Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens-Review

The Force Awakens for a New Generation (5/5).

It's been 10 years since Star Wars Episode III hit theaters and to some its been even longer then that. Star Wars has been the foundation for blockbuster franchises ever since it became a mega pop culture phenomena after 1977. Though I have always been a fan of the movies (minus episode 2) It never occured to me why Star Wars in particular became the mega hit it did. I always assumed it was the worlds and the sci-fi, which were cool and all but I have seen many a cool concept or great movie come and go with time. Star Wars was always a huge phenomena and while I loved to be apart of it, I always found myself gravitating to stories of superheroes and darker sci-fi. Well after seeing the Force Awakens I get it! I get why Star War is so huge and I see why it stood the test of time. Its world and lore may be deep and diverse but its the characters that make Star Wars what it is. The Force Awakens carries this tradition proudly and that's what makes this movie triumph.

If character are the center piece then it makes since that I introduce them. The two major new ones are Rae, a scavenger native to the planet of Jakku, and Finn, an ex first order Stormtrooper. Finn and Rae are both strong and incredible realized characters, even in their weakest moments the come across and human despite their reluctance or fear. J.J. (the director) wisely chose to cast relatively unknowns, Daisy Ridley and John Boyega, in both these parts partly as an homage to the original trilogies cast, and as a way to introduce these characters in a completely fresh skin. These two are also accompanied by Po who just so happens to be the most fly pilot in the resistance. Whats great about all three of these characters is that everybody I talked to seem to identify with them differently. I for example loved Finn and sympathized with his position. I was rooting for him the entire way through, however when I asked my friends about who they liked they responded with different characters. The core of this movie is in the hands of these newcomers and I can't express how much they knocked it out of the park.

Then their is the returning cast. At first when announced I was a little nervous the hear everyone was coming back; I really dislike it when a story seems to pander to particular characters when there really is no since for them to be there, yet this wasn't the case. The Force Awakens uses each of the returning characters wisely and conservatively. When Leia shows up it makes since, when C-3PO shows up he isn't around forever, and when Luke.............well maybe I'll skip on Luke for now. A special shout out should go to Harrison Ford as Han Solo. Believe me when I say that not only was he welcomed but this movie may not have worked as well without him. He brought humor when some was needed, heart in other moments, and a since of gravitas to the whole spectacle. Not bad 73year old Harrison Ford, not bad at all.

And what about the villain, Kylo Renn. Vader this is not ladies and gentleman but rest assured Kylo is still terrifying and vicious when he needs to be. His presence on screen is intimidating not because he is daunting but because he is human. Adam Driver did a fantastic job in conveying so much of Kylo's character just through the voice. He is fierce and driven but also sympathetic an conflicted. The rest of his story you'll just have to see for yourself.

Guys I don't have to tell anybody to see this movie because you already made up your mind already whether this was going to be for you. What I can reassuring you is what you'll think coming out. Your enjoyment and acceptance of this movie will come down to one factor, the characters. These characters effected me in a way where few movies have, movies like Lord of the Rings, or the Avengers, or even Harry Potter. Epics that tell grand tales but come down to a compilation of personal journeys. Star Wars the Force Awakens has been put in the running with these titians. Its not a perfect movie and there are still flaws to find but we have been set up for something special in the upcoming years. This may not be may favorite movie of the year but It is my favorite movie going experience and that's worth a five to me. Time will tell if the new Star Wars trilogy lives up to the mark it made.

The Good Dinosaur-Review

The Good Dinosaur Is Only Just Good (2/5).

Im not going to compare The Good Dinosaur to any previous Pixar films in this review. As good as Pixar's track record is The Good Dinosaur deserves to be compared on its own merits; what does it bring to the table and what does it not?

What if the meteor that destroyed the dinosaurs millions of years ago didn't? What would the world look like years later? Good Dinosaur has a unique answer to that question and uses the phenomena to construct a familiar boy and his dog story, except this time the boy is an Apatosaurus named Arlo and the dog is an actual boy named Spot.

