Movie Reviews

The Music Never Stopped

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  • Title: The Music Never Stopped
  • IMDB: link

music-never-stopped-posterWhat is it about music? It can inspire, deeply move and remind us of times long since past. It’s that final piece which is the heart of The Music Never Stopped. We tie memories to sights, smells, and sounds. A familiar song can produce a rush of forgotten emotion tied to a specific moment from our past.

J.K. Simmons and Cara Seymour star as parents who haven’t heard from their son in nearly twenty years. One day the phone rings and they find Gabriel (Lou Taylor Pucci) in the hospital struggling with the effects of a brain tumor which has left his mind fractured. The memories Gabriel retains are limited and inaccessable, and his illness has created an inability for him to form new permanent memories.

After doing some research Henry (Simmons) enlists the help of a therapist (Julia Ormond) and together they begin to reach Gabriel through the music of his era – the same music which created the rift between father and son years before. When a song he recognizes plays his memory returns, albeit briefly.

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Red State

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  • Title: Red State
  • IMDB: link

red-state-posterI’ve been saying for years I wanted to see Kevin Smith try something different. With Red State, the writer/director attempts to create a horror film based loosely on the Westboro Baptist Church. It’s a departure of sorts (Smith still finds a way to slide in his usual assortment of dick jokes), and even if its not entirely successful, Red State does have its moments.

The film centers around the fictional Five Points Church led by the charismatic Reverend Abin Cooper (based on Fred Phelps and played by Michael Parks). No longer content to just protest at funerals of homosexuals, Cooper and his brethren have begun entrapping and executing those who they see as a blight on their community.

In true teen sex comedy fasion Red State begins with the lustful dreams of three teens (Michael Angarano, Kyle Gallner, Nicholas Braun), but, after more than a few twists and turns, ends with a shoot-out between the ATF and the Five Points Church.

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Battle: Los Angeles

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  • Title: Battle: Los Angeles
  • IMDB: link

battle-los-angeles-posterIt’s a good thing I wasn’t expecting much going into this movie because it offers the bare minimum for a uber-patriotic action flick without supplying a single original idea, moment, or story element.

Battle: Los Angeles is little more than an excuse to cash in on critical and box office successes such as District 9 and Avatar. And you don’t have to look very hard to see where it “borrowed” most of its plot. Think of it as Independence Day meets Cloverfield meets a Marine recruitment film (with slightly better special effects).

The film opens by introducing us to all the major players of the unit who will be thrust into battle during an alien invasion of Los Angeles. Staff Sgt. Michael Nantz (Aaron Eckhart) is the war-weary veteran with one foot out the door, Ramon Rodriguez is the fresh-faced Lieutenant straight out of the academy, Noel Fisher is the goofy wet-behind-the-ears Private, and so on. If you think these characters sound familiar, you’re right.

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The Adjustment Bureau

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  • Title: The Adjustment Bureau
  • IMDb: link

the-adjustment-bureau-posterIs your life your own? Does fate need an extra push? Is there a grand plan? Is someone watching? Loosely based on a short story by Philip K. Dick, The Adjustment Bureau attempts to answer these questions when one man looks under a curtain he wasn’t even supposed to know existed.

When we meet U.S. Congressman David Norris (Matt Damon) his career isn’t going quite as planned. On the eve of a lost election, while working on his concession speech in a men’s restroom, he meets a beautiful young dancer who will change his life in more ways than either of them can imagine.

David and Elise (Emily Blunt) make an immediate connection only to be separated for years by fate… or something else. A chance encounter years later is also derailed and that’s when David comes face to face with “The Adjustment Bureau.” For reasons left unsaid, the Bureau don’t want David and Elise together, and will do everything in their power to stop this deviation from their mysterious plan.

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I Am Number Four

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  • Title: I Am Number Four
  • IMDB: link

i-am-number-four-posterBased on the young adult novel of the same name by Pittacus Lore I Am Number Four is somewhat bland coming of age tale of a high school aged alien (i.e. college aged actor) on the run from another group of aliens that want him dead. Incredibly silly, and more than a little dumb, the film tries to cover up most of its flaws with a sense of humor and some well executed special effects.

We meet the alien savior John Smith (Alex Pettyfer) and his protector Henri (Timothy Olyphant) on the beaches of Florida before they hastily relocate to the scenic town of Paradise, Ohio, in an attempt to stay ahead of the other aliens.

These evil visitors to our world, known as the Mogadorians, are systematically hunting down nine children from John’s home planet in order of the numbers someone (the film never mentions who) has given them. Once these children are dead the Mogadorians plan to turn their attentions to the helpless earthlings.

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