[8.50/10] The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

Brief review: Even if it doesn't quite meet the high expectation set by its predecessors, Nolan's long-anticipated conclusion to his "Batman" trilogy is still a great way to end the franchise. In spite of its 164-minute running time, "TDKR" never fails to entertain, thanks to the clever writing and gripping narrative, enhanced by the film's visual depth. In the same fashion as "The Dark Knight", "TDKR" has little to no 'comic book feel' about it, simply because its director tries to keep everything as realistic as possible. Unfortunately, that combined with the lack of humor makes it seem a bit too serious at times. Execution-wise, "TDKR" is nothing short of masterful, but considering Nolan's amazing skills that's not a surprise. Pfister's muted, almost noir-ish cinematography and gritty camera work match perfectly with both the movie's dark tone and Gotham City's grim atmosphere, and Nolan's refined, yet vigorous direction maintains the intensity of the story. While far from epic, the action scenes are well-shot and thrilling to watch, and the CGI work is first-rate and intentionally kept to a minimum. The acting is superb. Although a bit underused, Christian Bale turns in his best Batman performance yet. Anne Hathaway steals every scene as the seductive, yet shifty and manipulative Catwoman, Tom Hardy does an outstanding job as the astounding villain, Bane, and Marion Cotillard and Joseph Gordon-Levitt are at their very best.

Overall summary: Pretty much humorless and tad overlong, yet never boring, "The Dark Knight Rises" is a beyond satisfying conclusion to Chris Nolan's worldwide acclaimed "Batman" trilogy, that boasts a deeply thoughtful script, strong characters, and top-notch execution.

[8.75/10] The Amazing Spider-Man [3D] (2012)

The Amazing Spider-Man [3D] (2012)

Brief review: Let's be clear - this ain't a remake of Sam Raimi's version from ten years ago, simply because Raimi didn't invent the story - Marvel did. Therefore, Webb's "The Amazing Spider-Man" should be considered a reboot, and as such, it takes the franchise to whole new heights. Yes, it comes way too soon and it's far from necessary, but the new director Marc Webb manages to refresh the series and put his own cool spin on it, in a way no one had expected. Аpart from the lack of originality, "The Amazing Spider-Man" is not only way slicker in execution and technically superior to the 2002's "Spider-Man", but also bigger, better, smarter, funnier and much more accomplished. Eat your heart out, Sam Raimi! Webb skilfully balances strong character development with thrillingly innovative action, and his uber-stylish direction features an exceptionally dynamic and diverse camera work that sets the energetic pace of the movie. The humorously witty script contrasts with the dark visuals, which are absolutely stunning, and the use of 3D is effective, without being overpowering. As Spider-Man, Andrew Garfield is much more engaging and sympathetic than Tobey Maguire, not to mention the incredible Emma Stone, who draws the viewer's attention every time she shows up on screen. Compared to Dr. Octopus from "Spider-Man 2", the Lizard is not as memorable, but is still a decent and worthy enough villain.

Overall summary: Although it comes only 10 years after the 'original', "The Amazing Spider-Man" not only does Marvel's original story justice, but surpasses Sam Raimi's version in terms of execution, visuals, acting, entertainment value, action and CGIs, as it's amazing indeed.

[5.50/10] Lockout (2012)

Lockout (2012)

QuickRating: Guy Pearce's super cool character and his fantastically amusing performance make the movie perfectly watchable and at times even satisfyingly entertaining, and the futuristic visuals, while far from spectacular, work for the most part, but "Lockout" lacks originality big time and often feels like a hybrid of dozen other (and better) sci-fi flicks, and that really brings this otherwise well-crafted and decently action-packed movie down.

[5.25/10] Extraterrestrial (2012)

Extraterrestrial (2012)

QuickRating: An odd, yet original combination of sci-fi, comedy and romance, the Spanish hybrid of a film is possibly the first-ever alien invasion movie, that is all about the characters and their relationships and not about the aliens at all. The characters themselves are flawed, yet charming and likable, and the movie is filled with tons of amusing situations, but sadly, in its second half, "Extraterrestrial" gets totally lost in its own quirkiness.

