Skyfall

Director Sam Mendes tries his hand at the James Bond franchise in "Skyfall", the third entry in the series starring Daniel Craig. After somewhat of a misstep in "Quantum of Solace" Bond is back on track. This is a gritty, exciting, and excellently staged action film with solid performances all around (especially from Javier Bardem as the chillingly creepy villian) and a smart script. There are quite a few winks to long-forgotten series mainstays and even some delving into Bond's backstory. While the drama is effective, there is never that moment when you suddenly understand Bond and why he is who he is. This isn't an expose on character development, and isn't quite as good as Craig's first 007 film "Casino Royale", but it is one of the best Bond films I've ever seen and definitely gets our recommendation.

Bryce ***
Chase **1/2
Landon ***
Logan ***

BANGERANG SCORE: ***

Moonrise Kingdom

Well, it's official. I don't get Wes Anderson movies. They're bizzarre and uncomfortable and only occasionally funny. "Moonrise Kingdom" is no exception. While I can certainly appreciate a film that's willing to challenge convention, this latest offering from the director is weird to a fault. The dialogue is cerebral and dry and makes the characters difficult to embrace. Occasionally the awkwardness produces a laugh or two but it's mostly just...awkward. The film even tries to tug at your heart strings at its conclusion but fails to do so because the filmmakers have made it hard to care about any of the characters in the slightest. If this kind of comedy is your cup of tea, more power to you. It just doesn't resonate with me.

Bryce **

BANGERANG SCORE: **

Wreck-it Ralph

"Wreck-it Ralph" is one of the most frustrating films to come along in a while. For starters, the premise is absolutely fantastic. Taking us inside the secret world of video game characters after the kids leave the arcade is a completely fresh take on the "Toy Story" concept. The first half of this film is a riot, filled to the brim with creativity and some legitimately funny gags. The second half is a different story. The narrative turns to a "Candyland" style arcade game that centers around an obnoxious little girl (voiced by the insufferable Sarah Silverman). If that was one stop in the story it would've been fine, but most of the movie ends up taking place in that world and changes the film from a video game movie to a candy movie. There is a lot to love about this film, which makes the direction the story ultimately takes all the more disappointing.

Bryce **1/2
Chase ***
Landon **1/2
Logan **1/2

BANGERANG SCORE: **1/2

Lincoln

Steven Spielberg attempts to tackle the last few months of the life of one of the most beloved historical figures in US history in "Lincoln". He succeeds beautifully. Spielberg and his team bring those pivotal last months to the big screen with a powerful sense of authenticity and depth. Daniel Day-Lewis delivers one of the most incredible performances in recent memory as the title character and is the cornerstone of this film. Upon leaving the theater you feel as though you just spent a few hours with Lincoln himself. It's a performance for the ages in every way. Tommy Lee Jones and Sally Field also give terrific performances in supporting roles and round out a truly stellar cast. The narrative can be a bit plodding at times and Spielberg lays the sap on a little thick in a couple of moments, but those are minor complaints. This is the best film of the year thus far and shouldn't be missed by anyone.

Bryce ***1/2
Chase ***1/2
Landon ***1/2
Logan ****

BANGERANG SCORE: ***1/2

The Bourne Legacy

One of the best action series of all time gets an extra chapter in "The Bourne Legacy". Series screenwriter and "Legacy" director Tony Gilroy does a great job of extending the story in an interesting way and Jeremy Renner is up to the task as the new super spy. Rachel Weisz and Edward Norton are equally capable in new supporting roles which flesh out an intense and action-packed addition to the Bourne franchise. Why the low score you ask? Despite the aforementioned positive traits, the film's interesting premise ultimately gives way to an incomplete story arc with a pointless climax and virtually no resolution whatsoever. In the end, this promising new entry felt like bait to get Matt Damon to sign on for more movies.

Bryce **1/2

BANGERANG SCORE: **1/2

Bernie

"Bernie" is one of the strangest movies I've ever seen. More than a little of that is due to the fact that the true story upon which it is based is one of the most bizarre I've ever heard. Jack Black does some of his best work here as the title character - the nicest guy in a small Texas town that would never hurt a fly, let alone commit murder. Or would he? The plot unfolds in documentary style with extremely authentic and often hilarious interviews with the people of the town in which the events take place. However the humor is sometimes overshadowed by its dark undertones. If you're into dark comedies, you'll love it. If you're like me and the genre isn't exactly your thing, you'll find a lot to like but ultimately find it a bit uncomfortable.

