Chinatown

Tali: Chinatown is a thriller/mystery/film-noir by acclaimed and controversial director Roman Polanski. Set in a post WWI era, the film centers around J.J. Gittes (brilliantly played by a young Jack Nicholson), a private investigator who is hired to solve the mysterious murder of a local (and hated) engineer. But this is no ordinary film - this is considered to be one of the best of the mystery genre - and so it is no surprise that this murder isn't so ordinary. The film is constantly twisting and turning and you may think you have the whole murder figured out before Gittes did.. but in true Polanski style you don't really have your shit together after all. What makes this film captivating and sets it apart really is the style - an homage to the film-noir genre that really gets to the heart and the depth of a situation.

Leo: Chinatown had an excellent premise. It was overall a very dense and well-constructed mystery. The storyline overall was excellent as well. There were no logical inconsistencies. The best part of the film is the method in which information was revealed; it seemed as if the events occurred in real-life, that is how it would have occurred. From start to finish the story built upon itself. Jack Nicholson is an absolute genius the way he portrays Jake, and I actually had the privilege of reading the Chinatown script before it was made into a movie (not before the movie was made, just the script before the changes it went through to become the movie). While the script was great, the movie really captures the subtexts that the script was missing. Without subtext, this is just another decent mystery, however, it's there and you feel it every second of the film.

The Hyperion Cantos (Hyperion, Fall of Hyperion, Endymion, Rise of Endymion) by Dan Simmonds

Leo: This is my first ever genuine book review. First off, let me start by saying I don't tend to cry from movies or books, I mean LotR was amazing, HP was amazing, but this...this is different. Remember that for later.

I started reading this series (4 books, 600-800 pages a book) earlier last month and now I'm finished. I'm not a super fast reader, but let's just say I read a lot more than most people did in the past weeks. I was recommended this book by a couple friends and I could not thank them more for encouraging it. These books will challenge anyone's view on life in the most entertaining way in the entire world; through an involved, complex, and incredible story that you immediately become immersed in. I will semi-summarize the books here without any spoilers because I want anyone who's read this blog post to read the books. The main aspects of the books include first and foremost love (yes, including the 18A kind, if you know what I mean), followed by philosophical, religious, and anti-religious aspects told in a science fiction medium in which Dan Simmonds (winner of multiple awards, including the Hugo Award in 1990) tells this incredible tale.

The books are based in the far future where there is a creature on the post-Earth world called Hyperion that awaits a pilgrimage to its existence, but not necessarily a religious one... it's almost impossible to tell what this creature truly is. It's known only as the "Lord of Pain" or "the Shrike". The first book is the tale of the backgrounds of all of the pilgrims and what has brought them to this pilgrimage; incredible stories of discovery, love (rated 18A+, don't worry), danger, and suffering told in multiple action-packed formats that act as a huge set up for the story to come while also being incredible stories on their own (people have read the first book as a stand alone book, though I think those people are genuinely stupid for not reading on). The next book, The Fall of Hyperion is when all of the action takes place after the background stories are told and we understand each of the character's motives and rationales. We learn each individual character's involvement with the story that moves across not only space but time and the incredible conclusion of the pilgrimage and possible insights into what happens in the future. If I had to pick my one favourite book....it would be that one, but I don't have to pick my one favourite book...moving on. Endymion and The Rise of Endymion are stories in the far future....the after story of the pilgrims.....but essentially the main story following the hero "Raul Endymion" and how we learn about his complex relationship with this.... "non-religious messiah"..... and the interesting philosophical commentary on life that follows. There are paradoxes brilliantly thought of that challenge our very concept and beliefs in almost anything, while also bringing to life an action-packed nail-biting suspenseful story that keeps us reading page after page after page after page after page. Near the end of the last book, I could not refrain from tearing up (keep in mind what I said at the very beginning of this review, and no I'm not a bitch, ass) due to the complex relations between characters and their limitations as well as their successes....I can't fully express it in words without spoiling it...... In the only words I have to describe it: I've never been so happy and sad about something at the same time..... As for the rest of the book: "I have a cupcake. I can't tell you the ingredients, but I can tell you that it tastes amazing" (thanks Tali :]).

There are some dry bits of explanations that include a few science terms, but they rarely have much to do with "our" science of today..... and if you get caught up in those, you're missing the point of the book.

tl;dr (too long; didn't read):
Read the damn fucking books. If you want.

P.S. apparently there is a shitty movie being made....written by Bradley Cooper? hopefully it's not that shitty.

The Avengers

Tali: The Avengers tells the story of a group of super heroes (or extraordinary people, depending on who you ask) as they assemble to form the ultimate crime fighting team.. wherever that crime may come from. This is perhaps one of the best movies I have ever seen. This film is able to transcend time, space and worlds in a way that isn't forced or awkward; has the best balance of humour, action and realness, amazing fight sequences, incredible graphics, etc etc. Even if you aren't into the Marvel mythology you will find this movie to be one of the best of the year (in the history of cinema?). I would suggest watching the other Marvel movies to gain some insight on the characters/their stories (especially THOR), or simply read a bunch of wiki articles.

Leo: Wow. Well I was waiting for this movie to come out basically since I was born. I have always loved the Marvel universe and the people living within it. Tony Stark is my favourite character basically in any movie simply because of how everyone relates with the guy who's cocky on the outside but really has a deeper side to him once you get to know him.....and did you see Pepper Pots in those shorts??????????? There are so many characters and each one of them has a great story behind them that we already know about from previous movies and they get further delved into here. Who doesn't love the Hulk? Who doesn't love it when Thor picks up his hammer and babbles about some Nordic mythology crap in his accent / shoots lightning? Who doesn't love it when Captain America throws his shield and starts taking lead of the avengers? Who doesn't love it when Hawkeye shoots his old-school bow and arrow (or so you think, until the arrow explodes and kills 10 guys when you only think he's got one)? Who doesn't love it when Natasha Romanov/Black Widow does......anything............? If you answered "I don't" to any of these questions you should also probably stop wasting valuable space at movie theaters when you go to see any movie worth watching because you won't appreciate it. All of those moments are magical even for people who have just recently familiarized themselves with the universe (read Tali's review for proof). Go see it and grab a nice delicious lamb shawarma after (or before, as I did).

Puss in Boots

Tali: Puss in Boots is the very clever and adorable story of the title character as he attempts to find the coveted magic beans with the help of his old friend Humpty Dumpty and a new friend Kitty Softpaws. There is not much to say about this film other than it is an excellent but not overshadowing spin-off of the Shrek franchise. I actually really liked that this movie was its own story, and could be watched completely independently of the series. But let's be honest, this is a kids film, and unlike the Shrek series, Puss in Boots fails to deliver any sort of refuge to adults who were forced gladly went to see this movie with their kids (or adults who watched this film on their laptops at home at their own leisure). Not the worst cartoon I've seen but I wouldn't recommend watching it without a child present.

Leo: I really like this movie because I still find the same movies funny that I did when I was 10 or 11 and I'm not ashamed....I've just expanded off of that instead of outgrowing it...whatever. The movie had some subtle correlations between the movie Desparado, also with Antonio Banderas and Selma Hayek (in which she happens to also have a piece of shit boss). It had all of the Shrek-style corny jokes that are still hilarious because they just are, and the story was pretty interesting and ridiculous even for a kids movie. Like Zorro but with a cat, know what I mean?