Focus

MPAA Rating: R for language, some sexual content and brief 

violence.

Run Time: 104 Minutes

My Rating: 2.5/5

So today my wife and I went and saw Warner Bros.' Focus starring Will Smith (Hitch) and Margot Robbie (The Wolf of Wall Street).  The film tells the story of Nicky Spurgeon (Will Smith), an extremely talented con-man, who decides to teach an amateur con artist, Jess (Margot Robbie).  After beginning a budding romance, Nicky decides to let Jess go with no explanation whatsoever. However, three years later, the two of them meet up randomly while Nicky is on a job and as feelings begin to reemerge, the whole job could be compromised.  

So personally, I was really excited when I first saw the trailer for this film.  I am a huge fan of Will Smith and this actually looked like an excellent heist movie.  However, when I watched the film, I found that not to be the case.  The first half of the movie was exactly what I was expecting.  It was entertaining and kept me on the edge of my seat.  It was so exciting seeing Will Smith be this great con-man and seeing how exciting that life could be. However, about half way through the movie, the tone completely changed.  It went from this great heist film to a romance film.  Though for most people this wouldn't be a problem, for me I just wasn't expecting it and I thought that the film had lost its great tone that it had at the beginning.  However, in the last scene, the movie finally regains that great tone. 

Other than that, I thought the film was actually pretty good.  It brought some great laughs and overall, the actors did a great job.  This was a typical Will Smith film and I thought for the most part redeemed him from his embarrassing film After Earth which came out just 2 years ago.  This film truly proves that Will Smith can still lead a movie and do it right.

Overall, I thought the film was good.  The film is getting the above rating because I only liked half the film.  I'm not saying that the other half wasn't good, I just personally didn't like it.  It might of been because I wasn't expecting it and now that you know, you might like it more than I did.  I just thought that the film had a lot going for it at the beginning and then it lost the greatness that it had.  If you are a fan of Will Smith, I would recommend this film because he is excellent in it. However, if you are seeing this film because you think it is a heist film, then you might be as disappointed as I was.  

Thanks again for reading!! If you have any questions, comments, or ideas just let me know!!!

McFarland, USA

MPAA Rating: PG for thematic material, some violence and language.
Run Time: 129 Minutes
My Rating: 5/5
So today my wife and I saw Walt Disney Pictures' McFarland, USA starring Kevin Costner (Black or White) and Maria Bello (Prisoners).  The film follows the true story of Jim White, a struggling coach and teacher who has to move to McFarland, California (one of the poorest cities in America) with his family due to several incidents at his previous employments.  While him and his family begin to get settled, Jim discovers potential among many of his high school students.  As he begins training these boys to be cross-country runners, he realizes that these boys and this new community has a lot more to teach him about life than he could have ever expected.
So first off, I must admit that when it comes to sports movies, I can't help but love them.  There is just something about them that reaches into my soul and inspires me.  In fact, for the most part, sports movies are the only movies where I will shed a tear or two. With that being said, I naturally loved this film.  Probably the best thing about this film was the many lessons that this film teaches its audience.  The first lesson that this film teaches is that no matter what background you come from, you can always achieve greatness.  Seeing how these kids grew up and how they made something of themselves is amazing.  They had every reason to just give up due to their circumstances, but they chose not to and to believe in themselves and in each other.  The next lesson that this film teaches is that hard work really can pay off.  These kids woke up every morning at 4:30 to work with their families, then they went to school all day, then worked with their families for another couple of hours and then they would train for their cross country meets.  Talk about hard work and dedication.  Each one of these activities shaped these kids and though we may not be asked to do all of this in our own lives, we should work just as hard as they do in what we do every day. These are just a few of the many wonderful lessons that this film teaches.
Though I thought the film was amazing, that doesn't mean I don't think that the film had its flaws. For one thing, the film was a little long.  However, with that being said, I don't know what I would cut out of it.  Also with such a young, inexperienced cast the acting could have been better at times, but then again I really enjoyed how the film didn't relay heavily on its more experienced actors.
Overall, as if you couldn't tell, I absolutely loved this film.  I would recommend this film to anyone. This film has things in it that all audiences will enjoy.  If you have time this week, definitely go see this film because I promise you that you will not regret doing so.

Thanks again for reading!! If you have any questions,comments, or ideas just let me know!!!

Oscar 2015 Winners

Here are the official winners of the 2015 Academy Awards. There were some winners that I don't agree with, but then again I don't make the decisions.  However though I don't agree with some of the decisions there were some surprises that I am quite happy with.  I hope you get a chance to watch this years nominees.  Most of them were actually quite good!!!

