thedukeofmovietown Reviews

X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014)

Single handedly erases all bad x-men movies

[9/10 · 31 October 2016]

he long awaited 7th X film that merges the universes of The Wolverine, X-Men and X-Men First Class is finally here! If you know anything about the X-Men movie franchise you know it's been a hit or miss series and in my opinion there have been more misses than hits and even then, the hits aren't misstep free. Now, any other studio would have just hit the reset button, so to speak, and rebooted the franchise with whatever pieces they wanted going forward. However, hats off to the writing team of Simon Kinberg, Jane Goldman and Matthew Vaughn who instead undertook the truly herculean feat of not only telling the classic Days of Future Past story from the X-Men comics, but also writing a story that effectively rights all the wrongs done over the past 14 years of spotty movie making. Days of Future Past is quite possibly the best X-Men movie yet! The story is complex but in a nutshell, Wolverine is sent back in time to stop a series of events that start a catastrophic war in the future. Again, it is complex but the story is well put together and the cast is bursting at the seams with dozens and dozens of memorable X-Men and even more Easter eggs for the truly savvy fan. But you don't have to be a super fan in order to get enjoyment out of this movie. I'll admit I didn't know half of the mutants mentioned here, but I still left with a smile on my face. The special effects are great, the cinematography is first rate and the overall feel of the film plays like a gripping action thrill ride. X-Men: Days of Future Past does the seemingly impossible by making it OK to see even the bad X-Men movies. The bigger the mess is made the more fun it is to see it cleaned up I suppose. Of course, it is a movie about time travel and there are a few strange things in regards to that which made the movie a little confusing, but in the end its just small potatoes compared to the massive victory of a film this is. X-Men: Days of Future Past gets a 4.5...out of 5.

Edge of Tomorrow (2014)

Machine gunning its way to greatness

[10/10 · 31 October 2016]

I saw EDGE OF TOMORROW!! That's right, I got to see Tom Cruise's new epic sci-fi summer flick and let me just tell you right now, it doesn't disappoint! The movie stars Tom Cruise as an Army Major who gets roped into participating in a live battle against an alien force as a PR stunt. Things quickly go south when his squad is ambushed and through a series of uncommon events, Cruise's character finds himself with the power to restart the day whenever he's killed. It's like mixing the movies Saving Private Ryan, Starship Troopers and Aliens with Groundhog Day which is pretty much like playing the game Halo on Legendary mode. Everything about this movie is a treat! The special effects are jaw dropping, the story is engrossing and the cast, headed by Cruise and Emily Blunt, puts forth a solid effort with especially entertaining work done by Bill "Game over, man" Paxton and Brendan Gleeson. This movie is bound to be the action movie event of the summer and it earns every bit of it's high praise. If you have the chance to see it in IMAX take it into consideration, if not, at least see it in a theater because it's bigger than big and more action packed than anything I've seen in years. Edge of Tomorrow machine guns it's way into a perfect 5...out of 5.

Interstellar (2014)

Science fact meets science theory meets science fiction

[7/10 · 31 October 2016]

Christopher Nolen rides again with this massive scale sci-if journey story that braids cutting edge special effects, amazing performances and a supremely inventive story together to make what is sure to be one of the year's landmark films. The movie stars Matthew McConaughey as Cooper, a NASA astronaut forced to become a farmer in a world where earth's natural resources have dwindled down to nearly nil. As Cooper struggles to raise his children during what seems to be humanity's final throws, a team of scientists, headed by Nolen favorites Michael Caine, Anne Hathaway and David Gyasi, put together a daring plan to save humanity by searching for new inhabitable world's beyond our galaxy and require Cooper's skill to get them there.

I really dug the hell out of this movie. As a fan of space travel myself, I really have to say that they did a great job at capturing a lot of the real math and science theory behind space travel, relativity theory and even some of the more edgy ideas about the characteristics of black holes. It's clear that the Nolen brothers Christopher and Jonathen did their homework while writing this script. The performances are also quite good here and Jessica Chastaine, who plays Cooper's grownup daughter, is especially impressive. These things married with the IMAX scope and the bigger than life special effects make this movie an absolute joy to watch. Everything is not all aces here as the film is not without its faults. Perhaps the thing I had the most problem with was the film's third act. The movie spends a long time setting up a very real and for the most part, a scientifically sound universe that is on par with 2001: A Space Odyssey and even to some degree it makes fun of a tropish, nonsensical and dumb way that the story could end as if to say, "we're smarter than that, c'mon, what do you take us for?" only to give in and end it that way anyway. At first I was OK with it but the more that I look at the film, the less the ending makes sense and the more the film starts to eat itself which was needless to say, really disappointing.

Overall, I still liked the movie and despite my issues with the third act, I recommend it, and if you can, spring for the IMAX because the scope and scale of the visuals are ridiculous! No television could ever do it justice. This film is for sure to be in talks to win an award of some kind for special effects in the coming months and it's well deserved. If you love liked Gravity or 2001: A Space Odyssey or Apollo 13, you are sure to like this too. Interstellar gets a 3.5...out of 5.

