Wednesday, December 21, 2016

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) Movie Review (Spoiler Free!)

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I figure the shorter I keep this review, the more likely you'll believe me that there are indeed no spoilers here so I'll be brief. Let's star here: Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is the second-best Star Wars movie that I have seen. Ever. Phenomenally done on so many levels. Let's dive in.

Rogue One is the story of a band of heroes, led by Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones), who come together to steal the plans to the Death Star, a planet-killing machine. There are a lot of characters and multiple planets introduced in the beginning so it's somewhat easy to get confused early on. I personally lost focus somewhat at the beginning, but it's beyond worth it to hang in there.

The stakes are high in this film, higher even than in the preceding films. As a result, you find yourself completely invested early on because you realize what the failure of this mission ultimately means for the good guys. High stakes means desperation, doing things you aren't necessarily proud of but you know those actions are a must for the cause. That's another thing I loved about this film, the fact that it shows you when choosing a side, everything is not always black and white. War is dark and unforgiving. You can't always play fair or nice. You need people willing to get their hands dirty. Rogue One touches on this quite a bit.

The action sequences are grand in scope aided by beautiful visuals. Rogue One gives you the crisp originality that comes with the sci-fi genre while really capturing the brutality of war. Think Saving Private Ryan with aliens and spaceships. Fans will get a kick out of quite a few moments throughout as the film did an excellent job of maintaining the nostalgic feel of the originals. You can trust me on this one, but I won't elaborate. My lips are sealed...

The characters are both fun and well-developed. I went to see Rogue One with three other people and each of us walked out with a different favorite. I especially liked the way Felicity Jones handled Jyn's character. Jyn grew up mostly without her parents so she had to learn independence at an early age. In spite of her talent for doing things on her own, she knew when she was overwhelmed and when she needed to ask for help. She understood that teamwork was her only path to success.

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story pleasantly surprised me. It has me excited to see more of the Star Wars one-offs that will be showing up in the next five years. I give it a 94.  

Thursday, December 1, 2016

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016) Movie Review

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It's been a few days since I saw Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. I'm so glad I sat on this one for a bit because my initial thoughts weren't the most positive. As the days drew on, however, I started to think more and more about all the things the film did well and what made it so special. Sometimes you have to step away from something to fully appreciate its value.

It's not as if the things I didn't like about Fantastic Beasts just went away. My biggest issue was the fact that the film never really gave me a chance to settle in. It was light-hearted then took a sharp turn and became extremely dark. It was almost as if I was watching two different films at times. 

The dual storyline also detracted from the overall enjoyment of the film at times. Wizard Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) makes a pit stop in New York on his way to Arizona to release one of his beasts into the wild. Meanwhile a terrible, dark force is destroying everything it comes into contact with in the city and a magical wizarding task force has to figure out what's going and eliminate the threat. The two storylines do cross paths...but not really.

The title definitely lives up to itself as creatures of all shapes and sizes abound throughout the film. I was extremely impressed by not only how many different species there were, but how different each and everyone of them were from each other. I'm hesitant to spoil things by going into too much detail, but prepare to see everything from massive, griffin-type creatures to tiny insects that look more like trees than bugs. You can tell that JK Rowling really had a strong hand in this film as the innovation goes hand-in-hand with Harry Potter universe. My personal favorite beast was Dougal, a pudgy, rodent-like creature that can't seem to stop stealing things. The movie would not have been the same without Dougal who manages to steal many of the scenes he's involved in.

Even beyond the beasts, the visuals are amazing. Newt's magical location where he keeps his animals has an array of climates respective to each species and its cool to see them all mesh together. Typical Harry Potter style, magic scenes abound with disappearing acts and various wizarding duels that get your heartrate going. Definitely an array of eye candy to maintain your attention.

As a whole Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them succeeds with multiple layers that will appeal to all types of people hoping for a relevant experience. Looking forward to what this franchise brings next. I give the movie an 83.

Monday, November 28, 2016

Sing (2016) Movie Review

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Sing stumbles just slightly for being a bit slow in places. There are multiple stories that need to be weaved together for the movie to make sense and I applaud director/writer Garth Jennings for taking the time to make it all fit. That being said, if you can hang in there for a bit and push past the slow parts, you are in for a real treat!

I walked out of Sing feeling like I had gotten more than my money's worth. Mind you, I didn't pay a dime to see it, but just know it'll be worth every penny when you go see it in theaters. When koala Buster Moon's (Matthew McConaughey) theatre hits rock bottom, he decides to revitalize his business by having a singing competition open to the masses. The movie chronicles what happens from tryouts and beyond. The result is a feel good movie that will be a good watch for years to come.

Just like Moana and a couple of the other animated movies that have come out this year, Sing packs a sincere and strong message. Life throws curveballs at us at times and has a way of leaving us worse-off which is why we have to take advantage of every opportunity that gets thrown our way no matter the sacrifice. Every character was developed extremely well with their own set of baggage and shortcomings. 

Take Johnny (Taron Egerton) for example. Johnny is the lookout gorilla for his father's gang, but he doesn't want to be a part of a life of crime. Johnny wants to sing. Just one of many characters who help carry the message to fruition.

Outside of your kids getting a lesson out of it, Sing is just plain funny. Some of the music choices will leave you cracking up. An alligator rapping "The Humpty Dance" while doing the robot and wearing a Kangol hat. I can't even read the sentence without laughing! My personal favorite was the K-Pop group consisting of red pandas. Talk about subtle detail. Even the detail behind each character's face as they crooned their songs put a smile on my face. Well done.

Sing is perfect for all ages. Everyone, old and young, will be sucked in by the recognizable music and various hilarious scenes. Great movie just in time for Christmas. I give it a 92.

Moana (2016) Movie Review

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The only thing I found wrong with Moana was its insistent use of Disney's old tricks. Father disapproves of child's behavior. Child strikes off on her own in spite of father's wishes. Yes, it's been done and many, many times before. I can't be too hard on them, however, as there is a reason they continue to utilize it: It works. 

All the things that Moana does well (and exceptionally at that) far outweigh the been-there-done-that vibe it slightly gives off. The film as a whole is definitely entertaining, especially to the funnybone. Every character has a distinct personality and will find a way to make you laugh in their own way. Gramma Tala (Rachel House), known as the village cuckoo, draws you in with her nonchalant personality very reminiscent of Oogway from Kung Fu Panda. The ocean itself has a sentient personality of its own as it ebbs and flows, reacting to everything happening within the scene. While Maui (Dwayne Johnson) and Moana (Auli'i Cravalho) were the main characters, the chicken stole the show for me. You can't help but laugh at the poor, dumb creature as it wanders about aimlessly through the movie getting into danger then rescued without knowing of either.

Moana isn't just about providing you with a good time, but also hits you with a great message. It preaches the power of persistence and following your heart. Between the message, the amazing visuals, and its scope of originality, Moana is a solid package of a movie.

When an island god threatens to destroy her village, young Chief-In-Training Moana must go on a quest to track down demi-god Maui and demand his help to make things right. During a year where animated movies are dominating the movie circuit, this definitely stands out as one of 2016's best. I give it a 96.