[5.75/10] Snow White and the Huntsman (2012)

Snow White and the Huntsman (2012)

Brief review: After Tarsem Singh's quirky take on Snow White earlier this year, first-time director Rupert Sanders brings us his darker version of the classic fairy tale. But while his "Snow White and the Huntsman" is bigger in budget and way more ambitious than "Mirror Mirror", it also has more flaws. After a rushed beginning, the uneven first hour of the movie continues to disappoint with clumsy storytelling, poor pacing and many incoherent, badly-edited scenes. Having said that, the movie somehow manages to redeem itself in its second half, becoming brisker, neater and way more entertaining. In terms of visuals, the movie is absolutely stunning to watch, but in a grim sort of way. The rich production design impresses with its imaginativeness and the color palette is appropriately murky. Shot on Kodak 65mm & 35mm anamorphic footage, "Snow White and the Huntsman" also has that authentic, old-fashioned feel about it, but that combined with the gloomy cinematography, makes it look a bit too fuzzy. The acting is hit-or-miss. Kristen Stewart's acting abilities have slightly improved, but it's quite obvious that she still can't overcome her awkwardness. Chris Hemsworth is perfectly-cast for the role, plus, he's strong enough as the Huntsman, without overshadowing the rest of the cast. The dwarfs often steal the show, but the real star of the movie is Charlize Theron, who fully inhabits her royally vicious character.

Overall summary: It boldly flaunts first class production values and darkly beautiful visuals, and the majority of the cast does a solid job, but "Snow White and the Huntsman" is let down by the lack of cohesive narrative, steady pacing and any truly memorable moments.

[9.00/10] Prometheus [3D] (2012)

Prometheus [3D] (2012)

Brief review: Scott's most talked-about movie in years, "Prometheus", can be considered a prequel to "Alien" as it's similar in style and has a last-minute connection with it, but it also works as a standalone piece, that deals with a completely different subject about discovering the origin of mankind. Even though "Prometheus" leaves more questions than it provides answers, it's still a constantly intriguing and quietly absorbing sci-fi horror with a taut, thoughtful and intelligent story, that grabs your interest and never lets go. There are some truly intense and frightening moments in it too, with the 'surgery' and 'engineer vs creature' scenes deserving a special mention. Even from the stunning opening sequence you could tell that "Prometheus" will be yet another strikingly-looking movie from Ridley Scott, who once again demonstrates his unique visual style and attention to detail. There's a certain sophistication about his direction, that makes the film gorgeous to look at, but in a subtle sort of way - the set design is imaginative, the cinematography is atmospheric, and the use of 3D is impressive. The cast is absolutely stellar. Noomi Rapace delivers an engaging performance as the clever and daring, yet fragile scientist, Elizabeth, Idris Elba is superb as the spaceship captain, Fassbender is perfectly-cast as the insensible android, and Ms. Theron draws the viewers' attention every time she shows up on screen.

Overall summary: Compelling, expertly-made and visually-stupendous, Ridley Scott's "Alien" prequel-esque "Prometheus" is an out-of-this-world cinematic experience, that lives up to the hype, thanks to the unlimited creativity and remarkable directing skills of its genius creator.

[6.25/10] Iron Sky (2012)

Iron Sky (2012)

Brief review: This Finnish-German-Australian co-production, titled "Iron Sky", tells the story of Nazi Germans who, after being defeated during WWII back in 1945, escaped to the Moon where they built a space fleet to return in 2018 and conquer the Earth. Featuring bleached-out black man, female US president, tons of sarcastic political jokes, endless irony, amusing overacting and, of course, Nazis on the moon, "Iron Sky" is just as original as it's ludicrous. But it's intentionally ludicrous, in order to be funny, and it is. Well, it is not necessarily laugh-out-loud hilarious, but most of the gags work, and the movie's silliness isn't annoying at all. First-time director Timo Vuorensola deserves some credit for his original approach and spot-on execution. "Iron Sky" cost $7.5 million to make, but it looks at least twice as expensive. The special effects are polished, neat and rich in detail. The Nazi's swastika-shaped secret moon base is stunning to look at, the old-school spaceships are finely-designed, and the color filters used by the cinematographer add stylishness and retro feel to the visuals. Not to mention the impressive battle scenes in the space, which are pure spectacle. Acting-wise, the film is pretty decent as well. Götz Otto is fantastic as the stone-cold evil-minded general, Adler, Julia Dietze is smoking hot as the curious schoolteacher, Renate, and Christopher Kirby delivers as the 'white' black man, Washington.