Hercules (I) (2014)

Only slightly better than the 90s TV show

[5/10 · 31 October 2016]

I saw HERCULES! Now, this new sword and sandal film might as well be a sequel to Scorpion King because it's pretty much the exact same movie. Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson plays Hercules in this movie and unlike a lot of other films, this version is more of a man than demi-god with the legend of his exploits far exceeding his reality. With his team of mercenaries, which includes Ian McShane, Ingrid Bolsø Berdal, and Rufus Sewell, he travels the world in search of gold and glory. However, Hercules' true metal has yet to be tested as he fights against a new enemy which holds mysteries of his past. Now that's all I can tell you without giving anything away. This movie is trying really hard to recapture the magic of Gladiator and mix in a little bit of that mystic Troy flavor and it might have done that if it were handled better. First off, The Rock is not a very good actor...like at all. He's like Stallone, as long as he doesn't talk, a la Rocky & First Blood, he's great. This movie doesn't get it, and it ends up giving Johnson too many opportunities to put his foot in his mouth (shined up and turned sideways of course). The second thing is that the movie is rated PG-13 and I'm sorry but if you're going to try do this right, it's simply got to be an R-rated film. Without the brutality it comes off as like a tiny bit better version of Hercules the 1990s TV show which MAYBE they were going for but ehh... I highly doubt it. Overall I'd say this is a good Redbox movie but with so many other choices this summer, save your money. It's not bad, it's just passable. Put it on the shelf as better than Alexander but not quite as good as Troy and just BARELY under Scorpion King. Hercules gets a 2.5...out of 5.

Gone Girl (2014)

Twists and turns that keep you on the edge of your seat

[10/10 · 31 October 2016]

Wow, I just saw GONE GIRL y'all. I'll come right out and say it because I really can't say too much without giving anything away, it's flat out awesome! The movie, based on a best selling novel by Gillian Flynn, stars Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike as Nick and Amy Dunn and tells an engrossing tale of deception and intrigue based around the sudden disappearance of Amy from the family home in small town Missouri.

In short YOU HAVE TO SEE THIS MOVIE! It's THE best psychological thriller I have seen since something like The Usual Suspects or American Psycho. Affleck and Pike are stellar together and the entire cast surrounding them is equally impressive (yes, even Tyler Perry). This movie is like an onion with layers that keep you on edge and wondering what's going to happen next minute after minute. The movie is over 2 hours and it still had me wondering, "WHAT'S NEXT?!" like I said, you have to see this movie! It's skyrocketed to the top of my must see list for this year and it'll probably be something I'll be looking to see again. Gone Girl gets to coveted 5... out of 5.

The Judge (2014)

Acting at it's finest

[8/10 · 31 October 2016]

I saw THE JUDGE! This movie tells the story of a big city lawyer, played here by Robert Downey Jr. and his estranged father, a small town judge played by Robert Duvall who finds himself in hot water surrounding a late night car accident that he was involved in.

This movie is just an amazing acting display by Downey Jr. and Duvall and you can really feel both the animosity and the deep down love between the two which feels real and genuine. The supporting cast also does a great job with Vincent D'Onofrio, Vera Farmiga and Billy Bob Thornton providing some pretty impressive backup. This movie is like an unstoppable train of tuned acting skill that refuses to slow down for anything. It truly delivers on everything it promises and even gives you a little bit more. Masterful job by everyone who is involved. The judge gets a 4... out of 5

Fury (2014)

In a world at war, good and bad are not black and white

[9/10 · 31 October 2016]

I saw FURY yesterday! For me, there are only 3 perfect war movies. Only 3 that really raised the hair on the back of my neck and made everything feel as real and terrifying as I think a real war situation would be. Those movies are Platoon, Saving Pvt. Ryan and Full Metal Jacket. After seeing Fury, I have to add one to the list. This movie tells the story of men who operate a Sherman tank code named Fury during the Allies final push into the heart of Nazi Germany. The crew is forced to take on a new crew member when their assistant driver is killed and they're saddled with an inexperienced typist as a replacement during the most dangerous push of their tour.

There is so much about this film that I absolutely love that if I were to go into it, I'd be here for over an hour. The filming is spectacular and really has that genuine film look that only movies like Apocalypse Now and Platoon seem to have. The casting is PERFECT and includes Shia LaBeouf, Michael Pena, Jon Bernthal of Walking Dead fame, Logan Lerman and Brad Pitt as the men of tank Fury and a bevy of other actors that truly look like men of war not Hollywood actors. The characters are all well defined, diverse and sympathetic and watching them you really get both a sense of camaraderie and strong dose of battle fatigue just watching the men run the tank and it's just so genuine that you almost feel as if you need a shower afterwards as you feel the grime and the filth of war all around you. The only thing I think is missing from this film is just a little bit more story to back up the EVERYTHING ELSE that this movie does beautifully. Ideals are peaceful, history is violent and Fury is a MUST SEE! Fury gets a 4.5...out of 5

St. Vincent (2014)

Smart, funny with a brilliant soul

[7/10 · 31 October 2016]

I saw ST. VINCENT last night! What is Saint Vincent? It's only is the newest film starring everyone's favorite misanthropic wise-ass Bill Murray! The movie tells the tale of the sullen and wildly unlikable Vincent, a drunken old cuss who's life gets unwillingly jostled out of bed by his new neighbors a young boy named Oliver, played by newcomer Jaden Lieberher and his over stressed mother, played by Melissa McCarthy. At first Vincent sees his new neighbors as a way to scam some much needed cash, but as the bonds between he and Oliver grow, the grinchly old man finds a friendship that he was not prepared for.

