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Here's this week's reviews

12 Years A Slave
Starring: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender, Brad Pitt, Benedict Cumberbatch, Sarah Paulson, Alfre Woodard, Michael K. Williams, and Paul Dano
Synopsis: There are movies that you see that change your life. Films that are incredibly powerful that you only need to see once. I think of "Schindler's List," one of the finest films ever made that I haven't been able to bring myself to watch a second time. For me that was also the case with "The Passion of the Christ," a beautiful depiction of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ that is impossibly hard to watch. It might be too early to say for certain, but I felt like that will be the case with "12 Years A Slave," a beautifully told true story that brings the horrors and injustice of slavery to life in a real and painful way. This is not an easy film to watch. It is violent, disturbing, and unsettling. But it is a necessary movie to watch. Sometimes I think as we move further along we're losing a bit of our grip and understanding of history. This isn't a fictional tale — it's the true story of Solomon Northup, a free black man from the North who was abducted, sold into slavery in the south, and spent 12 brutal years in bondage. And what should be most unsettling is that Northup is one of the lucky ones. He was found and freed after 12 years. As the film notes, most weren't that lucky. It's important to remember the terrible things that our ancestors did to a whole race of people, actions that reverberate to this day. It's also important to consider this as Christians. Perhaps the most upsetting part of the film is the way many of these despicable slave owners used Scripture to justify their enslavement of men and women and, worse yet, their treatment of those slaves. It is deeply upsetting, and it should be. Beyond the social, ethical, and historical reasons "12 Years A Slave" is important, it's also a well made film. Director Steve McQueen delivers a beautifully told story with rich performances. Fassbender and Dano have an unenviable task of playing pure hate mongers, but they bring those characters to life in a terrifying way. There are also plenty of fascinating supporting parts, including the role played by Pitt. It's a different part for Pitt, but he does it well. But the star of this film is Ejiofor. He delivers a brutally honest and beautiful performance. He carries the film and is the focus of the narrative, and Ejiofor pulls it off in a haunting way. He should be a lock to earn an Academy Award nomination, as is this film. It's tough to watch and it will stick with you. It's also one of the best films of the year.
Rating: R for violence/cruelty, some nudity and brief sexuality.
Verdict: Four stars out of four.

Thor: The Dark World
Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Natalie Portman, Anthony Hopkins, Rene Russo, Kat Dennings, Idris Elba, Christopher Eccleston, Zachary Levi, Ray Stevenson, Jamie Alexander, and Stellan Skarsgård
Synopsis: One of the most brilliant strokes Marvel made was creating the cinematic world of “The Avengers.” I don’t mean the actual “Avengers” film, but the series of inter-linking characters and films that led to “Avengers” and, in 2015, the “Avengers” sequel. The connection between “Thor,” “Iron Man,” “Captain America” and “Hulk” has given each film and each set of characters a larger sense of purpose. We have really seen that play out brilliantly with these individual hero sequels that have followed “The Avengers.” During the summer, “Iron Man 3” was the first film to follow the events of “The Avengers.” Now, “Thor: The Dark World” enters the fray. And given the larger context, the more time invested in characters and the freedom that comes from being one piece of a much larger world, the film works in a different way than the first “Thor.” Not only has this sequel been freed up from the complicated character introductions and back story that hamper origin films, the narrative has been advanced in other films, and now even on TV with “Agents of Shield,” making the film feel more rich and grounded. “Thor: The Dark World” is a more entertaining film than the original. It might not have as lofty of aims and style, but it’s more what we’ve come to expect from these Marvel films. And it even has a different feel than many of the Marvel comic films in this series. Due to the fantastic worlds it feels like a space odyssey mixed with a superhero film with a dash of Middle Earth thrown in. All of it works as a piece of entertainment that keeps the larger narrative moving forward. You can no longer judge these films on their own. They are part of the fabric of a larger narrative, building on what’s come before and setting up what comes next. That was evident with “Thor: The Dark World,” which answered questions raised by “Avengers,” added the next logical chapter for fan favorites Thor and Loki, offered a preview of “Guardians of the Galaxy,” and set up future installments of “Thor” and “Avengers.” It’s a tall order, but one the Marvel machine is well equipped to handle at this point. Director Alan Taylor — a veteran of effects-heavy small screen epic “Games of Thrones” — brings a deft hand to this “Thor” sequel. He moves the pieces well, keeps the action coming and allows the smaller beats to develop the characters. Hemsworth — now playing the God of Thunder for the third time — has grown into the role and made it his own. He feels more comfortable and more affable in the lead role than in previous films, as does Hiddleston as everyone’s favorite villain, Loki. There is also a more fun spirit about this film. There is more room to breathe, more time for jokes and more room for character development in a film that doesn’t have to spend all its time establishing characters and worlds. Newcomers to “Thor” and the Marvel world might be lost at times, but for those who’ve been a part of this multi-franchise journey, there is something warm and familiar here. “Thor: The Dark World” boasts a fine cast, great special effects, plenty of humor and character development and an easy to follow story. It hits all the right notes and does so, arguably, in an even better fashion than this summer’s “Iron Man” sequel. During the first round of Marvel films I wasn’t a fan of the “Thor” series, but after this sequel it’s fair to say it’s growing on me.  And given the interwoven stories and characters, it’s a must watch for those who want to be in on the fun when “Avengers: Age of Ultron” rolls around in the summer of 2015.
Rating: PG-13 for sequences of intense sci-fi action and violence and some suggestive content.
Verdict: Three stars out of four.

Upcoming Releases:

Friday, November 15 — "Best Man Holiday"

Friday, November 22 — "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire," "Delivery Man"

Wednesday, November 27 — "Frozen," "Homefront," "Oldboy," "Black Nativity"