Overall summary: All the silliness aside, "Iron Sky" is actually a funny, enjoyable, well-made and pretty unique 'Nazi' sci-fi comedy, that proudly boasts some surprisingly cool-looking CGIs and other technical qualities, in spite of its fairly limited budget and inexperienced director.

[9.75/10] The Avengers [3D] (2012)

The Avengers [3D] (2012)

Brief review: Sorry "The Dark Knight" fans, but Marvel's superhero gathering, "The Avengers" easily outshines every other entry into the popular genre. The effectiveness of the otherwise familiar story lies in the ideal balance of its script. Not only the script is smart, humorous and wonderfully-written, but it allows each of its many characters to develop equally and shine on their own. The pacing is quite brisk, yet slow when needed, but the movie never loses its steam and remains engrossing from start to finish. Technically, "The Avengers" delivers and then some. Whedon's direction is so stylish, diverse and accomplished, it's hard to belive that this is only his second feature film. Some of the scenes seem impossible to shoot, but at the same time they feel effortlessly-executed. There's one particular scene during the final battle (where the camera skillfully 'jumps' over from one Avengers member to the next, showing them kicking asses with style), that is so exciting and brilliantly-shot, it will literally blow you away. The rest of the action is first-rate as well, and the CGIs are astoundingly polished and pretty much flawless, apart from the 3D, which is good, but rather unnecessary. The cast is superb in their roles. Hemsworth, Evans, Ruffalo, Johansson and Renner all do a stellar job, but Robert Downey Jr. is the one that steals the show. Hiddleston also turns in a strong performance as the malicious villain, Loki.

Overall summary: Clever, amusing, perfectly-balanced, skillfully-shot and jaw-droppingly action-packed, "The Avengers" is the ultimate dream come true for every single fan of the genre, and arguably the best and most spectacularly entertaining superhero movie ever made.

Read (and comment on) the extended version of my "Avengers 3D" review, written exclusively for White Cat Magazine HERE.

[7.25/10] Battleship (2012)

Battleship (2012)

Brief review: Hitting US theaters on May 18, "Battleship" is "Hancock" director Peter Berg's latest sci-fi flick, that may not win any awards for originality or strong writing, but will certainly deliver on its promise, which is to entertain all the action junkies out there. While its plot is quite by-the-numbers, and there aren't really any big surprises along the way, "Battleship" never takes itself too seriously, and uses its awesome ridiculousness to its advantage. The dialogues are often dumb, however, there's enough humor and funny jokes to make up for the overall silliness of the script. On a technical level, "Battleship" delivers and then some. The pacing is brisk, Peter Berg's direction is energetic, and the camera work is pretty impressive, featuring great variety of angles and moves. If you thought "Skyline" and "Battle L.A." had amazing special effects, wait to see the CGI work on this one. The alien ships are incredibly detailed and look as realistic as possible, and the aliens themselves are competently designed and somewhat cool, especially their shiny costumes (Imagine an Iron Man costume, but an advanced one). The action is epic, with each scene being more stupendous that the last. Taylor Kitsch, Liam Neeson and Brooklyn Decker all do their best with the given material, the supporting cast does a pretty good job as well, and pop star Rihanna is one hell of a badass chick here.

Overall summary: Sure, it's unoriginal and at times quite ridiculous, but "Battleship" manages to compensate with light humor, eye-popping special effects and startlingly explosive action scenes, and the end result is a brainless, yet immensely entertaining sci-fi popcorn flick.

[6.00/10] Wrath of the Titans [3D] (2012)

Wrath of the Titans [3D] (2012)

Brief review: In spite of the atrocious use of 3D, cheesy CGIs and Leterrier's messy direction, 2010's "Clash of the Titans" was a flawed, but watchable fantasy flick, that had its moments of 'guilty pleasure'. Liebesman's sequel also fails to deliver an intelligible and engaging story, it takes itself too seriously, and its script is full of corny lines and cheesy dialogues, but in terms of visuals, action and even acting, "Wrath of the Titans" is definitely an improvement over its predecessor. The special and creature effects are executed with great precision and remarkable attention to detail, and the end result is often eye-popping. The seamless mix of practical set design and CGI scenery is flawless and the 3D is so slick and expertly-done, it feels like the film has been shot in 3D, and not post-converted. Thankfully, the action scenes are high-octane. The Chimera attack, the Cyclops fight and the final battle against Kronos are all dynamically-shot and very thrilling, at times even startling. Acting-wise, "Wrath of the Titans" is hit and miss. Worthington's lack of charisma works against him as usual, but at least he's not annoying to watch. Liam Neeson, Ralph Fiennes and Rosamund Pikedo do their best with the given material, Bill Nighy does a hilarious job as the nutty Hephaestus and Toby Kebbell steals the show with his amusingly stirring performance as Poseidon's dodgy demigod son, Agenor.

