The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies

I gave this movie: 5 stars

Why?

We'll say that it's over, but the journey has been a long and satisfying one. This finale to another Tolkien trilogy was an exciting adventure in which the characters kept the focus despite the raging battles throughout. The opening sequence began the action immediately, though it may have been better placed at the end of the previous film. The final building conflicts between the elves, the people of Lake Town, the dwarves, and the growing power of the darkness create a powerful emotional depth of themes such as greed, love, and power. Separating the book from the film is another matter, but it definitely impresses in terms of action, unexpected humor, and character relationships. The story of Bilbo Baggins connects back to the original trilogy, so the ending is both fitting and sentimental. The downfall of the film is the overuse of special effects, giving the entire film a fantastical sheen that doesn't feel quite real. The work of the cast and crew culminates in this anticipated finale. In all, it is an enthralling last journey to Middle Earth.

Interstellar

I gave this movie: 5 stars

Why?

I wake up at 5am. My lamp has moved while I've been asleep, and I immediately assume: fifth dimension communication is real. Interstellar is a film in which anything is possible, and science aims to save the human race. Despite rigid screenwriting and a slow first half, the second half catapults into a science-fiction adventure that envelops the audience in their very own black hole. The slow build of relationships and drama creates a huge sense of momentum when the shuttle finally takes off. The suspense builds from then until the end, where five dimensions now exist, and time and gravity can work together to influence events. The actors' performances make the audience care about what happens to them, and that is what makes the film successful. It is not just a space epic, but one that continually connects back to Earth and shows the importance of human contact and connection. Hans Zimmer's score is subtle yet powerful, and his use of prolonged suspensions create the feelings of floating in a vast vacuum. The organ, an instrument not commonly heard in film scores, is used throughout, giving the film an otherwordly feel. The film's special effects are perfectly seamless, on a scale so large that you cannot help but stare in wonder. The black hole sequence is possibly the most thrilling I have seen in a theatre. In IMAX, the combination of sound and visuals creates a physical impact on viewers. Its extremes of silence and din and brightness to absolute darkness gives the sense of rebirth and a rediscovery of life itself. 

Annabelle

I gave this film: 3 stars

Why?


The Annabelle doll framed The Conjuring film, and the intriguing last shot created curiosity around her unsettling presence. As a prequel, Annabelle had the opportunity to delve into the history of the doll, but settled on cliched horror tropes. The doll itself was creepy enough to carry the film, but that left a shallow plot development that made little sense. The cast was pretty believable, as was the historical premise. The facts about Charles Manson and cults as well as the effective use of '60s music to create suspense and mood helped set the film in the context of the period. This is more than most modern horror films do, so it gave the audience a chance to escape to a different time. The most creative parts of the film were the ones not shown the trailer, to its credit, such as an encounter in the basement, a child's drawing, and a terrifying set of hallucinations. The careful cinematography and sound editing contributed to the suspense of looking around corners, down halls, and out windows, only to find Annabelle waiting, and watching.

As Above, So Below

I gave this movie: 4 stars 

Why?

You are deep underground, and trapped in the darkness with your deepest secrets. This film was far more complex than I had anticipated, and it was a pleasant surprise coming from trailers that seemed to advertise a normal horror film. The ideas about alchemy and the perspective on what is up and what is down created a fascinating adventure sprinkled with terrifying jump scares. The camerawork illustrated the found footage format, but the creative twist involved each character having their own point of view from individual cameras. As the film progresses, the number of perspectives lessen and narrows to focus on the conflict between redemption, pride, love, and the truth. Despite slight weaknesses in acting and development in plot and character, the film is worth a watch because it provokes thoughts about many different themes. A simultaneous strength and weakness was the length because sometimes leaving more questions than answers can inspire a desire to explore and speculate about our world.

Hello everyone! My name is Celine Morneau, and I am a sophomore at Boston University. I am studying Film and Television, and I have really enjoyed writing film reviews recently! Please support through your love for films, and feel free to join the conversation!