The greatest strength of The Good Dinosaur is in its set up. Its genius, simple and unique providing for a feel that is all its own; yet despite its refreshing ideas The Good Dinosaur borrows more from stories before it then it really should. Arlo is strong yet timid, Spot is fierce yet innocent in nature. From the start of the story you know where its heading and it doesn't take any turns form there. There is the obligatory I hate you phase between Arlo and Spot, the bonding phase after that, and plenty of cliches. Another strike against it are the side characters. The secondary characters were really annoying and felt forced in this movie; outside a pet collecting triceratops and an enlightened pterodactyl I just wanted all of them to go away. There was also an annoying subplot carried throughs the film which served as a literal translation of Arlo's development of a character. When something is subtle it risks the danger of being overlooked yet in this case when something is so obvious it instead feels like the filmmakers spoon-feeding the meat of the story to you instead of allowing the audience to interpret a work of art.

It seems like Im being to hard on the Good Dinosaur, and I don't want to come across to cynical because thats not the case. I liked this film, I liked the story and liked a couple of characters. There is a scene in this movie that takes place between Arlo and Spot at night I think is very touching, but its just one scene. I don't think I like it enough to recommend it to anybody outside of kids who are hungry for stimulus. I doubt I will have the urge to watch it again and in hindsight it wont be one of my top three animated movies this year (and there weren't that many). Overall the movie is just ok, its clever and also really cliche and overdone. The nail in the coffin for me might be the character models which agains the beautiful back drops and animation just seem out of place. That on top of a vanilla experience makes the Good Dinosaur only just good enough to be a consideration but not a must see.

Hunger Games: Mocking Jay Pt.2-Review

Mocking Jay Squeezes Out the last bit of Enjoyment Hunger Games Has in It (3/5).

Mocking Jay Part 2 is a dark movie. It was clear for a while that it was going to be, illuminated by the third books grim nature and the natural progression of stakes laid out by the previous three installments. Everybody knew how this was going to end, hell I didn't read the books and I knew how it was going to end, but endings are never easy and never unanimously loved; Hunger Games Mocking Jay Part 2 promises to deliver the conclusion the franchise deserves, but in doing so sacrifices the heart that cemented its predecessors foundation.

The plot to the anticipated finale is a simple one. The Districts once divided by the power hungry Capital and its president, Snow (Donald Sutherland), are coming together. The Capital's days are numbered. In one last lash against the rebels, and in particular Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) who serves as a reluctant yet confident figure head of the rebellion, Snow redesigns the capitol as a killzone of monsters and booby traps to punish each steps the rebels take forward. Katniss's goal is to get to the heart of the Capital, Snow's Estate, and finish the fight by putting the tyrant down for good.

Mocking Jay is a smart book and the franchise as a whole up to this point has been an educated one. I have shared nothing but praise for the last couple of movies, with the second movie, Catching Fire, being amongst my favorites of 2013. Unfortunately despite being the climax of the trilogy, Mocking Jay part 2 is lacking the heart that the Hunger Games has carried and, outside a few key scenes, is mainly driven by set pieces that keep the characters on their toes. Its no longer about Katniss just trying to survive and more about the Districts getting the justice they deserve. This shift of focus is critical for the film since it positions Katniss more like a pawn in the plot and less like a character in a story. My favorite moments in Mocking Jay Part 2 were ironically the scenes between Katniss and Peeta. These scenes were clearly only a side plot among the action considering how they don't even contribute to the overall climax of the film, yet they are the scenes that explore the most depth and internal conflict. The movie ends up focusing on a story it needs to tell rather then expanding or better incorporating the stories it could have told.

Another blaring fault with the movie is the ending, which I know is the main point of controversy in almost every reader. Personally I think the ending, or rather the idea of it, is brillant, however it was not correctly executed here as I suspect it was it wasn't correctly executed in the book. I had some big problems with how they depicted a couple of the key moments and there was defiantly a class and confusion as a result of poor editing and scripting. More of this topic maybe I elaborate at another date.