BEST PICTURE

Birdman

BEST DIRECTOR

Alejandro González Iñárritu, Birdman

BEST ACTOR

Eddie Redmayne, The Theory of Everything

BEST ACTRESS

Julianne Moore, Still Alice

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

J.K. Simmons, Whiplash

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Patricia Arquette, Boyhood

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

The Imitation Game, Graham Moore

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

Birdman, Alejandro González Iñárritu, Nicolás Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris and Armando Bo

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

Birdman, Emmanuel Lubezki

BEST COSTUME DESIGN

The Grand Budapest Hotel, Milena Canonero

BEST FILM EDITING

Whiplash, Tom Cross

BEST MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING

The Grand Budapest Hotel

BEST MUSIC (ORIGINAL SCORE

The Grand Budapest Hotel (Alexandre Desplat)

BEST MUSIC (ORIGINAL SONG)

“Glory” from Selma

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN

The Grand Budapest Hotel (Adam Stockhausen; Anna Pinnock)

BEST SOUND EDITING

American Sniper

BEST SOUND MIXING

Whiplash

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS

Interstellar

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM

Big Hero 6

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM

Ida (Pawel Pawlikowski; Poland)

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE FILM

CITIZENFOUR

BEST DOCUMENTARY (SHORT SUBJECT)

Crisis Hotline: Veterans Press 1

BEST SHORT FILM (ANIMATED)

Feast

BEST SHORT FILM (LIVE ACTION)

The Phone Call

Still Alice

MPAA Rating: PG-13 for mature thematic material, and brief language including a sexual reference.
Run Time: 101 Minutes
My Rating: 4/5
So tonight my wife and I saw Sony Classic Pictures' Still Alice starring Julianne Moore (The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1), Alec Baldwin (NBC's 30 Rock), Kate Bosworth (Superman Returns), and Kristen Stewart (The Twilight Saga).  The film follows the story of Alice Howland, a happily married, linguistics professor at Columbia University who discovers that she has early onset Alzheimer's.  As Alice begins dealing with the several symptoms of her diagnosis, her and her family have to dig deep within themselves in order to help each other through this very difficult time.
So first off, I want to say that I thought that this film was very well made and had some incredible acting.  The film tackled some very important and sensitive issues and it accomplished this very daunting task in a very tactful and appropriate way.  There is no small amount of emotion in this film and no matter who you are, young or old, this film will touch your heart in more ways than one.  This can only be accomplished by the incredible acting by its very talented cast.  Julianne Moore gives a riveting performance as Alice.  You can see how emotional she gets as the illness slowly takes over Alice. Julianne Moore has been receiving a lot of love for this performance and is the expected winner at the Academy Awards this Sunday and I agree that she gives a very powerful performance.  She is what brings this movie together.
Though the film was really good, there were some things that I yearned for.  One thing is that even though the film had a very talented cast, I was just expecting more from the other cast members.  I felt like there was so much more potential, but with that being said, they still did an excellent job. Another thing that I did not like was how the movie ended.  The film just kind of ended and I was left wanting more.  I wanted some sort of closure and I never got it.  There were so many things that I wanted answers to, but unfortunately I never got them.
Overall, I really liked this film.  It had its flaws, but it was still a pretty great film.  This is a very emotional film and I would recommend this film to anyone.  This film will hit close to home for a lot of people.  This is a very sensitive subject and this film portrays it beautifully.

Thanks again for reading!! If you have any questions, comments, or ideas just let me know!!!

