Movie Review: Obvious Child

In January of 2014, a movie premiered at the Sundance Film Festival to a mixture of reviews. It seems that Obvious Child has only two outcomes. You either love it or you hate it. The main reason for this love/hate relationship is the controversy that surrounds the film. Obvious Child is a film about... comedy. No, seriously, it's about a stand up comedian trying to make people laugh. Oh, and there's a sub-story about abortion which might be the actual source of controversy.

Obvious Child is one of the few films I've seen that tackles a huge topic such as abortion without making it the center of the story. It's there, it's mentioned a few times, but there's no real story to it. Instead, Obvious Child focus' on the relationships between the characters, Donna Stern (Jenny Slate), specifically. Donna is a stand up comedian that works in a bookstore to pay the rent. As her personal life starts to fall apart, she spends a night getting extremely drunk. A few weeks later while complaining about some cramps to her roommate, she realizes she must be pregnant. The story continues and that was it. She realized she was pregnant and made a decision. The film does go into the sub-story to bring it full circle, but that's it. No protests, no fighting, no internal or external conflict. Since it's just a small part of the story, and the one that most news outlets are fixated on, I'm sure that I'm not actually spoiling anything by saying that the plot does have an end.

The film itself was actually better than I anticipated for the reasons mentioned above. I went in thinking that it was going to be a huge politically motivated film. It wasn't perfect and I wouldn't run out to see it again, but the film did have a quality to it that which makes it worth seeing at least once. The actors could have been a little more uplifting. For a stand up comedian, Donna was more awkward funny than actually funny. Max (Jake Lacy), the baby daddy, was too stiff. Even before he knows what is going on, he just seems too forced and out of place. He was a business student that went to the club where Donna performed her stand up. From his clothing to his posture, he just didn't belong. If you're Jewish, or understand Jewish references, such as Birthright (best ten days of my life) you will laugh a lot more than your counterparts.

My personal opinion of Obvious Child is that it will have a small following, but will most likely not succeed against major motion pictures. Prior to beginning writing reviews, I would have never even thought twice about an indie film. Now that I've seen a few, I would have to rank this as one of the better indies. If you have a small theater near you and Obvious Child is playing there, I recommend seeing it. You will laugh, you will leave with some food for thoughts, but you will see the subtle brilliance in the way it was written. I hope that major studios take note that subtly is still an art and stop trying to force their views on the public.

Obvious Child does not currently have a national release date. It will begin playing in select theaters by the end of June. As an independent film, it will most likely be in and out of smaller theaters at random times. Check your local area to see if and when it is playing.

Movie Rating for Obvious Child

I received my passes to see Obvious Child though The Collaborative, an organization for young Jewish professionals in Philadelphia. Free movie passes aren't always just through radio stations. Check out my post about free movie screenings for more ways to see movies before they're released.

Movie Review: A Million Ways to Die in the West

From the man that makes a living from fart jokes, come a Western comedy that actually takes place in the old west. From the opening credits until the closing credits, this film is truly a comedy disguised as a western. There is no modern technology and the sets were so realistic that they might have filmed in a historical ghost town instead of a hollywood soundstage. That being said, the comedy within the movie was not a traditional Western.

Seth MacFarlane, the guy that brought you Family Guy and Ted, is back in the new comedy A Million Ways to Die in the West. Throughout the film, Albert (MacFarlane) finds reasons to tell you different ways that it was possible to die in the wild west. It seems that even going to the bathroom was a possible way to die. Even with all of the death that surrounds our protagonist, the true danger comes from one place, a love triangle.

There were a few cameos within the film and those that know me well will immediately be able to tell the moment I jumped in excitement. I must confess, I lied a little above when I said there was no modern technology, however I hope you forgive me. If you need a good laugh, this film is going to be a good choice for you. The day I saw A Million Ways to Die in the West I had just received bad news about something related to work. By the time I left the movie theater, I had been laughing so hard that I forgot why I was upset.

A Million Ways to Die in the West was released nation wide on May 30, 2014. If you are buying your tickets online, Fandango has a great promotion to get two free songs on Amazon with any ticket purchase through June 30, 2014.

Movie Rating for A Million Ways to Die in the West

The passes for this pre-screening were won through Regal Crown Club. They offer free membership and offer tons of perks. Check out my information post for more information about free movie screenings.

