Passion projects are held very dear by their creators sometime showing their deepest of passion for their chosen professions. Not every filmmaker will receive a chance to make their dream film. It doesn't matter on the talent behind the camera proven by Stanley Kubrick (among other things) failed to gain financing for his passion project Napoleon and sometimes when such projects are released they can garner mix reactions from audiences. Martin Scorsese "Gangs of New York" is an excellent example some considering it to be on par with his best work while others consider it among his weakest. Gravity is the opposite where the visionary passion is not shared equally to all its components.

Gravity follows a medical engineer and an astronaut working together to survive after an accident leaves them adrift in space. The film plot is the textbook definition of simple. The basic premise never developed beyond its own archetypes for the purpose of its metaphor meaning. Simplicity is not overly negative with it central theme about survival being enough to relate and engage. A consistent problem is the plot using templates without building a foundation to structurally hold it together. Take the character Ryan Stone for example is given the basics development of a mother who lost her daughter in an attempt to make her human. This is as far the plot goes to developing any of its characters. Never emotionally investing in these archetypes only seeing them as a caricature of emotions. Another favorite among the film narrative devices are conveniences turned plot devices. Plot conveniences is so crucial that the writers would hit a dead end if wasn't for this narrative device. Debris flying through space hits it cue every single time whenever Ryan is close to an air lock in order to create conflict in a non conflict scenario. Manufacturing suspense that a no point feels natural. Situations that could build upon the protagonist mindset during her journey are quickly resolved. It's all tied together by set pieces with no elevating story component to hold them together. Characters take a back seat in a story that clearly put in mind first on the technical side instead of treating it as an equal.

On the technical side the film is a marvelous achievement. Mostly CG filled the film looks life like seamlessly blending with live action. It's fully capable of emulating being an astronaut in space with scenes that make visible to thousands of tiny particle debris and stars with lightning that naturally contrast or is removed realistically. It's capable of immersing the viewer and putting them directly in that scenario even without an attachment towards the character. Several sequences on the ISS (International Space Station) will leave you awe struck as it capabilities to create seamlessly fabricated computer images with organic human interaction. The downfall of the technology is director Alfonso Cuaron usage of it as a narrative tool. Heavy handled images will leave viewer little to decipher discovering the meaning of the whole journey before reaching the credits. Alfonso Cuaron is not afraid to let the scenery speak for itself or to let the actors portray their emotions in mannerisms holding the story together under a visionary whose not sure how to tell it.

Sandra Bullock is natural, poised, and fully engulfed. She rallies an emotional connection from the audience despite the script weak characterization has given her. Making a manufactured archetypes feel human. George Clooney utilizes his wit and charm to be a lighter force of our dark tale, and is a perfect balance to Bullock's frantic demeanor. Steven Price's musical work that can border generic blockbuster territory is tenderly utilized and precisely executed, building up lots of affectionate tones. Editing is seamless and some of the best ever put onto to film. Every scene structure together feels natural allowing viewers to take in the scope of space and clearly get a feel of every set piece taking place in real time.

Gravity is a technical achievement to be admired with a lesser plot competent that serves nothing else other than to showcase it technical achievement. It's a clear case of just enough substance to justify it focus on visuals galore. It will take you to space like no film, but without an attachment for those experiencing it for themselves it some majesty is lost.

Gravity in 3D:
The film's 3D is hardly noticeable. It doesn't enhance any scenes to absorb the viewer further in the depth of space. Instead the 3D only highlight specific objects to appear bigger. 3D effects here are similar to looking up in the sky on a sunny day and seeing a leaf slowly fall down to the ground. Distorting the image creating the task of attempting to view everything on the same level.

Remakes in the horror genre rarely matched the original and fewer surpass the original. Sure there are some great remakes like The Fly (1986) and The Thing (1982), but those are a selective few that make a small fraction of good horror remakes. How did this remake come about? The original film was never properly copyrighted, and so it has fallen into public domain, making this remake possible even with no permission from the original creators. Just like most remakes in this genre it failed to understand what made the original such a classic and what new spin it brings elevates no interest.

Night of the Living Dead 3D follows a group of survivors trapped in a farmhouse battling a siege of undead zombies....pointlessly in 3D! To this film credit it's not a by the number remake departing from the original story. It hits some familiar plot beats like a group sheltering themselves from zombies in a house and Henry Cooper daughter turning into a zombie. On paper it has decent ideas, but in execution the story never comes to life. What changes it brings to the plot do nothing more than put you off guard without building tension. This film has a severe problem to either pad out scenes or stretch out long conversations needlessly to fill it's less than eighty minute running time. A large portion of the film is filler to the point that a non conflict between Barbara arguing with Cooper family whether or not to be taken to town to get help from the local authority takes up around twenty minutes. Long drawn out conversations make up a majority of the film it feels like it dialogue was written up on the spot. For example, Ben describes a zombie as "Being way the f*@k out there". This is (as of now) the worst description of a zombie anyone has ever given. Finally it introduces a last minute villain who appears in a significantly small portion of the film. Our villain in this remake has a flimsy explanation for how he made the dead come back to life (hint: it has something to do with fire). Everything in this remake is tediously drawn out with long conversations that lead nowhere, no sense of suspense or feel of danger, and cardboard cutout characters that label themselves who's going to die in which order.