Bryce **1/2

BANGERANG SCORE: **1/2

The Dark Knight Rises

Arguably the most anticipated movie of the year is here at long last. "The Dark Knight Rises" is the final chapter in the excellent Christopher Nolan Batman trilogy and while it is probably the weakest of the bunch, it was definitely worth the wait. This third film is somewhat different in tone than the previous installments (which were, in turn, different from each other) but it does an excellent job of concluding the story with raised emotional stakes. The story loses its focus a bit in parts, and a few of the action sequences are a tad over-the-top, but it all comes together in the end with a satisfying third act that ties everything up nicely. Tom Hardy and Anne Hathaway are excellent as Batman's new antagonists and all the returning players are as good as they've ever been. This is an electrifying conclusion to what will undoubtedly go down as one of the great movie trilogies of all time.

Bryce ***
Chase ***1/2
Landon ***
Logan ***1/2

BANGERANG SCORE: ***

The Amazing Spider-Man

A mere six years after the last Sam Raimi film, "The Amazing Spider-Man" hits theaters to reboot the beloved superhero franchise. Andrew Garfield is terrific as the famous wall-crawler and Emma Stone is equally good as his love interest Gwen Stacey. They have great chemistry together and are the hallmark of an excellent cast. The special effects and action sequences are equally impressive and give our hero plenty of opportunities to showcase his web-slinging abilities. The story of the film left quite a bit to be desired however. If you're going to reboot a franchise, especially such a short time after the originals, you need to bring something different. This movie didn't really do that. It is darker than the Raimi films and takes a slightly different approach to Spidey's origins, but ultimately doesn't feel very far removed from them. It's very well done and definitely worth seeing, it just wasn't the home run it needed to be to fully justify the reboot.

Bryce **1/2
Chase ***
Landon ***
Logan ***

BANGERANG SCORE: ***

Brave

Pixar takes their talents to Scotland in this latest offering from the animation powerhouse. "Brave" is a beautifully animated, funny, and actually pretty touching story centered around the bond between mother and daughter. It's very different than Pixar's other offerings (it feels more like a traditional Disney princess movie) and the narrative stumbles a bit from time to time but ultimately the film finds its way behind an excellent voice cast and a genuinely emotional conclusion. While maybe not as dynamic and groundbreaking as some of the studio's beloved masterpieces, "Brave" manages to hold its own among the giants of the Pixar movie library.

Bryce ***
Chase ***
Landon ***
Logan ***

BANGERANG SCORE: ***

The Avengers

The wait is over. Marvel's dream team finally hits the silver screen in "The Avengers", the culmination of five superhero setup flicks released over the last four years. Was it worth the wait? In a word: yes. This comic book conglomerate is one heck of a ride, packed with snappy dialogue and dazzling special effects. There's not a lot of effective drama to be found (it's hard to fully invest in each character's story) and it's a little sloppy out of the gate, but those are minor complaints and ultimately beside the point. This thing isn't about character development, it's about awesome visuals and snappy dialogue! On that level, it doesn't disappoint. It may not set a new standard for comic book storytelling as many have suggested, but it's still a really good time at the movies.

Bryce ***
Chase ***
Landon ***
Logan ***

BANGERANG SCORE: ***

The Hunger Games

"The Hunger Games", based on the popular novel of the same name, has finally hit theaters and it's a very difficult film to review. On one hand, it's filled to the brim with tremendous performances (especially from Jennifer Lawrence in the lead role), some truly mesmerizing visuals and a chilling score. On the other hand however, it's disturbingly violent and provides very little closure at the end of the film, giving hardly any indication that this is the first chapter in a bigger story arc. It just kind of ends without wrapping anything up. The violence in the film isn't necessarily disturbing because of how graphic it is (although it is graphic by PG-13 standards), it's unsettling because it's against children. Your reaction to that violence will largely determine your enjoyment of this movie. In any case, it is undeniably well made and makes for a very engrossing viewing experience.