Movie Review: The Other Woman

Imagine you go to surprise the guy you've been dating only to have his wife open the door. This is the basic story line of The Other Woman starring Cameron Diaz. Her character is unknowingly dating a married man.

This movie is the type of film that will leave you hurting from laughing so much. I thought the script was well written and it reminded me of a combination of The The First Wives Club and Bridesmaids. The story is about three women trying to get even with the man that scorned them, however the humor is for a younger generation.

I thought the acting was great because the characters all seemed believable in their roles. The scene stealer was definitely Nicki Minaj as the assistant to Carly (Diaz). Her character didn't fit into a law firm and yet was perfect for the comic relief when Diaz was more professional and less humorous. Afterall, her character was a lawyer so it couldn't be all laughs.

My personal opinion of The Other Woman is that it's a good film for a girls night out. Some of the things they did to get even with the guy seemed a little juvenile (laxatives in the drink) but I still laughed when it was happening. Overall, you will leave the film with an appreciation for your own significant other and a wary eye for any guys you meet at a bar.

The Other Woman will be released nation wide on April 25, 2014. Check out the Facebook pages for your local theaters to see about current promotions.

Movie Rating for The Other Woman

I received my passes to see The Other Woman on Gofobo. Check out my informational post for more information about free movie screenings.

Movie Review: The Muppets: Most Wanted

“We're Doing a Sequel” opens the newest film starring our favorite muppets, and a variety of celebrities that lined up for a cameo spot. Disney’s The Muppets: Most Wanted follows the successful 2011 revival of The Muppets. As a fan of Kermit, Ms. Piggy, and the rest of the gang I was truly looking forward to how they would follow up the last film.

The basic synopsis of The Muppets: Most Wanted is that Dominic Badguy (Ricky Gervais) convinces the muppets to take their show on a world tour. At the same time, Constantine (a Kermit look-a-like) breaks out of a Russian prison and trades places with Kermit. While Kermit sits in prison under the comedic eye of Nadya (Tina Fey), Constantine uses the muppet’s tour as a way to try and steal the crown jewels of England.

There was only one part of the film that I didn't like. This might just be me but I still can’t get use to seeing the muppets below the waist and not just sitting around. There was a scene with dancing and they panned away to show the full character which I just thought looked funny. Most likely it was done with CGI but they just didn’t pull it off well. The song was cute, but the dancing felt forced.

The first celebrity cameo was within the first five minutes and they quickly multiplied from there. By the end of the film, I saw more celebrities than muppets but was surprised each time. Some of the faces I could place but not name. Since many cameos were so expertly placed, I don't want to mention any specifics and give away the surprise.

As with many Disney movies, prior to the actual film was a short film. The short attached to Muppets: Most Wanted is Party Central starring Mike, Sulley, and the frat boys of Oozma Kappa. Watching a bunch of geeky monsters trying to host a frat party was hilarious. Any fans of Monster’s Inc and Monster University will enjoy this short that airs prior to the full length film.

My personal opinion of The Muppets: Most Wanted is that any long time fan of The Muppets will be happy. Children might not understand all the jokes but they will enjoy the characters themselves. Parents will enjoy the nostalgia of The Muppets and some of the more subtle jokes. There were a few parts that dragged slightly for the sake of the story but overall I enjoyed the film and left with a good feeling.

The Muppets: Most Wanted will be released nation wide on March 21, 2014. There are a few exciting deals associated with this film depending on which theater chain you visit.

Fandango - Get $1 off four tickets to The Muppets: Most Wanted using the promotional code MOSTWANTEDTIX. (Expires March 23, 2014) All ticket purchases will also come with a free download of "I'll Get You What You Want (Cockatoo in Malibu)" from the soundtrack.

Regal Cinemas - Get a free download of "We're Doing a Sequel" when you purchase tickets at the box offices. (While Supplies Last)

Movie Rating for The Muppets: Most Wanted

I received my passes to see The Muppets: Most Wanted as a blogger to facilitate my review. I was not compensated and all opinions are 100% mine.

Movie Review: The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

May the odds be ever in your favor as you fight the crowds that will no doubt be lining up to see The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. The second film from The Hunger Games Trilogy is finally here. It was only last month when I represented Cinemit on the red carpet, so I was very excited that to see the film.

