Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter

     Finally, a movie just as good as I wanted it to be!! Damn the critics, this movie was great fun! If you read, and liked, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, then you will like this movie. The same writer does the same thing, and it is very clever. The well-known story of Abraham Lincoln is imbued with a touch of the supernatural by adding vampires!
     Tim Burton and the guy that did Wanted, Timur Bekmambetov, directed this film. That means that it is somewhat gruesome and has crazy, slow-motion battle scenes. It also means that this is going to be even more emphasized in 3D. And strangely enough, I didn't even mind the 3D, it actually fit with this movie because the style was enhanced by the 3D, not changed to make it 3D.
     Benjamin Walker, who looks A LOT like Liam Neeson, did a great job as young and old Abraham Lincoln. Dominic Cooper and Rufus Sewell were also great, as usual. Rufus Sewell is a reliably good evil person and Dominic Cooper adds some badass-ness to his already diverse skill set.
     Some of the turns or surprises were pretty predictable and the story makes a bit of a mockery of Abraham Lincoln, the Civil War, and really that whole time period. However, it is still great fun, if you realize what you are watching is just for fun. I mean really, the title is Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Slayer, you're not supposed to take it seriously. But that doesn't mean it's supposed to be the same kind of thing as Not Another Teen Movie. This means that it is a serious story in a ridiculous setting. This means that you are supposed to take the movie seriously and not seriously all at the same time. It's great!
       In the end, I give this movie 8 out of 10!

Brave

      I was really excited to see this movie, it looked awesome. Instead, I was kind of disappointed. I was expecting a great adventure story, and would have even appreciated another "Disney Princess" being added to the mix (most of the Disney Princesses are not terribly weak women and awful role models that need to be replaced). However, that is not how this story really went. Instead, this movie was essentially a cartoon version of Freaky Friday, but instead of actually switching bodies, the daughter just turned her mom into a bear.

      From the previews, it looked like this was going to be a movie about a girl trying to find her own destiny and breaking all the rules at the same time, however, it was not. Instead Merida, the princess, was mostly just a brat who didn't want to get married. So, she whined about it, threw a fit, ran away, and then changed her mom into a bear because she wouldn't listen. Her mother didn't do a good job listening or communicating either. She didn't QUITE understand that her daughter was not ready to get married or be a queen. So, both are in the wrong. This means that in order for the spell to be broken they have to listen and understand one another, like they did when Merida was younger. Hence the Freaky Friday analogy. Blah.

       The animation was pretty, the scenes were pretty, and the music was great fun (I do love pretty much all Irish/Celtic music :)). It was a fun story, I laughed at some parts (the demon brothers were great!), held my breathe at others, and did enjoy the movie. It just wasn't what I was expecting or really in the mood to see at the time. There were also a few moments where the story seemed to head in one direction and then completely flip a few minutes later. And there were a few points that were never really explained or connected to the main story line. During the movie, I was surprised that it ended the way it did. It felt as if the producers realized they were approaching the 90 minute mark for children's movies and simply ended without much care for the progression of the story.

       This might be one time where I really do agree with A LOT of the critics comments. If this movie had been produced by someone other than Disney/Pixar, then it would have been fine. However, it was rather blah and subpar, especially when compared to Cars, Finding Nemo, and Monster's Inc.

      Leaving the theater, I probably would have given this movie a 6 out of 10. However, now considering all the things I truly found disappointing, I think it deserves a 4.5 out of 10. 

Snow White and the Huntsman

       So, when I left the theater, I couldn't quite decide what I thought about the movie. On the way home, I think I decided I liked it. It was entertaining, I never felt bored during the movie, but I don't think it's one I like enough to own. I will probably see it again, at the $2 theater or on redbox or netflix, but I won't actually buy it.
       First, I hate Kristen Stewart, but she was either pretty removed from the main view, or I just simply ignored her. So, despite the fact that she was the main character, Snow White, I wasn't overwhelmed with her awfulness. However, not only did she attempt a brittish accent of some sort, but she also gave what was supposed to be an inspiring pep talk to battle. The accent was awful and the pep talk was less than lack luster. But if those are the only complaints, then one point for the movie!
        Second, Charlize Theron was awesome at being evil, and slightly sympathetic in the end.  She and Chris Hemsworth ended up being the true stars because he was great as well, it also doesn't hurt that he's just pretty to look at and listen too. :) I think they are why I ended up liking the movie in the end.
      The story line was a little different from your average Snow White and I liked the twist. It could definitely have been better with a stronger and more present Snow White and without so many skips and holes. They tried really hard to combine the Snow White story with an explanation for the evilness of the evil queen and a twist on the prince charming that combined two different love stories. It could have been a great intermingling, if it was done more effectively.
      The movie itself was very pretty. The landscapes were nice, the fairies were cool, and the visualization of good and evil in nature was a nice touch.
       In the end, I like Once Upon A Time's fairy tale interpretation much better, but this was definitely better than Mirror Mirror's take. So, I'd say a 5.5 out of 10.

Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted

       Overall, I'd say this was a pretty good movie. It made me laugh, there was suspense, and it had a pretty good plot line. The movie starts with the Penguins leaving Africa with the promise to come back for Alex, Marty, Melmin, Gloria, King Julian, Maurice, and Mort. However, those left in Africa get restless and decide they want to leave now. They track down the Penguins, run into trouble, and are forced to join the circus to evade the police and a crazy animal killer.
       The crazy animal killer is a little bit much and does some pretty horrible and disgusting things while trying to capture/kill the wild animals, but she does prove to be a persistent villain and pushes the plot along when it stumbles or stalls.
      There are also plenty of moments of adult humor thrown in to keep those with children, or big children like myself, entertained when it starts to get a little too childish (at one point the Russian tiger yells, "That's Bull-Shevik!"). I'd say this movie is on-par with the first and second ones, it really was pretty well done.
      However, I don't like 3D, and this movie was MADE for 3D. I saw the regular version, and would have liked it more if everything wasn't so exaggerated so that it could really pop out at you in 3D. I'm sure children that go see the 3D version will love Melmin seeming to talk in their faces, and the fancy light show towards the end, but enough is enough! The movie would have been a lot more enjoyable if I couldn't feel the 3D shoved in my face, even in 2D.
     In the end, I give it 6 out of 10, it would be 8 without the stupid 3D.