Dispatches from the Popcorn Stadium: Snowpiercer

Note: The bulk of this post will be fashioned after one of my favorite scenes from the film. It won't really be a spoiler per se, but it might be too close for comfort for some people. Also, it might make very little sense to you. Therefore, the first paragraph will be a very boring but concise review of the film.

In short, Snowpiercer is one of my favorite experiences at a movie theater ever. The action is taut and exciting, the sharp contrast in colors between the rebelling people from the end of the train and the vibrant colors displayed by those farther up the train is impressive. The story is fairly crisp and fun to follow. Best of all are the performances. Chris Evans, John Hurt, Octavia Spencer, Song Kang-ho, Go Ah-sung, Jamie Bell, and others do a wonderful job in their roles. Tilda Swinton is great as the "Great Engineer" Wilford's chief stooge, and Allison Pill damn near steals the show. See this film, preferably in a theater if you can.

OK NOW ON TO THE "REAL POST". DON'T CONTINUE UNLESS YOU HAVE SEEN THE MOVIE, OR AREN'T BOTHERED BY KNOWING DETAILS ABOUT WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN IN A MOVIE.

Summer Movie Reviews, Part One

Look, I intended to write about many many movies this spring and (now) summer, but things just didn't go that way. I will be writing about Under the Skin and Noah as promised, but not right now. Why? Well first off, they aren't summer films. Secondly, the former is so good (and strange) and the latter is so off the charts weird (and at times good) that they deserve their own posts. So keep watching for them. Also not included in this batch is Muppets Most Wanted, because there's little to write about it save for it being a very light, mostly forgettable, but still enjoyable adventure with the old familiar Muppets.

Into Troubled Waters: Season Four of Game of Thrones Ends

SPOILER WARNING: I'm gonna be talking a lot about things that have happened on the show, and vaguely hinting at things to come based upon the remaining two books yet to be adapted. If you haven't caught up, and don't want to read between the lines about potential future events, please save this for another day.

Dispatches from the Popcorn Stadium: The Amazing Spider-Man 2

It's hard to pin down why The Amazing Spider-Man 2 is so inessential. After all, Andrew Garfield is a damn good Spider-man, and Emma Stone is great as Gwen Stacy. Sally Field is a good Aunt May, and Paul Giamatti is fun (if underused) as Rhino. It looks gorgeous, with none of the effects problems that plagued even the best of the Raimi bunch. It even has one of the best scenes in the five Spider-Man movies*. It's a movie that is the lesser sum of its parts, and I'm not sure why.

A few words on "The Lion and the Rose"

****SPOILERS FOR GAME OF THRONES ARE FOUND BELOW****

Dispatches from the Popcorn Stadium: Captain America: the Winter Soldier

Somehow, a miracle has happened and I have seen a movie and written a review for it a semi-timely manner. I actually had the pleasure of viewing Captain America: the Winter Soldier in theaters on Friday. I knew I'd probably procrastinate in writing this review so I actually wrote down my major talking points on a piece of paper. Score one for organization!

Marvel Studios/Screenrant.com

The second installment of the Captain America movie franchise certainly delivered on the hype generated from the trailers. As opposed to being a true superhero movie where the action is focused on Captain America kicking ass in the name of Freedom in all his costumed glory, the film felt more like a spy thriller. Steve Rogers, the man out of time himself, finds himself working for S.H.I.E.L.D. (the security force behind the Avenger's Initiative, headed by Director Nick Fury) and questioning his place in this new generation of military involvement. The movie has a darker tone overall to what we're used to with the Marvel Movie-verse experience, in large part due to the fact that a good portion of the film lends itself to uncovering plots and motives.

Dispatches from the Popcorn Stadium: The Grand Budapest Hotel

The general understanding about Wes Anderson films tend to focus on the precise nature of his scenes. There is rarely any prop, any background, or any actor in the wrong place. The dialogue is written precisely, the music is perfectly chosen, and even the text on the screen is rendered in just the right font. The "Wes Anderson style" is distinct and instantly recognizable, as can be seen in this fake movie trailer from Saturday Night Live.