Seeing the finish line...

Note from Ray: This is a legacy post from my personal archives (pre-2024). For my latest Movie Reviews and Highlight Reels, click here.

One of the many questions I've asked myself during this trying time was "Why did this happen?"

Of course the simple answer would be "Why not?"

But to put things a little more in perspective. Testicular cancer is considered to be a very rare form of cancer. Only 1% of cancers in males. Even more rare for Asian-americans. Overall 1 in 270 males have a chance to acquire the disease and almost half of all cases happen to men between the ages of 20 and 34.

So...lucky me?

After being diagnosed, my thoughts and memories often turned to all the loved ones that passed away from cancer.  I mourned their loss again. I longed for their counsel. I shared in their fear.  I'm sure there were moments in their diagnosis where they felt similar to me.

Feelings of fear, turning to sheer terror,  alternating with hope, then eventual acceptance.

How did they feel and what did they think as they reached the finish line of life?

I admit I still have fears and worries, but I'm finding them increasingly manageable as the days go by.

I guess if people were on the outside looking in at my situation,  if there is a  kind of cancer to get, the preferable one would be the one with an over 90% survival rate.

I'm still a bit worried that because of the kind of insurance coverage that I have. I won't have access to premium services. Short cuts might be made in my case when in other situations they wouldn't. Just getting my tumor removed required a bit of jerry rigging of the system. The specifics I rather not disclose. But I have to trust my doctors. They have covered for me this far.

At this point. I'm feeling positive about my prognosis. My tests all came back clean. CT scan showed no abnormalities. X-rays were clear. Blood tests were negative. The mass is now removed and no longer in my body. I'm hoping that it stayed isolated. I have a follow up with my urologist in a couple of weeks to discuss my treatment options.

My next step is possibly one dose of chemotherapy and or a radiation treatment, then I will have to observe and have periodic checkups every three months.

The drawback is that this will be for the next 5 to 10 years.

The most prominent issue I'm dealing with now is dealing with the loss of a testicle. Some occasional nausea. I spent so much time focusing on survival, I didn't really stop to consider the idea of losing a physical part of me. An important part of me.

Men spend their lives protecting that area. It's ingrained in us since we are little. Even wearing a cup in little league and a jock strap in sports to support that area. It's comical to think about the idea but it's true.

That area represents a man's virility, health and sexuality.

Does losing a testicle make me less of a man? Will my testosterone be too low? Will my sexual performance suffer? Will my peers view me differently knowing that I only have one testicle?

It's funny when you consider these things out loud. Of course the answer to all these concerns are probably no.

At least I hope they are.

But these are my honest fleeting thoughts. They were especially prominent before my surgery.

Post surgery, physically I feel fine.  I admit that there exists a strange feeling now. To have an empty space where there used to be something. Nerve endings that weren't previously exposed are now touching each other. I find myself adjusting often. Hopefully I won't do this too much unconsciously in public.

It's also clear I'm also gonna have to transition from boxers to boxer briefs. I'm acutely more conscious about what is going on down there now. I'm promising myself to not procrastinate about physical ailments.

Which brings us back to HOW did I get this disease? The traditional causes of cancer are not part of my lifestyle.  Cancer is not in my immediate family. I don't smoke. I rarely drink alcohol anymore. Don't experiment with drugs. It's been years since I've even had a hit of Marijuana. I like to think I live a relatively stress free lifestyle, although the idea of having four kids under the age of 7 may seem stressful to others.

I was able to come up with three possibilities. As far fetched as it sounds.

My first theory is my fondness for junk food. Erin is a supporter of this theory. And she is using this as an opportunity to change my diet and lifestyle. She's been after me for years to be more conscious of my diet and often has encouraged me to exercise more.

It's time to take up her flag. I can't fight her on this anymore. The truth is getting cancer has given her all the ammunition she needs.

Theory 2:  Radiation from Japan's Nuclear disaster.

Yeah... I know it's absurd. But I'm clutching at straws here.

And my final theory... radiation from my cellphone.

I keep my cellphone in my right front pocket. I've been doing it for years. I've observed  my phone overheating in the past while in my pocket and I've often wondered what harmful effects that the overheating and low level radiation may cause. Maybe whatever causes cancer was in me already and the overheating and radiation just triggered it?

I know it sounds ridiculous. As I said, it's a theory.

Whatever the cause of my my testicular mass. The truth is it doesn't matter.

I have had it in me, it's been removed and I will continue to fight the effects from it. My life will never be the same again.

And that's not necessarily a bad thing.

If there is a positive to take away from all this it's that this has made me more conscious of how precious life is.

It's made me see the finish line.

At the risk of sounding overly sentimental. It's made me appreciate my life more. My friendships. My family. I hug my kids a little tighter now. Made me more appreciative of Erin and our relationship.  I'm trying to not sweat the little things as much.  I'd like to think that it's given me a sharper perspective on what's important.

I know that this is just the beginning of this cancer challenge. But I can see the finish of this chapter. I'm confident I will beat this.

I'm also hoping it makes me a better person at the end. And lead to an overall better life for me and my family

I admit... I'm still scared. But I can see the finish line.

Not the scary kind of finish line though. The kind that features a victory celebration at the finish with all my friends and family.

Here are a couple of Testicular cancer facts I want to share. Hopefully it will inspire someone to take action. Maybe save someone some anxiety.


Most lumps or bumps down there are relatively harmless and tend not to be cancer. Some of the more common causes for testicular pain or swelling are infections, hernias, hydroceles and varicoceles.

The symptoms for testicular cancer also don't appear to be alarming at first. Many times there is no pain. The most common symptom is a painless lump. Sometimes it can be accompanied by a heavy or aching feeling in the lower belly or scrotum.

I can confirm that the feeling that I experienced was not alarming. In fact if it wasn't for straining my back moving a kiddie pool of water, I probably wouldn't have suspected anything. I actually  thought that my symptoms pointed to my condition being a hernia.

Some of the risk factors which contribute to testicular cancer are an undescended testicle, family history of testicular cancer,  HIV infection and carcinoma in situ. But since testicular cancer is so rare there isn't really an effective study which reveals notable risk factors.

Remember according to citations from Wikipedia:

Testicular cancer has one of the highest cure rates of all cancers: in excess of 90 percent overall; almost 100 percent if it has not spread (metastasized). Even for the relatively few cases in which malignant cancer has spread widely, modern chemotherapy offers a cure rate of at least 80%.

Don't wait! The sooner you deal with it the better! 

The Purge – Movie Review by Jonathan Harris

By Jonathan Harris

The central conceit in The Purge is that humans are very much not like humans. In this world, we are all maniacal killers at heart, and would murder indiscriminately, men and women alike, if only it was socially acceptable. This, of course, is not true. There are sociopaths and killers, sure. But, the reason incidents like Aurora and Sandy Hook shake us so fundamentally is that they confront our very ideas of humanity, that most of us are decent enough people just trying to get by, and that even the rude and inconsiderate among us are still not capable of such atrocities that occurred in those shootings.

