The Impossible

"The Impossible" is the most gut-wrenching movie I've seen in years. This retelling of the true story of a family caught in the turmoil of the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004 is as heart-breaking as it is graphic. I can't believe they got away with a PG-13 rating. Ewan McGregor and Naomi Watts give terrific performances as the parents of this family and really give the audience insight into the pain and fear that this couple experienced along with thousands of others. The film really takes the wind out of you which was the goal of the filmmakers I suppose. It's well made and definitely deserves the praise it's receiving but it is certainly not one that I'm dying to see again.

Bryce ***

BANGERANG SCORE: ***

Beasts of the Southern Wild

I don't get it. That pretty well sums up my thoughts on 2012's independent film darling "Beasts of the Southern Wild". The film looks good and the performances are really good (especially Quvenzhane Wallis in the starring role - one of the better child performances I've seen). It's not that the message of the film is overly obscure - it's essentially a coming-of-age story. It's how the story is told that really had me scratching my head. The narrative framework as well as much of the dialogue comes off as very self-indulgent and sometimes downright weird. Director Ben Zeitlin obviously has a lot of talent. He just needs to reign it in a little bit in his next effort.

Bryce **

BANGERANG SCORE: **

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: ***

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: ***