Old Fashioned

MPAA Rating: PG-13 for some thematic material.
Run Time: 115 Minutes
My Rating: 3.5/5
So today I went and saw Freestyle Releasing's and Skoche Films' Old Fashioned starring Elizabeth Rogers (Days of Our Lives) and Rik Swartzwelder in his first full-length feature film debut.  Rik Swartzwelder also directed and wrote this film.  The film follows the love story between Clay and Amber.  Clay is a former frat party boy who after a series of events turns his life around and dedicates his life to the Lord.  He has placed very strict rules on himself when it comes to women which has pushed most people out of his life.  Amber is a free-spirited woman who is looking to start a new life and rents the room about Clay's antique shop. When Clay and Amber start to have feelings for each other, she respects Clay's rules and the two of them try to do the impossible: have an actual "old-fashioned" relationship in present-day America.
First off, this film has brought about one of the biggest box-office battles in recent years and the sad part about it is that you haven't even heard of it.  This film came out last weekend against Fifty Shades of Grey.  Where one film shows how disrespecting women and using them as objects rather than human beings, the other one talks about how important it is to respect a woman's body and emotions.  This film is the complete opposite of Fifty Shades of Grey and shows how important it is to be chaste and pure and how the "world" views those people that practice these virtues.  To be honest, this film shows these "world" views perfectly.  I think it is interesting that the film that shows the degradation of women was the one that got all the hype while the one that shows how important it is to treat women with respect is the one that no one has even heard of.  Just that aspect alone shows how much our society has changed.  It is this social commentary that the film excels on.  The whole cast and crew did a spectacular job at showing just much our world has changed.  That was my favorite part of the film and will be yours when you see it.
Though I thought that the film touched on very important issues and I applaud the film for standing up for chastity and morals, there were things in this film that I thought could have been better.  I felt like the film was trying to show the complete opposite end of the chastity spectrum that the entire time it made the Clay unlikable.  However, the film redeems itself in the last 5 minutes.  Also along those lines, this film tries way too hard.  Now I am not saying that it is a bad thing, I am just saying that some of the scenes could have been removed and the meaning would have remained powerful. However, once again, I completely respect and support this film in its morals and its position on respecting women.
Overall, I really liked this film.  I would definitely see this film again.  For those of you that want to see what a real relationship looks like, then this is definitely the film for you.  Even though everyone flocked to see Fifty Shades of Grey when it first opened, this film truly shows the kind of relationship every girl wants.  Though most will deny it, this is the one they truly long for.  Old Fashioned is by far the greatest romantic film out right now and if you have the opportunity to see it, you definitely should.

Copyrights and Film in Real Life

Hey everyone, so this is a follow up to my article Understanding Legal Issues in Film Part 1: Drafting the Script, where I described that one of the major issues that faces young filmmakers today is obtaining the rights to novels, plays, other artistic works.  Well after writing that article, I have noticed many lawsuits that have come out in recent weeks about this very topic.  So I decided to share with you some of these articles so that you can see how copyrights truly affect filmmakers and their films.

The first article deals with how important it is to find out who actually owns the rights to a literary work.  The article describes the lawsuit that Warner Bro.'s is facing for their Oscar-winning film Gravity starring Sandra Bullock. Apparently the lawsuit came about when Warner Bros. bought out New Line Cinema back in 2008.  New Line Cinema had already owned the rights to the material since 2000 and had entered into a contract with the material'a author. However, after the buyout the film was actually made, the author states that her contract had been breached because for one thing Warner Bros. did not own the rights to her material.  She did not have a say in what went on the film and is now suing Warner Bros. for copyright infringement.  The whole article can be read here.

The second article deals with the importance of not only obtaining the rights to a literary work, but also using those rights in the designated contractual period.  Like I said in my last article most authors will usually give the rights to their works of art for a specific amount of time and for a specific paid amount.  However, if the author sees that their work is being used by the company in a way that pleases them, then an author may extend the contract for a longer period.  Also, there are some contracts that authors make that say that after a certain period of time, as long as the company has done something with their work than the contract is extended for a longer period of time.  It is that contract that this second article deals with.
The article focuses on the deal between Red Eagle Entertainment and the rights to the popular fantasy epic The Wheel of Time series written by Robert Jordan.  Back in 2006 Red Eagle Entertainment bought the rights to The Wheel of Time series to be produced into a TV show before February 11, 2015.  Since then however, the company hadn't done anything with the series.  However, the company did not want to lose the rights so instead of going and negotiating a new contract with the wife of the deceased author who was going to get the rights back this week, the studio put together a sloppy, horribly-made episode based on the series and aired it on February 9, 2015 at 1:30 am on FXX.  Yes that is right.  Now with that being done, even though practically no one watched the episode and those that did hated it, this company gets to keep the rights for another couple of years in order to hopefully provide a better product than what they came up with. Now though, the company is in the midst of this major lawsuit against the author's wife, which could have all been avoided by just simple communication.  You can read the full article here.

Well there you go.  There are just a few real life examples of how copyrights can affect studios and movies in general.  What I really want to emphasize with this article is how important communication is in the process of drafting the script and how not communicating and not obtaining the rights to author's work can have a negative impact on the company and the film itself.  I hope that this has been helpful.  If you have any questions or comments for me, just email me or leave a comment below.

