Hugo is Martin Scorcese's first family feature. But it sure is a jackpot for his record. Not only Huge has one of the most original plot lines of the year, but it also has one of the most dazzling images youyou will ever see on the big screen. The 3D effects are particularly breathtaking. Hugo is a movie about movies, something that is very personal to Martin Scorcese, and I think he did a great job in communicating his ideas to the wide audience. Personally, I think Hugo is the best picture of the year so far, and should get nods in the next year's Oscar.
-Written from Boston, MA
If I write a review, I'm afraid I would spoil the excitement of the movie. Let me just get this straight. Ending is unexpected. Plot line is centered on technology and how human morals have to cope with it. Original. Quite mind-bending, but not as mind-bending as Inception. Solid movie. I like it.
With Black Swan, Natalie Portman proves to us all that she is truly the most flexible and one of the greatest actresses of our generation. Her performance in this film is haunting, putting a huge affection to her characters in our hearts. And supported with a smart screenplay, the story flows so smoothly and scares the hell of the audience. Cinematography and the design of the movie successfully collaborate with each other to create images that support the story to its maximum potential. Without doubt, Black Swan is one of the best movies of the year, despite the fact that it has a very dark theme.
Rio has a great visual, though not as great as that of (say...) Toy Story 3. It also has a great plot line, but not as great as that of (maybe...) Shrek 2. One thing that Rio succeed triumphantly is the music. This is one hell of an animated movie that gives the audience a joyous, magical SAMBA music that lifts up the energy of the movie overall. The opening and closing number, Real in Rio, is particularly my favorite. The drum beats, the energetic vocals and shouts, and the complicated rhythm make the audience tap their feet and sing along as they see the colorful birds of Brazil. Some even dance in the aisle (yeah, I watched this in NYC). Without doubt, Rio, although not the best animated feature of the year, will sure stay in my heart for its amazing music achievement. Hopefully, the film will be recognized in next year's Oscar for its original score and songs.
Subject: a king who can't do public speaking. Simple? Yes. But this film shows how even a simple subject like this could involve the audience in an emotional roller coaster journey throughout the life of a king. Starting slow with the introduction of the characters and finishes gloriously with the King's achievement, The King's Speech is a movie that we all should celebrate in 2010. It's not only a great feature. It's one that we all should learn from, and appreciate the lesson that we get from it.
In an era where horror movies are made with a lot of non-sensible plots and common cliches, Insidious stands out as a true horror film. Its reliance on true horror (as in 'true paranormal' factor) satisfies the true horror fans who are looking for something that really scares them and leaves them at the edge of their seats, at almost all time during the movie. With Insidious, hopefully the American horror-film industry will revive once again and have its originality back.