For anyone that has read the books, you might wonder about the timing. While trying not to give anything away, I can say that the pacing of the film matched the pacing from the book. There are a few parts that I felt were key in the book but left out of the movie, although fans will be overall happy with the results.

The set for the 75th Hunger Game looked just as the book described it. The cornucopia was in the center of a large lake that was divided into twelve wedges to represent the clock. The CGI for the arena looked great and while the fog was a little too fake, it worked for the story line.

The returning cast continued to do a great job with their characters while the new cast members easily slid into the roles. I am happy to say that Jeffrey Wright did a great job with Beetee. I was a little upset that Sam Claflin used an American accent. While Panem is located in North America, the former United States, I don't think Claflin's British accent would have been misplaced. In fact, his fellow tribute from District 2 didn't speak a single line, so the audience could have just assumed it was the dialect of District 2. Lynn Cohen's portrayal of Mag made fans instantly fall in love with her.

My personal opinion of The Hunger Games: Catching Fire is that fans of the first movie and fans of the book will be overall satisfied. I enjoyed the movie and while I can easily nit-pick about changes from the book to the film, I understand why changes must be made.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire will be released nation wide on November 22, 2013. Check out my weekly post, Making Cents with Cori, on Cinemit for weekly specials on tickets and concessions.

Movie Rating for The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

I did not see The Hunger Games: Catching Fire at an advanced screening. I went to the earliest available showing at my local theater using a pass from the Covergirl promotion.

Movie Review: Thor: The Dark World

Thor: The Dark World is the sequel to the 2011 Thor. Following the story lines of Thor and The Avengers, Thor has returned to his home land and is helping to bring peace to the nine realms.

A good majority of this film took place on Thor's home planet of Asgard. I thought the sets were just wonderful. They did a great job making it look realistic without being cheesy. When on Earth, this film took place in London. Watching them get in the opposite side of a car was a little confusing at first because it wasn't directly mentioned that they were in England.

While the movie was named for Thor, I felt that other characters played larger roles. As always with Marvel films, Stan Lee has a cameo. There is also another great cameo but I don't want to give anything away. I will say that while the battle of New York is mentioned, they did a good job of separating the film as its own story. Similar to Iron Man 3, New York was mentioned in passing but didn't interrupt the story line.

My personal opinion is that Thor: The Dark World is a film for fans of Thor and/or Marvel will love this film. While knowing the backstory will help, there are very few times within the film where you can't infer what's happening. Therefore, I feel that someone can enjoy Thor: The Dark World without first seeing the original film. I saw the movie in 3D but I don't think it was worth the extra charge.

As usual, Marvel has added a little something extra after the film. Stay through the credits because there are two scenes. The first extra scene happens after the main cast list and the second scene happens at the very end of the credits.

Thor: The Dark World will be released nation wide on November 8, 2013. Check out my weekly post, Making Cents with Cori, on Cinemit for weekly specials on tickets and concessions.

Movie Rating for Thor: The Dark World

I did not see Thor: The Dark World at an advanced screening. I used a gift code purchased on Groupon.

Movie Review: Last Vegas

When I first saw the trailer for Last Vegas, it struck me as The Hangover for the geriatric fan base. After seeing the film, I know this was incorrect. Last Vegas stars four actors ranging in age from 66 to 76. When Michael Douglas' character gets engaged to a girl half his age, his childhood buddies meet in Las Vegas for a weekend of fun.

The humor in this film will reach most fans and many jokes are funnier because of the character's ages. The sets were wonderful, but since they shot on location in Las Vegas that really isn't surprising. I did like the way that they made fun of other movies in the bachelor party genre and found myself laughing hard for the first time in a while.

My personal opinion of Last Vegas is that anyone looking for a good laugh without too much thought will enjoy it. It doesn't get rude or lude but it does poke fun at many situations. I took my mother to the screening and she agreed that the film was enjoyable.

Last Vegas will be released nation wide on November 1, 2013. Check out my weekly post, Making Cents with Cori, on Cinemit for weekly specials on tickets and concessions.

Movie Rating for Last Vegas

The passes for this pre-screening were won through Gofobo. Follow their Facebook page to attend free screenings near you. Check out my information post for more information about free movie screenings.

