Top 10 Most Anticipated Movies of 2013... And Beyond

1. X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014)

"X-Men: First Class" is probably my favorite movie of all time. The film had everything: a complex storyline, plenty of action to back it up, and great acting from its lead roles, with James McAvoy as Professor X and Michael Fassbender as Magneto, respectively. With the entire cast returning, as well as a (hopefully) bigger part for Hugh Jackman's Wolverine, this movie is most definitely taking the cake on my list of most anticipated movies.
2. Star Trek: Into Darkness (2013)

The 2009 "Star Trek" remake was simply incredible. Chris Pine did a great job as James T. Kirk, as did Zachary Quinto as Spock. For a second there, I thought they were going to let a sequel fall to the wayside, but J.J. Abrams saved the day. With an all new villain (And it's not the Klingons!) for the crew to take on, this sequel is shaping up to be one of the best movies of 2013, which is saying a LOT.

3. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014)

There isn't enough good to say about "The Rise of the Planet of the Apes". It was a good to see James Franco in a serious role outside of Spider-Man, and Andy Serkis, as always, was impeccable in the body suit technology. And even though Franco may be departing from the sequel, I think director Rupert Wyatt will find a way to uphold what made TRPA so good.

4. Man of Steel (2013)

I have a soft spot for superhero movies, and none more so than those that are about Superman. He's been a favorite of mine since I was little kid, and I'm excited to see how Christopher Nolan's involvement will change the portrayal of the character. We saw how cool Nolan made a guy with a utility belt look. Just think what he'll do to a guy who can fly.

5. Gangster Squad (2013)

Although I do really want to see this movie (Sean Penn, Ryan Gosling, and Josh Brolin- Are you kidding me?), the main reason it's so high on this list is because of the fake Warner Bros. pulled on all the excited fans. The film was initially slated for a September 7, 2012 release, but was pushed back to January 11, 2013 in the wake of the Aurora shooting. The L.A. Noir feel of the trailer has me excited though.

6. Iron Man 3 (2013)

Didn't I tell you I was a sucker for superhero movies? Even though "Iron Man 2" was somewhat lacking, I know that in the wake of how great "The Avengers" was, the newest installment in the franchise that started this whole concept of a shared universe will be great as well. And it helps that they're going to be incorporating the Extremis storyline. Honestly, if you haven't read that comic, you haven't lived.

7. 300: Rise of an Empire (2013)

"300" was everyone's guilty pleasure. Regardless of how ridiculous the battle scenes were, we've all been waiting for a sequel. Even if it did take 6 years to make.
8. Kick-Ass 2 (2013)

"Kick-Ass" was a great film, simply because it was so unique. The movie found a way to balance hardcore violence with laugh-until-you-cry humor, which made for one heck of a viewing experience. With most of the original cast returning and Jim Carrey signing on, this film is a must-see.
9. G.I. Joe: Retaliation (2013)

Much like "Gangster Squad", this film has garnered my anticipation from the fact that it was pushed back from its original release date. Also, it has, what could be the sickest trailer of all time. The film was delayed due to the fact that Channing Tatum's character was killed early on in the film. After the success of Tatum's films "The Vow" and "21 Jump Street", however, the producers reworked the script to give Tatum a bigger role. Although some of the original players won't be back, the addition of the Rock and the resurrection of Storm Shadow (Yeah, he's that cool) makes up for the losses.

10. Noah (2014)

In this biblical epic about the story of Noah and the Flood, Russell Crowe will deliver what is sure to be an Academy-Award-winning performance as the titular character. Crowe is always great in dramas, and I've yet to see a serious movie made about bible stories (No Mel Gibson, your movies do NOT count.).

Many Fans Can't Contain Excitement for 'Man of Steel'

Many Fans Can't Contain Excitement for 'Man of Steel'

"Man of Steel", scheduled for release on June 14, 2013 is the newest superhero reboot of the decade-- and some say it could be the best. Starring Henry Cavill as the Big Blue Boy Scout, "Man of Steel" will take a new look at Superman and his origins. Michael Shannon will also play the villainous General Zod, with actress Amy Adams as Lois Lane. And although little is known about the exact premise of the movie, the film's teaser trailer and actual trailer have the interwebs buzzing with excitement, and also with hopes that it won't be anything like the most recent Superman movie.

