Tuesday, May 27, 2014

One More for the Mutants.

Comic and non-comic book fans all across the world waited for almost three dreadful longing years for the release of the next X-men film. Ladies and gentlemen, X-Men: Days of Future Past has arrived.

Making close to $300 million this weekend, X-Men: Days of Future Past completely destroyed the box-office knocking all films down a spot on the charts. And after seeing the action superhero thriller Sunday night, it's easy to see why it's such a success.

The film takes place a couple years after the X-Men: First Class movie; well, sorta. The story-line is set over two simultaneous time periods. In other words, they're going on at the same time. The opening scene reveals a dark future for all of mankind. New York, Moscow, and other big cities are no longer the glamorous places they once were. In this dark future, the world is pretty much run by mutant-hunting Sentinels. They are designed to eliminate the mutant population and its trace. Yet, not all hope is lost.

Those who remain try their best to stay hidden from the outside world. As seen in the previews, the remaining mutants are the famous X-Men: Professor X, Wolverine, Kitty Pryde, Storm, Iceman, Bishop, Colossus, Blink, and Magneto as well as a few more. But no matter how hard they try, it is almost impossible to defeat a Sentinel given the fact that they can adapt and mutate to have any power. This proves to be a downfall for the mutant population.

Professor X (Patrick Stewart) and Magneto (Ian McKellen) come to realize that maybe this horrid future can be prevented. The key point in history was in 1973 when Mystique or Raven, played by the sexy Jennifer Lawrence, murders Dr. Bolivar Trask (Peter Dinklage), the founder of the Sentinel program. Now, someone must travel back in time to prevent Mystique from making this mistake. Since time travel is so painful, only Logan/Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) can bear the journey.

But Wolverine can't do it alone. He must team up with the young Charles Xavier (James McAvoy) and the egotistical Eric Lehnsherr/Magneto (Michael Fassbender) with the help of some newly introduced mutants like Quicksilver (Evan Peters). Together they will alter the course of time and hopefully save their lives.

X-Men: Days of Future Past has to be hands down the best X-Men movie to date. The casting is just perfect, and the action sequences are amazing. The special effects are visually mesmerizing and adrenaline filled. But be warned, a fresh review on the previous X-Men films such as X-Men 1-3 and X-Men: First Class is highly recommended.

In this movie, all the mutants are pushed to their absolute highest exposing their true powers. There's a scene in particular where Magneto and Storm team up to destroy an incoming wave of pissed off Sentinels and boy do those Sentinels get wrecked! Not only is the old Magneto a total B.A., but the young Magneto has his own tricks up his sleeve. His self-centered personality fuels his hatred towards humans which is clearly shown in this movie.

The plot is perfect. The adaptations made from the original comic book make X-Men: Days of Future Past a captivating film. Each scene makes the audience think deeply on what is really going on. But the fun doesn't stop there. Nowadays, superhero films are becoming famous for the small little details in the movie which test a viewer's true attention. If you already saw the movie, click here to see a few things you might have missed in X-Men: Days of Future Past. 

I highly, highly. recommend you see the newest addition to the X-Men saga. If you need a little refresher, click here. But otherwise, many of you will remember the big events from previous films. The ending is both emotional as well as a great cliffhanger. Not only that, but by now you should all know that sticking around until after the end credits is a good thing to do. After the end-credits, a small clip is shown which foreshadows the villain of the next X-Men movie which has been officially titled, X-Men: Apocalypse and is set to release spring 2016. I for one, will be going to see X-Men: Days of Future Past again since I was a little rough on my mutant knowledge. This, unfortunately, made the movie a little confusing. Yet, otherwise, it fulfilled my expectations as far as epicness goes.

One of the most satisfying movies I've seen so far. It will not let down. X-Men: Days of Future Past is one of most thrilling, action-packed, adrenaline-pumping joyride released this year. It receives a well deserved 9/10.



Saturday, May 24, 2014

Cop Comedy Season Has Begun.

It seems that 2014 will be the season of cop comedies. With Ride Along being the first and Lets Be Cops coming out soon, there's a lot of pressure to be the comedy of the year.

Kevin Hart has managed to make his way into the movie scene starring in a variety of comedies this past year and is continuing to enroll himself with more parts. So this isn't the last we'll see of him.

Ride Along premiered at the start of this year. It's promising trailers excited audiences all over the country. The film follows Ben Barber (Hart) and his beau Angela Payton (Tika Sumpter) as they live on their daily love life. The only problem is Angela's brother James (Ice Cube) isn't too fond of Ben. When Ben is ready to take the next step in his relationship, Angela tells him she wants her brother's blessing.

Feeling intimidated by detective James Payton, Ben decides to enroll into the police academy hoping it will impress him. James's reaction is very skeptical. I mean, come on, Kevin Hart is 5'2". Who wouldn't be skeptical? James decides to take Ben on a ride along to see if he can handle the heat. The duo embark on a bonding journey filled with hilarious scenes and lines.

I was part of that excited audience. But I never had the chance to see it in theaters. I rented it last night and was really stoked to see Kevin Hart. He is hilarious. But when analyzing the movie as a whole, it really isn't that great. The plot is super underdeveloped making every single scene highly predictable.

The story line was too linear and did not expand beyond its boundaries. The action sequences were actually pretty good. But the whole movie wasn't terrible. It was actually pretty funny. Kevin Hart is such an energetic actor which factors into his humor. Well done Kev. As for Ice Cube, what can I say? He doesn't change. Picture his role in 21 Jump Street and place into Ride Along. They are almost identical.

I recommend this movie if you're looking for a good laugh with your friends and family. Trust me you'll find it hilarious. I looked crazy laughing at the movie while watching it during the night. The humor is golden. Maybe don't pay too much attention to the story line and pay attention to what they're actually saying. That's the key in enjoying this comedy. I rate Ride Along with a 6/10.


Saturday, May 10, 2014

Take a Trip With the Millers!

