Cowboys & Aliens. Except, not really. (BEDA 1)

So yeah, Cowboys & Aliens... Well, at least Olivia Wilde looked nice!

No, but really, this movie wasn't terrible, though I still didn't particularly like it. Now, especially given the somewhat "out there" concept, I expected this movie to just be an all around fun time, but instead it's very underwhelming during most of it.

In fact, the only time the movie is ever actually any fun is when the aliens aren't even involved. When it's focused just on the cowboys, it's actually a somewhat competent movie. But strangely enough, anytime the aliens show up, the movie sort of falls flat. There's just really nothing spectacular about them at all. It's sort of similar to Thor in that regard, where essentially only half of the movie is any good. Except that, unlike Thor, the half that's good here doesn't do enough to elevate the movie above its mere mediocrity.

So I didn't like it, and I honestly don't have much to say about it. However, I did see another movie for the first time this weekend that I would like to talk about, and that movie is In Bruges. No, it's not a brand new movie, but you know what, I don't even care. This movie was GREAT! Quite possibly the best movie I've seen this year yet.

It's a dark comedy starring Colin Farrell in probably the best performance I've seen from him. He plays a hitman who, after a hit gone awry, is sent to the city of Bruges with his partner, Mad-Eye Moody, to see the sights and relax a little before awaiting further orders from Lord Voldemort. (If only the latest Harry Potter could've been nearly this good...)

Despite its somewhat dark premise, this movie is laugh-out-loud hilarious. Colin Farrell's overly negative outlook on the situation, in contrast to Mad-Eye's generally warmer reception, provide for many laughs to be had. Their chemistry in this movie is genuine, and though they don't agree on, well, anything, you can definitely tell that they truly care for one another.

And that's another thing about this movie, the characters are so deep, and feel so real. And as the plot moves along, they become more and more conflicted by their situation, leading to moments that manage to be gut-wrenching, yet sadistically light hearted at the same time.

I think that's why I liked this movie so much, because of the way it plays with your emotions. It works in the comedy so fluidly without diminishing the impact of its more dramatic scenes. It'll have you feeling sad and depressed one moment, and then laughing hysterically the very next. And this perfect mesh of drama and comedy culminates all together for one of the most satisfying conclusions I've seen in some time.

This movie was just great all around. The dialogue is outrageously funny, the characters are all enjoyable in their own way, and the plot is tightly knit, and a joy to watch unravel. I really can't recommend it enough.