Vixens of Virtue Vixens of Vice

This is a good amateur-ist video with low budget special effects. It is good to see a cast where heroes and villains are all strong female characters. The plot is simple. It would be useful if more background were provided. Why are the three hero sisters fighting with the three evil step sisters? What is the motivation for the adopted sister to want to kill them all? Cosplay fans will love the costumes. This is a nice cartoonish action film of promising filmmakers. 

Pacific Rim

This is one of the better modern action films. This one capitalizes on fears of giant beings arising from the ocean destroying cities that have been part of many previous movies. The fight is a futuristic one with new weapons. An interesting element is the attackers, aliens from outer space, are able to adapt and fight better.

This movie does a decent job with character development. We understand the strengths and flaws of various weaknesses. It combines both brown and intellectual pursuits in the fight. A criticism is dark fights of dark fighters at night which makes it hard to see what is occurring. There are directors who defend that the darkness contributes a dramatic mood yet I believe it is better to better to see what is going on..

I will suspend belief enough to disregard that a two legged weapon is not practical. I do wonder why, if firing weapons if their most effective tactic, they always wait unti the end of the fight to fire them. Oh, wait, that is so there can be an action movie. So suspend belief and watch away.

This movie brings out characters without being melodramatic. It allows us to figure out things with slight dialogue, which is better than the over-telling method some other movies use, There are interesting back stories impact the story’s direction. This is a thoughtful action movie that is well acted and directed.

Nurse Jackie: Season Five

This season of “Nurse Jackie” shows great character growth. We watch as the main character fights her way through her first year of sobriety. She is challenged with a 14 year old daughter who is beginning to experiment with drugs. Her faces problems at several directions with disputes with an ex-husband to learning how to handle people from her past as well as new friends. Some new characters are well introduced to the dilemmas including a new doctor learning to adjust his military past into the civilian world, a confused boss, a manipulating new resident., and a new suitor. The series ends with an interesting twist that makes us look forward to learning what directions the main character is headed.

Cattle Bag

This movie likely has a limited audience of college students, mostly male, who find dirty jokes and overacting funny. It is indeed a step above home videos with some lo quality  special effects. It is gross out humor featuring a few male comedic actors. There are some laughs, but the appeal is directed at those who appreciate sophomoric humor. The actors have hints of talent so perhaps someday those who do further films will look back at this film as one of the stepping steps in their career. I am not certain how many will want to admit they appeared in this film, but I think they would look bit and find it a bit of a laugh.

Thor: The Dark World

This is a high tech special effects battle movie with a twist of someone from Earth traveling to a different culture in outer space.. It relies heaving on well choreographed fight scenes. It is easy to follow which side is which is this battle of good versus evil. There often is just quick, short background into what the struggles are all about,

I am wondering why, if there are a type of firearms and missiles, does this society do most of its fighting using swords? I believe the key is suspend belief in many facets of this fantasy story. It is always a disadvantage in movies about fictional societies that movies will spring important knowledge about their world to the audience. It may be best to just go with it and follow the excitement.

Nebraska

“Nebraska” features much scenic beauty of Montana and Nebraska and demonstrates that great filming can be presented in black and white. This is a movie where the towns and its residens explain much of the story. This is a great movie about an adult son learning about his father and his parents’ past while taking a road trip. It is expertly written and acted where we often learn more about people though how little they say than through what they say. It is a movie of memories and stirring up the past. Bruce Dern is excellent as a father who people laugh at and Will Forte is superb as the son trying to understand his father and see if he can bring his famther some redemption.

The dialogue and story move slowly, although that is part of the point. This is a great exploration into people who go though life seldom expressing their feelings. We learn more layers about the characters and what molded them as the story progresses. It has a pleasing arc.

If you believe movies can only be in color with lots of special effects, this is not your movie. If you want to see a movie where you learn about people and want to root for them, you should enjoy this film.

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Austenland

“Austenland” is a quaint move with an interesting premise. A woman searching for herself is enthralled vacating in a place where actors and settings pretend to be straight out of the novels of Jane Austen. The concept alone makes this an intriguing film. Jennifer Coolidge brings a good sharp comedic edge as the “fish out of water” participant who is unfamiliar with Jane Austen novels.

One need not have read a Jane Austen book to be able to follow the movie. One quickly understands the settings and life styles of 18th century British society. The mixing of 21st century people in this past creates comedic relief.

The plot is not compelling. It makes it appear more that the main character needs to move on with her life than she is facing a critical crisis. What is good is the main character, in search of love, has not one but two suitors. As fantasy and reality are well mixed, viewers are often uncertain which suitor is the proper one. This interesting twist creates an interesting dilemma for both the main character and the viewer.

Several of the other characters appear too infrequently such that there is a lack of character depth presented. They serve more as a backdrop and some of their story events emerge and pass a bit quickly. One crisis emerges quickly, is not mentioned, reappears as a major threat, and then is discarded, thus adding little to the story.

This is a light, fun romantic comedy. It may not be overly realistic is demonstrating the lines between fantasy and realism. Yet it should be enjoyable to those wanting to see if a woman obsessed with a different era can find love today.