House of Cards Season 3 Review

Note: This review contains spoilers from the first two seasons and should not be read unless you have seen both in full.

     I remember a time when online streaming sites such as Netflix were almost a novelty. Their catalogs were limited shows and movies, many of which weren't particularly good. Now in 2015, people are cutting their cable and subscribing to these online sites. What have really turned the tides would be the original programs they can provide that are uncensored and unflinching without the need of being on pricey networks like HBO and Showtime. Netflix has brought "Orange is the New Black," "Bojack Horseman," and the fourth season of "Arrested Development" to the table; and other services like Amazon Instant Video has reciprocated with "Transparent" and "Mozart in the Jungle." It seems that the future of original entertainment is on the internet and the show that really started it all was "House of Cards." Based off the British series of the same name and launching in early 2013, "House of Cards" became an immediate success with both critics and audiences; it even became the first online show to be nominated for best drama series at the Emmy awards, and has since garnered many awards including a Golden Globe for best actor in a drama series for Kevin Spacey. To call this show a hit would be an understatement, it is a sensation along the lines of "Game of Thrones." When this show first started I wasn't sure what to expect or how long it would last; after the success of the first two seasons "House of Cards" was on its way to becoming one of the best shows of the past decade, and with the third season it might have done just that.
     After scheming and deceiving for years, Frank Underwood has made his way into the oval office. After the former president was shrouded in controversy, he resigned and made way for Frank to become president. Season three takes place shortly after the events of the previous one; Frank is doing everything he can to be successful but is being railroaded from all sides. His approval ratings are incredibly low, congress is ruled by the opposite party, and many doubt that if ran for president in the upcoming election he would likely lose. Despite the adversity, Frank is determined to do good work. His big plan is a major job proposal bill that would act as a huge economic overhaul for the US. Now even if he was the most liked president of all time, this bill would be near impossible to pass. So Frank does what he does best, he schemes and manipulates those around him; but with elections looming and all the other problems facing the presidency, Frank has his work cut out for him.

     Ever since day one "House of Cards has been a fan favorite, and for good reason, it hits the nail on the head in almost every category. Probably the show's most obvious virtue would be the acting, the only way to describe it would be fantastic. From the stars to minor characters, everyone gives it their all. As great as everyone is, Kevin Spacey as Frank Underwood is the one that steals the show. He brings this polarizing and powerful character to life, and arguably gives the best performances of his already impressive career. Robin Wright also deserves a lot of credit, starring opposite of Spacey she manages to hold her own. It does help that the show is filled with interesting and memorable characters. Frank Underwood is one of the best anti-heroes we've ever seen in a show. A worry I always have regarding online series is whether or not they will have a high production value. Over the years we've seen series on various sites that are worth the watch, but whose production value was not up to par. "House of Cards" on the other hand has a production value close to that of a show on HBO; the first season alone cost around $100 million. The show also features some beautiful cinematography, every seen is shot so meticulously and looks great. One of my favorite aspects of the show would have to be the writing, the stories are told in such detail and the dialog is smart and brash. You like to hear the characters speak just to find out what they're going to say next. And the way it is written is very dramatic and suspenseful. You never know what is going to happen next, and you are never bored. One thing the third season has going for it that the other two didn't is that it mirrors real world current events. Several issues that come up in the show are things that are happening in real life, most notably, the US and Europe's rocky relationship with Russia. It helps the show just be a little more relatable. I said earlier that this show hits the nail on the head in almost every category, unfortunately that does mean that it misses once or twice. At times the show can become to unbelievable, at times the show reminds me of a soap opera. It attempts to so dramatic and serious at times that it almost becomes ridiculous. But with the third season the biggest problem is one that the show has not had before, a lack of conflict. During the first season Frank always seemed to be butting heads with the higher members of government while he slowly climbed the ladder. During the second season he had Raymond Tusk to fight, a multi-billionaire who could go blow for blow with Frank. During the third season though, Frank has reached the top of the mountain and seems to more at odds with himself than anyone else. There is no one to root against, and the season would have really benefited from a memorable antagonist. Those problems being said, "House of Cards" is still fantastic. While the third season isn't as good as the first, it is about as good as the second, which is by no means a bad thing. For three consecutive seasons, "House of Cards" has been one of the best programs of the year, if you have Netflix and you aren't watching this show you are missing out. So if you are looking for a top notch drama to spend your time on, you can't go wrong with "House of Cards."