Mocking Jay Part 2 is good movie and its worth checking out just because of how good the movies before it were. It is most certainly the weakest of the bunch lacking the depth or heart that established earlier entires into my memory. There is so much to say about it but at the same time there also really isn't, it is what it is. I liked the experience, I appreciated the bump in action and tone but overall this movie just cant reach the highs the others hit seamlessly.

The Peanuts Movie-Review

Short, Simple and Sweet are the Ingredients for What may Be the Best Animated Movie of the Year (4/5).

It's hard not to think about all the fears that I and many others had when this project was announced; A modern interpretation of Peanuts is just going to have poor Charles Shultz roll in his grave. The fact that Blue Sky was heading up the project didn't restore confidence either considering their last "good" movie was the original Ice Age in 2002. Rest assured however because Peanuts was everything I hoped it would be, enduring and wholesome, exactly like the classic holiday specials we see every year revived for a new generation to enjoy.


The plot for the Peanuts Movie is what you'd expect. Charlie Brown is sympathetic loser who can't catch a break no mater how hard he tries or how optimistic he can be; he's often overshadowed by his beloved dog Snoopy, whose recognition in pop culture rivals even Micky Mouse. One day a new girl moves in and Charlie Brown is love struck at first glance. The film from there plays out as Charlie Brown has to deal with his first crush all well the rest of the classic gang joins in on the action.

First, the film is deserving of my respect for focusing Charlie Brown primary instead of what could have easily been the Snoopy show featuring the Peanuts. Charlie Brown, although not the deepest character, is arguably the most likable and the premise of the movie gives plenty opportunity for his best traits to shine. Snoopy gets plenty of spotlight too, depicted by his many fantasy clashes between him as the Flying Ace and his arch nemesis the Red Baron. These were cute and well tied in at first, but by the end of the film I was almost infinitely more invested in Charlie Brown's relatable arch rather then Snoopy's make believe one. It's funny how epic the film comes across when at the end of the day its just elementary school drama featuring a plot seen in many pre-teen sitcoms.

Of course it be a sin to write this review without mentioning the cast, and yes thankfully there all here and realized into the plot. You can tell there was a lot of though put into the storyboarding to make sure each character had relevance to the story being told. The music too also deserves a thumbs up. The classic theme is here and even a couple others are in for good measure, but thats not the majority of the movies score. To my surprise the studio boldly used an original score for most of the film and even throw in a couple of modern songs too, and it works, big time! The new score feels like it could have come out of an adventure film, but also is simple and fun its its design. The score helps deliver Peanuts in a new way that feels refreshing and new without being disrespectful to its roots. Christophe Beck (who scored the film) is quickly becoming one of my favorite composures in the business after his work on Inside Out, Jurassic World and even Ant-Man. All his works so far have amplified their respective films which is the greatest compliment I can give to a composer working in the film business now.

In summation the Peanuts movie was a delight. I loved its story and the characters who have never felt fresher then ever. This is not just a kids movie, its a family movie that should be shared as such so that each generation can be touched by this film in a different way. It doesn't pander to nostalgia alone yet this is a story that I don't think will have worked as well if it wasn't Peanuts. I loved this movie and I will completely endorse it while its out.

Spectre-Review

Bond Backtracks into the Past (3/5)

007 Latest adventures have been amongst my favorite action movies in hollywood history. Whether it be the gritty and dramatically driven Casino Royal (2006) or the stylized and cinematically bold Skyfall (2012), I haven't yet been disappointed by Sony and Craig's run with the famous character. Even Quantum of Solace had its redeeming qualities and made for a solid flick. Spectre in contrast to these three feels like the most "classic" one yet which is appropriate after Skyfall's themes of revival within the new. How does it place among this epic line up...isn't that why you have read this far...