In a lot of ways, this film is like version of Denis the Menace with Bill Murray's character being the source of all the mischief and believe me, there's a lot of it. From pregnant strippers to horse races and every human vice in between, this movie shows it all and in very funny ways. It also has a lot of heart and it really puts what many would call a one dimensional character into a full three dimensions by the end of the film. The chemistry between McCarthy, Lieberher and Murray is really fun to watch in this movie and the rest cast is really funny here as well with Chris O'Dowd as Oliver's teacher and Naomi Watts as Vincent's Russian hooker girlfriend. In short if you liked Bad Santa or The Bad News Bears, you'll like this movie too. If I had to say anything bad about it I might say that it's a little too relaxed in it's pace but in reality, what Billy Murray film has ever made it's bones by being fast paced and taught? It moves to the beat of it's own drum and does very well for itself. St. Vincent gets a 3.5...out of 5

John Wick (2014)

The man in the black jacket is back

[9/10 · 31 October 2016]

JOHN WICK! You will remember that name! Ever since The Matrix left the theaters, people have been wondering if Keanu Reeves would make his return to the action world. After Man of Tai Chi came out last year people were wondering if the man in the black jacket was truly back, well I just came from seeing John Wick and to steal a line from the movie, "ya, I'm thinking' he's back!" You want the story, I'll spin it for you quick. It's been said that you don't mess with a man's car or his dog, well apparently, nobody told that to a young group of Russian mobsters who do so to the grief stricken John Wick. What the mobsters don't know is that although poor John might look like a scruffy nobody, he's actually a badass ex-assassin and his retribution is BA-HA-RUTAL! This is an action movie! like a REAL action movie! Not like those modern soldier/spy action movies. This is a straight up high octane muscle busting John Woo style shoot-em-up action movie! My ABSOLUTE FAVORITE kind of movie! It looks like Keanu is a little miffed that he wasn't called to be part of The Expendables team and in retaliation he made a badass movie of his own! The film is directed by stunt choreographers David Leitch and Chad Stahelski who, believe it or not, used to be stand-ins for Keanu Reeves and Hugo Weaving on The Matrix. Those two really know what they're doing because the cinematography in John Wick is clear, well shot and beautifully pieced together and the action is fluid, quick, incredibly violent but undeniably stylish and over the top which really makes it a lot of fun to watch. Plus, it exists in this interesting world of hit men and secret clubs and unspoken code that really pulls you in and makes you want to see more of what's REALLY going on behind the scenes. This is helped a lot by the movie's incredible cast which includes Willem Dafoe, Ian McShane, John Leguizamo, Lance Reddick and the mayhem guy from the Allstate commercials. It's the most fun I've had watching a "one man one way" movie in a good long while and if you're a fan of movies like Equilibrium or Hard Boiled or really any John Woo film at all, you'll love this! Have a dude's night with the guys you used to watched Jet Li, Steven Segal and Chow Yun-Fat movies with and SEE THIS MOVIE! John Wick gets a 4.5...out of 5.

Dracula Untold (2014)

A different kind of Batman

[6/10 · 31 October 2016]

I saw Dracula UNTOLD this weekend! This is movie marks Universal Studio's first film in a series of films that will seek to reboot it's long neglected monster movie franchise which is said to include movies about the mummy, the wolf man, Frankenstein, the invisible man and others. It tells an alternate version of the popular Bram Stroker Dracula story that centers around the legendary warrior Vlad the Impaler, his family and his quest to protect his kingdom from the fury of an invading Turk army.

Let me start off by saying that I liked this movie. Luke Evans plays the title role with Dominic Cooper playing his nemesis Emperor Mehmed II and the two each do a great job of playing their respective roles with Evans especially standing out, as you would expect, as a man hell bent on keeping his people safe and secure. Charles Dance is also very good here as the creature who turns Vlad into the famous monster. The action and the fight scenes with Evans as Dracula are also quite impressive. This movie is not all aces though, it's mechanics are sound but the story feels a little thin and it's final scenes seem somewhat tacked together from scenes from 30 Days of Night which is not bad but it's... you know... Anyway, despite that, I did like it quite a bit and it's worth checking out. Maybe not right away, but it's enjoyable. Dracula Untold gets a 3... out of 5.

Boyhood (I) (2014)

A boy became a man before my eyes

[10/10 · 31 October 2016]

Along with being the single most conceptually complex movie ever made, it's possibly the most interesting and uninteresting movie that I've ever reviewed. I'll unpack that box in a minute but first let me give you the rundown of what it's about. The movie follows a young boy named Mason, played by Ellar Coltrane, as he literally grows from a boy to a man and chronicles all the loves, losses, joys and disappointments of growing up in Texas along with his mother, father and sister played by Patricia Arquette, Ethan Hawke and the director's own daughter, Lorelei Linklater.

The film is the brainchild of director Richard Linklater and literally took 12 years to make as it weaves through the early 2000s until present day. From a conceptual standpoint alone I should be giving this movie 10 stars. The style is consistent across the years, well shot and the actors grow up and grow old before your very eyes... that is except for Ethan Hawke who is apparently some sort of immortal daywalker vampire. Needless to say, this is a true achievement in film from a technical standpoint. From a story standpoint, it's a little different. The story in the film has this feeling like it was written on the fly, without any real direction as to where it was going or what it was building towards any kind of earth shattering event but here's the thing, there comes a point where the movie knows you're realizing that fact and it even addresses it but asks you to hold on just a little longer. By the end of the show, the message the film has plays a lot like real life, not every story is glamorous and dramatic, real life is what it is and a lot of times it's not super eventful but when you look back over everything, you truly saw a boy grow into a man and experience the kind of joy, disappointment, loss, and love that we all do and it was done in a real life kind of way.

Overall, I really liked this movie and despite the fact that a lot of the acting by the kids was less than stellar, and the plot seemed to meander a bit over it's nearly 3 hour run time, the end product was such an achievement that I really can't knock off any points for any mistakes in pacing because at the end of the day, I got where I needed to be and honestly It just couldn't have been done better! Plus, the movie was shot in Houston, Austin and San Marcos, three cities I call home. Taking all into consideration, I simply CAN'T give this movie any less than a perfect 5...out of 5.

