Kung Fu Hustle

The special effects in this movie lighten the mood and make it cartoonish and funny. It was a refreshing change from the Kung Fu films i've seen in the past.

Raging Bull

I was really impressed by Robert De Niros acting in this film, he embodied the character so well! As the movie starts to pick up so does his jealousy which ends up plaguing his life and tearing apart he and the woman he was so fearful of loosing. It's hard to watch him get physically pummeled by boxers in the ring while he mentally pummels himself but if you can handle some bloody scenes I would recommend this movie.

Dark Knight Rises

Is it the final Batman film or are there still more to come? I really want there to be a continuation involving Robin, because that ending was the best part of the movie. I enjoyed that Bruce overcame his old age to save the day once again. Some of my peers did not appreciate that Bruce was vulnerable in this movie, but I think that that was the whole point. The producers needed a segway into the new age of Batman. As always, the film score was amazing. Hans Zimmer always comes through with good music. Sometimes I think the music is what makes a film, although I know most people would disagree with me.

Skyfall

For anyone who appreciates Bond, you will not leave this movie disappointed. Some of my peers said that they didn't like it because it wasn't "modern" enough, but I think this is where they are mistaken. The whole point was to bring back the classic elements of the old Bond films. Armed with just a radio and a handgun, Daniel Craig does a fantastic job. There are also no steamy erotic scenes, but I think that this keeps things classy.

V for Vendetta

V for Vendetta is one of my favorite movies, so I'm glad we got to watch it again. Last year I was actually in London for Guy Fawkes day, so watching this again was a reminder of that fun holiday. I'm glad I didn't get blown up on my tube ride home after the fireworks! Natalie Portman gives one of her most convincing performances in this film, and her struggle to cope with a madman is so believable. There are many themes in this film, and they include fear, love, anger, and contempt. London is also a wonderful place to film, and I think that the setting tied this movie together. Especially for us Americans, watching films set in different places is eye opening as well as entertaining.

Adaptation

This was another film we watched in which there was a central element that I have not previously come into contact with. In "Blow Out", the element of film making was sound, in this one it was screenwriting. Honestly, I went through the whole movie kind of thinking that there was going to be some dumb twist where one of the twins actually didn't exist, and in fact it was some sort of multiple personality disorder thing. I'm glad that that didn't happen. I also appreciated Meryl Streep's acting. She's a great actress and this was a new kind of role for her. She really can mold herself into almost anything and she's what made this movie interesting for me.

Raging Bull

Raging Bull was very depressing, in my opinion. I don't usually choose to watch films that I know will make me sad. This one combined drama with boxing, which is a sport I really know nothing about, and am not really invested in either. I think it's an important point to note that if a movie combines elements you don't like, regardless of how well it is made, you may find yourself still not able to enjoy it.