The Magnificent Seven (2016) Movie Review

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.

Hell Or High Water (2016) Movie Review

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.

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

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.

Morris From America (2016) Movie Review

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.

Pete's Dragon (2016) Movie Review

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.

Sausage Party (2016) Movie Review

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.

Suicide Squad (2016) Movie Review

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.