In The Purge, however, we are all James Holmes and Adam Lanza. Oh, if only murder were legal, just for 12 hours! I would get it out of my system then and be myself again, surely. All this is to say that the film has a mountain to climb right off the bat. It attempts to get us on board by presenting us a family that we would identify with. The Sandins are well-off and live in an affluent community somewhere in America in the year 2022. James Sandin (Ethan Hawke) sells home security systems that are only used during the Purge, the 12 hours during the year when anything is legal. I’d give more details about the family, but the film forgot to provide them. So much for giving the audience something to identify with!

Lena Headey plays the mother, Mary Sandin. She is a mother and loves her kids and husband and that’s pretty much it. She’s scared when she needs to be scared and motherly when the script needs that as well. The two kids, Charlie and Zoe Sandin, are generally disgruntled teenagers. Charlie keeps track of his heart rate for some reason and Zoe wishes her ambiguously older boyfriend could be a more open part of her life. No matter.

The day of the Purge, James Sandin has learned that he’s the top-seller of security systems in the district and wishes his neighbors a “safe night” on his way home. Most of his neighbors have bought the security system as well, and they all seem ready to hunker down for the long 12 hours when, apparently, 90% of Americans decide to go and kill each other. I’m not exaggerating that this is what the Purge is all about. An opening sequence shows us gun murder after gun murder, all on security footage. We are reminded by a television doctor that it is in our very nature to kill each other, and that this annual practice serves as a “release” for these murderous instincts, bestowed upon us by the “New Founding Fathers.” Do people rob banks during the purge? Score drugs? Run over the border from Mexico? Doesn’t look like it. The world The Purge inhabits is full of demented thugs, except for the Sandins.

Oh, they openly support the Purge, sure, but their children can tell that they have moral issues with it. After all, if they support it, why don’t they go out and kill people every year? Unlike successful films about a dystopian future, the game of The Purge is so unreasonable as to be almost impossible to represent in humanity. Though it involves supernatural connections, we can at least believe that pre-crime, as presented in Minority Report, would be acceptable to a large section of the American population. If it was possible to see the future, of course we would want to prevent murders before they happen! The ingenuity of that film is nowhere here. It is merely a setup for disgusting terrorism and carnage.

The carnage begins shortly after “lockdown.” The Sandins are behind their metal walls, James and Mary are having some wine, Zoe has gone off to sulk, and Charlie sits in his father’s security suite, watching the neighborhood through a series of cameras. A black man runs down the street, screaming for help, looking for safe haven from an angry mob that’s after him. Charlie, poor sympathetic Charlie, disarms the security system to let the man in. Once James sees this and rushes to his son, the black man (and I call him that because he is the only one in the film) disappears somewhere in the giant home. Oh, and Zoe’s boyfriend is mad that they can’t openly date, so he tries to kill James. Whatever.

The mob chasing the bloody stranger is a group of 20 or so masked prep school kids. (Why are they masked if this is all legal? Probably because director James DeMonaco thought it would look scary.) The only unmasked mob member is the “Polite Stranger,” as he is credited, played by Rhys Wakefield. He explains to the security camera (to which we are fortunately listening), that the man they are harboring is a “homeless swine” and that he must be released to them in short order. If they don’t comply, the mob has some “equipment” on the way that will help them break in and kill not only the swine, but the Sandins as well.

Thus begins a solid 45 minutes of people walking slowly down dark hallways. Occasionally something jumps out and the non-diagetic sound informs us that this is meant to be scary. Why are all the hallways dark? Because Rhys Wakefield has decided to cut the house’s electricity, despite being repeatedly told by James that the homeless man is somewhere in the house and they are looking for him. Logic be damned, says DeMonaco! We need dark hallways in which our vacant characters will walk slowly, to be frightened when things jump out at them!

We are plagued by logistical questions throughout The Purge. If this angry mob are normal citizens 364 days a year, and they murder just to get it out of their systems, will one helpless man really be enough for them? Would they not be better served just leaving the gated community and stopping at the closest Denny’s? With the arsenal these guys are carrying, they could take out dozens of people in a matter of minutes.

Oh! Oh! And I haven’t even started talking about the flaws in the security system yet. This is truly amazing. After Wakefield informs the Sandins that they have equipment on the way to break into their house, Mary seeks reassurance from her husband. “They can’t get in here, right?”

James Sandin’s response is an inexplicable mess about how no security system is perfect and that they could tunnel in or get a battering ram, and on and on. What are we to make of this? Is this a comment on how none of us, with all of our laws and safety precautions, are ever truly safe? Or, is it just a poorly written monologue? The social commentary in The Purge is so haphazard that I’m not sure DeMonaco really means anything at all. The concept resembles nothing that exists in our current lives, that the metaphor is lost on me. I would really like to see a film, even a short film, that deals with this concept as it might exist in reality. DeMonaco seems to think that his characters don’t need to act like actual human beings and that this is okay. Even in the most outlandish of futures, good characters do what we might really do in their position. Harrison Ford in Blade Runner, Tom Cruise in Minority Report, Clive Owen in Children of Men. 

The Purge has no time for such trivialities. Its dark hallways lead to its cruel and gruesome conclusion. This is not a fun movie, it is not a thoughtful movie, it is not a scary movie. Much like the Purge itself, I see no reason for it to exist.

Sleeping with the television on...

Note from Ray: This is a legacy post from my personal archives (pre-2024). For my latest Movie Reviews and Highlight Reels, click here.

I sleep with the television on.

I've been doing it ever since I could remember. I suspect that maybe it started as a kid being afraid of the dark. But now it's not about that anymore.

As an adult, I need the television on to distract me from my thoughts so I can finally fall asleep. My thoughts aren't usually dark. Most of the time it's just trivial stuff. Funny memories. Tasks that need to be done. Thoughts about my friends and family. Ideas and regrets from the day.

I need the sounds from the television to keep my thoughts quiet.

Maybe it's also about being in a room that's alive while I'm asleep. To remind me there's a world waiting for me to wake up.  It took awhile for Erin to get used to it. She likes the television off when she sleeps. In fact, I still don't think she's used to it.

If the television is on while I'm sleeping and someone turns it off I'll wake up in a panic.

The silence can be deafening.

It's been hard getting some sleep lately.

Part of the obstacle is that I work graveyard shift. 12:00 am to 8 am. Not that I mind that. In fact, I rather enjoy it. It gives me more time to be with the kids and Erin. But combined with the visit to the E.R. and the day of tests, which I have experienced these previous two days, I've only been able to get maybe four hours sleep... total.

Today with nothing on the schedule I tried to get some winks.

It didn't work out so well.

My thoughts are running away with me.

It's exhausting.

I keep wondering what the hell is going on inside my body. Is the cancer growing? Is it multiplying?

This morning after breakfast Evie wanted to play her favorite game, Zombie with me. The game basically consists of me chasing her around the backyard till I catch her, tickle her and nibble on her body parts.

Evie will play this game with me for hours if she had her way. It's a game that only daddy can play with her. It's not the same with mommy.

She especially loves it when big brother Brayden joins in because she uses him as a human shield. They will often run away holding hands. They hide in places together and will protect each other when I catch one of them. Now that Bohdan is older he has joined in on the fun. Except he squeels in delight when I catch him. And cries when I get distracted and won't chase him.

He'll get the hang of it.

Nolan doesn't like it when daddy plays zombie. He's happy watching the action from inside the house within earshot of mommy. So that he can run to her in case I should turn my unwanted attention towards him through the window.