Movie Review: Ender's Game

Harrison Ford stars in the new science fiction film based on the novel, Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card. The man idea of the plot is that following a war with aliens, humans recruit children to train for the next war. Published in 1985, Card was originally hesitant to turn his story into a film but after 28 years, a script came through that he felt would work. One major change is that the character of Ender is six years old in the book but around twelve in the film. The actor is sixteen years old, but appears younger.

Well, the stuff these kids were required to do—they’re flying on wires—in order to keep the budget within line, they had to work with older kids. So though there are things that I wish had gone a different way in the abstract, given the realities of Hollywood, I couldn’t be happier. (Source: Wired)

This quote also serves to answer questions to all fans of the novel. Things will be different. I personally have not read the book, however after seeing the film I already went to the library and plan to read this weekend.

The sets and costumes were incredible. Everything was made to be futuristic. Part of the training that Ender goes through is a war game in a zero gravity environment. Watching these teenagers float around was incredible.

My personal opinion of Ender's Game was a fantastic science fiction film for all ages. There is some violence, however no more than you might see in a video game. The screening I attended was in IMAX and I must say that I loved it, however I think the film would still be amazing without the up-charge.

Ender's Game will be released nation wide on November 1, 2013. Check out my weekly post, Making Cents with Cori, on Cinemit for weekly specials on tickets and concessions.

Movie Rating for Ender's Game

The passes for this pre-screening were won through Gofobo. Follow their Facebook page to attend free screenings near you. Check out my information post for more information about free movie screenings.

Movie Review: Gravity

Gravity is the new film featuring Sandra Bullock and George Clooney. The main concept is the astronauts are on a routine mission to repair the Hubble Space Telescope. When something happens that leave them disconnected from communicating with Earth, our astronauts must find a way to get safely home.

The scenery and CGI was amazing. You really felt like they were floating in space. The 3D elements helped to further your belief that they are truly in space. Nothing flew far enough off screen to feel forced or gimmicky but it did help to add to the illusion of weightlessness. The version of the film I saw was a regular 3D presentation and not IMAX.

As someone that studies science for a living, I was disappointed with the way some scientific details were stretched for entertainment and suspense. I'm also told that I nit-pick and ruin the movie after the fact so I won't go into specific details. These complaints are from a science perspective and I understand why they might have been necessary for the plot.

In my opinion this role should lead to an Oscar nomination, if not win, for Sandra Bullock. I would compare Bullock's performance in Gravity to that of Tom Hanks in Cast Away. Perhaps even greater because she as filming mostly on a green screen and still made it believable. While George Clooney was around, this film was the Sandra Bullock show.

My personal opinion of Gravity is that it was Cast Away and Apollo 13 rolled into one. It's rare for me to pay for a movie these days, but this is one film I had been looking forward to since it was first announced. I am happy to say that it lived up to my expectations.

Gravity was released nation wide on October 4, 2013. Check out my weekly post, Making Cents with Cori, on Cinemit for weekly specials on tickets and concessions.

Movie Rating for Gravity

This movie was not a pre-screening. I missed the pre-screening events but wanted to see the film based on the content so I used  a discounted movie ticket purchased on Groupon. Check out my information post for more information about free movie screenings.

Movie Review: Elysium

Every so often, a movie comes along that reminds me why I started writing these reviews on Making Cents of It. I'm not a professional movie reviewer, I am a fan. As a fan, I have my own opinions. For anyone that has read my previous reviews, you'll notice a trend in the type of films I enjoy. Elysium is one of those movies I would normally have avoided from the beginning. I'm not a fan of the genre however for my readers I attended a screening and hoped for the best.

Elysium takes place over a hundred years in the future when the Earth has become polluted and over-populated. The extremely wealthy have left the planet to live on a luxurious space station. On the space station, Elysium, the rich have everything including beds that can cure all illnesses and repair injuries. The residents of Earth are desperate to access those beds.

The contrast in settings is extreme. Earth is designed to look like a run down neighborhood. It wasn't completely like a third world country but it was designed to be a place you wouldn't want to live. Elysium on the other hand was designed to look like a country club neighborhood. All the houses were large and perfect. They had robot servants that actually followed instructions, unlike other futuristic robots.