Overall summary: Far from great, yet slightly underrated probably due to the bad reputation of its predecessor, "Wrath of the Titans" provides a passable entertainment to those seeking for a 'no brainer' with great action scenes, effective use of 3D, and first class CGI work.

[6.75/10] Mirror Mirror (2012)

Mirror Mirror (2012)

Brief review: It was about time someone to put an ironic, comedic spin on one of the most popular stories of all time, without ruining the magic of it, and director Tarsem Singh does it with flair in “Mirror Mirror”. Unlike the upcoming “Snow White and the Huntsman” which, judging by the trailers, has ‘grimness’ written all over it, the delightfully lighthearted “Mirror Mirror” never takes itself too seriously, and shows a whole new fun side of the classic story. Singh knows his movie is rather superficial, but he manages to make up for the lack of depth with an amusingly ironic script, full of cheeky slapstick humor, engaging characters, and last but not least, splendid visuals. Over the years Singh has proven himself as a true visionary director, and “Mirror Mirror” is yet another visual stunner from him. From the lavish, exuberant sets and gorgeous costumes to the eye-catching color palette and stylish cinematography, everything about this pretty movie is executed to perfection, and pure eye-candy. Unsurprisingly, Julia Roberts steals the show as the wicked and manipulative, yet rather insecure ‘evil’ queen. Lily Collins doesn’t impress with great acting skills or strong screen presence like Roberts does, but her looks are just perfect for Snow White. Armie Hammer gives a passable performance as the dashing prince, but it’s the quirky dwarfs, presented as a group of rebels, that contribute most to the story.

Overall summary: It lacks substance and it’s too forgettable to become a classic, but Tarsem Singh’s “Mirror Mirror” is still a witty, enjoyable and thoroughly refreshing rendition of “Snow White”, that fascinates with its vivid, sumptuous visuals and truly enchanting atmosphere.

Read (and comment on) the extended version of my "Mirror Mirror" review, written exclusively for White Cat Magazine HERE.

[7.25/10] The Hunger Games (2012)

The Hunger Games (2012)

Brief review: Based on Suzanne Collins' novel of the same name, "The Hunger Games" is an engrossing and smoothly-paced adaptation, that stays very true to its source material, but barely lives up to the potential of its dark and gritty premise. Still, it's a dramatically-charged story about sacrifice and bravery, with a touch of romance, led by the strength of its believable lead character. Set in a dystopian future in the country of Panem that consists of one wealthy chief city and twelve very poor, undeveloped districts, "The Hunger Games" combines the ultra-modern and avant-garde with the primitive in a very unique way. The futuristic look of the Capitol contrasts oddly with the poverty of the districts and the Robin Hood-like woods scenery, where the actual Hunger Games take place. That said, Gary Ross otherwise solid direction lack that edgy stylishness that could have made "The Hunger Games" a lot more dramatic, visually. Moreover, if you expect non-stop super-tense chases and stupendous set-pieces you may end up a bit disappointed. Yes, the action scenes are exciting, at times even electrifying, but the Hunger Games themselves never really turn into a startling spectacle. Jennifer Lawrence is undoubtedly the driving force of this film. She delivers a confident and powerful performance as the fearless Katniss Everdeen, without overpowering the capable, well-chosen supporting cast.

Overall summary: Thrilling, compelling and expertly put together, if far from phenomenal, "The Hunger Games" succeeds as a character-driven story with a strong female protagonist, but lacks the spectacular action and mind-blowing visuals that could have made it so special.

[6.00/10] Hell (2011)

Hell (2011)

QuickRating: Ambiguously-titled "Hell" (Hell in German means 'Bright' in English), this German horror has a unique post-apocalyptic scenario where The Earth has turned into a living hell after the sun has burned everything down, and despite its tiny budget and simplistic plot is still effective, compelling and technically well-made - the bright, yellowish cinematography captures the feel of the movie so perfectly, it burns, the barren scenery adds to the bleak visuals and the direction is solid.

