Moonrise Kingdom

Wes Anderson’s Moonrise Kingdom begins with a series of pans across the home of Suzy Bishop (Kara Hayward) depicting her daily activities with her brothers and her parents, Walt (Bill Murray) and Laura (Frances McDormand). We see Suzy looking at the world through binoculars, which she describes as her special power, as she can see things in greater detail. We then cut to the camp of Khaki Scouts run by the overzealous, hyper meticulous, Scout Master Ward (Edward Norton), where we learn of the disappearance of orphan Sam Shakusky (Jared Gilman), the least popular member of the camp.

Sam, as it turns out, had met Suzy, and after a correspondence, the pair decided to run away together. A series of events ensues that leads the Sheriff of the town (Bruce Willis) to lead a search party that encompasses everyone from the other Khaki Scouts to the parents to Scout Master Ward. Oh, and Tilda Swinton plays a character just named Social Services, which really tickled my fancy.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2

I entered the movie theater shivering. This was it. The big kahuna. The one I had been waiting for with bittersweet anticipation.

Standing in line to enter the theater, I glanced around to see teenage Harrys, Hermiones and Rons all around me. Even a particularly nasty looking Bellatrix shot me a glance. And then there was the massive Hagrid who seemed abnormally large (costume win of the night for sure).

Hagrid and Luna waiting for midnight!

I sat in my seat as wizards dueled up and down the aisles. "Avada Kedavra!" someone yelled. I turned to my friend and shook my head. "She's dressed up as a Gryffindor," I said, my voice tinged with disappointment (and a British accent). "A Gryffindor would never use an Unforgivable Curse in a proper Wizard's Duel." I shook my head. "Muggles."

Conversations swirled around me but I couldn't participate. I was too excited. And saddened. Harry Potter has been such an integral part of my life. And this was the end. Except not. Thank god for Pottermore (coming soon).

And then the previews started. Some of them looked good, but I was in no state to pay attention or fully remember any of them. And then, without warning, the camera began to sweep across the ocean towards Dumbledore's grave. Voldemort had taken the Elder Wand.

Horrible Bosses

"I'm gonna kill him" is an expression that's become an everyday occurrence. Of course, the rest of us probably don't have psychotic, borderline rapist cokeheads for bosses. Or maybe some of you do. I don't know where you work.

Anyway, this is the premise of Seth Gordon's new film Horrible Bosses. Basically, these three guys - Nick Hendricks (Jason Bateman), Dale Arbus (Charlie Day of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia) and Kurt Buckman (Jason Sudeikis of SNL) - have had enough. Each of their bosses are totally insane. 

Nick, who works in finance, works for Dave Harken (Kevin Spacey), a crazy evil psychotic man who refuses to allow anyone into higher level positions while simultaneously torturing Nick with his evil ways. Not so fun. Meanwhile, Dale is a dental assistant to Dr. Julia Harris, DDS (Jennifer Aniston), who consistently grabs his crotch and tries to force him to have sex with her. Which doesn't seem too bad because Jennifer Aniston has never looked sexier in a film, except that Dale is engaged. And then there's Kurt, who works at a chemical company for Jack Pellitt (a Donald Sutherland cameo - very high profile), who is simply the nicest man in the world. Until he dies and his son Bobby (Colin Farrell), a coked up crazy partier who just wants to milk the company for all the money left in it, takes over.

X-Men: First Class

Last night I went with my dad to see X-Men: First Class after weeks of anticipation- and it did not disappoint. Yes, there was a great hype around the film, a hype almost as large as Alex Summers' ego (watch the film if you don't get that), but I believe that Matthew Vaughn has directed my favorite film in the X-Men series.

From left: Michael Fassbender as Magneto, Rose Byrne as Dr. Moira McTaggert, January Jones as Emma Frost, Jason Flemyng as Azazel, Nicholas Hoult as Dr. McCoy/Beast, Lucas Till as Alex Summers/Havok, Zoe Kravitz as Angel Salvadore, Jennifer Lawrence as Raven/Mystique and James McAvoy as Professor Charles Xavier.

I have to admit that it is a difficult statement for me to make. The original two X-Men films were dark and real and the pain and rejection that the mutants felt was tangible on the screen. I really did love them. Just don't get me started on The Last Stand.

That being said, Vaughn's approach to First Class was unique to the series in that it was not a comic book being turned into a movie, but rather a comic book that was transferred to the screen. The wit and humor of the original comics was still there while still framing an action packed story. Perhaps the most purposefully direct homage to the comics is the film's training montage, which literally frames the images in comic book panels across the screen. Pretty clever.

The character development throughout the film was pretty good, although I did feel that some parts were lacking. First, there's Professor X. Honestly, as one of the most interesting characters in comic history and the most openly mysterious

Midnight in Paris

I love the movies. And I love Woody Allen movies. Even Scoop.

So I went into the theatre (which was sold out for an earlier viewing) with pretty decent expectations for Allen's newest film Midnight in Paris, but I have to say, it surpassed them all.

The film was stunningly shot, another one of Allen's perfect homages to one of the world's great cities. And he doesn't let you forget it. From the opening sequence of Paris' amazing monuments and cultural sites in the sun and rain, which throughout the film, seems to make Paris all the more beautiful, Allen makes sure that we know that this is freaking Paris and magic can happen.

Cult Film Spotlight: Heathers

I've always been a huge fan of dark comedy and cult films. They're fun and witty and so horrific that you have to laugh at the gore.

Which is why I need to make sure that everyone in the world has seen Heathers.



Let's just say this film is pretty much the original Mean Girls....

But on steroids.

Released in 1989, the film stars Winona Ryder as Veronica Sawyer, and angsty girl in the popular clique at her school, which consists of her and her three friends, Heather Chandler (Kim Walker), Heather Duke (Shannen Doherty) and Heather McNamara (Lisanne Falk). But she hates her friends and wants to rebel against their nasty ways - which span from ruling the school with spite to torturing innocent overweight girl Martha "Dumptruck" Dunnstock. So when Veronica meets bad boy J.D (Christian Slater) and he pulls a gun on some jocks in school, she is obviously going to be smitten.