Sunday, November 6, 2016

Doctor Strange (2016) Movie Review

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I was hoping for the best when going to see this film and I'm happy to report that Doctor Strange definitely delivers in more ways than one. Not only does it help advance the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but it takes you on a wild ride in the process. You don't have to wait long for the ride to kick off as the action hits almost immediately after the opening credits. I appreciated the way the movie gives you a little taste of this magical world and what you can expect before scaling back a bit.

I can't say enough about how well Benedict Cumberbatch played the role of Stephen Strange. Strange is an arrogant, pompous doctor in desperate need of a humbling experience. His journey as a man of science first was captured well by director Scott Derrickson. Throughout the film, Strange doesn't just accept the impossibilities of what he's seeing as a new truth, rather he tries to connect it to the world he has always known. It takes him awhile to accept everything that's happening around him as it should have.

The theater we watched the movie in wasn't packed by a long shot and I'm not surprised. It's one of those movies where you want to wait and see what your friends thought first or, in this case, what I thought. Doctor Strange gets a lot of things right including the subtle, detailed touches. The cape was probably one of my favorite characters in the movie and I'm not even joking. Oh, and make sure you stay for the end scenes during the final credits, ESPECIALLY the first one.

Whether you see the film on a regular screen or a special Dolby Screen like myself, you will be blown away by the special effects. I promise not to ruin anything, but I will say there's so many cool nuances here (again with the details) to keep your wow-factor high. The magic, in and of itself is amazing, but throw in the shifting landscapes (think Inception), the running on walls, and the crazy metaphysical journeys with hundreds of vibrant colors and you'll find yourself having an eye-gasm.

Doctor Strange is trippy in a very original kind of way. Sure, there are flashes of different films within, but never any one film you can directly reference. I have an even greater appreciation for its "trippiness" because everything within the realm of the movie is eventually explained. There were moments in Inception that I still don't get. I mean, a dream within a dream...within a dream? Come on! Doctor Strange takes you to some weird places, but never without an explanation of some sort.

If you were worried about how good this film was going to be, worry no longer. Phillip McSween is not only telling you to watch Doctor Strange, but go see it in theaters! You won't regret it. I give it a solid 82.

Saturday, November 5, 2016

Trolls (2016) Movie Review

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Trolls has a few cheesy moments that the movie could have done without. I had to start there as I had a hard time finding things I didn't like about the movie. Spoiler Alert: Trolls is pretty darn good.

The Bergens are a village of monsters that feed off of trolls in order to get happiness. When their only source of happiness turns tail and establishes a home in a new forest, the chef of the Bergen town dedicates her life to hunting them down. It's up to Poppy (Anna Kendrick) and Branch (Justin Timberlake) to protect their fellow trolls from danger.

It's, by far, the most colorful, dark movie I've ever seen. It's a movie about the main characters trying to avoid being eaten, yet I was more focused on the bright colors of creativity that made the characters pop off the screen and made each forest scene resemble one giant bag of Skittles. The attention to detail is very appealing to the eyes.

Trolls will appeal to your funnybone as well as you'll find yourself laughing more often than not at all the hilarious things happening on-screen. Branch tickled me the most because, in the midst of the happy-happy love fest, he was this brooding character whose main goal was to get the other trolls to believe in his conspiracy theories. My favorite characters are always the ones that drift away from the norm.

Speaking of drifting away from the norm, the film uses a gang of familiar songs and puts their own fun spin on them. It's not just about how the songs are sung but the moments in which the songs are brought out. My personal favorite was one of the Bergen's rendition of Lionel Richie's "Hello". They really dusted off the crates to find quality music and there's definitely a little something that everyone can enjoy and bounce their heads to.

It's little touches like the music and colors that really give the movie a unique feel. It's original in more ways than one, including all the vibrant, singing monsters that Poppy runs into during her adventure. The characters surprised me with their originality as well. No one troll is alike in looks and each have their own unique personalities. I can't really point to a favorite as I felt like each of them did something to make me laugh at point or another.

Trolls is a great family movie or, in my wife and I's case, a fun movie to go see on date night. I give it a solid 81.

Tuesday, October 25, 2016

The Little Prince (2016) Movie Review

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There are certain movies where you shake your head wondering if you and the consensus of movie critics saw two different versions of the movie. Exhibit A: The Little Prince. Critics loved it. I thought it struggled to find a true identity and couldn't quite decide if it wanted to appeal to adults or kids. That being said, you may thoroughly enjoy this movie. I didn't.

A little girl (Mackenzie Foy) and her mother (Rachel MacAdams) move into a new house over the summer. The little girl is stuck in the house all day preparing for the school year while her mom is working a corporate job. Not getting any attention at home, the little girl turns to the crazy old man next door, The Aviator (Jeff Bridges), who opens up her imagination with fantastic stories of his life as a pilot.

The film is disorienting on multiple occasions. There are scenes and fragments of scenes that hit you from left and right, not quite making complete sense. I can't speak for anyone else, but, for me, it was jarring and made it hard to really enjoy the film as a whole.

The overall direction of the film left me confused. In its efforts to appeal to the adults, I think it completely shut the kids out. My nephew will be eight next year and I have no doubt that The Little Prince couldn't hold his attention for more than a few minutes. To me, the ultimate downfall of the movie was that it was trying to take two stories, the story of the little girl and that of the little prince, and mesh them into one. One story made complete sense while the other was extremely artsy in nature. If you're remotely good at math or science, you know a positive and a negative make a negative.

While I thought the mom was way too over-the-top controlling, I think the main characters are one of the movie's strong suits. The Aviator is extremely lovable as Jeff Bridges tends to be. He has a relaxed, funny attitude and you never know what he's going to do or say next. The little girl is also easy to get attached to, very relatable. You instantly feel the need to protect her from her mom and all the crazy pressures of the world. The Aviator and the Little Girl together are a match made in heaven as he gives her the relief she needs from real life.

The Little Prince was one of the movies I was most excited to see going into 2016 even after I found out it wasn't going to be released in theaters and it was going straight to Netflix. Regrettably, I didn't like it as much as I hoped. You might. I give it a 53.

Tuesday, October 4, 2016

Iron Man 2 (2010) Retro Review

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While Iron Man 2 is not without its drawbacks, it definitely saves itself somewhat by adding in a number of funny moments that the Marvel Cinematic Universe has become increasingly known for. I cracked up when Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) is given what appears to be Captain America's shield and he says something along the lines of, "This is just what I was looking for" before proceeding to use the shield to level out one of his experiments. It's moments like these that help the movie hover just slightly above average and I do mean just slightly.

In this sequel, Tony Stark is trying to keep his iron man suit out of the government's hands while also battling a crazed villain who wants nothing more than to annihilate Stark. This all leads up to one of the coolest action sequences in a Marvel movie to date. The final thirty minutes makes the other ninety-four feel a bit more tolerable.

Other moments in the film, however, cause Iron Man 2 to stretch out for what seems like no good reason at all. Almost an hour in, a fight breaks out between Stark and Colonel Rhodes (Don Cheadle) with both men clad in armored suits. It was puzzling to me, after watching Stark struggle so much to perfect the usage of the suit in the first film, how Rhodes can just throw on one of the iron suits and suddenly be a total professional. That fight should have been one-sided, but Rhodes was somehow able to hold his own against a way more experienced Stark.

Their action sequence was a bit of a mess in my opinion, but Scarlett Johansson's first appearance as Black Widow definitely picked up their slack. Part vixen/majority badass, ScarJo excels in both scenes where she's kicking butt versus multiple dudes and scenes where she plays the background in a more subtle approach. Watching her fight hand-to-hand was a treat as usual.

