Whimsical Worlds, Scene-Stealing Hatters, and Spectacular 3D Visuals.

Alice in Wonderland

Directed By: Tim Burton

Starring: Mia Wasikowska, Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter

Rated: PG

1 hrs. 48 min.

Tim Burton puts a new spin on the classic tale of a girl named Alice and her adventures in a whimsical world called Wonderland. In this updated version, Alice (Mia Wasikowska) falls through the rabbit hole to find the creatures there have been waiting for her arrival; she also comes to find that this isn't the first time she's been down the rabbit hole, either. Alice's return has been foretold, as she is the only one who can slay the Jabberwocky on Frabjous Day and return their world to the hands of the White Queen (Anne Hathaway).

Despite the story not being the exact same as the original, it's a pleasing and refreshing version of it. There are even references and characters that appear in the story written by Lewis Carrol, such as the Caterpillar (named Absolem here, and voiced by Alan Rickman). Alice in Wonderland even features the Jabberwocky as a major part of the plot line, despite being a creature from a separate poem by Carroll (although the song in Disney's version of Alice in Wonderland that the Cheshire Cat sung is the first verse of the poem).

The fantastical scenery of Wonderland is beautiful and impressive. One can see not only the vision of Carroll within the world, but Tim Burton's flair is prevalent as well. The 3D effects are spectacular as well, bringing the characters and the world alive wonderfully.

Wasikowska's portrayal of Alice is fresh, and she plays the now 19-year-old character with a mix of maturity and child-like curiosity. It is Johnny Depp's Mad Hatter that, as Depp seems to do so well, steals scenes. Flip flopping between a lisp-enhanced British accent in mostly light moments and an odd Scottish drawl in mostly serious and dark moments brilliantly expresses such an entrancing, and likable, madness. In fact, all of the actors' performances are stunning and unique.

Alice in Wonderland is a must see for old and young alike. Take the family, take a boyfriend or girlfriend, take your parents, or take your friends and try to catch this great film in 3D (multiple times, if possible).

Grade: A+

A Typical Love Story, Surprisingly Impressive Acting, and a Twist.

Remember Me

Directed By: Allen Coulter

Starring: Robert Pattinson, Emilie de Ravin, Chris Cooper, Pierce Brosnan

Rated: PG-13

1 hrs. 53 min.

Remember Me is the love story of college students Ally (Emilie de Ravin) and Tyler (Robert Pattinson) in New York City, set in 2001. While Ally is the type of girl to live life as if everyday could be her last, Tyler is an introverted, brooding, poetic type; the traits of both lovers come from having seen death of loved ones (for her, the murder of her mother, and for him, the suicide of his older brother). However, the circumstances that brought the two of them together, involving an incident between Tyler and Ally's father that she knows nothing of, threatens to ends the relationship.

The story itself is rather cliche. The entire time the relationship unfolds, the audience knows what the climax of the relationship will be. The other issue with that climax is how long it takes to occur. It is not too unbearable, though, so the pacing of the film is tolerable. What is most shocking about Remember Me is the ending, which you will not likely see coming. The moment in which you realize what will happen is a moment of impact to say the least. Remember Me is definitely a tear-jearker, so don't forget the tissue. In fact, something is wrong if you don't get choked up at least a little.

Surprisingly, Robert Pattinson proves that he does actually have some talent. One would never guess upon seeing the Twilight films that he could actually act, but his performance here is good. He does have his monotoned flat moments, but the emotionally charged high moments more than make up for them. The performances by the other actors are wonderful as well, including Tate Ellington as Tyler's roommate and best friend Aiden, the typical male college student who is a partier and loves to sleep in.

Overall, while the main love story is something seen in any number of other romantic films, Remember Me does offer a great deal of original elements and an unexpected ending. The performances also make this a film to see.

Grade: B+

2010 Academy Award Winners!

Exciting night, and the Best Director winner was a history-maker! Here are the winners from tonight:

Actor in a Leading Role:

George Clooney, "Up in the Air"

Colin Firth, "A Single Man"

Morgan Freeman, "Invictus"

Jeremy Renner, "The Hurt Locker"

WINNER: Jeff Bridges, "Crazy Heart"

Actor in a Supporting Role:

Matt Damon, "Invictus"

Woody Harrelson, "The Messenger"

Christopher Plummer, "The Last Station"

Stanley Tucci, "The Lovely Bones"

WINNER: Christoph Waltz, "Inglourious Basterds"

Actress in a Leading Role:

Helen Mirren, "The Last Station"

Carey Mulligan, "An Education"

Gabourey Sidibe, "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire"

