Toy Story 3

This is just about as good as movies get. Given the series long hiatus, I was a bit nervous about how this one would turn out. But the story does a great job accounting for the passage of time and reacquainting the audience with the key characters. Andy has grown up and is preparing for college. As a result his toys face an uncertain future during the universal sorting process we all go through at some point. Will Woody, Buzz and the others be kept, donated, or just trashed? But that's just the earliest dilemma. Like the previous films, the toys find themselves on an epic adventure outside the safe confines of Andy's bedroom. Along the way they meet several new characters and face numerous challenges. Of course, there's plenty of humor and action. But Toy Story 3 also hits a strong emotional chord, not unlike WALL-E and Up. This is where Pixar shows they're light years ahead of the competition, and not just in the field of animated films. They haven't made a movie for kids that grown-ups can merely tolerate. This is good old-fashioned entertainment for everyone, something reflected by the diverse audience in attendance on a Saturday afternoon. And judging by the tearful moments and applause at the end, this is a movie that everyone loved, myself included.

Splice

Wow. This is one messed up movie. But in a good way. Judging by the underwhelming trailers this looked like an average Alien-style horror flick. But it's something else entirely. It's incredibly smart and fearless. Although Splice could be classified as a sci-fi movie, it doesn't feature distant technology like flying cars or spaceships. The science behind the story is very real and contemporary. Perhaps that's one reason I found the film so unsettling. What you have here is a modern take on Frankenstein with all the familiar science vs. ethics themes. But what happens when you throw complex emotions into the equation? Sarah Polley and Adrien Brody play a couple who have attained rock star status in the field of genetics. Specifically, they've become famous for splicing genetic material from multiple organisms to create new lifeforms. But things get a bit out of control in their next experiment when they recklessly create a human-animal hybrid. This is where the film could have gone straight into paint-by-numbers territory. Instead, it takes several unexpected turns as the scientists become emotionally invested in their creation. It's very challenging material, and at times, difficult to watch with more than a handful of cringe-inducing moments. But it's a film with heart and a brain which is a lot more than you're likely to find in the cineplexes this summer.

Iron Man 2

Growing up, I never was a huge fan of Iron Man. Tony Stark was just too much of an arrogant jerk. He didn't fit the humble superhero mold. But that's exactly why these movies work and it wouldn't be possible without Robert Downey Jr. This is quite simply the best casting in any superhero movie ever, and the fun continues in the latest installment. At the start of Iron Man 2, Stark's ego is on an all-time high now that the world knows he's Iron Man. But of course, there's plenty of people who aren't thrilled by Stark's sudden boost in popularity. Thus, conflict arises on multiple fronts. To make matters worse, Stark realizes that the suit's power unit is slowly killing him. Solutions to Stark's problems aren't apparent until Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) and his S.H.I.E.L.D. operatives become involved. Geeks know that Fury has set the stage of something much larger, as evident by the discussion of the "Avenger Initiative." Be sure to stay around after the closing credits for an even larger hint at what the future holds for the Marvel Universe. But let's face it. Captain America and Thor have their work cut out for them. If the filmmakers stay true to the source material, these will be much different movies. So when it's finally time for The Avengers to unite, it will be a very interesting collaboration to say the least. Has the bar been set too high? Only time will tell.

Clash of the Titans

While I have fond memories of the original Clash of the Titans, it's not exactly a flawless masterpiece. That was readily apparent when I watched it a week ago. But it's still a fun movie with some very cool action sequences, despite the dated special effects and occasional cheese. So in my mind, a remake wasn't such an awful idea. For the most part, the core elements of the original story remain intact. We still get the scenes with the Stygian witches, Medusa, and the showdown with the Kraken at the end. But there are some alterations which are likely to draw the ire of many a fanboy. Zeus (Liam Neeson) and Hades (Ralph Fiennes) have much more screen time while Andromeda is practically kicked to the background. Then there's the new Perseus, played by Sam Worthington of Avatar fame. This Perseus is a fisherman turned badass warrior, motivated purely by revenge. It seems he could care less about Andromeda or the unsympathetic people of Argos; for him, killing the Kraken is a means to an end. These tweaks to the characters don't necessarily alter the story for the worse. In fact, I rather enjoyed the change-up. Still, the script is far from perfect. The pacing is a bit slow and tedious at the start, but the film eventually finds its stride in the final act. And as for the special effects? Sure, they're flashy but no more believable than the Ray Harryhausen creations from 29 years ago. Perhaps this will improve by the time this film gets remade?

