Se7en (1995)

A chilling, horrific and suspenseful mystery thriller that is unlike any other, Se7en takes on a young cop-old cop partnership that revolves around a series of murders committed by someone who holds a strong belief in the seven deadly sins. It's a game of cat and mouse that turns into a personal battle for both the detectives, making us question how far the killer is willing to go, to complete his masterpiece.

William Somerset (Morgan Freeman) is a veteran detective on the brink of retirement. Jaded by the constant violence and grimness of the place he has lived in, he yearns to move as far away from the blood stained streets of the city in hopes of a peaceful retirement. A new detective named David Mills (Brad Pitt) has just joined the force, transferring from another city's homicide department. Settling into the place with his wife Tracy (Gwyneth Paltrow), Somerset warns Mills of the constant dangers and fears that come with living in a place such as this. They then get put on a murder case, and within the next couple a few more dead bodies show up. They all have one of the seven deadly sins written near the victim's body, causing Somerset to warn the police force that they could expect a few more of these to complete the circle. Doing as much research on the writings that feature these sins, the detectives are led on a trail after a murderer who has complex motives and performs his murders to perfection, patiently revealing the corpses during the span of one week. Caught up in the case, Somerset decides to finish it and at last bring the perpetrator to justice although he knows that the killer may plead insanity as cause for murder and be let free subsequently. Will they lose the trail they set out on or will they fulfill their mission for righteousness? Expect the unexpected when seeing this unforgettable film unfold to the final standoff and twisted manifesto of the killer.

You may think that this is a typical story of a relationship between a veteran and a rookie detective, and no doubt that it has been done before, but it is much more than that. The detectives start out on the wrong foot but eventually put aside their differences and put their heads together to solve one of the most uncanny series of murders ever shown on-screen. Freeman's character exudes wisdom on his half and teaches Mills the ropes of running an investigation in a god forsaken place such as this, while Mills is an ambitious, cocky detective who can't wait to get his hands on a murder scene and find the criminal as fast as he can. It's almost a father-son relationship, and despite all the gore around, it had a warm feeling to it especially after Somerset meets Tracy and gives her advice about her unborn child. The grime of the city and it's darkness contributes to the frightening events surrounding the people and makes it look like a living hell, exhibiting the fine cinematography of the picture. You could say it's a neo-noir film spiked with horror at every corner. David Fincher is an amazing director and this film is a winning moment for him. Filled with crisp shots and dialogue that he took with him to make Fight Club, Fincher is the master of thriller films and this one should have been nominated for more Oscars than it was. The soundtrack gave me goosebumps from start to finish and was a vital detail throughout the film, never releasing its grip on our throats and making the most of every minute. Probably one of the most memorable stand-offs in film history that captured every emotion humanly possible. The thrill of the moment turned to disgust that turned to sadness and despair.

What was most thought-provoking about this film is that in a way, John Doe was right that there are a lot of people in the world who are guilty of a lot of sins they committed, although it was him who caused all the harm and pain to the people he didn't even know, yet he assumed were not doing any good by God's standards. Clever of him to end his own life so swiftly with an addition of ruining the lives of the people around him. He took the sins way too seriously, showing himself as a psychopath to all the world and killing people who may have not done the right things in life but what was expected of them in such a city. And it's true that everyone is apathetic to what's going on around them, willing to live life as is but ultimately there is hope because of people like Somerset and Mills. Understanding that nobody cares if they lock away another criminal, they are willing to fight to make the world a better place and make a difference in the lives of people who are out there, scared and wondering if the next night they will be stabbed or shot. Humans sometimes seem wilder and more intimidating than beasts, with corruption, robbery, murder and drugs being the short-cut that everyone wants, to live an easier life. It is ultimately laziness that has eaten away at our ambitions and dreams, causing tumult and disorder wherever we go. There will probably never be a way out of these miseries, and the last thing we could do is hope. If we want to guarantee ourselves and the next generation a better future, we have to learn how to fight for it.

Overall, it's a brilliantly made and ingeniously crafted piece of work that will be remembered forever as a defining moment in the history of cinema from the 90's, and a turning point in the career of the director David Fincher. I warn you of the possibly excessive amount of grisly gore in this film, yet that's what keeps you on the edge of your seat, sitting there uncomfortably and lucky to be alive.

