[7.75/10] Rise of the Guardians [3D] (2012)

Rise of the Guardians [3D] (2012)

Brief review: Based on William Joyce's book series "The Guardians of Childhood, "Rise of the Guardians" is DreamWorks' latest feature, which turns out to be of those animated flicks, that can be equally enjoyed by the kids and their parents, thanks to its solid story, high entertainment value, and eye-popping visuals. David Lindsay-Abaire's cleverly-adapted script mixes up mythological and fantasy elements with huge amount of wit and juvenile innocence, in order to provides us with an engaging storyline with never a dull moment, that is as kind-hearted and affecting, as its briskly-paced and action-packed. Moreover, the film's moral beliefs are so pure and sincere, it will make you feel like a happy kid, who still believes in Santa Claus, Easter Rabbit, Tooth Fairy, Sandman, and even Jack Frost. "Rise of the Guardians" is crafted with vivid imagination, and that shows through the vibrant animation, impressive use of color and remarkable attention to detail. That being said, some of the characters' design, particularly the human and the human-looking ones, isn't the slickest you'll ever see, simply because their faces look a bit waxy. The other characters, however, are beautifully-crafted, especially the Tooth Fairy and the baby fairies, which are the cutest little things you'll ever see. The use of 3D in this one is downright jaw-dropping, and arguably the best in any animated flick ever created. The voice acting is spot-on for the most part, breathing life into the lovable CGI characters.

Overall summary: Energetic, lively, imaginative, full of fresh ideas, and definitely worth-seeing in glorious 3D, "Rise of the Guardians" not only astounds with its vivid, colorful, and richly-crafted animation, but also has heart-warming morality and magicality, that will win you over.

[7.75/10] ParaNorman (2012)

ParaNorman (2012)

QuickRating: Slightly scary for little kids, but great fun for the older ones (as well as adults) seeking for something different, and even softly chilling, "ParaNorman" may lack the creativity, complexity and slickness of "Coraline", but it's nevertheless an inventive, incredibly well-crafted and marvellously-animated stop motion feature, with smart script, dark sense of humor, unique visual approach, impressive attention to detail, and last but not least a climax with surprising emotional depth.

[7.75/10] The Grey (2012)

The Grey (2012)

Brief review: Every once in a while a film comes along, that grabs you instantly and throws you into an experience so deeply compelling, that you forget about everything else. Joe Carnahan's thoughtful, intelligently crafted effort, "The Grey", is one of those movies. It's a fight for survival against the harsh nature under terrible circumstances, so believably depicted and so emotionally profound, it will make you experience the struggles of the characters in a way you don't expect to. Even though "The Grey" seems familiar on paper, it turns out feeling different and unlike anything you've seen before, due to its strong, well-written script, multi-layered performances and Carnahan's smooth, yet taut direction, that keeps the narrative tense, neat and in focus. The movie is not only constantly intense, but also scary, in a realistic sort of way. While the remote location, snowy environment and whistling blizzards are enough to give you the chills, it's the wolf attacks that are truly frightening. The plain crash sequence and the one involving a rope over a precipice also deserve a special mention, as those are also nerve-wrackingly terrifying. Set in Alaska, "The Grey" is just as visually astounding as it's chilling, featuring stunning locations and a beautifully bleak cinematography with some shots that will take your breath away. Liam Neeson delivers a powerhouse performance as the despaired man who revives his faith in order to survive, and the supporting cast is pretty much on par.

Overall summary: As substantial as its characters and as chilling as its harshly beautiful setting, "The Grey" is a frighteningly realistic story of survival with a surprising emotional depth, that will keep you intrigued, entertained, and on the edge of your seat until the very end.

[7.75/10] The Tree of Life (2011)

The Tree of Life (2011)

QuickRating: Poetic, exquisitely surreal, at times philosophical, but also heavily pretentious, Malick's bizarrely-captivating film, "The Tree of Life" is an incoherent mixture of the director's vision of birth of the universe, and a story about the domestic struggles of a 50s Texas family, that impresses with unusual directing choices, an outstanding performance by Brad Pitt, and a dazzling cinematography, featuring tons of mesmerizing cosmic shots, dreamy images, and stunning, beautifully-captured landscapes.

