Son of a Gun (2014)

Directed by Julius Avery
Written by Julius Avery and John Collee
Starring Ewan McGregor, Brenton Thwaites, Alicia Vikander and Jacek Koman

JR busts out of prison with Brendan Lynch, Australia's most notorious criminal, and joins Lynch's gang for a gold heist that soon pits the two men against one another.

Never have I ever watched a movie with so many peaks and valleys when it comes to it's quality. With a strong beginning, it finds itself becoming less inspired. Then, it picks up again. This happens several times throughout the story. The characters, while interesting often seem melodramatic and will change emotions to another extreme at the slightest bit of provocation.

In a role unlike any other I have seen him in, Ewan McGregor commands the screen as the intimidating career criminal with everything to lose. The delicate situation he finds himself causes him to act like a wild animal backed into a corner.  He is equally charming and intimidating, which is far off from his usual "romantic interest" or "Jedi" roles.

The movie, overall was decent. But there were many writing and general flow problems that made certain scenes seem forced or half thought-out. The story felt as though it jumped around quite a bit and many things were rarely explained to the point where you knew exactly what was going on. It wasn't a confusing movie. The information just wasn't given to you in a clear and concise manner. However, there were scenes that were fantastically shot and kept drawing me back in. I just wish the scenes that followed and led up to them were as good.

My Rating: 6/10

The Pirates! Band of Misfits (2012)

Directed by Peter Lord and Jeff Newitt
Written by Gideon Dafoe
Starring Hugh Grant, Martin Freeman, David Tennant and Imelda Staunton

A pirate Captain, named Pirate Captain sets out on a mission to defeat his rivals and win "Pirate of the Year" with the help of his lovable crew. But when greed comes over him and persuades him to sell his pet Dodo bird, Polly, to the Queen of England, it soon becomes a mission to get Polly back.

You know, sometimes you just want to watch a mindless and fun movie. But when that movie surprises you with witty jokes and laughably bad puns, it becomes a great experience. Created by the company who made "Wallace and Gromit", I shouldn't have expected anything else.

There is something about stop-motion animation that makes it stand out above all other mediums. I'm willing to bet money on the fact that each scene is animated by hand frame-by-frame. It's just so impressive and I feel it doesn't get enough credit.

This movie is no exception. With beautifully crafted characters and sets, this is just another example of how stop-motion animators are among some of the most talented people in the world. Because it is such a pain staking process, I feel that many of them would not participate in the project unless the script was solid.

"Pirates: Band of Misfits" is a fun, adventurous movie with plenty of laughs.  It is light hearted and clever and I would recommend it to anyone of any age. It is truly a movie for adults and children alike.

My Rating: 7/10