We Bought a Zoo (2011)

The wonderful, heart-warming story of a man who started his life anew after the loss of his wife, showing the account of his marvelous adventures renovating a rundown zoo and invigorating the lives of his children. A refreshing and courageous tale that manages to win you over from the very beginning, proving that there is hope of sunshine in life even after bereavement.

Benjamin Mee (Matt Damon) is an adventure writer, but after the recent loss of his wife, his world has turned into a dark and hopeless cave of memories. Wherever he goes, he is always reminded of his wife and the many moments they shared together. His son is also having a hard time dealing with the loss, showing his grief through his somewhat gruesome artwork. He is ultimately expelled from school, causing Benjamin to search for another outlet for his family. He decides to move away from the city where he is constantly reminded of his wife, and start a new chapter of his life for not only his sake but his children's sake too. They happen to stumble upon an enormous country estate that happens to encompass a struggling zoo that needs a sufficient amount of help to get back on track. In hopes of making his kids' lives happier and livelier, he doesn't hold back on the opportunity to purchase the land and that's where his unforgettable adventure begins. He meets the small group of people who run the zoo including Kelly (Scarlett Johansson), who has witnessed many of the workers quitting while herself staying loyal to the zoo, sacrificing her personal life and enduring financial struggles. She is at first skeptical as to what Ben's true motives are for buying the zoo, but soon enough realizes that maybe he doesn't want to sabotage the zoo but rather bring it back to life. By buying this zoo, Benjamin bites off more than he can chew, yet on the other hand he is nurturing his broken heart and mending the lives of everyone around him as well.

The story no doubt brings back the winning charm of director Cameron Crowe and the realistic battles that his characters bring to the big screen. Matt Damon brings one of his most impressive performances to date, embodying the character of a real life person who has faced an arduous situation much like this. The scene that struck a nerve with most viewers would probably be his confrontation with his son at the new house. The frustration and genuineness of that scene was a turning point for both of them since their terrible loss of both a mother and a wife. I liked however that the tension was eased at the end of their verbal diarrhea by a humorous request. A climactic moment of distress can't always end in laughter, and the scene was skillfully crafted to evoke such contrasting feelings with the least amount of effort or strain. The cinematography was executed beautifully, delivering the raw and warm colors of the country as well as the town they lived in previously. Scarlett Johansson was great in her role as Kelly, delivering long monologues to the peak of perfection, but Matt Damon's performance is unmatched when it comes to this film. It was refreshing to see her play a down to earth character who is modest as opposed to the blonde bombshells that she is known for playing. The whole cast had a sort of meshed together attitude, making the focus of the film their holistic approach to restoring the zoo and I think that's a great feeling to experience during the span of the movie.

Throughout the film there are quite a few parallels drawn between the animals and the people. The bear named Buster, who wants to be a free spirit can relate to Benjamin's imprisonment in the city where all he sees is his wife; and his ultimate chance of expanding Buster's enclosure giving him the opportunity to roam a wider area is the interpretation of Benjamin's move to the country in order to let go of his insecurities about Katherine's death. As a result of moving to a place that has a zoo, Benjamin pours his heart and soul into its re-opening while still letting Katherine be his guardian angel who guides him in his decisions. Spar the tiger, who has a number of health issues could symbolize the pain and anguish that Benjamin has been going through since his wife's death and the decision to put him down finally means that he has somewhat let go of the past and ready to move on in his life. The opening of the zoo is his victory in defeating his inner demons and restoring his relationship with his son. Of course he will never forget Katherine and what she has given to him while she was here on Earth, but he had to manifest it upon himself that she is gone and he and his children are still there. There is no way out, but there is a way forward that can still honor her existence and at the same time, let other people into their lives to produce a positive impact.

The story shows that with a strength of a family, anything is possible and all you have to do is believe that life is an adventure with high waves, hazardous roads and of course rays of sunshine. I believe a lot of people who have lost a loved one, can look back on this film in an inspiring way. Poignant as a situation may be for anyone with such an experience, I hope that this film will remind them of the bigger picture and let them know they are not alone. Perseverance and hope in life is the remedy for your difficult circumstance.