Don't think two metric tons of marijuana can be smuggled across the border? Well think again. Jason Sudeikis, Jennifer Aniston, Emma Roberts, and Will Poulter managed to do it in their new film We're the Millers.

The comedy follows David Clark (Sudeikis), a middle-aged drug-dealer, as he is given the mission of smuggling a "smidge" of marijuana across the border after going into debt with drug-lord Brad Gurdlinger. Realizing that it would be extremely difficult for him to accomplish the mission on his own, he decides to pose as a family. In comes stripper Rose O'Reilly (Aniston), Casey Mathis (Roberts), and Kenny Rossmore (Poulter) to help David as they travel across the border in an RV.

Throughout the film, the "family" starts to grow on each other even though they may not want it. They realize that if they're going to survive, they will have to work together to keep each other safe.

I was really excited to watch this movie after I saw the trailer for it. It looked hilarious! After several months, I finally got around to seeing this comedy. Honestly, I'm glad I did!

The movie is really funny. The actors are amazing in playing each of their roles. Jennifer Aniston is sexier than ever considering she's 45! Look at her!
The overall plot is very predictable. Which is kind of a let down. But, the story line's predictability allows room for more comedic lines giving the film the humorous support it needs. Jason Sudeikis plays his role in the same way he plays other characters in previous movies. So there is nothing huge to expect out of him. The rising star, Will Poulter, does a great job of executing an awkward, low self-esteem teenager. Not only that, but I am extremely jealous of him. He is probably the only guy out there that can say he made out with Jennifer Aniston and Emma Roberts! You are one luck guy Poulter.  Click here to watch the clip. 

We're the Millers has its fair share of heartwarming scenes that makes the film connect to the audience more effectively. Nick Offerman and Kathryn Hahn are also hilarious in representing the typical cheery-road trip family. I highly recommend you see this movie. I'm sure you'll get a kick out of it. 

W'e're the Millers is now one of my favorite comedies to date. It earns a 8/10.



Red Band Trailer 2:





Monday, May 5, 2014

Spider-Man Steps It Up

This past Friday, the highly anticipated sequel to The Amazing Spider-Man hit theaters creating a wave of reactions.

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 continues the story of Peter Parker (Andrew Garfield) as he lives on his life saving innocent civilians and maintaining a relationship with his belle, Gwen Stacy (Emma Stone). Yet, Gwen proves to be his weakness. Throughout the film, Gwen's father, Captain Stacy (Denis Leary), appears  in Peter's visions reminding him of the promise Peter made: whatever Peter does, Gwen must stay out of it.

While Peter is struggling with his relationship, the rich prep boy Harry Osborn (Dane DeHaan) comes back to the city to visit his father on his deathbed. After Norman Osborn dies, Harry inherits the multi-billion dollar corporation, Oscorp, along with its handy perks.

Now, where does Electro come into play you ask? Well, Electro is just another employee at Oscorp who idolizes Spider-Man every second he breathes. He has no friends and no apparent family. Everyone is basically disrespectful to him to the point where no one knows his name. When Max Dillon (Jamie Foxx) is the result of an electrifying accident, he emerges as the infamous Electro. Now Spider-Man must face one of the most powerful villains exposed to the superhero to date. But wait, Green Goblin wants some of the action too.

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 wasn't necessarily at the top of my list of movies to watch this month. Mostly because I've never been a huge fan of Spider-Man. But the first released trailer for the movie drew me into the superhero's universe. In the trailers, three villains are shown. This made me really excited about the amount of action there would be. Man was I right!

The action sequences between Spider-Man and Electro are wonderfully done. A little respect is returned to the denoted superhero when Spider-Man demonstrates his powerful capabilities and wits when it comes to battle. The dubstep being played in synchronization with Electro's zaps add to the epic theme of action. Although the confrontation between vigilante and villain were pretty awesome, it turned out to be a flaw.

With the amount of work and time put into the battles of Electro and Spider-Man, a high expectation was set for the next action scene with the following villain. So when Spider-Man met the Green Goblin, I was a bit disappointed. They fought for maybe two and a half minutes. It exposed the difficulty of having too many villains.

If you can't decide if you want to go see the movie or not, just watch the trailers. They are such spoilers that it doesn't make the premiere any exciting. You only miss a few details (I won't spoil it for you). If it weren't for the under-developed action sequences, the movie would be a lot better. The Amazing Spider-Man 2 receives a 7.8/10.





Friday, May 2, 2014

80's High School Musical

Musical movies are always a rough business to go into. Not only does the producer have to take into account the musical numbers, but he also has to incorporate a good story line. Rock of Ages is a good example why the clash of these two concepts doesn't always work.

The film takes place during the late 80's and early 90's in LA. The story follows Sherrie Christian (Julianne Hough); a typical small-town girl with a dream of making it in the music business. After getting her suitcase stolen, Drew Boley (Diego Boneta) approaches her and offers to help get her a job at The Bourbon. The club is run by Dennis Dupree (Alec Baldwin) and is known to host the biggest Rock n' Roll stars of the decade. But now, the club will go bankrupt if it doesn't pull out enough money to preserve the "Holy Grail of Rock."

Dennis decides to book none other than the most famous group of the 80's. Arsenal is led by rock star Stacee Jaxx (Tom Cruise). A concert and a scam artist later, The Bourbon is still in a hole. Meanwhile, Sherrie is still struggling to hit it big and Drew may have gotten the career he hoped for. Oh but wait, there's more. A puritan driven group is threatening to shut down The Bourbon.

Since I have sisters, it was painful for me to sit and watch all three High School Musicals in a row. So naturally, I dove into Rock of Ages with a little skepticism. And guess what? I was right! The plot isn't developed far enough making everything seem rushed and out of place. The actors played really cheesy roles expect for a few. Such as the strip club owner Justice (Mary J. Blige) or rocker assistant manager Lonny (Russell Brand) who did a good job executing their roles. Lonny was actually pretty funny.

