The Joss Group

Movie: Star Trek Into Darkness

Saw it this afternoon in IMAX 3-D. Had a great time, and tears welled up in my eyes a few times. Five minutes after the movie I was in my car sending friends a message about the experience that said, "Wow. Just Wow!"

When I got home tonight I sent a little more: "No spoilers needed as I won't give away any of the plot. But, I was really impressed with the work of the JJ Abrams crew/team in many ways. The movie is stellar entertainment for any sci-fi fan, but for an aging Trekkie it was just awesome. So much respect paid to the Star Trek of old and so much enthusiasm and promise for today's tech and tomorrow's tech, too, and a vision of a future that would make any Trekkie proud."

I really do need to see it again to write more specifically about what I liked the most. Yep, really do  need to double- or triple-check my impressions...in IMAX 3-D.

Zero Dark Thirty: My Movie of the Year

It is getting to be Oscar time, so the phrase "movie of the year" is getting tossed around a lot on TV, online, and in print. During our holiday break I drove across the county to one of the few theaters in the area still showing Argo because I had heard several critics describe it as the movie of the year. Sorry, Ben, I like your work normally, but I found this movie boring. I thought my tepid reaction was related to knowing how the film would end, but no. Upon further reflection, I realize I knew the outcome with Lincoln and did not find that movie boring in the least.

Not long after I saw Argo, I drove halfway across the county to see Zero Dark Thirty in one of the few theaters in the area showing it at that time (the movie opens wide this Friday). What an amazing piece of film making! I was fascinated by every minute of it, and the last portion of the film was some of the best work I have seen put on film in a long time. Director-Producer Kathryn Bigelow and Writer-Producer Mark Boal put together a good film in the Hurt Locker, but looking at their latest effort it is clear this earlier film was their training school in making iconic military films people will be viewing and discussing decades from now.  So, I am ready to declare Zero Dark Thirty the movie of the year--2012 or 2013, take your pick. I doubt anything that will come along this calendar year will outdo it. Congratulations to Bigelow and Boal for their work!