[7.75/10] Jane Eyre (2011)

Jane Eyre (2011)

QuickRating: Darkly captivating, thoroughly absorbing, elegantly shot and as beautiful as painting, Fukunaga's emotionally impactful and marvellously crafted adaptation of the classic novel, "Jane Eyre", fascinates the viewer with its authentic atmosphere, picturesque scenery, moving story, subtle yet ravishing cinematography, and the absolutely superb portrayals by two of the biggest stars of 2011 - the uber-talented Mia Wasikowska and the brilliant Michael Fassbender.

[7.75/10] La piel que habito a.k.a. The Skin I Live In (2011)

La piel que habito

a.k.a.

The Skin I Live In (2011)

Brief review: Worldwide renowned Spanish director Pedro Almodóvar is known for taking on difficult and controversial subject matters dealing with sexuality, and his latest project "The Skin I Live In" is no exception. This modern-day Frankenstein story may not be as emotionally involving as some of director's previous efforts, but it's a bizarrely unique and wonderfully twisted cinematic experience full of many twists and turns, that is as stunning as it's disturbing, and as compelling as it's shocking. At first, the narrative feels incoherent and a often messy, but that's exactly what Almodóvar has intended, because at the end everything comes into place so perfectly, you can't help but being impressed by the structure of the whole story and the way that it's being presented. Pedro Almodóvar's masterful direction and clever ideas compliment the magnificent storytelling and sophisticated visuals, and the end result is rather satisfying. Antonio Banderas delivers a fantastic performance as the 'mad scientist', obsessed by his disturbing creation, the stunningly beautiful Elena Anaya is absolutely mesmerizing in her role as Vera - the abused muse of Dr. Robert Ledgard, and the supporting cast all do an incredible job in portraying their brilliantly-written characters.

Overall summary: While definitely not one of Pedro Almodóvar's strongest and most accomplished achievements, "The Skin I Live In" is a strangely absorbing, subtly shocking and perversely unique arthouse drama, that goes where not many other films would dare to go.

[7.75/10] Real Steel (2011)

Real Steel (2011)

Full review: Based on the 1956 short story "Steel" by Richard Matheson, "Real Steel" is a futuristic action drama set in 2020, where robot boxing is the most popular sport, and revolves around a former boxer and promoter, who tries to break into the robot fighting business, along with his recently discovered son. Plot-wise, "Real Steel" is the classic 'underdog' story - no twists and turns, no big surprises along the way, just a simple by-the-numbers story with entirely predictable outcome. Is that a bad thing? Well, not in this case... because it works. Despite its silly premise and cliche-ridden script, "Real Steel" succeeds in many areas, and it's well-made, fun to watch and totally absorbing from the first to the last minute. The dialogues are witty, smart, at times touching, but always amusing, the pacing is pitch-perfect, and the competent editing compliments director's efforts. Shawn Levy is by no means an amazing director, but he does wonders here. His direction is focused, well-balanced and at times masterful, and as a result, his dialogue-driven scenes are just as entertaining as his high-octane action scenes. Speaking of action, it is undoubtedly the highlight of the film. The robot clashes on the ring are spectacular, thrilling and brilliantly-staged and choreographed, with each next battle being bigger, better and more imposing than the previous one. The special effects are just as impressive. The robots are fantastically-designed, detailed and look like they are literally made of real steel, and their movements are fluid and well-coordinated movements, not to mention their amazing fighting skills. The acting is mostly excellent, just like most other elements of the movie. The uber-talented Hugh Jackman has been finally given a major role in a big movie, and thankfully, he doesn't disappoint. His good acting skills, bubbly personality and undeniable charm help him to deliver an incredibly sympathetic and appealing character. At first he's just a selfish and emotionless man who cares only about money and robots, but when he meets his abandoned son, Charlie finally realizes what's really important in life and shows us the lovable and caring side of him. Dakota Goyo is definitely the star of the film though. He's as sweet as he's cheeky in his role as Max, and he steals every scene he appears in. Although Max appears a bit cocky, his boldness, passion and enthusiasm make us all fall in love with his fearless character. "Lost"'s own Evangeline Lilly delivers a very solid and memorable performance as Charlie's love interest, Bailey, plus she's pure eye-candy, even without make-up on. The connection between the characters is amazing - Charlie and Max's relationship is sincere and adorable, and Jackman and Lilly's on-screen chemistry is strong and believable.