Acting and production leaves little to the imagination. When it comes to acting every single actor underplay their part. These are some of the calmest horror victims who even in a zombie attack have a cool attitude about death. For them it's just not another Apocalypse to the point that a naked women running to safety surrounded by zombie is nothing that generates interest. Direction is very incompetent unable to conceal it's low budget destroying immersion. It seems the director wanted to make sure the film you were watching is all fakery with outdated special effects. Using for short duration actual black and footage from the original "Night of the Living Dead" in a color film. Wide shots exposing the little extras the filmmakers could afford to play zombies. If you want to see zombie carnage you will be disappointed since the zombies mostly attack in groups of one or three. Also, the director pointlessly made this in non-dimensional 3D is the most unnoticeable addition to the film. You'll be asking did I need to see the title card and some guy smoking cigarette shoved in my face. This was clearly filmed to be a 2D film and the extra dimension is flat like the film quality hardly ever on sight.

Night of the Living Dead 3D is like a zombie looking for something living to tear itself into. It has no entertainment value of any kind and even viewing it with a B movie mindset there's too much drawn out scenes and standard acting leaving little to like.

The original Night of the Living Dead is warmly embrace by audiences even to this day entertaining and frightening viewers. It introduced the template that started an entire sub genre of zombie films yet few have surpassed it near perfect execution. The question being how does one remake a film that created the blueprint for an entire sub genre? Personally I have no idea how one would do that successfully and neither do the filmmakers behind this remake who failed to bring originality to a game changing film.

Night of the Living Dead is about a group of people hiding from bloodthirsty zombies in a farmhouse. Anyone who seen the original will be turned off how closely this remake resembles the original. It's a textbook definition of a by the number remake where the only good narratives elements come from the original. Things start off badly upon the first few minute spending time with an annoying character torturing you as long as he can before he dies. Specific changes like the lack of radio and television broadcast detract from scope. We're not given much of an idea of how big the epidemic is when thrown into it. The message delivery is muddled and ultimately lost because of the new characters changes. In the original "Night of the Living Dead" we had normal people working together for survival even if their differences wanted them to kill each other. Acting like real people second guessing if their action were the right one. In this remake we have seven bickering characters dictating for others to follow their rule. Characters are nothing more than a heavy handed representation of failure to remove yourself from hysteria in a dire situation leading to demise. Most upsetting is it even more backhanded ending aiming to enlighten that perhaps the living is no better than the walking dead. This falls short when you see the characters disregarding common rationalize for an action hero approach in a horror situation. One major upgrade was giving the women larger roles, but even that backfires. Barbara for example goes from being a helpless damsels to an insane killing machine....I mean plot device. Her character is only here to attempt to bring originality in a film that fails to recognize the difference between change and laziness.

As a standalone horror film it falls prey to the trapping of horror conventions. The main issue with the film is jumping for scares without buildup. Everything is rushed from character development and pacing that it becomes exhausting. Things that hold true to bad modern horror flick can be applied here. Containing an unnecessary one dimensional and forced unsympathetic villain creating non-conflicts. Stupid characters that rush into every situation without putting much thought (even by horror movie standards having a character shoot a locked gas pump with a shotgun at close range is idiotic). Finally only one logical character that makes it out alive only to fall victim to what they experience changing them. Lessening the fear and having the viewer gripping to their seats with frustration is too many zombie set pieces. An overexposure to the creature that causes fear will diminish what fear it strikes. For an example of how it done correctly take a look at Jaws. In Jaws it plays on your expectations whenever the shark was going to attack keeping you alert not knowing if it was the shark or just the ocean. In this remake zombies are always in position to attack eliminating suspense. It fails to be a standalone piece of horror to stand apart form another generic zombie film and fails as a remake to do anything new with the material.

Acting is generally mixed. The actors seem to confuse shouting for dramatic delivery to the point of ludicrous. Whenever the actors are not shouting they are tolerable performing average at best. Some imitating the original actors and others attempting to bring something refreshingly new to the remake. The special effects when it comes to the zombies serve their purpose. There's certainly enough gross makeup effects to make you cringe. Sadly the great make up effect are ruined when it comes the direction. Not everything will look effective in color as it does in black and white. Often being too close to the zombies reveals the secret behind the illusion or to far exposing the visible weak points in the zombies strategy. Music is out of place all the time. It score plays whenever character dialogue is minimal taking away immersion when there is a lack of silence.

Night of the Living Dead remake removes the brains ending up just as lifeless as the film creatures. Nothing in the film outshines anything in the original and even as a standalone piece it falls victim to many conventions to strike fear. If it wasn't baring the same name as the beloved classic this would been long forgotten as nothing more than another generic horror flick with nothing interesting compared to what inspired it.

