Ex Machina Review

     For as long as computers have been around, people have been obsessed with artificial intelligence. Some believe that it will be the downfall of humanity, while some believe it is the next evolutionary step. All I know is that it makes from a great plot point in science fiction movies. The last really great movie involving AI I can think of would be 2013's "Her," which is one of the best movies in recent years. It kind of raised the bar when it comes to humanizing an AI in a movie. While there have been a few films involving AI that have come out since "Her," none are even in the same league; until now anyway. "Ex Machina" is an independent sci-fi movie that has been making the rounds with its limited release. Garnering wide acclaim, it has been called the best movie of the year by many. I had high hopes for this movie, and amazingly it was better than I could have imagined. 

     Caleb is a program at a company called Bluebook, which runs the world's most popular search engine. One day he receives an email informing him that he won a contest everyone at the company was entered in. The prize is that he gets to go to the estate of the company's founder; a man named Nathan, and help him with a secret project. Caleb is flown out to Nathan's house which is in the middle of nowhere on a huge plot of land he owns. When Caleb arrives he is greeted by Nathan and told why he is really there. Nathan wants Caleb to partake in a Turning Test, which is a test where you try and determine if you are talking to a machine or a human. Nathan has what he believes to be the first artificial intelligence, a machine called Ava. He wants Caleb to talk to Ava, and determine if she is truly sentient or not. Caleb soon learns though that everything isn't what it appears to be when both Nathan and Ava start saying things about each other. So Caleb wonders who he can trust, as well as what happens to Ava if she fails the test.

     2015 has been a slow year for movies thus far, the only one worth writing home about has probably been "Kingsman: The Secret Service." So going into "Ex Machina" I had my fingers crossed, and to my surprise it was better than I thought it would be. This is one of the best science fiction movies I've seen in the past few years. First and foremost, the performances are fantastic; the three leads do an amazing job. Of the three Alicia Vikander as Ava stood out, I would be surprised if she didn't get an Oscar nomination for best actress. The chemistry between the actors was so good, and that really helped them step into these roles. Their performances were also helped by the script; this is a well written movie with very smart dialog. One thing I loved about this movie was that it respected its audience; it doesn't dumb itself down to appeal to people who might not appreciate it otherwise. It's a thought provoking movie; it asks a lot of the same questions about what it means to be human that the recent movie "Chappie" did, the only difference is that "Ex Machina" is actually a good movie. And to my own surprise, the movie is surprisingly funny, especially the character Nathan who is wonderfully random. He seems to say whatever pops into his head first. The script was written by the director, a man named Alex Garland. He has written for movies like "28 Days Later" and "Sunshine," as well as the critically acclaimed video game "Enslaved: Odyssey to the West." So he certainly has the writing chops; but amazingly, "Ex Machina" is his directorial debut. I was watching this movie thinking to myself, "how is this the first movie he's directed?” He does a truly amazing job; every scene is presented with a confidence that you usually see from a more experienced director. The fact that the movie is shot beautifully only helps; cinematographer Rob Hardy did a great job and I hope he gets credit for his work when award season rolls around. And its use of music to compliment every shot works beautifully. One of my favorite aspects of this movie had to be the special effects. Throughout the movie, CGI is used and the only thing I can say about it is that it looks real. While some movies like "Gravity" or "Avatar" are really in your face with CGI, this movie takes a more subtle approach. It’s used to try and make the movie seem more realistic. While CGI is most obviously used for Ava's body (which is a phenomenal, and interesting take on a robotic body), there are other times that it is used and every time it is used perfectly. If I had to point out a flaw with this movie, it would be that it is very slow. I was never bored, I was never uninterested, but by the final act you start to feel the nearly two hour run time. For some people it will be two slow, but the movie does something interesting with its slow pace; the movie builds tension. From the first time that Caleb meets Nathan until the final scene, the movie feels like a piano wire that is slowly being twisted and you are just waiting for it break. You’re on the edge of your seat for the final scene, and this movie has one of the tensest endings I've seen in quite a while. I have been waiting all year for a great movie, and "Ex Machina" is that movie. It does everything a great sci-fi movie should do; to be honest I would be surprised if this didn't make it onto my best of the year list. While it's certainly not for everyone, it is a movie I loved and one that I haven't been able to get out of my head since I watched it. This is an independent gem, and easily the best movie of the year so far.

Pros: Fantastic performances from the lead actors, beautiful cinematography, great directing, well written script with smart dialog, surprisingly funny at times, thought provoking, great soundtrack, incredibly tense, subtle but well done CGI.

Cons: Very slow pace.

