The King's Speech

What a FANTASTIC and up lifting story.  I can totally understand why this film is up for so many Academy Awards.   The movie itself is well written and enjoyable, eliciting empathy and compassion for the King George.  Colin Firth is phenomenal playing the title role...  and you can actually feel the PAIN (emotional) of a person trying to speak and not being able to.   Geoffrey Rush and Helena Bonham Carter both play well as supporting actors.  Helena especially playing the Queen...  I almost didn't recognize her until later in the film.  "The King's Speech is tremendously likeable and well worth seeing in the theaters.   I truly hope it is able to take home more than a few of the Oscar's it's up for.  (6.0/6.0)

The Mechanic

Okay this ended up being a half way decent action movie.   Of course I have come to expect it from Jason Statham... who I feel is the only credible action movie star of this generation.   "The Mechanic is a remake that starred Charles Bronson.   Never having seen the original I can't comment about whether it was better or worse but from hearing comments of others..  The original was better...  not surprising really....  the original's are ALWAYS better.  That being said... I found "The Mechanic entertaining at the very least.  If there is one thing I found where the movie suffered was in a lack of empathy for Statham's character.   They tried to portray the man as an assassin with a heart.   One who ONLY took jobs where the target was deserving of the deed.   I just found it hard to feel that about the character for whatever reason.   Statham played the part very well... and you could feel that the character was great at his job... but I think it's hard to make an assassin all warm and fuzzy..  (3.5/6.0)