"The Fighter"

This movie had absolutely incredible acting performances! That fact alone makes this movie worth watching. The problems with this movie are that you're spending almost two hours watching an extremely dysfunctional family and so-so boxing. For how good the boxing looked in the scenes where training was taking place, the actual fights were pretty disappointing. This is especially true of the montage of Micky (Mark Wahlberg) winning. It was almost worthy of a good, cheesy, 80's montage. The other problem is that it's the dysfunction of the family that is the driving drama, and that gets old really fast. This shouldn't be the bulk of the drama, just a supplement to it. The portion of the film that focuses on Dicky's (Christian Bale) use of crack, his addiction, his incarceration, his realization of his addiction, his recovery, and his release back into society clean and sober is incredibly good. A bunch of people yelling at each other is not good. I liked this movie, didn't love it, which is sad considering the amazing acting performances.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0964517/

"The Langoliers"

This is one of those movies that's so bad it's good. Acting? Bad. Story? Bad. Visual effects? Bad. Movie? Terribly great! The one problem is that at a running time of 180 minutes, it's too long to enjoy the terribleness, at least in one sitting. Watch this movie, but perhaps make it a good two parter over two nights, especially since the guy wearing socks with his sandals as he carries around a violin case the entire movie is definitely worth it.

PS, you don't really have to watch this movie. The longevity of the terribleness really outweighs the greatness of the terribleness.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112040/

"The Karate Kid: Part II"

This movie is a lot like "The Karate Kid." Except that it takes place in Japan. And it replaces the 80's soundtrack with dramatic oriental music. So I guess it's nothing like "The Karate Kid" except the fact that it's JUSTASAWESOME!!!

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091326/

"The Karate Kid" (1984)

This movie is incredibly awesome. It's like a two hour montage of 80's music videos with a 21 year old Elizabeth Shue with very nice legs and culminating in the All Valley Karate Championship which is the quintessential 80's movie montage. Like most movies from this era, everything is over-acted, over-simplified, and over-the-top.* But that's what makes this movie so fun and so good, it truly is the best around.**

*Oh! Get it? Over the Top? Like the 80's Sylvester Stallone movie? Another movie like........nevermind.

**Get it? I know you do! *wink*

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087538/

"Waiting for 'Superman'"

The power of this documentary is certainly the picture it paints of a broken and worsening education system in the U.S. It definitely makes me feel blessed to have received an education and almost inspired to do something to fix such a broken system.* The problem with doing something, is that everyone has a different take on what's wrong and on how to fix it. This film shows people who blame the conflicting federal, state, and district policies that create a web of confusion when it comes to regulations, expectations, and requirements. Others address the problem of tenured teachers protected by teacher's unions that don't allow for teachers to be fired for poor performance or rewarded for excellent performance, like any other job would, thus holding on to a majority of uncaring, uninvested teachers who are just there for a paycheck, watering down the handful of good teachers. Again, these are the viewpoints expressed in the film, not necessarily mine, but they certainly do a great job of convincing me that these are not just possible, but legitimate problems, even massive problems. Not that I've given a whole lot of thoughts on unions, but my initial thoughts on unions in general is that they protect the low end, poor worker, never do they inspire the great workers to do better. And when applying this to teachers and teaching, one has to question the use of teacher's unions at all. Now, in displaying these problems, they then go on to show a few select individuals who are "fixing" education on a small scale, but trying to grow it. I say fixing in quotations because I'm not sure if it's fixing it. They show impressive and hopeful stats from their schools which does certainly give one hope, but I'm not nearly educated enough on the situation to know if it's truly fixing it. These viewpoints are expressed through the story of a number of students who, with their families, are trying to get a better education. They do this by getting in to better schools, some charter, some private, some different public schools. Unfortunately, because there is such a large number of applicants to fill a limited amount of spots, federal law requires a public lottery to be held to decide which students fill those spots. The entire movie leads up to each of these students going to these public lotteries to see see if they get in. At this point in the film, I felt nothing but disgust at this lottery. Here we are, kids' futures in the balance, and we're drawing random names and numbers deciding that? Really? This isn't a joke? No, it is a joke. A sick joke with young kids as the punch line. The unfortunate part of this film is that the apparent fixes by those teachers and administrators who care, the two kids out of all that they follow getting in to their school, and the feel good song at the end provide not nearly enough hope or know-how on what to do or how to do it. Sure there's a website to go to, you get to watch another feel good video updating you on a couple of the students (yeah, the two won their respective lottery), and you can look over their "Take Action Checklist." But forgive me for being skeptical that writing my school board, governor, and other elected officials will make a difference. Forgive me for being skeptical that charter schools is the answer. Forgive me for being so pessimistic in thinking that a few people doing these things will help.** But with that said, you should definitely watch this movie. Watch this movie! Every single person who reads this post should watch this movie. Every person who reads this post should visit the website http://www.waitingforsuperman.com/action/ and take a look. I'm not sure this movie is right in what they propose to fix, but they are certainly right in that fixing is a necessity. It may be difficult to see if you're one who, like me, grew up with an adequate educational experience, and maybe I'm falling victim to the films propaganda,*** but this movie is certainly a must see for you to decide for yourself.