The only thing that saved this movie was the amazing soundtrack that tagged along throughout the movie. I do have to applaud Tom Cruise for doing a pretty good job of playing a drugged up horny rocker. Kudos to you man. Alec Baldwin had a terrible performance. It just didn't fit him. I recommend you stick to your Capital One commercials cause your acting days are over.

When looking at the film as whole, the movie isn't all that bad. But when playing close attention to the dialogue in each scene, it ruins it. It's just another lame musical that fails to deliver a well thought out story line. If you're into musical movies, I say you watch it. It might play well for you. But for me, Rock of Ages is going to have to be a 6/10.


Tuesday, April 29, 2014

I Already Know What I'm Dressing Up As for Halloween

Just last week, the trailer for the new comedy Let's Be Cops was released revealing what looks to be one of the comedies of the summer.

The film tackles the lives of two pals (Damon Wayans Jr. and Jake Johnson) who seem to be going through an apparent mid-life crisis. But they're only 30.

Just when they're about to hit rock bottom, the two decide to go out for a little party. Jake Johnson (New Girl) mistakes a masquerade party for a costume party resulting in the two going as cops. But this little mistake turns out better than they expected. Every single person they run into thinks that the duo are cops.

The two take advantage of this and take it to a whole new level. They crash parties, do a fair share of drugs, and even get a cop car off the internet.

Let's just say that they realize they might have taken it a little too far. Only, they're too deep to pull out. Who knows? They might even do some police work themselves.

Being that this is a Damon Wayans Jr. movie, it could go both ways. His previous films contained humorless and cheesy lines that just ruined each movie as a whole. However, with a star-packed film such as Let's Be Cops, it might be enough to put Wayans's name back out there. Personally, I believe the trailer does a really good job of executing hilarious scenes with great timing.  It captured not only my attention, but the attention of all the people I showed it to. I will definitely be purchasing a ticket for this comedy.

Check out the red band trailer below!


Friday, April 25, 2014

Yay for Democracy!

I am normally not the type of guy that spends most of his time watching documentaries. So when my history teacher informed us that we were going to watch a documentary on the Arab Spring, I was not excited. At all.

Little did I know, two minutes in and I would already be hooked. A Whisper to a Roar starts out with an animated segment that symbolizes the fight for democracy and how it isn't the job of one person to stand up for others, but job of a nation united. The film documents the series of events that have taken place in the countries of Malaysia, Egypt, Ukraine, and Zimbabwe that have led to the fight for freedom from an authoritarian government.

From a Facebook page in Egypt, to a student-led protest in Venezuela, A Whisper to a Roar demonstrates  just how powerful the people of a country can be. It's a story of citizens discovering the true power they hold and how much influence they have in the shaping of their country. And honestly, it's pretty awesome.

This movie is a great example of how much a government is afraid of their people. They do all they can to stop the opposition forces. Time after time the government oppresses their people through murders, "non-functional" polling stations, and even chemical warfare. But no matter how hard they try, the people fight back and keep defending the human rights they deserve.

Overall, A Whisper to a Roar is an excellent documentary that will inform you of the struggles going on in the world. I did not know that Malaysia was going through such great change; nor did I know Zimbabwe had such a malevolent President. Frankly, I didn't know any of these things were going on! But I'm glad I watched it. The only thing that denotes this film is the way it ends.

Most of these uprisings are current events (especially Ukraine). But that doesn't mean the film has to end as a cliff hanger. The overall goal of executing an overall sum to the documentary was done poorly. I sat there saying to myself, "That's it?"

I highly recommend you see A Whisper to a Roar. It may not be at the top of your list, but it should definitely be on the list of films to watch. If it weren't for that crappy ending, I'd give it a higher score; but for now, it's a 7.8/10.


Saturday, April 19, 2014

Worth. Every. Minute.

You have no idea how long I have heard the phrase, "Run, Forrest, run!" Frankly, I didn't know why people said it. I knew it was from Forrest Gump, but I didn't know what all the hype was about. Well, last night, I finally got around to watching what was probably one of the most captivating movies of all time; Forrest Gump.

It all started with a man named Forrest (Tom Hanks). Born with an IQ of 75, Forrest isn't necessarily the smartest guy on earth; but he sure is the most talented one. The film is told from the perspective of Gump while sitting at a bus stop. From becoming a nationally recognized football player, to receiving the Medal of Honor after fighting in Vietnam, Forrest Gump sure has had one hell of a life.

Yet, even though his life is pretty amazing, his heart cannot be completed without the love of his life, Jenny Curan (Robin Wright). Throughout the whole movie, Forrest refers back to Jenny multiple times. But Jenny doesn't necessarily feel the same way about him. Time after time, Jenny breaks poor Forrest's heart; and time after time, Forrest continues to love the girl that made him feel special.

This is one of those romantic comedies that will have you glued to the TV until the very end. Tom Hanks's performance is captivating and emotionally moving throughout the whole film. He delivers his role with such innocence that it makes the movie seem even more realistic. You get attached to his character and even feel every bit of emotion Forrest Gump goes through: the heartbreaks, the sorrow, the warm love.

But one of the things that frustrated me the most as a viewer was how poorly Jenny Curan treated him. I mean yeah the guy isn't the most intelligent, but that doesn't mean you ditch him whenever you feel like it. I later realized that's all part of the big picture. The movie is filled with symbolism.

I happened to watch the AMC run of the film which showed story notes throughout the film. Otherwise I never would've known that the change in hairstyles represents the emotional growth of certain characters. It's actually pretty interesting. Take a look here.

I definitely recommend Forrest Gump to all of you. It won't disappoint. It's a great mixture of comedy, tragedy, a bit of action, and romance. It'll make you think twice when complaining about your life. This movie gets a highly deserved 9/10.


Thursday, April 17, 2014

A Hangover With No Alcohol?

Finally, the trilogy has come to an end. The crazy adventure of four guys is now done forever.