Tremors 5: Bloodlines (2015 Video)

Best since the original

[6/10 · 31 October 2016]

Just when you thought it was safe to switch to the Sci-Fi Channel, look who's back on the block! TREMORS! Michael Gross and Jamie Kennedy star in the newest installment of one of my favorite film series. Directed by actor turned director, Don Michael Paul who has helmed a series of direct to video sequels including Jarhead 2, Lake Placid 4, Sniper 5 and coming soon Kindergarten Cop 2 (I know what you're thinking, but bear with me), Tremors 5: Bloodlines tells an extremely familiar story centered around Burt Gummer and his new videographer assistant as they hunt down extra large versions of the subterranean ground grapplers we all know and love across the South African planes. If that sounded a lot like the plot of Tremors 2 with a few proper names flipped around, you'd be right but if you also think this movie is straight up garbage, you might be surprised.

I know that I've already front loaded this review with a lot of bad stuff but let me now tell you what is good about it. First of all the story is way better written than you'd expect it to be with plenty of nods and asides to the original film and all it's sequels. The CGI is also way better this go round than an any of the other Tremors sequels. That coupled with competent cinematography and pretty decent acting from the supporting cast makes this movie a little better than your standard B-movie fare. In short, somebody really came to play! It's not perfect however, the pacing is a little squirrelly at times, it references a few other movies a little too closely and the ending is not quite all aces but on the whole it's an enjoyable small movie that's just inches away from being a legit film and if you're a Tremors fan, you'll really enjoy it.

All in all, this B-movie is pretty rad and believe it or not, it's bordering on badass at times. In my opinion it's the best of the sequels and definitely worth a peek this Halloween season. Tremors 5 earns itself a hearty 3... out of 5.

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2 (2015)

Very loyal to the source material

[7/10 · 31 October 2016]

Based on the award winning book, the long awaited sequel marks the finale of the film series that made actress Jennifer Lawrence a star and inspired young girls the world over to rock the braided ponytail and take up archery classes. When we last left Katniss Everdeen and her friends, she was in the midst of planning an invasion of the Capitol city in District 1 to seize control of the country of Panam from the villainous President Snow who had just succeeded in brainwashing and turning the love of Katniss' life Peeta and turning into a slobbering lap dog of the capitol. Now, Ms. Everdeen and company soldier on towards The Capitol, destiny and a reckoning with President Snow.

I really have to commend this movie on its faithfulness to the book. Director Francis Lawrence really did a great job of turning the book into an action packed adventure. The movie was well shot and the supporting cast did a really good job too especially Jena Malone and Michelle Forbes. The only qualms I have with the movie come from it's dramatic moments between Peeta and Katniss which all come off as hokey and overly manufactured to seem more dramatic than they should be. At the same time, other moments, that actually were naturally dramatic and probably should have been focused on are played a lot dryer than they should have been. Ultimately, I can't fault the movie too much because in actuality, the book played things out in the same way, and what am I going to do about that? Complain that the movie is too much like the book? On the whole, I liked a lot that this movie had to offer. The special effects and action sequences were very impressive and it was very loyal to the source material; so much so that the only things I didn't like about the movie were the same things I didn't like about the book. So if you liked the novels, I definitely recommend seeing the film but if you're just a movie watcher, you might be less satisfied. In the end The Mocking Jay Part 2 gets a 3.5...out of 5.

Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (2015)

Everything old is new again

[9/10 · 31 October 2016]

I just came from seeing STAR WARS VII! Before I get started, I'd just like to point out that I have never seen a movie with as much hype behind it in my life! Disney has really pulled out all the stops and spared no expense in stoking the flames of this release. With all the merchandising and third party tie in's from makeup to jewelry to breakfast cereal to (no lie) oranges, this movie is set up to possibly be the biggest movie of all time! As a matter of fact, it's so set itself up that if it's anything less than that some will look at it as a failure. Directed by Hollywood powerhouse J.J. Abrams, the director of the Star Trek reboot, this new Star Wars movie seeks to blow more wind into the sails of the biggest film franchise of all time and wash the taste of the ill fated prequels from the mouths of Star Wars fans everywhere. So what does that mean for you, John and Jane Q. Movie-goer? Well, it typically means one of two things, either it is in fact the greatest movie ever made or it's a rotten piece of garbage that the studio is hoping for big numbers for in the first few weeks before people realize that it stinks on ice. Well folks, I've just come from the theater and I have to say that without a doubt, Star Wars delivers! Just to give you a bit of a background, the last time we we heard about the saga going on in a galaxy far, far away, Luke Skywalker and the Rebel Alliance had just defeated Darth Vader the evil Emperor Palpatine. The story in Star Wars VII takes place some 25 years after the defeat of the Galactic Empire where out of the ashes of the now defunct empire a new evil has emerged in the form of The First Order, an oppressive force bent on destroying Luke Skywalker and his group of Jedi Knights who have since gone into hiding. At the same time a faction of the Rebel Alliance known as The Resistance seeks to find Luke and fight The First Order. This story is centered around The characters Rey and Finn, two misfits, played by relative Hollywood newcomers Daisy Ridley and John Boyega and their journey to help The Resistance find Luke Skywalker at any cost. I'd love to tell more, but given the nature of this film, it's best to leave the details of the plot alone. Let's just say that they, along with Oscar Issac, who plays the hot shot X-Wing pilot Poe, do a great job of breathing some much needed new life into this franchise. At the same time, Domhnall Gleeson, Adam Driver and Andy Circus are famously evil as the quasi-Nazi First Order. This movie is not all new blood however, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill and all your favorite Star Wars heroes like Chewbacca, C-3PO and R2-D2 make appearances here and they work well to provide balance between the old and the new in the film.

The special effects are fantastic, the action scenes are crisp and well choreographed and the story is thrilling, fast paced and immersive, with equal parts old and new Star Wars, bringing in new characters and new stories while at the same time taking quite a few cues from the original Star Wars which for me ended up being both heart warming and a little disappointing seeing as the familiar parts begin to give the movie a bit of the Ghostbusters 2 syndrome in that a few too many of the same notes from the old series are hit.