This morning while chasing Evie. I started experiencing phantom pains. I got winded after a few minutes. I felt like my stomach was cramping. Back was stiffening. I felt a little light headed. I became acutely aware of the air in my lungs and my ribs expanding.

My thoughts were....crap these are the advanced signs of cancer.

The game ended early to Evies' disappointment.

I shared my thoughts with Erin and she pointed out that likely I was just fatigued from lack of sleep.

Not to mention that I'm also a computer nerd that's old and out of shape. Cancer or not.

I decided to try and catch some winks.

I got maybe a couple of hours rest when my thoughts and fears took over. After awhile I got up angry. Pissed that there was nothing I could do. And completely ignorant about what was happening to me.

I want to fight but I don't know who the enemy is yet.

The thing that continues to haunt me is that I waited too long to share my concerns about the mass. I decided to research the symptoms that Tom Green and Lance Armstrong experienced before they finally got help.

Apparently Tom Green experienced similar symptoms. He was actually misdiagnosed at first and waited before he got a second opinion. He was actually experiencing pain down in the scrotum for awhile before he got help.

I don't have any pain. Just a heaviness down there.

Lance Armstrong however waited till he had blinding headaches and was coughing up blood. Blood!  His cancer spread to his brain and lungs and were in advanced stages.

I'm nowhere near that point.

Even with all those odds against him. He had four rounds of chemo-therapy and was able to beat it.

Granted I'm not a world champion athlete. But I like to think I have more will to survive than Lance did. I have four little reasons why I NEED to live.

I shared the info with Erin and she assured me that everything would be okay. She was confident that I would be fine.

She was sure of it.

 I was comforted by her resolve and determination.

I could use some more of that confidence not from just her but from myself.

I need to convince myself that everything is going to be fine. That this operation is going to be as routine as the surgery I received when I was getting my appendix out last year.

Noticing that I was up and awake, Evie requested we play more zombie.

This time we played until SHE got tired and ran out of gas.

A day of tests...

Note from Ray: This is a legacy post from my personal archives (pre-2024). For my latest Movie Reviews and Highlight Reels, click here.

I get off of work and the first thing I want to do is go to the hospital. 

I don't want to wait till 2pm for my appointment with my primary care physician to be referred to a urologist. I decide I will go to the ER of the UCLA affiliated hospital that my ER doctor recommended that will accept medi-cal.

I've waited and procrastinated long enough. 

Erin forces me to eat breakfast before I go. I hear Brayden open up the back door to go outside. Nolan jumps on my lap asking to watch YouTube videos. Evie is already asking if I could push her on the swing in the backyard. Bohdan points at my computer screen and says "Hulk". 

He likes watching Hulk smash things in the Marvel movies. I'm in the mood for it too. 

I kiss Erin goodbye before I leave. I start to breakdown. Erin comforts me.

I debate whether I really want to share my venting post from my initial diagnosis. 

I share the post on Facebook before I step out the door. 

While driving I hear the encouraging chimes of Facebook notifications I'm getting on my phone from my friends. 

The E.R waiting room is ridiculously crowded. There are a lot of sick people in the room. Lots of lines. Lots of doors. Lots of filled chairs. Lots of waiting. 

I move from check-in, then to two different nurse evaluation stations. 

Both times their initial question haunts me. "When did you first notice the mass?" I shake my head no in ignorance.

I don't remember. 

I'm approved for urgent care. 

After several hours I finally see the doctor. He reads me a checklist of symptoms.

I don't have any of them. At least I don't think I do. 

He physically checks my limp nodes and body for lumps. 

All clear.

He exams the testicle. Confirms it's a mass and says he'll schedule an appointment with the urologist. 

"It's cancer. But there are alot of different kinds of cancer."

I don't think there's any good kind.

One thing is for sure. The thing is coming out. So they could send it away to be analyzed.

Good riddance. 

"Please schedule something as soon as you can. I'm freaking out."

He comes back and says the urologist will see me "within the week."

My heart drops. 

But he also states that I will get a round of tests today. Blood tests. X-Rays. Another sonogram and then a C.T. scan.  

It's more than I expected. At least today will be productive. 

I wait.

Each testing station has a waiting room. I'm constantly reminded there are a ton of other sick people in this world too. I overhear a young lady say she was diagnosed with breast cancer. 

She can't be over 22.

I can't get reception in the hospital. Occasionally, it breaks through and I'm able to read some Facebook comments from my post. I'm profoundly touched whenever I read a new one. I get emotional several times throughout the day while reading.  I'm sure it looks weird. 

When I can't get reception. I look at family pics on the phone. I miss Erin and the kids. 

I watch the blood as they draw it from me into the vials. 

Are there cancer cells swimming around in there? 

The x-ray room is dark. Comically, I start to undress. And the guy tells me to keep everything on. I remember it's still unusual for people to see me naked.  He then has me contort into a weird standing position. Arms in the air. Chin up. Back straight. Chest out. Shoulders touching the platform. I'm wearing what feels like a bulletproof apron around my waist. He points the x-ray machine at me. Back and side x-rays. I hope this thing doesn't give me cancer. 

As I leave the room. I try to peek at the x-rays. Not sure what I'd be looking for. I know from watching movies that if I see black spots that's probably not a good sign. I don't see anything in the split second I peek.

When it's time for the sonogram I'm comforted by the fact that I already know the results of that test. But doubts start to creep in. What if they find more? I over-analyze everything.

He asks my favorite question. "When did you first notice the mass?"

He leaves the room for a bit. I realize I'm laying down with everything covered and only my scrotum exposed. Must be a funny sight. 

The doctor catches me in the hall. Two of your blood tests came back negative. Waiting for a third. He walks off.

Negative for what? I already know that I have cancer. I realize he means for other kinds of cancers. At least I think that's what he means.

More waiting.

It's been three hours since my last test. I'm still waiting for the C.A.T. Scan. They need to do another blood test for my kidneys to be sure it's safe to use the iodine during the test. 

The guy sharing the waiting room with me is a victim from a stabbing. Got stabbed seven times. He has a piss bag. He's having complications from the surgery. He shares that he has fluid in his lungs.

I picture one of my kids his age. How do I prevent something like that happening to one of them? What if that happens to me? What if I was ever in the wrong place at the wrong time? What would happen to my kids? 

Doctor comes over to me. The blood tests came back negative.  I ask him what that means. He tells me that they test for different levels to determine kinds of cancer. 

"So basically  it's some good news right?"  He confirms its good. 

I walk into the CT scan room and the operator is saying a prayer. Is he praying for me? That's a nice gesture. Or maybe he's just talking to himself with his eyes closed holding his hand over a book.   

I lay down on the CT scan gurney. "You might get a warm feeling from the iodine in your blood."  

Scary thoughts run through my head. 

This is likely the test that will determine if the cancer has spread. 

The voice prompts me. Take a breath....hold it....and breath. The gurney slides into the center of the circular machine ominously. I see something in the machine spinning. Is something going to come out? 

The machine focuses first on my chest, then my head, than my groin. 

The guy running the test comes in. "Raymond, What are you being tested for? What is your ailment?" I tell him about my mass in my testicle. "But no pain anywhere right?"  I confirm that is correct. 

