Sunday, August 14, 2011

Limitless

Limitless = 10/10

I loved everything about this movie.

The main character was a loser in the beginning, just like he's supposed to be. The actor played up the desperation behind writer's block, the disorganization of his life, his bad habits. He was the perfect mooch, but transformed into a cool, sleek, badass gentleman effortlessly.

The villain was smart and crafty, just full of life experience to challenge the hero. Plus, come on, it was Robert DeNiro!

The pill was a great inanimate villain. It was representing the most dangerous path to the greatest side of the hero. It's a mystery in the beginning. A "what's the worst that could happen?" type of pill for the main character as a loser. Everyone knows what that line leads to - Murphy's Law.

Captain America

Captain America = 9.5/10

I'm giving Captain America a 9.5 because I didn't want to watch it again immediately. That's it.

Cons:

The only con I can think of is that the bad guy's acting was a little corny.

Pros:

The WWII Captain America outfit was WELL DONE. The costume designer paid attention to minute little details, which made the clothing stand out without making it corny. And that seen where he comes back with all of the escaped prisoners to the surprise of everyone that had belittled him earlier? Breathtakingly momentous.

The villain's makeup and nazi-like outfit, but without being a nazi (mostly) himself, made sure that this bad guy didn't fit in to the overdone stereotype.

The characters were all likeable, or hateable in the villains' case. There were no glaring plot holes. This was just a very well done film.

Cowboys and Aliens

Cowboys and Aliens = 7.5/10

I'm giving this movie a 7.5 due to plot holes and out of character moments.

Plot Holes:

The movie never explained how the female alien, the last of her species, was able to travel to Earth. Did she have her own single-pilot ship? Did she stow away on the vast enemy alien ship? Did she arrive before or after the enemy aliens? (She obviously had time to integrate herself into the local population for the townspeople to recognize and trust her.)

The movie never explained how no one noticed the enemy ship. If the heroes were able to successfully hide in the landscape and ride out to gather the troops, then how were there no passersby on any given day to say, "What the hell is that? I think I'll bring more people to check it out."

Out of Character Moments:

The kernel was a man who liked control over a situation. He controlled his cattle hands, his worthless son's fate, and even who could use his military title. The beginning of the movie enforced this. He wanted to steal Jake from the sheriff for crimes committed against his business, but as soon as Jake proved to be able to shoot down aliens, the kernel backed off. He gave away control. He didn't set a night watch to keep an eye on the criminal during rests, or send someone to follow Jake when he set off to find his old gang. The kernel just let go. A control freak doesn't suddenly stop being who they are, let alone trust the man who stole company gold.

The kernel was a mushy mess when his adopted cattle hand was dying. He didn't even see the guy as an adopted son until the end of the movie. Tough guys internalize those situations (especially control freaks).

BRIGHT SIDE:

On the bright side, this movie had likeable characters. The aliens that they fought were menacing and well crafted - enough to you jump a bit. Oh yeah, and a healthy dose of fear that you'll be organ-sliced and probed by aliens makes the human offensive way more effective once they reach the interior of the alien ship.