All in all, I really really liked this movie and it's faults are all but crushed by it's hundreds of positives from funny script writing to thrilling visuals to the pure rush I got from seeing some of the old characters back together. I am definitely looking forward to seeing this movie at least another 2 times in the theater. Star Wars: The Force Awakens get a 4.5... out of 5.

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1 (2014)

Unsatisfying cliffhanger

[5/10 · 31 October 2016]

It's finally here! The last chapter to the popular Hunger Games movie series that broke literary sales records, made Jennifer Lawrence's career and influenced young girls everywhere to take up archery is finally coming to a close... well sort of. This is only part 1 of the final chapter. In it's infinite wisdom, Lionsgate films has decided to take the Harry Potter route in finishing off the Hunger Games series. What can I say about this movie that hasn't already been said about the second to last Harry Potter movie? Some may call this film a necessary bridge to the final chapter of the series, others may call it a gradual build to something far grander in scale than what we've seen before in other Hunger Games films. Some may say that but the fact of the matter is, this movie is just plain old fashioned filler. Trust me, I've read the books and the only thing you're seeing in this film is pure filler. I don't think I'm giving anything away by telling you that The third book of the Hunger Games saga depicts the events of a massive war between the capital and the other districts but it's not ALL just a battle, there are quite a few pieces of plot that need to occur leading up to the epic spectacle of war, things that the makers of the Hunger Games film series would rather just get out of the way than have them share the spotlight with what is sure to be the special effects event of fall 2015.

I could go on and tell you about everything else in the film as far as the cast and the story and the special effects but honestly, nothing has changed since the last film. Everyone does a good job and the film ends up where it needs to be but the overarching feeling behind it all is that it all of it adds up to being just a bunch of Hollywood BS stretching out projects for no reason. There's no real reason for this movie to exist, everything that happens here could have been explained in the first 20-30 minutes for the most part, Lionsgate just decided that they wanted to line their coffers with a little more coin before this franchise ends. Eh, who can blame them. Money is money after all. Unfortunately it doesn't add up to a very entertaining ride for everyone else in the theater.

All in all, if you're a fan of The Hunger Games films, you're seeing this for only one reason, to get to part 4 where the real action is. If you're just a casual fan, I'd say read the back of the DVD case or the wiki synopsis and hell, just watch the trailer and prepare yourself for part 4 because that's what you should be paying to see, not this. Perhaps I'll have a different opinion of the series once part 2 of Mocking Jay comes out, but as it stands right now on it's own, Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 gets a 2.5...out of 5

Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (2014)

Michael Keaton came to play

[9/10 · 31 October 2016]

I happened to catch BIRDMAN just a bit ago, for those of you who don't know about it or even for those who just saw the trailer and were still a little confused, Birdman is an art-house flick written and directed by one of the new heavies of Hollywood Alejandro González Iñárritu, of 21 Grams, Babble and Biutiful fame. The movie stars Michael Keaton as an aging actor living in the shadow of his past glories and his attempts to reignite his career with a Broadway play that he believes will help him prove to himself and the world that he's not just another flash in the pan Hollywood star.

It's kind of hard to know where to start with this movie because there is a lot going on in it and all of it is noteworthy. For starters, the story is really interesting as it seems to be written SPECIFICALLY for Michael Keaton about his experience since playing the famous caped crusader from Gotham City. The movie plays in a very art-house cinema sort of way incorporating sharp dialog with surreal visual elements that keep your mind working to figure out how the show is going to play out. This experience is fueled by performances by Edward Norton, Emma Stone, Naomi Watts (all of which have been in comic book movies... Yes, even Naomi Watts, remember Tank Girl? You don't? Well I guess it's just the same because it wasn't very good anyway) as well as a startlingly good performance by Zach Galifinakis! It's really interesting following Keaton and the cast throughout this film and the semi-surreal nature of it really keeps you glued to your seat and wondering what is going to happen next. Will Keaton grow wings or will he buy a pack of gum? Who knows?! And that's really the appeal of this film. It's a kind of original film making that hasn't been seen on a big screen since the late 1970s which is really refreshing.

I really enjoyed this movie and it is sure to garner a few golden statue nominations including Best Original Screenplay and maybe a Best Actor nomination for Keaton and honestly, it would be well deserved. If you do see this movie, here is a tip, don't let the trailer trick you into thinking it's a artsy superhero movie, IT TOTALLY ISN'T but don't let that dissuade you from going to check it out because It's in my top 10 this year. Birdman gets a 4.5...out of 5.

Nightcrawler (2014)

Gyllenhaal is equal parts Spongebob and T-1000

[8/10 · 31 October 2016]

Last night I saw NIGHTCRAWLER! Jake Gyllenhaal stars in this character study/thriller as sociopath Louis Bloom who sets his sights on becoming an independent news gatherer, which is pretty much a guy who chases the flashing lights of emergency vehicles looking for stories to sell to the local news. What lengths will he go to get the story? Well, let's just say that a man born without empathy or fear can go pretty damn far.

There's a lot to talk about with this movie but let me start off by saying just two words, "Jake Gyllenhaal." MAN! This guy is something else! He really shines in this movie. The way he portrays Bloom without an ounce of empathy is just unlike anything I've seen before. He's like a bizarre cross between SpongeBob SquarePants and the T-1000. It's really unnerving watching him in this role and every moment you spend with him makes your skin crawl but at the same time you're drawn in to wanting to see what he'll do next. Also noteworthy is Rene Russo who plays a veteran news anchor desperate to increase her ratings. I really liked the whole vibe of this movie which plays kinda like a retro John Carpenter film in some respects. It's got a style and a brash quality about it that has been largely unseen in film beyond the 1980s. The art direction and the cinematography are another triumph of this film. It manages to marry both hand-held and steady-cam shots in a fluid way that keeps the differing styles uniform and easy to follow despite some scenes that have quite a bit of action in them. Speaking of which, the driving sequences in this film are amazingly well shot and really interesting to watch. There are a few sticky moments that don't really make too much sense as far as the way the police are portrayed, letting just anyone hyper-close to dangerous crime scenes in a way that you know they would never do, but overall it's alright.