The movie can be a bit farfetched at times. In a rush to get Stark the Iron Man suit, Happy Hogan (Jon Favreau) has to drive a car onto a racetrack right in the thick of racecars turning a corner at breakneck speeds. I know this is a superhero movie and should, therefore, be allowed some room for fabrication but I couldn't suspend my disbelief for whatever reason. There's no way in the world that car survives, not even for a split second. The entire scene seems forced as if the movie is trying to rush to make up for a slow start. Not only is it forced but also anticlimactic as the first meeting between Iron Man and villain Whiplash lasts for less than five minutes.

Iron Man 2 is not my favorite movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but it's still a solid film worth watching which is more than I can say for what DC is doing these days. I give it an 81.

Tuesday, September 27, 2016

The Magnificent Seven (2016) Movie Review

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With the town of Rose Creek under the threat of seizure by Bartholomew Bogue (Peter Sarsgaard), townswoman Emma Cullen (Haley Bennett) calls upon the help of Sam Chisolm (Denzel Washington) and six of the baddest men in the wild wild west to help eliminate the threat. One of the first things that jumps out at me about The Magnificent Seven is the great balance that the film offers. Often times when you have a film that has so many stars and people that command screen time, certain things can get lost in the shuffle. I'm looking at you, Suicide Squad...Magnificent Seven manages to bounce seamlessly back and forth between action-heavy scenes, character convos, and plot development without sacrificing any of the three.

I read about the cast before the The Magnificent Seven was released and I knew right away that the film had a chance to be special if they did things the right away. I'm happy to report that the cast definitely didn't disappoint and served to be one of the many highlights of the film. Yes, Denzel was amazing as Chisolm and, yes, Chris Pratt did an excellent job as always in his role of Josh Faraday. It was the rest of the cast's chemistry and strong performances that really did the film justice. One of my personal favorites was Ethan Hawke in his role as Goodnight Robicheaux, a cant-miss gunslinger who is struggling with the issues of his past. Out of all of the characters, I considered him to be the most relatable but you'll have to see the movie to learn why.

It's a film that leaves a little something for everyone, even those that hate westerns. Not only does every character harbor a unique quality and story, but those qualities come together to produce some pretty amazing moments. The action is exciting, sharp, and really helps keep you rooted into the center of the movie. You'll find yourself having a grand ole time as the film is also stacked with comedic dialogue and random funny moments.

Though this review is on the shorter side, I highly recommend The Magnificent Seven. One of my favorite films this year. I give it a 98.

Monday, September 19, 2016

Hell Or High Water (2016) Movie Review

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In Hell Or High Water, two brothers Tanner (Ben Foster) and Toby (Chris Pine) come together to rob a string of banks owned by the same organization that is threatening to foreclose on their family land. Things quickly turn serious as they are hunted by the area sheriff Marcus (Jeff Bridges) and his partner Alberto Parker (Gil Birmingham). While I wasn't quite as in love with it as the critics' consensus, the film holds it own with solid quality.

Watching Hell Or High Water wouldn't have been nearly as enjoyable without the solid cast. Jeff Bridges and Ben Foster were amazing bringing in some of the strongest performances I've seen this year. Bridges' character Marcus is on his way out the door as sheriff, but you get the feeling he's been doing nothing but speaking his mind (in a non-pc way) long before he knew he was retiring. He's extremely stubborn, not knowing how to let things go. Five minutes with Marcus on-screen and you can probably name someone in your life just like him. He's relatable while Foster's character Tanner is completely off his rocker. He's the guy you see coming and you cross the street, that person you know that asks you to hang out but you avoid them at all costs because you know how the night's going to end up. While Tanner is the type of person that has never run across any trouble that he didn't like, he's also endearing to a certain extent as his sole purpose is to help out his brother.

My one gripe with the movie is that the action fizzles in certain spots. Mind you, it's not supposed to be an action movie so I wasn't grossly disappointed, but I expected slightly more from a movie that has a lot to do with bank robberies. Again, not the end of the world, I just want to make sure I tame expectations ahead of time.

At the end of the day, the movie is not about the action but about the relationships between brothers and cops which you come to learn isn't really all that different. Brothers, just like cops, always tend to have each others' backs even when one hates what the other does. In one scene, Tanner finds himself in trouble with two guys at a gas station. Toby scolds Tanner for putting himself in such a position, but not before he beats the crap out of one of the guys and causes the other guy to run away. Meanwhile, Marcus' constant ribbing of his partner Alberto is a typical sign of love and respect. At first you think Marcus is a flat-out racist, but you quickly come to understand that he's trying to pass the sheriff torch in his own way. The insults he throws at Alberto are not just funny, but, in a weird way, a little touching.

Hell Or High Water is highly entertaining even without big-budget action sequences. I give it an 85.

Friday, September 16, 2016

Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003) Retro Review

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I wanted so desperately not to like Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, I really did. It's a historical piece that takes place on the ocean. Strikes one and two. However, with every minute that passed, I found myself more and more intrigued, sucked in by the great aspects of the movie that I couldn't deny.

Based on two novels by Patrick O'Brian, Master and Commander centers around Captain Jack Aubrey (Russell Crowe) and his command of the ship the HMS Surprise. After spotting a renegade French ship, Aubrey and his crew embark on a mission to intercept the ship and take it out.

Yes, there were some things I didn't like about the film, but I think that was more of me trying to settle in to actually allow myself to enjoy it. Once I resigned myself fully, I couldn't get enough. Don't believe me, give it a shot and find out!

I'm a fan of solid endings, especially one with a slight twist. Master and Commander achieves that and further succeeds by ending on just the right note. The movie could have gone on for another twenty minutes but director Peter Weir was clever in knowing that it didn't need to.

There's way more to love about this movie than just the ending, though. The beginning is just as strong as it takes you immediately into action. Solid visualizations give you a feel for the action right as its happening, making it somehow seem like you're there on the HMS Surprise too. Finally, the film seems to have a great depiction of what it's like to live and fight on a warship. It's literally all hands on deck as the kids are just as involved as the adults. Call me twisted, but it definitely put a smile on my face watching a kid, who could have passed for seven, bust a cap in one of Napoleon's goons. Good stuff.

You'll have to excuse me for not watching this sooner. In 2003, I was a nineteen-year-old kid stuck in my own movie world, obsessed with films like The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. Amazing movie, but also a safe bet. As I'm starting to come out of my comfort zone, I'm happy to stumble upon movies like Master and Commander. I can see now why it gave Return of the King such a run for its money at the Oscars. Not quite as good, but definitely great in its own right. I give it an 89.

Thursday, September 15, 2016

Morris From America (2016) Movie Review

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I don't remember how much I laughed during Morris From America, but I can tell you it was a whole lot. The film's comedic touch grabs you from the first five minutes and doesn't let go. They manage to make a joke out of everything from cultural and generational gaps to moments during adolescence that are cringeworthy to watch but funny nonetheless. There are a number of lines that I can't seem to stop myself from quoting without a huge smile on my face.

