The Godfather

Marlon Brando as Vito Corleone in "The Godfather"

I am not a fan of Marlon Brando the person, but Brando the actor is a different story. It is obvious why he is considered one of the best actors in history with this film.

Brando is able to transition from loving, family patriarch to cold-blooded killer. When he is with his family he is supportive, caring and everything a father should be, but mention his name to any of the other five families and they shudder in fear. Brando is the head of the Corleone family, one of the five mob families residing in New York.

Marlon Brando and Al Pacino are the driving forces of the film, but it is obvious that everyone involved made this film with passion.

The film is long and there are a lot of daunting moments, but they are all handled with ease (or at least they made it seem that way).

Francis Ford Coppola received a lot of flack now for his recent films. He is considered another director that went from being great to not so great, but he deserves credit for this film.

The performances are all natural. Nothing feels forced about any of them.

All the moments are filled with suspense whether or not you know what is going to happen next. It sounds odd, but even the moments I felt were coming I was eager to know how.

What makes this film special, though, are those moments of human tenderness. Yes, the Corleone family is part of the mob. They have to kill those people that put them at risk, they provide vengeance to those that hurt their loved ones and that's the key. At the center they are a family. They love one an another and support one another. They may not always see eye to eye, but mess with one of them and be prepared to face consequences.

This was one of Al Pacino's first major roles. Not many people knew who he was. It was a risk to cast him for such a pivotal role, but he proved that he had the talent and the skill to hold his own against one of the greatest actors in history. Pacino plays Michael, Corleone's youngest son. He is a war hero and reluctant to join the family business, but after an assassination attempt against his father, he becomes more involved and proves he can take his father's place.

"The Godfather" is still considered one of the best films of all time.

Pacino transitions from reluctant mobster to Don of the family and he makes the transition seamlessly.

Another great performance comes from James Caan who plays Sonny. Sonny temporarily takes his father's place while his father is unable to lead. Sonny is hot-headed and known to make rash decisions. This proves to be his downfall.

He is protective, but also predictable. Seeing how he is taken care of comes as a blow.

Robert Duvall plays Tom Hagen, Vito Corleone's son-in-law, he is vital to the business, but since he is an abusive husband, it is hard to trust him.

The entire supporting cast is good. There are hit men, cowards, rival gang members. There is not one person I can think of that is a weak link in the cast.

Diane Keaton plays a schoolteacher and Michael's girlfriend. They are later married, and it is obvious she is torn between the life she thought she and Michael were going to have and the life he chose.

"The Godfather" is definitely worth the watch. Yes, yes I know I'm way late in watching this film as well, but there is a reason people still talk about this film now. Give it a watch and find out for yourself.

This film is no longer streaming on Netflix, but I'm sure it won't be too difficult to find a place where you can watch it.

Fiddler on the Roof

Promotional picture for "Fiddler on the Roof" at Broadway Theatre

I knew nothing about Fiddler on the Roof going into the theatre. Two of my roommates chose the show and I went along with them since I want to see as much theatre as I can while I'm in New York and I'm glad I decided to join them.

The show stars Danny Burstein as Tevye, a dairyman living in Anatevka with his wife and five daughters. Tevye is a poor man trying to survive in his small town while political unrest against Jews grows and his three eldest daughters all start finding men they want to marry. Burstein has a larger than life personality and it shows in his portrayal of Tevye which is both funny and heart wrenching. The way he transitions from conversations with his wife, to conversations with his daughters and to his conversations with God are seamless.

The show is directed by Bartlett Sher and is being presented at Broadway Theatre. With a book by Joseph Stein and music by Jerry Bock the show was first performed on Broadway in 1964. A film version was released in 1971 and now it has found its way back to Broadway.

The play is set in 1905 in Imperial Russia and it follows Tevye's family and his neighbors all Jews. Burstein is a veteran actor and it is obvious with how easily he portrays this character. Jessica Hecht, whom I had the pleasure meeting this past summer in Williamstown, plays Golde his wife. She is also a brilliant actress. She and Burstein have great chemistry and they play off of each other well.

Everything seems to be going well in the village until non-Jewish Russians come to Tevye's daughter's wedding and disrupt the party while destroying the presents. After that, Tevye's other daughter marries a non-Jewish man causing her to be disowned. Then the Jews are told they have to leave the village.

Cue the sadness. The audience was sniffling from there to the end.

The actors got a well-deserved standing ovation.

The show is beautiful and the two leads add so much to the show. If anything watch the show for the choreography which is nothing short of mind-blowingly incredible.

Pulp Fiction

John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson in 1994's "Pulp Fiction"

I know I'm twenty two years too late, but I finally saw Quentin Tarantino's 1994 cult classic "Pulp Fiction".

The film are three different stories intertwined together to make on great film.

At times it is difficult to watch, but if you can handle it, it's definitely worth he watch. This is one of John Travolta's best performances and Bruce Willis actually acts in this film. Granted it's probably a role he's comfortable in playing a tough guy, but it's still wonderful.