On the whole, I really liked this film. If you're a fan of films like Taxi Driver or Drive or any number of John Carpenter films, I think you'll like this too. It's not super heavy on the action like some of the other films but you will definitely get a thrill from it. Nightcrawler gets a 4...out of 5.

Top Five (2014)

Chris Rock finally delivers

[8/10 · 31 October 2016]

Top 5 is a comedy starring Chris Rock as a comedian turned major celebrity and his attempts to reinvent himself and his career with a serious drama that he believes will help him prove to himself and the world that he's not just another funnyman. If you're sitting around thinking to yourself that this summary sounds strangely similar to the plot of Birdman, well you're right! This happens to be yet another example of Hollywood coming up with similar ideas for films at the same time and I know some of you are thinking, "well if this movie is the same as Birdman and this one stars Chris Rock, who's track record in film is far below stellar, then I'll skip it." Well I'll tell you this, you should definitely reconsider because against all odds, for the first time in many years, Chris Rock delivers! From what I understand, Chris Rock took a different approach to making this movie and it really shows. His previous films showed a lot of signs of a movie made by committee with a lot of pulled punches and soft comedy that seemed much less caustic and biting than Rock's stand-up or anything seen in Rock's 90's sketch comedy in The Chris Rock Show. This movie however, was done with Rock squarely in the driver's seat acting as the writer, director and star and he does a good job in all respects creating a comedy showcase that had me laughing out loud in the theater and overall just out and out thrilled that old school Chris Rock was back and truly better than ever. Perhaps the best thing about the movie is that Rock is not alone in this film. Some pretty big names came out to help carry this movie including Gabrielle Union who plays Rock's fiancé, Rosario Dawson who plays an interviewer trying to get his life story and dozens and dozens of other comedians that drop in here and there to fill out the cast. The comedians really make this movie. Cedric the Entertainer, JB Smoove, Leslie Jones, Tracy Morgan and many other names great and small are here that I can't even begin to tell you about them all and they each do their part to contribute a verse to this kick-ass movie. Another good thing about this movie is the fact that it isn't afraid to tell edgy jokes or show nudity like so many great comedies in the 80s did. Nothing is off limits and nothing is too sacred or taboo to poke fun at. It's comedy with teeth and I loved it from start to finish. If I had to say anything bad about it I would have to say that it does have a bit of a time juggling all the balls it has in the air but by the end, all the loose ends are tied up in a pretty sweet package.

On the whole, I really enjoyed this movie and if you're a fan of comedy and stand-up comedians then you'll like this one too. Top Five gets a 4...out of 5.

Exodus: Gods and Kings (2014)

Totally betrayed the spirit of the story

[4/10 · 31 October 2016]

Exodus: Gods and Kings is the telling of the famous story of Moses and the liberation of the Jews from Egyptian rule. It's also a remake of a Charleton Heston classic so the makers of the film were pretty gutsy to even attempt to tackle this film, even though some would say that this film is due for a remake. Luckily for this movie, it has a lot of talent to back this massive undertaking including Christian Bale, Ben Kingsley, Joel Edgerton and John Turturro.

Let me start by saying that I did like a lot of this movie. The special effects, especially the scene with the plagues, are pretty intense and the way Moses is portrayed by Bale is pretty good for the first half of the film. It syncs up with the source material pretty well and though Bale might not look the part(I'll get to that in a minute), he gives an unseen yet accurate portrayal of the ex-general's demeanor. Joel Edgerton also does a good job as Ramesses in this. His arrogant yet somewhat insecure nature plays very close to the way one would assume he must have been according to the story. In fact, the relationship between Ramesses and Moses through the first act of the film is perhaps the best part of the movie.

I've said a lot of good things about this movie regarding the first half and with good reason because unfortunately, all of this movie's many problems show up in the second and third acts. The core of the movie's problems come from poor writing. There are a lot of changes made to the original Bible story and albeit they are tiny changes and the intent behind them is to try to make a more interesting story and I understand the want to make it more action packed, but the changes that they made weaken some of the characters and undercut the power in the whole story in general. For instance, Moses carries an Egyptian sword with him throughout the movie instead of his famous staff, sure the sword looks cool and it makes Moses look pretty gangsta when he pulls it out on people but the depth of story and the overall strength of Moses' character are lost because of it. It's changes like these that weaken the narrative of the story and later provide problems in keeping the movie's tone correct. Now to address the elephant in the room, the casting in this movie is absolutely ludicrous. All the extras in the movie are tan and brown skinned people who look indigenous to the Egyptian setting, but the lead roles are all the whitest white people that there are in Hollywood! Christian Bale, Sigourney Weaver, Aaron Paul, and Ben Mendelshon are all in this and seeing their faces in contrast to everyone else in this movie is just so jarring that in every beat of dramatic tension I kept asking myself, "why are they SOOO white?!" Even the little kid they get to represent God in this is just the whitest British kid ever and I'm sorry, but it just took me out of the movie! I would have loved to see someone like Dominic Cooper in this or Faran Tahir or ANYBODY slightly brown to bring a little realism to the film.

Overall, even though I did like some parts of the film, ultimately I can't really in good conscience recommend anyone rush out to see it especially with this winter being packed so tightly with better films. Exodus: Gods and Kings gets a 2...out of 5.