4.5/5 Stars

Bloodborne Review

     In early 2009, Japanese developers From Software released a new game called "Demon's Souls." When the game was originally tested by Sony, they were unimpressed with the game and decided to only release it in Asia. After very positive reviews from Japanese game critics, the game was eventually released in the US. It was quickly met with wide critical acclaim, and was named one of the best games of the years by many publications. Noted for its unforgiving difficulty and fantastic sword and shield combat, it garnered a dedicated following that passed on to future games in the series. Two years later, From Software released a spiritual successor to "Demon's Souls" entitled "Dark Souls." Improving on its predecessor in just about every way, the game was met with near universal critical acclaim and managed to garner many game of the year awards in one of the more competitive years in recent times. In 2014 the sequel "Dark Souls 2" was released, and like the games that came before it, was met acclaim from critics and audiences. After "Dark Souls 2" many fans were left wondering what would be next; another "Dark Souls" game, the sequel to "Demon's Souls," or a new game in the franchise. It turns out that From Software wanted to start something new. Announced at E3 2014, "Bloodborne" acts as a spiritual success to the other games in the series; having similar gameplay and mechanics, but in a new atmosphere with some new toys (most notably guns). Fans of the series have been excited since the announcement of the game, clamoring to get their hands on a PS4 controller; some were skeptical though. Fans were afraid that changes to the combat (like an emphasis on offense over defense and being able to recover health after losing it by quickly attacking enemies) as well as the addition of guns would compromise the series’ integrity and alter the difficulty. Fortunately though, after playing it, I can confirm that "Bloodborne" is just as unforgiving as the rest of the game in the series.

     The story of "Bloodborne" takes place in the Gothic city of Yharnam, a once great city of medicine where people would travel to in the hopes of a cure for whatever ails them. You play a nameless traveler heading to the city, only to arrive and find out that some sort of disease has infected most of the inhabitants; either turning them into gratuitous monsters, or warping their minds and compelling them to kill whatever they see. After arriving you find yourself receiving a blood transfusion of tainted blood, transforming you; you keep your mind unlike the residents of the series, but you become something more than humans. You then set out to discover the origins of the disease and what happened to this city, while simultaneously killing any monster you come upon. 

     "Bloodborne" had a lot to live up to upon its release, being the spiritual successor to one of the best game series of the past few years. The "Souls" series has made a name for itself for its difficult gameplay, and has garnered a devout following. When the first gameplay of "Bloodborne" came out, any were hesitant about the changes, most notably the inclusion of guns and whether or not the game would be as difficult as those who came before it. Well after playing the game extensively I can say with good confidence that the game is absolutely outstanding. It's not just a worthy successor to the "Souls" games, it might actually top them. Like its predecessors "Bloodborne" gets the combat absolutely perfect, it even includes some new elements that work great. The combat of the series always comes down to timing; it is important to study your enemy and learn how they move and attack. You need to be careful about when to attack, when to dodge, when to use items, when to heal yourself, and what type of weapon should be used for what enemy. You also need to take where you are into consideration. If you're fighting several enemies in an open area you might want to a slashing weapon with a long range to hit multiple enemies. If you’re in a narrow corridor facing one enemy, it's better to use a piercing weapon. The main changes that "Bloodborne" introduces to the combat would be the inclusion of guns, unique weapons, and a faster pace of fighting. There are a variety of guns in the game and each is a bit different; some use one bullet while others use multiple, some are short range while others are long range, and some like the shotgun have a wide spread that can hit multiple enemies. The guns don’t do a lot of damage, and are meant more to stun your enemies. While useful they never make the game feel unfair. One problem I had with the previous "Souls" games were the weapons, most felt too similar. One sword was just like another except it did more damage or took longer to swing there wasn't enough variation. "Bloodborne" fixes that problem with the concept of quality over quantity. There aren't as many weapons in "Bloodborne" as there are in the previous games, but each weapon feels completely different; and that is because each weapon has two forms. The first weapon I got when playing the game was called the threaded cane. In its base form it was a just a simple cane that you could use like a club, but when transformed it turns into a whip covered in razor sharp spikes. In its cane form it did a bit more damage and could be swung quicker, as a whip it had a much longer range and was useful at hitting multiple enemies who were standing close to each other. So while there are less weapons than some might have hoped for, each feels unique and varied. Arguably the most notable change to the combat would be that it is much faster paced. There is an emphasis on dodging enemy attacks and quickly attacking yourself. It's much more in your face and personal than what we've seen before. In the previous games, a common play style would be to put on a heavy set of armor, and have a shield in your left hand and a sword in your right. When you come in contact with an enemy you put your shield up and wait, after they attack your shield they are temporarily stunned and that is when you do your damage. After they recover you rinse and repeat. You can't do that in "Bloodborne," you have to be aggressive; fortunately this new style of combat works beautifully. The problem is that with this new fast combat style, the game would have really benefited from being able to run at 60 frames per second. "Bloodborne" is locked at thirty frames per second, and compared to 60 it can look a little sluggish. When a game has a frame rate of around 60fps or higher, the game just looks more fluid; while running at 30fps doesn't ruin “Bloodborne's" combat by any stretch of the imagination, it would have looked and played better running at 60fps. And just like the previous games in the series, "Bloodborne" is still ridiculously difficult; if you play it there will be several moments when you have to stop yourself from throwing your controller against the wall. Unfortunately though, one of the biggest drawbacks of the game would be the long loading times. Whenever you fast travel or getting ready to respawn, the load times are about thirty to forty seconds; this does take you out of the game, but at least it lets you calm down after you just got destroyed. Like the previous games there is a heavy emphasis on cooperative play. Summoning other players to come help you can be mutually beneficial and works even better than in previous ways when summoning a specific person. When you invite other players into your game you can set a password, meaning only the people you want to play with can play with you. The games in "Souls" series has never been known for being graphical powerhouses, to be honest "Dark Souls 2" actually looked somewhat subpar compared to many games that came out in 2014. "Bloodborne" on the other hand is drop dead gorgeous. It is a huge step up in graphical quality, it features beautiful aesthetics and some of the best level design we've seen in quite a while. One thing to note would be the Victorian Gothic style; it may feature some of the most beautiful levels I've ever seen in a game, and they are very creepy and unsettling. This game can be borderline survival horror sometimes. You also see some truly great designs in the enemies you face. There are some many different types of monsters and each one unique. Some of the best creature design I've ever seen in a game is featured in "Bloodborne" it also has some of the most difficult and memorable boss battles ever put into a game. You can tell that the developers really put their all into creating these monsters, and it really shows. One of my biggest problems with the all of the "Souls" games was that I never really cared about the story. It was just the backdrop for what was truly amazing gameplay, but I can't say the same thing about "Bloodborne." The story is rather interesting and engaging, it is also much simpler to follow compared to the complex and lore heavy stories of "Dark Souls" and its sequel. If you ask me the story could have been nonexistent, but the plot of this game just makes it that much better. From the moment I heard about this game I knew it was going to be good, and after playing it "Bloodborne" is even better than I thought it was. It's not just another "Souls" game; it makes a real effort to distinguish itself from the games that came before it. "Bloodborne" is a PS4 exclusive, and it is a must own for anyone who has the system. It might just be the first game for the eighth console generation that can be called "next-gen." As the end of the year begins to roll around, this is a game that will surely be on most every list of the best games of the year; that's because "Bloodborne" isn't just a great game, it's a borderline masterpiece. 