Pros: Fantastic performances from Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright, high production value, great writing, great cinematography, often very dramatic and suspenseful, filled with interesting characters, almost never boring, political issues mirror current events. 

Cons: A little too unbelievable at times, lack of serious conflict.

5 Best Romantic Movies

Honorable Mentions: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Manhattan, Beauty and the Beast, Her, Moulin Rouge!.

Runner-Up: The Princess Bride
"The Princess Bride" is a movie that quickly established itself as an instant classic upon its release in 1987. Based off the book of the same name, the film revolves around a young woman who is set to be married to a prince and her former stable boy who is believed to be captured by a dangerous pirate. Filled with memorable characters, an emotional love story, and some of the funniest lines ever put into a movie, "The Princess Bride" is a movie that just about everyone loves. I remember watching it first the first time and not expecting much, but by the end of the film i was blown away. It did everything a romantic comedy should do and certainly ranks among some of the all time best. To anyone who hasn't seen this movie, you're living your life wrong. It is a must watch.

5. Silver Linings Playbook
If I could say one thing about this movie, is that it would be one of the most unexpectedly great movies I've ever seen. Despite being directed by David O. Russell, not a lot of people gave much thought to this movie before its release. It looked like another average romantic comedy being made only to get people in the seats. But after its release everyone was shocked at how great it was. The movie was marketed as a romantic comedy, but in reality it was a romantic drama with some comedy. It was much more sincere and emotional than I thought it would be, and the stars Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence showed some of the best on screen chemistry we've seen in years. The story of two damaged people just trying to find affection, comfort, and normality in their difficult lives, "Silver Linings Playbook" is an emotional movie that is hard not to love.

4. Brokeback Mountain
This movie was so good and so sincere, it made me really care about some gay cowboys. "Brokeback Mountain" tells the story of two young men who spent a few summers transporting sheep across a mountain range. Over time, the two men start to develop a relationship; but after the man that hired found out about them and decided not to work with them again. Over the next few years they move on with their lives, they get wives and children. After several years, the two men meet up again telling their wives they're old friends and secretly rekindle their relationship. So the two decided to meet up once a year for a fishing trip to see each other and keep their love alive. Robbed of the Oscar for best picture, "Brokeback Mountain" is a truly amazing film, and definitely deserves a spot on this list.

3. Annie Hall
"Annie Hall" is one of those movies where there should be a law against not loving it, it is that great. One of the few comedies that actually won best picture at the Oscars, "Annie Hall" is a gem to say the least. Probably the best film by director Woody Allen, the film follows a comedian who reflects on his last relationship and look back to see why it ended despite all the good times. The film is the culmination of everything Woody Allen does great with his movies; the sense of comedies, the clever banter, unique characters, and interesting plot lines work great together. Woody Allen has had his ups and downs over the years and some controversies in his personal life that have many shaking their heads, but he is a great director with many beloved movies in his filmography; and without a doubt, "Annie Hall" is his best.

2. City Lights
As a whole, "City Lights" is undoubtedly the best movie on this list and I did a serious contender for the top spot on this list. Released back in 1931, I believe that "City Lights" is the best silent movie, black and white movie, and romantic comedy ever made. While the romantic aspect of the movie often takes back seat to the comedy, it's still one of the most sincere love stories in film history. The story revolves around a homeless man only known as the tramp who gets into a number of shenanigans; through the course of the movie, he meets a blind woman who sells flowers on a street corner. At first he doesn't pay much attention to her, but then starts to gain feelings for her. At the end of the movie she receives a surgery to fix her eye sight, and when the tramp learns about it he puts on a smile you could see from space.

1. The Before Trilogy
Spanning eighteen years, "Before Sunrise," "Before Sunset," and "Before Midnight" tells the single greatest love stories ever captured on film. The trilogy starts off with "Sunrise" released in 1995, which tells the story of two young adults meeting on a train traveling through Vienna where they decide to spend the night just walking around the town and talking. Nine years later in "Sunset," the man (Jesse) has become a successful and is visiting Paris on a book tour where the woman (Celine, who lives in France) meets up with him and the two decide to take the afternoon off to catch up with each other. Finally, nine years later in "Midnight" the two have married, live in Europe, and have twin girls; but after spending the past nine years together, the honey moon period is over and are on the verge of leaving each other. With both fleeting moments of joy and despair, this is the one of the only series that tells a love story from beginning to end. It's a beautiful story and one of the all time greatest trilogies.

