Plot Synopsis:
A group of activists, led by the infamous Ric O’Barry, infiltrate a cove in Taiji, Japan where hundreds of thousands of dolphins and porpoises are killed each year in the illegal Japan fishing market. Specifically, the film centers around the cove where the slaughters take place.

Director:
Louie Psihoyos

Genre:
Documentary

Review:
Originally, I was planning on reviewing New Moon this week (yawn)… but when I realized that one of the best documentaries I have ever seen was coming out on Tuesday (December 8th), I just had to write about it.

The Cove is one of the best documentaries I have ever seen, with only Sharkwater to compare it to. In the film, we see Ric O’Barry, who was actually the trainer of the original Flipper, as he succeeds in, and gets arrested for, freeing countless dolphins all over the globe, something that some of his colleagues have been murdered over.

The way the film was shot, in terms of music and editing, is so amazingly gripping… that you would have to be completely heartless to not burst into tears. This is a movie that could really make a difference in the world, and I can only hope that we have more films like it and Sharkwater.

It’s really time that people see what is truly going on in the world. Personally, I haven’t eaten fish for years, because I know enough to know where those animals are coming from and what the entire industry is doing to the world’s oceans, and the environment. If you think it’s cruel to eat a cow, chicken or pig.. think about the fish that are being suffocated in long lines and bottom trawls and what they’re doing to sea turtles, whales, sharks and other aquatic life that are unintentionally getting caught within them.

I apologize for going on this rant about saving the world’s oceans, but I just watched the film again and it’s made me a little wild.

If you’ve ever been to a marine park (Marine Land, Sea World, etc…) or gone swimming with dolphins, and even if you don’t care about the cause, please watch this movie, and don’t be ignorant to what is going on.

Don’t forget! It comes out on Tuesday!!!

Rating:
5/5

Plot Synopsis:
Pirate Radio is an ode to the pirate radio stations of 1960s England which came about as a result of government run radio stations refusing to play the popular music of the time. More specifically, the film follows Carl and his experiences on his Godfather’s pirate radio boat in the North Sea.

Genre:
Comedy

Cast:
Tom Sturridge, Bill Nighy, Rhys Ifans, Phillip Seymour-Hoffman, Nick Frost

Director:
Richard Curtis

Review:
Being a fan of British comedy, I was a little biased going into this movie. I knew that I would like it no matter what… and it truly did not disappoint. The film was well-made and well-acted, with Richard Curtis choosing some of England’s best up-and-coming, and currently amazing, actors for the roles of the DJs and young Carl (Tom Sturridge…. yum!).. something he also did in his last film, Love Actually, which is one of my favourite movies of all time.

For me, the best part of the entire film was definetly the soundtrack. It features some of the best music to come out of the 1960s, and was placed perfectly with each scene.

I highly recommend this film to anyone who loves British comedies or good music (I think I win everyone over on the latter). It was excellent and is one of the funniest movies I’ve ever seen.

Just as a side note.. the film was originally titled The Boat That Rocked, but was later changed to Pirate Radio for North American audiences.. I’m not a fan of the name change.. but that’s about the only bad thing I can say about the film… which isn’t much at all……….. Go see it!!!

Rating:
5/5

Plot Synopsis:
The film begins in German-occupied France in 1941 where a young, Jewish girl (Melanie Laurent) witnesses the death of her family at the hands of Hitler‘s ‘Jew Hunter,’ Nazi Colonel Hans Landa (Christoph Waltz).

Flash forward to 1944, and we’re introduced to Lieutenant Aldo Raine (Brad Pitt) who, along with his band of fellow Jews, The Basterds, are causing a ruckus by scalping and eliminating every Nazi they meet.

Cast:
Brad Pitt, Christoph Waltz, Eli Roth, Melanie Laurent, Diana Kruger

Director:
Quentin Tarantino

This film was a typical Quentin Tarantino movie from start to finish. I have been hearing from a lot of other people who have seen it, that there’s “too much talking.” Well, to them I say “get some taste in cinema”, and instead of seeing something just because Brad Pitt is in it, know what type of genre, etc… that Tarantino typically produces. Of course there’s going to be a lot of talking. No one is going to make a movie that is based strictly on Nazi‘s having their heads bashed in. No one with any talent for making a good movie, anyway.

The cinematography was amazing and one of my favourite parts of the entire film. Camera angles, shots, etc, were perfection. The soundtrack to the film was also wonderful. It went perfectly with everything I was watching. Acting and casting were amazing, although I was a little disturbed by Quentin Tarantino‘s choice to have Mike Myers make a cameo appearance as a British general. I just felt dirty looking at him. He has a perverted look to his face.

Overall, Inglourious Basterds is a very good movie, if you like that style of film. I don’t think it’s for everyone, so if you’re just looking for some action, or to gaze at Brad Pitt for 3 hours, don’t waste $12.95. If you want to enjoy well-made cinema, then go for it.

Rating:
5/5