Specter sees returning director Sam Mendes after Skyfall make his second run with the Bond franchise. Daniel Criag returns as the signature lead and this time Bond has a sleek new spy-car as he chases the mysterious Oberhauser, played by the legendary Christoff Waltz. Oberhauser aka the pale king, turns out to be the figure head of an unknown organization called Spectre and as Bond gets closer and closer he learns just how deep Spectre goes and everything that has tested him so far begins to tie together in the wake of this new and terrifying force.

The themes of Spectre play into films premise as a whole. The film opens on an incredible set peace in Mexico City, which I wont spoil here, then is followed by the classic and familiar opening theme. Writting on the Wall, preformed by Sam Smith, may go down as one of my favorite bond openings to date as the ideas of desolation and control are represented by fire and the Octopus which serves as Spectres' symbol.. Its powerful, subtle, and symbolic of Bonds struggle to come...I only wish the film could have maintained these themes.

Where Spectre starts to show cracks is within the second half of the film. I loved the first half, it's visually beautiful even though its a slow burn which I tend not to mind to often in movies. Then the love intrest is introduced and thats when I was first disconnected. For reasons I wont go into here I didn't really buy into the love story and the film really counts on that happening. Then Oberhauser re-enters the fray. Christoff Waltz is fantastic to watch, and his bond villain is everything I wanted him to be, but this movie did not need the character he portrayed. Spectre, like Skyfall, tries to walk the line between traditional and realistic; Silva worked in Skyfall because he was essentially a one man rain of terror and his motivations were understandable. Oberhauser on the other hand comes across as either a bit over the top or a little too personal; He just doesn't fit for this movie as a realistic antagonist. As much as I loved watching him he ended up being "convenient" in respect to the plot and his motivations were a bit of a strech. Maybe I'll make a post about it in the future but Ill just leave it a that here.

"Well screw that anyway! This is an action movie right, hows the action!!"you may say.........Well its good I guess.There is some fine set pieces here, at least compared to other action films out there, but this is Bond. That chase scene in Casino Royale was one of the best chases's in cinematic history and the ending to Skyfall was up there with my most memorable moments of 2012. The problem is Spectre doesn't really have any of that outside the first action scene (maybe); it makes the mistake of delivering the treats to early. If you stick around there is some great drama and mystery to be had but the action just feels uninspired past that point. There the a standard car chase, a standard gun chase, a shootout or two but nothing withstanding on its own right. It's not that there isn't anything substantial but there is a degree of disappointment and the set ups are just underwelming.

Overall Spectre can't quite make the bar of Bonds previous endeavors. Its a great film disguised as a good action movie, but its most disappointing that its potential isn't fully realized. The movie falls back on some tropes from older Bond films that just feel out of place here despite how much fun they are. As performances go Craig, Seydoux, and Waltz are preform great but they are directed to fit the mold of the characters without transcending beyond that. I really really liked it but I just couldn't love it.

......There is also a large subplot in the movie that focuses in on M and MI6. Not that I don't care and that it wasn't without its moments but this is Bond....please you don't need to spend as much time on these subplots if you just deliever Bond. Just a note for the future Sony...hopefully...

Where Does Goosebumps Go Wrong?

Goosebumps is a great script turned into an okay movie as a result of terrible direction. Its hard to be scary in a kids movie without being too scary and jump scares are just not the way to do it. I HATE JUMP SCARES. They're lazy, they're cheep and they don't scare me. They are a stupid way to freak us out for an instant but don't carry past the second they happen. Truly scary things that stick with me after the credits role are disturbing imagery and themes like the imagery of Bagool in Sinister or the themes portrayed between Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike in Gone Girl. I understand that these things are beyond a kids movie so therefore I was hoping goosebumps would go for more of a comedy approach, sadly it fails epically with that as well. Many of the jokes are channel through the goofy best friend Champ who comes across mostly unnecessary and annoying rather then central to the plot. These are things I all blame on the director Rob Letterman who as it seems cant tell what makes a scene scary or what makes something funny. Are there scares in goosebumps? Yes a few. Are there funny moment? Well I'de be lying if I said I had a stright face through all of it. However it wasn't nearly scary of as funny as I wanted to be and the fact that it could have been there had the direction been more servicable is the greatest sin of all. Goosebumps is a 2/5 for me, I liked it but man it has issues.