In this finale to the classic movies, Phil, Doug, Stu, and the rest of Alan's family decide Alan should get treated for his mental problems. On their way to Arizona, the wolfpack is kidnapped and taken to a gangster named Marshall (John Goodman). Marshall is looking for the one and only Mr. Chow (Ken Jeong). As collateral, Marshall takes Doug until Phil, Stu, and Alan find the escaped convict that is Chow. Oh, and did I mention Chow stole $21 million in gold?

The Hangover Part III  was a disappointment in all aspects. I expected a hilarious film with great actors. All I got was dry-humorless comedy. I have to give credit to the writers though. The plot overall was clever. Having it all tie back to the first first movie was a smart move. However, even though the story line proved swift, it didn't incorporate certain traits of humor that the previous movies contained. I mean, why call it a 'hangover' if they don't even get drunk?

The producers should have known from previous experience how much they needed to improve. The Hangover Part II barely delivered with critics and that was because it resembled the first movie. I can understand why the writers created a whole different story instead of the traditional "three guys get drunk and one disappears" plot. But for Pete's sake at least make it a bit funny!

Zach Galifianakis's role of Alan was just lame. In fact, Alan seemed "a few screws short" throughout the movie. Nothing like his performance in the previous films. There were some hilarious scenes such as the clip where Phil (Bradley Cooper), Stu (Ed Helms), and Alan go to a "Gold for Pawn" shop in Vegas where Alan meets the love of his life, Cassie (Melissa McCarthy). Let's just say is an awkward-gross kind of chemistry going on.

I expected a lot more from the end to such an epic trilogy but they left me hanging. I laughed maybe four times throughout the whole movie. But, if you are a strong Hangover fan, I suggest you watch it because you might get a laugh out of it. I know I couldn't. The Hangover Part III gets a 5/10.


Monday, April 14, 2014

''Cowboys & Aliens.'" "What?" "Exactly."

What do you get when you throw aliens into the old west? Boredom. You get nothing but boredom.

In 2011, the sci-fi thriller-attempted action film hit theaters starring some of Hollywood's biggest stars such as Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford, and Olivia Wilde. The result, a poorly developed plot with emotionless protagonists.

The film opens up with a beat up cowboy who just woke up in the middle of the desert with no recognition of who he is. Strangely, he has a metal bracelet on his wrist that turns into a gigantic gun. He stumbles upon the town of Absolution, Arizona where people aren't too friendly. As always, there is the gunslinger in the western story, and in Cowboys & Aliens, it happens to be Woodrow Dolarhyde (Harrison Ford).

When Dolarhyde gallops into town to get his son out of jail, he meets the lone cowboy with a weird shackle on his wrist (Daniel Craig). As they are about to get into a heated gunfight, out of nowhere, alien spaceships swoop down and completely destroy the town. They don't leave empty handed though, they take hostages. One of those hostages happens to be Dolarhyde's son. Woodrow teams up with Jake Lonergan (Daniel Craig), and Ella Swenson (Olivia Wilde) to stand up for the small town of Absolution. Little do they know, it could mean the end of the world.

Cowboys & Aliens is one of those movies that doesn't make sense. The two concepts just don't connect. The plot doesn't make it any better. This movie had a lot of potential to do well. But nope. All that was flushed down the drain leaving a dry-dumbed-down story line. It started out with some great classic action sequences; but once those aliens dropped by, it went downhill.

Daniel Craig also didn't express enough emotion. He seemed "too cool" for the role. Olivia Wilde seemed to weave in and out of scenes, and the alien invasion made no sense.

The few battle scenes kept me going. But to be honest, I fell asleep before I got to the ending. I really had high hopes for this movie. Sadly, it was a disappointment. Cowboys & Aliens gets a 5.5/10.


Saturday, April 12, 2014

A Trip Back to the 80's.

As I was digging through my dad's box of old VHS cassettes, I stumbled upon Beverly Hills Cop. I had never heard of this movie but being an Eddie Murphy fan, I decided to sit down and watch it. Truth is, I really enjoyed it.

Beverly Hills Cop is the story of Axel Foley (Eddie Murphy), a Detroit police officer who gets into a lot of trouble when solving cases. But when his old friend comes to visit him and gets murdered, Foley embarks on an investigation to find the stone-hearted man that killed his best friend.

Axel Foley travels to Beverly hills and teams up with his high school friend Jenny Summers (Lisa Eilbacher) to hunt down the murderer. Along the way, he gets into some trouble and has to deal with two detectives following him around (Judge Reinhold and John Ashton). Let's just say Eddie Murphy gets more than he bargained for when he learns that there's more to the whole story.

Beverly Hills Cop is a great action comedy with Eddie Murphy's foul-mouth making it even better. The whole plot and action sequences make this '84 film stand out. Axel Foley is a hilarious character that cracks jokes almost every scene making me almost choke on my popcorn because I was laughing so hard. Sure the film is a bit centered on Eddie Murphy, but that saves the movie from being boring. The film wouldn't be as great if it were not for his persona. Other famous film critics weren't too fond of the film. But I leave it up to you. I'm positive you'll get a kick out of it. I give it an 8/10.

For a different perspective on the movie, take a look at Roger Ebert's view on the movie.




Thursday, April 10, 2014

"Remember, Remember, the Fifth of November."

"People should not be afraid of their governments. Governments should be afraid of their people."

Every time I attempt to watch V for Vendetta I happen to leave and never finish the movie. Well now, I can happily say, I have watched all 130 minutes of it. And man was it a great film!

The first time around I didn't understand what exactly was going on. But now that I sat through it, it all makes sense.

The movie takes place in an alternate future where England is one of the supreme powers of the world governed by a totalitarian government that has created a "perfect" society. Here's the catch. In this alternate future, Germany won WWII and America is basically going through hell. England has gained power and seized all riots in its country to create "peace."