Seven Samurai is often categorized as the catalyst of Samurai films and that titled is well preserved since it release. It's not only an important piece of filmmaking in Asia, but in filmmaking in general. Its influence can still be seen today. It's one of the quintessential films of cinema very few can match in terms of importance and quality.

Seven Samurai is about a poor village attempting to recruit seven unemployed samurai to help them defend themselves against the attacking bandits. The plot of Seven Samurai was among the first to introduced several plot structural elements that are still used even to this day. The recruitment and gathering of heroes towards a specific goal, introducing the main hero with an undertaking unrelated to the main plot, a reluctant hero, romance between a local girl and the youngest hero, and the nervousness of the common citizens. Others film since it release have used these common plot devices, but "Seven Samurai" was among the first to combined them all. Yes it makes the film overly familiar yet despite how many times we have seen these specific plot elements "Seven Samurai" remains timeless.

In terms of writing "Seven Samurai" is one of few films that remains flawless and unmatched. It gradually develops the villagers and the samurai with such a profound depth. The villagers are among most dynamic exploring the common social class fearing the way and culture of the Samurai. Opposing at first due to their social status fearing for their livelihood if the Samurai will abuse and take advantage of them in their weak position. Debating the negatives and positives with either decision they choose go with. This simple dilemma in other films would have had a clear answer, but here there's allot more to it than wrong and right. Consequences and reward of such an action is debated until the villagers ultimately come to term accepting to go with the enemy they hate least. Scenes like this makes the village come to life and make you feel like you hold importance in the community. You'll end up wanting for everyone to make it out alive, but know such an outcome is inevitable making it even more compelling and heightens the tension.

Even more impressive is how every Samurai is three dimensional. Each having their own distinctive characteristic, their own motivations, their own morals, and their past. What bounds these Samurai together is their code. A code that has been thrust onto to them by society to performs the duty they are given. Bounded together to preserve a tradition that no matter the reward must help those in need. A code that the film is not afraid to challenge on several occasions. Like if it's honorable for a Samurai to work for the simple reward of being fed? Should a Samurai cut of his symbolic hairstyle showing his status to help aid a single person? If a warrior has experienced many battles does it necessarily mean he won any of them? It's not afraid to touch upon the Samurai culture in a negative light doing so without demonizing them nor moralizing the complex dilemma they face.

The bandits which are the villain of the film are never given a clear face. Alluding that evil has no common face, but is all common with reasoning behind their actions. The bandits aren't necessarily evil just for the sake of being cruel. They have no jobs, own no land, and divided among the rest of the world for their own lifestyle they adapted for survival. Hence why the introduction of these bandits is not a barbaric one showing the bandits attacking a village, but rather through dialogue as the bandits declare they will take another village resources for living. If we were to see the bandits of "Seven Samurai" commit a crime for our introduction they would have been no difference from your average antagonist. Leaving little or no impression upon the viewer lessening ideals presented in conflict. This demonstrates that despite their barbaric nature the bandits still carry common traits working together as a society to survive by all means. One could even say the villagers and the bandits are no different from each other.

The ending is also one worth touching upon. It's an ending so perfect that it rivals the like of "Casablanca" as one of the greatest ending ever filmed. The ending best personifies our heroes honor and the villagers view on the Samurai. Throughout their entire endeavors the Samurai turmoils and internal conflicts can be presented in this one scene. On looking on the aftermath of the experience. Losing the war despite winning so many battles and ultimately for no fame, no fortune, but because of their code of life bound to them. Teaching those who serve for the greater good in the end might not be rewarded for their good deed and even be forgotten no matter the size of the deed committed.

Akira Kurosawa hits all the right note with his masterful direction. Not once is the viewer ever lost in its complicated narrative under Kurosawa direction. He uses landscapes to create atmosphere going from a peaceful mood to states of depression letting no single image go to waste. The film battle scenes serve an equally dramatic purpose not just simply being a form of spectacles. Kurosawa highlights the pain and misery of excessive violence on reverse of heroism. In all the scenes of people running, the camera seems to speed up also to kick up the film's adrenaline. Kurosawa also help pioneered the use of slow motion in some scenes to underscore the moment brilliantly orchestrating the flow of the action. Fumio Hayasaka scores manages to capture the diversity of tones in Kurosawa's narrative sweeping you away with emotion with every note you hear.

In terms of acting you'll be hard pressed to find a single weak link. The actors in this film were outstanding as they each brought their character to life in an unbelievable way, as they delivered different humorous moments, exciting and gripping sequences and some very touching and emotional scenes. Of all the actor Toshiro Mifune is easily the standout among an all star cast with his oddball personality and huge dramatic change through the course of the film. Mifune accomplished no easy feat in film filled with numerous excellent actors and performances.

Seven Samurai is without a shed of doubt one of the greatest films ever made. It's more than tale of good versus evil, it's more than a epic, and it's more than a classic. "Seven Samurai" is a piece of filmmaking that forever changed it landscape, continue to serves as an inspiration for filmmakers to this day, and a film that holds many interpretation discovering a new meaning with every viewing.