*Yes, I did say almost. I'm not that ambitious or proactive.

**That's also why I don't vote.

***That's the point of documentaries, right? To present their personal viewpoints in a way as if it's factual.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1566648/

"Hot Tub Time Machine"

It's too bad that fun and funny actors in a fun and funny setting have to be ruined, like most comedies these days, with crass and gratuitous elements. What's worse is that once you get past the crassness and gratuitous nature, you find yourself listening and watching cliche "gone back in time" humor that lacks originality. There were still some great moments, but not enough to redeem this movie from the modern day crutch it seems all comedies rely on recently.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1231587/

"Kill Bill"

Let me start off by saying that I love both volumes of "Kill Bill." They are among my favorite movies of all time. Let me also say that I believe these movies to be Tarantino's best movies. Yes, I know people love and revere "Pulp Fiction." I do to. Yes, I know so many people are high on "Inglorious Basterds." I'm still not decided on it. But I don't think any of Tarantino's movies are more him, more who he is, than "Kill Bill." It is true, I do not know the man* and I could be very wrong, but in every interview I see with him, every behind the scenes with him, I see this movie as being the best representation of who he is. Now, that alone is not enough to make a movie great, but when you have a filmmaker who is able to pour not just a bit of him or herself into a movie he or she is creating, but a larger portion, maybe even a full portion, I feel you have a greater chance at creating something special. And "Kill Bill" is special. Perhaps one of the most helpful aspects of the two volumes is the use of the chapter format. Each chapter is so unique with a different feel and emotion to it. One chapter you're watching an over-the-top, cheesy, kung-fu movie; the next you're watching dramatic tension build in an intimate setting; soon you're watching an epic, serious, and genuine kung-fu movie; following you're watching an entirely anime sequence; finally you are rewarded with an emotional, satisfying, and incredible finale to an amazing story of revenge. Each unique chapter is an integral part of telling the story of the Bride seeking her revenge on Bill and it is woven together beautifully. It is true that there are deficiencies. Does Uma Thurman portray the best martial arts? No. But when it cuts to black and white and she faces off against the Crazy 88, you forget that completely and can't help but love every minute of it. Does Vivica A. Fox portray a stereotypical black woman of sass and attitude with Uma Thurman? Yes. But it makes her fight with Uma Thurman even better and an even greater contrast when she talks to her daughter. Does this movie have enough Lucy Liu in it? No. But when she is in it, she is an absolute scene thief. Is it sometimes over-the-top to the extreme? Of course! But that's what makes it so incredible! The Bride's acquiring of a Hanzo sword! Her training with Pai Mei! Her seeking of O-Ren and final battle! Her face-off with Elle! Her epic pursuit of Bill! David Carradine as Bill! His Superman speech! I'm seriously freaking out and need to watch these movies again right now! I feel that I could keep going on and on, but I won't except for a few last remarks. One thing I've liked about Tarantino is how great he is at using pre-existing songs in movies perfectly. Even when it's a song you don't think fits, you can't imagine a better song in it's place. I have complained before that Tarantino has a style that is very much his own and that he doesn't seem to expand on that, but luckily his style fits these movies perfectly. These movies are filled with so many memorable moments,** memorable characters,*** and memorable lines**** that fit together and work together perfectly, adding up to a pair of memorable movies.

*Seriously, true story, I do not know Quentin Tarantino personally.

**Esteban.

***Esteban.

****Esteban.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0266697/

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0378194/