Book of Blood (2009)

Clive Barker's recent film adaptation have been dark in lighting and weak on story and follow through, while they do tend to have a big finish, getting there... Is it worth it? With Book of Blood I would have to agree not. The ghost scenes at the end are spooky and the end does tend to be faithful to the source material, what we have leading up to it just falls flat. A paranormal scientist (Sophie Ward) and her assistant are conducting research in a supposed haunted house when she finds a haunted young man who she will use as the conduit. Now this set-up works but it lasts the majority of the movie just to find out... Well, you'll have to watch the film and see, but I think it causes the movie to have major faults, who knows maybe you've already turned it off and moved on by this point, which just shows it really isn't worth it to get all this build up to be let down and miss out on an ending that is worth watching.

5 out 10

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962)

While the storyline of The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance is a basic western premise, the film is captivating in its simplicity and genius in its execution. It is one worth watching again and again, in any capacity: it's a perfect movie to cheer you up when you're sad, or to help you wallow in your own self-pity. It's a movie you want to share with friends, and also one you would love to watch with only your significant other. The film itself is a classic without being overrated. After the film's brief set-up, the story is told of a bad man named Liberty Valance (Lee Marvin) who attacks the unsuspecting lawyer Ransom Stoddard (James Stewart), leaving him penniless and without dignity. Ransom sets up shop in the small town of Shinbone, where the stage is set for him to steal away the woman that had been claimed by Tom Doniphon (John Wayne.) As the story progresses, it is clear that something must be done about Liberty Valance, who has a thirst for Ransom's good-hearted blood. The film unfolds into a series of suspense-building scenes that climax with a classic shoot-out in the streets of Shinbone. By far, the best part of this movie is the acting. Lee Marvin, as always, is chilling as the eccentric villain who drinks just a bit too much. John Wayne is stoic and masculine, but seems to soften just for the woman of his dreams, Hallie (Vera Miles). These moments are heart-wrenching and bittersweet, the definitive sign of an actor showing some true emotion. James Stewart is charming in his clumsiness. The change in his character from when he first arrives in the town to when he re-visits years later is vast, and proves that Stewart is an acting force to be reckoned with. These talents are supplemented with actors like Edmond O'Brien, Andy DeVine, and John Carradine (amongst others) who brighten the film with their distinctive quirks, and give a bit of comical relief to an otherwise gripping film. Overall, this movie is a joy, and I can tell I'll like it the more it sits with me. It's simple, classic, and captivating. The acting is phenomenal and the story is extremely satisfying. It is bittersweet, yet it leaves room for hope and prosperity. This film isn't just a western; it's a life lesson. Rating: 9.5 out of 10

The Time Traveler's Wife (2009)

The film would more aptly be titled the Time Traveler, for we follow him and his dilemma that is known as Chrono-Displacement. He travels forward and backward in his own time and not of his own free-will. Even though we follow him throughout his life the film can't help but place the sympathy on his wife who goes through so much more pain and hardship. She deals with his two-week hiatus during their first Christmas and new years following their marriage, he wasn't around during the miscarriage she had to endure. She manages to pull through all this and love him no matter what. They say absence makes the heart grow fonder and it shows on the screen for each time Claire (Rachel McAdams) sees Henry (Eric Bana) its like a huge heart warming revelation that this may be the last time they see each other and she needs to make the most of it. Love. Eric Bana is amazing on the screen, he's extremely likable, he pulls at your heart strings when you see him disappear, you can feel the pain the each person must be going through for this loss. Rachel McAdams is just as good but she can't help but get over shadowed by Eric Bana because she comes off as the perfect wife and very accepting of everything. While all the emotion that's possible fills the screen there is plenty that is left out and feels like its in fast forward. A great film to watch and get captivated by, but so much more could have been explored and to its benefit had it been.

7 out 10

Executive Action (1973)

Executive Action is JFK two decades before the fact. Instead of feeling like a blatent conspiracy theory, it presents facts in conjunction with real footage, enhanced with a compelling "what-if" situation, to convey a shockingly realistic idea of what really happened in the grassy knoll. Interestingly enough, the protagonists of the film are the right-wing conspirators who used political reasonings to justify the murder of President Kennedy. While there is an extreme sense of injustice regarding the ease at which the politicos sort out the assassination, there is also a strange sense of sympathy. This can be attributed to the acting talents of Burt Lancaster, Robert Ryan, and Will Geer (amongst others). Burt Lancaster has always been one of my favorite actors. His dedication to the portrayal of vital roles and characters is always a shining moment on the screen. And it seems that as he got older, this gift of his just became more delightful to watch. Even in a bleakly honest portrayal of a president's assassination, Lancaster lightens up the screen and makes the film truth. The story may not be true or even warranted. The film may make the scandal seem like a forever-unsolved mystery that can only be speculated about. It may even put the government in an unnecessary bad light. All in all, though, Executive Action entertains and educates. It exists to answer a question with another question. It exists to make one think and feel; that is where the success of the film lies. Overall rating: 7.5 out of 10