Does Wolverine Need Romance?

Does Romance Ruin The Wolverine's Character?

Wolverine has a rough exterior, both in appearance and demeanor. His body is coated with thick black hair on his arms and chest while he sports massive sideburns to rival a

Hans Zimmer's Soundtracks: Man of Steel or Batman Trilogy?

Which Superhero Got the Better Musical Treatment?

Hans Zimmer is a true virtuoso. He has been a composer on over a 150 film and other titles, won four Grammy Awards, 2 Golden Globes and an Oscar. His signature is the

Amazing Spider-Man 2: Too Many Plot Lines?

Spider-Man to Face a Growing Army of Villains?

Electro. Rhino. Harry Osborn. Norman Osborn. Green Goblin. Gwen Stacy. Has the Amazing Spider-Man 2 movie bitten off more than it can chew? Both audiences and the studio execs will agree that

Se7en/Seven Movie Review: Epitomizing the Thriller

An Unforgettable Serial Killer

I am not sure how to approach this article because Se7en was released in 1995. So a movie review is free to have spoilers as many would have already seen it but just in case there are those that haven’t seen the movie, like the new generation, I’ll keep it spoiler free.

I knew the movie existed but only considered watching it when Empire Magazine hailed it as one of their Masterpiece numbers. Then I listened to a Nine Inch Nails song and suddenly felt like watching the movie. The group, coincidentally, was responsible for the music in the opening sequence.

Se7en features a serial killer who is modeling deaths based on the 7 deadly sins (greed, gluttony, etc.). A rookie (Brad Pitt) and a veteran (Morgan Freeman, of course) team up to solve the case.  The setting is a city where rain and overcast clouds are as common as your morning cereal, setting a background that complements the grim nature of the deaths. The movie also features Gwyneth Paltrow as Pitt’s wife and you begin to adore her as soon as she turns on screen, painting a portrayal of the wife we all would wish for but can’t have. Every frame on screen has a purpose in this movie, even the first unrelated depiction of Pitt’s character’s family life, all in the hopes of making a poignant finale.

However, what truly deserves praise is the serial killer. Most movies reduce these psychopaths to over churned clichés. The reason for their behavior is credited to some formulaic childhood trauma such as an abusive parent or some vicious experience they had to get through. A guy who rapes and kills women could have been abused by his mother in his early years so he vents his anger on others like her. Se7en opts to break free of these conventions, which is saying something even now despite being released in 1995. This serial killer is not just crazy. We don’t even need to give a damn about his childhood. This serial killer is philosophical. I opt not to reveal the actor playing the role as that, too, is part of the thrill in this movie, finding out who the killer is.

A chase scene in the middle of the movie (on foot) unexpectedly manages to create a sense of impending tragedy with the loud gun shots and gritty nature of the pursuit (old school style). It is a tame sequence in modern movie terms but somehow it creates moments where your heart can stop. People travel down flows breaking glasses or skating down the fire escape. They cross the chaotic roads by jumping over cars, using them as landing spots. The inclement weather only emphasizes the threatening nature of the chase.

Most movie finales in this category rise to provide a suitable climax but fail to as they create generic motives and finales. Se7en’s serial killer promises a horrific end to his journey and he doesn’t disappoint. This finale has me still locked in its grasp 24 hours later. As the killer himself says, you can’t comprehend it nor deny it. The macabre details of the crimes will keep you hooked in the early half of the movie. The middle will provide an abundance of action to satiate your appetite. And that finale will simply have you in shock for hours even after the credits stopped playing. 

I got on a diet after I saw what happened to the glutton.

Tobey Maguire vs. Andrew Garfield: Who is the Better Spider-Man?

Old vs. New

At Comic Con 2013, the Marvel panel kicked off with an entrance from Loki. Without doubt, it played out exceedingly well as the crowd continued to chant “Loki”. Tom Hiddleston commanded the entire audience with ease by turning up in character and proved to be a true demi-god.

I saw the Spider-Man panel and Andrew Garfield turned up in costume as well, trying to pull off what Hiddleston did to perfection. Unfortunately and quite surprisingly, Garfield was unable

2015 Movie Lineup: Biggest Year for Movies

Over-Crowded Movie Calendar

2015 is being proclaimed as the greatest year for movies. One look at the line up on the calendar will help you realize why. Despite Avatar 2 being postponed to 2016, 2015 will