He leaves. I think ...does that mean he didn't see anything? Maybe.... it means he saw too much. 

He does another pass on my groin. 

I ask when will I be able to discuss the results with a doctor. The nurse informs me that the urologist will go over it with me. 

"When will that be? "

Sometime in the week I should get a call. If I don't hear anything I have to call or come back to urgent care again. 

Holy. I think to myself. They might not get back to me within the week? A whole week? I'd really get lost in the system like that?  Seriously?

So...like it or not...it's the waiting game.  

I really wish I could find out the results sooner. I wish I could know what was in the results.

I'd give up my right nut to find out. 

I have cancer... and I'm scared

Note from Ray: This is a legacy post from my personal archives (pre-2024). For my latest Movie Reviews and Highlight Reels, click here.

Yesterday, after a visit with the doctor they confirmed that I have a mass in my right testicle.

I'm scared.

I'm also angry at myself because I waited longer than I needed to. I keep beating myself up about that. What was I thinking?

So stupid.

Obviously, a part of me was in denial. I'm the poster child for procrastination. I'm not sure it's productive to keep beating myself up about it. But I can't help it.

Thoughts of the cancer spreading is keeping my mind racing. A big part of me just wants to go to the kitchen counter, grab a knife and cut the mass out myself. I hate that it's inside me.

My next step is to have my primary care practitioner refer me to a urologist. I have an appointment today.  But another option is to go to another hospital that the ER doctor recommended from UCLA and hope their referral will get me to see a urologist sooner.

I don't have insurance. I have medi-cal or whatever they are calling it now.

I hope I don't slip through the cracks.

I'm sorry. I don't know why I'm writing this.

I read on The Testicular Cancer Society page that I should start a page on the subject. To keep loved ones "updated". But I suspect it's more about venting.

Which I admit IS helping me right now.

Keeps me out of my head. Keeps me from pacing. Keeps me from imagining the worst case scenarios and from beating myself up too much.  I decided to write this post here on my old blog, Ray's Lucky 13. Maybe it will bring me some luck. It's been awhile. Maybe nobody will read it. I don't know.

I have been working on my entertainment blog mostly nowadays. But I don't think this subject is appropriate for that site.

I don't think ball cancer qualifies as entertainment.

I keep thinking of cancer movies.

50/50 with Joseph Gordon Levitt and Seth Rogen has a happy ending. But more often than not cancer movies don't end well.  I know Tom Green had testicular cancer and is alive and well. So is Lance Armstrong. In fact according to stats, recovery is very high for testicular cancer. On average over 90%.

I hope I'm not in the minority.

I'm scared my kids are gonna grow up without a father. I'm scared Erin will have to raise them alone.

I don't want to die.

Kids are asleep right now. I just want to hug them so hard that I'm inside of them. Like a warm blanket.

I know people will say don't worry. Everything will be fine.

But will it?

I'm scared.

I'm tired of reading cancer information sites.

Best case scenario is surgery. Chemotherapy. Radiation.

Fun.

I keep thinking I'm experiencing advanced signs of the cancer. Back pain. Stomach pain. Fevers. Headaches.  It's probably just in my head.

Probably.

To be honest,  I didn't really have many signs besides the hard feel of my testicle and the heaviness down there. I strained my back moving the kiddie pool a couple of weeks back. So a part of me thought that the groin pain was because I pulled something.

I was hoping it was a hernia.

I guess I also felt fatigue. But I work graveyard shift and I don't really get to sleep well, so I'm sort of always tired. But I'd be lying if I said I didn't suspect something sooner. I kept waiting for another symptom. To get me going.

So stupid. No excuse.

Don't borrow trouble. Stay positive.

That's what Erin says and I keep telling myself.

It was hard telling Erin. Then telling my mom and sister. I felt like I let them down.

Not sure if I'm crying for them or for myself.

I'm not sure why I'm telling you. I don't really want the drama.

But I'm scared.

Keep happy thoughts. Stay positive.

Iron Man 3 Movie Review by Lon Harris

 

By Lon Harris

I know, I know, it’s been out for a week, it’s old news, everyone’s on to “Pacific Rim” or that one where Chris Pine gets hardcore Cumberbatched… but give me a break. I just saw it.

“Iron Man 3” is easily better than the deathly dull, plodding “Iron Man 2,” but I still didn’t LOVE it. A disappointment considering my general affinity for the work of co-writer/director Shane Black. Don’t get me wrong – there are some signature Black touches, particularly the droll, self-aware Robert Downey Jr. voice-over narration that’s a direct callback to the ingenious “Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.”

In general, the film works best as a comedy. To give away the film’s Big Joke would be lame for anyone who hasn’t caught it yet, but I can talk about the rather brilliant rapport between Downey Jr.’s Tony Stark and a young fan from Tennessee who becomes essentially his partner-in-crime during the film’s midsection. This young actor, Ty Simpkins, is a real find; he genuinely holds his own alongside RDJ.

 

But this is, in a lot of ways, the Comic Adventures of Tony Stark more than an actual IRON MAN movie.

Black has rendered Stark so awkward and bumbling, he’s basically a different character than the one we’ve come to know from the first phase of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. We sense the Tony Stark of “The Avengers” could basically dispatch these problems in an afternoon.

I mean, I know the appeal of these Marvel heroes is that they are vulnerable and relateable, but does Stark have to be such a – to use his own unfortunate phrase – “hot mess” from beginning to end here? He’s seemingly incapable of inventing a device that works properly, he takes an hour to solve a mystery that’s easily telescoped for the audience in the film’s first 10 minutes, he’s having anxiety attacks. Hell, the guy barely wears his Iron Man suit during the course of the entire movie. It’s always hanging half-off, with low power, restrained by a 20 ton concrete block.

It’s as if Black found the character quite simply over-powered. Rather than come up with adversaries that would truly challenge an army of Iron Men, he chose to constantly come up with reasons for the suit not to work. It becomes a tiresome device: 1 joke about Tony miscalculating something, leading to disaster, can be funny. 12 jokes about it violates something essential about the character. He doesn’t fuck up all the time. He’s a super-genius.

Stark can maybe be forgiven for not figuring out all the details of the Mandarin’s sinister plot though… because they make absolutely no sense. This has become something of a running theme in recent action/superhero blockbusters – evil plans presented as fiendishly intricate that don’t seem to follow any kind of consistent logic. (I’m reminded specifically of “The Dark Knight Rises” and “Skyfall,” two above-average films that would have been even better if they made any goddamn sense.)

Here, the villain’s main actions end up basically having no motive. When the film was over, I still was not quite sure what The Mandarin had hoped to gain, or what was meant to be the final outcome of all this killing. It’s a bit unsatisfying, to say the least.

So, all in all, I’d say this is far better than the loathsome “Iron Man 2” but not as essential a take on the character as the terrific first “Iron Man,” still the finest of the Marvel Studios adventures. I’d also say “Avengers” and “Captain America” are probably superior to this as well. It’s on a par with, say, “Thor.”

Star Wars Stand-Alone Films & the Future of the Franchise

 

Ever since George Lucas sold the Lucasfilm empire to The Walt Disney Co. for $4.05 billion last fall, there has been rampant speculation on the future of the Star Wars franchise.