Henry Cavill (Stardust, Immortals, The Tudors) is the third man to play Superman in a live action film to date. The series began with Christopher Reeve in 1978 with the film "Superman". The film was both a critical and commercial success, and spawned a second, third and fourth movie, titled "Superman II" (1980), "Superman III" (1983) and "Superman IV: The Quest for Peace" (1987), respectively. Christopher Reeve became almost legendary for his portrayal of the character, and was a celebrated actor, until his death on October 10, 2004.

After a nearly 20 year hiatus, the series returned, with Brandon Routh as the titular character in "Superman Returns". The film received positive reviews, with many praising Kevin Spacey's performance as Lex Luthor. It appeared that everything was in order for another sequel to the franchise, which director Bryan Singer and most of the cast signing on for a sequel. Production, however, was halted after Warner Bros. decided that a reboot of the film series would be the best course of action.

And so, all of us DC Comics fans have been left to wait for 'Man of Steel'. And boy, is the movie shaping up to be a good one. Christopher Nolan, who directed and produced the Dark Knight trilogy has signed onto the project, as has Zack Snyder, the director of "300" (You know, that movie about grown men in capes and underwear?). And get this: Hans Zimmer, the mastermind behind the soundtracks of movies like "Gladiator", "The Lion King", "The Prince of Egypt", "Inception", and all three films in the Dark Knight trilogy, has signed on to do the score for the film. I mean really, how much movie greatness can you fit into one movie?

Henry Cavill will portray Superman

Although the high expectations around the film may be warranted based on all the names working on it, they may just be its downfall. Fans have expected greatness of producers before, and their hopes have been thrown into the dirt to be stomped upon by the writers and actors involved in a film. Just look at what happened with the Green Lantern film.

Superman has been the greatest superhero since his creation in 1938. His strong sense of morality and justice has endeared him to the hearts and souls of comic book fans everywhere. And although the movie moguls in Hollywood want to make bank off of the upcoming reboot to the franchise, all true fans like myself want to see is a film that finally does the magnificence of the character justice. So here's to the hope that they get it right with this one.

'Last Resort' is Cancelled Despite Its Brilliance

'Last Resort' is Cancelled Despite its Brilliance

The cover art for ABC's 'Last Resort'

Last Resort is, what I believe to be, the best new television series of 2012. I think this show had the potential to rival perennial favorites such as AMC's "The Walking Dead" (Of which I am an avid fan) and CBS's NCIS (Of which I am also an avid fan). I loved this show so much, not simply because of its cast or because of its writing, but because of the ingenuity and innovation seen in its premise. That is why I was really disappointed to learn that ABC plans to cancel the series once it finishes its 13 episode run.
The show tells the story of the renegade crew of the U.S.S. Colorado, a nuclear submarine. After receiving a fire order through an emergency channel, the captain of the boat, Marcus Chaplin (Andre Braugher) questions the order, and asks that it be confirmed. After refusing to fire until receiving proper confirmation, Chaplin is relieved of command by then Secretary of Defense, William Curry. Sam Kendal (Scott Speedman), the ship's second-in-command, is then given reign over the boat. After he too questions the order, the U.S.S. Colorado is fired upon by an American submarine. Then, two nuclear missiles are launched on Pakistan. Chaplin parks his submarine on the small island of San Marina, and he and his crew declare themselves a sovereign nation with nuclear capabilities. This all happens in the first episode. Yes, the show is that good.

The premise of this show's pilot was so unique and shocking, that I couldn't help but to tune in and watch. I wasn't disappointed. Never has so daring and so captivating a television series existed. Even the first episode had a completely developed beginning, middle and end, leaving all of the viewers salivating for more. And yet, after only 10 episodes, the show has been dropped by ABC. And although it is unequivocally the best show of the many that have premiered this fall season, it has fallen, just as several other new series have.



Outsourced was released in 2010

 Travesties like this are what really frustrate me about the television industry. Great new shows are often cancelled, simply because they cannot attract the views that big shows like CBS's 'Two and Half Men' can. One of my favorite shows from NBC was the comedy series 'Outsourced', about a guy who was outsourced to a call center in India by his American-owned company. The show was hilarious, and yet, got canceled because it couldn't compete with the monopolies of the industry.

