The Buzz: movie reviews

Set against the backdrop of 19th-century France, Les Misérables tells an enthralling story of broken dreams and unrequited love, passion, sacrifice and redemption-a timeless testament to the survival of the human spirit. Jackman plays ex-prisoner Jean Valjean, hunted for decades by the ruthless policeman Javert (Crowe) after he breaks parole. When Valjean agrees to care for factory worker Fantine's (Hathaway) young daughter, Cosette, their lives change forever. In December 2012, the world's longest-running musical brings its power to the big screen in Tom Hooper's sweeping and spectacular interpretation of Victor Hugo's epic tale. -- (C) Universal PG-13 , 2 hr. 38 min. Musical & Performing Arts , Drama Directed By: Tom Hooper Written By: Claude-Michel Schonberg, Alain Boublil 1. Why do People Gotta Get All Up In a Tizzy about this flick?? Last night I finally had the privilege of seeing Les Miserables , the epic new movie of the cl...

The year seems to go by so fast now that we're at the end. However, looking back at all the movies released this year, it has actually been a very long, interesting year. We got The Dark Knight Rises and The Avengers, and The Amazing Spider-Man  in the same blockbuster summer. We also had to endure this annoying new trend of movie re-releases, with the excuse of "Oh, now it's in 3D." I mean, did anyone actually sit through The Phantom Menace again? I didn't. I've seen that movie so many times over the years that it puts me to sleep, so I think I'll save my $13. And, Disney has gotten in on the action, releasing Beauty and the Beast 3D back in January, then Finding Nemo 3D later in September, and Monsters Inc 3D comes out next week. What, Brave and Wreck-it-Ralph didn't bring in enough cash? We have to recycle this stuff?  Titanic 3D also hit theaters this year, but I missed that one, too. I love that movie (see my "best of the 90's ...

The new Man of Steel trailer has been unleashed on the general public today. The new Superman flick, scheduled for summer 2013, seems sure to be a winner. Christopher Nolan produced it, and the trailer is awe inspiring. I am excited to see Kevin Costner playing Sup's Pop. It also seems to reveal a bit more of the story, if only a faint glimpse. Seems to be an origin story involving the military, maybe with Superman being very controversial and/or threatening to society. The special effects and overall tone gave me chills. The actor playing Superman, Henry Cavill, looks totally awesome in the suit. I love director Zach Snyder for his innovative direction of 300 , the successful 2004 Dawn of the Dead , and the amazing epic comic book flick  Watchmen . I love the music in the trailer, and the overall tone. It hits a very interesting emotional note and presents Superman as a sort of diety. It's a very interesting and intriguing interpretation of Superman...

Way back in the summer of 1989, Tim Burton unleashed Batman upon the world. It was a pop culture phenomenon because the imagery and darker tone of this new Batman were what audiences had been craving for years. I was just a kid, and this movie changed my life. I saw it multiple times on the big screen and would coerce my friends and family to see it any chance I got. The magic of Gotham city cast a spell over my young self and transported me to a magical place I had read about in my piles of comic books. Over the years, Batman has seen cinematic ups and downs. That Tim Burton series, as everyone knows, devolved into a hokey, Hollywood joke in the failure of a movie Batman & Robin . By then, there was a new director at the helm and the franchise was on its third Batman with George Clooney. The backlash from that terrible installment of the series caused the Batman movie series to be put on the shelf, and I'm sure many Hollywood d...

Wow, The Walking Dead Season 3 (mid-season) finale was incredible last night! Please tell me your thoughts and feelings about it. Also, what are your favorite zombie movies?

Hey, guys! I can't wait to see the movie Lincoln! Hopefully I will get the chance, and I will review it soon. I've been busy with Thanksgiving, so I plan to return to regular video posts after that. Hope everyone had a great holiday!

PG-13, 2 hr. 25 min. Release Date:   Nov 9, 2012 In Skyfall, Bond's loyalty to M is tested as her past comes back to haunt her. As MI6 comes under attack, 007 must track down and destroy the threat, no matter how personal the cost. -- (C) Official Site The hot opening weekend is over, and now you're asking yourself: "Should I go see Skyfall ?" I say YES! If the point of James Bond is to tap into your "14 year old boy" fantasies of fast cars, spy gadgets, Bond women, and overall super-secret spy awesomeness, then Skyfall has it all. At the same time, it works as a solid old-fashioned cinema piece exploring character drama and tension.  Skyfall is classic James Bond. This is the 50 year anniversary of James Bond movies. The first one was Dr. No , starring Sean Connery way back in anicent times in 1962. Since then, the franchise has evolved, thrived, and entertained audiences all over the world. The new series of Bond movies starring Dan...

R, 2 hr. Release Date:   Oct 12, 2012 Based on true events, Argo chronicles the life-or-death covert operation to rescue six Americans, which unfolded behind the scenes of the Iran hostage crisis-the truth of which was unknown by the public for decades. On November 4, 1979, as the Iranian revolution reaches its boiling point, militants storm the U.S. embassy in Tehran, taking 52 Americans hostage. But, in the midst of the chaos, six Americans manage to slip away and find refuge in the home of the Canadian ambassador. Knowing it is only a matter of time before the six are found out and likely killed, a CIA "exfiltration" specialist named Tony Mendez (Ben Affleck) comes up with a risky plan to get them safely out of the country. A plan so incredible, it could only happen in the movies. -- (C) Warner Bros.   Argo should be on your Oscar list this year. It's obvious to me that this gritty thriller, directed by Ben Affleck and based on a true story, has all the r...