Pros: Phenomenal combat, beautiful aesthetic, huge step up in graphical quality, just as difficult as predecessors, unique and varied weapons, fantastic creature designs, several noteworthy boss battles, great multiplayer, faster gameplay than previous games, phenomenal level design, interesting story, creepy and unsettling.

Cons: Runs at only 30 frames per second, long load times. 

5/5 Stars

Insurgent Review

     I did not see a whole lot of bad movies last year, and I reviewed only one of them; that movie was called "Divergent," and I hated it with a burning passion. It was the first movie in a planned trilogy and was based off the young adult novel of the same name. The book was made into a movie not because it was good or even super popular, but because companies are still trying to cash in on making movies out of best selling teen books in the hopes of having another financial hit like "Harry Potter" or "The Hunger Games." The problem was that those series were good but "Divergent" was terrible. The movie was nothing more than two hours and twenty minutes of grueling story telling that I did not care about. It was one of the most boring movies I had ever seen in theaters. And in my review I tore it apart, giving it the lowest score of any movie I reviewed in 2014; it even made it onto my list of the worst movies of the year. So you may be asking yourself, "Phillip, if you hated the first movie so much why would you see the sequel?" To be honest, I think it's because I just want to rip this one apart to; because to my own disbelief, "Insurgent" is just as bad as "Divergent."

     "Insurgent" place almost immediately after the events of "Divergent," and everything has gone to hell. The story revolves around a young woman named Tris and her boyfriend Four. In the society they live in, people are put into one of five factions depending on their personality. A small number of people are called divergent; they don't fit into any category and are wanted by the government because they believe that divergents will tear down the system. During the previous movie one of the factions made a power play to control the government, and their leader, Jeanine, has essentially gained control of the city and declared martial law. Tris and Four are in hiding, but are planning a way to get things back to a good place. After meeting some people known as factionless, they start to put a plan together to unseat those in power. While all this is going on, Jeanine has sent her people to find a box containing a message from the people who founded their city a few hundred years ago. The only way to open the box is to pass all 5 of the faction tests, which means only someone who is divergent can open it. Jeanine was hell-bent on killing all of the divergents, but now she needs one; she needs Tris. 