Meryl Streep, "Julie & Julia"

WINNER: Sandra Bullock, "The Blind Side"

Actress in a Supporting Role:

Penelope Cruz, "Nine"

Vera Farmiga, "Up in the Air"

Maggie Gyllenhaal, "Crazy Heart"

Anna Kendrick, "Up in the Air"

WINNER: Mo'Nique, "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire"

Animated Feature Film

"Coraline," Henry Selick

"Fantastic Mr. Fox," Wes Anderson

"The Princess and the Frog," John Musker and Ron Clements

"The Secret of Kells," Tomm Moore

WINNER: "Up," Pete Doctor

Art Direction

"The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus" Art Direction: Dave Warren and Anastasia Masaro; Set Decoration: Caroline Smith

"Nine" Art Direction: John Myhre; Set Decoration: Gordon Sim

"Sherlock Holmes" Art Direction: Sarah Greenwood; Set Decoration: Katie Spencer

"The Young Victoria" Art Direction: Patrice Vermette; Set Decoration: Maggie Gray
WINNER: "Avatar" Art Direction: Rick Carter and Robert Stromberg; Set Decoration: Kim Sinclair

Cinematography

"Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince," Bruno Delbonnel

"The Hurt Locker," Barry Ackroyd

"Inglourious Basterds," Robert Richardson

"The White Ribbon," Christian Berger

WINNER: "Avatar," Mauro Fiore

Costume Design

"Bright Star," Janet Patterson

"Coco before Chanel," Catherine Leterrier

"The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus," Monique Prudhomme

"Nine," Colleen Atwood

WINNER: "The Young Victoria," Sandy Powell

Directing

"Avatar," James Cameron

"Inglourious Basterds," Quentin Tarantino

"Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire," Lee Daniels

"Up in the Air," Jason Reitman

WINNER: "The Hurt Locker," Kathryn Bigelow*

*NOTE: First female to win this category.

Documentary (Feature)

"Burma VJ," Anders Ostergaard and Lisa Lense-Moller

"Food, Inc.," Robert Kenner and Elise Pearlstein

"The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers," Judith Ehrlich and Rick Goldsmith

"Which Way Home," Rebecca Cammisa

WINNER: "The Cove," Louie Psihoyos and Fisher Stevens

Documentary (Short Subject)

"China's Unnatural Disaster: The Tears of Sichuan Province," Jon Alpert and Matthew O'Neil

"The Last Campaign of Governer Booth Gardner," Daniel Jung and Henry Ansbacher

"The Last Truck: The Closing of a GM Plant," Steven Bognar and Julia Reichert

"Rabbit a la Berlin," Bartek Konopka and Anna Wydra

WINNER: "Music by Prudence," Roger Ross Williams and Elinor Burkett

Film Editing

"Avatar," Stephen Rivkin, John Refoua, and James Cameron

"District 9," Julian Clarke

"Inglourious Basterds," Sally Renke

"Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire," Joe Klotz

WINNER: "The Hurt Locker," Bob Murawski and Chris Innis

Foreign Language Film

"Ajami," Israel

"The Milk of Sorrow," Peru

"Un Prophete," France

"The White Ribbon," Germany

WINNER: "El Secreto de sus Ojos," Argentina

Makeup

"Il Divo," Aldo Signoretti and Vittorio Sodano

"The Young Victoria," Jon Henry Gordon and Jenny Shircore

WINNER: "Star Trek," Barney Burman, Mindy Hall, and Joel Harlow

Music (Original Score)

"Avatar," James Horner

"Fantastic Mr. Fox," Alexandre Desplat

"The Hurt Locker," Marco Beltrami and Buck Sanders

"Sherlock Holmes," Hans Zimmer

WINNER: "Up," Michael Giacchino

Music (Original Song)

"Almost There" from "The Princess and the Frog," Music and Lyric by Randy Newman

"Down in New Orleans" from "The Princess and the Frog," Music and Lyric by Randy Newman

"Loin de Paname" from "Paris 36," Music by Reinhardt Wagner, Lyric by Frank Thomas

"Take It All" from "Nina," Music and Lyric by Maury Yeston

WINNER: "The Weary Kind (Theme From Crazy Heart" from "Crazy Heart," Music and Lyric by Ryan Bingham and T Bone Burnett

Best Picture

"Avatar," Producers: James Cameron and Jon Landau

"The Blind Side," Nominees to be determined

"District 9," Producers: Peter Jackson and Carolynne Cunningham

"An Education," Producers: Finola Dwyer and Amanda Posey

"Inglourious Basterds," Producer: Lawrence Bender

"Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire," Producers: Lee Daniels, Sara Siegel-Magness, Gary Magness