Bryce **1/2

Chase ***

Landon ***

Logan **1/2

BANGERANG SCORE: **1/2

The Best of 2011

While 2011 may not have been quite as stellar as 2010 in terms of top notch movies, it still had plenty of memorable films that we would like to count down as per tradition. It was a tight race from 1 to 5, but the dust has settled and the following are our picks:

5. Moneyball

Based on the popular book of the same name, "Moneyball" tells a riveting sports story from the vantage point of a revolutionary general manager. Billy Beane changed the way teams are built in the major leagues, and is the subject of one the best sports movies to come along in quite some time.

4. Super 8


J.J. Abrams' love letter to the Spielberg sci-fi classics grabs the four spot on our list. Incredible special effects and a tremendous score from Michael Giacchino are icing on the cake of this compelling coming of age summer movie.

3. The Help

Packed with powerhouse performances, "The Help" is one of the most emotionally affecting historical dramas in years. Viola Davis especially shines as the maid who has spent her entire life raising other people's children in the deep south. This is a very powerful film.

2. Rise of the Planet of the Apes

A classic science fiction franchise receives an incredible, modern shot in the arm in "Rise of the Planet of the Apes". Andy Serkis gives another enthralling motion capture performance and drives this compelling and visually stunning reboot.




1. The Artist


Really? A silent movie topping the list? Yes, indeed. "The Artist" is an incredibly well done homage to the glory years of silent movies. With great performances from its two leads and a very authentic style of filmmaking, it secures the distinction of the best film of the year.

Warrior

"Warrior" is a compelling family drama about two estranged brothers whose lives suddenly intersect after many years in an MMA tournament. The movie has a gritty tone and is packed with great performances (especially from Nick Nolte as the father whose alcoholism was the root of their broken home). The fight scenes are well done but are unfortunately bogged down by too much hokey mock TV commentary. Nonetheless this is an engrossing story of family and loyalty that is definitely worth your time.

Bryce ***

Landon ***

Logan ***

BANGERANG SCORE: ***

The Artist

There were a lot of questions surrounding "The Artist" upon its release, all of which stem from the obvious fact that it's a silent movie. Could it actually hold an audience's attention through its entire running time? Would it be able to stand alone beyond the novelty of being a silent film? The answer to both questions is "yes". This is a funny, dramatic, and all-around very entertaining movie that deserves all the praise it's getting. The performances are great and the music and cinematography are incredibly authentic. You really feel like you're being transported to a bygone era of movie history, and it's a great ride. This is one of the very best films of the year.

Bryce ***1/2
Chase ***1/2
Landon ***1/2
Logan ***1/2

BANGERANG SCORE: ***1/2

Hugo

Legendary filmmaker Martin Scorsese brings us one of the most visually stunning films in recent memory in "Hugo", the story of an orphan boy living in the clock of a train station in the early 1900's. At least that's how it begins. Over the course of the film, the story becomes less and less about Hugo and more and more about the early history of cinema (a topic Scorsese is very passionate about). It's all done well but the narrative doesn't quite fit together as seamlessly as it should have. Incredible cinematography and visual effects, but it ultimately falls a little short.

Bryce **1/2
Landon **1/2
Logan ***

BANGERANG SCORE: **1/2

The Help

"The Help" is proof that a strong cast can elevate a film far beyond its material. The movie tackles some very sensitive, very painful topics and does so in kind of a glossy fashion. It could have easily been overly light-hearted and melodramatic if not for a tremendous cast that brings a ton of humanity in one great performance after another (especially from Viola Davis in the lead role). "The Help" is a breath of fresh air in a year that has struggled to produce many really good movies.

Bryce ***1/2
Chase ***
Landon ***
Logan ***

BANGERANG SCORE: ***

X-Men: First Class

The initial previews and screenshots for this "X-Men" prequel made it look like a shameless cash-in on the once compelling, now stale franchise. Thankfully, those initial impressions were grossly misleading. "X-Men: First Class" is a return to form for the series and delivers some great context for the story of the original films. It's not without its flaws (some cheesy dialogue, unnecessary sexual content) but the overall movie is very well done. The two young leads (James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender) are excellent and really supply the heart of the movie. This one's worth a look.