Shutter Island

As a voracious life-long student of cinema, Martin Scorsese is easily one of the most knowledgeable filmmakers to have ever worked in the medium. Unlike some directors, he doesn't just throw images up on the screen and hopes it works out. Crafting effective sequences is more of a science than an art, and he knows exactly how to manipulate the ingredients to produce the desired outcome. Shutter Island is a good example of the master in his lab, tinkering with tried and proven potions to creep out and misdirect the audience. What starts out as a simple missing persons mystery slowly evolves into something else entirely. Clues are expertly dispensed throughout, hinting at, but never quite revealing the truth. For example, there's one blink-and-you'll-miss-it continuity error at the beginning of the film that makes more sense once the film is over. But as thorough as the final explanation is, the ending is somewhat open to interpretation. Exactly what does the last shot mean? Is it as straight-forward as it seems? While the story is compelling, it's the atmosphere that really stuck with me. Everything from the setting, to the music, to the trippy dream sequences all lend themselves to the eerie tone, which is maintained throughout. Like Memento, this is one you'll want to see a second time. But even then, I'm not sure I'll be able to put together the entire puzzle.

Sherlock Holmes

Whenever attempting to solve a murder where black magic, satanism, or the dark arts are suspected, it's best to plot out the locations of earlier slayings on a map. Now if you connect the dots, the lines will most likely form a perfect pentagram...or a pentacle for the Robert Langdon students among you. This oversight was Sherlock Holmes biggest mistake in the latest Robert Downey Jr. vehicle; though he did eventually figure it out. But beyond that eye rolling cliche, this movie was a lot better than I anticipated. It appears Guy Ritchie has given up on his stylized indie films in favor of safe, crowd-pleasing fare that the average movie goer can enjoy without the aid of subtitles. Still, you can catch glimpses of Ritchie's style in the snappy dialogue and frantic fight sequences. I've never read a Sherlock Holmes novel, nor have I seen a memorable film featuring the characters of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's books, so I can't speak to the authenticity of the material. But it all comes together rather nicely, thanks in large part to Downey's eccentric performance. It's also nice to see Jude Law in a strong supporting role as Watson. Overall, this is a good old fashioned detective story. Sure, we do get the Scooby Doo ending where Holmes explains how he figured everything out, but this is a case where the full-disclosure technique is welcome, as there's far too many loose ends to keep track of. Speaking of loose ends, the movie has a rather ambitious ending as Holmes prepares for his next case...involving Professor Moriarty. Now that's a sequel I wouldn't mind seeing.

Avatar

I wasn't completely aware of this movie until Comic Con. Sure, I knew James Cameron was the director, but I had no idea what it was about. But that massive mech-like AMP suit on the convention floor sure got my attention. Then I had the chance to see James Cameron himself, talking about the film at a panel with Peter Jackson. From that point on I took note of the steady stream of marketing, building up the hype. I even got familiar with the world of Pandora while getting an early sneak peak at the video game. It was then that I realized the scope of this film. Unlike most current movies, Avatar is an original concept. It's not based on a comic book nor is it some remake of an old movie or TV show. This is a completely new world, complete with unique flora and fauna. The movie definitely captures the sense of wonder experienced by the characters as they see this world for the first time. This is made all the more impressive by the top-notch CG "performance capture" and immersive 3D photography. But I never got the sense that the film was showboating its visuals; they were just part of the story. While the world of Pandora is truly original, the story feels a bit recycled. It's basically a sci-fi retelling of the Pochahontas/John Smith tale. The RDA (the humans) are after a rare type of mineral called Unobtainium. It just so happens that the local Na'vi tribe reside on a large deposit of this MacGuffin-like resource. Conflict ensues. The similarities between the Na'vi and Native Americans are hard to overlook. Hey, Wes Studi even plays one of the Na'vi elders. But even if the story is a bit too familiar, that doesn't make the movie any less appealing. At nearly three hours long, I was afraid this film would drag. But that wasn't the case. Cameron's pacing is nearly perfect, peppering the screen with the right mix of action, drama, and sci-fi awesomeness to keep things interesting from beginning to end. Definitely worth checking out and paying a little extra for the 3D experience.