It's Die Hard in the White House, and We Like It For That!: Our Review of "Olympus Has Fallen" (2013)

Directed By: Antoine Fuqua (Training Day) 

Starring: Gerard Butler, Aaron Eckhart, Morgan Freeman, Melissa Leo, Angela Bassett, Dylan McDermott

Rating: R for strong violence and language throughout

Run Time: 2 hours

Synopsis: Mike Banning (Butler), the former head Secret Service agent to President Benjamin Asher (Eckhart), has been demoted to working the Treasury Department after Banning saved Asher in a car accident but couldn't save the First Lady. When North Korean terrorists infiltrate the White House and take Asher and part of his Cabinet hostage in order to get U.S. troops pulled out of the Korean DMZ, Banning ends up being the only man who can get inside the building and save the President.

REVIEW

Andrew: Hello readers! The other night Sarah and I decided to catch a movie that's been out for a few weeks and we hadn't had the chance to see yet, and that movie was Antoine Fuqua's Olympus Has Fallen, starring Gerard Butler (300) and Aaron Eckhart (The Dark Knight).

In the film Butler plays former U.S. Army Ranger and Secret Service agent Mike Banning, who - after the White House is attacked by a North Korean terrorist group - winds up being the only man who can stop the terrorists from their fiendish plot.  Honestly this was a film that we were terribly interested in seeing but we needed to see something and this seemed like one of the better options out of everything in theatres we haven't already seen. Sarah, what did you think of Olympus Has Fallen now that we've seen it?

The Perk of Directing Your Own Novel's Movie - Casting Your Own Characters: Our Review of "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" (2012)

Directed By: Stephen Chbosky 

Starring: Logan Lerman, Emma Watson, Ezra Miller, Paul Rudd

Rating: PG-13 on appeal for mature thematic material, drug and alcohol use, sexual content including references, and a fight – all involving teens

Run Time: 1 hour, 43 minutes

Synopsis: Based on the novel of the same name, Charlie (Lerman) is a teenager just starting high school who is trying to cope with the suicide of his best friend and his own mental problems. When he struggles to find new friends in school, a pair of seniors (Watson and Miller) take him under their wings and introduce him to their group of friends.

REVIEW

Andrew: Hello readers! Last night Sarah and I were able to catch a free screening of the new film adaptation of the hit novel The Perks of Being a Wallflower, directed by Stephen Chbosky, who also wrote the novel that came out in 1999. It stars Logan Lerman (Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief) as Charlie, a freshman just starting high school who narrates his story through writing letters to a nameless friend; Ezra Miller (We Need To Talk About Kevin) as Patrick, a gay senior who befriends Charlie; and Emma Watson in her second post-Harry Potter role as Sam, Patrick’s best friend and step-sister who also takes Charlie under her wing.

So Sarah, The Perks of Being a Wallflower is one of our best friend’s absolute favorite book and was very excited about this coming out, and in turn continually told us we would like the book. We didn’t get a chance to read the book before we saw this (sorry Eileen!), but now that we’ve seen the film adaptation, what did you think?

Sarah: I really, really liked it! I did not know that the author of the book was also the director of the movie, so now that I know that I feel more confident that this is the best adaptation from book to screen that you could get.

I absolutely loved this movie. I thought it had such heart but at the same time had a sort of dark undertone that I think will surprise the audience a bit.

A: Especially if they’re unfamiliar with the source material.

S: Yes, especially if they’re unfamiliar with the story. I thought it was going to go in one direction and it ended going in another one, which pleasantly surprised me because I’m not often surprised by movies anymore.

What did you think?

These Candidates Get Our Vote: Our Review of "The Campaign" (2012)

Directed By: Jay Roach (Meet the Parents) 

Starring: Will Ferrell, Zach Galifianakas, Jason Sudeikis, Dylan McDermott

Rating: R for crude sexual content, language and brief nudity

Run Time: 1 hour, 25 minutes

Synopsis: Cam Brady (Ferrell) is a Congressman from the 14^th District of North Carolina who has won four straight elections unopposed. But after a disastrous wrong number call to his mistress goes public, the Motch Brothers (Dan Akroyd and John Lithgow) – his biggest donors – decide to replace him by funding a new candidate, the goofy but harmless Marty Huggins (Galifianakas).

REVIEW

Andrew: Hello readers! Earlier tonight Sarah and I caught the new R-rated comedy The Campaign. Directed by Jay Roach (of the Austin Powers trilogy fame), it stars Will Ferrell (Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgandy) and Zach Galifianakas (The Hangover) as two rival candidates campaigning for the Representative Seat for the 14^th District of North Carolina.

This is one of the movies we previewed this week. I think it’s safe to say it’s one we’ve been looking forward to. It has a great pedigree with the director behind it as well as all the talent involved. But right off the bat I think something that needs to be said is that The Campaign is the crudest and most vulgar movie I’ve seen that Roach has directed. It’s a hard R as far as the language goes.

Sarah: It’s very much in keeping with a Will Ferrell movie. You know, he brought a lot of raunchiness to the film, not only as his character, but every now and then he’s known for comedic roles where he’s be vulgar.