Why I Hated Woodlawn

Woodlawn is a gem of an idea that muddled and suffocated by themes and morals it trying so hard to convey (or rather shove down our throats). I was raised as a catholic so I have nothing against christianity and I endorse its moral center wholeheartedly, however Woodlawn is so intent in shepherding its message it sabatoges it story to do so. Every scene where there may be dramatic conflict is followed up of another random scene showing the power of prayer or one of the other hundred christian movie cliches. The story wants to show how the team came together under the power of prayer, a respectable theme, but throughout the story we follow Tony Nathan who is the prodigy child who is always there carrying the team. The movie sacrifices both the arc of Tony and the idea of the team winning as a team, to instead utilize its message more or fall into other sport movie cliches. I felt really disgusted after seeing Woodlawn and I feel there is a great movie that could be made here, just not this movie. I cant give Woodlawn anything more then a 1/5.

What to Expect from Steve Jobs.

Steve Jobs has one of the best scrips I have scene for a drama in a long time, most certainly the best I have scene this year; The dialogue had me drooling. Fassbender also turns in an exceptional performance that for me is the front runner this year for best actor so far. Steve Jobs isn't going to be for everybody though (which speaks volumes when contrasting its box office numbers...) and its hard for me to recommend it even though I loved the shit out of it. If your curious about this flick and are craving some pure concentrated drama then check this one out because Im giving Steve Jobs a 4/5.

Is The Walk Any Good?

The Walk does everything you would expect from an early October biopic. Its a good story and has its epic character and dramatic moments. Honestly the thing that holds it back from being a great movie is just some of the choices that director Robert Zemeckis makes which is surprising considering I haven't been as turned off from his choices in the past. It didn't sabatoge the movie but I could have done with fewer audience to character narrations with Joseph Gorden Levit. 3/5 is where I stand with The Walk, its good but there's nothing here that had me enamored with it.

Thoughts on Bridge of Spies.

I really liked Bridge of Spies and my admiration for how it approaches its subject matter is only amplified by just how good of a movie it is. Good characters, great dialogue...Im sold. It also happens to be one of my closest friends favorite movie so far this year so its got that going for it too. I'll give Bridge of Spies a 4/5.

Things I learned from the movie Pan (Caution Spoilers)

So instead of Writing a review for this one I just decided to do a list. I could do a serious review and give this movie the 1/5 that it deserves but to be honest the movie was so shockingly terrible that I think a 1/5 would do it injustice. This is a movie that I walked out of in awe of what I had witnessed, was the movie aware of how hilariously awful it was...it had to be...is it genus or madness???? 

Anyway heres something to mix up the pace a bit. Keep in mind there are SPOILERS ahead but unless you were dead set on seeing the movie you shouldn't be to worried. Should you go see this movie? Well only if you know your getting yourself into and god did I not know

What I learned in Pan

I Learned that:

1. Starting movies with the cliche saying "this is a story you haven't heard before" is still a stupid way to invest me in said story.
2. Poorly converted 3D Movies aren't going away anytime soon
3. "Smells like Teen Spirit" is not a good song for a war chant
4. Nuns are always evil and hate orphans
5. Levi Miller just isn't a good actor...
6. ...Fortunately Hugh Jackman is and he's batshit crazy in this movie
7. Blackbeard must have a really wanted the prophecy, involving a boy from another word leading an uprising against him, to come true considering he personally ferries like hundreds of kids to Neverland
8. Evil Nuns often make animal noises.
9. Forcing a romance between Hook and Tigerlily results in some terrible dialogue.
10. Terrible CGI birds as as unhealthy to your eyes as Pixels is to your sense of humor
11. Blackbeard will whisper, shout or growl every line he has.
12. When Natives die they become colorful clouds of smoke
13. Nuns will horde your food and dreams from you because their evil.
14. If you love your dead mother hard enough fairies will cluster together to summon her essence, allowing you to speak to her.
15. Blackbeard does a great job enforcing his hidden agenda to remove himself from power by "failing" to kill Pan durrng the many opportunities he has.
16. Having a crocodile drag a boy to the depths of an endless river to kill him might be a tad dark for a kids movie that uses pompoms for the Native peoples costumes
17. You don't have to be a good fighter to take out an armada of flying Pirate ships
18. Hook is a lovable protagonist who would never dream of hurting Peter Pan (no I shit you not the movie ends with Peter and Hook being best buds and Peter asking Hook "Do you think we'll always be friends?" to which Hook responds to saying "What could possibly go wrong").
19. Orphan kids who are told directly they are not special often end up being the most special of all.
20. Hooks "first mate" Smee will betray him the first sign of danger and its all Hooks fault for trusting him.
21. That whole Pirates singing Nirvana when the movie takes place durring WWII scene is probably never explained for the right reasons.

Sicario - Movie Review

Its not always the action that yield a rush. (3/5)

Sicario is tense, and not for the faint of heart. This is a movie that has a point in mind and knows how to tell it; this is a movie thats hungry for award attention. Does it deserve it? Well...read on.

Sicario 'stars' Emily Blunt as a CIA agent Kate Macy, who is recruited by government advisor Matt, played by Josh Brolin, into a force thats trying to strike directly at the cartels. Of course seeing as how Matt works outside the law Kate tends to disagree with many of the task forces operations which causes a rift between her and Matt's associate, Alejandro, played Benico del Toro. As the film develops the relationship that Kate shares with Matt and Alejandro start to shape her opinions on whats going on and whether its right or wrong.

I say the movie stars Emily Blunt in my summery but the truth is the movie doesn't really star anybody outside Blunt and de Toro (kind of). It more or less puts these character under a microscope and subjectively asks us to judge their practices and determine for ourselves right from wrong. While the first half prominently follows Blunt and her experiences the second half follows del Toro; the two have significantly different stories to tell.

Sicario engraves a brutal world that is terrorized by violence in attempt for control, but also features very little action. Sicario's strengths lie within its set ups and the tension they build. Every action scene in Sicairo ends up being a summation of all the tension up to that point. When the action does hit (and what little of it there is...seriously Southpaw had more action) it hits hard and the release is all the sweeter. It encourages my beliefs that great action isn't restrained by a special effects budget, but by the directors choices up to that point. Its a scientific blend of tension and release that builds the audience to a thrilling high.

What does hold Sicario back is its sear brutal nature. This is a good movie: its expertly directed, very well acted, well shot and well written. However because of the subject matter the story is covering it certainly doesn't call for much enjoyment. The world is harsh and the choices the director makes are all in favor of reinforcing the point of his story. Then when there is no buildup or action going on its very noticeable and it feels like the film grinds to a halt.

Overall Sicaro is a great film but only a good experience. Its very serious and I discourage anybody outside the hardcore away from this film. If you like great drama and don't mind violent imagery or themes this film will satisfy, and though I enjoyed this film I can't say I'll be going back for more.

Everest - Movie Review

The Mountain Always has the last word (3/5).

Wow, so Everest was sad, a lot sadder then I was expecting. Don't get me wrong its those moments that are the best and most dramatic, but the movie turns from a decent mountain climbing adventure movie to a more disaster/survival movie really fast.

Well whats it about? Everest depicts the tragic events from May 1996 where a large storm strikes the legendary mountain just as a group of climbers lead by Rob Hall (Jason Clarke). The climbers are challenged by incredible winds and unbearable cold as they are taunted by nature to try and survive.