     Last year's "Divergent" was likely my least favorite movie from last year, and it looks like "Insurgent" is on its way to being my least favorite movie of this year. Let's go ahead and get the good aspects of this movie out of the way first. Shailene Woodley as Tris is probably the saving grace of this movie. She gives it her all, and does as good of a job as any actress would do in the role. One thing that this series has had going for it thus far is that the concept of the series is interesting; it gets into the areas of social structure and class warfare and is generally interesting. The overall idea had all the potential in the world, unfortunately the movies have not capitalized on the opportunities. There was one thing I loved about this movie, one huge improvement over its predecessor I really appreciated. And that is the fact that it is shorter. Sitting through "Divergent" was agonizing, partially because it was much longer than it needed to be. "Insurgent" though is quite a bit shorter, which made this movie slightly more pleasant to watch. That brings us to the end of what I enjoyed about his movie, now it's time to get to everything else. The overall concept of the story is interesting, that doesn't mean that the story itself is interesting. The plot of this movie is messy and convoluted. "Insurgent" is based off the book of the same name, and it feels like the author wrote the ending to the book first and then wrote the story leading up to the ending afterwards. The author knew how they wanted the book to end, so they just needed to create a story that fit the ending. But watching the movie, the plot feels like it was just thrown together. One problem with the story was the love interest aspects of it. There is no chemistry between the actors that play Tris and Four, you really don't care about their relationship and the whole thing comes off uninteresting. Like its predecessor, "Insurgent" tries really hard to be an action movie. The problem is that the action sequences in this movie just feel uninspired. They’re lazy and unimpressive, and pretty unbelievable at times. During one section Tris was being attacked by at least two dozen trained soldiers, and even though each one is firing at her from all angles not one manages to hit her. It feels a little cartoony, and for a movie that is trying to be serious it comes off as kind of dumb. The best thing this movie has going for it is Shailene Woodley's performance, every other actor in the movie though doesn't try half as hard as her. Most of the performances in the movie feel phoned in, no one but Woodley seems to even try. Kate Winslet, who is a great actress, plays Jeanine, and she looks like she doesn't even want to be there. No one is bad per say, but I feel that many of the stars could have done much better. It doesn't help that most of the dialog in the movie is pretty bad, and even cringe worthy at times. On more than one occasion I was rolling my eyes at what the characters were saying, especially during parts involving Tris and Four's relationship. Unlike its predecessor, "Insurgent" seemed to rely more on CGI. There were several dream sequences that looked like they took place entirely in front of a green screen. The problem is that the CGI was sub-par. In a world where movies like "Avatar," "Gravity," and "Life of Pi" have taken CGI to the next level, you can't have special effects that are anything less than fantastic. Like the acting, the CGI wasn't necessarily bad but it was lackluster. One of the problems I had with "Divergent" was the characters, they were generally uninteresting and many were unlikable. This movie suffers from the same problem, and the few new characters the movie adds bring nothing new to the series. TO be honest, you really don't care what happens to anyone. This movie does most everything wrong, but there is one thing that makes it truly unbearable. And that is that this movie is boring. Just like "Divergent," I was bored out of my mind watching this movie. I was almost constantly checking the time because I wanted to see how much more of it I would have to sit through. A movie can suffer through many problems and still be enjoyable, but when it becomes boring it is a lost cause. Going into this movie, I was really hoping it would be better than the last one. I don't like to hate movies, I understand a lot of time and money goes into them; but when a movie is bad I'll say it, and this movie is bad. Whether it is worse than "Divergent" is hard to say, but they're within shouting distance of each other. Even with Shailene Woodley at the helm giving it her all, there was nothing that could have saved this movie. I'll say the same thing about this movie that I said about "Divergent," "Insurgent" is just another bland movie meant to get teenagers in the seats. 

Pros: Shailene Woodley gives it her all, interesting concept, shorter than "Divergent."

Cons: Convoluted and messy plot, uninteresting love story, uninspired action sequences, most performances feel phoned in, poor dialog, sub-par CGI, boring, old characters are uninteresting and new characters bring nothing new.

1.5/5 Stars

20 Best Movies of the Decade So Far

Honorable Mentions: Gone Girl, The Grand Budapest Hotel, Skyfall, Silver Linings Playbook, Warrior, Inception, Fruitvale Station, Her.

Runner-Up: A Separation
If I were to say one thing about this movie, it would be that "A Separation" is one of the most humanistic movies you will ever watch. Released in 2011, this Iranian film is about a couple that has been married for 14 years getting a divorce. The wife wants to leave the country with her family in order to give their daughter a chance at a better life, but the husband refuses to leave because he needs to take care of his father who is suffering from Alzheimer's. He signs off on the divorce but refuses to let her take their daughter out of the country, and the rest of the film is about the trials and tribulations of their lives. I think what this movie does best is that it feels real. These characters, their dialog, and the situations that they get into feel like they could happen in real life. By the end of the movie you really connect with these characters, and want nothing but the best for them. I love foreign movies, they offer something different than what we traditionally see in American movies. "A Separation" is all business, there is no padding. It is a hard hitting drama that captures and keeps your attention for its entire run time.

20. Whiplash
Everyone, at some point in their life has strived to be truly great at something; work, school, video games, whatever. People have an inherent need to be great at something. What separates people though is how hard you are willing to work at something to become great at it. Unless you're willing to bleed for it you probably won't make it. That dynamic is what is explored in "Whiplash." A student at a prestigious music college named Andrew has real talent on the drums and wants to become one of the greats. One day while practicing he catches the attention of the conductor of the school's top band who shows an interest in him. He ultimately invites Andrew to join his band; this is everything Andrew wanted, but he soon realizes the conductor is a taskmaster who will accept nothing short of perfection. "Whiplash" might have been the most entertaining movie to come out in 2014. A phenomenal soundtrack, great performances, and beautiful cinematography were just some of the things this movie did right. It's not hard to see why this movie was universally praised as one of the best movies of the year.

19. Drive

"Drive" can best be described as a love letter to the movies of the past, director Nicolas Winding Refn wanted to make a movie in the style of some his favorite films. The style, writing, and the way it was shot pays tribute to many movies from many genres. And despite being a hodgepodge of genres like action, neo-noir, drama, romance, and art house, the movie comes together into something truly unique. The film follows an unnamed stunt drive who moonlights as a getaway driver for criminals and his unconventional romance with his neighbor. "Drive" is a movie that polarized people; many go into it expecting a non-stop action thriller and not a sincere calm drama. So upon its release it was met with many mixed reactions. But almost immediately it was met with praise from critics and true movie fans. Highlight by beautiful cinematography, minimalistic dialog, and great performances from the lead, many would list "Drive" alongside some of the greatest art house films of all time.