Kingsman: The Secret Service

MPAA Rating: R for sequences of strong violence, language and some sexual content.
Run Time: 129 Minutes
My Rating: 4.5/5
Hey y'all, so today my wife and I decided to see Twentieth Century Fox's Kingsman: The Secret Service starring Colin Firth (The King's Speech), Mark Strong (The Imitation Game), Samuel L. Jackson (The Avengers), Michael Caine (The Dark Knight Rises), and recent newcomer Taron Egerton.  The film was directed by Matthew Vaughn (X-Men First Class).  The film is based upon the acclaimed comic book series which details the story of Eggsy (Taron Egerton), a troubled kid, who gets recruited by the Kingsmen, a secret spy organization to participate in their ultra-competitive training program.  However, as the world is being attacked by an evil tech genius, Eggsy's training is fast-tracked in order to save his planet.
First off, I was absolutely entertained all 129 minutes.  I actually wish that this film was longer.  This show has so much going for it, that I can't believe that it took so long to make such an excellent film.  I, personally, have never read the comic books of which this film is based on, so I really did not know what to expect.  So for those, like me, who have never read the comic books, expect James Bond, but a lot let serious and a whole lot more fun.  From start to finish the film knows exactly what it is and what it is trying to accomplish and it does not waiver from it.  The cast is absolutely amazing in this film.  They blend so well together.  I would definitely like to see a sequel just so I can see this cast together again.  Also the action sequences were stunning.  Some of the best scenes I have seen in a long time.  They were just so entertaining that I couldn't stop smiling the entire way through.
Now, honestly, for me I can't find a single reason not to like this film.  The only reason this film isn't receiving a perfect score is because of the shock that I had when I was watching this film.  Now I'm not saying that this is a bad thing, but I am just saying this to warn you.  This is a bloody, violent movie.  I was not expecting it to be as bloody as it actually was.  For me, I don't get that queasy, but my wife thought it was disgusting.  So just beware of that before you go.
Overall, I really liked this film.  I was entertained the entire way through.  I would probably see this film again.  It was great.  I would definitely recommend this film to those that can handle a lot of blood.  If you can't handle it, then don't go see this film.  Otherwise, if you go and see it, you will not be disappointed.

Thanks again for reading!! If you have any questions, comments, or ideas just let me know!!
 

Understanding Legal Issues in Film Part 1: Drafting the Script

Disclaimer
I am a law student and therefore have no legal right to provide actual legal advice.  With that being said, I know that the process of making a film, especially for young, new filmmakers, can be daunting.  I mean other than focusing on what to actually film, the legal process for filmmakers is quite extensive.  Due to this, I wish to help you young filmmakers understand what legal issues you will be facing during your creative process.  This will be one of four articles that I will provide regarding these issues.  This first one will deal with legal issues while drafting the script, the second dealing with legal issues after the writing process but before filming, the third will deal with legal issues during the filming process, and finally the fourth one dealing with the legal issues after filming is completed.  I hope that you enjoy and find this helpful.  Once again before I begin, this should not be considered legal advice, but should be issues that you should discuss with a licensed lawyer.

First, when a producer gets an idea for a new movie, he receives these ideas through many different mediums.  These mediums can include: life stories, historical events, novels, short stories, magazine articles, original screenplays, plays, comic books, or an in-person pitch from a third-party.  Each one of these mediums may be protected.  This is called a copyright.

Copyright Law
Copyright Law is a form of protection provided by the laws of the United States (Title 17, U.S. Code) to an author of "original works of art".  This includes all literary works including scripts that are from original ideas.  As soon as an original script is written it is automatically protected under the law.
However, just like if you write something original and you own it, all the novels, plays, true stories, etc. that many movies are based on also have copyright protections on them as well, which are owned by someone else.  There is one exception to this rule though.  If you are hired by someone else to write something, then the original work that you created is owned by the employer that hired you.
There is one thing that you should know though, Titles and Ideas are not copyrighted.

So how do you go about obtaining the rights to other's works of art?
For works of art art that others have the rights to must generally be obtained from the original author and not the publishing company.  It is generally the producer's job to find out who owns the rights  In order to determine who the true owner of the "work of art" you can look at the registration records at the U.S. Copyright Office.  After determining the true owner, contact them to negotiate a deal to use their work.  Since most productions have limited funds, they usually try to obtain the motion picture rights for a specified time and for a specified price.
For real life events however, though the right to portray an actual event or person is protected by your First Amendment rights, you still have to be careful not to portray these events or people in a way that would violate their rights.  These violations include: defamation, right to privacy, and a violation a person's right to publicity.  If your film will damage a person's reputation in any way, fictionalizes a recognizable character, or releases information that is not yet public, please contact your lawyer before you begin writing.

How do you know what is ok to use in a film?
Generally, the best advice that I can give you is that if you are using a product, song, quote, or anything that has ever been written check the registration records at the U.S. Copyright Office.  It is better to be safe than sorry.

How to protect your own work?
Like I said before as soon as an original work is created it is automatically protected.  However, in order to fully establish and make known what you created, it would be wise to register your work at the U.S. Copyright Office.  You may also do this by registering with the Writer's Guild of America (WGA) for a fee of $20.00.  You can also contact them by phone at (323) 951-4000.  Once again though, this is not a requirement, but would probably be helpful in the long run.

