For a while, I have not really been that into former Foreign Films, but the “The Lives of Others” held my attention. It weaves characters between a spy, a writer, and the writer’s wife. All in the works of a spy that listens in on them through surveillance system suspecting something fishy. However, it is not that whatever the writer or his wife has done that is the big picture of this production, it is the fact that the spy feels he is just part of their life.

I will describe how the structure of this film is setup. A brilliant dramatist Georg Dreyman (played by Sebastian Koch) and his lover Christina-Marie Sieland (played Martina Gedeck) is an actress. The Minister of Culture holds great interest in Christina. Therefore Hauptmann Gerd Wiesler (played by Ulrich Muhe) is acted to do surveillance on the couple.

There is a lot to be determined with “The Lives of Others” than the confusing setting of the film. This film is not your typical spy movie that holds your attention forever, but is a film that shows how people can really feel like they are involved in people’s lives when there is no relation whatsoever. “The Lives Of Others” could have been just a boring version of two and half men, if no one listens to any of the interviews with the director Florian von Donnersmarck. Where he states that, “If audience is not responding emotionally to his film, than they are being irrational.”

This film I think is one that is just made to be a different type of suspense. Good to me but review wise two stars.

With both Ewan McGregor and George Clooney being big names in Hollywood back in 2010, “The Men who Stare at Goats” is a film that rounds up the top celebrities but is an absolute bloat. Not much more can be defined on why this film is so horrible, but the fact that it was going longer than it need to be in its length in time. This is hollywood’s issue. Make a movie seem funny, round up big names, over-advertise it on commercials, and bang a big waste of time.

I was looking forward to this film. Given the fact that it is a movie that was getting a bunch of press and the concept seeming serious but given entertainment value than seriousness value. When I look back though at other films by Ewan McGregor, I find he is such a joy to watch in a sci-fi film like “Star Wars.”

“The Men Who Stare at Goats” involves a journalist named Bob Wilton (McGregor) and a commander named Lyn Cassidy (Clooney). Bob embarks on a trip to Iraq with Lyn in hopes of capturing the story of a lifetime. That lifetime story to believe or not to believe what Lyn tells him. That Lyn uses paranormal powers in their missions.

Bob gets adjusted to Lyn’s odd sense of humor, however to be honest not much else is explained. They go camping, Lyn tries to do things like build camp settings with his minds, Bob is confused, etc. I will not define much of what goes on, because I was not laughing all that much. To be honest I was not seeing many goat actions given from the title “The Men who Stare at Goats.”

There is one pro to this movie, me not having to go into detail of what is so captivating about it, because nothing is captivating. The adventure is a pure drag, and other big names such as Kevin Spacey and Jeff Bridges starred in this movie but were only in it for like ten minutes. So there names were listed to be in this film and really they had no importance in it at all.

From this point, this movie is the worst. I will not watch it again. Some may have enjoyed it, but really? Enjoyed what? Trying to look back in your history books to see how people can fight with their minds? I would rather research how to fight in challenging video games like Call of Duty. 

The most brilliant thing with “Need for Speed” is how the action never stops. “Need for Speed” is based off of the classic video games years in the making. “Need for Speed” plots a race car driver that is framed by a rich business associate, and after two years in prison he is ready to avenge the death of his friend that was killed in the race just before he was framed. However it is not just winning being the goal all the time to cause the suspense, it is the fact that the inventors of the vehicles know how to make sure their car is built for damage and reckless driving.

The star of this thrill ride film is Aaron Paul, that plays Toby Marshall, an unsympathetic and ruthless actor that many people may recognize from his hit TV series “Breaking Bad.” The character is all about being a risk-taker, but Paul builds resurrection and being brave seriously where viewers know that when it is race time, that things are going to get ugly.

Dino Brewster (Dominic Cooper) keep himself hidden from his encounter which put Toby in prison for two years. That Dino actually killed the other racer in the race between him and Toby. Toby tries to make his point clear to the authorities numerous times that Dino killed the other driver. Especially with the fact that the other driver is Toby’s best friend. But Dino cares so much about the fame and being the next big racer and will not admit to killing the other driver.

Dino probably just envies Toby’s skill and ability with cars. However, causing someone to get brutally hurt or killed is not the answer. Yet when Toby is released from prison, Dino still holds a grudge on him. But Toby is upset, angry, wants to avenge the death of his friend, not having that much money to pay his bills. Paul is really devoted to make audience believe he is not afraid.

“Need for Speed” is not really a funny film. Toby is a good guy, but his life has turned around after that whole dangerous encounter with the car accident. The film is forward in depicting the motivation and skills of how some people take their anger out on competition; Toby is the ruthless protagonist. However, today’s world is all about competition

Overall, this movie was fairly entertaining. Three stars.