The Artist is a criminally overlooked movie in pop culture. Elegant, compelling, fun, comedic, and utterly unique, it will pull you in from the very first scene. Yes, it is a mostly "silent" movie inspired by films from the late 1910's and 1920's. Silent, as in, there is no verbal audio. However, just as the movies that inspired it, The Artist is filled with incredible, romantic, sweeping music. And, the fact that it is silent makes it even more interesting. The casting is nothing short of inspired, too. All these cast members just look like "those people" from the old silent movies. The archetypes of the stern old man, the grumpy old man, the beautiful young starlet, and the handsome leading man. Even the dog looks like he belongs in the 1920's. It's remarkable. The story is also fantastic. I love movies about show business, and the Artist is a loving look at one of the most romantic periods in Hollywood history. The story keeps you ...

Rating: 3 out of 5 CONCEPT: There is so much buzz and controversy surrounding this reboot. Many agree it was too soon. I think it was. And, there was a lot of Movie Studio politics fueling the decision to start from scratch, as well. Contract negotiations, hurt egos, tepid movie execs who were burnt by the Spiderman 3 backlash, blah blah blah. CHARACTERS: Peter Parker, played by Andrew Garfield, is a much different teen than Tobey McGuire. He seems more detached, angry, secluded, and ditsy. He seems like a brat from the beginning, and his attitude seems hardly superhero worthy. Wasn't the old comic book Peter Parker a smart, accomplished science nerd? Both new movie franchises have abandoned that for a new, "dork" version of Peter Parker. Sure, the new Peter Parker helps uncle Ben around the house with things sometimes. But, he still seems like a goofy, skateboarding entitled nimrod most of the movie. And, once becoming Spider-Man with strong powers, he's mot...

the buzz rating: 4.5 out of 5 In my quest to see as many "Best Picture" Oscar nominees as possible, I was lucky enough to see War Horse on the big screen. I'm not sure if it was a digital showing or not, but the picture clarity was beautiful, and some panoramic shots of England are breathtaking. The sound was also crystal clear, and made me feel like I was in the middle of the action. And, let's not forget the beautiful, lush, and perfectly appropriate musical score by John Williams. I have seen most of the Best Picture nominees, and have liked them all. (Though The Descendants wasn't quite my cup of tea). However, War Horse has been the only movie that moved me to write a review. It is a remarkable achievement that only Steven Speilberg could have brought to fruition with such effectiveness and heart. The official synposis of War Horse is as follows: Adapted from a novel by Michael Morpurgo, this majestic World War I drama centers on Devon lad Albert and his s...

Inspired by The Buzz’s countdown of Oscar winners, and in celebration of Valentine’s Day, I decided to write about the last 12 years of romantic movie releases in February. It’s time to get out a cozy blanket and snuggle up with a loved one for a romantic movie marathon. Here’s the list: 2012: The Vow - I personally prefer romantic comedies, as opposed to pure romance, so this movie probably won’t be my favorite. However, it’s the only romantic movie release this year, so it’s probably your best bet for a Valentine’s date. 2011: Just Go With It - Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston star in this romantic comedy about a doctor who asks his assistant to pose as his ex-wife to cover up a lie he told to his girlfriend. This wasn’t my favorite out of the list, but it had some funny moments. 2010: Valentine’s Day - I am just going to admit it…I LOVED this movie. I own it on DVD. It explores love from different points of view and at different stages in life. It also captures everything that I lo...

The nominations for 2012 are here! We have some odd surprises, Oscar snubs, and the usual gang of suspects up for the golden statue this year. Let's explore the exciting highlights: Best Actor in a Leading Role Demian Bichir "A Better Life" George Clooney "The Descendants" Jean Dujardin "The Artist" Gary Oldman "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy" Brad Pitt "Moneyball" What happened to Leo DiCaprio for "J. Edgar Hoover"??? This may be the biggest Oscar snub of this year. The most disappointing thing about this list, however, is the lack of standout performances. It's missing that crazy Colin Firth stuttering, or the Phillip Seymour Hoffman "Truman Capote" voice, or an inspiring "transformation" type of performance, like Mickey Rourke in "The Wrestler." All of this year's nominated performances, while I'm sure they're subtle and nuanced, are lacking any memorable qualities. (Like, does a...

I'm sorry, loyal readers, that I have left my blog abandoned for the past month or so. The holidays have been busy, and my wife and I have been travelling / shopping / spending time with fam. Looking back at my last blog entry from the beginning of December, I can't help but feel some pride in my early Oscar picks. However, I have to make some corrections to it! I definitely messed some stuff up. Since the Golden Globes, the buzz surrounding the black and white silent flick "The Artist" has picked up steam. And, since this blog is all about movie buzz, I thought I would acknowledge it. Back when I picked my 10 nominee possibilities, I considered "The Artist", but I just didn't think it looked "stout" enough to get a Best Picture nomination. I've changed my mind, though. It's totally going to get nominated. I also now think that "The Iron Lady" probably won't get nominated for Best Picture, although Meryl Streep is a shoe-i...