We thought today would be a good day to take a look at all the recent developments regarding the beloved Star Wars Universe.

The most concrete news so far from new Lucasfilm head Kathleen Kennedy was that a new trilogy of films, taking place sometime after the events of Star Wars Episode 6: Return of the Jedi was being developed. The first film in the new trilogy was being targeted for a hopeful, (yet unrealistic), 2015 release date.

As far as who would be directing those films, rumors were rampant with everyone from Steven Spielberg to Ben Affleck being attached as potential directors. Then the website THE WRAP broke the news that none other than J.J. Abrams would be directing Episode 7. Additionally it was announced that the screenplay was being penned by Michael Arndt (Safety Not Guaranteed), while Lawrence Kasdan (The Empire Strikes Back) and Simon Kinberg (Sherlock Holmes) would work as artistic consultants.

If all that wasn’t enough, in addition to the new trilogy, news began to trickle out that stand-alone films, which take place within the Star Wars universe was also being developed. An early rumor, which was quickly shot down, claimed that director Zack Snyder was developing a Star Wars film inspired by the classic Akira Kurosawa film The Seven Samurai. At the time the idea didn’t seem too far-fetched, considering Star Wars Episode IV was loosely based on Kurosawa’s film The Hidden Fortress.

Then more concrete news seemed to break out, when Harry Knowles reported at Aint-It-Cool-News that the first stand-alone Star Wars film was to focus on the character of Yoda. As far as what that story would entail it was still too early in the process to even speculate.

The idea of a Yoda standalone film makes sense considering that he is a character, which spans the entire six previous movies and he also has a substantial untouched back story, that can easily be explored without stepping on the toes of any of the potential future films. Plus Yoda is a computer generated character, so there is no pressure for an actor to step into the iconic role. At the very least, it was all an interesting idea. Anyone curious what a young Yoda would be like?

Meanwhile, around the same time Entertainment Weekly also reported that two other stand-alone films were also being developed, one about the bounty hunter Boba Fett and the other about Han Solo. Most likely the Han Solo film would be about his youth before he appeared in the famous Cantina on Mos Eisley. The Boba Fett film would be a bounty hunter / Japanese “ronin” inspired movie. (Again inspired by Akira Kurosawa.)

This morning, however, comes news from Deadline Hollywood that just the idea of stand-alone films, outside the Star Wars saga, was still only in the concept stages and nowhere near any real production development. Which sort of splashes cold water on the whole Star Wars stand alone film proceedings.

But the real question is do audiences really want stand-alone Star Wars films? Yes, they would most likely be sure-fire hits and make plenty of money. But as fun as it is to play within the Star Wars universe, some of the allure to characters like Han Solo, Boba Fett and Yoda is their mysterious back story. Do we really want to see Lando Calrissian lose the Millenium Falcon to Han Solo? Or Boba Fett in the middle of a Yojimbo inspired turf war? Or Yoda as a Padawan learning the ways of the force… from someone else?

Hopefully, the new development team at Lucas Film don’t become too preoccupied with the idea of making stand alone films, that that they don’t stop to think if they should. (Yes, I just threw in a Jurassic Park reference.)

As far as, J.J. Abrams taking over the helm of the new trilogy… I’m all for it.

It’s a safe pick considering that J.J. Abrams will be extremely careful not to step on any of the previous team’s toes and will likely (good or bad) keep the same tone and look of the previous films. Critics are focusing on his work with the Star Trek reboot as a marker for where he will likely take the new stories. Star Wars lens flare jokes already running wild across the internet. But the reality is, I think J.J. Abrams will not make as much of a dramatic tonal shift away from the original Star Wars films, like he did with Star Trek. It will not be a so-called reboot. Or some strange Star Wars version of his television show LOST. One need only look at his Spielberg tribute film Super 8 to realize the guy knows how to carry the torch when it’s handed to him. He proved in Super 8 he can spiritually, mimic the tone of Spielberg. I think he’ll do the same with George Lucas, all while adding his own unique touches and flair to the Star Wars universe.

In any event, it’s going to be really interesting going forward for the Star Wars Universe. Expect more news and rampant speculation in the coming months, even years. (Oh yay!…ummm…not really.)

So what do readers, think about all this news? Do you like the idea of stand-alone Star Wars films? What about J.J. Abrams directing the new trilogy? Do you dig a young Yoda movie? Han Solo begins? A Kurosawa inspired Boba Fett film?

The Top Ten Films of 2012: R.K. Priddy’s Picks.

  

 

By R.K. Priddy

 

Well it’s that time of year again. While I was eagerly anticipating a few movies this year, I was still unsure how good the films would turn out. Thankfully, since I’m at a disadvantage due to my region, I was able to see a lot more independent films this year thanks to the same day releases featured on the IFC channel. So without further adieu here is my list of the top ten films of 2012…

 

Honorable mention:

Lincoln, The Guilt Trip, and The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

 

 

 

10)Dark Shadows

 

Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham-Carter,and a seldom-ever-seen-on-film anymore Michelle Pfeiffer, all acting under the tutelage of my personal favorite director Tim Burton. I don’t really think those that know me would ever doubt this movie would be somewhere on my list. Some may even wonder why it was a mere number 10. Johnny Depp as in all his roles tackled Barnabas Collins with a humorous sense of ease, to such a beloved cult icon.

 

9)Wreck It Ralph

 

Part of why this made my list was a sense of the old gamer nostalgia in me. Yet another reason was the superb vocal performances from both John C. Reilly and Sarah Silverman. But the REAL reason why this was one of my favorite films of 2012 was the look of awe on my five year old’s face as he watched this 3D animated romp of fun. Hardcore gamer or not, I challenge any child of the 80’s not to exclaim “Q-bert!!” When you see him on screen.

 

 

8)Silver Lining Playbook

 

As a author, I am incredibly wary when any book is made into a film. Doubly so when it’s a book is as critically acclaimed as Matthew Quick’s debut novel. Triply so when it’s centered around my favorite sport, football. Again, I had to struggle with even watching the move because wasn’t sure of the casting of Bradley Cooper or Jennifer Lawrence for the film. Both performances were authentic and well translated. Unlike most books that translated into movies I didn’t see actors portraying characters in books but rather, saw the characters themselves.

 

 

7) The Avengers

 

It’s hard enough to make a success out of one super hero movie, but to mesh the back story of four successful box office favorites into one summer blockbuster was beyond my wildest expectations. And to leave it in the hands of Whedon made me hold my breath. Because while his television success can not be duplicated, leaving such a huge undertaking to him was risky. Yet some gambles pay off. Literally not only was the movie outstanding, but it became part of that elite Billion dollar club. While Iron Man, Thor, Hulk and Captain America were enjoyable films, watching them together in The Avengers was movie making dream come true and fantastic, storytelling magic at it’s finest.

 

 

6) Beasts Of the Southern Wild

 

While I am unsure of the rest of the U.S. States, when this movie came out it was the buzz of the South. Perhaps is was because it was released right around the time Hurraicane Issac was scheduled to hit us and around the time of the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. With such storms so fresh on our minds down here, this movie truly hit close to home and revealed some of the southern “magic” that has charmed me since relocating down here. While there are elements of fantasy within the movie. It’s a bit humorous that there are some true and real beliefs that are adhered to in reality down here. Even the nicknames themselves pour out of Southern lore.

