Zulu Review

Zulu is a 1964 historical war film depicting the Battle of Rorke's Drift between the British Army and the Zulus during the Anglo-Zulu War. The battle was fought between approximately 4,000 Zulu warriors against 150 British and colonial troops. The film was directed by Cy Endfield and stars Stanley Baker, Jack Hawkins and Michael Caine in addition to being narrated by Richard Burton. It is an amazing film and one of my personal favorite war films of all-time.

This is just simply an incredible film that will always live on in history as an undisputed masterpiece. It's visually mesmerizing and features some of the most top-notch cinematography and directing in film history as far as I'm concerned. It is nearly impossible to look away during the film's 139 minute run-time. The landscapes are beautiful, the settings are isolated, and the fighting is shown in realistic bloody detail. It's one of the most captivating films of all time.

It's difficult to write a review for this masterful film and have no mention of the astonishing musical score by the talented English composer John Barry. It's both majestic and menacing as it helps to set the tone of the battle scenes so well. There are very few films out there as well-balanced and exciting as Zulu is. It truly is an astounding film. 

Overall Rating: 5/5

The Brink's Job Review

The Brink's Job is a 1978 crime-comedy film directed by William Friedkin and starring Peter Falk and Peter Boyle. The film is based on the book Big Stick-Up at Brinks written by Noel Behn and the real-life Great Brink's Robbery which took place in Boston, Massachusetts in 1950. While the film features some very strong performances by its entire cast, as well as some very nice direction by Friedkin, it doesn't seem to really be that memorable of a movie and fails to deliver on some very important levels.

Not that this is a bad film by any means, but it just isn't as strong as other heist or caper movies out there. One thing that bothered me the most about it was the script. The pacing didn't seem to be very good and everything just seemed stretched. It was a simple caper story that may have worked better if it wasn't so warm and light hearted. I think that the script could have definitely used some rework before filming began. Some things just didn't seem to fit, and some things seemed to be missing. 

All in all, The Brink's Job is a film that left me with mixed reactions. It was alright, but I feel like it could have been great. Especially with the amount of talent that was involved with it. The film is definitely worth a watch to fans of heist films, but they should just keep in mind that this one is just a little bit different. I think that the greatest feature that the film has to offer is the stylish and sublime performance by Peter Falk. He gives us a very unique portrayal of a thief that would have been nearly impossible to match by any other actor.

Overall Rating: 3/5

Pan's Labyrinth Review

Pan's Labyrinth is one of the most beautiful and artistically creative movies that I have ever seen. Director Guillermo del Toro did a wonderful job at creating a truly captivating film that mixes fantasy with reality in a way that has never before been seen. The art direction is stunning, the music is astounding, and the characters are engaging and interesting. The film will definitely go down as del Toro's masterpiece and is sure to be remembered for many years to come.

There are many aspects of this film that are worthy of praise and appreciation. I feel that the cinematography by Guillermo Navarro is one of the most important facets. He really helped to create a beautiful atmosphere of wonder and fantasy by magnificently orchestrating his shots and using very good composition. It's wonderful to know that Navarro went on to win a much deserved Academy Award for Best Achievement in Cinematography for his work on the film, as well as garnering many more accolades along the way.

A lot of credit needs to be given to Guillermo del Toro. He had a truly amazing story that he wanted to tell and he executed it marvelously on film. Pan's Labyrinth is without a doubt one of the best foreign films that I have ever seen and it is one that will not soon be forgotten. I would recommend this film to just about anyone who is looking for a stunning story with stunning visuals. It is definitely one that should not be missed.

Overall Rating: 4/5

Brad Pitt's Five Best Performances

Brad Pitt is widely considered by many to be one of the greatest actors working in Hollywood today. There are very few actors with the type of range and ability that he has. He is able to portray so many different characters phenomenally and make them both likable and appealing to watch. Listed below you will find what I believe to be Brad's top five best performances to date. Which one of his performances is your favorite?

Inglourious Basterds (2009)

Lt. Aldo Raine

Moneyball (2011)

Billy Beane

Twelve Monkeys (1995)

Jeffrey Goines

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)

Benjamin Button

Fight Club (1999)

Tyler Durden

Men In Black 3 Review

Men In Black 3 may not have been the most necessary sequel to have been made, but it was a fun and exciting one nonetheless. The film features a fine mix of hilarious moments, great special effects and surprisingly strong performances by the entire cast. The most notable being Josh Brolin, who did a marvelous job at portraying the young Agent K and mimicking the actions of Tommy Lee Jones. It gives you a really good insight of the kind of versatility that he has as an actor.

A lot of credit needs to be given to director Barry Sonnenfeld for getting this movie made. He did a tremendous job at resurrecting this franchise, which appeared all but dead after the second installment released nearly ten years ago. And while it may not go down as one of the best movies of the summer, it is still a solid film that is very easy to enjoy. It's kind of like the perfect mindless summer blockbuster flick. You don't have to think about anything too hard, all you have to do is sit back and enjoy the ride.

All in all, Men In Black 3 is harmless, fun, and entertaining. It will most likely be enjoyed by fans of the MIB franchise and has a chance to go down as the best film in the series. It may have been a little mindless at some times and it took a little bit of time to get off the ground, but once it did, it was a non-stop thrill-ride which featured a surprising kind of twist ending that was both somber and unexpected. I would have no problem recommending it to anyone who is looking for some first rate action comedy fun.


Overall Rating: 3.5/5

Jim Carrey's Five Best Performances

Jim Carrey is one of the most well recognized and respected actors working in Hollywood today. He handles each and every one of his roles with great poise and has the versatility that other actors can only dream of having. Listed below you will find what I believe to be his top five best performances to date. Which Jim Carrey performance is your favorite? 

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)

Joel Barish

Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004)

Count Olaf

Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994)

Ace Ventura

The Truman Show (1998)

Truman Burbank

Man on the Moon (1999)

Andy Kaufman

Leonardo DiCaprio's Five Best Performances

Leonardo DiCaprio is widely considered by many to be one of the best actors working in Hollywood today. He is one of the most daring and respectable actors who can always be counted on to give a charismatic and diverse performance that would be hard to match by any other actor. Listed below you will find what I believe to be DiCaprio's five best performances to date. Which one of his performances is your favorite?

What's Eating Gilbert Grape (1993)

Arnie Grape

The Aviator (2004)

Howard Hughes

Blood Diamond (2006)

Danny Archer

Catch Me If You Can (2002)

Frank Abagnale Jr.

Shutter Island (2010)

Teddy Daniels