Les Miserables

One of the most beloved musicals of all-time gets the big screen treatment in Tom Hooper's "Les Miserables". Surprisingly, none of us had seen the play nor heard the majority of the songs going into this movie. We can now see why it's such a big deal. The music is terrific and the personal story of tragedy and redemption is timeless. The performances of this screen version are what really make it soar. Hugh Jackman gives a powerful portrayal of the protagonist, Jean Valjean, and Anne Hathaway's heart-breaking musical number almost single-handedly won her the oscar. A few pointless scenes make the movie unnecessarily long and, let's face it, the love story, while told with some terrific music, is pretty shallow. Those are minor complaints however. "Les Miserables" is the best musical in recent years and shouldn't be missed.

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

BANGERANG SCORE: ***1/2

Life of Pi

"Life of Pi" is one of, if not the, most visually awe-inspiring films ever made. It's that simple. The special effects and cinematography are astounding in this tale of faith and hope. Like last year's "Rise of the Planet of the Apes", you will catch yourself  thinking twice about whether you are watching a CGI animal or the real thing as you see Pi interact with the tiger Richard Parker as they try to survive together. While the visuals are incredible, the story isn't quite its equal. There are some riveting moments that will tear your heart out, and there are some scenes that don't quite pack the emotional punch they should. Suraj Sharma is terrific as the title character and is up to the task of being the only actor on screen for the majority of the film, even amidst the sometimes underwhelming script. That being said, this is a very good film with tremendous visuals that needs to be experienced.

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

BANGERANG SCORE: ***

People Like Us

"People Like Us" has a lot going for it. It's written and directed by Alex Kurtzman, who has penned the scripts of some very good movies including "Star Trek". It has a great ensemble cast headlined by Chris Pine, Elizabeth Banks and Michelle Pfeiffer. The premise of the movie itself is intriguing (a brother and sister meeting for the first time after their father's death). All that adds up to make the final product all the more disappointing. This is an awkwardly put together film with flat characters who interact with each other in bizarre ways, alienating the audience while dragging us to its sappy conclusion. There's too much talent in front of and behind the camera to be content with a mess like this.

Bryce *1/2

BANGERANG SCORE: *1/2

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

It has finally arrived. The 2012 film that we were most looking forward to has hit the big screen and it was worth the wait. "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" tells the story of Bilbo Baggins and his adventures that take place prior to "The Lord of the Rings" films. While the story doesn't hold as much weight as that of the previous films, "The Hobbit" still has plenty of that Middle-Earth magic we've come to know and love. The performances are fantastic (especially Martin Freeman's turn as Bilbo) and the visuals are as stunning as ever. Peter Jackson has over-extended himself a bit this time around however, with too much CGI and a few unnecessary subplots. Even with those flaws, this is a welcome return to the world of Tolkien and is among the year's best.

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

BANGERANG SCORE: ***