Kingsman: The Secret Service Review

     When you look at the spy genre now-a-days, you'll find almost nothing but serious movies. Ever since the "Bourne" trilogy and "Casino Royale," we've seen almost nothing but series spy thrillers. Every once in a while we'll get something a little more silly like the Roger Moore Bond films, but those are few and far between. And to be honest I kind of miss them. It's not that I don't like the series ones, "Casino Royal" and "Skyfall" are some of my favorite movies in recent years, but it's nice to have some variety. Fortunately director Matthew Vaughn is here to give us something a little different. Based off of a graphic novel I really liked, "Kingsman: The Secret Service" is if you took one of the Roger Moore Bond films and gave it an R rating, then added elements from "Kickass," "Men in Black," and "X-Men: First Class." Despite much skepticism of whether a movie like this would work in today's market or not, "Kingsman: The Secret Service" might be one of the biggest fan favorites of the year. 

     Gary "Eggsy" Unwin is a young man living at home with his mother and abusive stepfather; and despite being rather brilliant, he spends most of his time messing around with his friends. One day he gets into some serious trouble and is looking at jail time. He calls a number his mother told him to if he ever got in big trouble. Minutes later he is free to go. When leaving the police station he meets Harry Hart, a friend of Eggsy's deceased father. While grabbing a drink, he learns that Harry is much more than he appears after he beats up a group of hooligans. Harry eventually tells Eggsy that he and Eggsy's father worked for a secret organization called The Kingsman, a private spy agency that saves the world on a regular basis. Harry offers Eggsy a chance to become a agent; and despite the danger, Eggsy feels he doesn't have much to lose. 

     I decided to read the comic this movie was based off of after the movie was giver a release date. Wanting to learn more about the back story, I got a violent, over the top, and fun take on a modern spy thriller filled with cultural references. I immediately fell in love and read it in one sitting; afterwards I got scared for the movie. I wasn't sure if they were going to be able to pull off the tone of the movie without ruining the whole thing; but to my own relief, I think I liked the movie more than the book. It follows the comic for the most part; it keeps the overall plot while changing some characters and minor plot details. Every change works though, and will certainly keep fans of the comic happy. I wish that they had changed one plot point though, it's not a big thing but I would have appreciated if they had done it. What really makes this movie work would have to be the directing by Matthew Vaughn, he did it perfectly. He is great at these types of movies, and you can see him really put his passion into it. The one thing he may be best at though would be action, and you can see that in this movie. There are several awesome action sequences in this movie that will just have you smiling with glee. One particular fight in a church to the song "Free Bird" is enough to appease just about any person who goes to see this movie. The action is fast, furious, and in your face. To complement the action, the movie has a lot of humor that works great. You will laugh more than a few times. I will say though that the movie is a little violent for my taste. I'm not much of a fan of violence for the sake of violence, often it can actually pulls me out of the movie. It is every bit as violent as the comic, but it's just a personal gripe. The movie is filled with great performances that do a great job playing these wild and crazy characters. Of everyone though I think it was the actor who played Eggsy, Taron Egerton, who impressed me the most. This was a really breakout role for him and I hope he gets more parts. The only serious problem that faces this movie would be its pacing. You'll have a lot of excitement, then it stops dead in its tracks; and it does this more than once. The ending also feels like this a bit, but they do have a post credit scene that ends it a bit better. I absolutely loved this movie; from start to finish it was a blast. While it will certainly be to cartoony and silly for some, if you go into it to have a good time that is likely what you will get. The movie has the unfortunate luck of being released the same day as "Fifty Shades of Grey," which will likely crush it at the box office; but if this movie does well enough there has been talks of a sequel, which would just make my day. While it is by no means perfect, "Kingsman: The Secret Service" is a movie that is worth seeing and will likely be the most fun you have at the theater all year. 

Pros: Love letter to classic spy films, great soundtrack, filled with great performances, breakout role for Taron Egerton, does justice to source material, awesome action sequences, comedy works well, perfectly directed by Matthew Vaughn, several interesting characters.

Cons: Some pacing issues, a little more violent than I'd like, may be too cartoony for some.

4/5 Stars