House of Cards.

I don't usually review TV Shows since most of the ones I watch are Sitcoms but I think I'm going to start. Mainly because, I started watching the first Netflix Original Series, House of Cards.
And it is amazing.
To me, this is Kevin Spacey and Robing Wrights best performance Evil yet at times gentle is Kevin Spacey's character Frank Underwood. Not into politics? Who gives a fuck, you should still see this show. I haven't been engulfed into a TV show for such a long time, I even managed to finish it in two days. Thank you Netflix for releasing the entire show at once! Season Two cannot come any sooner. Corrupt, Manipulative, Sexy, Intoxicating, Gritty, Outstanding. Also, Kudos to Kate Mara, I love that girl and she is owning the show.

Title: House of Cards
Director: David Fincher/James Foley/Joel Schumacher/Charles McDougall/Carl Franklin/Allen Coulter
Starring: Kevin Spacey/Robin Wright/Kate Mara
Metacritic: 76
Erika's Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

Django Unchained.

One of my most anticipated films of the year! Django Unchained. I really didn't know what it was about at first but a while ago, just hearing Quentin Tarantino and Leonardo DiCaprio, completely struck my fancy. I've never been one to enjoy a Western Film. My most recent western, and probably only one I've actually really seen is 3:10 to Yuma. Which was great.  This 'Spaghetti Western' as they call it was more than what I expected. The introduction as the film started had a great western feel to it, as well as allowing us to know that it was a Tarantino movie.  This is the first time I have seen Christopher Waltz perform, for I have not seen Inglorious Basterds yet, and no worries, I will be checking it out next! His character was by far my favorite, his dialogue, his character, his demeanor was all magnificent.
I kept wondering when Leo's character was going to come out and play and when he did, I love how Quentin incorporated the 'fast zoom-in to the face' move. Pure gold.
I was definitely waiting for the first half hour of the movie to see some Quentin blood and gore and he delivered it perfectly well.
All in all, great story, extremely great acting and it is definitely a must see. The soundtrack is another thing, might be weird to all of a sudden here some hip-hoppin music, but it works in so well!

Title: Django Unchained
Director: Quentin Tarantino
Starring: Jamie Foxx, Christopher Waltz, Leonardo DiCaprio
Tomatometer: 88%
Erika's Rating: ♥♥♥♥

Hobo With A Shotgun.

The movie Hobo with a Shotgun is exactly that....a Hobo who hopped on a train to find a better place to live, ends up in a shitty, violent, run down town witnessing the Ultra-Violence happening right in front of his eyes. He's so sick of it, finds himself in a situation with a shotgun, and starts blasting away.
A fun, gruesome blood filled movie! You feel for the old guy and cheer him on! Those kids in that town are just brutal.. This movie reminds of something Quentin Tarantino might do for fun, or Robert Rodriguez.
I highly recommend seeing this movie, but make sure you're prepared to see some gore and violence.And please, keep this movie away from kids.

Title: Hobo With A Shotgun
Director: Jason Eisener
Starring: Rutger Hauer
Tomatometer: 67%
Erika's Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Daydream Nation.

Daydream Nation:

I'm a sucker for High School movies..especially ones involving a teacher/student relationship. Cheesy, I know. It's not like the other High School movies though, all cutesy. The main reason I started watching this was because of Kat Dennings. Something about her makes me want to watch her. Most likely, it's the lips and those amazing colors she can put on them.  I love her acting style.  This movie has a touch of the darker side of High School life in a small town. If you ever feel like watching a 'teen drama' movie, pick Daydream Nation, at least do it for Kat Dennings. She's pretty exquisite.

Title: Daydream Nation
Director: Michael Goldbach
Starring: Kat Dennings, Reece Daniel Thompson, Josh Lucas
Tomatometer: 59%
Erika's Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥

Ides of March.

I'm writing this review a few months after I actually saw the movie so I don't remember it too well...But I do remember it being a great film. For now, I am just going to say, Watch it! I shall re-write something once I watch it again..

Title: The Ides of March
Director: George Clooney
Starring: George Clooney, Ryan Gosling, Paul Giamatti
Tomatometer: 85:
Erika's Rating:
TBD

Food Inc.

I finally had enough courage to watch Food, Inc.  Food is definitely one of those things that scares me. I happen to love and enjoy food very much but at the same time, I go through phases of being terrified of where they came from and what it takes to get them from animal, to butcher warehouse, packaged into the store, into the kitchens, and In. My. Belly.
I have tried so many times to either do the vegetarian thing, or go organic. Sad thing is going organic is expensive, and reading every single label for every single thing you buy is pretty much impossible!
Meat scares the shit out of me, but unfortunately, being blood type O...I love meat!
In the end...it all boils down to..McDonalds. Yup. Every since the beginning, they have ruined food for us. One thing that I did cut out of my life is fast food. I can definitely live without it. The American Food Industry is a very very scary thing. Food Inc. shows just how evil they are. The farmers are doing whatever they can to survive and they just can't seem to win. It is a disturbing film depicting the importance of Money>Life.
Maybe if more of these movies are exposed, we can all together and change the way we eat. I highly doubt that would ever happen, until we are all dying of obesity and becoming extinct. *sigh* such is life. It's not just about the human beings, we are killing animals for our benefit.  So that we can survive. Let's appreciate where our food comes from and not take it for granted.
I myself, am going to do my best to eat better. More vegetables, less....shit. If I choose to eat meat, it shall all be organic. (same with the veggies do..imagine all of the chemicals they use on EVERYTHING.) Farmers Markets are amazing so be sure to check one out!  And please, watch this movie, soak in some information and take care of yourself.

Title: Food Inc.
Director: Robert Kenner
Starring: Documentary
Tomatometer: 96%
Erika's Rating:
 ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

The Day The Earth Stood Still. (2008)

Say wha? Now why would I watch this movie? Because I adore Keanu Reeves. And I'm sort of a sucker for 'end of the world' type flicks.  No matter how cheesy they may be. One thing though...I have NOT seen the original from 1951 so I don't know how true fans of this movie would enjoy it.
It was a good movie, I wouldn't so great or excellent but entertaining for sure. I believe the last movie I saw with Jennifer Connelly was Blood Diamond (Excellent movie), it was nice seeing her again. She's such a beautiful talented actress. I think Keanu Reeves was good for this role due to his robotic acting (like in The Matrix). He was emotionless throughout the entire movie. Not a single smile, no wrinkles from anger or frustration.  His face did not move. At all. This movie sends a pretty good message, I'm not sure if it was the same as the original but I feel there could have been more to it. It seemed to have started and ended rather quickly, kind of leaving a...'That's it?' feeling. If you have absolutely nothing to do and have some extra time seeing the movie, then you can watch this.  It's still pretty to see.
I do however, look forward to seeing Keanu Reeves in a role that will stray from being emotionless or robotic. He's a great guy, and he does great things.

Title: The Day The Earth Stood Still (2008)
Director: Scott Derrickson
Starring: Keanu Reeves, Jennifer Connelly
Tomatometer: 21%
Erika's Rating:
♥♥½