There is definitely one scene that is difficult to watch more than others, and I don't know how to give warning without giving it away. It is Quentin Tarantino so there is violence and grotesqueness.

If you don't mind and you are like me and haven't seen the film, be prepared for an insane ride.

Tarantino is definitely a sensational story teller and I think this is the perfect example of that. The stories all tie in together. The stories all tell one cohesive idea, but you don't know how until the end. You see characters die, but then see them again later in the film. The film is not chronological, but it is not confusing.

John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson play hit men for one of the most vengeful crime bosses in Los Angeles.

Screenshot from YouTube.

Travolta and Jackson spend most of their scenes together discussing their jobs, life and anything else that comes to mind.

They both embody their characters fully and have great chemistry together.

The film is funny without trying too hard. The characters find themselves in ridiculous situations, the actors take those situations seriously and hilarity ensues.

The dialogue is witty. The characters are unique. The actors are great.

While some moments did get slow, the film was never overly silly. Films bore me mainly when it feels as though a joke has gone on too long. I never felt that way with this one.

Tarantino is a masterful storyteller and I want to see more of his films. I am severely lacking in the Tarantino film palette.

This film made me excited for the future. Yes, it was made in 1994, but there's a reason this film is still wildly popular. Check it out on Netflix now.

The Martian

Matt Damon is left on Mars in Ridley Scott's latest film.

Matt Damon plays Mark Watney in "The Martian". Watney is left behind on Mars after a sand storm. While heading towards the ship that is to take them home, Watney is hit with debris and taken for dead. When he awakens he is alone and his journey for survival begins.

Watney is a part of the Ares III mission. His fellow crew include Lewis (Jessica Chastain), Martinez (Michael Pena), Johanssen (Kate Mara), Vogel (Aksel Hennie) and Beck (Sebastian Stan). We are introduced to the crew eighteen days into their mission. As soon as we are introduced, the crew aborts their mission and head back to earth as the oncoming sand storm is proving to be more dangerous than anyone predicted. It all happens quickly that it is an initial shock to follow Watney as he wakes up. The pace becomes considerably slower and we are finally able to appreciate the situation he finds himself in.

Even though the pace is slower, the film is never dull. You are invested in Watney's journey. He is brilliant and seeing him "science" everything is fascinating. We are invested in NASA's attempts to bring him back home. While they are usually slow and meticulous with their launches and builds, they must work faster in order to improve Watney's chances of survival. We also get to know the Ares III mission crew a little more, but not to the point that we know Watney and mission control.

The story is an interesting one even if, like me, you don't understand everything that is being said. (Science was never my best subject.) The effects are beautiful and the acting is good. I think Matt Damon did a great job capturing the hope and desperation Watney felt while being stranded. I also think everyone at mission control including Jeff Daniels and Chiwetel Eljiofor did a good job with their roles as well. I am not a fan of Kristen Wiig, but I will say I was pleased with her work in this film. The Ares III crew also did a good job, but there weren't any stand out performances for me there.

I enjoyed this film. It keeps you invested in the story although I did feel some of the humor was forced. I'm also considerably more appreciative of science. I think most people have seen this film already, but if you haven't, I say check it out. It's a thrilling ride that you don't want to get off of.

The Last Witch Hunter

Starring: Vin Diesel, Elijah Wood and Michael Caine
Directed by: Breck Eisner
Rated: PG13
Running Time: 1 hour, 46 minutes
Summit Entertainment

My Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

I am not a Vin Diesel fan. I've only liked one movie that he's made and overall I find his acting to be wooden which worked when he played Groot (ba dum tish). This may or may not make me biased towards this film, but at least I'm being honest. Diesel plays Kaulder, a man whose purpose is to protect the world (*cough* United States) from witches.

We meet Kaulder way in the past when he and his fellow group of witch hunters are on their way to defeat the Queen. Kaulder is able to defeat her, but not before being cursed with immortality. Fast forward to now. Kaulder still hunts witches, but he no longer kills them. If they pose no immediate threat, he leaves them alone otherwise they are taken to the witch counsel to face judgement. If they are committed of a crime they are imprisoned. Dolan 36 (Caine) is about to retire as Kaulder's priest protector when he is murdered. Kaulder is suspicious of the circumstances and discovers that Dolan 36 has been killed by witches. Kaulder sets out to hunt those that killed Dolan 36 with the help of his new protector, Dolan 37 (Wood) and a dream walking witch, Chloe (Rose Leslie).

This isn't the most terrible film I've seen, but it's not okay either. I give it a solid "meh". Michael Caine is the standout performer in this film although the rest of the cast does try. Their performances weren't bad, but the script is awkwardly written. The romance between Kaulder and Chloe is forced, the twist ending is oddly underwhelming, attacks against Kaulder come out of nowhere, and it can get confusing with the dream sequences.

Overall I say you can skip this film.

Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens

"Star Wars: The Force Awakens" directed by JJ Abrams is a fun, thrilling ride.

Possible spoilers ahead. I'm going to try and review this without giving too much away, but if I do you can't say I didn't warn you.