Overall, a very memorable film although quite sad for a Christmas release. I enjoyed it very much and I hope you will too. I also congratulate everyone from the actors to the crew for taking part and completing a fine piece of cinema which is sure to elicit a fire in anyone's soul.

Coraline (2009)

From the man who directed The Night Before Christmas comes an eerie tale of a girl who wanted more out of her life and in return had to pay a heavy price. A motion picture that's sure to stop you in your tracks and make you think about the things you once took for granted.

Coraline Jones (voiced by Dakota Fanning) has just moved into a new house located in Oregon after living a happy life in Michigan. She sets out to explore the property and land that surrounds the place and meets Wybie, a talkative boy who lives with his grandma in a neighboring house. After coming home, her mom (voiced by Teri Hatcher) gives her a doll that looks just like her with a note from Wybie on it. She suspects him of deliberately making the doll look like her but he confesses that he found it in his grandma's trunk chest. With her mom and dad concentrating intensely on their business goals and apathetic to her requests, she explores their home and discovers a mysterious little door hidden behind the wallpaper in one of the rooms. She is absolutely restless in her attempt to get to know what wonderful world lies behind it and one night she finally finds out. It is a mirror image of where she currently lives except for the fact that everything is much more amusing and fun for a girl such as her. The only catch is if she wants to stay in this world forever, she must sew buttons into her eyes like the rest of the people living there. Once refusing to do this, the Other-Mother imprisons her and warns her that she will stay here forever if she doesn't sew buttons into her eyes. The Other-Wylie, who can't talk, rescues her and sends her back to the real world. The only problem is her real parents are nowhere to be found, which hints at the possibility of the inevitable. Coraline must go back to the dream world and rescue her parents so she makes a deal with the Other-Mother that if she finds the eyes of the other children that were lured into her trap, her parents, the spirits of the children and herself will be free. Will Coraline face up to the challenge and realize that her real parents are better than any other, or will she lose the game and share the fate of the other children before her?

First of all I absolutely loved that this film is so unconventional in style to so many other children's films. It's almost like a toned down horror film that lets children with an eye for scares get a taste of what a real horror film may be like. The characters are unforgettable, the score is perfect and the animation is eye-blowing. The shivers that go down your spine are no joke and the whole dark gothic look of the production emphasizes the frightening quality of the dream world and how it transcends its dark magic to the real world. I was really drawn to the elaborately put together outfits of the characters and how they made them so tiny yet compatible and stylish for the individual character. The Other-Mother's dresses were absolutely extreme and every time she lost a layer of cordiality, a new layer of dress came on that made her look rigid and terrifying in the eye's of the viewer but at the same time revealing her true colors. As far as the characters go I wanted to get to know a little bit more about the Other-Mother because she is such a secretive creature and the film didn't really explain why she turned out the way that she did. Did she lose a child of her own or something entirely different? We'll never know for sure, but I think that aspect would have made the film a complete to a much bigger extent. After finishing this film you would definitely feel like it should have been a little bit longer. The supporting characters were definitely whimsical and out-of-this-world, but some of the Russian Mr Bobinsky spoke was a little off.

I have to say that the message of the film is rather simple and has been done before, but the little twists and turns are what make this film truly unique. In the end she realized that there is nothing better than her real parents and the people who are there in person as opposed to how you want to see those people. You can't have what you want all the time, so hopefully Coraline understands the different personalities and difficulties other people have and she's got to learn how to be harmonious with them and her surroundings. Life brings many changes your way and some may be unfavorable or pleasant but you have to make it work to your advantage. It happens to everyone, but it was definitely beneficiary for Coraline to experience it while she is young. Like the slogan says, "be careful what you wish for", because after a while it may not be what you want entirely and you will regret it. Just be content with what you have and you will find that your life is the dream you want to live.

Overall, it's a darker fantastic, distorted version of Alice in Wonderland and brings back some of the magic that drew people to Henry Selick's previous films. The film might also remind people of the wild productions that Tim Burton staged such as Corpse Bride and his rendition of Alice in Wonderland. Definitely one of the top films on the stop-motion film charts and would delight anyone who is a fan of Selick's work and the genre it falls into.

Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief (2010)

An adaptation of a popular book series may be what's holding people's interests for this film but other than the exciting action and special effects, the story doesn't live up to its standards and is no match for the beloved Harry Potter films. The British may have something to do with that.