 

 

5) Moonrise Kingdom

 

What is it about Wes Anderson that allows you to look at the truly tortured bits of adolescence with such humor and compassion? Maybe it’s because it is easy for me to identify with the mismatched characters of his films. Again, Anderson’s movie displays some surreal cinematography, aided by vintage costuming and set pieces. But the real triumph of the film is that he utilizes the strongest traits of his actors, such as Willis and Norton to make the audience feel for them.

 

 

4) The Master

 

Paul Thomas Anderson’s movie was probably destined to make my list this year. I wondered if he would retire after the career defining, near-perfect film There Will Be Blood. It is almost unimaginable how he could top a film like that. So why even try? And yet, when I first learned the director was back on the scene with this movie, of course I was extremely excited. Once I saw The Master, I realized again like most things in life, it’s not about quantity but quality. While one expects excellence from Phillip Seymour Hoffman, the true stand out performance in this film is Joaquin Phoenix. His portrayal of the tortured Freddie Quell leaves you gasping for breath.

 

 

3) The Perks Of Being A Wallflower

 

Let me admit this by saying… I was prepared to detest this film. The book is an all-time favorite of mine and was written beautifully. All the characters in this novel were types of people I knew growing up. So seeing it as a film, unjustifiably angered me. Even the casting of Emma Watson agitated me. I felt they would try to monopolize on her “Potter” mojo to carry the film. I was more than pleasantly surprised by the outcome. The movie did the book justice. In fact, it made Patrick, portrayed by Ezra Miller, much more likable than in the book. I worried lastly about Emma Watson, biting off a bit more than she could chew when taking on the role of Sam. What it showed me was a remarkable young woman who truly left her wizards robes in her childhood.

2) Django Unchained

 

What can I say… Tarantino is Tarantino. I expect greatness from him every time I take my seat in the movie theater. I began to ponder if my demands on the director would make it impossible for him to meet my standard. I am pleased to announce any let downs will not occur with Django Unchained. Only Tarantino could save an extremely talented actor such as Christoph Waltz, from continuously being tragically typecast as a villain in all his films. Not only does he cast him against type he has featured him in a high profile, affable role that threatens to steal the entire movie from other actors involved. Once more, in a bit of what I call movie karma, Tarantino transformed Waltz from the man you wanted dead most in one film, into the one you rooted the most for to live. Jaime Foxx proved his Oscar winning talent was not a fluke, simply put… this man could act. And like all his villains he gave DiCaprio’s Candie a stomach turning charisma that you hate to admit drew him to you. This would have been #1 on my list except…..

 

 

1) Les Miserables

 

I actually just finished watching this movie today. As a “Les Miz” aficionado, I painstakingly evaluated every person they cast in every role. The most difficult casting to identify with was Hugh Jackman. Seeing the stage production of it so many times and having a image of what Jean Valjean looked like, the casting really threw me for a loop when I saw Jackman. Instead of making the character recognizable Jackman made the character his own. Hooper’s use of tight close up shots of the actors gave you something a play production lacked personal connections with each character. His decision to make the actors sing their dialogue as they shot rather than have them “dub and roll” gave the film so much more depth and realism superseding any other musical film I have ever seen. It would be a absolute crime if Hathaway’s heart breaking performance of Fantine does not give her Oscar Gold. Bring your tissues and expect to be blown away when you see this film. Your favorites aren’t just acting They are singing truly singing giving the the classically trained a run for their money.

Cloud Atlas 2012 Movie Review

 

By Ari Dassa

Cloud Atlas is big, smart entertainment by the directing trio of Andy and Lana Wachowski (Bound, The Matrix, Speed Racer) and German director Tom Tykwer (Run Lola Run, Perfume, Heaven), based on the popular novel written by author David Mitchell. That’s a solid collection of talent to pique your interest as a film viewer, but if that’s not enough, the story takes place in different centuries, from the late 1800’s to a post-apocalyptic future, and the ensemble cast, led by veteran actor Tom Hanks, play multiple roles in each of the six intercut narratives.

At nearly three hours in length, Cloud Atlas is certainly a lot to digest in one viewing, but the film is as fun as it is ambitious and engaging. A big factor in one’s enjoyment of Cloud Atlas will be in how much genre filmmaking excites you as a film goer. Some people love to dive into genre films and enjoy them based on the terms laid out by the directors, while others are repelled by some of the indulgences and excess found in a lot of those movies.

Cloud Atlas is a massive genre film. In fact, it features just about every genre you can think of at one point or another and is absolutely giddy in the way it wants to play in every genre sandbox. There’s an A-list science-fiction thriller in a chapter set in futuristic Korea complete with Matrix-esque action, while the aforementioned post-apocalyptic storyline features the best of the B-movie world with cannibals, a hallucinatory, foul-mouthed devil (played by Hugo Weaving in one of the many great villain roles) and even its own version of a broken-down English language where characters say dialogue like, “tell me the true-true” and a bunch of other things I quite honestly didn’t really understand.

There’s a dark comedy about Jim Broadbent trying to escape a retirement home (it’s hilarious), there’s a story about an evil medicine doctor on a ship traveling the seas in the 19th Century, there’s a love story about a musician in the 1930’s, there’s a 1970’s mystery with Halle Berry as an investigative reporter who gets herself mixed up with the wrong corporation. Each narrative is tied together by the idea of eternal recurrence, or transmigrating souls, or reincarnated souls, and how actions and choices define who we are as people and the effect it has on the future.

Like other films by these directors, themes are discussed in detail and the message is clear and succinct. There is no subtlety in “Cloud Atlas”. This film is designed as an epic, and the concepts and ideas presented by the story are meant to stir conversation about what happened, how it happened, and why it happened. Even though it’s heavy on plot, the film is never confusing. The greatest strength of Cloud Atlas is how the intercut narrative engages the viewer and holds your interest from beginning to end. It’s emotional and funny, thrilling and sad, violent and beautiful.

People will debate the choice of using actors in multiple roles and using make-up fx to change an actor’s race and gender in certain cases. I did find it a bit distracting to see American and British actors show up as Korean, but I also found it wild and brilliant to see someone like Hugo Weaving show up as a villainous female nurse trying to imprison poor Jim Broadbent. Cloud Atlas is certainly strange, and like the best genre movies, it deals in extremes. If you like guys such as Brian De Palma and Quentin Tarantino, you’ll probably enjoy this movie a great deal. Like those directors, the Wachowskis and Tykwer have a strong love for cinema tradition and making movies big, bold statements as entertainment. Cloud Atlas is old-fashioned and cutting-edge, it’s contemporary and classical, it’s cinema as the ultimate spectacle.

Cloud Atlas is directed by Tom Tykwer, Lana Wachowski, and Andy Wachowski. The film is based on the novel by David Mitchell. Cloud Atlas stars Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Hugh Grant, Jim Broadbent, Hugo Weaving and Susan Sarandon. The film is scheduled for release in the United States on October 26, 2012. Running time 164 minutes.

The Avengers Facebook Fan Screening – Los Angeles

 

By Ray Manukay

 

Today I saw Marvel’s The Avengers.