The final third of this film has nothing out of your standard disaster movie playbook, however its also the strongest act of the film. Everything up to the film is build up as the story follows the hikers on their trip up the mountain. It's typical and even boring at some points but I tend to appreciate films that have you eat your broccoli before getting dessert. I found myself really caring for several of these characters because I had spent the previous hour and a half on the journey up the mountain. This doesn't discredit the flaws of the movie to which there are plenty. As mentioned previously nothing really happens until they reach the summit; up to that point the show really belongs to the cinematography. Also once the storm finally comes some of the deaths just kinda happen so fast its hard to catch them. This is a move where its easy to forget names as the action is going down.

Everest delivers on the promises it makes. Its a spectacle depicting the horrific events that brought the dangers of nature back to the public eye. The first half of the movie is unremarkable and the second half is by the books, but the experience as a whole is bolstered by the thrill of experiencing the climb and then witnessing helpless to the devastation. Everest as a package has going for it to make it a worth wile experience.

The 3D difference: I waited 2 weeks to see this movie because I wanted to see it in 3D and honestly its not that worth it. The movie is shot beautifully without the emersion and its the human aspect that pushed this into the positive zone for me so don't feel like 3D is a must for this one.

Just an Update

Thanks to anybody who is a regular to my blog, I'll have more movie reviews up soon. I am going to see both Everest and Sicario tonight as well as Pan or the Walk tomorrow so look for those coming up.

The Martian - Review

The Martian brings back the heart into sci-fi. (5/5)

Humanity is a theme that every movie regardless of being good, great, and terrible each touch on in their own way. Characters in stories only become real after they are perceived as such from the viewer, and the characters that become the most real are the ones who become the most tangible to our own individual understanding.; it's the reason why many of us identify with different people and make separate choices. The Martian (directed by Ridley Scott) is a movie about humanity, but not humanity on a grand scale; its an epic that chronologues the chapter in the life of a fictional character, of a fictional future, and makes you care about him like a forgotten friend. The Martian weighs the significance of a life in the sacrifices and the sparks it takes to save it. Its one hell of a watch.

Honestly the less you know about The Martian the more surprises you will be in for, but this paragraph should serve as a basic outline. Astronaut Mark Watney (Matt Damon) is left behind and presumed dead during an emergency evacuation from Mars. He is left alone with limited resources and previsions, and overall hope for survival is slim, but his optimism pushes him onward to fight for a chance. The story is part told on Mars, where Watney must improvise solutions to various impossible problems, and the other part told on Earth where Watney's death and circumstance is being handled by NASA.

The two part story does major milage for the story's main theme since we get two completely sides of the situation to examine from. On Nasa side we see a struggle between many different personalities and minds over how to handle the situation, and on Watney's side we see the personal struggle considering it's his ass in the fire. Both parties are working toward the same goal and both fail if Mark doesn't make it. In the trailer Matt Damon narrates that as humans we have a natural instinct to help one another, and this theme only becomes larger and more prevent as the plot develops.

The Martian isn't all serious though, in fact it may just have the best since of humor out of any movie so far this year. Throughout all the hardship and hopelessness Mark Watney remains a beacon of optimism and charism. Scott strategically chooses to have Damon narrate most of his scenes while alone on Mars as a way to incorporate his triumphs with our own, making us want to see him get out alive even more. Matt Damon crushes it in this role, its some of the greatest work he's ever done and Im including Good Will Hunting. The folks at NASA are also extremely relatable and easy to root for, even the ones you may not agree with like Teddy Sanders (Jeff Daniels) who despite wanting to save Watney as much as everybody else, realizes that jeopardizing more lives is not worth losing another.

In summery if you have no plans this weekend go see The Martian. Its epic, its personal, its Ridley Scott at his absolute best. The movie is gorgeous, the performances are symbiotic and the experience is one that kept a constant smile on my face. This movie does everything I can ask for and I can't wait to see it again!

Hotel Transylvania 2 - Review

Drac's sequel brings the laughs but forgets to focus (2/5).