Percy Jackson (Logan Lerman) is a regular kid in high school but he has some rather peculiar abilities and disabilities. For one, he can hold his breath under water for over five minutes but on the other hand, he has a rather severe case of dyslexia. He is unable to read and understand English and becomes frustrated and depressed about why this is happening to him. One day, his class goes on a field trip to a museum where Percy realizes he can read Ancient Greek and is subsequently attacked by a creature called a Fury who was disguised as his teacher. After the attack, he is warned by his Latin teacher Mr. Brunner (Pierce Brosnan) who is in fact a centaur named Chiron, that his life is in great danger and he needs to get out-of-town as soon as possible in order to go to Camp Half-blood. Percy is perplexed at the chain of events that transpired and is still confused about his true identity and why everyone was hiding it from him. At the camp he discovers a large group of teens much like himself, who are demigods. Bit by bit he grasps the notion that his long gone father is in fact one of the three big gods ruling Mount Olympus. He is Poseidon's son. Soon after, he is plunged into a quest to find Zeus's (Sean Bean) lightning bolt which the other gods have accused him of stealing. He must also save his mother, who is being held captive by the God of the Underworld, Hades (Steve Coogan). If he is to get inside the underworld, he must first find Persephone's (Rosario Dawson) pearls which will secure his escape. He is joined on his quest by his life-long friend and protector, Grover (Brandon T. Jackson) who is a satyr and another demigod named Annabeth (Alexandra Daddario), who is the daughter of the goddess Athena. They travel cross-country in a race against time to find the pearls, battling against villains such as Medusa and the Hydra but will they find the lightning bolt and the perpetrator who stole it in the midst of Percy's epic rescue attempt? The stakes are high considering if they fail, the gods will initiate a war between each other that threatens to destroy the world as we know it.

Promising as the plot may be, the story just didn't click together at all. From the beginning to the end everything seemed awkward and forced, from the acting to the special effects. The CGI just managed to bring the film out of complete oblivion but other than that, the characters and story had no depth to them at all. The only thing that kept me interested was basically wanting to find out who is the lightning thief. You obviously know everything is going to be alright in the end and don't really give much thought to the rescue attempt, only the mystery of the theft. I also wasn't in favor of the age change because in the original book he is twelve, whereas in this film they raised the age to about fifteen or sixteen. Just proves that they had to change one of the most obvious things about the novel in order to make the movie appeal to a more mature audience and bring in more money. Wickedly funny to see Hades aka the Devil in a get up that could have been worn by someone like Mick Jagger. Was it a deliberate attempt at comedy or just a mockery of the gods. A pure contrivance of the Hollywood fat cats that serves its purpose for the thrilled fans of the book series and the heedless teens that wanna see a fun movie on a night out.

I was somehow impressed by the various symbolism interspersed throughout the movie with the casino scenes and the numbing effects of the lotus flower implying the negative effects casinos have on visitors young and old because they turn them into addictive gambler's and blind them with the impressive prizes and treats that are offered to them. Definitely an interesting take on Los Angeles being the entrance to the underworld or in other words, hell. Some may think of it that way because of the endless traffic and smog although it is one of the country's biggest cities and cultural centers.

There was however a faint hint of a motive and moral in this chunk of a film. First of all, it was admirable to see Percy risking his life to save his mom even though I have no idea how he was able to do it without having at least a week of training at the camp he was in. I suppose he is the chosen one so he doesn't need any training like the rest of the flock, making himself invincible to any adversary. It was indeed very gallant of him to do what he did and in the end finally get to meet his father, but his father had no effect on him and he felt just as empty inside as he was in the beginning prompting us to think that the character of Percy has endured no state of transformation, rather the sense of belonging in life. It may not be much of a vehicle to interest many, but the teens and Percy fans are sure to enjoy it.

The Percy Jackson series doesn't make a winning start in its enigmatic endeavor, and is definitely not the new Harry Potter that we would want to see after the decade of adventure the young wizard has given us. These thieves definitely stole the lightning spark of this film and it doesn't look like Chris Columbus did himself justice, after being known for directing the first two films of the Harry Potter series.