I understand that the television industry requires big views in a small amount of time. But I feel like sometimes, networks cut shows short without giving them a chance to flourish. I just know that 'Last Resort' could have become a smash hit had it been given more time. I may, however, be speaking from the bias of a true fan. But some shows are just too good to be cancelled. And 'Last Resort' was definitely one of them.

My Top Ten Movies of 2012

1. The Dark Knight Rises (Of Course)


In the explosive (literally) conclusion to the Dark Knight trilogy, Batman (Christian Bale) must face quite possibly his most formidable foe yet, in the masked Bane (Tom Hardy). This thrilling film was obviously my choice for 'Best Film of 2012'.

2. The Avengers

In the biggest superhero mash-up to date, Marvel's superheroes must battle the formiddable Loki (Tom Hiddleston) as he tries to destroy Earth. The heroes must learn to fight together, or lose the Earth forever. A combination of good acting and a well-written script makes this movie shine.

3. End of Watch



After confiscating a small amount of money and firearms from members of a notorious drug cartel, Brian Taylor (Jake Gyllenhaal) and Miguel Zavala (Michael Pena) are marked for death. This gut-clenching movie promises to keep you on the edge of your seat throughout.

4. The Hunger Games

Jennifer Lawrence stars in this nail-biting thriller as Katniss Everdeen, a tough-as-nails teenager in a dystopian post-apocalyptic future. When Katniss' sister is selected to compete in a fight to the death, Katniss must volunteer herself, taking her sister's place in the arena.

5. Skyfall

Daniel Craig returns as James Bond in the latest installment of the 007 franchise. In this film, Bond's loyalty to M is tried as her past returns to haunt her. When the agency is attacked, Bond must eliminate the threat, no matter the cost.

6. Prometheus

Prometheus is every sci-fi nerd's fantasy, as Aliens director Ridley Scott (the god of science fiction) returns to the franchise again. After discovering heiroglyphic maps, two scientists assemble a team to venture into deep space to answer questions bigger than any of them could imagine. What they find, however, will change mankind forever...

7. Looper

Time travel will be invented... In the future. And when the future's mob wants to get rid of someone, they send the target into the past, where a looper (a mercenary) disposes of the target. Joe (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) is one such looper. But everything changes when the mob decides to close his loop by sending Joe's future self to be killed.

8. Ted

In Seth MacFarlane's big screen debut, Mark Walhberg stars as John Bennett a man who must learn to live without his teddy bear. Sounds dumb? Here's the catch: The teddy bear, portrayed by MacFarlane, is actually alive.

9. Lincoln

Daniel Day Lewis stars as the titular character in this biopic that chronicles the final months of the 16th President's presidency. Lincoln must find a way to unite the country, end the Civil War and abolish slavery during a tumultuous time.

10. 21 Jump Street

When Morton Schmidt (Jonah Hill) and Greg Jenko (Channing Tatum) are assigned to go undercover as high school students to shut down a synthetic drug ring, the pair are forced to live high school all over again.

Why I Hate Call of Duty: Black Ops 2

When Activision announced Call of Duty: Black Ops 2, or BO2, the Internet became alive with teaser trailers, tips, and plot predictions. When the actual trailer was released, Internet became alive with posts about why this game would be incredible. For God's sake, it was set in the future. Basement-dwelling nerds and casual Saturday-night players alike all joined in mutual excitement and anticipation of the newest title in the Call of Duty series. And when BO2 finally hit stores on November 13, 2012, it had the biggest entertainment launch in history. I'm not ashamed to say I camped out for the midnight release with a few friends. I had the game, and everything was great. But then, something terrible happened: I turned on my PS3 and put BO2 inside.

Understand, writing a rant on this video game was near impossible, simply because there's so much that I hate, I was unsure where to begin. So, I decided to brainstorm until my thoughts coalesced into one cohesive, well-written review. Well, you can see how that turned out here. I do want to make it clear, however, that I do not hate EVERYTHING about this game. But I do feel the multiplayer game mode is severely lacking.

The multiplayer mode in BO2 is almost a complete overhaul of the system. In this title, Activision and Treyarch decided to implement the new 'Pick 10' system. Now, I can't explain the Call of Duty "Create-a-Class" system, so I'll summarize the 'Pick 10' innovation by simply saying this: The 'Pick 10' system allows more customization based on player preference for each class than in any other title before it. Sounds great, right? Not so fast. Treyarch has made this system a double-edged sword by making proficiencies that were perks in previous games into gun attachments. For example, the perk "Sleight of Hand" allowed players to reload their weapons faster in previous titles. In BO2, however, this proficiency has become a gun attachment. Why is this bad, you ask? Well, it significantly reduces the bang for your buck when it comes to customizing your personal classes. This has made the game much harder, and for less experienced players, no fun at all.