V for Vendetta has two general plots; one encompasses the other. The first plot addresses "V." V is a victim of a secret experiment done by the government of England only to go wrong. Everyone basically dies in a crazy fire. V then seeks revenge against those who put him through all that suffering. Since V was in the fire, his entire body was burnt. Which is why he wears a Guy Fawkes mask and a body suit.

The second encompassing plot concerns the revolution of the people of England led by none other than V himself. In this version of England, everything is religious based. No homosexuality, no sins, etc.. V then meets Evey. Together they lead the revolution in what is one of the most thrilling movies made.

I absolutely enjoyed V for Vendetta. It contains some of the most symbolic quotes and ideas that gives the film its own impact. The story line is great, Natalie Portman and Hugo Weaving do an amazing job with their roles, and the effect of the film is powerful. I highly recommend this movie to all of you. Sure there are some scenes that are slow, and you never find out the identity of V, but that's the idea.

"Beneath this mask there is more than flesh. Beneath this mask there is an idea, Mr. Creedy, and ideas are bulletproof."

V for Vendetta receives an 8.9/10.




Wednesday, April 9, 2014

Fairy Tale Takes a Turn Down Epic Lane.

Ever since the re-imagined Tim Burton film Alice in Wonderland, a wave of new approaches to acclaimed fairy tales has taken place. Next up on Disney's movie list is the new and improved Maleficent. Angelina Jolie stars as the sinister and malevolent Maleficent in the new movie about the classic fairy tale "Sleeping Beauty."

 Now, instead of making just another movie about Princess Aurora (Lord knows how many there has been), director Robert Stromberg is diving into the back story of one of the villainous antagonists to hit fairy tales; Maleficent. Believe it or not, the wicked witch didn't always have a heart of stone. This upcoming film aims to explain what exactly created the monster that cursed a princess into an infinite sleep.

There have been a few trailers released; each of which goes more in depth of the other. But from what I've seen, it looks amazing. Angelina Jolie looks as evil as she can be, the king seems to spark a war with one of the most powerful witches in all the land along with an army of woodland monsters, and Maleficent transforms into a gigantic, merciless, deadly dragon. I'm surprised it's only PG. The action sequences are pretty intense. Either way, the previews have won me over. I am guaranteed to go watch it opening night. Elle Fanning plays Princess Aurora and Brenton Thwaites (The Giver) plays Prince Phillip along with a extensive list of great actors. Hopefully it'll hit home with critics.

Let's hope Maleficent holds up to everyone's expectations. If you haven't checked out the trailer, watch it right now! It is set to release May 30 of this year.


Tuesday, April 8, 2014

The Giant Returns!

It was announced last year that filmmakers were bringing back the infamous Godzilla to the big screen. It wasn't until recently that the first look at Godzilla was released. And man does it look cool!

The last Godzilla movie that hit theaters was in 1998 and starred Matthew Broderick, Jean Reno, Maria Pitillo, and many more. Although it didn't hit home with the critics, it did receive kudos for its amazing special effects.

The 2014 movie Godzilla, stars a different version of the monster than the one in the '98 rendition. It has the same design as the 1950's monster that starred in the Japanese films that terrorized audiences for the longest time. It also stars some of the biggest names in Hollywood today: Elizabeth Olson, Aaron Tyler-Johnson (Kick-Ass), Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad), the list goes on.

From what is seen in the trailers, I am excited to see the classic monster destroy cities and practically bring about the apocalypse. The scenes look awesome and suspenseful, Godzilla looks pissed off, and naturally, everyone is freaking out. I can't wait to see this movie when it comes out in May. I hope you'll share the same feeling. For more information, click here to visit the IMDb page to view stills and clips. Check out the trailer below!


Dang It Ron Burgundy!

Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues has recently been released on DVD and Blu-Ray containing both the theatrical and unrated version. I happened to pick up the rated-R version of the film which was ten times better than the theater released PG-13 version.

The film continues on the story of San Diego news anchorman Ron Burgundy as he battles his daily life. He is married to the co-host Veronica Corningstone (Christina Applegate) and has a seven-year old boy named Walter. Ron's life is destroyed when he is fired from the news station and the head anchor spot is given to his wife. Naturally, he leaves his wife and kid to live a life of misery.

A Sea World job and a suicide attempt later, Ron Burgundy is offered a position at Global News Network; a 24 hour news station that claims to revolutionize the realm of news. Ron and the news team get back together and move to New York to once again deliver comedic news.

To be honest, I expected more from the sequel. I thought Anchorman:The Legend of Ron Burgundy was a hilarious movie and hoped the sequel would be just as funny. It started out slow and contained dumb jokes that couldn't get a laugh out of me. But it did get better as the movie progressed. The lines of each actor made up for the pointless story line. There is also a star-packed cast that make a surprise appearance towards the end.

I recommend you watch the R-rated or unrated version because the PG-13 version is horrible and caused all those negative reviews. Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues gets a 7/10.


Monday, April 7, 2014

Sign Me Up!

Pacific Rim is one of the coolest, action-packed films I've seen so far. It's no Michael Bay, but it does deliver some of the best visuals the movie industry. I wasn't totally convinced when the trailer was first released, but it proved me wrong.

The film takes place during the year 2020; aliens have been discovered. But these aren't you normal "E.T." aliens, these are five-story tall monsters called Kaiju that make Godzilla look like a puppy. In order to deal with the apocalypse, all nations of the world team together to build "Jaegers." The robots are piloted by pairs whom undergo a "Neural Handshake." The handshake bonds the minds of both pilots making them share each others' memories. This in return makes the pilots operate the machine equally (one controls the left side, the other the right).

But it seems the Jaegers weren't enough. As a result, the head of state of each nation agree to end the program and build walls too keep the Kaiju out. Well, it doesn't work. Jaegar pilots die by the hour in combat. Stacker Pentecost (Idris Elba) must bring together the best remaining pilots to combat the rise in Kaiju and possibly prevent the end of the world.