[4.00/10] The Darkest Hour (2011)

The Darkest Hour (2011)

QuickRating: It has a decent premise, the special effects are pretty adequate for the most part, and the scenery of Moscow city is absolutely glorious to watch, but "The Darkest Hour" remains an unimaginative and poorly-executed alien invasion flick that feels rushed and contrived from the very beginning and has a paper-thin plot and zero character development. Worst of all, the trailer is more tense, exciting and entertaining to watch than the movie itself.

[6.50/10] John Carter [3D] (2012)

John Carter [3D] (2012)

Brief review: The director of "WALL-E" and "Finding Nemo", Andrew Stanton, makes his live-action debut with "John Carter" - an uneven, yet fairly effective sci-fi adventure that has as many flaws as virtues. While the first half of the film is too dragged out and full of boring moments, the second half is brisker and more entertaining to watch, and the cleverly-executed ending also makes up for the film's earlier shortcomings. The script isn't great, but it has nice touches of wit that compensate for the many pacing issues. Aside from the unnecessary 3D post conversion, that adds nothing to the visuals, "John Carter" is technically masterful on every other level. Set on Mars, but actually shot in Utah, the movie impresses mostly with its expansive scenery that consists of red rocky barren wilderness and dusty pink sky, flawless and flashy special effects, and glorious sets that make it a pure feast for the eyes. In terms of action though, "John Carter" is hardly spectacular. For a two-hour movie that consider itself epic, it doesn't offer enough action to deliver on its promise, and the action scenes themselves, while exciting and well-shot, are way too short. Taylor Kitsch turns in a memorable performance as the title character, Lynn Collins is gorgeous and convincing enough as Dejah, and the supporting cast does a pretty good job, with Mark Strong being the best of the bunch as the enigmatic villain Matai Shang.

Overall summary: It's far from epic, and it suffers from a rather dull first half, but "John Carter" is nevertheless a well-shot and visually-stunning sci-fi action flick that pleases with first-rate special effects, satisfactory performances and some thrilling, yet brief, action sequences.

[3.75/10] Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance (2012)

Ghost Rider:
Spirit of Vengeance (2012)

Brief review: After the unfortunate "Jonah Hex", directing duo Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylorand bring us another lackluster effort, which also happens to be a sequel of Marvel's "Ghost Rider" from 2007. While the original movie was kind of cheesy fun and somewhat watchable, this sequel is not even cheesy. It's just bad. In fact, it's so bad, it could be easily considered to be one the worst Marvel Comics-based movies ever made. The script is an uninspired mess, and everything about the story feels familiar and borrowed from other movies, the comic book-like back stories not only suck, but also make the plot even more confusing than it already is, and Neveldine and Taylorand's direction is amateurish, lazy, incompetent and dull as the movie itself. There nothing special about the special effects either. Not sure how hard is it to make a cool-looking burning skull, but the team behind the visual effects seems to have been struggling with that, and the end result is both lame and disappointing. On a positive note, some of the action sequences are entertaining and well-executed, plus, "Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance" offers some nice and interesting scenery from Romania and Turkey. Although Idris Elba and Ciarán Hinds both deliver solid performances, Violante Placido and Johnny Whitworth's weak acting lets the film down, and Nicolas Cage gives another nutty, overconfident performance as Ghost Rider.

Overall summary: A couple of cool action sequences aside, "Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance" is a poor sequel to a mediocre original, that is not only boring and unexciting to watch, but also suffers badly from a cliched script, cheesy special effects and lackluster direction.

[5.25/10] Journey 2: The Mysterious Island [3D] (2012)

Journey 2:
The Mysterious Island [3D] (2012)

Brief review: This sequel to 2008's "Journey to the Center of the Earth" provides some mindless entertainment and has a mildly witty script with a couple of clever jokes and funny dialogues in it, but sadly, it feels rushed and forced from the very beginning, the execution is sub-par, and Brad Peyton's direction leaves a lot to be desired. Also, for a kids' adventure, the movie offers enough entertaining and nicely-shot action scenes, but it's not necessarily action-packed, nor is very exciting to watch. At least, "Journey 2" is pretty to look at. The island's CGI scenery is colorful and nothing short of breathtaking, with a very unique flora that features lush plants, bright, peculiar flowers and oversized fruits, and an even more bizarre fauna consisting of dwarf elephants, enormous bees and gigantic lizards. That being said, some of the sets look a bit too fake and don't really blend well with the stunning CGI background. The special effects range from super-cheesy to very impressive, and the 3D, while far from spectacular, works in the film's favor most of the time. The acting is by no means great, but the cast compensates with charm and charisma. Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson is engaging and likable as usual, Michael Caine can do no wrong, Josh Hutcherson does an okay job as Sean, Luis Guzmán's over-the-top performance is kinda funny, but annoying at the same time, and Miss Vanessa Hudgens is mediocre at best.