Another pitfall of the developments made in BO2 is the new "Scorestreaks" system. In previous titles, a player would be rewarded for going on what was dubbed a "killstreak". This was when a player would rack up a certain amount of kills within one life, that is, without dying. These rewards ranged from a pack of dogs that would hunt down the opposing team to a radar scanner that would identify enemies on the HUD (Heads-Up-Display). In BO2, however, these rewards are now based on how many points a player gets within one life. This add-on has had a negative effect on the game in a big way. The developers feel that since the game's rewards are now based on score, they should be much harder to acquire, and to an extent, I agree. You can get points from just about anything, and I think it would be unfair if the "Scorestreaks" were accessible to less experienced players. But the exact opposite has happened. For example, in Call of Duty: Black Ops (this game's prequel), a pack of dogs required 11 consecutive kills. In BO2, however, a pack of dogs requires 1900 points, which is equivalent to 19 consecutive kills. NINETEEN. The level of skill required to get 19 consecutive kills in BO2 is ridiculous, and it's safe to say that level of skill is not possessed by all the members of the COD community.

Listen. I understand that the hair-pulling frustration one experiences while playing any Call of Duty title is what makes the franchise so addictive to many. I too have taken pleasure in destroying 7 year old children screaming into a microphone about "noobs" and "try-hards". And I have also thrown my own controller at the walls of my room in anger, only to pick it back up and try again. But these were all because I was besting, or being bested by other players. In BO2, however, I no longer feel the urge to try again. I also understand that the series has been around for a while, and that the developers feel the need to breathe life back into the franchise. But most people have been playing the games since the series was introduced. We've become accustomed to the style of the series, and we wouldn't have it any other way. In fact, all the additions this game has have made it impossible for veterans of the series, like myself, to enjoy the game. That is why I don't think Activision should try to completely revamp the series, and that is why I hate Call of Duty: Black Ops 2.

Newtown Massacre Sparks Gun Control Debate

On December 14, 2012, Adam Lanza killed his mother with an AR-15 assault rifle. He then made his way to Sandy Hook Elementary School, armed with the aforementioned assault rifle, as well as two handguns (a Glock and a Sig Sauer). There, he managed to kill 26 more people, including 20 children (none over the age of 7), before killing himself. On April 20, 1999, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold attacked Columbine High School in Littleton, CO, killing 13 people and wounding 21 others before killing themselves. The two were in possession of two sawed-off shotguns, as well as a high powered carbine and a semi-automatic handgun. This massacre was, at the time, the deadliest school shooting in United States history. On April 16, 2007, in the deadliest school shooting in United States history, Virginia Tech student Seung-Hui Choi murdered 32 people, wounding 26 more before committing suicide. On the day of the attack, Choi was armed with two semi-automatic handguns, ordered offline. These tragedies have all sparked debate about the validity of the 2nd Amendment right to bear arms. My sole question is this: What purpose do weapons serve?

All of the aforementioned massacres, as well as the countless others that have taken place on American soil could have been prevented with the ban of firearms. In 2010, the latest year for which statistics are available, 8,775 people were murdered with guns in the United States. The Small Arms Survey, published in 2007, showed that although the United States is home to less than 5% of the world's population, it is home to roughly 35-50% of the world's civilian owned guns. All of these statistical surveys show that the United States is home to an unusually high rate of gun violence, and yet our government makes no attempts to cut down on the chance of gun violence.

Many people make the argument that guns are the right of Americans based on the Constitution, and that it's something our forefathers would want us to have. But you have to look at the context under which the Constitution was written. 1787 (the year the Constitution was written) was less than 10 years after the Revolutionary War, a time when men took up arms against the tyrant King George III and achieved victory. It was a time when these men were still convinced that weapons were necessary for the self-defense of civilians. But back then, the deadliest weapon there was was a slow-loading musket, that had a firing rate of four shots per minute. Today's weapons can fire at a rate of up to 950 rounds a minute. That's 15 bullets a second.