Pacific Rim is an amazing movie. The plot isn't the craziest, but it's enough to keep your eyes glued to the . The action sequences between the Jaegers and the Kaiju are awesome. And just as you think it's going to end, it extends even more.

I haven't heard of any of the actors in the movie, but they did a great job. I highly recommend Pacific Rim to all of you. Each scene is executed greatly. It does have some "iffy" parts but the the movie in general accounts for it. I give it an 8.3/10.


Thursday, April 3, 2014

'Bout Time Western Comedies Made a Comeback

Seth MacFarlane is taking another hit at the movie business in his new comedy A Million Ways to Die in the West. The film to be released May 30, features some of the most popular stars such as Liam Neeson, Amanda Seyfried, the smoking Charlize Theron, How I Met Your Mother Star Neil Patrick Harris, and many more.

It isn't too clear what the plot of the movie is. But from what is seen in the trailer, A Million Ways to Die in the West is set in a western town where everyone suffers from unfortunate and somewhat hilarious deaths. The town is terrorized by gunslinger Liam Neeson which makes everyone turn to MacFarlane to save everybody.This film can go both ways. Just because it has an amazing cast doesn't mean it'll do so well. Then again, it can turn out to be the classic comedy of the year. Seth MacFarlane's last movie Ted hit home with audiences everywhere. Let's just hope A Million Ways to Die in the West does so too.

The trailer below is the "Red Band" trailer which is the explicit version of movie trailers.


Wednesday, April 2, 2014

Time to Consider Joining a Fraternity

After confessing that he had a cocaine addiction and underwent rehab, Zac Efron has worked his way into the movie scene again. Although his latest movie, That Awkward Moment, didn't play so well with the critics, Efron has teamed up with Hollywood stars Seth Rogen (This is the End), Dave Franco (Now You See Me), and Rose Byrne (Insidious), for the new comedy Neighbors. 

Neighbors shows the happy life of the Radners (Rogen and Byrnes) as the move into their new home with their baby in what seems to be a peaceful neighborhood. Just when they start to settle in, a fraternity moves in across the street headed by non other than Teddy Sanders (Efron). The two houses then engage in a war to claim superiority over the other resulting in hilarious pranks and parties.

The trailers prove to be hilarious leaving you wanting for more. Of course it features Zac Efron shirtless which is already a given ticket for the drooling female audience. It has already followed through with the critics giving Neighbors an 8.1/10 on IMDb; which is really good for a comedy. I'll make sure to see this upcoming comedy and hope it holds up to what has been released.

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Prequel Gone Right

I have to admit, Disney did a pretty good job mastering the prequel to the acclaimed Wizard of Oz. The film did an amazing job of creating captivating visuals and had a great plot.

Oz the Great and Powerful explains the back story of the famous Oz (James Franco) and the journey he took to gain control of the Land of Oz. The movie also shows the incentives for the wickedness of the witches. The witches are played by Mila Kunis, Rachel Weisz and Michelle Williams.

Overall, Oz the Great and Powerful was a decent movie. At times it seemed like it was lagging a bit and needed a little push. The casting wasn't the best. Mila Kunis isn't really the ideal actor to play a wicked witch. She doesn't have the furious look to her physique. The Wicked Witch of the West costume is really terrible. It's too plain and not evil looking enough.

This is a movie I recommend you see if there's nothing else to watch or if you happen to have two hours to spare. Oz the Great and Powerful is a one time movie. Once you've seen it, there's no point in watching it again. It isn't interesting enough. It gets a 5.9/10.

Monday, March 31, 2014

Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson Truly Looks Like a Rock

Hitting theaters this July is the most recent remake of the classic Greek tale starring the one and only Dwayne Johnson. Herucles seeks to hit home with the audience and make up for the poor job The Legend of Hercules did. I have a feeling this rendition of the tale will do a lot better than any other previous film of the Greek hero.

Not too long ago, the trailer for Hercules was released and ignited the anticipation of all movie fanatics. Although Dwayne Johnson only has one line in the trailer, he puts every single muscle in his body into it. He is seen fighting the classic beasts of the tale such a gigantic warthog that looks pretty pissed. You can tell Johnson has been working hard for this role considering he is massive in the clips he is seen. Dwayne Johnson definitely has the body of Hercules.

Needless to say, I'm excited to see what The Rock is bringing to the classical Greek Tale. Don't believe me? Check out the trailer for yourself!


A Trip to the 1960's

Being an action, comedy, and horror fanatic, it was really difficult to come around to finally seeing The Help. But man am I glad I saw it.

The Help is a film based on the best-selling novel by Kathryn Stockett which tells the story of Skeeter Phelan (Emma Stone) who dreams of becoming a journalist in New York. In order to do so, she must gain "experience." Thus, an idea comes to her mind. Why not write from the point of view of the help? The plot takes place during the center of the Civil Rights Movement which makes it difficult for Skeeter to gain support.

Needless to say the movie was great. It truly is a well made movie. Viola Davis plays the remarkable role of Aibileen Clark. Clark is a maid/nanny working for the rude Elizabeth Leefolt (Ahna O'Reilly). From the murder of her son, to the discrimination of Jackson, Mississippi, Viola Davis is ready to have her voice heard. Alongside Davis is Octavia Spencer who does an amazing job of playing Minnie Jackson; she is a colorful character who has the right amount of sass and courage to stand up to the white family she works for.

The Help is a powerful movie that really makes you think about the life of African-Americans during the sixties. I highly recommend this film to everybody. It receives a well deserved 8.5/10.

Friday, March 28, 2014

A Jam-Packed Cast in a Huge Movie Flop

In Movie 43, Dennis Quaid plays Charlie Wessler, a low-life film maker who manages to get an interview with film executive Griffin Schraeder (Greg Kinnear). Throughout the interview, Charlie pitches out his ideas for a variety of story lines all of which include some of Hollywood's biggest stars: Halle Berry, Kate Winslet, Emma Stone, Kristen Bell, the list goes on. The whole movie contains a series of plots played out by famous actors.