Conclusion
I hope that I have answered a few of your questions regarding the legal issues you may face as you begin to write your script.  If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact me by email at jakethefilmlawguy@gmail.com or comment below and I will get back to you as soon as possible.

Jupiter Ascending

MPAA Rating: PG-13 for some violence, sequences of sci-fi action, some suggestive content and partial nudity.
Run Time: 127 Minutes
My Rating: 4/5
So today my wife and I went and saw Warner Bro.'s Jupiter Ascending starring Mila Kunis (Fox's Family Guy), Channing Tatum (22 Jump Street), Sean Bean (The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King), and Eddie Redmayne (The Theory of Everything).  The film was written and directed by Andy and Lana Wachowski, the filmmakers behind The Matrix Trilogy. The film tells the story of Jupiter Jones (Mila Kunis) a human who has been dreaming of something greater in her life than just cleaning toilets.  When she was born it was prophesied that she would amount to great things, but her life has only been followed by one bad break after another.  It is not until Caine (Channing Tatum), a genetically engineered ex-military hunter, comes to find Jupiter to tell her about the fate that has been waiting for her. Jupiter finds out that not only are there more inhabited planets other than Earth, but also she now has an extraordinary new inheritance that could change the balance of the universe forever.  Now, she not only has to save the universe, but she also has to deal with three siblings who are after her inheritance for their own distinctive purposes.
So personally, I have been really excited about this film for a very long time.  In fact, this film was on my Top 10 Most Anticipated Movies of 2015 list.  I have loved the Wachowski's prior work and was excited to see what their new original work would be.  However, for the last couple of weeks all I have heard about this film has been negative, so I went into the film with a lot lower expectations that I probably should have.  Nevertheless, even with my lower expectations, I thought that this film was amazing.  There were so many great things about this film, but probably the most impressive thing was the visual and special effects.  There were a lot of commotion when the film was pushed back on the release schedule from July of last year to this weekend due to finishing the visual and special effects and let me tell you it was well worth the wait.  The spectacle on the screen was amazing to look at.  In fact I would go see this film again just for the visual effects.  Also, I don't usually do this, but if it is at all possible I would definitely recommend you see this on an IMAX screen because I can only imagine that it would be breathtaking.
Another thing that the film did well was the excellent casting.  The cast was absolutely amazing and did an impeccable job.  Channing Tatum keeps getting better and better with every film and this film is no different.  Him and Mila Kunis have such great chemistry that I wouldn't mind seeing them in a film together again.  The other cast members do an amazing job as well.  Another aspect of the film that I thought was spectacular was the incredible world that the Wachowskis created.  This is definitely a world that I would be interested in seeing again if they are able to come up with more stories.
Though I thought the film was great and would probably see it again, there were some things that I did not like.  For one, I thought that the script could have been polished a little bit more.  There were some lines in there where I couldn't help but laugh at how ridiculous it sounded.  Another thing that I didn't like was the fact that there were so many different characters and story lines that I feel never really got explained or resolved.  In fact the entire time I was watching the film I was wishing that they had taken the plot at a slower pace and split the film into multiple films so that I could become more engulfed in the characters and this incredible world.
Overall, I thought that the film was great.  For all the bad press that it is getting, I feel like it doesn't deserve it.  I would definitely recommend people to see this film if (1) you are fans of the Wachowski's or (2) if you like science fiction movies.  If you don't fit into either of these categories you may still enjoy it, but what I can promise you is that you will not see better special effects or visual effects in theaters for many weeks to come!!!

Thanks again for reading!! If you have any questions, comments, or ideas just let me know!!!!!