As much as it'll make you laugh, the film also leaves a strong message as well. If you're a father or a black man, you'll definitely relate. If you're both even moreso. If you're neither...well, you were a teen once so you'll undoubtedly be able to understand the many things that thirteen-year-old Morris Gentry (Markees Christmas) finds himself experiencing. The film delves into newness: Exploring new things culturally, trying new angles of parenting, standing out instead of fitting in. Morris From America gives you plenty to ponder.

These messages wouldn't have been nearly as powerful had it not been for strong performances by Christmas and Craig Robinson who plays Morris' father Curtis Gentry. Their chemistry is strong in their scenes together and there were times I thought they were actually related. The depiction of father-and-son in this film is a welcome change from the norm. Curtis is an extremely laid-back dad, the type of father that will let you touch the stove intstead of telling you it's hot. He allows Morris to make mistake after mistake with the occasional nudge in the right direction. Christmas and Robinson are both given the task of displaying a range of emotions and they answered the call.

In case you're wondering what the movie itself is actually about, Curtis and Morris move to Germany after Curtis is offered a job. Knowing only a slight amount of German, Morris has to hold his own in a city where he is already perceived as different. Morris From America gives you a glimpse into a strong father-son relationship as well as what it means to be black in society. Definitely one of my favorite movies this year so far. I give it a 94.

Tuesday, September 13, 2016

Pete's Dragon (2016) Movie Review

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Pete's Dragon reminds me of spending a day at Lake Michigan. You'll go and you'll probably have a great time while you're there...but it's not quite South Beach. Maybe it just suffers from bad timing as there have been some really good kids movies released in 2016 in the way of Zootopia, Kung Fu Panda 3, and Finding Dory. Despite it not ending up in my top ten this year, I did enjoy it and I do think it's worth a theater viewing.

Little Pete (Oakes Fegley) is on a road trip with his parents when Pete's dad swerves the car off the road to avoid a deer. The parents are killed leaving poor Pete all alone in the woods. This is where he meets a big friendly dragon by the name of Elliott. Elliott helps Pete survive in the woods for years until one fateful day when Pete is spotted by humans.

I really enjoyed the way the movie doesn't linger as I will try not to do in this review. A ninety-minute movie feels like only an hour due to great pacing and a solid balance between action scenes and dialogue-heavy scenes. The film also does a great job of capturing some of the funny spirit from the original. Pete and Elliott banter like old friends (just like in the older version) which can be really hilarious at times. Fans of the 1977 version will also notice that Elliott has held on to certain mannerisms including the signature booming chuckle.

There were a handful of corny moments, like the times Pete would break off into a weird howl, that derailed the film during certain scenes. My biggest gripe, however, was easily the antagonist Gavin played by Karl Urban. Oh, Gavin, Gavin, Gavin...One of my largest pet peeves in film is when a villain is a villain for no apparent reason at all. I'm talking no motivation whatsoever. Gavin wanted Elliott and was willing to do whatever was necessary to capture him. Why? Your guess is as good as mine. He was even asked at one point, "When you get the dragon, then what?" He literally had no answer. Gavin was merely there to advance the story. Nothing more.

 The heartwarming story of Pete's Dragon supersedes all of its shortcomings. It's touching to watch Pete and Elliott's relationship through the highs and lows as well as the bond that develops between Pete and motherly figure Grace (Bryce Dallas Howard). While it's not the best family movie I've seen this year, it's good in its own way. I give it an 83.

Thursday, September 8, 2016

Sausage Party (2016) Movie Review

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The antagonist in Sausage Party is a douche. No, literally. It was touches like these that definitely gave the movie a unique feel. It's an experience you will walk out of saying, "Never seen that before." Between the racial spats amongst a Jewish bagel and a Palestinian flatbread and a crazy, transdimensional, trippy ending, there are a lot of interesting touches to note in the movie. By the time it was all said and done, I can't tell if lead writers Kyle Hunter and Ariel Shaffir put a lot of time into creating this insane world or if they were just very very high when they banged out the script.

The problem with Sausage Party definitely wasn't its creativity. They did their job there. The movie itself just wasn't all that funny to me. Don't get me wrong, it elicited a handful of laughs from me and there were others around me that seemed to laugh plenty. Overall, though, I didn't have nearly as much fun as I had hoped.

I've seen raunchy and I've enjoyed it. It's a different type of comedy, the type that makes you cringe and laugh at the same time. It's also the type that makes you say, "He said it...but I was thinking it." Raunchy only works however within the confines of a good overall product. Raunchy doesn't work when it's so outlandish and over-the-top that you can't really focus on anything else. There were times in Sausage Party where I felt like I was watching a sketch comedy show starring the cast of "Jackass". Mind you, "Jackass" is hilarious for what it is, but no one is rushing to turn that kind of comedy into an actual movie.

The ending (which I won't give away) seemed to come out of left field and had me somewhat scratching my head. They hammered home a message then said screw that message and did something completely different. I guess it's really no different from the rest of the movie which was totally random.

It's a bit ironic that a movie that revolves around talking food has no taste. If you want to see a movie about a hot dog on an adventure to prove that humans are out to destroy all things edible, this might be the movie for you. But not if you're squeamish. And probably after a few drinks. Or drugs. You get the point.

I give Sausage Party a 60.

Wednesday, September 7, 2016

Suicide Squad (2016) Movie Review

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I come in peace, let me preface this review with that. I can't promise you my words won't get a bit ugly, but just think of me as that one relative in your family. You know the one I'm talking about, the one who always speaks the truth even when it's probably in his/her best interest to keep their mouth closed. I didn't hate Suicide Squad. Then again, I didn't like it much either. Allow me to explain.

Let's start with the good. Viola Davis playing the role of Amanda Waller? Absolutely phenomenal. By the end of the movie, you will definitely feel some kind of way about her and those feelings probably won't be positive. She makes you hate her. You think there's a screw loose until you realize there's actually an entire wheel missing. She is the one that puts the team together, but if I was making my own team, she would easily be my star player. There's such a cold demeanor about her that spreads from her eyes to her voice, a demeanor that screams, "You cross me and it'll be the last mistake you ever make." As I said, phenomenal.

The action sequences weren't half-bad in certain spots although a bit more disjointed than the scenes you might see in an Avengers movie. I especially loved the scenes that utilized Katana (Karen Fukuhara), a sword-wielding bad-ass whose weapon captures the soul of each person she kills. Watching her cut through enemies in slow motion was pretty fun and definitely put a smile on my face a couple of times. The cool thing about facing off against a swarm of enemies with only a sword or your hands as a weapon (as opposed to a bunch of guns) is it makes the odds seem more insurmountable and, therefore, leaves an even greater impression when you come out of the battle unscathed.

DC fanboys, did I take you high enough? Good, because this rollercoaster is about to plummet straight down. Hold on to your armbars.

The plot: Waller is recruiting a group of the worst of the worst supervillains to take on some kind of threat. Either I wasn't paying attention or we never actually find out what the original threat was as it quickly changes into something apparently way more sinister. I'm definitely willing to admit that I might have missed something as the story happens way too fast for my taste. Ever seen an episode of "Gilmore Girls"? If you haven't, maybe you've heard jokes about how the dialogue between the characters is extremely speedy and incoherent at times. That's the best way I can describe the storyline of Suicide Squad. Everything seems rushed to the point that it becomes a jumbled, hot mess. Even as a popcorn movie, you gotta give me something to go on so that I'm not sitting there scratching my head wondering why this story even needed to happen in the first place.