"A Serious Man," Producers: Joel Coen and Ethan Coen

"Up," Producer: Jonas Rivera

"Up in the Air," Producers: Daniel Duniecki, Ivan Reitman, and Jason Reitman

WINNER: "The Hurt Locker," Kathryn Bigelow, Mark Boal, Nicolas Chartier and Greg Shapiro

Short Film (Animated)

"French Roast," Fabrice O. Joubert

"Granny O'Grimm's Sleeping Beauty," Nicky Phelan and Darragh O'Connell

"The Lady and the Reaper (La Dama y la Muerte)," Javier Recio Garcia

"A Matter of Loaf and Death," Nick Park

WINNER: "Logorama," Nicolas Schmerkin

Short Film (Live Action)

"The Door," Juanita Wilson and James Flynn

"Instead of Abra Cadabra," Patrik Eklund and Mathius Fjellstrom

"Kavi," Gregg Helvey

"Miracle Fish," Luke Doolan and Drew Bailey

WINNER: "The New Tenants," Joachim Back and Tivi Magnusson

Sound Editing

"Avatar," Christopher Boyes and Gwendolyn Yates Whittle

"Inglourious Basterds," Wylie Stateman

"Star Trek," Mark Stoeckinger and Alan Rankin

"Up," Michael Silvers and Tom Myers
WINNER: "The Hurt Locker," Paul N.J. Ottosson

Sound Mixing

"Avatar," Christopher Boyes, Gary Summers, Andy Nelson, and Tony Johnson

"Inglourious Basterds," Michael Minkler, Tony Lamberti, and Mark Ulano

"Star Trek," Anna Behlmer, Andy Nelson, and Peter J. Devlin

"Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen," Greg P. Russell, Gary Summers, and Geoffrey Patterson

WINNER: "The Hurt Locker," Paul N.J. Ottosson and Ray Beckett

Visual Effects

"District 9," Dan Kaufman, Peter Muyzers, Robert Habros, and Matt Aitken

"Star Trek," Roger Guyett, Russell Earl, Paul Kavanagh, and Burt Dalton

WINNER: "Avatar," Joe Letteri, Stephen Rosenbaum, Richard Baneham, and Andrew R. Jones

Writing (Adapted Screenplay)

"District 9," Written by Neill Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell

"An Education," Screenplay by Nick Hornby

"In the Loop," Screenplay by Jesse Armstrong, Simon Blackwell, Armando Iannucci, and Tony Roche

"Up in the Air," Screenplay by Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner

WINNER: "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire," Screenplay by Geoffrey Fletcher

Writing (Original Screenplay)

"Inglourious Basterds," Written by Quentin Tarantino

"The Messenger," Written by Alessandro Camon and Oren Moverman

"A Serious Man," Written by Joel Coen and Ethan Coen

"Up," Screenplay by Bob Peterson, Pete Doctor; Story by Pete Doctor, Bob Peterson, and Tom McCarthy

WINNER: "The Hurt Locker," Written by Mark Boal

Not too many surprises tonight, but it did make history as the first time a female director has won the Best Director Academy Award. It was also the first time since the year Casablanca won Best Picture, 1943, that there were 10 Best Picture nominees. Congrats to the winners! What do you think of tonights awards?

Academy Awards 2010: Predictions

Tomorrow night is the Academy Awards! I thought I would list my picks for the winners alongside who I think will actually win.

If you need to catch up on the nominees list, check them out here first.

Actor in a Leading Role:

SHOULD WIN: Jeff Bridges, "Crazy Heart"

WILL WIN: Jeff Bridges, "Crazy Heart"

Though I haven't seen it, he looks to be giving an amazing performance solely from the trailers. Plus, based on the amount of awards he's already won, safe to say it's a good bet.

Actor in a Supporting Role:

SHOULD WIN: Christoph Waltz, "Inglourious Basterds"

WILL WIN: Christoph Waltz, "Inglourious Basterds"

Waltz completely stole every scene he appeared in, so it's no surprise that he's won so much already and it won't be a surprise this time. What would be surprising is if anyone else won! Plus his speeches are so deep and really make you pay attention so I can't wait to hear what he has to say this time.

Actress in a Leading Role:

SHOULD WIN: Sandra Bullock, "The Blind Side"

WILL WIN: Sandra Bullock, "The Blind Side"

It will be close with Meryl Streep in the running, but I think Sandra will pull on ahead of her.

