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

Killers Review

     Over the past few years, we've seen a surge in the Indonesian film circuit from a variety of genres. Probably the most notable films to come out of the country recently would be "The Raid: Redemption" and its sequel; they are certainly the most high profile and well known, being box office successes outside of the country and drawing considerable critical acclaim. So when I saw that a new film was coming out made by several of the people that worked on "The Raid" films, my interest was immediately peaked. What I was expecting was another nonstop action roller coaster, what I got was pretty far from that. What I got, was a movie that could be listed among the classics of the psychological thriller genre.

     "Killers" follows the story of two men living in two countries; a young and wealthy sociopath named Nomura Shuhei in Japan, and a journalist named Bayu Aditya living in Indonesia. Nomura went off the rails after his sister killed herself when he was young, and has since started killing people for pleasure and taping the executions then uploading them on the internet; usually young women who looked like his sister. Bayu is divorced, barely holding on to any close relationships, whose career was destroyed when he went after a corrupt businessman. Towards the beginning of Bayu's story two men attempt to rob Bayu, but he fights back and kills them. Despite being in shock, he decides to film one of the men who is slowly dying and upload it to the internet; likely inspired after watching one of Nomura's videos earlier in the day. After uploading it online, he is traced by Nomura who then makes contact. Bayu realizes there is something inside of him, something that wants to kill. He then sets out to kill the businessman who ruined his life and slowly slips into his own darkness. Simultaneously, Nomura attempts to cultivate a real relationship with a young woman, only to find that it is more difficult than he thought it would be. Both men set out on their own paths rifled with twists and turns, and while they may not want to admit it, both know that they will crash eventually.

     Great psychological thrillers are few and far between now-a-days; the only recent one that really stands out would probably be David Fincher's "Gone girl." The genre just seems to be a lost art, with only a few modern directors like David Fincher being able to pull it off properly. Earlier I said that "Killers" was not what I was expecting, and that is a good thing; because alongside "Gone Girl", it is one of the best psychological thrillers I can think of released these past few years. This movie does what it is supposed to do; it is absolutely thrilling and incredibly suspenseful during several scenes. I attribute this to the directors, who did a great job. As I said earlier, this movie was put together by several of the people who worked on "The Raid" movies, and you can definitely see the impact those movies had on "Killers." The cinematography, style, and even the score are very similar, which is a good thing. This movie looks beautiful, and it has a certain professionalism we don't see from many movies like it. To be honest, I would say this movie falls under the sub genre of torture porn. For those who don't know, torture porn movies are usually horror or thrillers in which it derives entertainment from people dying. It's a sub genre with a niche following; and depending on the film, I may be a fan. And I will say "Killers" is one of the best, and most professional looking, torture porn films in years, What helps isn't just the style and the look of the film, but the acting as well. The two leads actually do a very good job in their roles, with each bringing something to their character. They are helped by a well written script with interesting themes of pleasure and retribution. The movie almost acts as a character study. Nomura, a man who has walled himself off from the rest of the world, does attempt to have an actual relationship only to realize that it is much more difficult than he realized it would be. And Bayu, a docile and unimposing man, attempts to take action into his own hands and failing stupendously. The way they evolve and change is very interesting to watch, and it is effective. Despite how much I was impressed by this movie, it does suffer some problems. First off, the movie is borderline misogynistic. All the female characters are poorly portrayed, and most are there just to be killed at some point. The movie is also about 15 to 20 minutes to long. If this movie was just under two hours long, it would have been perfect. And one thing worth noting, while it's not a problem for me, I should mention this movie is not for the faint of heart. It is incredibly violent; the opening scene is a woman getting beaten to death with a hammer. If you can get past that scene you should be fine, but if it makes your stomach turn this isn't the movie for year. I think what I liked most about this movie was that it was both different and better than what I thought it would be. From the opening scene to the thrilling final moments, "Killers" is an incredible piece of blood and carnage. Fans of the genre will watch this and instantly fall in love, others will turn away and call it sick; but if you can sit through it, "Killers" will be a movie that stays with you. 

Pros: Solid performances from the leads, beautiful cinematography, great directing from the Mo Brothers, well written screenplay, very suspenseful and downright thrilling, interesting character study, fitting music, themes of pleasure and retribution, the best torture porn film in years.

Cons: Poorly portrayed female characters, not for the faint of heart, 15-20 minutes too long.