The Spongebob Movie: Sponge Out of Water

MPAA Rating: PG for mild action and rude humor.
Run Time: 93 Minutes
My Rating: 3/5
So today I went and saw Nickelodeon Movies' The Spongebob Movie: Sponge Out of Water based on the popular TV series Spongebob Squarepants.  The film stars Antonio Banderas (Puss in Boots) and the incredible voice talents of Tom Kenny, Bill Fagerbakke, and Roger Bumpass.  The film follows just one of the many adventures of Spongebob and his friends.  The film begins with Plankton once again trying to steal the Krabby Patty Secret Formula.  When he finally gets his grasp on it, the formula is stolen by a greedy pirate.  As Bikini Bottom begins to fall apart without new Krabby Patties, it is up to Spongebob, Patrick, Mr. Krabs, Squidward, and Sandy to get back the secret formula and save Bikini Bottom.
So before I went and saw this film I had very conflicting emotions. I mean I was a huge fan of Spongebob growing up, but there are specific reasons why I have stopped watching it.  However, after watching this film, I now remember why I loved Spongebob as a kid.  Now I am not saying that I am going to start watching Spongebob everyday, but I will say that for kids this is a highly entertaining film and series.  With that being said, I will make it clear that this film will definitely not recruit more fans to the series, but for those that grew up watching the show and those that currently watch the show, this film will make you happy.  One of the greatest things about this film is the incredible voice talent of Tom Kenny.  He is by far one of the greatest voice actors of all time and just hearing all of the different ways that he can move and change his voice is absolutely amazing.  Another thing that was great about the film is that it actually has some of the best jokes that I have heard in a while.  I was laughing really hard during the film and so was the audience around me; which were mostly adults.
Though I thought that the film was funny and good, there were still things about the film that I didn't really like.  For one, the entire time that I was watching the film I kept wondering why the film was even made.  Yes, this is a great film for children, but in all reality this could have just been shown on Nickelodeon and everyone would have been happy.  Another thing that I didn't like about the film is that it took so many random turns that for me it just got a little bit too out there and crazy.  Most likely kids will enjoy it, but for me it was a too far-fetched even in respect to Spongebob.  
Overall I thought the film was good.  Kids will enjoy it and love seeing the characters that they love on the big screen.  They will love the humor and enjoy being immersed in the city of Bikini Bottom. This also will definitely be a big hit for those adults that grew up watching the film.  If someone were to ask, I would recommend this film, however if you have never liked Spongebob then I would suggest you go see something else because this is not the film for you.  

Thanks again for reading!! If you have any questions, comments or ideas just let me know!!!

My Top 10 Romance Movies

Hey y'all, its February 1st and its time for another one of my Top 10 lists.  I can't believe how quickly January passed.  It seems just like yesterday that I was writing my last Top 10 list.  Anyways for this month seeing as how everyone associates this month with Valentine's Day, I thought that I would share with you my favorite romance movies.  This list will include both dramatic romances and also romantic comedies and even some animation films.  There are so many romance movies out there that it will be impossible for me to touch upon everyone's favorites, but I will do my best.  So lets begin with my Top 10 Romance movies that I hope everyone will like.

10. How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003)
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for some sex-related material.
The first film on my list is Paramount Pictures' How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days starring Matthew McConaughey and Kate Hudson.  It tells the story of Benjamin Barry, an advertising executive, who makes a bet with his two female co-workers that he can make a girl fall in love with him in 10 days. Unfortunately for Benjamin he chooses Andie Anderson, a journalist who has made a bet with her boss that she can lose in a guy in 10 days in order for her to be able to right something more substantial.  What ensues is a hilarious ride that shows that even though people may have two completely different agendas going in, the power of love can break all barriers.
I personally think that this film is hilarious.  The two leads have such great chemistry and the story is so great.  This is a romantic-comedy that is full of heart and teaches some valuable lessons about love.

9. Jerry Maguire (1996)
MPAA Rating: R for language and sexuality.
Next on my list is TriStar Pictures' Jerry Maguire starring Tom Cruise, Cuba Gooding Jr., and Renee Zellweger.  The film follows the story of Jerry Maguire who seemingly has it all.  He has the perfect job, the greatest clients, and the gorgeous fiancee.  All of a sudden everything is stripped away from him and he is left with one client and the only person who still believes in his abilities.  Now it is up to Jerry Maguire to rebuild everything that he once had, while along the way facing the harsh truths that haunt him.
Now at face value and especially from the description of the movie this does not seem like a romantic movie, but anyone who as actually seen this movie can tell you otherwise.  Everybody always says that when times are tough that is when you find out who your true friends are.  That is the exact case for this film.  Jerry is able to find out who truly loves him after everything is stripped away and like us, that is who we want to find.  We want the person we love to love us even in our most challenging times. Also this film has probably the most quoted line in all romance movies, "You had me at hello."

8. Cinderella (1950)
MPAA Rating: G
The next film on my list is Walt Disney Animations' Cinderella.  This is the timeless fairy tale classic that is celebrating its 65th Anniversary this year.  It tells the story of Cinderella, a sweet young girl, who has become a servant for her stepmother and stepsisters after the death of her father.  One day the king invites all eligible maidens to attend the royal ball in order to hopefully be suitable enough for his son, the prince.  Through the help of her Fairy Godmother, Cinderella is able to attend the ball and thanks to her glass slipper and her friends, she is able to finally achieve the love that she has always dreamed of.
This film is fantastic.  It has so many good life lessons in it, but one of the greatest lessons that it teaches is the importance of dreaming.  In the film there is a song titles "So This is Love" and in that song there is a line that says "So this is the miracle that I've been dreaming of."  This is a very true statement.  Love is a miracle and is something that we need to dream of and wish for.  All while I was growing up, this was my mom's favorite movie and I chose this movie because it is because of her love for me that I have learned to love others.  It is because of her and her love for this film that I learned that dreams really can come true.

