#Berk 7in7

[berkreviews]

Review 384: Léon: The Professional (1994)

Review 384: Léon: The Professional (1994)

The last film watched for the 366 challenge was Léon: The Professional. I’d not really had an interest in the film before this year, but it seems a lot of people like it. As I’ve become a big Natalie Portman fan this year, it felt like a good film to end on. It’s quirky and full of some crazy moments, but the film’s fun and Portman is fantastic. Léon: The Professional gets the Decent Watch…

[berkreviews]

Review 383: The Hollars (2016)

Review 383: The Hollars (2016)

Jim was probably my favorite part of the Office. I willing to check out any project I see John Krasinski attached to. The Hollars is directed by and stars Krasinski in a film that definitely is reminiscent of Garden State. It’s a dramedy with a strong human element that I found entertaining and compelling. I give The Hollars the Decent Watch rating. The Hollars is solid family dramedy John Hollar…

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Review 382: ParaNorman (2012)

Review 382: ParaNorman (2012)

I’ve seen ParaNorman at least twice before today’s viewing. Although, I think this was the first time I gave it the most of my attention. Laika Studios definitely has the claymation world on lock. I still don’t feel like I have given the film enough of my attention, but I give ParaNorman the Not Quite Golden, Ponyboy rating. ParaNorman is another hit from Laika Norman (Kodi Smit-McPhee) can see…

[berkreviews]

Review 381: Snatch (2000)

Review 381: Snatch (2000)

Before this viewing, I’d only seen bits and pieces of Snatch. I was in the mood for something light and I found great pleasure in this movie. It held my attention from the beginning to the end. Guy Ritchie’s film style is hit or miss for me, but I’m definitely on board with this one. It’s clear to me that Snatch earns the Not Quite Golden, Ponyboy rating. Snatch is an engaging film that really…

[berkreviews]

Review 380: Liar Liar (1997)

Review 380: Liar Liar (1997)

I am still a defender of Jim Carrey movies. Ace Ventura was a film that I use to watch and watch as a kid. Liar Liar isn’t my favorite of his, but it’s a solid comedy with quotable lines. When my daughter was much younger, the claw was a frequent visitor of our home. It was on TV and I decided to watch it again for the first time in several years. I give Liar Liar the Not Quite Golden, Ponyboy…

[berkreviews]

Review 379: La La Land (2016)

Review 379: La La Land (2016)

La La Land and the hype surrounding it was enough to make me drive into a busy city in order to see this movie. I went in with a fear that the musical aspect of this film would not appeal to me. However, this is easily one of my favorite movies of the year. Possibly, of all time, but only subsequent viewings will prove that to be true. Nevertheless, I loved everything about this film. The cast,…

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Review 378: Some Kind of Wonderful (1987)

Review 378: Some Kind of Wonderful (1987)

I’m a fan of a lot of the teenage John Hughes films like Breakfast Club, Pretty in Pink, and Sixteen Candles. Some Kind of Wonderful, directed by Howard Deutch, is one I’d missed for a while. My wife and Michael Sanchez both recommended this film so I finally got around to it. It’s kind of an inverted Pretty in Pink accept Watts is cooler than Ducky. I give Some Kind of Wonderful the Not Quite…

[berkreviews]

Review 377: Amélie (2001)

Review 377: Amélie (2001)

Amélie is a film that kept popping up on lists. After putting off watching it for sometime, I finally decided I need to give it a chance. The film is quirky and in many ways reminded me of some of the stylistic elements from Scott Pilgrim that I love. The use of sound mixed with edits and camera movements really make the film quirky and enjoyable. There is a lot of dialogue or narration in the…

[berkreviews]

Review 376: Train to Busan (2016)

Review 376: Train to Busan (2016)

Out of nowhere I started hearing about Train to Busan on podcasts and some fellow movie lovers. I was able to rent it from Fandango Now and I’m very glad I did. The film is very suspenseful with rich characters and scary zombies. I was very attached to the characters in the film and that made the zombies all the more horrific. Train to Busan earned the Must See rating. Train to Busan is now one…

[berkreviews]

Review 375: Fences (2016)

Review 375: Fences (2016)

This year has made me a big fan of Denzel Washington. His new film Fences has him playing the lead character and the director, a role he’s familiar with. I don’t think this movie will appeal to many, but I found it to be an interesting story but packed full of amazing performances. It lives up to it’s adapted material and feels very much like watching a play. I give Fences the Decent Watch…

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Review 374: The Happening (2008)

Review 374: The Happening (2008)

I’m not sure exactly why, but I’ve seen every M. Night Shyamalan movie since his 3rd, and possibly most popular film, The Sixth Sense. Well, I haven’t seen Split yet, and until tonight I’d never seen The Happening. For many people, his films started being bad after The Village. However, I really liked that film, but didn’t enjoy Signs or Lady in the Water. Unfortunately, I didn’t really care for…

[berkreviews]

Review 373: Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001)

Review 373: Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001)

I recently watched Yoga Hosers, the most recent Kevin Smith film. It didn’t work for me in anyway, but I didn’t want to stop being a Smith supporter. I noticed that IFC was playing Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back it seemed like good timing. While the movie is a simplistic Golden Fleece story, where the two stoners set off on a quest to stop the production of the Bluntman and Chronic movie. The…

[berkreviews]

Review 372: Krampus (2015)

Review 372: Krampus (2015)

I watched Krampus in the theater last year with my daughter and we loved it. I instantly felt a similarity to Gremlins while watching it. It’s a dark comedy set at Christmas with plenty of horror elements sprinkled in. The cast in Krampus is great and it became an instant favorite for the holidays. Watching it for my second time, the movie elicited the same response earning it the rating Not…

[berkreviews]

Review 371: Elf (2003)

Review 371: Elf (2003)

As noted in our Top Five Holiday Movies podcast, Elf is one of my favorite Christmas movies. I’ve actually watched it three times at this point, but it’s a tradition to watch it on Christmas Eve. I decided to wait and write my review for that viewing of it. There are so many things about the film that I love. Will Ferrell, the story is a great, a great Santa Claus, and it’s all about Christmas…

[berkreviews]

Review 370: It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)

Review 370: It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)

Today was an exciting day for movies lovers as I took my daughter to see It’s a Wonderful Life in the theater. I donned my new Back to the Future socks as we traveled back in time to 1946 and witnessed the life of George Bailey. This is one of my favorite feel good movies that culminates at Christmas, which is why it’s considered by many as a Christmas movie. George Bailey, played by James…

[berkreviews]

Review 369: Love Actually (2003)

Review 369: Love Actually (2003)

I’ve been planning on watching Love Actually for a while now. It seemed like one of those movies that you’ll either really love and buy into the cute factor or be repulsed by. Luckily, my wife and I were completely sold on the premise and the idea of love that rules the actions of the characters in the film. While Christmas really only plays with the setting, the ideas of togetherness and magic…