18. The Raid 2: Berandal
In 2011 director Gareth Evans released "The Raid: Redemption," an Indonesian martial arts that was the best action movie in over a decade. Three years late the sequel came out titled "The Raid 2: Berandal," and it will go down as one of the greatest action movies of all time. The story follows a young police officer named Rama who is recruited by an anti-corruption task force to infiltrate one of the largest crime organizations in the country. Going undercover for two years in prison to gain the trust of the boss's son, Rama gets in much deeper than he ever thought possible, and wants nothing more to finish his mission and get back to his family. From the opening scene to the final epic fight, "The Raid 2" is a nonstop thrill ride with some of the best fight choreography ever put into a movie. This was one of my favorite movies of 2014, and considering how great the first film was it is impressive that the sequel manages to top it in every way. It maintained that amazing action that made the first film so great while improving the dialog and story. This is one of the most enjoyable movies I have ever seen, and I am so happy that it will be getting a sequel in a few years.

17. Toy Story 3
From 1995 to 2010, the animation studio Pixar was the king of the animated film industry; and that reign started and ended with the "Toy Story" franchise. The first film in the series released in 1995 was a huge hit and is not considered one of the greatest animated films of all time. 15 years later the series ended with "Toy Story 3," and like its predecessors it is often considered one of the greatest animated movies of all time. The story takes place years after the first film, and as you can imagine it follows a group of toys. These toys had always been owned by a young boy named Andy, now being 17, he is off to college soon and no longer needs them; so he decides to donate them, and they end up making their way to a day care center. At first everything seems great, but they soon discover that everything isn't sunshine and rainbows at their new home. I grew up on Pixar movies, and this series holds a special place in my heart. It has been announced that there will be a "Toy Story 4" released in the next few years; while I'm nervous about how good it will be, if anywhere close to the level of this one, I'm sure it will be great.

16. The Imposter
On a list with several underappreciated films, "The Imposter" has to be the most underappreciated of the bunch. A 2012 documentary, it tells the story of Nicholas Barclay, a thirteen year old boy from Texas who disappeared in 1994. Several years after his disappearance his family received a call from police officers in Spain saying they believe that they found Nicholas. After being sent back to the States, he is questioned by the police and his family and everyone is sure that it is him. But from the second he showed up, something didn't seem right. 2012 produced several great documentaries but none even came close to this one, and yet somehow it didn't even get a nomination for best documentary at the Oscars. Probably one of the creepiest movies you will ever see, this is the type of film that will stay with you long after you watch it.

15. Django Unchained
For just over 20 years, director Quentin Tarantino has been one of the most polarizing, controversial, and beloved members of the film industry. Making his debut with "Reservoir Dogs" in 1992, and just two years later the masterpiece that is "Pulp Fiction," Tarantino quickly made a name for himself as one of the best up and coming directors. Noted for his style, writing ability, and constant homage's to old movies, he has often been called one of the most influential directors of all time. In 2012 he released "Django Unchained," a spaghetti western film with elements of satire and blaxploitation; it was in instant hit with critics and audiences and even won two Oscars. The story revolves around a slave named Django who is hired by a bounty hunter to capture three wanted men only Django can identify, he agrees but only on the condition that the bounty hunter helps him find his wife. Brilliant, bloody, and downright hilarious at times, this movie stands alongside some of Tarantino's best movies and has become a fan favorite of many movie goers.

14. How to Train Your Dragon
On a list filled with movies that I love, this might actually be my favorite. Loosely based off the book of the same name, "How to Train Your Dragon" is a 2010 animated movie that was one of the surprise hits of the year. The story revolves around a young boy named Hiccup who lives in a village in somewhere in Scandinavia and is son of the village chief. In this village the people have been forced to fight dragons on a daily basis because they steal their livestock. While it is a time honored tradition to fight dragons, Hiccup is small, weak, and can barely hold a sword. After devising a contraption used to shoot nets and capture dragons he manages to catch a feared dragon called a Night Furry, but instead of killing it he lets it go; and soon discovers there are more to dragons than meets the eye. I remember reading the book this movie is based off of back in elementary school. And while the movie and the book have almost nothing in common accept for character names, this movie manages to accomplish the rare feat of being better than the book. Fun for all ages, "How to Train Your Dragon" can easily be listed alongside some of the best animated movies of all time.

13. 12 Years a Slave
Believe it or not there are formulas that have been designed for movies to help them win Oscars. For example, an autobiographical period drama about a slave is an almost sure fire way to win best picture. And despite the fact that these Oscar bait type movies get a little old after a while, they can still produce a damn fine film. "12 Years a Slave" tells the true life story of Solomon Northup, a free black man who lived in the north but was kidnapped and sold into slavery. The film chronicles his 12 year journey going from plantation to plantation, and the struggles he faced along the way. Directed by a very promising director named Steve McQueen, this is easily one of the best movies ever regarding slavery. Phenomenal acting, a great screenplay, and beautiful cinematography are just some of the stand out features of this movie. This is one of those films that they should show in school when they talk about slavery, because it showed what a truly dark period that time in America was. But despite the darkness there was a light at the end of the tunnel.