With such an amazing cast, one would think the movie would be pretty hilarious. In reality, the movie was dumb. The short segments were stupid and didn't contain much humor. This was the case for some segments. There were some that were hilarious. Such as the short which demonstrated the life of a home-schooled teenager.

Its hilarious. The teen's parents are discussing how they want their child to get the full high school experience. They throw parties, bully him, and even give him his first kiss. The awkwardness made it to die for. It was that funny.

But the few segments that did follow through weren't enough to make it a classic comedy. The concept was pretty cool. Of course people would see this movie; it has some of the biggest stars in Hollywood. However, it did not execute its key points that would make this movie funny. Sadly, I'm going to have to give Movie 43 a 5/10.


Thursday, March 27, 2014

Paramount Pictures Releases Trailer for Ninja Turtles.

Recently, Paramount Pictures released its first look at producer Michael Bay's reboot of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. I was so excited to watch the long anticipated trailer. Especially since it gives you a first look at the turtles themselves and The Shredder.

The turtles look pretty weird. They're taller than I expected. Then there's April O'Neil who is played by the sexy Megan Fox. She has some awkward moments in the trailer. But nonetheless, it's alright. William Fichtner plays The Shredder which isn't a big surprise. He looks like an ideal actor for the role.

But don't take my word for it. Watch the trailer for yourself!

"300" Gone South

Immortals tells the tale of Theseus (Henry Cavil), a man chosen by Zeus himself to defend mankind against the merciless King Hyperion (Mickey Rourke) as he demolishes Greece in search of the Epirus Bow. To make matters worse, Hyperion seeks to release the mighty titans from Mount Tatarus.

We can all agree that knowing that Immortals is produced by the same producers of the action packed 300 gave Immortals some kudos. But honestly, save your money. Goodness gracious I was so bored during the movie. There was little action involved. When there was, it lasted maybe two minutes.

Don't get me wrong, some of the action sequences were, in other words, pretty epic. Yet, they did not deliver the tense feeling a good battle should. However, the golden-illuminated weapons of the gods with their shiny armor made up for the boring scenes in the film.

The gods were pretty awesome I have to say. Every time they thundered down to fight I knew it was going to be cool.  The few action scenes saved Immortals from being a complete disaster. There was no interesting plot to it. It was too linear. I, being a fan of 300, am truly disappointed with the outcome of this film. It receives a 5.9/10.

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Remind Me to go to Hawaii When a Girl Dumps Me

I'm normally not a huge romantic comedy fan. Mostly because, well, they suck. They lack the key element which is comedy and just leave me bored out of my mind. But Forgetting Sarah Marshall is something different, it's actually funny!

The film follows Peter Bretter (Jason Segal), as he deals with the recent event in which Sarah Marshall (Kristen Bell) dumps him. In order to cope with the pain, Peter travels to Hawaii. Ironically, Sarah Marshall is there as well. Oh but she's not alone, she is with her new beau, Aldous Snow (Russell Brand). But all is well when Peter Bretter meets Rachel (Mila Kunis).

This movie is absolutely hilarious. I've always been a fan of Jason Segal and Russell Brand. It was a truly amazing performance put on by all the actors. It contains all the elements which make a romantic comedy a success.

I highly recommend Forgetting Sarah Marshall to all of you. I assure you it will not disappoint. There were many scenes where I almost peed my pants from all the laughter. Congratulations Jason Segal, you wrote a hilarious movie. Therefore, I give it a 7.8/10.

Here's Your History Lesson

The first 300 was pretty amazing. It was action packed and a great thriller. In fact, my godfather saw it in theaters seven times! So when it was announced that there was going to be a sequel, I was pumped and a bit confused. How can they continue it on?

Well, it doesn't really continue on. The plot of 300: Rise of an Empire coincides with the plot of its predecessor. The sequel gives more background to the "God King" Xerxes and why he is the way he is. And it's all thanks to the sexy Artemisia (Eva Green), the supreme naval commander of the Persian Empire.

Defending Greece is Themistocles (Sullivan Stapleton) of Athens. He unites the forces of Greece for the war of the century. He seeks the help from the Spartans, but as many of you know, the Spartan Army of 300 is already at war.

300: Rise of an Empire is an awesome action-packed movie filled with many satisfying combat scenes between the Greeks and the Persians. It was epic. The naval tactics delivered by both Artemisia and Themistocles are really cool. There were some parts that bored me quite a bit. Mostly because there really wasn't anything going on. Overall, the film fulfilled the role of a decent sequel. Was it better than the first one? Ehhh, that's for you to decide. As for me, I give 300: Rise of an Empire a 7.3/10.

I'd Take This Over Nascar Any Day

The adrenaline kicks in as James Hunt enters his Formula One McLaren as he is about to race for the World Championship. To his side sits Niki Lauda in his F1 Ferrari ready to win the World Championship as well. If things weren't already tense, mother nature decides to downpour on the track making it ten times as dangerous than it already is.

Rush is an incredible film based on the true story of the rivalry between Formula One racers James Hunt and Niki Lauda during the 1970's. You would think that the movie is just about racing. But oh no. There's more to it.

I can honestly tell you that I was biting my nails throughout the movie. It was great. Chris Hemsworth puts on an amazing performance. Personally, I didn't think he had it in him. With his superhero background, who knew he could play a competitive race car driver? Then there's Daniel Bruhl who plays Niki Lauda. I believe he is the best actor in the whole movie. His portrayal of the Austrian racer is magnificent.

Rush is an amazing film that captivates the great sport that is F1 racing. It makes Nascar look like a child's toy. It earns a well deserved 8.5/10. If you have the chance, see it. It's definitely worth it.


Saturday, March 15, 2014

Jack Nicholson Is One Scary Guy

What's scarier than reading a Stephen King novel? Watching a movie based on it.

This 1980 horror film classic set the standards for many movies to come. The cast is amazing. But nothing says crazy like Jack Nicholson with an ax.

