Director Gavid Hood translated the lore of Mr. “It’s all about me” Wolverine into an action packed movie that proves how there is great depth to the indestructible and slightly hairy hero. Being a bit ignorant of the full arc, I can not assert whether the story honored the tradition of the comic. What I do know is that the movie delivers entertainment. Loads of it.

The story pits brother against brother, mutant against mutant, mutant against government, woman against mutant. It’s a love story, but it’s more than that. It’s an action flick, but it’s more than that. It is Wolverine.

Action. Adventure. Ass-kicking. Smells like a hit summer flick.

What works:

1) Cast: Dead on, even though Liev Schreiber and Balthazar Getty ( who is not in the movie ) could also be Logan’s brother.

2) Pacing: Effective. The right mix of quiet time and elbow strikes.

3) Solid and believable back story makes this tale work.

4) Accessible: No prior knowledge of the X-Men or Wolverine is necessary.

Verdict: Theater full-price or DVD purchase.

A well constructed horror film works in any language. Creepy is after all, creepy. Written and filmed in Spanish and set in South America, The Orphanage proves that precept mightily.

It’s a simple premise–a woman purchases the orphanage she grew up in as a child for the purpose of raising a few physically challenged children. But then things start going wrong. Strange, unsettling events. Her adopted son’s imaginary friends suddenly don’t seem so imaginary. An intruder runs away from the shed with a shovel in the middle of the night. Her son disappears without a trace. Less than twenty minutes in, my poor Spanish skills stopped being an obstacle; the narrative took me away.

The Orphanage is terrifying. Yet the movie also enlightens, because there is a point to the tale–a reason for the madness. Better still, the characters follow their internal script in a believable and engaging fashion. And for all the terror, in a strange sense, it ends on a very bittersweet note. Very satisfying.
What works:

1) Direction. Creative and expert use of narrative story-telling. Shot after shot added to the tension.

2) Story arc. Original and entertaining.

3) Scare factor: If the intensity could be measured on a tachometer, the film continually red lines.

Challenges:

1) Language barrier. Since it is shot in Spanish, reading the subtitles took some adjustment. However, the awkwardness quickly passes.

Verdict: Catch in the theater, full price. Or DVD purchase.

Jack Nicholson still has the unflinching ability to make me laugh hard enough to spew water from my mouth. Fortunately, as with another Nicholson opus, Something’s Gotta Give, there was no one in the seat immediately north.

The Bucket List is his latest film, and it’s a tour de force. A touching comedy about a serious issue, this film ponders the question, if you knew when you were going to die, what would you do about it? And I’m delighted to say, the answer is live every second with purpose.

Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson are roommates in a hospital Jack owns. Together as they battle their cancer into remission, the shared experience forges an unexpected friendship. When Jack discovers a discarded list of items Morgan wanted to accomplish before he dies, he convinces Morgan to not only finish writing the list, but do as many of the things as they can immediately.

And so the two elderly cancer patients skydive, race classic cars, go on Safari, and travel the world, taking the audience on a great ride and a heartbreaking conclusion.
The Bucket List is funny and moving and has a great message. Above all it’s a great film.

What works:

1) Cast. Come on it’s Uncle Jack and Captain Morgan! What more does a film need?

2) Story Arc. Believable and well-crafted.

3) Rob Reiner can direct a great film. After nearly twenty years of half-ass flops, this is the narrative bookend to Stand By Me.

What needs improvement:

1) Maybe you have not seen The Bucket List yet. Yeah, fix that!

Verdict: Theater full price and buy the DVD.