"Ender's Game"

     When Andrew "Ender" Wiggin beats a school bully in a virtual game, he sets into motion a series of events that once started could not be reversed. Ender is swept away from his family and home to train and hone his strategic abilities at the prestigious Battle School, because Colonel Hyrum Graff, from the Interntional Fleet, hopes that one day Ender will be able to defeat the worlds greatest threat, the Formics. The Formics are an alien race that attacked earth in the year 2086, and the only reason earth survived was because of the bravery of one man, Mazer Rackham, who flew his ship into the heart of their mothership. According to the Colonel, the Formics are planning another mass invasion of Earth, and Ender is the only one that can stop it.

     Directed by Gavin Hood this film stars Asa Butterfield as Andrew "Ender" Wiggin, Harrison Ford as Colonel Hyrum Graff, Hailee Steinfeld as Petra Arkanian, Abigail Breslin as Valentine Wiggin, Ben Kingsley as Mazer Rackham, and Viola Davis as Major Gwen Anderson. I really liked this movie a lot. It has a great cast, and I thought they did a great job bringing Orson Scott Card's book to life.

     One of my absolute favorite parts of the movie was this quote, "In the moment when I truly understand my enemy, understand him well enough to defeat him, then in that very moment I also love him." It is a tragically beautiful way to view those who we see as enemies. Our "enemies" have aspirations, and things they want to do with their life just as we do. They have families or people they love just as we do. Therefore in understanding your enemy, you are identifying yourself in them, and therefore love or have some type of connection to them. Isn't that exhilarating and a bit confounding to think about.
  
      I was really hoping that they would make the sequel, "Ender's Shadow", into a movie too, but the film plans apparently changed when the child actors became too old for their parts. There is; however, plans to do a movie or television series off of Orson Scott Card's new series about the aftermath of the fleet school. These plans are on shaky ground now too, because the film did not net as much money in the U.S. as they had hoped. My fingers are crossed that they will do something in the near future, either a sequel or television show I don't care, because I just want to see more of this amazing world created by Mr. Card.

I would give this film a 8.5 out 10! I'm planning on reading the books soon, and I cant wait to read them; especially if they are as good as people are saying they are. Make sure you follow me on Twitter and check back here next Sunday for a new blog post. Hope everybody has a good week.

Peace,
Jake

P.S. Sorry about not posting last week everybody. College writing has taken over my life! haha

"The Prestige"

     Two stage magicians, Robert Angier and Alfred Borden, compete for the attention of 19th century London in this psychological thriller. Each having an obsession to one-up the other with the best stage illusion. While Borden seemingly takes the upper hand, when he comes up with "The Transported Man" illusion; in which he disappears behind a door only to reappear a moment later in a different door. This illusion infuriates Angier; who then goes to America to enlist the help of the famous inventor Nikola Tesla. Tesla then invents a machine which not even he fully understands, and which will lead to dire consequences for not only Angier, but Borden as well.

     Directed by the brilliant Christopher Nolan; this film stars Hugh Jackman as Robert Angier, Christian Bale as Alfred Borden, Michael Cain as John Cutter, Scarlett Johansson as Olivia Wenscombe, and David Bowie as Nikola Tesla. This film simply amazes me every time I watch it; and I definitely didn't see the ending coming when I first watched it. So well acted and the script was superb!

     This film is based off a book of the same name by Christopher Priest. The screen adaption was written by Christopher Nolan and his brother Jonathan. I know I say this a lot, but this has to be one of my favorite films! I love when movies can keep me guessing, and this film certainly does that. Can I just say that Michael Cain makes every movie he's in even that much better. He is truly a master at his craft. The Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale duo was amazing too. When you get two actors of that caliber together for a movie; you know you are gonna be watching something amazing. Plus it's the closest we are gonna get to see Black Widow, Wolverine, Batman, and Alfred in the same movie!

     I would give this film a 10 out of 10! I would recommend this movie to everyone! Seriously, if you haven't watched it yet go watch it right now! You won't regret it! Follow me on Twitter, and check back here next Sunday for my next blog post. Let me know what you want me to review next! Have a good week everybody!

Peace,
Jake

   

"Elysium"

It's the year 2154, and while the fortunate few and wealthy live in a utopia on a space habitat, called Elysium; the unfortunate many of earth are left to live in overcrowded cities with disease and oppression. Max Da Costa, a former car thief and now a parolee, works as a part of an assembly line for the military company Armadyne Corp.; who creates the robots that are now the Earth's law enforcement. When Max is exposed to a lethal amount of radiation at work; he is only given 5 days to live. There is; however, one way for Max to be cured, and that way is to get to Elysium. There they have healing technologies called Med-bay's; which the people of Earth can only dream of. There is only one problem.... Elysium doesn't allow for any immigrants from Earth to enter their perfect utopia.

     Directed by Neil Blomkamp; this movie stars Matt Damon as Max Da Costa, Jodie Foster as Defense Secretary Delacourt, Sharlto Copley as Agent C.M. Kruger, and Wagner Moura as Spider. I thought this was a great SciFi film; good story line, good acting, and explosions! The director Neil Blomkamp is really good at these dystopian Science Fiction/ Thriller movies.

     While I really liked this film; it did remind me a lot of Neil Blomkamp's film District 9 which was released in 2009. Both were set in an impoverished setting; both main characters start out as self-serving, but end up sacrificing everything to help those in need. Also both governments are wacko; one controlled by a defense contractor and the other by a power hungry Defense Secretary.  Sharlto Copley, a great South African actor, stars in both films as well. I really liked both films, but I couldn't help but notice the similarities. That said there are certain parts of each of the films which added a unique aspect to what Blomkamp thinks of our world now and of our future.

     If you haven't seen this movie, I would definitely suggest that you do, especially if you're Science/Fiction fanatic like me! I would give Elysium a 7 out 10 stars! Follow me on Twitter and check back here next Sunday for my next blog post!

Peace,
Jake