7. Beauty and the Beast (1991)
MPAA Rating: G
Next on my list is another one from Walt Disney Animation, Beauty and the Beast.  This classic fairy tale tells the story of Belle, a peculiar young lady who is known for always having her "nose stuck in a book."  She dreams of romance and having her life be like those that she reads about.  One day after he dad has gone missing, she finds him locked away in a castle.  Trading her life for his, she finds herself prisoner to the Beast and all of his enchanted objects.  At first she is terrified, but as she begins to look past the physical appearance and the outrageous temper, she begins to love him.
This is truly one of the greatest love stories of all time and probably one of the more relevant ones. Each and everyone of us has some sort of "beast" inside of us that our loved ones has to look past in order to see our true selves.  We are always told that we shouldn't judge a book by its cover and this film truly shows that.

6. The Proposal (2009)
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for sexual content, nudity and language
Up next is Touchstone Pictures' The Proposal starring Ryan Reynolds and Sandra Bullock.  The film follows Andrew Paxton, an assistant at a New York publishing office, who finds himself fake-engaged to his horrific boss, Margaret Tate, in order to help her not get deported back to Canada and in return he gets a promotion.  In order to seal the deal, he takes Margaret to meet his family up in Alaska where all sorts of craziness happens.  With the family dynamics causing tension and the INS ready to charge Andrew with fraud and deport Margaret, the only choice either of them have is to truly fall in love.
From the first moment I saw this film, I absolutely loved it.  This film is hilarious and shows both Ryan Reynolds and Sandra Bullock at their best.  Probably one of the greatest parts about this film is that it shows that even the most opposite people in the world can become attracted to each other.  It also shows that when people decide to set aside their differences and learn to love than true miracles can happen.

5. A Walk to Remember (2002)
MPAA Rating: PG for thematic elements, language and some sensual material.
Next on my list is Warner Brother's A Walk to Remember based on the critically acclaimed book by Nicholas Sparks.  It tells the story of Landon Carter, a high school student, who after a prank gone wrong, gets stuck with community service by participating in the school play.  While working on the play he meets Jamie Sullivan, the reverend's daughter, who has a lot of ambition and absolutely nothing in common with Landon.  As the two begin to work together more, they form a romance much to the dismay of those around them.  Suddenly when a hidden secret is uncovered, the two are faced with their most challenging issue yet, but it leads them to find what the true meaning of love really is.
I personally am not one for Nicholas Sparks, but this one is actually pretty good.  Whenever I watch this film I put myself in the character's position and I still don't know how I would be able to handle all the challenges they go through.  This film teaches us exactly what it means to love someone with no conditions and for those romantics, this film will be one never to be forgotten.

4. The Notebook (2004)
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for some sexuality.
The next film on my list is New Line Cinema's The Notebook starring Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling.  The film is based on another bestseller by Nicholas Sparks.  The film details the lives of Noah Calhoun and Allie Hamilton who meet at a carnival and fall in love.  They meet challenges as Allie's parents don't approve of the romance because Noah is from a different social class.  Allie eventually moves to New York with her parents and loses contact with Noah even though Noah wrote her 365 letters that Allie's mom hid from her.  Eventually Noah enlists during World War II as does Allie as a nurse.  Allie meets Lon Hammond during the war and after the war and the two wed. One day Allie sees a photo of Noah after the war and realizes that he is alive.  Now Allie has to decide between her first true love and her commitment to Lon.
So for most people my ranking will probably be too low for this film.  However, I truly believe that there are better romance films than this.  That doesn't mean that this film isn't great.  The great thing about this film is that it shows the power of true love and how hard it is to forget those that you love, no matter what position that you are in.

3. Silver Linings Playbook (2012)
MPAA Rating: R for language and some sexual content/nudity.
Next on my list is Weinstein Company's Silver Linings Playbook starring Jennifer Lawrence, Bradley Cooper, and Robert De Niro.  It is based on the book by Matthew Quick.  The film tells the story of Pat Solatano Jr. who just got discharged from a Maryland mental heath institution after being court-ordered there beating up his wife's extra-marital lover.  After moving back in with his parents, he meets Tiffany who is also recovering from a tragedy of her own.  The two become an unlikely pair who end up joining a dance competition in order to help prove to his ex-wife that he has changed.
So when I first saw this film, I absolutely loved it.  The acting is absolutely incredible and all three of its main actors got nominated for an Oscar and Jennifer Lawrence actually won.  The film also was nominated for Best Picture.  The best thing about this film though is how it shows us that love can come when we least expect it.  Sometimes we fight for love that is never there, but then all of a sudden love comes out of nowhere.