The acting in the film was alright but nothing overly special. During flashback scenes, we saw a young version of Matt Damon's character and I will say they did a great job casting the young boy. He looked like he really could be Matt Damon, or Matt Damon's son. I thought the makeup for Elysium residents was a little strange, but that was most likely the futuristic look they were going for.

The blood and guts seen throughout the battle scenes were intense and I found myself jumping out of the seat a few times. I'm glad the movie was not in 3D because I might have jumped even higher if the blood and guts flew off the screen.

My personal opinion of Elysium is that I can see people enjoying it, but it just wasn't my type of film. The trailers are accurate at showing what to expect so if you like the trailer, you might enjoy the film. As a final side note to understand my opinion, I never saw District 9, by the same director, and I never saw the Borne trilogy.

Elysium will be released nation wide on August 9, 2013. Check out my weekly post, Making Cents with Cori, on Cinemit for weekly specials on tickets and concessions.

Movie Rating for Elysium

The passes for this pre-screening were won through Gofobo. Follow their Facebook page to attend free screenings near you. Check out my information post for more information about free movie screenings.

Movie Review: Percy Jackson and The Sea of Monsters

Do you know the truth behind why things disappear in the Bermuda Triangle? If we are to believe the fantasy world that was created by Rick Riordan, the Bermuda Triangle is really a place called the Sea of Monsters. This is where our heroes must travel in the sequel to Percy Jackson: The Lightning Thief.

Let's start by answering the question that all fans of the book want to know. Yes, they completely changed things again. Luckily this time the movie was better than its predecessor. Scenes were removed which I'm assuming was for time but the scenes we do see are entertaining. If you've never read the books you won't have the same issue as fans and the movie will actually be enjoyable.

While the younger cast remained the same, a few of the adult actors were replaced. The most noticeable was replacing Pierce Brosnan with Anthony Head as the centaur teacher, Chiron. I felt that Head did a great job in the role, but the costumes worn by Brosnan fit the character better. Chiron is a warrior, not a librarian. There were also additions to the cast for characters that were not seen during the first story. Nathan Fillion, in those UPS shorts, did a great job as Hermes.

The 3D in Percy Jackson was alright however I feel it was over used. There was one scene where something exploded and things flew into the audience. It was enough that some children sitting near me reached out to touch the images. I'm still not a fan of 3D movies in general but I can understand why the industry is continuing to produce in the format.

My personal opinion of Percy Jackson and The Sea of Monsters is that it did not live up to expectations. From the time production began, fans were led to believe that they would stick closer to the books and they failed to succeed. If you haven't read the books I think you will really enjoy Percy Jackson because you're not aware of all the things they removed. I enjoyed the film but as a fan of the book series I was disappointed in the differences.

Percy Jackson and The Sea of Monsters will be released nation wide on August 7, 2013. Check out my weekly post, Making Cents with Cori, on Cinemit for weekly specials on tickets and concessions.

Movie Rating for Percy Jackson and The Sea of Monsters

The passes for this pre-screening were won through Gofobo. Follow their Facebook page to attend free screenings near you. Check out my information post for more information about free movie screenings.

Movie Review: Man of Steel

It's a bird, it's a plane, it's... The Man of Steel? Yes boys and girls a new Superman is gracing the movie screens across the nation but you won't hear him referred to as Superman this time. While someone asks him what the "S" stands for, the response is different than previous incarnations.

Whether or not you know anything about the mythology surrounding Superman, Man of Steel starts from the beginning. After learning about Krypton, the viewer will see how and why Kal-El, aka Clark Kent, crash lands on Earth. Jump forward to the current time, we then learn more of his history with well placed flashbacks throughout the film.

Henry Cavill did a great job as Clark Kent. Although he is not American, this Brit did a wonderful job playing a character that grew up in Kansas. Following a mockable performance in Les Mis, Russell Crowe redeemed himself with his performance of Jor-El, father to Kal-El during his many scenes. He reminded us that although he is now older, he can still play a warrior. The rest of the actors were well casted and did a wonderful job in their specific roles.

The sets, costumes, and special effects were well done. I liked the more modern spin on Superman's outfit and how it matched with the warriors from Krypton. The Krypton sets were designed in a way that showed us a foreign, yet habitable planet. The sets on Earth were designed in a why that felt current without being old fashion or futuristic.