For those of you who have never read the book or seen the movie, it is definitely terrifying.

The story is of Jack Torrance (Nicholson) and his family who spend the winter at an isolated hotel where Jack has been assigned the job of caretaker. But within the historic Colorado hotel lies an evil presence that slowly takes over Jack. While all this is happening, his son Danny discovers that he holds psychic powers which leads him to learn the horrors of the hotel.

The Shining is one of the greatest movies of all time. Why? Because it's actually scary. I found myself hiding under my sheets and slowly crying while eating popcorn. I highly recommend this film. And if you choose, you can also watch the TV film series of 1997.

The Shining deserves a 8.2/10 and earns a spot on my top 10.





A Total Mess

Adam Sandler really did it this time. He has truly hit rock bottom.

Grown Ups had a bit more humor attached to it. But Grown Ups 2? Don't get me started.

The whole movie consists of cheezy and lame jokes that won't even get a smirk out of me. I found myself waiting for the movie to end thirty minutes in. Of course, like any movie, making a sequel is a risky move. And Grown Ups 2 proves why.

The acting just seems unprofessional and childish. The only reason it was big in production was because it's bombarded with big stars like Shaquille O'Neal, Chris Rick, Adam Sandler, Taylor Lautner, and Kevin James. Who by the way, has recently been struggling to star in a successful movie.

I recommend you save your money and watch something else because it's not worth it. If you really want to watch it, wait until it makes it to the $5.00 movie pile at Walmart. Grown Ups 2 receives a 4.9/10.

This Weekend's Box Office Results

Need For Speed didn't have enough speed to make a great profit. Honestly, we were all expecting it. With a similar franchise like Fast and Furious, Need For Speed needed to pull something great to make bank. For a full detailed article, visit Box Office Mojo.


2. Never Be Home Alone

If you're looking for a good scare, I highly highly highly highly recommend The Strangers.

Scott Speedsman and Liv Tyler star in the 2008 horror film as a couple living in an isolated home when three murderers decide to stop for a visit.

Pretty much spirals out from the beginning. When Kristen McKay (Liv Tyler) is left alone for a bit, one of the murderers nicknamed "Dollface" knocks on the door looking for someone in particular. When Kristen says she has the wrong house, lets just say Dollface doesn't take it too well.

The plot continues on when her boyfriend James returns home and witnesses the horror for himself.  While the male murderer plays early 20th century music to accompany his killings.

As if the story line weren't creepy enough, the costume designer  added bone chilling masks to each of the killers to add a deeper terror. The actors did a good job portraying their roles as they suffered through each scene.

The Strangers receives a 7.4/10 and has earned a spot on my top 10 list.

Saturday, March 8, 2014

Just When I Was Getting Over "Mirrors."..........

Oh goodness..........(sob sob)

This movie looks pretty messed up. Debuting on April 11, 2014. Oculus will surely drill fear into the souls of its audience members. The film documents the lives of siblings Kaylie and Tim Russell and are now attempting to prove that the murders that occurred in the previous years are the fault of a mirror.

The full length trailer definitely gives you goosebumps as it seems that the siblings are experiencing flashbacks when in reality the mirror has a few tricks up its sleeves....

Check out the rating on IMDb and watch the trailer below.

I No Longer Own Mirrors.

This is one of those movies that will send chills down your spine for a full 110 minutes. Mirrors is one of my favorite horror films earning a spot on my top ten.

The movie is full of amazing actors such as Keifer Sutherland and Paula Patton. It begins with ex-cop Ben Carson (Sutherland) and his family as they adjust to their home. Ben gets a job as a security guard at an old department store that suffered from a fire years before. Of course, he is given the night shift......

The store is full of creepy burnt mannequins and none other than mirrors. Ben soon finds out that the dark entities reflected in the mirrors seek to enter the lives of Ben Carson and his family.

Let's just say that once you see this movie, you'll be keeping a close eye on your reflection. Heck, I did. Mirrors is a great horror movie that will give you the shivers and make you scream like a little girl who is being chased by a mountain lion.

The film deserves a well earned 7.5/10.

Tuesday, March 4, 2014

A Comedy Classic.

If you ever need to laugh a set of abs, this will do it. I cannot tell you how hilarious this movie is. The Wayans brothers are geniuses.

White Chicks is one of my favorite comedies by far. The film starts out with a regular day on the job for two detectives who end up screwing their whole operation. Resulting in their promotion to "babysitters."

Kevin Copeland (Shawn Wayans), and Marcus Copeland (Marlon Wayans), are assigned the job of taking care of rich twins Brittany and Tiffany Wilson. When a car accident hurts Brittany and Tiffany, Kevin and Marcus are forced to disguise themselves as the twins in order to preserve their jobs.

Needless to say, this entire movie is the definition funny. Although White Chicks didn't respond so well with the critics, the audience absolutely enjoyed it. You will not stop laughing.

I highly recommend this movie if you are in need of a laugh. White Chicks is well deserved of an 8.3/10. Check out the 2004 trailer below.

#Seatbelts4life

I guess the lesson learned here is never try to have sex in the middle of winter; if  you do, please were a seat belt.

Personally, I'm not really a "chick flick" kind of movie fanatic but I do enjoy seeing one every now and then. And by that I mean every ten years. The Vow is a great movie if you're into small lovey-dovey stuff.

The Vow illustrates the true story of a married couple who are in hopes of starting a family only to have that desire cut short by a car accident. This leaves Paige (Rachel McAdams) with severe memory loss. She awakens from her coma not remembering her marriage or meeting her husband Leo (Channing Tatum).

Leo then has to struggle through making Paige fall in love with him again.

Honestly, I expected Leo to do more to get her back. But no. He asks her out once and that's it. He mostly complains about his crappy life.

The ending is no better. It kinda just ends; leaving the viewer saying to him/herself, "That's it????" Other than that, The Vow kept me attached till the end. I rate it a 6/10.