The Altamonte Picture Show is hands-down Orlando’s best (and cleanliest) value theater. Metaphorically speaking, if we were doing a comparison, the Picture Show is the Target of value versus the dingy Wal-Mart that is the Colonial Promenade. Regardless of which side of town you live on, it’s worth the drive. Especially on Tuesdays, when all screenings only cost only a dollar, why not spend a couple of them and get yourself caught up on some films you might have missed?
For this week’s Two-Dollar Tuesday, catch a double feature with a solid Peter Berg’s Lone Survivor and Marvel’s Thor: The Dark World.
Lone Survivor – 8/10
After the disaster that was Battleship, director Peter Berg (Friday Night Lights) proves once again that he is a talented filmmaker capable of tugging at our heartstrings. Lone Survivor, starring Mark Wahlberg, tells the true story of four navy seals on a covert mission in the Middle East and is based on The New York Times bestselling book of the same name. Lone Survivor boasts top-notch performances from its entire cast and the battle sequences are equally as powerful. The film displays the horrors of war as well as showcasing just how heroic those who fight for our country are. Although the film becomes a little too “Hollywood” with its rushed final act, Lone Survivor is an emotional and powerful journey that will leave you in tears and stick with you for days. (Jacob Andary)
Thor: The Dark World – 3/10
As one of the only human beings on the planet who hated every miserable frame of Joss Whedon’s The Avengers, it’s hard for me to assume anyone is going to take anything I say about a superhero movie seriously. Especially when the criticism is negative. Regardless, Thor: Dark World opens with one of the most heinous examples of computer-generated set pieces ever assembled. Once that ends, some group of people bury an evil relic (because burying things always does the trick) for some evil presence to stumble upon later. The film then cuts to Loki, the person responsible for destroying New York in The Avengers, as he faces punishment for his actions. Thor (Chris Hemsworth), meanwhile, returns to Earth to get Jane (Natalie Portman) as she is now stricken with some special power. The rest of the film slaps together like panels of a comic book that aren’t related each other. Despite the fact that the narrative pummels along in a clunky and confusing array, you can’t help but question what’s unique about it anymore. (Michael Ferraro)