The movie is great and all… and I’ll write more about that later. (As well as, post an enthusiastic review from PassMeThePopcorn.com contributor Lon Harris.)  But this particular post is more about the experience of the screening organized by the Facebook social media department  for The Avengers.

The event was excellently done and I came away extremely impressed.

Obviously, Marvel Studios is investing a lot on The Avengers and it’s clear they are pulling out all the stops. To be honest, I’m still in a daze about having the opportunity to see this film 3 weeks early. While in line, I found myself wondering why even bother for a screening like this. It’s not like this movie needed even more buzz.

The Avengers is the undisputed biggest film of the summer of 2012.

Although, Warner Bros might make a reasonable argument for The Dark Knight Rises for being the biggest film of the summer, it’s really not a strong case. Marvel Studios has built a story arc, which has stretched over five films. Five films of what is essentially exposition for about 8 different characters. The films also established a universe which they all inhabit. Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man 2, Thor and Captain America, are five films that have all culminated in the creation of this all-out action adventure film.

So why do a screening event like this?

The only thing I can come up with is that they wanted to thank the fans.

It’s a novel concept, especially in this age. But then again, the whole idea of The Avengers is in a way a reward for the fans.  It’s sort of a big Thank You for supporting the five films that came before this one.

But I digress.

First I want to share how I even came to receive passes for this screening. It all started with a Facebook LIKE. A simple LIKE for The Avengers movie page on Facebook.  Then on the morning of April 2nd The Avengers movie fan page released this link. Which announced that Los Angeles would receive a FREE movie screening of The Avengers simply because it was one of four cities to have the most fans of the film on Facebook. The link led to a short sign-up sheet. Which I quickly filled out.

And….that was it.  I had an opportunity for an exclusive screening of the biggest movie of the Summer of 2012…because… I was a fan of the page on Facebook.

This BLEW MY MIND.

In all honesty, I half expected my sign-up form would lead to a spam-filled discounted offer reply to watch The Avengers on May 3rd at some remote location.

Instead…minutes later, I received a clean, clear, confirmation e-mail to view the film 3 WEEKS ahead of the official release date, not only view the film but watch it in IMAX 3D  at the AMC Century City 15.

Fast forward to today. I decided, wisely to show up early to the screening. I anticipated a long line. Which there was. Of course, the line was filled with passionate comic book fans. Which, to be honest,  is socially,  a bit awkward for someone my age…but it was well worth the bit of awkwardness I endured.

While in line, news agencies had arrived to cover the event. They encouraged the crowd to show their enthusiasm.

They gladly obliged.

Also while in line the organizers began to distribute free Marvel hero memorabilia. They passed out costume items such as Thor’s helmet, Captain America’s mask, an Iron Man helmet, Hulk hands and my favorite …the Captain America shield.

Why?

Seemingly… just because. I expected an organized photo op or some kind of staged event to feature the swag. But that never came up.

They apparently gave them out as gifts.

Gifts for coming to a free screening of the most anticipated film of the summer. When the time came to pass out wristbands for the screening, everything went smoothly. Our names were on the master list. The line moved briskly, everything came off surprisingly smoothly. Although, we did notice one late comer who begged to be allowed to come in, but was rightfully turned away. The audience was also previously asked to leave cellphones in our cars. If not they’d be checked in at the door to be picked up later. Obviously, pirating concerns were rightfully on their mind.

Once inside the theater. We were greeted by KROQ’s  Ralph Garman, who kept the surprises coming. Since we were in the theater an hour early, they’d be passing the time with a trivia contest. The reward being even more The Avengers memorabilia such as Hats, T-shirts and buttons.

Why?

Again…just because. It’s at this point that the cynic in me started to become suspicious of the studio’s motives. I mean… they are essentially preaching to the choir here. There’s no way that this movie is going to suck. EVERYONE knows that it’s coming out. There’s not really an incentive to create this kind of good will or a positive buzz for the community.

Again. The idea of gratitude just seemed to be a constant theme in the atmosphere.  Marvel Studios just seemed intent on thanking the fans.  After a fun and entertaining trivia session from a  knowledgeable Ralph Garman  he brought out a special guest.

Director Joss Whedon.

I’ve actually had the chance to interact with Joss Whedon several times. Back when I worked at Laser Blazer he was a loyal customer. From my experience of dealing with him a bit, I could tell he was extremely appreciative for the hearty welcome and he came off as sincerely, grateful for the opportunity to screen the film for a loyal audience. He genuinely seemed humbled by the entire experience.  He also made some witty, sarcastic remarks about looking forward to screening ”The Justice League” for us, which brought about several laughs. Then he gave one last sincere thank you to the audience and  to Marvel Studios for the opportunity to direct the film.  He than gave way to Marvel Chief Kevin Feige who…again… thanked the fans… for our support. (As if a free screening wasn’t enough.) After the short, sincere, speech he said he wanted to introduce even more guests.

Some of the cast.

First Clark Gregg was introduced, followed by Colbie Smulders, than Tom Hiddleston than finally Chris Hemsworth.

Needless to say the audience was whipped into a frenzy by then. Even a cynic like me came away excited and impressed by this experience. The cast gave a quick wave and and shared some shouts of thanks out to us, then some quick bows of appreciation, as they quickly walked away. Which left one last  ”Thank You” to the assembled fans.

The Avengers would now be screened for us, the audience in IMAX 3D.

Which was the best thank you of all.

Favorite Films of 2011 by R.M. King

 By R.M. King

Editor’s Note: Screenwriter and author Rosalyne King shares her favorite films of 2011.

 

 

Disclaimer: Living the in the demographic and market I currently reside in limits my movie going in a way that would make most of my fellow Los Angeles Natives shudder and convulse. So please bear that in mind when you read this particular article. I am still confused on why I was asked to write this. Perhaps comic value because as the owner of Passmethepopcorn.com knows MY best movies usually are vastly different from anyone else out there. However without further adieu….

Honorable Mention: Just Go With It, Pearl Jam Twenty And Hugo

The Ones That Got Away: (Movies I did not get a opportunity to see that would have probably changed my list): Extremely Loud And Incredibly Close, The Artist, The Muppets and My Week With Marilyn

 

#10) No Strings Attached – In my universe there was no way Ashton Kutcher would ever be in a top ten movie list I created. However, my universe was seriously shook this year. I’ll go ahead and say it’s because he had a hilarious cast of actors supporting him like Kevin Kline and Mindy Kaling. And the writing in this film was the perfect blend of witty and sarcastic, complete with one liners friends and I repeated for days after . Thinking back  they still crack me up. I’ll even say that one of the reasons why I loved this film was because it also featured the object of my longest standing fan girl crush, a nearly unrecognizable Cary Elwes in the film. However, one wants to justify it. The movie was one of my favorites of 2011. I’m just not ready to credit Ashton Kutcher’s performance for my enjoyment of the film..at least not yet.

#9) Super 8- Why? Because it was the first true sleeper I have seen in decades. While the movie itself was visually exciting. It gave me a sense of nostalgia that I have not felt since I was a child when movies like The Goonies and E.T. captivated me. Also it made me realize something about myself personally after years and years of denial..I AM a JJ Abrams fan.