12. Gravity
Every year there is at least one movie that comes out of nowhere and takes the world by storm, in 2013 it was Alfonso Cauron's "Gravity." The plot centers around two astronauts doing repairs on the Hubble Telescope, a veteran on his last mission and a rookie helping in the repairs. While working they learn that several satellites have been destroyed and are spinning around the planet at breakneck speeds and are heading right towards them. They manage to survive the first wave of debris, but they are now stuck on the most hostile environment known to man with no contact to those on the ground. Upon its release the movie was hailed as one of the best of the year going on to win six Oscars, and at the box office it made over 700 million dollars. "Gravity" is one of the most thrilling movies I've ever seen, I was on the edge of my seat through most of its run time. It also featured some of the greatest cinematography and jaw dropping CGI ever put into a movie. While some complained that the science behind the movie wasn't accurate, the general consensus is that this is a truly amazing movie.

11. Before Midnight

If you ask me there are only three truly great movie trilogies, where each movie was phenomenal. You look at the "Indiana Jones" trilogy example, the first and the third film were great but the second was not up to par. The three great trilogies are "The Lord of the Rings," the original "Star Wars" trilogy, and the little know "Before" trilogy. The series revolves around a love struck couple through different stages of their lives. "Before Sunrise" in 1995 was about them meeting for the first time, "Before Sunset" in 2004 was about them reuniting after not seeing each other for years, and "Before Midnight" in 2013 is about them having an established relationship with kids and their personal interests competing with one another. This movie trilogy tells undoubtedly the best love story ever captured on film. Stars Ethan Hawke and Julie Deeply have phenomenal chemistry together, the screenplay is one of the best in recent years with some of the most realistic dialog I can recall in a long time, and director Richard Linklater manages to tell a heart breaking and uplifting story of a couple that fans of the series have come to adore. When it comes to romantic movies, I can't think of another film where I cared about the characters as much as I did in this one.

10. The Place Beyond the Pines

Right off the bat I feel I should say that I hold this movie in much higher regard than most. Many reviews for "The Place Beyond the Pines" were positive but critical. I on the other hand saw something rather special in it on my first viewing. The plot follows the story of fathers and sons, and how the sins of the past are passed onto the future. Split into three very distinctive parts, "The Place Beyond the Pines" is a greatly underappreciated movie. With gorgeous cinematography, fantastic performances from the leads, and one of the best musical scores of 2013 come together into a movie I love. I feel this will be one of those movies that years down the line will be seen as a movie ahead of its time. It is dark, emotional roller coaster that is worth the watch just to see if you love it as much as I do.

9. The Act of Killing

I don't believe I have seen a movie that is more powerful than this one; it is a movie that will rock you to your very core. "The Act of Killing" is a documentary that illustrates the horrors of the Indonesian Killings of 1965-1966. Under fear that Indonesia would become a communist country, the US supported a military coup that overthrew the government. While this was going on, gangsters and paramilitary groups were tasked with killing innocent people who were labeled "communists." Over the course of a year, more than a million people were slaughtered. The worst part of it is that instead of facing a UN tribunal for genocide, many of the men who committed these crimes are still in political power; some have even become local celebrities. War crimes are defined by the winners, and according to them they did not commit war crimes. The film follows several of these men, and tries to illustrate the horrors they have committed. "The Act of Killing" is one of the greatest documentaries I have ever seen and is a movie that everyone should watch.

8. The Social Network

In 1995 Director David Fincher released "Seven," a violent and controversial psychological thriller about a serial killer murdering according to the seven deadly sins. A few years later he released a film titled "Fight Club" based off the book of the same name, and while it was met with mixed reviews upon release it has since been called a classic and one of the best films of the 1990s. Ever since his early films he has often been regarded as one of America's best directors. And despite his already stoic filmography, 2011's "The Social Network" might be his best movie. The movie tells the true life story of Mark Zuckerberg, the creation of Facebook, and legal battles he had to enter involving several different parties. Fincher's films have often been highlighted by blood and serial killers, but this movie was something different. A sincere drama about a strange man's troubles with everyone else; this movie is filled with great acting, a fantastic soundtrack, and some of the best cinematography we saw in a movie in 2010. Auto biographical dramas have become popular over the years, especially in regards to winning awards. Yet of all those released of the 2010s, this one has to be one of the best.

7. Take Shelter
If implemented properly, an underlying theme can really help add to a movie; and over the years I've noticed that I have discovered a theme that I consistently find fascinating, the decent into madness. "Take Shelter" is a 2011 drama-thriller, and only the second movie from director Jeff Nichols. His first film was "Shotgun Stories," an intense family drama that was one of the stand out films of 2008. "Take Shelter" revolves around a middle class family living in Ohio. Curtis works hard at his construction company in order to provide from his family and help take care of his deaf daughter. One day Curtis starts to suffer from hallucinations and apocalyptic dreams. It turns out that he might be showing early signs of paranoid schizophrenia, which his mother does have. He becomes obsessed with his families safety and starts to build a shelter in their back yard, while simultaneously losing himself with the depths of his mind and growing farther from his family. "Take Shelter" is one of the most terrifying movies you will ever watch regarding mental illness. It is intense and emotional, and shows why Jeff Nichols will one day be considered one of the great American directors.

