Maria Full of Grace (4)

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2004 Colombian drama/thriller by Joshua Marston.

A 17 year old girl gets pregnant and decides to keep the baby but she wants to be able to support the child herself. She tries finding work but there is nothing. The only other option is to be a mule: to use her body to carry packets of drugs into the United States. What would you do to create a better life for your unborn child?

This was on my "movies to watch" list for a long time now and I'm glad I got around to watching it.

This movie had a constant flow and intensity that I haven't seen in a long time. Right from the start things are intense and, it's not like it keeps building, but rather it stayed constantly throughout the entire film...right until the end. There was a bit of a climax but it didn't last long. It was almost like this film had several peak moments and then would go right back into being intense and making you full of suspense just as much as you were before the peak. It doesn't let you go. I liked that, it seemed more believable that way. Life doesn't truck along and slowly build up to one singular moment and then it's all smooth sailing after that.

I enjoyed how they kept that fine balance between story and characters. The entire time I wanted to know more about Maria but I never got it and although at the time I was frustrated, after the movie was over I realized that they never faltered from the plot and that was why I was so engrossed in the entire film. Once I started watching, I was in it. If they had spent even an extra 2 minutes on certain scenes or took the time to explain any of the technicalities the story would have lost some of it's power. Really well done, really good.

Characters were awesome, Catalina Sandino Moreno was fantastic, and the story was horrifying and so well written. This movie isn't for the light of heart...that's about all I'll say about that. It's a drama but it's also a thriller and a crime movie and they don't hold back.

If you love a solid story with some remarkable characters and can handle some dark material I highly suggest watching this film.

4/5

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Astro Boy (4)

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A brilliant scientist loses his son but brings him back in the form of an advanced robot. Once he does he realizes that the robot could never be his son so he tries to deactivate him but the boy runs away. It turns out that this boy may be mankind's only hope against a new evil device that ends up in the wrong hands. Can a half human, half robot boy ever find a place where he'll fit in?

I remember watching this when I was a kid but I really liked the new version, even if it was different. This is a classic sci-fi subject; can a robot be human? Can they feel emotion? What makes us human? This movie visits all of these familiar topics yet I found that it really focused on them so they weren't hidden under unnecessary dialogue. While it is a cute movie and great for families I would be surprised if you didn't find yourself thinking even a little bit about the questions mentioned above.

The voices were pretty awesome although sadly I was a bit let down by Nicholas Cage was the dad in this movie...sometimes his voice just did not have enough emotion in it to match the character I was seeing on the screen.

I was surprised by how entertained I was when watching this movie. I really liked Astro Boy; I thought the boy was a great character. I enjoyed the other little robots and silly friends that he makes along the way to...very cool.

I guess that's what I thought once the credits rolled, very cool. This is a neat little family sci-fi movie and I think everyone will be able to sit back and enjoy some good fights, funny scenes and quick but sweet heart wrenching scenes.

Worth a watch for sure.

4/5

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Oceans (3.5)

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A documentary looking at a world we have yet to understand and really appreciate: the oceans.

I grew up watching National Geographic. I pride myself in knowing a lot about nature and the animals and plants on this planet. Just when you think you know it all another movie comes out and as you watch it you find yourself mouth open in awe of the beauty and oddity that exists in this world. This documentary achieved just that; I thought I could see nothing new but they proved me wrong. Even animals that I thought I could write the wikipedia page on them from memory alone left me breathless while watching this movie. I loved every minute of it.

I think I've watched months worth of specials on wild cats and polar bears and rainforests, but it seems like very recently film makers are taking the plunge and focusing more and more on water. Even over the last 5 years there have been groundbreaking and heart wrenching documentaries that have brought outrage and tears to mankind. There doesn't seem to be any sign of filmmakers stopping when it comes to the world below the shore line, and although this movie may not make you want to sign a petition, I thought it was well done (especially good for kids/families).

I'm not going to lie, I laughed a little when I saw that Pierce Brosnan was the narrator, but he did a great job.

I'm a sucker for nature flicks so obviously I liked it but I thought they showed too many things that I had already known. They did dragged me back in when they tossed in shots of animals I have never heard of before but over all I was more entertained than stunned.

The music was really good though, that was a surprise.

And that person swimming with the great white...that shit was CRAZY. I think I gasped and held my hand over my mouth. That was a really cool idea.

3.5/5

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