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The Student News Site of Stony Brook University

The Statesman

The Student News Site of Stony Brook University

The Statesman

Chris Evans, left, and Chris Hemsworth, right, returned to play characters Captain America and Thor in the sequel. (PHOTO COURTESY: MARVEL/TNS)

“Avengers: Age Of Ultron” leaves viewers entertained, but wanting more from Marvel

Brandon Benarba May 4, 2015
“Avengers: Age of Ultron” is a beautiful mess. A film that is bigger, flashier and bolder than the original, but that also never reaches the heights of the original.
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According to Deadline.com Fifty Shades of Grey made $80 million opening weekend. It is based on E.L James book of the same name and debuted during Valentines Day weekend. UNIVERSAL PICTURES / TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE

“Fifty Shades of Grey” is more like fifty shades of bad

Brandon Benarba February 16, 2015
As a film, “Fifty Shades” works as a strong examination of cultural and cinema as a medium, but it is a shame the movie itself is terrible.
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(PHOTO CREDIT: MCT CAMPUS)

“The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 1” is the best of the movie franchise thus far

Brandon Benarba November 24, 2014
“The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 1” is not a complete movie. It is the first half of the film adaptation of the final book in the trilogy of novels that has now been spread into four movies.
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Dracula Untold is director Gary Shores, above, first feature film. The movie made about $4 million in its opening weekend. (PHOTO CREDIT: STEFAN POPE)

Gary Shore’s telling of Dracula’s backstory is one better left untold

Brandon Benarba October 13, 2014
Vampires have become one of the most frequently adapted monsters of all time, so it is odd that the main marketing point of “Dracula Untold” is that the film tells the untold story of Dracula.
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(PHOTO CREDIT: GAGE SKIDMORE)

“The Maze Runner” gives viewers the runaround

Brandon Benarba September 22, 2014
“The Maze Runner” is riddled with various characters, plot points and moments that lead to nothing, but ultimately come together as a charming, if not a bit messy, film.
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(PHOTO CREDIT: MCTCAMPUS)

Spider-Man 2: an insult to 21st century movies

Brandon Benarba May 5, 2014
In 2009, Sony made the hasty decision to unnecessarily reboot the “Spider-Man” franchise in a desperate effort to keep the right to the franchise.
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Aronofsky’s “Noah” drowns under its cinematic potential

Brandon Benarba March 31, 2014
When director Darren Aronofsky, a documented atheist, was hired to direct and co-write a big-budget adaptation of the tale of Noah’s Ark, there was a huge backlash. In an open quote, Aronofsky stated that “Noah” would be “the least biblical film ever made,” which is ironic considering it is one of the best to come out in a long time.
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Captain America: The Winter Soldier is a welcome addition to the post-Avengers series. (PHOTO CREDIT: MCTCAMPUS)

“Captain America: The Winter Soldier” marks a new high for Marvel

Brandon Benarba March 24, 2014
Out of the three main Marvel series, Captain America seemed like it would be the least likely to succeed. While Iron Man and Thor were allowed to roam free in action and sci-fi set pieces, Captain America was rooted as a more realistic character. Ironically, it is this exact realism and darker tone that make “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” the best Marvel film yet.
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Just because Athens surrendered, doesn’t mean “300: Rise of an Empire” had to

Brandon Benarba March 12, 2014
“300: Rise of an Empire” is probably one of the strangest approaches to sequel making to come out of Hollywood in some time. Serving both as a prequel, sequel and a side story to the original movie, it also seems to take everything the original film stands for and out right parodies it. This is not to say that “300: Rise of an Empire” is a good film, it is a completely mind-numbingly stupid action flick, but it is better then it has any right to be.
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Joseph Gordon-Levitt is the voice of Jiro, the hero of Miyazakis The Wind Rises. (PHOTO CREDIT: MCTCAMPUS)

“The Wind Rises” shows the realistic side of an animation legend

Brandon Benarba March 3, 2014
For his final film, legendary animator Hayao Miyazaki and his animation studio, Studio Ghibli, have decided to favor reality. Building off of a career of wandering princesses, a hotel for wood spirits and a dancing Totoro, Miyazaki could have entered retirement with one last imaginative vision, but instead his swan song dances between the creative and haunted legacy of World War II.
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“Pompeii” steals from classics and still goes up in flames

Brandon Benarba February 24, 2014
“Pompeii” is a film all about the idea of loss. It is a film that highlights a powerful loss for one of the most powerful empires in history. It is a film that has its character fighting a losing battle for their freedom, love and life. But more importantly, it is a film that will make the audience lose appreciation for two cinematic classics due to how shamefully this film steals everything from them.
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(PHOTO CREDIT: MCT CAMPUS)

The LEGO Movie: a good risk for Hollywood

Brandon Benarba February 12, 2014
Watching “The LEGO Movie” is like watching some daredevil act happening right before your eyes. It is not just the fact that directors and writers Phil Lord and Chris Miller managed to convince someone that a movie based on Legos was a good idea, but that the film refuses to be a safe children’s film.
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