertained, thrilled, emotional... you get the point? However, this is the kind of movie where you say:
"OH YEAH! That was awesome!" then a few seconds later you say:
"Wait... What the hell was that?"
Now I don't mean its confusing, I mean there is shit that just doesn't make sense... things having to do with physics, and astronomy, and just plain mechanics of how engines and vehicles work. Like the Neutrinos that were "boiling" the earth's core.... Now I am no scientist, but i know enough to know that Neutrinos (Invisible particles that come from the sun's upper atmosphere that pass through all matter and have absolutely no effect on it) would not cause that sort of thing. And a plane swallowed up by an ash cloud traving probally the speed of sound, would not stay in the air, unharmed and continue taking off as if nothing had happned... but would infact clog the engines and make it crash in a firely ball of death.

But whatever, right? The avrage moviegoer is expected to not know these things, or watch the history chanel as much as I do... For what it was, it was alright... I give it a 4/5

2012 at IMDB

2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

After seeing countless clips, and reading countless things about this classic Kubrick film in my cinema classes, I finally got the chance to see this, and I must say I loved it, I want to point out that if you are to watch this movie for the first time, or perhaps for the 100th time- definitely watch it in 1080p.


Now, I was never an advocate for Blu-Ray, in-fact I despised the idea of having to switch mediums and upgrade pretty much everything- but it really makes a visual difference when you are watching this particular movie. When I say visual difference I don't mean the visual difference of putting a thirty second EXC on a dinosaurs ass, as Luke and Ben fly in to "Moss Eisley." I mean it actually heightens the emotions you are supposed to be feeling and totally engulfs you in the simulated realism of the film.


The film it's self, has a few "conflicts of interest" with the the average movie-goer. It's long, there is little dialogue, and there is no ultra-intense-super-action-space-fight-slaughter-death scenes. But once you get past all that noncense you notice it is a very peaceful, surreal movie with many subtleties most that cinemaphiles pick up on.

2001: A Space Odyssey at IMDB