There's also the school of thought that the Constitution is an unadulterated, shining guide when it comes to how a government should be run. But let's take a look at some of the other literature of the time. In 1776, our Declaration of Independence declared that African Americans were only 3/5 human. And yet, we do not still live by that assertion. My point is that the idead of a right to bear arms is an outdated one. We no longer live in a time of shifting regimes and revolution. We are the United States of America. We are free. We are independent. The time for militias and civilian-owned guns is over. For anyone to say that an assault rifle loaded with .223 mm hollow point bullets has a purpose is simply ludicrous. We have to move on from the constraints of the past, and understand that not everything our forefathers did was saint-like. Living by documents written over 200 years old is insane, and tragedies such as the Columbine, the Sandy Hook massacre, and the Virginia Tech shooting can all be prevented.

Guns play no role in our society in the hands of civilians. It has become much too easy to acquire them, and it is making life hazardous to your health. We have people supporting gun ownership who are bewildered when things with firearms go awry. The only way to eliminate the possibility of gun violence is to ban the sale and production of firearms for non-military use.

No Country for Old Men Review

"What's the Most You Ever Lost on a Coin Toss?"
Before you continue reading this, be informed: “No Country for Old Men” is the greatest movie that has ever been written, directed and acted. Ever. Yes, I’m looking at you Godfather fans. This may be bold, but statements like this must always be made for those worthy works. And trust me, “No Country for Old Men” is worthy.

The Coen Brothers, who wrote, directed, and produced the film, have finally outdone themselves with this work of art that tells the thrilling tale of Llewelyn Moss (Josh Brolin), a 1980s Texas welder who finds $2 million in drug money in the desert and the efforts of Anton Chigurh (Javier Bardem), a hired hit man, and Ed Tom Bell ( Tommy Lee Jones), the county sheriff, to find and secure the money.

Tommy Lee Jones as Ed Tom Bell

The film opens with a monologue from Bell (Jones), as he describes a past case that ended in the execution of a teenage boy who’d killed his 14-year-old girlfriend. The substance of the passage isn’t much, but Jones delivers it with such impeccable vocal control that you can’t help but to be excited for what it is to come.

The film starts out with Moss (Brolin) coming across a drug deal gone awry, finding many dead men and dead dogs. After retrieving the money, Moss is chased for some way by two men in a truck. Moss eludes the men, and so begins the game of cat and mouse between himself and Chigurh (Bardem).



Javier Bardem as Anton Chigurh

 Anton Chigurh, who is played perfectly by Bardem, stars as the antagonist of this story, a relentless and merciless killer. We meet this villain at a county police station where he garrotes the on-duty guard with his handcuffs and steals a patrol car. From then on, we see Bardem as someone who regards themselves as an “Angel of Death” of sorts. Chigurh is always there, never more than a step behind Moss. This narcissistic sociopath is regarded with awe by the other characters, simply for the fact that they are shocked so evil a man could exist.

The movie chronicles a heart-quickening story of cat and mouse. On one hand, we have the unassuming Moss, who is simply a man who happened to find a satchel full of money. On the other, we have the evil and omnipresent Chigurh, who constantly is the source of conflict in this chilling saga.

Josh Brolin portrays Llewelyn Moss

In what is most likely the greatest scene of the movie, Chigurh finds his way into a gas station. He and the clerk begin to engage in a verbal exchange that is moved along just as much by the terror hidden in the clerk’s words and movements as it is the permeating and suffocating silence of the scene (Oh yeah, there’s no sound track (But don’t think that’s bad)). Although Chigurh asks the clerk to call a coin toss, both men truly know that Chigurh is deciding whether or not to kill him. The implied stakes and the exceptional writing and timing of delivery are really what make this scene great.

This movie flawlessly employs the use of time, place, fate, choices, and chance for the viewer’s benefit, as it uses the violence of the West to subtly hide it’s true message: That everything happens for a reason. The relationship that builds between Chigurh and Moss is remarkable, as one man always knows the other is nearby. The suspense of this film is truly what makes it a sight to see.

In an era of film where trash has become the norm, “No Country for Old Men” is truly an exceptional cinematic work, and is a must see for any movie-lover. The movie asks very intelligent questions while also posing dark answers. “No Country for Old Men” shows us a startlingly real and depressing view of society, and reminds us that true resolution lies in none at all. Its four Academy Awards were justly earned, and I hope to see more from the Coen Brothers in the future.