Overall summary: This autumn blockbuster may be pretty straight-forward and predictable from beginning to the end, but thanks to Shawn Levy's skillful, polished direction and the absolutely stellar cast, "Real Steel" turns into a visual and verbal roller coaster ride of thrilling action, exhilarating humor and emotions, but most importantly, it has a heart.

[7.75/10] Super 8 (2011)

Super 8 (2011)

Full review: J.J. Abrams' long-anticipated 'mysterious' project "Super 8" has finally arrived, and while it delivers everything it promises in terms of sheer entertainment, it hardly exceeds expectations, due to an unsteady pacing, lack of true originality, and a disappointing conclusion. Оbviously a reminiscent of 80s sci-fi classics such as "E.T." and "Gremlins", "Super 8" definitely captures the essence of this cinematic period, and has this nostalgic feel about it, that we all love. It's a story about true friendship, young love, family issues and passion for cinema, with a sci-fi spin that is intended to be the main focus of the story, but somehow ends up on a second place, because of the genuine relationship and the strong interaction between the characters, and their 'real life' stories. The acting from the engaging young cast is definitely one of the film's main strengths. Joel Courtney is incredibly likable as the main protagonist, Joe, and greatly combines juvenile curiosity and enthusiasm with bravery and determination. Elle Fanning is sweet and innocent, but at the same time she acts very maturely for her age, plus she shares great chemistry with Joel. Riley Griffiths shines as Charles, and Ryan Lee is as adorable as he's hilarious, and delivers arguably the most memorable performance of all the kids. Kyle Chandler appears a bit stiff at times, but overall he does a fine job as the bold deputy sheriff and caring single dad, Jackson, and Ron Eldard gives a surprisingly great performance as the troubled Louis. The rest of the supporting cast deliver decent performances, with no real standouts or weak links. In terms of visuals and technical qualities, "Super 8" is pretty satisfying to say the least. J.J. Abrams' direction is typically solid and often imaginative, though at times it feels a bit unsteady and maybe too influenced by Spielberg's style. The grainy, murky, exquisitely muted cinematography suits both, the time period and the mysterious atmosphere of the movie, and the production design is quite authentic, if not exactly first-rate. The creature itself is rather disappointing - while its CGI design is pretty slick, it seems a bit overdone, and not particularly memorable. However, the rest of the special effects are impressive and quite flawless, with the 'train crash' sequence being the most jaw-droppingly spectacular moment and, hands down, the visual highlight of the film.

Overall summary: Despite some pacing issues and a rather anti-climatic final act, "Super 8" is still an engrossing, well-crafted and highly atmospheric sci-fi movie with heart, that proudly pays homage to Spielberg's classics, but will hardly be considered as one of them.

[7.75/10] Mother's Day (2011)

Mother's Day (2011)

Brief review: The director of "Saw" II, III & IV, Darren Lynn Bousman, brings this surprisingly brilliant horror thriller about a villainous family that return to their childhood home to terrorize the new owners of the house. Even though post-production has been completed last April, the movie hasn't been released till the first quarter of 2011, which is a shame, because a couple of cliches aside, "Mother's Day" is such a clever, harsh, uncompromising, skillfully-executed and wonderfully-acted thriller, it makes modern 'home invasion' classics like "Funny Games" and "The Strangers" look like kids' stuff. In terms of gore and violence, "Mother's Day" also leaves very little to imagination - it's extremely violent, bloody and graphic, and sоme of the torture scenes are so nasty and brutal, they're hardly watchable. However, it's the characters that makes it as bone-chilling as it is. Though the entire cast does an incredible job, Rebecca De Mornay remains the true highlight of the movie. She delivers a sensational and thoroughly disturbing portrayal as the obsessive mother, who has manipulated her kids since the day they were born. 'Mother' is sure to give you the chills - she's polite yet intimidating; beautiful yet creepy; kind yet terrifying... She's pure evil!

Overall summary: Although it goes slightly over-the-top at times, "Mother's Day" is a disturbing, and utterly uncompromising depiction of sheer terror, that gets under your skin and stays there long after the credits roll. It's pretty much 'The Mother' of all 'home invasion' flicks.

[7.75/10] L'illusionniste a.k.a. The The Illusionist (2010)

L'illusionniste

a.k.a.