Deadpool (2016)

Meta af

[10/10 · 31 October 2016]

The last time we saw "the Merc with the mouth" it was in X-Men Origins: Wolverine. He laid at the bottom of a pile of rubble, mouth-less, disgraced and his character bastardized for the sake of name recognition. Fans everywhere shed a tear believing that their one and only chance to see Deadpool in all his snarky, cartoonish, meta, murderous, mayhem were gone forever. In the time since that debacle of 2009, the world is a different place. Women have gained the right to vote, we've had two Popes and Chris Hemsworth redefined the word "sploosh" for women everywhere. Most importantly though, Deadpool has gone from largely unknown cult comic character to the Che Guevara of Marvel's underground appearing in Marvel's animated movies, his own video game and growing an enormous fan base. A fan base so large in fact that 20th Century Fox was convinced (albeit begrudgingly) to green light Ryan Reynolds, perhaps the film's biggest supporter, to take another shot at creating more true to character version of Deadpool.

So what's the verdict on this movie? IT'S PERFECT! Everything that makes Deadpool the dark comedy king of Marvel is here! He's cocky, hyper violent, self referential, clearly a little pissy about having to drag Fox kicking and screaming into making this movie and is as nutty as an old school Bugs Bunny cartoon, you know, the good ones with all the lovable racism. The action scenes are stellar with over the top violence and believe it or not, the love story that drives the whole thing is genuine and heartfelt with Morena Baccarin playing against Ryan Reynolds with an equally dark sense of humor.

So if you're looking for a good both a good Valentine's Day movie to take a loved one to this weekend, and a movie that will make you howl with laughter one second and then shout "EWW" and "awe" within that same second. Check this flick out! You'll be glad you did! Deadpool gets a PERFECT 5... out of 5.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows (2016)

Pizza Party On

[7/10 · 31 October 2016]

I saw the new NINJA TURTLES! The new Michael Preston directed, Michael Bay produced film serves up another slice of #TurtlePower to a new generation of Ninja Turtles fans as the green machine takes on inter-dimensional baddies looking to bring a war machine to rain down hell on our world.

If you will hearken back to 1991 remember being disappointed by the fact that TMNT 2: Secret of the Ooze didn't have Beebop, Rocksteady, Baxter Stockman, Krang or the Technodrome in it, this movie is an apology to your inner child. Notice I said "child" because if you're a 36 year old man walking in expecting Leonardo to chop the Shredder's head off and spray blood all over the walls, this movie isn't for you. That edginess died with the first movie back in the Eastman and Laird days. However, if you still want to see some good ol' T-U-R-T-L-E POWER taking names and cutting the Shredder #noslack then this is really something you'll like. Take your kids out and have a fun time at the movies because after all, that's what this entire franchise is about. Pizza and fun. Now, the the internet community may disagree with me and believe that somehow making another silly ninja turtles movie is an affront to their childhood but really people, put the words: teenage, mutant, ninja and turtles in any other combination and listen to how ridiculous you sound. TMNT: Out of the Shadows is a welcomed throwback to the good old 90s cartoon and earns itself a respectable 3.5... out of 5.

Independence Day: Resurgence (2016)

How late IS this movie?

[4/10 · 31 October 2016]

Somebody alert the press! Independence Day got itself a sequel. I don't know where the studio brass' collective heads were when they green-lit this movie but my best guess is that they took a jump to the left out of a time warp. Never the less, everyone's favorite Sunday afternoon movie is back with a new chapter starring Jeff Goldblum and Bill Pullman reprising their roles as David and President Whitmore along side Liam Hemsworth, Jessie T. Usher who plays the son of the absent Will Smith's character and Maika Monroe as Whitmore's daughter. Also returning are Brent Spiner and the incomparable Judd Hirsche as David's father Julius. In short everyone is here to take on another swing at the alien menace who in response to their defeat in 1996, sent in a call for reinforcements.

The biggest stumbling block this movie has is just how impossibly late it is. The original film, despite it's flaws, had a lot going for it with it's white hot cast, adventurous spirit and unique story. It didn't matter that a computer running Windows 95 could somehow interface with an alien spaceship or that Vivica A. Fox and Boomer the dog avoid a trillion degree fire by hiding from it in a closet or just how impossibly racist Judd Hirsche's character was. It just felt right at the time. This movie however is just so long overdue that it's no longer the cute as a button baby that we would have embraced with open arms had it come out in 1998. Instead, it's an overweight 34 year old man with a mustard stain on his horribly faded Blues Traveler t-shirt. The overall story feels dated, juvenile and ridiculously out of place especially when compared to the films that came in it's wake over the last 20 years like Edge of Tomorrow and Battle Los Angeles which believe it or not is a better film than this. The action is confusing, the story is limp and certain characters make returns only to die or unceremoniously be written out of the story. There is an extremely interesting side plot dealing with an ground war that the aliens fought with human forces in Africa which would have made an incredible film in and of itself but that bit is forsaken in favor of more cameos and another far more convoluted story line that ends with an even more unbelievable and convoluted cliffhanger.

Ultimately I can't really recommend this movie to anyone other than the biggest of big ID4 fans. Independence Day: Resurgence gets a 2... out of 5

Ghostbusters: Answer the Call (2016)

How! Dare! You!

[2/10 · 31 October 2016]

Point of order before I get into this review, I would be not be doing this review justice without briefly giving you a rundown of my status as a Ghostbusters super fan. I had the first movie memorized completely at the age of 5, I've seen every episode of both Ghostbusters TV shows at least twice and I built a 98% screen accurate proton pack prop complete with both lights and sound. So yes, I'm a super fan and yes, I've been one of those internet guys who have not been a fan of what has been going on with the production and promotion leading up to the release of this film. That's why I have waited so long to see the movie, and even longer to write the review. I didn't want my displeasure with the production to unfairly color my view. Now that I feel I am fully composed, this is my review for Ghostbusters 2016.

