THE OPTIMIST - MOVIE REVIEWS

There are moments when a film you've seen, when viewed for the first time, automatically becomes so ingrained into your mind that they have a profound affect on you emotionally and mentally. " American History X ", " The Lord of the Rings " trilogy, " Casablanca " and " Memento " are but a few that have truly influenced me and have affected me when first viewed by my eager eyes. I remember the first time I watched "American History X", it was in a college English class. I forget the reference as to why we were watching it, but it was a disturbingly moving sensation to watch one of (if not the best) Edward Norton performances in a film that was both haunting and real. Christopher Nolan 's "Memento" was a true testament to the art of film-making. Being able to tell a captivating linear story by telling it backwards blew my freakin' mind.    Films are a powerful form of art and entertainment. Having a profound e

     One of the funniest movies I've seen in a long time was 2012's "21 Jump Street". The combination at the time of Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum was one of those pairings that almost seemed as if it was foreordained by the movie gods to be an outrageous success...and it was. The movie was clever, witty, hilarious, and didn't take itself serious, allowing it to blossom into the comedic gem it is today. This weekend marks the opening of the incredibly hyped sequel "22 Jump Street". Many wondered if the same lightning in a bottle can be captured...and I can say, it can...sort of.    It's very rare in today's cinematic world to have a sequel be as good, if not better than the original. One of the best examples of this is "Toy Story 2". Not only was it better than the first, I feel it rivals as one of the best Pixar movies to date. In the case of "22 Jump Street", it isn't better than the first but I feel it's at lea

    " The Fault in Our Stars " is a tear-jerker. First and foremost, just know that. If your emotional Richter scale is highly sensitive, hope for the best and prepare for the worse. In other words, have tissue on hand when you see it. Based on the novel by the same title, the story follows two teens Gus ( Ansel Elgort ) and Hazel ( Shailene Woodley ), who meet at a cancer support group and begin a truly intriguing relationship; blossoming into a love story that transcends the very situations that bring them together, that being cancer.    Just to note, I've never read the book so a review on the adequacy of the film's adaptation won't be found here, (however I've heard it was quite close). So looking at it from a film standpoint, the first thought that came to mind as the credits rolled was that this film was fairly predictable. Let's face it people, most romantic films, whether they be comedies or dramas, follow a pretty straight-forward formula. Th

With the slew of sci-fi action movies that have graced the silver screen this year, " Edge of Tomorrow " stands out from the lot...that is, the lot so far. I mean, it is only June. At any rate, this action-packed depiction of humans fighting aliens is exactly what you would expect from a summertime outing to the cinema. However, it brings a refreshing escape from your average sci-fi. Major William Cage, played by the action aficionado himself Tom Cruise , is forced into combat against a truly menacing and all-around intriguing race of aliens seeking (as does every alien race that picks a fight with Earth) to rid the planet of its alpha species. Cage is killed moments after hitting the battlefield, but finds himself trapped in what seems like an infinite loop, forcing him to constantly repeat the same day over and over again. Take " Groundhog Day ", juice it up with steroids, catapult it into the future, and tad-ah. However that description, as simple as it is,

   After close to ten years of big-budget movies laden with special effects, Jon Favreau 's " Chef " is as amiable and appealing as most movies come. It is truly a delicious delight (forgive the corny food puns, I feel there'll be many). It's funny, heart-warming, clever, and it made me hungry. No joke. I had a bucket of popcorn and a drink and found myself hungry the entire way through. There is a fine display of culinary pieces throughout the movie that will wet the driest of pallets; however it's Favreau who truly sizzles.    Carl Casper (Favreau) is a renowned chef in LA who struggles with the limitations of working in a restaurant where he isn't free to express himself "artistically". After eventually losing his job, he decides to start up a food truck in order to regain some creativity and individuality, all while striving to piece together the awkward fragments of his somewhat estranged family. Traveling across country with his son an