Overall summary: Forced, brainless, and full of many plot holes, yet fairly enjoyable, "Journey 2: The Mysterious Island" offers a charming cast, some vivid, eye-candy visuals, passable 3D effects and amusing dialogues, but falls flat in terms of storytelling and execution.

[8.25/10] Chronicle (2012)

Chronicle (2012)

Brief review: So far, we've had tons of POV / Found Footage horror films, but Josh Trank's debut feature, "Chronicle", has to be the first-ever sci-fi flick shot in this style. Luckily, the hand-held filming technique adds some authenticity to the already clever story with a refreshing spin on the concept of superheroes, and truth to be told, if the movie wasn't presented this way, it wouldn't have been as effective. While the first half of "Chronicle" is mostly 'fun', where the characters enjoy their newly-gained superpowers and play harmless games with them, the second half gets a whole lot darker - the anger unleashes, the violence starts to dominate, and the consequences become disastrous. The chaos-fueled superpowers (imagine X-Men's Magneto, but without the 'metal only' limitation) match well with Trank's inventive and energetic direction, the special effects are pretty much impeccable most of the time, and the action sequences are visually-astonishing, exciting, and heart-pumpingly spectacular, featuring lots of smashed cars, destroyed buildings, fast moving objects and even Superman-like flying. Both, Alex Russell and Michael B. Jordan deliver solid and convincing performances, but it's Dane DeHaan, that steals the show as the anti-social teenager, Andrew, who tries to cope with his repressed anger, aggressive father, deathly sick mother and out-of-this-world telekinetic powers all at once.

Overall summary: Seemingly fun on the outside, yet darkly grim within, "Chronicle" is an imaginatively-crafted and highly entertaining sci-fi flick, that not only impresses with its creative take on the superhero genre, but also manages to use the POV gimmick to its advantage.

[6.50/10] Underworld: Awakening [3D] (2012)

Underworld: Awakening [3D] (2012)

Brief review: The forth installment in the "Underworld" franchise has arrived, and while it doesn't break any new grounds, it still offers tons of great entertainment. It's hard to comment on the film's storyline, because "Awakening" is pretty much plotless, which also explains its ultra-short running time. That said, it has enough strengths to make up for the weak script. The gothic vibe is now replaced with a grim, futuristic tone that feels refreshing, and the trademark bluish tint of the cinematography is more saturated than ever before. The dazzling visuals contrast nicely with the dark post-apocalyptic setting, and together they create a stylish atmosphere that makes the film incredibly appealing, visually. There are certain scenes where the use of CGI is too obvious and a bit cheesy, however, the design of the Lycans is quite slick, and the special effects during the action scenes, and the 3D in particular, are impressive. Speaking of action scenes, those are incredibly well-shot and executed, and hands down, the highlight of the movie. "Awakening" is also pretty violent and graphic, but you can't help but enjoy the bloodbath on screen. Kate Beckinsale is back as Selene and she not only looks stunning, but she also brings an enviable physicality and coolness to her character. Theo James is quite stiff and often annoying to watch, but the adorable India Eisley does good as Selene's little daughter, Eve.

Overall summary: Way too short and really thin on plot, yet briskly-paced, spectacularly action-packed and visually-stylish, "Underworld: Awakening" is a step in the right direction compared to the previous disappointing and mediocre installment, "Rise of the Lycans".

[7.75/10] The Tree of Life (2011)

The Tree of Life (2011)

QuickRating: Poetic, exquisitely surreal, at times philosophical, but also heavily pretentious, Malick's bizarrely-captivating film, "The Tree of Life" is an incoherent mixture of the director's vision of birth of the universe, and a story about the domestic struggles of a 50s Texas family, that impresses with unusual directing choices, an outstanding performance by Brad Pitt, and a dazzling cinematography, featuring tons of mesmerizing cosmic shots, dreamy images, and stunning, beautifully-captured landscapes.