Welcome to The Reel Deal. In this column you will find reviews for all of the movies that I go to see. I rate my reviews on a scale of 1 to 10 to highlight whether the movie is worth seeing in theaters or only worth renting once. I love to go to see movies whenever something good comes out, but if there’s one thing I hate, it’s when I end up paying for a terrible movie!
War Horse Review
Before the time when soldiers had cars, tanks, and other vehicles to ride them out to battle, there were war horses. Even though a horse during a war didn’t have nearly as much value or importance as a soldier, they still played a big part in helping those soldiers. From carrying supplies to riding off in the front-lines with a soldier to battle, horses are the under-looked and forgotten heroes of many wars. Now, Steven Spielberg has returned to directing with his feature film “War Horse,” interestingly enough being released very shortly after his previous CG film, The Adventures of Tintin. But this is no kids’ movie; this is a war movie, and it captures the impact of it while also bringing in Spielberg’s classic storytelling. The result is a film that, while occasionally over-sentimental, is a thrilling and daring movie that quickly warms its way into your heart. Rating: 8/10 – Great.
The Adventures of Tintin Review
Steven Spielberg. That name alone is enough to sell tickets and possibly make cinematic gold. The critically acclaimed director has brought us many classics such as E.T., Jaws, and Close Encounters of the Third Kind. But he also brought us an action-adventure that everyone knows and loves, Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark. Every action-adventure film has tried to surpass this film, and though Spielberg’s own ‘Last Crusade’ came close, ‘Raiders’ still remains the pinnacle of the action-adventure genre. Now Spielberg is stepping into both new and old territory with The Adventures of Tintin, a movie based on the popular comic series that is filmed entirely with motion capture thanks to producer Peter Jackson. While the film is a ton of fun to watch and brings back a lot of nostalgia in its design, it’s not perfect. Nonetheless, Spielberg and Jackson have created a fun action-adventure movie that kids can probably get into. Rating: 7/10 – Good.
Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol Review
Well if it isn’t our old friend Ethan Hunt, back for Round 4 of action-craziness. Yes, Ethan is back in the fourth installment to the Mission Impossible series, Ghost Protocol. Tom Cruise once again reprises his role in the series, but also brings along Jeremy Renner and director Brad Bird. The Mission Impossible series is known for having big action sequences that borderline on the insane and preposterous level (especially in the second film), but that’s what makes them so fun to watch. Director Brad Bird knows this, and energizes this film with adrenaline and heart-stopping action sequences. The result is a film that plays out in similar to its predecessors, but bigger and better than ever. Rating: 8/10 – Great.
Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows Review
When you think about famous detectives, your first choice is most likely Sherlock Holmes. But how would you react it somebody told you that he is also an action hero? Most likely you would scoff at the idea, but that’s exactly what director Guy Ritchie did in 2009’s “Sherlock Holmes.” Drawing from Sherlock’s witty side while also invigorating the famous detective with action and style, Ritchie’s take was a vastly different caricature of Holmes, and the result divided some people. I enjoyed it watching it before going into the sequel, A Game of Shadows, though I admit I also have some mixed feelings about the first one. This movie is no different. Though “Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows” does make some improvements over the first movie, it also suffers from several stumbles that put this sequel slightly below its predecessor. Rating: 6/10 – Passable.
Seth Childers is a Senior at Hidden Valley High School. For more in-depth movie reviews visit him on the web at: http://reel-deal.tumblr.com or send your comments to [email protected].