The character development is like looking at a bar graph in a stocks presentation. Will Smith's Deadshot would be your stock of the day as they clearly spent the highest amount of payroll in landing him. The amount of screentime he's given makes it quite obvious. There weren't enough lines in the world to make me care about his character, though, who I valued about as much as I did Captain Boomerang, the low stock in the bunch.

It's frustrating because that's Movie Creation 101: If you don't care to develop the characters then we, as the audience, won't care about the characters. If we don't care about the characters then we sure as crap don't care whether or not they succeed. And wasn't that the goal of the entire movie? To show us that, even though these characters are the worst of the worst, they're people we can stand behind and root for? Mission failed big time.

I could say more. I could talk about Killer Croc's awful dialect or the corny dialogue in general. Instead I'll wrap it up with this: It appears that DC is trying so hard to catch up to Marvel that they're not taking the time to establish their own world properly. So far they are 1-3, Man of Steel being the only quality movie in the bunch. They're not out of chances yet, but one more flop might bring them to the point of no return.

Suicide Squad is nowhere near as bad as Batman Vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice. However, that's like saying Hilary's not as bad as Trump. They both suck. I'm rooting for you, DC, but I can't let you get away with putting out a blah product. Do better. I give Suicide Squad a 66.

Wednesday, August 31, 2016

Devil In a Blue Dress (1995) Retro Review

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You know those movies that you keep buried in your backpocket in the event that you want to show a friend or significant other something they might not have seen? I have a few, but Devil In a Blue Dress is definitely one that I find myself referring more often than not. I pulled it out of the crates recently for the wife and I to watch and ended up appreciating it way more than the first time I saw it.

Ezekiel "Easy" Rawlings (Denzel Washington) is fortunate enough to be one of the few black men in 1940's California to own his own home. After getting fired from his job at a nearby plant, he is forced to take on a private investigating assignment in order to keep that home. His job is simple: Track down the whereabouts of a one Daphne Monet. The money is great, but it takes him down a road of intrigue and murder that he never expected. He has to get to the bottom of the mystery while warding off the cops, the crooked man that hired him, and two highly elected officials who also happen to be looking for Daphne.

The film can be confusing at times as it take a lot of twists and turns. It definitely requires your complete, undivided attention. It's a good thing that the mystery is so intriguing you can't help but pay all the attention you can afford. What begins as a film about a man trying to locate a missing person quickly turns into a story that you realize has multiple layers. Interesting Motives. Plots and subplots. It has everything you need to keep you glued to the television.

Denzel's performance was stellar as it typically tends to be. He's charming when he needs to be, but can flip the script in heartbeat and take on a more intense nature. His range never ceases to blow my mind. 

He slightly, and I mean just slightly, outdid Don Cheadle's performance as Mouse, Easy's crazy, reckless friend from Houston. Anytime Mouse was in a scene it meant that trouble could happen at any moment. Seventy-seven seconds. That's literally how long he was on screen before he shot his first person. Clearly a man that doesn't have time to waste, his hastiness is also endearing as he is willing to rush to a friend's aid at the drop of a dime. He doesn't have to say much to leave you laughing. He's got a number of lines that stick out, but my personal favorite was: "You just said don't shoot him, right? Well, I didn't. I choked him."

Devil In a Blue Dress is a memorable, phenomenal movie that will stick with you long after you've watched it. I give it a 92.

Sunday, August 28, 2016

A History of Violence (2005) Retro Review

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I first saw A History of Violence back in 2006. I thought it was a perfect movie at the time. Ten years later, I've watched it again for what has to be the forty-ninth time and I'm still struggling to find something wrong with it. My cons are literally empty, folks. There's my tagline.

Who is Joey Cusack? You don't find out until deep into the movie, but you find out very quickly who Tom Stall (Viggo Mortenson) is. Tom is a family man running a diner named after his own surname. He's friendly, quiet, and loved by his wife and two children. Everything is going great in Tom's life until some pretty shady characters show up at his diner accusing him of being a former gangster by the name of Joey Cusack. These men are refusing to leave town and will do whatever is necessary for Tom to come clean and return with them back to Philadelphia.

The dialogue is slow but meaningful. It purposefully helps put your mind in the state of sleepy Millbrook, Indiana. The words are intense and powerful, especially between Tom and his wife Edie (Maria Bello). It appears that Tom and Edie haven't had many problems in the time they were married and they both seem unsure of how to handle this new threat that's now attacking their marriage. Being a part of the audience, you are watching a beautiful disaster unfold. Even during the peaceful times in the film, there's a quiet sense of something floating just underneath the surface. You can't quite put your finger on it, but it's there.

Purposeful. Word of the day. That's what makes this film so powerful and memorable. Every single scene, every single word that's uttered, it all has a purpose.

In the words of Salt 'N' Pepa, "Let's talk about sex." While it doesn't lead me to ever deducting points from a movie, I think a lot of sex scenes in film are unnecessary. For the most part, they never seem to go with the flow of the story, rather they pull you out of it. A History of Violence does have a sex scene and it's a pretty graphic one. Not only does it work for the film, but it's actually one of the more important scenes. It succeeds on multiple levels by homing in on a relationship that's on the rocks and exploring what both characters are desiring at that given time. It's something you have to see to fully understand.

The film grabs you from the first five minutes and never lets go after that. Each character is set up and developed excellently, from Tom's teenage son Jack, a reclusive nerd who just wants to make it through high school without getting his butt kicked, right down to Charlotte (Deborah Drakeford), one of Tom's employees at the diner who has a good soul and an innocent heart. Again these characters are purposeful, serving a vital part in the film's overall story.

And what a grand story A History of Violence turns out to be. I literally have nothing bad to say about it. Therefore, I give a well-deserved 100.

Tuesday, August 23, 2016

Bad Moms (2016) Movie Review


Bad Moms boils down to a sheer liberation from perfection. Parents, especially first-timers like myself, think they have to act or think or certain way that's conducive to a child's growth. It almost feels like you're walking through a field of mistake mines where every little misstep threatens to blow your world apart. This film begs the question: What if we turned that thought-process on its head? What if we started to act for ourselves first before our children?

The result is one heck of a hilarious time. While the moments of relating to the moms stress out over their kids is funny in and of itself at times, the point when they decide to let go and cut loose is when you really start to crack up. Amy Mitchell (Mila Kunis) finally hits a ground zero point where she has had enough of being the perfect parent and her reaction on the other side is priceless. Many in the audience were cheering out loud when Amy stands up for herself against her helpless children and the PTA. It's even funnier because she has no balance whatsoever. She quickly transforms from homemaker to trainwreck without skipping a beat.

Amy is helped along in her quest to be bad by two other moms Kiki (Kristen Bell) and Carla Dunkler (Kathryn Hahn). Kiki is even worse off than Amy as she has twice as many kids and a husband who demands that she do all the legwork in raising them and taking care of the house. Her timidity is endearing and funny at the same time. Carla, on the other hand, was born to raise hell. She commands every single scene that she is in and I found it rare the moments that she didn't get a laugh out of me. Whether she's threatening to bang the other moms' husbands if they didn't vote for Amy as the Head of PTA or discussing her pure lack of interest in being a good parent, almost every word that comes out of her mouth seems to leave me in fits. 