This new version of everyone's favorite paranormal eliminators is actually a remake that takes place in a universe where nobody knows who to call when there's something strange in the neighborhood. The movie has Bridesmaids stars Melissa McCarthy and Kristen Wiig reuniting along with other SNL alumni in Kate McKinnon and Leslie Jones as four ladies who have taken up the mantle as the chief specter inspectors in the city of New York as they investigate a growing number of unusually high powered spooks running amok in the big apple.

Sigh...I could have written and cast a better film with the 4 hours and 57 minutes I have left in this day that would be better than the HORSECRAP I saw on the screen this afternoon. Part of what made the original Ghostbusters great was that it was a comedy but it looked like a serious drama or supernatural thriller. Its shot with wide angle lenses, it had a meticulously written script by Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis, two of the best writers for SNL and SCTV at the time and it always knew just how far to go with it's improv.

The problem with this version of Ghostbusters is that nobody wrote it. What I mean by that is that nobody WRITES comedies in general anymore. It's very clear that they just had a general rough draft grade idea of what they wanted to do with this movie and then they just get a bunch of improv actors together to shoot ten versions of one scene and pick the best one. Director Paul Feig has made a career out of doing just this. That style of making everything up as you go along is OK for something like The Heat or Bridesmaids, something that nobody has any expectations for. If Feig had decided to make another of his original comedies, I wouldn't have had a problem with him saddling up Melissa McCarthy and riding her to the finish line, but for the love of Pete Venkman, you CANNOT DO THAT with a movie like Ghostbusters. You can't fuel the remake of the number one movie of 1984, the number one year of movies ever, on pure "yes, and..." power. There were scenes that went nowhere, there was no cohesive theme, the editing was shoddy, the characters lacked any kind of depth or arch, and it was shot like an ABC family/Scooby-Doo film. I've seen Ghostbusters fan films that were more inspired than this movie and I can say that without any reservation. Don't even get me started on the Dumb and Dumber To grade disaster that Chris Hemsworth's character was. In short, nobody could be that stupid and function even in suspended reality. It's not all bad though, Kate McKinnon's character was very quirky and charming and there were some pretty good cameos and Easter eggs here but even they ended up leaving a sour taste in my mouth. It's kinda like dropping pieces of candy into a bowl of vomit, the more you see it, the more you are just disappointed that all the good stuff is getting ruined by everything around it. This is completely unacceptable for a 140 million dollar Sony movie.

Before I close, I have to address one more thing that really chaps my back and thighs which is the fact that the people responsible for making this movie accused misogynists and internet trolls of being against this movie because it starred four women. They did this while at the same time, they knew for a fact that they started their movie with crude toilet humor and ended it with a massive testicle punch joke. HOW DARE YOU! HOW! DARE! YOU!!!! Ghostbusters gets a 1... out of 5

Suicide Squad (2016)

Juggling 10 balls and catches 5

[5/10 · 31 October 2016]

The highly controversial and highly anticipated film that furthers the story of the DC Universe. Suicide Squad tells a Dirty Dozen style story drawn around the street level villains in DC Comics who after imprisonment, are forced to work together to go on a suicide mission to save the city from other-worldly enemies.

The critics really have been tearing this film a new one claiming that it's hot garbage, mostly because it's not the Dark Knight in my estimation but the reality of the situation is that it's not as bad as all that. The action is cool, the acting is good and the characters are very interesting and fun to watch interact. The reality of the situation is that this movie is actually 5 or 6 different movies all going on at once. Some are really good and some are really bad but giving it one rating overall doesn't do the movie's individual parts justice. Suicide squad is a well-intentioned Deadshot movie about family and kids, a good Diablo movie about redemption, a Lifetime grade movie about Harley Quinn and her abusive douche bag boyfriend The Joker(who by the way, contrary to popular belief, I think was supposed to be an unlikable character. He's still a villain remember?! The Justice League has to fight him!), a half baked love story between Captain Flag and Enchantress and whatever screen time there was leftover got spent on everyone else so Killer Croc, Captain Boomerang etc were forced to fight it out for relevance or purpose in the film. That's where the problems come in. The movie is so preoccupied with juggling all 25 different balls it has in the air that it drops about 10 of them in the process. I could go into depth about what the movie gets right and wrong from my perspective but it all comes down to the fact that there were too many working parts for them to come together correctly. Ultimately, Suicide Squad gets a 2.5...out of 5.

Hardcore Henry (2015)

Pure exploitation and high octane fun!

[10/10 · 31 October 2016]

I just came from seeing HARDCORE HENRY! The new high paced first person action flick puts you up close and violently personal as you watch through the perspective of Henry a voiceless modern day Frankenstein's monster crossed supped-up with cybernetic limbs and super reflexes. With a little help from a mysterious scientist Jimmy, played by Sharlto Copley, Henry runs, jumps, punches, kicks and shoots his way through the city trying to escape from an army of shadowy hit men on a quest to save your kidnapped wife.

The movie melds dark comedy with the highest octane action and most extreme violence you've ever seen to create a movie experience like no other. Kinda like a mixture of a first person shooter video game the Jason Statham movie Crank or a twisted rated R version one of those first person Universal Studios rides turned up to 11. This movie is a hard core action packed brutal gut punching riot of unimaginable proportions. I howled laughing one second and the next I was literally shouting "WOW!" at the screen. This is one movie that's definitely worth checking out in a theater(though you might want to sit in the back or to one side of the theater to avoid the shaky cam motion sickness) and if DBOX is available in your town, I'd strongly suggest you look into it because it makes it way more like the roller coaster ride it's already set up to be. Hardcore Henry gets a 5... out of 5.