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