My only major complaint about this film was Lois Lane. Amy Adams did a wonderful job with the role but I wasn't impressed with the character and how she learned information. It greatly differed from other timelines of their relationship. Granted, this new relationship played a key role in many of the situations the characters found themselves in so I can understand the writer's direction. My minor complaint is that the action scenes when slightly long. I understand that this is an action/superhero movie but the rest of the movie seemed so well paced that I just felt they played it out longer than necessary.

My personal opinion of Man of Steel is that it not only lived up to the hype, it surpassed it. The screening I attended was in IMAX 3D and I must say that I loved it. I'm not sure how much it will differ in 2D or regular 3D but I can honestly say this is the movie that might be worth spending a few extra dollars.

Man of Steel will be released nation wide on June 14, 2013. Check out my weekly post, Making Cents with Cori, on Cinemit for weekly specials on tickets and concessions.

Movie Rating for Man of Steel

The passes for this pre-screening were won through Cinemit. Follow their Facebook page to attend free screenings near you. Check out my information post for more information about free movie screenings.

Movie Review: Iron Man 3

The long awaited third entry in the Iron Man franchise has arrived. Iron Man 3 takes place after the events in New York during The Avengers. Being a sequel, you might want to see Iron Man, Iron Man 2, and The Avengers prior to seeing Iron Man 3. Of the three previous films, events from The Avengers are the only ones that is actually referenced though out the movie.

Gwyneth Paltrow stepped up her stunt skills during Iron Man 3 and plays a much larger role now that her character Pepper Potts is living with Tony Stark (Robert Downey, Jr.). The young boy, played by an adorable Ty Simpkins, helped to show a more human side to the playboy inventor.

The 3D effects of Iron Man 3 were not worth the extra few dollars. In IMAX it might be better, but I saw the regular 3D version. There were action scenes that you expected things to pop off the screen, but it was minimal at best.

As with all Marvel movies, Stan Lee made a quick cameo. As usual with Marvel, there is a short scene after the credits but the credits lasted forever. There had to be at least a hundred names, if not more listed for working on the film. There was also a nice homage to Douglas Adams with the current suit being mach 42.

My personal opinion of this film is that any fan of superhero films will enjoy Iron Man 3. I enjoyed it much better than Iron Man 2 however I feel it tied with The Avengers. It was well paced and had a little of everything.

Iron Man 3 will be released nation wide on May 3, 2013. Check out my weekly post, Making Cents with Cori, on Cinemit for weekly specials on tickets and concessions.

Movie Rating for Iron Man 3

The passes for this pre-screening were won through 43Kix. Follow their Facebook page to attend free screenings near you. Check out my information post for more information about free movie screenings.

Movie Review: 42

On April 15, 1947, Jack Roosevelt "Jackie" Robinson took the field as the first African American member of a major league baseball field. A lot has changed in the past 66 years in America since that day in Brooklyn when number 42 walked out of the dugout and took his place on first base. Now, a movie fitting of the legend has finally been produced.

The cinematography of the film was wonderfully done. From wardrobes to scenery and everything else, the film really made you feel like you stepped into the 1940s. Like most movies, there were good and bad scenes. A few times I felt that they were dragging out the wrong parts of the story, but overall I enjoyed the film and history lesson.

Casting for 42 was excellent with actors and actresses that really brought their characters to life. If I wasn't aware going in that Harrison Ford was playing Branch Rickey, I don't think I would have recognized him. I also thought that T.R. Knight was great as a team executive for the Dodgers. Chadwick Boseman truly stole the show as Jackie Robinson. He had big shoes to fill and I think that if Robinson was still alive, he would have appreciated the care that went into the part.

The elephant in the room, and main theme of the film, was racism in America. While some areas had already desegregated, Jackie and Rachel leave their home in California and learn that not all cities were as accepting. When Rachel sees her first "white only" bathroom, curiosity and shock appears on her face. Fans of Philadelphia and Pittsburgh might not appreciate the realistic way their teams were shown to treat the Dodgers. There were a few other games shown, but the Pennsylvania teams were portrayed as the villains.