"Star Wars: The Force Awakens" is the newest film the in the Star Wars saga. It reveals new things about the force and how it works. We are reunited with beloved characters while being introduced to some awesome new ones. George Lucas' creation gets new life breathed into it, and while it is so far getting more favorable reviews than the prequels, there are still plenty of fans who are disappointed with the outcome. Is the film an overly-hyped retelling of "A New Hope" or are fans never going to be happy with anything that is not the original trilogy?

There are plenty of things in the new story that can keep fans happy. The overall use of the force by a character who is not aware how much flows within them. An epic lightsaber fight between new characters. The Millennium Falcon. Chewbacca. The list goes on. However there are also a lot of similarities between this film and the original Star Wars film "A New Hope". The use of the force against a simple-minded Storm Trooper. A character who is destined for greatness despite a childhood of suffering. The death of a mentor.

Wow. Way to go JJ Abrams. Way to remake a film.

 Yet I find it to be more than that. Yes I see the similarities, but they don't bother me too much. Of course, that may be because while I like Star Wars, I'm not necessarily a huge fan. Harry Potter is my franchise, but I digress. I've seen all the films before this one and I think JJ Abrams and Disney decided to go back to the roots since that was the basis of the entire story. Could they have taken more risks in telling the story? Absolutely, but if they needed a firm base to build upon, that was the way to do it especially since it seems they now want to add episodes 10-12. This was the way to get fans excited for the story again, while bringing in the love of a new generation. Now if episodes 8 and 9 are just a rehash of "The Empire Strikes Back" and "Return of the Jedi" then we have a problem, but for now, I think the films are headed in the right direction.

Luke is missing. Foes want to find him in order to get rid of the Jedi once and for all, while friends want to find him in order to fight against the new threats of tyranny. The key to finding Luke is within BB-8. He is entrusted with a map to Luke after he and his friend, pilot Poe Dameron, are attacked while meeting with the one ally who is aware of Luke's whereabouts. BB-8 flees the attack and is then trying to reunite with those who need him.

The protagonist of the film is Rey, played by Daisy Ridley and she is fantastic. While there have been other females in the Star Wars franchise, this is the first time I was truly excited to see a female character in the saga and to find out she's the lead was the cherry on top. Rey is a scrap-metal scavenger waiting for the family that left her in Jakku to come back. She is strong, smart and not afraid to stand up for herself. The life she planned for herself changes when she meets Finn.

Finn (John Boyega) is a stormtrooper with a conscience. Despite being raised to believe that there is no other life to be had except that of a stormtrooper, he sees the wrong they are doing and decides he does not want to be a part of it. He flees his former life with the help of Poe Dameron. They steal a tie  fighter, but crash in Jakku after being shot. Finn makes his way to the nearest town where he meets Rey.

BB-8 is with Rey and since it is now known that he has the map to Luke, an attack on him, Rey and Finn ensues. They have to get off the planet and quickly. This is when we see the Millennium Falcon for the first time in years. They board and escape Jakku only to be captured by none other than Han Solo and Chewbacca.

The nostalgia continues as the fans are later reunited with Carrie Fisher, no longer a princess, but a general now. There's a lot more stuff that happens in between, but I don't want to give too much away.

JJ Abrams does a fantastic job of reuniting us with our favorite characters, while making it clear that the new films are not about them. The new story line is about Daisy, Finn and my personal favorite, Kylo Ren. Adam Driver is the perfect person to play the part. He transitions easily from emotion to emotion. He is commanding one moment, while struggling within himself the next. He is evil and it all culminates into a major moment.

The final lightsaber battle is spectacular and it involves two of my favorite characters. It's unexpected and kicks total butt. If you've seen the film, we can discuss the details of this battle in person, but just know that it is breathtaking for more reasons that great fight choreography.

Overall, I feel this is another way for fans to nitpick on the franchise. While more risks could have been taken, I think the filmmakers mainly wanted to bring Star Wars back to its core, wash the bad taste of the prequels out of peoples' mouths and start with a familiar slate. I'll start complaining that there is nothing original about these films if the next two films really are completely unoriginal.

The Good Dinosaur

PG 3.5/5

The Good Dinosaur is beautiful to look at. It's one of the first things you notice about the film. The other thing you notice? It's not as good as other Pixar films. It's not bad, it's just not as good. The story follows Arlo, a dinosaur who is afraid of everything. His dad tries to get him to get over his fears, but is unsuccessful. It isn't until Arlo is separated from his family that he has a chance to grow up and grow brave. It's a simple enough plot, but there isn't as much heart as there usually is. Seeing the dinosaurs farm and live as humans do is creative, but I'm not sure it worked in the film's favor. I think it worked in Cars mainly because, we had never seen it before and cars do need to get fuel to survive. Dinosaurs live off of planet earth and there is an abundance of food (especially since the humans in this film are more animalistic than the actual dinosaurs). I just found myself asking why there was any need to do that. Spot is by far the best thing about the film. Had he not been in it, I don't think I would have enjoyed it as much as I did. I enjoyed the film and would watch it again, but it does have its flaws and especially when you have other Pixar films to compare it to, it's lackluster.