Toy Story 2 (1999)

From the studio that brought many lovable animated films to our homes, Toy Story 2 has to be right at the top of the list for their unforgettable story including the two stars of the first film, as well as their memorable gang of toy friends, plus some new characters whom the kids will love just the same.

In the second film of the world favorite trilogy, the story starts out with Andy preparing to go to cowboy camp with Woody (voiced by Tom Hanks). In the midst of his excitement, Andy accidentally tears Woody's arm, leaving Woody at home on a dusty shelf while he goes to cowboy camp. Feeling abandoned and forlorn, Woody still has his toy friends who try to cheer him up in light of his unfortunate incident. However, Woody gets stolen by a desperate and covetous toy collector while trying to save Wheezy the penguin from being sold at a yard sale. His best friend Buzz Lightyear (voiced by Tim Allen), who witnessed the rescue attempt and kidnapping, is determined to save Woody from a much feared fate and get him back home in time for Andy's arrival. He is willing to go the distance in order to save his friend's life while also keeping Andy happy but he can't do it alone, so some of the other toys come along for their next big adventure. Imprisoned by the toy collector who wants to sell Woody as part of a set from the once famous TV show called Woody's Roundup, Woody meets the other toys that co-starred in his eponymously titled show in the early days of television. He meets Jessie the cowgirl (voiced by Joan Cusack), Stinky Pete the Prospector (voiced by Kelsey Grammer) and a horse named Bullseye who are all ecstatic to see him. Once spending time with his new friends, Woody learns that they just want to feel loved and be part of a unit for once because they have been abandoned by their previous owners, who were kids that eventually grew up and didn't want them anymore. Woody starts to get that lingering feeling of portent too after what happened to him before cowboy camp, and decides to come along with the others on a flight to a museum in Japan. Will Buzz and the others come to the rescue in time to convince Woody that Andy still loves him and he's making a terrible mistake, or will Woody succumb to his current feeling of being rejected and ultimately become a prisoner behind a pane of glass for the rest of his life?

First of all this is one of the best movies for children to see because of not only the message that it sends but also the unforgettable characters that continue to inspire us all. The colors and movement of the toys and other characters brings out such an elated feeling to even those who have already grown out of playing with toys. The toys all have such distinctive personalities and backgrounds much like real people, yet they all strive toward one goal and that is to be needed and played with. I commend the story for creating and bringing to life more characters that show a more profound truth of the inevitable events that affect many toys and their owners. Whereas in the last story it was more about the jealousy and new friendship of Woody and Buzz, this film affects every singe one of the toys and touches upon a vastly known truth about the ways of life.

This film sends a very strong moral to kids about loyalty to others, and the will to help someone who is in trouble. Buzz is a considered a good friend because he did everything in his power to rescue Woody while keeping in mind the safety of others and how Andy would feel if Woody was lost forever. If only all kids would realize that from early childhood, neighborhoods would be much safer and there would be less fighting between kids and an increase in the amount of teamwork, justice and kindness. You could also say that the abandonment of toys by older kids can be related to how children treat their parents. When they are small and needy, they rely on their parents to help them do something that is still difficult for them. But as they grow up and year by year learn how to take care of themselves more efficiently, they start to in a way abandon their parents and spend more time doing what they want to do with their friends. It may seem like they are drifting away, but everyone has to grow up one day or another and soon they will be full-grown adults going off to college and pursuing their own goals and dreams in life. The toys are an abstract version of adults in this film, and you can see that by how hard they try to keep Andy happy in return for him to have a jolly good playtime with them all. You could say that this is just a silly story about toys, although that isn't entirely the case because the characters portrayed on-screen, transcend what their appearance may be and deliver to kids a funny, heartfelt and significant story that can crack the hard shell of anyone's hard-boiled soul and make them see what the terms "friend" and "family" really mean.

Overall, it's a film sequel that masquerades it's true colors by continuing to appeal to a much younger audience, which I have to say is a very clever move by the one and only Pixar. Their films are always thought-provoking and coax us to see what matters most in our short yet meaningful lives. No reason to fret, everyone! We all grow up but we never forget the people and the little moments in life that define us and make our stories unforgettable, whether they are good or bad. Toy Story 2 is a stepping stone for us to remember our past and how it will affect the future generation. This movie is an absolute must-see for anyone who is either a Toy Story fan or someone looking for an entertaining story with a good message for both young and old.