A secondary theme of the film was spirituality. In the film, Mr. Rickey selected Jackie Robinson from a selection of African American players because they shared a religion. I'm not sure if this is historically accurate but many times throughout the film, we were reminded of this theme as Jackie and Mr. Rickey spoke about ignoring the harassment. This theme is also used to explain why Mr. Rickey choose to stand up for what was right and take the backlash of his fellow team owners.

I feel that all baseball fans will enjoy this film. I plan to take my grandmother to a matinee of 42 because she was living in Brooklyn during the 1940s and always told me and my sister stories of the Brooklyn Dodgers growing up. My personal favorite scene actually took place during an awkward discussion in the locker room between Jackie and one of his teammates. I don't want to spoil it for anyone, but most of the audience was laughing with me at the scene. There are things that could have been done better, however no movie is perfect and overall I enjoyed 42.

42 will be released nation wide on April 12, 2013. Check out my weekly post, Making Cents with Cori, on Cinemit for weekly specials on tickets and concessions.

Movie Rating for 42

The passes for this pre-screening were from Grace Hill Media. Check out my information post for more information about free movie screenings.

Movie Review: Starbuck

Warning: The title of this film might confuse you, but Starbuck is not about coffee.

By usually skipping over foreign films with subtitles, I would have missed Starbuck, which turned out to be a highly enjoyable and universal story. For me, reading the subtitles can be very tiring and ruin the relaxation and enjoyment when adventuring into the movie theater. While it is a foreign (Canadian) film in French, it’s a story about growing up and taking responsibility while trying to keep your life from falling apart.

In the 80s/90s, David Wozniak made some easy money by donating sperm over 500 times. Flash forward twenty years and David learns that over 100 people are suing the clinic to learn the real identity of Starbuck, their biological father. After learning about the lawsuit, David sets out to meet his children while keeping his identity a secret. He learns that his children range from famous athletes to drug addicts. His journey is complicated by his best friend, a lawyer, trying to help him hold on to his secret identity to protect his life after the press find out about Starbuck. Life for David is further complicated by his pregnant girlfriend.

I felt that Starbuck had a similar charm to that of Kevin Smith’s Clerks. It was filmed in a way that was simple, without too much flash. Although there were subtitles, after the first few minutes you don’t even really notice that you’re reading. The film flowed really well and didn’t feel rushed or too slow. There were some parts that were humorous, but I wouldn’t refer to the film as a comedy because it wasn’t constant laughing.

This Canadian import as left me with two thoughts. One, Canadians are about a decade behind Americans in fashion and technology. And two, foreign language films shouldn’t be passed over just because of subtitles. If I had stuck to my pattern of skipping movies that required reading subtitles, I would not have seen this gem.

There are rumors that Vince Vaughn is remaking the film in English. These rumors are verified by a page on imdb.com for a new film called “The Delivery Man” scheduled for an October 2013 release. Even if you want to see the Vince Vaughn version when it comes out, I recommend seeing the original.

Starbuck will be released nation wide on April 5, 2013. Check out my weekly post, Making Cents with Cori, on Cinemit for weekly specials on tickets and concessions.

Movie Rating for Starbuck

The passes for this pre-screening was received as a blogger to facilitate my review. All opinions are 100% my own. Check out my information post for more information about free movie screenings.

Movie Review: Jurassic Park 3D

Twenty years ago, dinosaurs roamed a small island in Jurassic Park. Now, in honor of the films anniversary it is being re-released in digitally remastered 3D. Since the film is from 1993, I'm not going to review the movie and just stick to the 3D concept.

The 3D was well done and fans will appreciate the new aspects brought to the film through the editing process. Unlike when Beauty and the Beast was re-released, Jurassic Park looked like it could have been filmed with 3D in mind. I never felt like I could reach out and touch a dinosaur, but I was able to recognize the dimensions clearly. Having never seen the original, I can't really comment on changes.

If you've never seen the original film, or you are a huge fan, it could be worth seeing this film in theaters. I recommend waiting for a matinee though because when you can rent the movie for under $5, it's kind of silly to pay over $10. Even if it is in 3D.

Jurassic Park 3D will be released nation wide on April 5, 2013. Check out my weekly post, Making Cents with Cori, on Cinemit for weekly specials on tickets and concessions.

Movie Rating for Jurassic Park 3D

The passes for this pre-screening was received from Gofobo. All opinions are 100% my own. Check out my information post for more information about free movie screenings.