6. Birdman
It takes a special movie to be able to beat out the number 5 movie on this list for Best Picture at the Oscars, and it wasn't even that surprising of a choice. Likely my favorite movie of 2014, "Birdman (or the Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)" can best be described as a tour-de-force. Directed by Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, the film follows a down and out actor who is attempting to revitalize his career with a Broadway play. At the same time he must battle with his family, co-stars, and his personal demons in order to have this play be any kind of success; also, he might have telekinetic powers. I loved everything about "Birdman," the cinematography made to make the movie look like one continuous shot, the score that is made up almost entirely of percussion and classical music, and the writing that brings this story together and lets the dialog flow seamlessly from the actors' mouths. Years from now when I reminisce about 2014, the movie that will likely come to mind will be "Birdman."

5. Boyhood
Richard Linklater's "Boyhood" first debuted at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2014, and since its debut it has been met with almost nothing but universal praise. Filmed over the course of twelve years using the same cast, it tells the story of a young boy in Texas growing up from a child to a young adult and all the trials and tribulations he must go through on his path to becoming an adult. This movie is something special, the dedication and heart put into it are like noting we've ever seen in cinema before. The movie made me nostalgic, it made me remember my childhood. I think that's why this movie has connected to so many people, because it is easy to connect to. This is one of those rare movies where future generations will look back at and just wish that they could have seen it in theaters.

4. Mud
Director Jeff Nichols is one of only two directors to have two movies on this list, and for good reason. While he only has three films, each has been phenomenal, and the best of those three has to be 2013's "Mud." The story takes place in rural Arkansas and primarily revolves around a young boy named Ellis. One day Ellis travels to a small island in the middle of the Arkansas River with his friend Neckbone. On the island they find a boat that has been logged in a tree after a recent storm, while inspecting the boat they discover that someone is living out of it. When they head back to their boat to get home, they discover a man named Mud fishing on the beach. They soon learn that Mud is a fugitive that is hiding out on the island, and after some persuasion, Mud convinces them to help him gather the parts he needs to fix the boat so he can travel down the river and get out of the state with his true love. "Mud" feels like something out of a Mark Twain novel, the movie really manages to capture the American spirit like few movies do. Greatly underrated, "Mud" is sure to one day become a true American classic.

3. The King's Speech
Everyone loves an underdog story, ones where people must overcome great odds in order to achieve greatness themselves. Released in 2010 and directed by Tom Hooper; the film is based off the true life story of King George the Sixth, who took the thrown upon his father's death when his older brother refused to take the thrown. The problem was that he had severe speech impediment, to the point where he couldn't even give public addresses without sounding like a stammering idiot. The film chronicles his work with speech therapist and overcoming his impediment. "The King's Speech" ended up winning best picture at the Oscars, but it is often called highly overrated and that the Oscar should have gone to "The Social Network." I never saw how people could consider this movie overrated. The acting is fantastic, the directing is top notch by Tom Hooper, it was well written with some very emotional moments, and some of the best production value we saw in a movie that year. I love this movie, it is the type of movie that makes me want to go out and conquer obstacles. So if you're looking for a feel good movie anytime soon, look no further.

2. Argo
It is truly hard to believe that Ben Affleck, the actor who starred in cinematic abominations like "Daredevil" and "Gigli," has become one of the most respected directors currently working in Hollywood; talk about a career comeback. Affleck made his directorial debut back in 2007 with the mystery film "Gone Baby Gone," which was widely considered one of the best films of the year. In 2010 he directed the crime drama "The Town," which received wide acclaim and a best supporting Oscar nomination for Jeremy Renner. While both of those movies were great, his third film "Argo" blew both of them out of the water. It tells the true life story of a secret CIA operation to save several Americans who were taken in by the Canadian ambassador in Tehran during the Iranian Hostage Crisis. While the movie did receive some criticism for not being entirely historically accurate, the film was lauded by both critics and audience; it went on to become a huge box office success and even won three Oscars, including best picture. Great acting, a fantastic screenplay, and an almost unbelievable story add up to one of the most suspenseful movies you'll ever see.

1. Zero Dark Thirty
In 2001, the terrorist group Al Qaeda committed the worst terrorist attacks in human history when they hijacked several planes and flew them into the World Trade Centers and the pentagon. After that the leader of the group and one of the master minds behind the attack, Osama Bin Laden, became public enemy number one. "Zero Dark Thirty" revolves around a CIA agent named Mia, who helps lead the charge in the hunt for Bin Laden. Directed by Kathryn Bigelow, from the first minute to the final scene this movie was nothing short of astounding. Showing the dark and dirty side of war and the questionable tactics the American government used during the recent wars in the Middle East, this movie is not for the faint of heart and drew a lot of controversy for its depiction of American torture tactics. For the entirety of the 21st century, the entire world has stood in fear of the threats of terrorists. It wasn't until Osama Bin Laden's death in 2011 that many were able to rest easy and breathe. Thrilling from start to finish, an intense screenplay, one of the best performances from a female lead ever, and one of the single greatest and nerve racking scenes ever shown on the silver screen are featured in this movie. While not for everyone, in my mind this film is astonishing; I think it was Forbes Magazine that described this movie best, "Zero Dark Thirty is a film to define a decade."

Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number Review

     In the video game industry, publishers have often given themselves bad names. Electronic Arts, Activision, and Ubisoft are the three biggest publishers in the in the business, but are absolutely hated among fans. EA was even voted the worst company in America twice by consumers. Fortunately though there is at least one publisher out there that people absolutely love, Devolver Digital. Known for publishing indie games that would have trouble getting made without their support; Devolver Digital is loved among many hardcore gamers. They published the recent "Serious Sam" games, "Shadow Warrior," "OlliOlli," "The Talos Principle," and several highly anticipated upcoming titles; yet there crowning achievement was bring Dennaton Game's "Hotline Miami" to the masses. An immediate success, the game was met with wide critical acclaim and good sales. Highlighted by difficult combat, a unique art style, and one of the best soundtracks ever put into a game, "Hotline Miami" became an instant fan favorite; personally, I'd rank it among some of my all time favorite games. So ever since the sequel was announced, I've been jacked. So after over two years waiting I finally got to play it, and "Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number" is everything a sequel should be.

     The majority of the story takes place after the events of the first game, where an unnamed character only known as Jacket massacred the Russian mafia in Miami when he was manipulated by phone messages. After he finished off the boss, he was almost immediately arrested, but public reaction to his arrest was mixed; many calling him a hero and others want to burn him at the steak. The story follows several different characters; a group of Jacket's fans, a detective investigating Jacket, an actor in  a slasher movie slowly losing his mind, a writer wanting to learn more about Jacket, a man named Jake who is being influenced by the same people who controlled Jacket, and a few others. Each character has their own motives and is willing to do anything to complete them. At the center of each story is a conspiracy, but by the end of the story will the characters even want to know the truth.

     There is a proverb from an old Hindu scripture called the Bhagavad Ghita that goes, "Now I am become death, the destroyer of worlds." Throughout my entire time playing "Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number," that quote describes how I felt. Playing this game, you are death incarnate. It is fast, furious, and phenomenal. For me what has really set this series apart has to be the gameplay, which can be hard to describe without actually showing any. In essence, the game is a top down, hyper violent action, stealth, and strategy game where you and enemies die from one hit. You can use a variety of weapons, both firearms and melee weapons, as well as your fists. I fell in love with the first game because of its combat; it's incredibly difficult and requires split-second timing. The gameplay has been tweaked from the first game to make it even better, small things but when playing it you can tell. An interesting element of the first game was the use of masks; at the beginning of the level in "Hotline Miami" you chose a mask to put on and each had a special ability, like the ability to see farther or take an extra hit before you die. They were small assists but they helped, in "Wrong Number" not every character has a mask but the masks feel much more useful when you can use them. For example, choosing the duck mask allows you to play as two people at once. One wields a chainsaw and the other a gun. Another example would be the bear mask, which allows you to dual wield SMGs at the start of the level and shoot in opposite directions. So while there are fewer masks in "Wrong Number" than in its predecessor, each mask feels like it makes a bigger difference. The game also features even better level design. The game feels more diverse, taking place in a variety of locations; each one featuring something different. Each character you play as also has something interesting about them, for example, the journalist you play as isn't a killer. When you play as him many of his attacks are non lethal and he can't use guns, adding a new challenge to overcome. The only problem I have with the game play would be the difficulty in some levels; I love the fact the game is challenging, that's what made the first game so fulfilling, but this one has a few levels that feel nearly impossible to beat and takes away from the fun. When you talk to gamers about "Hotline Miami," what you will hear most about is the soundtrack. The first game has one of the greatest soundtracks you will ever hear in a video game, it's as simple as that; and as amazing as it sounds, the same goes for "Wrong Number." When I play video games I will often watch Netflix or YouTube in the background, but I never did that when playing this game. The soundtrack is so good, I actually downloaded it to my phone. Even if you don't play the game, the soundtrack is worth the listen. One of the problems I had with the first game was that I never really paid attention to the story. As interesting as it was, I never really cared about what happened; I can't say the same for this one. The variety of unique characters plus the several different stories make the whole game that much better. I also feel that the game was more confident with its storytelling and was willing to go where the previous wouldn't. This was a game that I had been waiting two years for, and after playing it I am satisfied. It takes what already was a great game and improves on it with several new mechanics and elements. "Wrong Number" feels like the game the series was always meant to be; for what it is, it is near perfect. If you liked the previous game you will like this one, if you didn't like the previous game you probably won't like this one. If you haven't played the first one, you are living your life wrong. One thing that is important to note it that this game is controversial to say the least. It is incredibly violent with lots of blood and gore, and is not meant for the squeamish. What really rubbed a lot of people wrong was the opening level. In the opening level you play the movie star who is filming a scene in which you sexually assault a woman. It was so controversial the game has been banned in Australia. If you are really uncomfortable regarding that subject matter, there is an option to skip the scene which may appease some people. So while it may not be meant for everyone, it is something I live. This game is like a combination of "Drive," "Miami Vice," "A Clockwork Orange," and "Grindhouse." "Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number" is something special, a sequel that truly does its predecessor justice. From the opening level you get to step into the role of the destroyer of worlds, and it will make you wish other games were as awesome as this one. 

Pros: Award worthy soundtrack, pitch-perfect gameplay, challenging but satisfying, great art style, variety of unique characters, interesting story, phenomenal level design, masks play a bigger role, small tweaks to gameplay work great.

Cons: Story can be hard to follow, some levels are annoyingly difficult. 

4.5/5 Stars