The Tin Star (2006) - ★★★★

Author: J.L. Langley
Genre: Gay & Lesbian, Romance

For my very first book review, I've chosen The Tin Star. Let's just say that it had me hooked from the very first chapter and I couldn't put it down. It's sometimes funny, very unrealistic, and contains so much gooey romance that you can't help but love this book. If there's one thing The Tin Star does, it makes gay romance look beautiful and passionate. However, it fails to highlight the extreme difficulties of being in a same-sex relationship (especially since it is set in the deep-south). Overall, this book is intended to excite and enthrall its target audience, and it does just that.

Tumbleweeds (1999) - ★★★½

Director: Gavin O'Conner
Writers: Angela Shelton, Gavin O'Connor (Screenplay)
Stars: Janet McTeer, Kimberly J. Brown, Jay O. Sanders, Gavin O. Conner, Laurel Hollomon, Lois Smith

Not quite a road-trip, not quite a coming-of-age story, Tumbleweeds is a pretty awesome drama about the crazy lives of a mother and daughter. Even though I think it's really good, I can't deny that it's entirely forgettable. I sat down at my computer and had to think about what movie I was watching last night. It took me a while to remember the name Tumbleweeds. Yet I can't stop smiling when I think about it. With the film fresh in my mind, I can tell you that this is a solid movie that's worth a watch.

Plus, Janet McTeer's performance was amazing, so that makes it a must-see in my opinion.

Game of Thrones: Season 2 (2012) - ★★★★½

Stars: Peter Dinklage, Lena Headey, Maisie Williams, Emilia Clarke, Michelle Fairley, Iain Glen, Kit Harington, Sophie Turner, Alfie Allen, Jack Gleeson, Richard Madden, Sibel Kekilli, Donald Sumpter, Gwendoline Christie, Rose Leslie, Natalie Tena, Joe Dempsie, John Bradley, Charles Dance

To put it simply, Season 2 of GoT was near perfection! New and mysterious characters are introduced, old and awesome characters are killed off! There are twists and turns in practically every episode, making the game extremely riveting. We're introduced to magic, supernatural creatures, wars and epic battles. After watching this season, I've finally been convinced that this is the greatest show of all time.

The Top 50 Greatest Films of All Time

Space Jam (1996) - ★

Director: Joe Pytka

Writers: Leo Benvenuti, Steve Rudnick, Timothy Harris, Herschel Weingrod (Screenplay).

Stars: Michael Jordan, Wayne Knight, Bill Murray, Theresa Randle

Space Jam is infamous for being one of the worst movies of all time. I thought, surely it can't be that bad? Usually with such ridiculous stories I find them to be 'so bad it's funny.' Not this time. Not with this monstrosity! This movie is so bad, that it's just plain terrible. I hate to sound like a wet blanket, but I couldn't even muster a smile throughout the entire movie! My favorite comedic actor of all time, Bill Murray couldn't even save it! I wanted so badly to find Space Jam enjoyable, but the complete lack of creativity and wit was its ultimate downfall. 

(Plus it's pretty apparent that the whole film was just a ruse to take money from silly Basketball fans and children.)

Holy Motors (2012) - ★★★★

Director: Leos Carax

Writer: Leos Carax

Stars: Denis Lavant, Edith Scob, Kylie Minogue, Eva Mendez

I still have no idea what this movie is about. After reading multiple interpretations of Holy Motors, I've come to the conclusion that you can't give a correct explanation for the story. I was unflinchingly sucked into the crazy world of a man with many faces. The whole way through I was wondering what was going on, and by the time it had finished I realized that we don't need to know all the answers. It's absurd, captivating, beautiful, wildly original, and one of the best movies made in 2012.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012) - ★★★½

Director: Stephen Chbosky
Writer: Stephen Chbosky (Screenplay and Novel)
Stars: Logan Lerman, Emma Watson, Ezra Miller, Mae Whitman, Paul Rudd, Kate Walsh, Nina Dobrev

I really enjoyed The Perks of being a Wallflower, even if it was ridiculous at times. You'll find that it's a cut above the average rom-com, but very overrated. The major problem I had with the film was that none of it seemed real, the characters and the dialogue reeked phoniness. Stephen Chbosky just couldn't convince me that these are real people, which in the end led to a total disconnect from the characters. However, the acting, music, and cinematography were superb. When I look back at this film, I smile.

In the Realm of the Senses (1976) - ★½

Director: Nagisa Oshima
Writer: Nagisa Oshima
Stars: Tatsuya Fuji, Eiko Matsuda

Here comes the age old question, is it art or is it porn? In the Realm of the Senses is about 80% porn in my opinion. The acting is quite good, the music is nice, the costumes and cinematography is very well done. Unfortunately, the rest of the film consists of sex, masturbation and even kinkier sex. It's a labor of love from Nagisa Oshima, who shows us that sex is more than just 'touch' and how it feels. The smell, the taste, the sight and even the sound can maximize a person's desire and pleasure. In the end, it's basically a high-class Japanese porno.

We Need to Talk About Kevin (2011) - ★★★★

Director: Lynne Ramsay
Writers: Lynne Ramsay, Rory Kinnear (Screenplay), Lionel Shriver (Novel)
Stars: Tilda Swinton, Ezra Miller, John C. Reilly, Jasper Newell, Ashley Gerasimovich

We Need To Talk About Kevin is the depressing, frustrating, and realistic portrayal of a mother whose son is a sociopath. I found the story to be very interesting, mainly because I have known people like Kevin growing up. This is a movie everyone should see before they race into having kids. I love the way it shows that you can't always blame the parents for the way their kids turn out. In the end, I was not only sad, but in awe of this movie. The whole way through I was either furious or depressed, which is an accomplishment in itself because most films these days can't even make me sad.

Laura (1944) - ★★★★½

Director: Otto Preminger
Writers: Jay Dratler, Samuel Hoffenstein, Elizabeth (Betty) Reinhardt (Screenplay).
Stars: Gene Tierney, Dana Andrews, Clifton Webb, Vincent Price, Judith Anderson

Otto Preminger's 'Laura' ranks up there with some of the greatest works of Alfred Hitchcock. Yes, it's just that good! Just when I thought I had it all figured out, twists and motives arise that completely took me by surprise. It's filled with marvelous performances, a riveting murder mystery, and plain old excellent cinematography. It's one of the best movies from the 1940s, and is truly one that I'll never forget.

Oh, did I mention that a young Vincent Price is in this? Well that alone makes this a must see film!