Rise of the Planet of the Apes

So, I went into this movie with high expectations. I repeat that: high expectations. I'm a huge fan of the "Apes" series of movies. Including the Tim Burton debacle from 2001 (I mean Charlton Heston is an ape in it! How could I not love that?!)

This movie not only met my expectations, it exceeded them wildly. This movie is stellar - whether you're a fan of the original or not.

The story is well written and well acted. You actually give a damn about main characters - human and ape. Andy Serkis is a genius. He manages to act so much with his entire body that he gives the CGI techs at Weta Digital a wealth of things to animate so that you can feel everything Ceaser feels during the movie, you can see what he's thinking played out in the way he holds himself in a scene. Brilliant. James Franco (whom I usually couldn't give a rat's ass about) turns in perhaps the best job I've ever seen from him, and John Lithgow - well he always delivers.

I metioned Weta Digital (of LoTR CGI) right? Yeah. Love those guys. Far as I'm concerned? They rule the CGI world with no contest. This is as good as you've ever seen to date.

And if you are a fan? Well keep your eyes open. There are plenty of nods to the original series, without being overt and smacking you in the face about it. They are there, but they never tear your focus away from the story you are currently being told.

In sum: go! go! go! see this movie. You may not love it as much as I did, but you will like it, and will think it was worth the money.

True Grit

So this is the Coen brother's latest offering. But it's sort of oddly not Coen-esque. Well at least not nearly so much so. There were a few moments of the absurd, but they were kept to a minimum and weren't the main push of the movie - just a touch here and there to keep things from being too grim.

If you want to go see a movie with excellent acting? This is it. Jeff Bridges and Matt Damon were superb. The little girl? Stole the whole show. She was a magnent your eyes had trouble leaving when she was on screen.
If you want to see a movie for the plot? This one had a sound one. You won't be disappointed.
If you want to watch the directors? The Coen's shine here. I think it is by far their best work.

If however you want a Hollywood happy ending? Nooooot so much so. Not the usual Coen fare of almost everyone dies - but no warm fuzzies found here.
If you have trouble with violence in general? Uh, this is a Western. Lots of people die. (But as an aside - relatively realistic deaths, not like the old Westerns they remade.)
If you don't like seeing bad things happen to good horses? Well what can I say - neither do I - but in this case is was something that I might have done too.

Over all? I don't think you'd have to lower your expectations too much to enjoy this film - I think it is a definite "at least try to rent it and watch it"

2012

Ok so 2012 is disaster porn. One of those movies where everything is gonna go *splodey* - and it directed by pretty much the acknowledged king of disaster porn - Roland Emmerich. But this was not his best offering. In fact it might be argued that he's getting a little played out in the genre.

Don't go for plot - because this one is rather weak. No unexpected twists or even attempts - you'll see it coming a mile away.
Don't go for acting - some of the actors in here are good to decent, but really? It's hared to give a lot of depth in D.P.
Don't go for a feel good ending - you might find yourself at the end of the movie wishing you could kill the ones who didn't die.

However if you can lower your standards this far - this is what this movie is good for:

LOTS OF THINGS GO BOOM! In spectacular fashion! The special effects are fun.
Woody Harrelson will make you giggle - he's the best thing in the movie IMHO.
Did I mention the things going boom? If you in your secret heart of hearts kinda wish on some days you could watch the world come to a spectacular end - then go ahead and watch this movie. You'll enjoy that much at least.