Christina Applegate plays the role of Gwendolyn James, current Head of the PTA. She was easily my biggest gripe with the movie as I thought she exerted way too much energy in making Amy's life a living hell. I get it, you want to be the best, but the ends to which she was willing to go was too implausible for my taste, even for a movie. Her explanation at the end as to why she acted they way she did didn't really redeem her at all.

No Bad Moms isn't the perfect comedy or on the Apatow plane of funny, but it accomplishes what it sets out to do: It leaves you with a big smile on your face. If you can still find it in theaters (long shot), it's great for a date night. And, guys, don't be intimidated about the higher volume of women present. We're all in this together. We all get it. We're all parents.

Bad Moms gets an 80.

Monday, August 22, 2016

It's All Gone Pete Tong (2004) Retro Review


As I'm writing this review, I'm sitting here watching Avengers: Age of Ultron. It's the scene where Hulk has just been possessed by Scarlet Witch and is tearing up an entire city. Figuratively, it actually reminds me of DJ Frankie Wilde (Paul Kaye), the main character in It's All Gone Pete Tong. Frankie is literally taking his own life and smashing it to pieces with drugs and insane behavior. The beginning shows a montage of the DJ's antics as he does strange things like licking toads and coming out to entertain the crowd wearing a crown of thorns. 

I started to dislike the guy almost instantly and the film's choppy, mockumentary-style shooting doesn't help change one's opinion as you're hit with his insensitive wildness fast and hard. Frankie is a mess but not in a fun way. Think of it as watching a deadbeat relative throw his life away. Frankie is loved by most of Ibiza's population as he is one of their best DJ's, but I hated his guts for the first portion of the film. As a result, I was hating the film.

Then something happens that turns the film a complete 180. Frankie loses his hearing. Ibiza begins to loathe him as he begins to perform horribly at shows. Frankie loses his immortality and becomes human. And that's when I truly began to love DJ Frankie Wilde.

Kaye definitely steals the show as DJ Frankie, but is helped along by some pretty funny characters as well. Frank's manager Max (Mike Wilmot) always seems to be in a state of comical panic as he awaits Frankie's next big hit. I can't recall one scene where Max wasn't in a deep sweat. 

When Frankie wasn't with Max or running from the mascot badger (in his mind) that forced him to do coke, he was trying to use what he had left of his hearing to help other bands make records. Those scenes in particular provide some pretty comedic moments as one band member sourly states that Frankie's music "sounds like ze kaka." In another scene of memory, Frankie ties firecrackers to his head and realizes a few moments after they were lit that that was probably a bad idea. He had me cracking up as he is frantically searching for a way to put out the fuses before the firecrackers all go off.

On the downside, the constant replaying of the loss-of-hearing effect (almost like a familiar bell-ringing sound) got old fairly quickly. I understand that it was a necessary effect to put people in the shoes of Frankie, but it was annoying nonetheless. Also, I think the movie would have had even more of an impact had it shown more of how great of a DJ Frankie was before going deaf. Then again, I can understand there might have been a risk of making the film longer than it needed to be. 

It's hard to stay focused during the beginning of It's All Gone Pete Tong as it feels like the mockumentary is all over the place, but, if you can hang in there, you just might come to like the character and the movie just as much as I did. His personality shines through his lines. At one point, his wife is trying to say something serious to him to which he replies, "It's brilliant to almost hear that."

It's All Gone Pete Tong shares the message that your life doesn't end when tragedy happens, rather it's just beginning. It's when we come to the end of ourselves that we truly start to realize how we can fully make a difference in the world. I can definitely dig that. I give this movie a solid 88.

That Thing You Do! (1996) Retro Review


That Thing You Do! takes place in the '60's and is the story of a kid named Guy Patterson (Tom Everett Scott) who works in his father's appliance shop, but plays the drums in his off time. After getting a gig to fill in for a drummer who got hurt, the band he's playing in, The Oneders, quickly takes off and becomes an overnight sensation after one hit song. As the viewer, you will witness way more highs than lows as the group's implosion isn't experienced until close to the end of the film. The downfall of the group, renamed The Wonders, is realistically quick and shows just how easy it is to become yesterday's news.

Movies with a lot of dancing and singing typically aren't my cup of tea, but it's not hard to win me over when the script is done well. There were plenty of funny moments that helped the movie hold my attention. As one of the announcers is about to bring them onto the stage, he can't seem to figure out their name as phonetically it looks like The Oh-Needers. The scene where the band hears their song on the radio for the first time is another especially fun moment. I could definitely see myself reacting the same way if something I poured my heart into made it to the masses. 

The movie also succeeds at giving you likeable characters to root for. For the most part, everyone in the band is a good guy and you find yourself as the movie progresses hoping beyond hope that they continue to grow larger. You definitely get your wish in the long run, but we all know that fame comes at a cost. All four band members are developed well with their own respective drives fueling them to succeed. Guy just wants to make good music while T.B.'s goal is to kill time until his tour of service in the military. The characters are pretty consistent as they never deviate from what it is that they want.

While I'm two decades too late to have grown up in the '60's, That Thing You Do! does an excellent job of putting you right there. From the competing appliance stores with their box radios and tiny television sets to the teeny-bopper bandstand shows, these sweet touches incorporated not only suck you into the era but stick in your memory long after the movie is the over. While the film focuses on this one particular decade, Tom Hanks' performance as the fast-talking Mr. White was timeless. He was the glue that held the group together and helped maintain their forward progress. His acting was subtle, yet worked on a number of levels.

Yes, the movie was solid, but there were a handful of things that kept me from falling completely in love. At the risk of sounding like I'm talking out of both sides of my mouth, I thought the ending was a little rushed. The Wonders are a group one minute...then two minutes later they fall apart. It isn't merely their breakup that was rushed, but I don't want to spoil the film anymore than I already have.

And that song. How many god-forsaken times must you play that song? Over and over and over...I completely understand that "That Thing You Do" is what helped them rise to stardom, but I feel like they made me listen to it twenty times in the first hour of the movie. Might not have actually been twenty, but it was enough to be more than noticeable.

I also docked a few points because the ending is somewhat predictable. It's like watching a fast ball: It's a good pitch though you can see it coming a mile away. All in all, not a bad movie for a family night. I give it a 75.

Sunday, August 21, 2016

Jason and the Argonauts (1963) Retro Review


Despite being a victim of its time, I found myself absolutely falling in love with Jason and the Argonauts. Just like other movies of older decades, if you can keep things in perspective and remind yourself that this was made in 1963 and not 2013, you might find yourself enjoying it just as much as I did. Some of the things that I found wrong with the film end up being another selling point. For example, the special effects are extremely cheesy, however they are great for the time. If I was watching this in 1963, I would have been the guy asking, "How in the world did that guy just transform into Hermes like that? How did they make Jason just disappear in smoke?"

The movie doesn't overdo itself as it ends about twenty minutes earlier than where it could have stopped. You see what you need to see while other things are merely implied. Just like in The Dark Knight Rises where you know Christian Bale ends up happily ever after with Anne Hathaway, you know exactly what's going to happen when Jason gets his hands on that golden fleece. The film takes you on a good ride then drops you off at just the right place.