#8) Hanna– Remember that cute and adorable little girl that you ache for justice in The Lovely Bones? Watch out cause now she’s going to seriously kick your ass. From the moment the movie started it had your attention. Eric Bana and Cate Blanchett are outstanding in the supporting cast. There were moments where  the audience wanted to hold the poor girl and rock her to sleep, telling her that everything was going to be o.k. However, in a blink of the eye, the audience also wanted to run away as fast as they could… out of  fear that she may take one’s ass out.

#7) Crazy, Stupid, Love– Huh you say? Well let me explain my logic. I am not a true fan of ANYONE in this movie. While I find Steve Carell enjoyable to watch I don’t run out to see any of his movies. I have never understood the appeal of Ryan Gosling and let’s be honest how many times can Julianne Moore play the” I’m unhappy so therefore I’m going to be the unfaithful wife” before it gets old? Yet the movie moved me. I saw Carell in a completely different light. Gosling made me believe a Cad could have a heart and Moore’s character was everything but old..To this day the song “Blood” by The Middle East that was featured in this film is on my top playlist . I loved this movie so much I actually requested it as an anniversary present.

 

#6) The Tree Of Life– Terrence Malick is an acquired taste to most. And watching one of his movies is much like watching any David Lynch movie. It requires a certain level of concentration and open mindedness. But in the age of the blockbuster  film I find myself aching for movies like this that makes me concentrate on what’s being conveyed on the screen. This movie hit a certain chord with me. It stayed with me for quite awhile after I watched it, more so I would say than most movies I have watched this year. Pitt’s portrayal in this movie puts Pitt in serious Oscar contention , which again I think is well deserved.

#5) Shame – Any movie that challenged me in the way that this movie did deserves to be on my top ten list. It’s sad to think a NC-17 rated film was not going to get the recognition it deserves. I do feel the rating was appropriate for the content. But the stigma attached to the rating really puts a damper on yet another brilliant performance by Carey Mulligan. Michael Fassbender won the Best Actor award at Venice Film Festival for this film. The movie itself made me uncomfortable but in a completely inspiring way. The film was raw and gutsy. I look forward to what more director Steve McQueen will present in the coming years.

 

#4) The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo– Let me say until this week this was number #3 on my list. If you have read my review here on this site your would see how highly I thought of this movie. I won’t rehash just provide you with a link to a review written by yours truly. However, the bigger story is I guess is the movie that knocked it out of it’s #3 spot.

#3) Beginners – Back in the day before Ewan McGregor donned his Obi-Wan robes, he was my Indie darling. The more commercial success he gathered the less appeal he had to me. Which saddened me because for a long time he was up there with Johnny Depp for me. I’m happy to say Beginners has reconnected me with all the things I adored about McGregor. But it was not just McGregor that hooked me in this film. Christopher Plummer’s portrayal of his father, a man who decides to come out and embrace all that he is at the age of 75 was probably one of the most endearing performances I have experienced in years. The obscure locations in Los Angeles that Mike Mills used made me ache for home and the fact that Mélanie Laurent was mute for the first fifteen minutes on screen , yet was still able to create a memorable chemistry with McGregor made this little miracle of a film my #3 pick of the year.

 

#2) MI-4: Ghost Protocol– I had to give this film my #2 spot because let’s be honest, any film starring Tom Cruise has a uphill battle to overcome these days. I personally am a fan of his work so sue me. However I stopped watching MI-3 mid-movie. I was shocked to discover they actually made a MI-4. This film gets my #2 spot because it wasn’t suppose to be nowhere as good as it was. Tom Cruise’s Hunt character looked better than ever. It was great to see the cameo by Ving Rhames and to see Jeremy Renner pull off a role I truly believe he couldn’t do until watching it.

#1) Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows : Part 2 –  O.K. Seriously, did ANYONE doubt this would be my number one film of the year? Yes it’s 80% emotional. But as I stated in a previous article this film signified the end of a era. We watched these kids grow up before our eyes. At the end of the most series of films we are left with a certain feeling of finality. This film left us wanting more. Yes, after eight films we actually wanted another one! So much so that Rowling herslf said she thought she was finished with the universe she created, until she watched the last installment. Now she’s not so sure anymore. That alone nails the #1 spot for me.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Review by RM King

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by R.M King

First a disclaimer. Being a novelist,  I have to be honest, yes… I’m a bit of a snob when it comes to novels being made into films. I feel, like many, that a lot of nuances and details a book conveys, has a tendency to get lost in its translation during its journey to the big screen. Also recent remakes of foreign films tend to have grated on my nerves and have profoundly annoyed me as of late.

I know subtitles are an acquired taste, but they shouldn’t be an overriding excuse to remake an already good film.

On top of all of this, in general, I’m not a huge fan of Daniel Craig’s work. Admittedly, it’s petty I know, but it is what it is. So, obviously, the film The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo had a lot of strikes going against it before I even sat down…with my popcorn…which was passed to me by the way.

However, The Millennium Trilogy to date has been one of the best series of novels I have EVER read. So I had to go and see it.

Much to my complete surprise I found the film to be FLAWLESS.

Daniel Craig was AMAZING and all the accolades Rooney Mara is receiving for her excellent performance is completely justified and well earned.

The movie opens with Mikael Blomkvist, (Daniel Craig), a famed magazine co-owner and writer being successfully sued for libel and slander. With his credibility ruined and his magazine slowly being run out of business, he receives a phone call from Henrik Vanger (Christopher Plummer) asking him to investigate one of his family’s darkest hours.

Enter Lisbeth Salander, a computer hacker and an eccentric amateur detective. She joins the case and the two begin to unravel a dark mystery that soon endangers their lives.

As a fellow writer I’m extremely envious of Larrson’s sculpting of the character of Lisbeth Salander. I know the work that is put in to create a multi-dimensional and seemingly living, breathing realistic protagonist. Larrson has created a character so complex, and yet so utterly believable the audience is destined to love the character of Lisabeth Salander. The fact that the character thrives in four film adaptations is a testament to Larrson’s original writings. Finding a actress to fill those shoes must have been a grueling process, especially in light of Noomi Rapace’s excellent portrayals in the original Swedish/Danish films, however David Fincher and his crew hit the jackpot with the casting of Rooney Mara.

On a personal, visceral level, the movie has accomplished something only a few movies have ever done to me. I was so immersed in the  plot of the film that it made me actually forget I had already read the books! I even jumped at certain parts, and laughed at the fact I forgot it was coming. And seeing the more intense moments come to life on screen, made me squirm harder than I had vividly imagined them when I originally read the book.

In short, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is one of the best movies I’ve seen this year.

Another unique aspect of going to see this film, was that I had the opportunity to watch it with varied company. My boss, who had the opportunity to have previously read the books and my companion who had not. So I was witness to both ends of the spectrum. They both shared the same opinion.

It was the best movie they had seen all year.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo stars Daniel Craig, Rooney Mara, Christopher Plummer, Stellan Skarsgard, Steven Berkoff, Robin Wright, Yorick Van Wageningen, and Joely Richardson. The screenplay is by Steven Zaillian and is directed by David Fincher. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo was produced by Scott Rudin, Ole Sondberg, Soren Staermose and Cean Chaffin.