The Illusionist (2010)

Brief review: Sylvain Chomet, the creator of "The Triplets of Belleville", brings this gem of an animation, that revolves around an aging French illusionist, who finds himself out of work and travels to Scotland, where he meets a young woman. Their ensuing adventure changes both their lives forever. This animated feature certainly deserves its Oscar nomination, as it tells a unique and very unusual story, filled with unpredictability, many heartfelt moments and engaging characters. Plus, it's the perfect example of how a good story can be told with almost no words. Having said that, the film suffers from a downbeat narrative and sluggish pacing, but that's compensated by the many quirky, yet likable characters that appear throughout The relationship between the Illusionist and the little Alice, in particular, is so sincere and heart-warming, it may bring you to tears. Since "The Illusionist" is all about visual storytelling, it relies heavily on its imagery, and in this area, the film is a true work of art. The picturesque hand-drawn animation is nothing short of dazzling and extremely detailed, if quit similar to the director's previous work. The beautiful musical score written by Chomet himself suits the melancholic mood of the film quite perfectly.

Overall summary: With its deeply touching story, charming characters and absolutely breathtaking visuals, "The Illusionist" is, hands down, one of the best animated films of 2011.

[7.75/10] This Man a.k.a. The Man from Nowhere (2010)

This Man

a.k.a.

The Man from Nowhere (2010)

An ex-special agent CHA Tae-shik’s only connection to the rest of the world is a little girl, So-mi, who lives nearby. Her mother, Hyo-jeong smuggles drugs from a drug trafficking organization and entrusts Tae-shik with the product, without letting him know. The traffickers find out about her smuggling and kidnap both Hyo-jeong and So-mi. The gang promises to release them if Tae-shik makes a delivery for them, however it actually is a larger plot to eliminate a rival drug ring leader. When Hyo-jeon’s disemboweled body is discovered, Tae-shik realizes that So-mi’s life may also be in danger. Tae-shik becomes enraged at the prospect that So-mi may already be dead and prepares for a battle, putting his own life at risk. Jeong-beom Lee's fantastic action thriller had 10 nominations at this year's Korea Film Awards, and although it took 7 awards, most of which in technical categories, "The Man from Nowhere" remains as one of the best Korean films of 2010, along with the fantastically disturbing "I Saw the Devil". "This Man" is not without its flaws, as the first half of the movie suffers from messy story, incoherent pacing and choppy editing, but all these problems are cleared up in its middle part, where "The Man from Nowhere" turns into a thoroughly gripping and highly intense crime thriller, that will leave you gasping for air. Probably the best thing about "This Man" is that there's nothing exaggerated about it, as it delivers a truly believable, yet thrilling story, and sympathetic, credible central characters, beautifully-acted by Bin Won and Sae-Ron Kim. Bin Won is great as the reticent ex-agent, Cha, and although he barely speaks most of the time, he's absolutely captivates the audience with his expressive eyes and enigmatic, yet provocative behavior. The minute you see him, you know he hides something, and you can't help yourself but wanting to uncover the mystery behind him. He's that compelling. However, it's Sae-Ron Kim who truly shines in this film. She acts so naturally and so believably, you'll never guess that this is her first time in front of the camera. Moreover, the relationship between the two protagonists is so sincere, heartfelt and plausible, it makes you forget that you're watching a movie. Besides Cha and Jeong 's enchanting relationship "This Man" has even more to offer. The backstory about Cha not only reveals his intriguing past, but it's also very dramatic, emotional and beautifully-told, and certainly on of the film's highlights. The action sequences are incredibly well-staged, tense and violently brutal, accompanied with impressive visual and sound effects. "This Man"'s overall harshness is compensated with an absolutely touching finale, that is sure to bring tears to your eyes. Despite some editing issues, "This Man" is very slick, technically. The stunningly beautiful bluish cinematography and appropriate low-key lighting are to be admired, as is Jeong-beom Lee's competent direction. This is only his second movie, but it's obvious that he has put a lot of effort and creativity into his work. Disturbing and uncompromisingly violent, yet moving and consistently enthralling, "The Man from Nowhere" ranks as one of the best action thrillers South Korea has ever delivered.

• My Rating: 7.75/10
• Rotten Tomatoes: N/A
• IMDb: 7.7/10