The initial trailer for War Horse (2011) promises another tear-jerking Spielberg-directed war epic.

When you put Steven Spielberg together with World War II material, you get some of the finest filmmaking ever to grace the silver screen.  In fact, of all the blockbusters that have given him celebrity, he has only won Best Director twice: for Schindler’s List (1993) and Saving Private Ryan (1998).  When he announced that he would make yet another war epic, though this time regarding World War I, many people went ballistic and would surely blitzkrieg to a nearby theater as soon as its released.  War Horse (2011) seems to have all the ingredients for an amazing yet heart-breaking war story, complete with master composer John Williams scoring the film.

Film Review: Midnight in Paris (2011)

Woody Allen displays some of his vintage form with his latest film.  While it may lack the depth of his greatest works, such as Annie Hall (1977) and Manhattan (1979), the film is a true treat amidst a comic book and sequel-driven summer slate of loud movies.  Midnight in Paris (2011) is a thoroughly enjoyable fairy tale romance that is full of wit, charm, and beauty.  Furthermore, although its message becomes a bit preachy by the climax, it is still a valuable one for all audiences.

Film Review: Thor (2011)

Don’t be fooled by the absurd looking previews or pictures; Thor is fantastic, in both senses of the word though.  I, too, had low expectations for it after seeing the initial trailers, which makes it look as tacky as the rest of this year’s superhero flicks, but given the talented cast and director I should’ve known better than to doubt or completely cast it aside.  In fact, some consider it to be Marvel Studios best movie since Iron Man (2008) or even Spiderman 2 (2004).  Still, despite its parallels to Shakespeare, thanks to director Kenneth Branagh’s knowledge and experience in bringing the famous poet’s writings to the big screen, this film isn’t the deepest or most complex; it is definitely a summer blockbuster meant to entertain, but it does have certain elements that elevate it beyond simple amusement.  In sum, Thor is marvelous (pun intended) entertainment and fun fueled by its charismatic lead actor, Chris Hemsworth, sumptuous action and a bit of humor.  Moreover, it is not simply “an extended teaser” for the upcoming The Avengers (2012) movie, despite numerous S.H.I.E.L.D. appearances and references, as it stands on its own as a solid comic-book/fantasy tale.