Bryce ***

Chase ***1/2

Landon ***

Logan ***

BANGERANG SCORE: ***

War Horse

"War Horse" is a beautifully shot film with a tremendous John Williams score to go along with some incredible big budget set pieces. It's just too bad that it doesn't have a very good script to match. There's a good story to be told here, but director Steven Spielberg struggles to bring it all together. The movie relies too heavily on the horse (who is obviously limited in its acting ability) to drive the movie while having the human characters come in and out of the story without really giving us time to invest in them. Some of the dialogue is groan-worthy and the young actors are often pretty one-dimensional. It's not a bad movie by any means but certainly more is expected from such a legendary director.

Bryce **1/2

Chase **1/2

Landon **1/2

Logan **1/2

BANGERANG SCORE: **1/2

Rio

Blue Sky Studio's latest outing "Rio" is a hit-and-miss flick.  It's actually a very beautiful movie.  It's intricately animated and filled with a swirl of amazing looking color designs.  Needless to say, it's easy on the eyes.  If only the dialogue and characters were as crisp and fascinating as the visuals.  Some characters can be occasionally really funny while others are irritatingly annoying.  The director tries to throw in a musical mix into the concoction and it just doesn't mix very well.  This isn't a bad movie at all, and it's sure that kids and young teenagers will really enjoy it.  Anybody older, maybe not quite as much.

Landon **1/2

BANGERANG SCORE: **1/2

Thor

"Thor" is quite a bit different than any other super hero movie ever grace the silver screen. The premise alone is extremely unique (what other comic book character is based in real-life Norse mythology?) and it's all the better for it given the endless wave of super hero movies these days. The special effects are tremendous, the characters are likeable, and the story actually carries some solid dramatic weight. This is one of the better additions to Marvel's movie library.  Even if the "The Avengers" was never in the works, "Thor" would still be a really good movie on its own, which is much more than I can say about the other recent "Avenger" prequels. Definitely see this one.

Bryce ***

Chase ***

BANGERANG SCORE: ***

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows

Many would argue that Guy Ritchie's second entry in the "Sherlock Holmes" canon is more of the same thing and to a certain degree, it is. The story moves a little too quickly, back-stories are still pretty flat, and some of the content (especially with Holmes' brother) felt totally out of place and unnecessary. So why does it still receive a recommendation? While it still has its problems, this "Holmes" film is executed much better than the first time around. It's funnier, better looking, the action is fantastic and the dialogue is much more clever and focused. Even though the narrative is hard to follow, it's much more interesting, throwing in themes of tyranny and European domination. Many who didn't like the original outing may not be won over by this second film, but those who enjoyed the first film will like this one even more. It's a lot of fun and definitely worth your time

Landon ***

BANGERANG SCORE: ***

Super 8

Director J.J. Abrams attempts to bring us this generation's version of "E.T." or "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" with "Super 8" and is pretty successful. He does a masterful job replicating the look and feel of the classic 70's and 80's Spielberg films. It's hard not to admire the themes of mystery and child-like wonder Abrams conveys in the movie as well as the themes of family, friendship, and heartbreak. Unfortunately, the kids in the film uncomfortably curse way too often and the story telling isn't quite as polished as the aforementioned classics. Nevertheless, this is a very good movie with good performances, great special effects and a terrific score that definitely gets our recommendation.

Bryce ***
Chase ***
Landon ***1/2
Logan ***

BANGERANG SCORE: ***

The Muppets

The Muppets return to the big screen in this fun and nostalgic retread of the classic franchise. It's not quite a homerun, but "The Muppets" does enough to wet the appetite of longtime fans who grew up with these characters. However, it runs a little too much on nostalgia and probably won't win very many new fans. The original songs by Bret McKenzie of "Flight of the Conchords" fame are fantastic and add a fresh element to the tried-and-true Muppet formula, but if you weren't into the Muppets growing up, they probably aren't enough to justify the price of admission. If you were, this is a pretty good stroll down memory lane.

Bryce **1/2

BANGERANG SCORE: **1/2

Moneyball

The premise of "Moneyball" is one of the most unique and fascinating in the history of the sports genre. It's a day-to-day look into the professional life of a major sports general manager, and it's a very good movie. Brad Pitt is excellent as Oakland A's GM Billy Beane, a brash sports executive who changed the way teams are built in the major leagues by focusing more on raw numbers than gut instinct. The film tries to be part biopic, part sports movie, and part business drama but doesn't quite tie them all together as neatly as it could have. However, this is the best sports movie in years and definitely deserves a look.

Bryce ***
Chase ***
Landon ***
Logan ***

BANGERANG SCORE: ***