2. Up (2009)
MPAA Rating: PG for some peril and action.
Up next is Pixar Animation Studios' Up.  The film details the story of Carl Fredrickson, a young boy, who meets the free-spirited Ellie.  They both grow up loving each other and have a happy life together.  Suddenly Ellie dies, leaving Carl all alone.  After he hits a construction worker, he is now being forced into a retirement home.  However before they are able to send him there, he and his house fly away on their way to South America, the place where him and Ellie dreamed of going. Now he is on the adventure of lifetime with his unexpected  stowaway Russell.
So I guarantee that many people will be pretty upset with me placing this so high on my list and even on my list at all, but I stand by my decision.  The first ten minutes of this film detail Carl and Ellie's relationship from their first chance encounter all the way to Ellie's death.  Those ten minutes are heart-wrenching and at the same time utterly beautiful.  In those ten minutes Pixar was able to display a relationship that every single one of us dream of.  Then they spend the next 85 minutes showing how that love can live on even after death. It is a spectacular piece of art and has every right to be on this list.

1. Titanic (1997)
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for disaster related peril and violence, nudity, sensuality and brief language.
So my number one romantic movie is Paramount Pictures' Titanic starring Leonard DiCaprio and Kate Winslet.  The film tells the incredible story of Jack and Rose, two young lovers, who meet up on the maiden voyage of the Titanic.  After Jack saves Rose from attempting suicide, Rose becomes infatuated with Jack and brings him along into the first-class luxury life-style. Though they receive much criticism from Rose's traveling party, they do whatever it takes to keep their love alive. Unfortunately for them they will face even greater challenges as the ship makes its first and last voyage on April 15, 1912 at 2:20 in the morning.
This is an incredible love story and in fact an amazing movie altogether.  This film has everything and more.  There honestly is no greater love story that I can think of.  The film creates such an epic romance that all the audience knows will end in disaster, but at the same time you can't help but root for these two.  With its incredible ballad by Celine Dion "My Heart Will Go On" and its amazing story this film shows just how far true love can last.  

Thanks again for reading!!! Let me know what you think in the comments below!!  

Black or White

MPAA Rating: PG-13 on appeal for brief strong language, thematic material involving drug use and drinking, and for a fight.
Run Time: 121 Minutes
My Rating: 4/5
So last night my wife and I went and saw Relativity Media's Black or White starring Kevin Costner (Draft Day), Octavia Spencer (The Help), and Anthony Mackie (Captain America: The Winter Soldier).  The film tells the story Elliot Anderson, a grandfather who is left in charge to take care of his granddaughter Eloise after his wife dies in a car accident.  Suddenly he begins to be pressured by Eloise's paternal grandmother and her hot-shot attorney brother in order to give custody to them. Now sweet, little Eloise is torn between two families that love her, who truly have the best intentions. However as the battle progresses, the issues of race, forgiveness, and love come to the forefront which forces everyone involved to examine their truest feelings.
So personally I really liked this film.  I thought that it dealt with some great issues and told an excellent story.  One of the best things about this film though was its cast.  Kevin Costner and Octavia Spencer bring all their incredible talent into this film and their banter back and forth is excellent.  They work so well together that I personally wouldn't mind seeing another film starring these two.  Another great thing about this film is that it deals with important issues facing society today.  This film dares to talk about real issues and for that it should be rewarded.
Though I thought that the film was excellent there were a few things that bothered me.  Probably the biggest thing though was the fact that the characters in the film immediately pulled the race card when they weren't getting what they wanted.  Don't get me wrong I truly believe that there are people out in this world that still have biases and base their decisions and actions on those biases, but that isn't everyone and everyone shouldn't have to be punished for those people.  I absolutely hate it that whenever things go wrong people either pull the race card, the sexuality card, or my personal favorite, the hate-crime card.  Kevin Costner in the film is considered a racist immediately after not giving up full-custody of Eloise.  That bothers me immensely.  However, though the film did pull the race card up once or twice, which I hated, I have to commend the writers for giving Kevin Costner one of the best and truest comeback lines in any film in a long time.  I won't spoil the line, but you will know it when you hear it.
Overall, I thought the film was great.  Yes there were some things that bothered me, but I would definitely see this film again.  I believe that this is a film that everyone should see, but I will warn you that this film deals with pretty deep issues.  So just beware of that.  However, I promise you will not be disappointed.

Thanks again for reading!  If you have any questions, comments, or ideas just let me know!!!!