Voices from the Trail » Movie Reviews

Haywire: An MMA Fight!

Chelsea — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 00:25:26 +0000

This reporter went to see the movie “Haywire” and was, like most, a little go girl! For the actress Gina Carano and her skills as the character Mallory, the freelance CIA trained women, as the chick who can dish it out. Antonio Banderas plays a bad guy and it seems as if he might not get away. Rodrigo, Bandaras, is a the man with a plan to burn Mallory. Granted, this is a low budget film and one of the first films for a certain company, so don’t be too harsh on the movie. With it being all about Mallory getting back at the people who betrayed her, the main thing is to kill them all. The movie might not be a chick flick, but guys should steer clear because the movie seems to have you by the proverbial (you know what I mean). The plus about this movie is that mothers could show their daughters that girls can be just as tough as the boys.

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows

Gerard — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 05:34:06 +0000

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows

Robert Downey Jr. is back as Sherlock Holmes and bigger than ever. With his colleague Jude Law as Dr. Watson, they set off to solve one last case involving Professor James Moriarty (Jared Harris). This exciting crime thriller will keep you on the edge of your seats as you yourself try to unravel the complicated twists and turns of Holmes and Watson’s adventure. With more action and mysteries than the first, you’ll never want to stop watching, let alone have it end. All of Sherlock’s witty tricks will never let you stop laughing long enough to take that next bite of popcorn. Professor Moriarty keeps you wondering time and time again as he puts the two detectives in numerous challenging situations. This sequel is better than the first with more of everything you want in a great action packed crime thriller. Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows is one of the best movies of the year, with a great cast and amazing story. This movie will leave you begging for more and will make you want to watch it over and over again. This is a movie everybody should see; it is worth every penny and you will not be disappointed.

Breaking Dawn Preview: Part 1

Jeanelly — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 00:15:56 +0000

Off the bat, this movie was way better than its predecessors. Although Kristen Stewart’s acting was lacking in many departments, the plot line of the movie went smoothly. The movie started with wedding preparations for Bella and Edward. Jacob is still in love with Bella but he comes to the wedding to visit her “one last time”. The audience seems to be hearing this line alot. During the lovebirds’ honeymoon, something tragically magnificent happens- depending on your view of the situation. The movie stayed close to the book this time around. There were a few minor changes in scenes but (if you’ve stalked the book and everything ‘Twilight’) lines from the book were definitely pulled into the movie. At the end, the action comes fast and there is a sense of urgency for both the Cullens and the Pack. It ended where Bella… well you’ll just have to watch the movie to find out where this part of the story ends. And as always, if you have loved Twilight at any point in your life, you need to watch this movie. For old times sake at least.

Like Crazy

Julio Ramon Sanchez — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 06:26:04 +0000

When a British exchange student (Felicity Jones) overstays her visa, complication arises between an American student (Anton Yelchin) and the Britain whom which fall in love with each other “Like Crazy”. Sundance award winning film, directed by Drake Doremus, is an independent production, well deserving of its Grand Jury Prize for best picture in the dramatic movie category. This romantic drama illustrates the hardships of a troubled couple dealing with the separation of an international relationship. Expressed through the use of bold camera shots and melancholy piano choruses, it makes other romantic movies look obvious and clichéd. Through its sophistication and originality a complex scheme is formed, much like a math equation with many factors and variables, that continually builds tension only to be concluded in a subtle, yet just, ending resultant of both a physical and emotional journey.

After a college romance is split across two continents, the couple becomes estranged and is faced with the temptations of an offset relationship. The two must seek out “patience” in order to maintain their love for each other. This film may remind us that despite the dismal curves life throws at us, there is always hope to be found for those who wait.

Major contributing factors to the film’s award at the 27^th Sundance Film Festival include technical brilliance of cinematographer John Guleserian and the splendid performance provided by composer/pianist Dustin O’Halloran. Not to mention leading actress Felicity Jones for her Special Jury Prize award winning performance. This Production will surely excite you with wonder and awe upon reveling its riveting tale. Though it may be a bit mature for most, it is recommended for sophisticated movie goers who might enjoy a good romance from a new perspective.

J. Edgar the movie

Chelsea — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 06:46:37 +0000

J. Edgar Hoover, the movie of history, a love that is requited ,but not for the time period, the bending of the rules and even a bomb in the first 5 minutes, is a movie you must go see and here’s why. The best of Hoover is that there is a juicy secret you will never believe. J Edgar Hoover, played byLeonardo DiCaprio, and ClydeTolson, played by Armie Hammer, the very dear friend of Hoover. Hoover’s personal secretary, Helen Gandy, is played by Naomi Wats. The mother of Hoover is played by the lovely Judi Dench. Additionally, Jeffery Donovan plays Robert Kennedy. The movie is just twisted. The sad part is it’s true. What you really think of those politicians, meaning those dirty little secret files Hoover had on everyone on Capitol Hill, were true. This twisting of rules is what J. Edgar Hoover was known for. J. Edgar is an amazing film if you like conspiracies, requited love that is not socially acceptable, history, Leonardo DiCaprio, Naomi Watts, or even Jefferey Donovan.

