It's time for another educational website!

The title says it all, there will be no movie review this week.  Instead check out another one of my projects-this time it is a educational game script-and let me know what you think.


click me.

Trailer Based Review: Brave

The Plot

‘Brave’ tells the story of Princess Merida (Kelly Macdonald); the eldest daughter of Lord MacGuffin (Kevin McKidd) and Queen Elinor (Emma Thompson).  However, Merida has no interest in the normal pursuits of a princess.  Rather than looking for a suitor, she would much rather participate in a competition between the sons of the lords of the lands.  As a female she is not allowed to compete, but she disguises herself and competes anyway.  Uproar occurs when Merida reveals herself upon winning the competition, and the land plunges into an all out war.

            Attempting to fix the problem she has caused Merida travels to see the old witch who lives in the country side.  However, this only makes matters worse as it bestows a curse upon all of the lord’s sons.  The only way to break the curse and restore peace is to kill the massive black bear that lives in the mountains.  Of course, Merida succeeds, breaking the curse and restoring peace, while also proving that she is more than just a damsel waiting to be saved by a prince.

The Good

+ The art style is amazing.

+ Is on track to be a much better movie than the awful ‘Cars 2’ released this year.

The Bad

- Does seem a little too similar to the movie ‘How to Train Your Dragon.’

Final Rating 4/5

*I have not seen this movie; this review is based purely off of assumptions made by watching the trailer.  Some plot references are assumptions and do not represent the final product.

Trailer Based Review: 21 Jump Street

The Plot

After graduating from high school, Jenko (Channing Tatum) and Schmidt (Jonah Hill) both decide to join the police force.  During training they quickly discover that they make a good pair; Schmidt provides the brains and Jenko provides the brawn.  After graduating, they are quickly assigned to an undercover police program. 

Their new assignment is to return to high school as undercover cops and discover who is distributing a new drug throughout the high school.  They decide to throw a party in order to get closer to the popular kids that are possibly behind the drugs.  It is no surprise when the party gets out of hand and their cover gets blown.  The movie culminates with a shootout during prom, killing the drug dealer in the process.

The Good

+ This movie feels a lot like ‘Superbad’ from the cop’s perspective.

+ The supporting cast is excellent.

The Bad

- I am not a fan of Jonah Hill or Channing Tatum, and this film doesn’t do anything to shift my opinion.

- The high school party genre has quickly become over saturated.

Final Rating 3.5/5

*I have not seen this movie; this review is based purely off of assumptions made by watching the trailer.  Some plot references are assumptions and do not represent the final product.

shameless plug

Rather than reading a movie review this week, I would appreciate it if you go check out my new site.  The site covers an introduction to lacrosse, and I would hear your feedback in the comments below.


visit the site here:
http://fs.finearts.utah.edu/~nhornbaker/startingLAX/

Trailer Based Review: Sherlock Holmes Game of Shadows

The Plot

Sherlock Holmes (Robert Downey Jr.) and Dr.John Watson (Jude Law) reunite once again in the sequel to the 2009 movie.  We find Holmes wrapped up in what appears to be a ludicrous conspiracy.  However, Holmes and Watson quickly discover that there is not only a conspiracy on their hands, but it is in fact much deeper than they originally thought.

As is common with sequels, everything has ramped up in an attempt to outdo the original.  There is more action, more humor, and more lengthy ramblings by Holmes.  In similar fashion to the original you are lead blind through most of the movie; not knowing how all the pieces tie together.  This makes the culmination of the movie extremely exciting when Holmes reveals exactly how he followed the clues and solved the conspiracy.

The Good

+ Robert Downey Jr. is once again captivating as Sherlock Holmes.

+ If you liked the original, you will love this film.

The Bad

- The humor feels a little too forced in some parts of the film

- If you didn’t like the original, this is more of the same.

Final Rating 4/5

*I have not seen this movie; this review is based purely off of assumptions made by watching the trailer.  Some plot references are assumptions and do not represent the final product.

Trailer Based Review: Young Adult

The Plot

Soon after her divorce, Mavis Gary (Charlize Theron) returns to her hometown in Minnesota, to try to rekindle her romance with her ex-boyfriend Buddy Slade (Patrick Wilson).  However, since Mavis left town, Buddy got married and had a kid.  In Mavis’ mind this is only a slight obstacle, an obstacle that Buddy will overcome to be with her.

During the movie Mavis also gets back in touch with other people from her hometown, including her best friend from High School (Patton Oswalt).  Patton serves as the voice of reason during Mavis’ pursuit of romance, but she doesn’t realize it.  Instead she is convinced that she will be just as popular as she was in High School.  As Mavis fails to win Buddy’s heart, Patton stands by her side, and it is not surprising when Patton and Mavis end up together. 

The Good

+ As with Juno, Diablo Cody’s script offers plenty of hilarious moments without being strictly a comedy.

+ Patton Oswalt is incredible, as is Charlize Theron.

The Bad

- With names like Jason Reitman and Diablo Cody attached to the project it is disappointing that the overall plot sticks so closely to the Romantic Comedy equation that has been defined over the years.

Final Rating 4/5

*I have not seen this movie; this review is based purely off of assumptions made by watching the trailer.  Some plot references are assumptions and do not represent the final product.

Trailer Based Review: Premium Rush

 

The Plot

In Manhattan, messengers travel as quickly as possible through the city to deliver envelopes.  Wilee (Joseph Gordon-Leviit) is one of the best messengers around.  However, when Wilee picks up his last delivery of the day on a premium rush run, he quickly discovers that this envelope is different.  His delivery quickly attracts the attention of a dirty cop, and upon refusing to turn over the envelope a deadly pursuit begins.

Luckily for Wilee the skills required for his occupation happen to translate well into high speed chases.  This movie plays out similar to every other movie in the chase genre.  Several high intensity chases take place, but eventually Wilee gets in a crash and is caught.  After being interrogated, Wilee escapes from where he is being held captive and one final chase take place, at the end of which the letter is delivered.  It turns out that the letter contains evidence incriminating Wilee’s pursuers, meaning that Wilee is able to return to his life as a hero.

After reading the plot you may be shocked to discover that this movie is not titled Fast and Furious: the Bike.  But I guess they couldn’t teach Vin Diesel how to ride a bike so they had to get someone else.

The Good

+The fact that the Levitt is on a bike makes the chases more intense.

+If you like movies with high intensity chases, you will enjoy this movie.

The Bad

-If you don’t like movies with high intensity chases, you will not enjoy this movie.

-It doesn’t do anything to change the genre besides put Levitt on a bike instead of in a car.

Final Rating 3/5

*I have not seen this movie; this review is based purely off of assumptions made by watching the trailer.  Some plot references are assumptions and do not represent the final product.