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Fast Five (2011) Starring: Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Jordana Brewster, Ludacris, Dwayne Johnson - Directed by Justin Lin

Theater poster

"Chances are sooner or later, we are gonna end up behind bars or buried in a ditch somewhere. But not today."

      Fast cars, explosive action, scantily clad women, ridiculously buff men, predictable plot and loud music. All the ingredients to cook an explosive summer blockbuster. Don't get us wrong, the movie wasn't your average, run of the mill bank heist, its vivid movie sets, with the streaking neon, and sparkling chrome add for an interesting and welcomed twist. Filled with eccentric characters, this movie will not disappoint on a lazy weekend.

"This just went from Mission: Impossible to Mission: In-freaking-sanity. "

      A perfectly planned heist gone awry, the main characters, a handpicked group of elite criminals managed to steal 100 million dollars of drug money from a police station. Sound crazy? Pulled by modern takes of classic muscle cars, the two Houdinis (Vin Diesel as Dom, and Paul Walker as Brian), pull a vault out of a concrete wall, dragging it across Rio. While being chased by hundreds of corrupt police officers in rather pricey police cars, they leave a wake of destruction accruing unfathomable amounts of property damage, and a sea of delightfully surprised locals.

Yes, that IS a vault of money they are pulling out of a wall.

      While the plot was ridiculously predictable, its nitrous oxide injected pace sped the movie along, leaving an exhilarated audience in the front seat. With frequent rest stops for the small bladder, I leaves a welcome pause for the movies many comical moments (no reference to the poor officer who had an interesting toilet experience of explosive proportions).

One word.
Testosterone.

        Lucky for us, summer comes early in the theater. Even with its corny acting and far out plot, its charms of high octane action and thumping music will leave you blown away. You'd best hop on lest you want to see nothing but tail lights.


Score: 4/5

Hanna (2011) - Starring: Saoirse Ronan, Eric Bana, Cate Blanchett - Directed by Joe Wright

Unused Concept Poster

Adapt.

Or Die.

      In the barren wilderness of rural Finland, the main character Hanna (Saoirse Ronan), is relentlessly trained by her father, Erik (Eric Bana), for the sole purpose of revenge. With the sinister Marissa Wiegler (Cate Blanchett) hunting her every step, Hanna embarks on a warped fairy tale adventure, meticulously conspired by her father, unknowingly situating her for events, no perfect assassin can ever prepare for.

      In the modern age of increasingly senseless motion pictures (ie. Sucker Punch), Hanna is unique. Projecting none of what its popcorn flick counterparts display, the film is shot in a refreshing European art house style - vivid colors, and dramatic camera angles abound. The film explores many fundamental elements of the human condition including the notion of coming of age, bonding of parent and child, and innocence. It does in one scene what its mindless opposite could not accomplish in a whole film.

    The filming was shot on location from extreme heat in Morocco to the barren expanse of rural Finland. The vivid and memorable scenes, due to the distinct filming locations creates a vivid fairytale like adventure, while the excellent choreography made for a heart pounding thriller. Furthermore, the film was sprinkled with comical scenes humorously portrayed by Saoirse Ronan showcasing her versatility as an actress. The score by the Chemical Brothers, with both its brooding techno influences, and beautiful lullabies, coalescing with the movie, complementing it in every way.

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     The combination of these elements creates a highly engaging and enjoyable film. While its plot is certainly subject to criticism for its apparent flaws, the incredible performances of Saoirse Ronan, Cate Blanchett, and Eric Bana compensate for any shortcoming. This is embodied by Saoirse Ronan's extraordinary portrayal of Hanna, forcing the audience to invest their emotion in the main character through the fact that we can all relate to her - our childhood, our innocence, and seemingly inseparable bond with the loved ones in our lives

   
       In conclusion this film, with its outstanding performances, crisp cinematography, and impressive directing by Joe Wright creates for an instant spring classic, hitting our hearts, dead on.

     
Our score : 4.5 / 5