Real Steel: A Smash Hit

Chelsea — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 23:47:49 +0000

The movie Real Steel, staring Hugh Jackman, Charlie Kenton, and his estranged son Dakota Goyo, Max Kenton, and the lovely woman of Charlie’s life, Evangeline Lilly as Bailley Tallat. Charlie is a small time promoter and robot boxer for this new sport in the future, where human boxing has been replaced by robot’s. After the death of Max’s mom and Charlies ex-wife, Charlie signs over his right to Max’s aunt so that he doesn’t have to take care of him ,but eventually they end up together for the better part of a summer. Max finds a whole robot in the junkyard, and Max and Charlie eventually team up to fight robots, with Atom from the junkyard. Eventually the trio makes it to the big leagues. Bailey is the owner of the boxing gym that Charlie rents a room from and turns out to be the childhood friend of Charlie. To see how the trio fairs against the other robots, you’ll have to go see Real Steel in theaters now!

Machine Gun Preacher

Jasmine Aduna — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 02:14:08 +0000

Have you ever thought about how lucky we Americans are? A very small number of us are not fortunate enough to have all the basic living necessities such as food, water, and shelter, but then some of us have more: cars, money, air conditioning, giant homes, countless options of where to spend our money, and the list goes on. We often find ourselves complaining about how our clothes or shoes or IPod is not up to date with the latest trends, but after you watch this movie, you will feel stupid complaining about these little worthless things.

This movie is a true story about the life of a former drug dealer, biker, and hillbilly by the name of Sam Childers, played by Gerard Butler. He finds God with the help of his wife Lynn Childers (Michelle Monaghan), his mother Daisy (Kathy Baker) and his daughter Paige (Madeline Carroll). Sam then takes advantage of an oppurtunity to assist people in Africa. He later becomes the savior of Sudanese orphans. These children can not sleep at night without worrying that this could be their last night with their family. The Lord Resistance Army does countless attacks in the night on innocent villages. This movie reveals the cruelty of the LRA and how terribly these Sudanese people are treated.

Anyone who thinks their life is terrible or believes they have nothing in life, this is the movie that slaps you in the face and tells you how selfish you’re acting. You will not walk out of the movie theater with the same mind set you had before you watched the movie. After seeing this movie, I felt bad riding in a car to go home, knowing there are people on the other side of the world without shoes walking everywhere they go. If your heart isn’t affected by this movie, then you don’t have one. Machine Gun Preacher is a movie worth seeing. However, some people may not be ready for the cruel realities of the world around us.

Contagion

Chelsea — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 23:57:54 +0000

The movie to see if you love conspiracies, psychology, and infectious disease on campus. This movie stars Gwyneth Paltrow as Beth Emhoff, Matt Damon as Mitch Emhoff, Dr. Ellis Cheever as Laurence Fishburne, and Jude Law plays the conspiracy nut Alan Krumwiede. This movie focuses on the social aspect of an outbreak, the Mev-1` virus. We follow Mitch Emhoff and experience the family perspective of this virus and its lasting effects life. We follow the Center for Disease Control Dr. Ellis Cheever and the effects of how he is slandered for a hieratic and selling the vaccine before the public can have it. Alan Krumwiede tries to blow the lid off the government saying that Mev-1 was merely an outbreak of a cold on the east coast and there was nothing to worry about. To find out about all the cool things that happened go see the movie in theaters now!

Rise of the Planet of the Apes.

Chelsea — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 23:32:56 +0000

Ever heard about how apes have the most in common with humans? If you have, maybe you should watch the movie Rise of the Planet of Apes! It’s a very good movie, with an intriguing beginning, but personally, I wasn’t very satisfied with the overall ending. Supposedly, the main character raises the smartest ape ever, but after he is imprisoned, the tables turn. Not only does the ape turn into a traitor, but he lets the influence of other apes affect his childhood friendships. How can someone so friendly turn into a harsh, cold-blooded monster? This only shows and proves one point; not only do environmental factors change a person, but people’s words and actions get to us. Compliments aren’t taken well, but mistakes do reach the heart. What you say to someone can stay in their head for an entire lifetime, so you should be wise your words. That’s the main theme of the Rise of the Planet of the Apes, but you should definitely check it out for yourself.

Beastly

Jeanelly — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 00:10:33 +0000

Beastly is based on the story that everyone knows, Beauty and the Beast. The main characters were Vanessa Hudgens as “Lindy”, the Belle of the story and Alex Pettyfer as the beast, or “Kyle”. The setting is a New York private school with Lindy as the scholarship student and Kyle the conceited son of a famous news anchor. Kyle quickly marks himself as an enemy to the school witch, played by Mary-Kate Olsen. And as we all know, this witch changes him into the ugly beast. Which in my point of view, was not that horrible. He has a year to get someone to profess their love for him or he will stay a gruesome beast forever. This is where we que the music and then enters Lindy. Her father is a drug addict and his irresponsiblity leads him to agree that Kyle’s home is the safest place for her. Kyle, or ”Hunter”, tries to get her to fall in love with him while in the process falling in love with her. But to find out if his love is returned you will have to find out by yourself. The movie took funny, cheesy and adorable to a new level. There were times I was able to relate with Lindy while at other times Vanessa’s acting was too forced and unreal. On the whole, the movie was great and I say, if you want to see it, you should watch it in theaters then get it on DVD.