Jason and the Argonauts does a great job of taking itself seriously which can be hard to do when dealing in the fantasy genre at times. As much as I thoroughly enjoyed it, I do have to address one scene that made me roll my eyes a bit however. Towards the end of the movie, King Aeetes is chasing Jason and his remaining argonauts as they are fleeing. They come to a cliffside where King Aeetes does this long speech then releases demons from the underwold or something of that nature. There was a long pause, maybe like ten or fifteen seconds, where Jason is just standing there watching things unfold and I'm thinking, "Seriously? You've run from all the other dangers up to this point and NOW you want to sit around and wait?" Pretty small in the grand scheme of the movie but it annoyed me nonetheless. 

Jason and the Argonauts is the story of a man who goes on a great adventure for a powerful artifact so he can get revenge for the murder of his father and take his rightful place as king. A great movie to cut your teeth on if you are trying to expand your movie culture beyond the last three decades. I give it a well-deserved 99.

The Other Side (2016) Movie Review


To say The Other Side is obscure would be a gross understatement. It took me a few hours to figure out how I could even get ahold of this documentary on a back woods, podunk area of Louisiana. While I think it could have been done better and my final score probably won't endorse what I'm about to write, I think it's a documentary that everyone should sit through at least once. The cultural implications are eye-opening and powerful.

For the majority of the documentary, you get a look into the lives of Mark and Lisa, a couple addicted to meth. While they live in a humble home, their opinions about the state of America's society, particulary Mark's, are very bold and outspoken. These opinions include some critical shots at Obama, the state of the economy, terrorism, and race. 

You are taken throughout their daily lives with numerous choppy segments that don't have a lot of direction and don't seem to be leading to any kind of endgame. That, in and of itself, is my biggest gripe with the documentary as a whole. You find yourself spending more time wondering where things are heading rather than embracing the culture and opinions you are being exposed to. Just when you think you have things figured out, you're throw into an entirely new situation that's even more confusing.

Don't get me wrong, you're given fair warning that something like this might happen from the beginning of the film. The first shot shows Mark naked on the side of the road flicking his penis for God knows what reason. You understand right then and there that this is going to be a different kind of documentary. And that's not the last time you'll see his man parts, fair warning.

The realism is disturbing, but much appreciated. In the back of my mind, I imagined people like Mark and those in the second segment (composed of a self-formed militia) existed, but it's an entirely different animal watching them actually walk through their daily lives unedited. We truly live in a divided world.

In the final segment, the militia spray paints "Obama sucks ass" on an old jalopy, puts an Obama mask in its window, then proceeds to shoot the car to pieces which ended in a final grenade or rocket launch (couldn't quite tell what the weapon was). The car is still burning long after they had finished with it. Those last embers seemed to signify humanity surviving the stupidity of division.

The Other Side is a very unique documentary that could have been shot with a better flow in mind. I give it a 61.

Monday, August 15, 2016

Nerve (2016) Movie Review




In Nerve, Emma Roberts plays the role of Vee,  a girl who is the picture of innocence. Vee has somehow made it to high school without doing a single brave thing in her life. She doesn't even have the courage to tell her mom that she wants to go to an art school across the country for college. Courage is not her strong suit and it shows in every mannerism that she displays. The fear she shows when she is asked to do something well beyond her comfort zone. The way her eyes dart to and fro when someone with more confidence is staring her down. This film works mostly in part because, if you can't relate to Vee personally, you root for her anyway because she is a severe underdog. Roberts' performance is impactful in the sense that she not only gives us a character to get behind, but she helps to push the character's growth as well. By the end of the film, Vee is not the same Vee that we knew in the beginning. Not even close.

This is helped largely in part by her forced relationship with Ian (Dave Franco or "The Other Franco" as I like to call him). Ian not only exudes confidence, he's also very chill, very go-with-the-flow. Separately, Ian and Vee are like night and day, but together they are an inseparable team. Vee needs to be pushed to do more while Ian needs someone to protect as he seems to hold little regard for his own life. Their combo works very well.

The film itself carries intrigue in the sense that you're watching something unbelievable that could someday be a reality (if it isn't already). In a society where the majority of our lives have become dominated by the internet and social media, Nerve, a game of Dare or Fail, could easily become the next big, dumb thing that sweeps the masses. Thinking about it in that sense raises the intensity of what you're seeing. The film is even shot in such a way that you forget at times that what you're seeing isn't a reality show. 

As I mentioned earlier, Ian and Vee are a team. They are paired up together during a game called Nerve where the goal is to complete a series of dares during a 24-hour time period and make a lot of money in the process. While a few of the dares resulted in some pretty intense moments, there were a handful that were somewhat weak, resulting in false build-ups. One dare, for example, requires them merely to go into the city (New York). One of Vee's friends says something along the lines of, "Vee, no way, you can't go into the city! That's dangerous!" Meanwhile, I'm scratching my head trying to figure out what the big deal is.

Other portions of the movie made the story unbelievable at times. Winnings from dares were transferred into peoples' accounts at the speed of light and anyone that has ever tried to transfer any dollar amount out of Paypal knows how hard moving money can be. Finally, in one scene, Vee tries to report Nerve to the cops and the cop seems extremely disinterested even though she is clearly frazzled. These little touches are sacrificed for the sake of advancing the storyline and might be bothersome to some like myself.

Nerve is a pretty fun watch that was enjoyable though it could have pushed the envelope a bit more. I give it a 77.

Monday, August 8, 2016

I, Robot (2004) Retro Review





I, Robot provides a fun mystery with a few predictable, but interesting, turns. The mystery aspect is clever enough to keep you guessing without frustrating you to the point of taking you out of the movie. You'll care about it right up until the point you realize that the movie is actually a summer blockbuster and your thinking cap should be put on the backburner while you're bombarded with one action scene after the next.

Outside of the movie's decent attempt at having a brain, I, Robot has a few other redeeming qualities that at least keep it in the neighborhood of a Folding Clothes Movie. Yes, Will Smith's solid performance is worth a mention, but ladies first. I have to show some love for Adrian Ricard playing the role of Granny. In her short-but-sweet time onscreen, she was every bit as entertaining and funny as Smith was. There's a special place in my heart for actors/actresses that can maximize their time, however long it may be and she certainly accomplished that mission.

Taking place in 2035 Chicago, I think director Alex Proyas does a solid job of giving us a glimpse into what our future could look like. Interactive holographic messages can converse with you based on a predetermined conversation. Vertical parking garages free up space on the ground for Americans to build more nonsense. Self-driving cars allow you to kick back and read a book during your drive home. These little touches give the film that extra sci-fi touch that helps add to its magic and intrigue.

And, yes, Will Smith did his thing as troubled detective Del Spooner. He has a certain charisma and energy that translates well onscreen. Not only is he funny (although over-the-top at times), but the emotion he is able to evoke provides for some pretty strong moments. There's one moment in particular where he's explaining how he came to have such a dislike for robots. This is a turning point for the viewer as you finally start to understand why Spooner seems to always have his guard up.

There are a few corny moments that take you out of the enjoyment of the film at times. I don't know if Smith just has an awkward body because he's tall, but some of the special effects sequences involving him seemed stiff and unbelievable. In one scene, you'll find him surfing over debris on a door. Let that sink in for a moment...I could stop there and you would probably get my point, but there's one more moment that really sticks out: There's a scene where Smith is in a tunnel being attacked by robots. After getting a little bit of breathing room, he picks up the biggest weapon he could find, turns to the robots, and yells at the top of his lungs, "Come on!" Cheddar. Mozarella. Gorganzola. Take your pick, it was cheesy.