4.5/5 Stars

5 Movies to Look for in 2015

Honorable Mentions: Inside Out, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay- Part 2, Terminator: Genisys, The Good Dinosaur, Ant-Man, Midnight Special, Mission: Impossible 5, Chappie, Kingsmen: The Secret Service.

Runner-Up: Jurassic World
In 1993, Steven Spielberg's science fiction film "Jurassic Park" took the world by storm; it became the highest grossing film of all time and was praised for having some of the best visual effects ever put into a movie. Over the next several years there were two sequels, neither of which were particularly good. For years most people just assumed that the series was dead, but a while back it was announced that a new film was in the works. A trailer was released in late 2014, and people seem split. Many, such as myself, are optimistic and really want this movie to be great like the original; but a lot of people aren't so sure. "Jurassic Park" was one of those movies that I remember fondly from my childhood, and I want nothing more than this new film to capture my imagination and inspire awe like the first one all those years ago.

5. Mad Max: Fury Road
This was a movie that I had no interest in seeing up until a couple of weeks ago, but once I saw the most recent trailer I was sold. The "Mad Max" series has been rather hit and miss; the first and third film are alright, but the second movie "The Road Warrior" ranks among the greatest action movies of all time. Overall, it's a good series; so when I heard that the series was getting a re-boot, I was nervous. I was given solace that the director of the original trilogy would be returning, but I still wasn't convinced. But in late December, a new trailer was released and it looks awesome. The style, the over the top action, and what appears to be practical effects makes the movie look great. While we won't know how the movie is until its release, "Mad Max: Fury Road" at least looks like it is trying to do justice by the original movies.

4. The Avengers: Age of Ultron
I remember when "The Avengers" came out in 2012 and being very unsure about it. While all the super heroes involved worked in their own movies, I really wasn't sure you could just throw all of them into a movie and tell a good story in two hours; it's not like the comics where you could have however many issues you needed. I thought the movie would have been a "too many cooks in the kitchen" scenario. To my surprise, the movie worked; it's even arguably the best movie of the Marvel cinematic universe. So going into "The Avengers: Age of Ultron," I'm a little bit more confident; and if it's anything like the trailers we've seen so far, it's likely that it's going to be awesome. 2014 was a great year for the Marvel universe, with "Guardians of the Galaxy" and "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" being commercial and critical successes, so if I'm certain of anything it's that "Age of Ultron" has a lot to live up to.

3. Spectre

For as long as I can remember, the James Bond series has been by far my favorite movie franchise. Like millions of others, when I was a kid I wanted to grow up to be Bond. Has every movie been good? No. Of the over 20 movies, I'd say less than 10 are actually good and the rest mediocre to bad. I'd go so far as to say that "Octopussy" could be listed alongside some of the worst movies of all time. Over the past few years though, the series has received some flak from long time fans. The classic, over the top style has been replaced with gritty realism since "Casino Royale" in 2006. Personally, I love it. "Casino Royale" and the latest film "Skyfall" are my favorite movies in the franchise. So when I heard that the next film "Spectre" would be directed by Oscar winner Sam Mendez, revolve around the evil group mentioned in the first film, and have Christoph Waltz as the leading villain, I got rather excited.

2. The Hateful Eight

The day I am not excited for Quentin Tarantino's next movie is the day I decide to end it all. Tarantino is my favorite director of all time, who made my favorite movie of all time "Pulp Fiction." I love all his movies and have just about everyone on DVD or Blu-Ray. His last movie Django Unchained was even my favorite movie of 2012, so as you could imagine the moment I heard he was doing another spaghetti western I immediately got very excited. While it came close to not happening, after the screenplay was leaked and Tarantino threatened to cancel it, he decided to go through with it and is currently being filmed. Set to come out in late 2015, I guarantee that I will be first in line to see it. Tarantino is one of the best directors to ever step behind a movie camera, and his work will always be worth looking out for.

1. Star Wars: the Force Awakens

I've waited my entire life for a new "Star Wars" film, one that doesn't suck anyway; and never has that been more of a possibility until now. When it was announced that Disney had bought Lucas Arts, many hoped that a new film in the series would happen; a true and honest sequel to the original trilogy. It wasn't long before it was confirmed that a new movie would go into production. Set to take place after the events of the original trilogy with some of the old stars as well as a new ensemble, filming just recently wrapped up. With a release date of December 2015, this movie has millions all around the world holding their breath in anticipation. With George Lucas having nothing to do with it, and being directed by a visionary like J.J. Abrams, this is the movie we've all been waiting for. Now we just have to hope.