Actress in a Supporting Role:

SHOULD WIN: Anna Kendrick, "Up in the Air"

WILL WIN: Mo'Nique, "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire"

While Kendrick's performance blew me away completely and is deserving of this award, I think Mo'Nique will take it. I have yet to see the film but I hear great things about her performance, especially winning all the awards she has so far.

Animated Feature Film

SHOULD WIN: "Up," Pete Doctor

WILL WIN: "Up," Pete Doctor

Up is definitely one of the best animated films of all time.

Art Direction

SHOULD WIN: "Sherlock Holmes" Art Direction: Sarah Greenwood; Set Decoration: Katie Spencer

WILL WIN: "Avatar" Art Direction: Rick Carter and Robert Stromberg; Set Decoration: Kim Sinclair

Although I was not a fan of Sherlock Holmes, its sets were impressive and extremely detailed and accurate, and just the art direction in general blew me away. However, Avatar is everyone's new favorite epic, so it will probably take this one. Don't get me wrong, the graphics are amazing, but I just am not feeling like Avatar should take it.

Cinematography

SHOULD WIN: "Inglourious Basterds," Robert Richardson

WILL WIN: "Avatar," Mauro Fiore

The cinematography of Tarantino's latest is ingenious and wonderfully stylistic, but yet again I think Avatar will probably take this one.

Costume Design

SHOULD WIN: "The Young Victoria," Sandy Powell

WILL WIN: "The Young Victoria," Sandy Powell

Having seen photos of the costuming from these films, the one that impresses me the most is The Young Victoria.

Directing

SHOULD WIN: "The Hurt Locker," Kathryn Bigelow

WILL WIN: "Avatar," James Cameron

The Hurt Locker is such an amazing film, and while I want it to win, Avatar was definitely a huge undertaking that was years in the making. I have to admit, Cameron deserves it and will get it.

Documentary (Feature)

SHOULD WIN: "Food, Inc.," Robert Kenner and Elise Pearlstein

WILL WIN: "The Cove," Louie Psihoyos and Fisher Stevens

I haven't seen these films except for Food, Inc. so that makes it tough to pick a winner, but Food, Inc. really made me think about what it is I'm eating and where it comes from. However, I've heard so many great things about The Cove that I think it will win.

Film Editing

SHOULD WIN: "District 9," Julian Clarke

WILL WIN: "Avatar," Stephen Rivkin, John Refoua, and James Cameron

District 9's documentary-style editing is mind-blowing and brilliant, which made the film seem so realistic despite the content matter and plot. However, Avatar will probably take this one too.

Music (Original Score)

SHOULD WIN: "Up," Michael Giacchino

WILL WIN: "Up," Michael Giacchino

The score for up was a part of the story in itself, and only enhances the already amazing film.

Music (Original Song)

SHOULD WIN: "The Weary Kind (Theme From Crazy Heart" from "Crazy Heart," Music and Lyric by Ryan Bingham and T Bone Burnett

WILL WIN: "The Weary Kind (Theme From Crazy Heart" from "Crazy Heart," Music and Lyric by Ryan Bingham and T Bone Burnett

Visual Effects

SHOULD WIN: "Avatar," Joe Letteri, Stephen Rosenbaum, Richard Baneham, and Andrew R. Jones

WILL WIN: "Avatar," Joe Letteri, Stephen Rosenbaum, Richard Baneham, and Andrew R. Jones

I may not be the biggest fan of Avatar in the world, but I definitely agree that the visual effects were innovative and down right stunning.

Writing (Adapted Screenplay)

SHOULD WIN: "Up in the Air," Screenplay by Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner

WILL WIN: "Up in the Air," Screenplay by Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner

I've never read the book, but the script of Up in the Air is phenomenal.

Writing (Original Screenplay)

SHOULD WIN: "Up," Screenplay by Bob Peterson, Pete Doctor; Story by Pete Doctor, Bob Peterson, and Tom McCarthy

WILL WIN: "Inglourious Basterds," Written by Quentin Tarantino

I'll state it right now: I could be wrong, but my gut is telling me Inglourious Basterds may steal this one. It is a tough choice between this, The Hurt Locker, and Avatar as the one taking the prize.

Best Picture

SHOULD WIN: "The Hurt Locker," Kathryn Bigelow, Mark Boal, Nicolas Chartier, Greg Shapiro

WILL WIN: "The Hurt Locker," Kathryn Bigelow, Mark Boal, Nicolas Chartier, Greg Shapiro

Although it will be close, I believe The Hurt Locker will take this one, and rightly so.

What are your thoughts? Who do you think will take the night's awards?

The Academy Awards air tomorrow night at 8pm eastern/ 5pm pacific on ABC.