I, Robot is the story of a man trying to get to the bottom of a murder that he is convinced was done by robots. What he discovers could end up being even worse than his original fears. It's a film that won't change your world, but is worth a watch for a good two hours of escape. I give it a 76

Wednesday, August 3, 2016

Star Trek Beyond (2016) Movie Review


The crew of the USS Enterprise is back in Star Trek Beyond heading out into the far reaches of space on a routine mission. An unwarranted attack from a mysterious alien race suddenly leaves them stranded on a foreign planet with little hopes of escape or survival. 

This time around under the direction of Justin Lin the film takes more of an action-oriented approach. Viewers coming to see some awesome sci-fi battles will not be disappointed as the action is way more noticeable than in the first two films. Lin uses the scenes to properly establish and dictate mood. You'll feel overwhelmed watching as the Enterprise has to cut its way through thousands of alien ships that literally come together to form what looks like a bee swarm. Tension rises within as Captain Kirk is creeping down a red-lit hallway with a blaster in hand while trying to hunt down the enemy. Death-defying drops. Last-minute rescues. Explosions! Explosions! Explosions! You name it, the film has it.

The entire cast is back and is in rare form yet again. Three films in, Chris Pine seems to have matured in the role of Captain Kirk, both in the comfort level of playing the role and within the confines of the role itself. You're getting to see Kirk grows as his mission count rises and his knowledge of space expands. He's starting to lead less by emotion and more by practicality. In terms of other mentionable actors, I appreciate the fact that they gave Karl Urban more screen time in this installment. After all, you can never have too much Bones. While he typically shines in the way of comic relief, this being no exception, Bones got to put on more of the hero hat which definitely lightened the mood at some points.

Where the movie fell short for me comes partly in the way of how it handles the science fiction side of things at times. There are moments when someone is explaining a plan and discussing all the technical nuances and you're sitting there scratching your head. Then, when the plan is actually executed, you think, "Oh, is that what they meant?" On the flip side, I think the movie suffers from not being sci-fi enough at times. I loved how the first movie explored other worlds by showing you a few different creatures not of Earth. It's quite the opposite in the third film which is suprising because they spent the majority of the movie on a low-populated planet. You would think there would be creatures of some sort lurking around somewhere. To some of you, I probably sound like Ebert when he criticized the tripod alien attack pods in the 2005 version of War of the Worlds ("Why balance these towering machines on ill-designed supports?"). I love the man vs. beast aspect of sci-fi and I didn't get my fix, unfortunately. However, I'm hesitant to deduct too many points for that as it could be very much just a personal preference.

When JJ Abrams left the Star Trek series, I think the emotional umbilical cord went with him. Star Trek Beyond has great action that gives it a pulse, however there aren't any emotional stakes to give this movie a true heartbeat. At the end of the day, it is a very fun summer movie, but don't go see it if you are expecting deep substance. I give it an 87.

P.S.--As I was hunting for an image to add to this review, I read that Karl Urban almost passed up his role for this film. What a shame that would have been.

Wednesday, July 27, 2016

Ghostbusters (2016) Movie Review


I walked out of Ghostbusters fully confident of the A-rating I was going to give it. I had my arguments all prepared of why this and that critic was wrong. Thank God I let my thoughts stew for a couple of days. While Ghostbusters is still a good film, it falls just shy of the Theatre Worthy category and right smack dab into the Folding Clothes Movie category.

Physics professor Erin Gilbert (Kristen Wiig) is trying to get her tenure at Columbia University. When a book on ghosts and the paranormal she wrote with her friend Abby Yates (Melissa McCarthy) suddenly resurfaces on Amazon and threatens her credibility, Erin seeks out Abby to get her to take the book down. In a pretty direct movement of events, an encounter with a ghost ends up teaming the ladies up with two other ladies to become the Ghostbusters.

Overall, I think the movie suffered from just plain trying too hard at times. The funniest jokes in film (as in real life) are usually the ones that occur naturally and a lot of the humor here was forced unfortunately. It's hard justifying a high score for a movie when the funniest characters are the ones without primary roles. There are quite a few corny moments where the jokes fall extremely flat, but side characters like Bennie the delivery guy (Karan Soni) keep the movie from falling too deep into the muck.

For all of its wrong-doings, Ghostbusters does a great job of paying homage to the original movies while trying to establish a sense of originality. There are quite a few cameos (none of which I will ruin) that will squeeze a couple of chuckles out of fans of the older movies. On the newer side of things, I appreciated some of the interesting gadgets that were introduced. Scientist Jillian Holtzmann (Kate McKinnon) shows us that there's clearly more than one way to catch a ghost. Getting to see those gadgets in action turned out to be pretty cool to watch. It also gave us a chance to see more of the weird, quirky Jillian who was the funniest of the Ghostbusters by a landslide. Without her and Chris Hemsworth who played Kevin the awful receptionist, this movie would have been a true trainwreck.

I'm rooting for this series to succeed and I hope they find out a way to make the second film funnier. It's probably going to start with improving the lines of Leslie Jones. Almost all of her jokes were a miss and it made her stick out like a sore thumb. It was cringe-worthy at times.

Liked it. Didn't love it. Rent it. Save yourself a trip and some money. I give it a 73. 

Thursday, July 21, 2016

Finding Dory (2016) Movie Review



In this sequel to Finding Nemo, a fish by the name of Dory, who just happens to have short-term memory loss, is on a mission to find her parents in the vastness of the ocean. Since her memory quickly comes and goes, she has to rely on short flashbacks of her life to put her where she needs to be. Sound familiar? It should as Finding Dory relies on a somewhat similar premise to its predecessor. It took me about five minutes to say to myself, "Here we go again". However, five minutes after that, I was entranced by this redone, yet very creative adventure that took this sequel to great heights.

I'm happy I waited as long as I did to write this review as the movie reminds me of the millions of people currently playing Pokemon Go. This new game that's sweeping the nation is not only promoting exercise, but it's causing introverts and people with social anxiety to communicate with other people that they would normally never have a conversation with. In the same way, Dory has never met an animal she didn't like which is a part of what makes her character so lovable. She swims about from scene to scene communicating with other sea creatures in the frantic way that she does. She tries to love everyone, even those that don't want to be loved and that's one of the main reasons why you can't help but root for her to succeed.

Though the premise is similar, the adventure itself is an all-around good time. Not only are you rooting for Dory, but the movie has you cheering for secondary characters as well. Every animal plays their part in helping Dory complete her quest (whether she does or not, I will not say) with original, unique roles. It's hard to choose a personal favorite because they were all done swimmingly (pun intended) well. I will say, though, you will find it very hard not to fall in love with Hank (voiced by Ed O'Neill) the octopus who is also an escape artist.

The film's message is all about determination and doing whatever you need to do to succeed. If Dory can traverse the ocean to look for parents that she hasn't seen in years with no real goal or plan in mind, shouldn't we be able to follow our own gameplan directly to our dreams? Dory has a dream we can all get behind: finding something she thought was lost. Her lovable attitude and her determination drive the movie while invoking multiple emotions in the viewer at the same time. 

Pixar isn't flawless...but they've succeeded yet again. I give Finding Dory a 92.