Movie Review: "American Hustle" Is Sure To Garner Oscar Noms, Yet It Left Me Wanting.

American Hustle

Director: David O. Russell
Cast: Christian Bale, Bradley Cooper, Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, and Jennifer Lawrence.
Rated R for pervasive language, some sexual content and brief violence.

We're nearing the end of the Oscar season and American Hustle has been highly anticipated as one of the year's best that is sure to be Oscar bait. Director David O. Russell (The Fighter, Silver Linings Playbook) has gathered together the stars of his previous two films, plus Jeremy Renner, to tell the fictionalized true story of the Abscam scandal of the 70s in which a handful of politicians were arrested for corruption. So, does this film live up to expectations? I know it has for many amongst film critics, but as for myself, I expected more.

Movie Review: "Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues" Lands On Two Feet More Often Than Not.

Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues

Director: Adam McKay
Cast: Will Ferrell, Paul Rudd, Steve Carell, David Koechner, James Marsden, Meagan Good, and Christina Applegate.
Rated PG-13 for crude and sexual content, drug use, language and comic violence.

You already know if you're going to see this follow up to the absurd, yet classic comedy, Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy. I'm not going to write this review in the attempt to convince everyone to see or stay away from this sequel. Films are subjective, and no genre is more subjective than comedy. So, I'm writing to Will Ferrell fans...Anchorman fans. Like many, the first Anchorman is one of my all time favorite comedies. This sequel had a lot to live up to. While not as classic as its predecessor, Anchorman 2 is a solid comedic venture that delivers plenty of laughs.

Movie Review: "The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug" Is Anchored By Thrilling Action Sequences.

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

Director: Peter Jackson
Cast: Martin Freeman, Ian McKellan, Richard Armitage, Orlando Bloom, Evangeline Lilly, Luke    Evans, and Benedict Cumberbatch as Smaug.
Rated PG-13 for extended sequences of intense fantasy action violence, and frightening images.

The second installment of Peter Jackson's Hobbit trilogy arrives in theaters this weekend and it is a solid improvement over its predecessor. Some still question Jackson on splitting the much smaller novel into three lengthy film adaptations, but at this point we should just accept that it's happening and go along for the ride.

Movie Review: "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" Ignites And Sizzles In Every Way.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

Direcor: Francis Lawrence
Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Sam Claflin, Jena Malone, Woody
         Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, Stanley Tucci, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Donald Sutherland.
Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, some frightening images, thematic elements, a suggestive situation and language.

Sequels can be fragile ground. The goal is to deliver a film that built upon the first film while also increasing the stakes and thrills. The Godfather Part II, The Empire Strikes Back, and The Dark Knight have all succeeded where so many others have failed. I can confidently add Catching Fire to that prestigious list of superior sequels.

Movie Review: "12 Years A Slave" Is An Instant American Classic That Is As Tragic As It Is Beautiful.

12 Years A Slave

Director: Steve McQueen
Cast: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender, Benedict Cumberbatch, Paul Dano, and Brad Pitt.
Rated R for violence/cruelty, some nudity and brief sexuality.

12 Years A Slave is a harsh, brutal, tragic, and powerfully moving true story that is acted and filmed by the greatest of talent and skill. In 1993, Steven Spielberg showed the world the horrific events of the Holocaust. Now, in 2013, director Steve McQueen (no, not the iconic actor) has done the same with this quintessential film on slavery. It is the darkest chapter in American history and this story does not hide the ugly truth of man's inhumanity to man.

Movie Review: "Thor: The Dark World" Does Not Offer Much That Is New, But Is Still A Lot Of Fun.

Thor: The Dark World

Director: Alan Taylor
Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston, Christopher Eccleston, Rene Russo, and
         Anthony Hopkins.
Rated PG-13 for sequences of intense sci-fi action and violence, and some suggestive content.

Thor is back! This time he must fight to save the woman he loves along with the fate of the Nine Realms. Thor: The Dark World may not be the greatest comic book adaptation out there, but it does what Marvel has come to do best: entertain.

Movie Review: "Ender's Game" Is Decent Sci-Fi Entertainment, But Does Not Offer Much More.

Ender's Game

Director: Gavin Hood
Cast: Asa Butterfield, Hailee Steinfeld, Abigail Breslin, Viola Davis, Ben Kingsley, and Harrison
         Ford.
Rated PG-13 some violence, sci-fi action, and thematic material.

Firstly, I am not very familiar with Orson Scott Card's novel so I am unable to comment on this film as a book adaptation. However, I have often expressed my views on book adaptions, but I feel compelled to do so again: films and books are two very different mediums and it is unfair and moot to compare the two. A film can be a poor book adaptation, but still work as a good film. If you are too attached to the source material then I can promise you that you will be disappointed in the film adaptation 100% of the time. That being said, Ender's Game, the film, is a big sci-fi spectacle filled with stellar special effects and some solid acting from its young stars and supporting veterans.

Sometime in the future, young Andrew "Ender" Wiggin (Asa Butterfield) is recruited by Colonel Graff (Harrison Ford) to train with other young recruits as potential fleet commanders to help defend Earth from another invasion from an alien species known as Formics. Colonel Graff pushes Ender harder than any other recruit because Graff believes that with his strategic mind, Ender could be the one to save humanity from the alien race.

Director Gavin Hood redeems himself as a filmmaker with Ender's Game after the less than impressive X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Here, the effects are much better, the acting stronger, and the story is more unique (though that is mostly thanks to author Orson Scott Card). Asa Butterfield does some fine work as young Ender. He is more than competent at portraying the conflicting emotions within him: compassion and rage. Harrison Ford brings his commanding screen presence to the role of Colonel Graff and Ben Kingsley is reliably strong as well, though I felt his talents were underused. I must also commend composer Steve Jablonsky for his emotional and rousing score. The film touches on the effect war has on these young warriors, but fell short of really bringing out that moral dilemma. This is something that they book may have done more fully, but I cannot say. Further exploring the themes of war, genocide, and the after effects these horrible situations have on the young heroes would greatly enhance this film. Perhaps these thematic elements can be explored with more depth in the potential sequel(s).

Nevertheless, Ender's Game offers audiences some good popcorn entertainment and warrants a viewing on the big screen.

RATING: B-