My name is Zachary McCormick, I have been an avid movie-watcher for four years. I often found myself bored in the hours between eating dinner and going to sleep, so I thought: “what better to do than watch a good film?” I quickly became infatuated with movies and looked forward to watching a new one every night. I have watched countless good films,and plenty of bad ones too, with no real preference, I have delved into many different genres and eras. This non-discriminatory approach to movie selection has allowed me to expand the breadth and depth of my movie knowledge. I believe my experience with all kinds of films qualifies me to give brief movie reviews and recommendations, which is exactly what I plan to do in this blog. So, if you want to see movie analysis and suggestions from an amateur, yet well-informed source, then this is the place to be.

The Notebook is one movie I’m far more fond of than most critics. Audience frustration  is easy to understand with the narration approach to telling the story or the generic romance formula of forbidden love between a working-class guy and a rich girl. However, I believe the superb performances from leads Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams more than make up for these minor infractions. The chemistry between the two as summer-lovers, Noah and Allie, who never want their summer to end is absolutely electric. Maybe I’m a sap, but I couldn’t help but get attached to the relationship between the two, crushed when they were separated and equally thrilled when the pair reunited. The best part about this love story is the ups and downs of the relationship don’t feel forced for the purpose of drama in the film, instead they seem organic, ultimately assisting in the growth of the relationship as each realizes there is something missing in their life without the other. The movie also follows the couple in their final hours together as Noah cares for Allie while she struggles with Alzheimer’s, and the two pass away in each other’s arms. If the intent was to disguise the extreme cheesiness of the moment while the audience is too wrapped up in emotion it certainly worked on me. To anyone who reads this blog, I hope you take the time to watch the film, and it leaves you in tears of so many different emotions, because that way I won’t be the only one. I rate this Romance classic a solid 8.5/12.

Disney Pixar’s Inside Out is a top-tier animated film, in the same class as other famed Disney flicks such as Toy Story and the Lion King. Inside Out takes a unique perspective on a young girl’s move to San Francisco as she is confused and her flaring emotions compete for control of her actions. The movie is fun throughout, with humor driven by stars Amy Poehler and Phyllis Smith who play the girl’s joy and sadness emotions respectively. The movie packs an emotional punch as the young girl struggles to deal with the complete change of scenery, sad and frustrated with her parents for making her essentially restart her life in an unfamiliar place for reasons she can’t completely understand. The look inside the brains of the girl and her parents offer explanations as to why each character acts the way he or she does. The idea risks audience confusion, but is executed perfectly as it is easy to follow and seamlessly transitions in and out of the heads of various characters for multiple first-person perspectives on various situations. Disney does it again with this animated film which is fun and insightful for all ages, leaving audiences laughing hysterically at some moments and emotionally captivated at others.

As a big movie fan, Suicide Squad is one of my least favorites because it is such a colossal disappointment. The film has a solid premise and seems enticing, especially if you like comic books and their big-screen adaptations: a team of expendable convicts with special abilities tasked with taking down a supernatural threat. However, the film falls far short of delivering on expectations, largely due to a convoluted plot which keeps viewers to caught up in confusion to focus on what is going on. Overall, the movie comes across as an extended, mindless action-sequence occasionally spliced with  poor attempts at humor. An all-star cast led by Margot Robbie, Will Smith, and Jared Leto does its best to salvage the poorly-written film, but ultimately to no avail as the plot is too fragmented to drive forward or develop some semblance of comprehensibility. I am torn by the planned release of a sequel because I want to give it another shot because of its potential, but I know that in all likelihood this flop was too extreme to come back from and I will be left feeling disappointed again. If you’re a DC comics fan, I implore you not to watch this film as it is the latest in a string of blunders based on the comic franchise. Anyone else, if you love being confused and random people fighting each other, then is the film for you! I rate this a dismal 3/12.

The story of Andy Dufresne transcends the typical movie from the prison genre. The film holds nothing back in the harsh portrayal of prison life for Andy, his pal Red, and the rest of their companions. The Shawshank Redemption humanizes those behind bars, displaying emotions and relationships of characters who are treated as inferior by the prison staff. The movie’s message of hope and making the best of every situation is powerful and well-delivered. You can’t help but be inspired by Andy Dufresne’s willpower and determination when the odds are stacked against him in the corrupt prison system. One of cinema’s most famous lines: “Get busy living, or get busy dying” encapsulates the  resilient attitude that drives Andy Dufresne, in an environment designed to make him give up and resign to his fate . This movie contains much mature content, but I think it is essential to see for this time around the age of 17 because its message of hope and determination is so important. The Shawshank Redemption is a must-watch, but only in the right mindset, one must be prepared for the emotional gravity of the film before embarking on the journey as a viewer. Along with most other critics, I can’t find anything wrong with this movie and rate it a perfect 12/12.

The second installment in director Christopher Nolan’s take on the Gotham City vigilante is easily at the top of its genre. Christian Bale is fantastic and fun to root for playing the title character along with his alter ego Bruce Wayne, but the villains are truly the stand-out performers in the film which put it over the top. Aaron Eckhart’s portrayal of Harvey Dent, the good guy gone bad in the film, is powerful and evokes sympathy from viewers, but most essential is Heath Ledger’s extraordinary and thrilling performance as the infamous joker. Ledger’s work as the movie’s main antagonist is one of the most legendary villain portrayals in cinema history and elevates this film to the top of its class. This film is one of the best of the 21st century and a must-watch regardless of an individual’s affinity for superhero films. On my unique scale of 1-12, I give this movie an 11.5 for its solid plot and incredible acting.