When it comes to Sony this year I'm starting to get annoyed. Every film they have put out (ie Pixels, Paul Blart 2, Aloha and the Perfect Guy) has been a heartless and unremarkable entries into a flourishing marketplace of quality and exciting films. While I'm am eager to say Hotel Transylvania 2 is my favorite movie Sony has put out this year I can't say thats much of a compliment.


But enough about Sony, what about the movie, the studio for better to worst isn't what makes or breaks a movie. How is Hotel Transylvania 2...well its a mixed bag.


The movie takes place some time down the road from the last one and Dracula's Daughter has married her "zing" Jonathan and have a baby named Dennis. Five years pass and Dennis still hasn't grown his Vampire Fangs which causes Dracula (Adam Sandler) to become paranoid that Dennis is possibly a human and not a Vampire which would end the Dracula bloodline. So Drac schemes a plan that involves Mavis and Johnny leaving for some time while he brings five year old Dennis through Vampire boot camp.

The plot works for something like this, its simple and allows for strong character development and themes to shine. A large portion of the movie revolves around Dracula's relationship with Dennis and his bind acceptance to his grandchild being a Vampire when signs show that he's not. Can Dracula accept the kid for who he is and not who he wants to be is a very adult theme and handled very well through the picture. Another thing the HT2 does well is staying true to its brand of humor, blending creativity with rapid-fire personalities and jokes (+/- a couple cut-a-ways).

No my problems with HT2 rely not in its set up or its execution, those are both fine, my problem lies within its third act, specifically how Vlad, Dracula's father played by Mel Brooks, is handled as an antagonist and the films overall resolution. Considering how that crosses spoiler territory I will respectfully withhold my criticisms in this review.

If you saw the first one and liked it as I did then this movie will likely hold enjoyment for you. If you have kids and are making a trip to the theaters this would also be my recommendation considering its a good time for all ages and there really isn't anything else age appropriate out right now. But if your a film fan like me and judge the movie not just on what you liked but also what you didn't like then I would recommend a pass on this one, the third act is a doosey.

The Intern-Review

One note movie treads well worn ground. (2/5)

The Intern is the the new movie directed by Nancy Meyers which stars Robert de Niro as the optimistic and experienced Ben Whittaker and Ann Hathaway plays Jules Ostin. When Whittaker applies for a senior internship at a internet start up company he is paired with the founder of the company Jules Ostin who, get this, doesn't like old people (*cue loud gasp). Overtime however Whittaker works his charm and the two develop mutual respect between each other that helps them both "fill the whole" in their lives.

What to say about the Intern? Well its pretty much what you expect. The performance Robert de Niro lends to Ben Whittaker is admirable and Ann Hathaway is better then expected as the ambitious workaholic. The movie has a feel good vibe which turns off throughout its 2hr run time.

What works for the Intern also hold it back from being anything more then a decent movie. There is no depth to the movie and even though things are changing and developing scene to scene everything feels so similar. A scene that has Whittaker finally winning over Jules feels the same as the secretary overcoming her own self confidence issues. Part of this is due to the god awful score to the whole picture. The theme itself is just as serviceable as the premise of the film but I swear it doesn't change scene to scene. Its the same dumb piano cords that give the same dumb happy feel good vibe. Its like eating a good snack over and over again all day. At first its fine and you welcome it, but eventually you just want it to go away and after it doesn't (like this movies score) you just never want to here it again. Its a fine basis for a theme but a terrible score.

The Intern for me was very Vanilla. I didn't enjoy this movie but its just a hair above being a bad movie. I did laugh at parts because it was so sappy and at other parts because it was generally funny. Some scenes were sweet enough to be tasty and others so sweet to be bitter but thats what you get with these types of movie. I can't recommend this movie to others but I also can understand why some people will have liked it. 10 years form now I will probably have taken away more bad then good from this flick but that doesn't mean it had no good in it.


PS: I saw this movie with my mom and I dont see her much so that was nice


PSS: .......Tim KNOWS about the gems!

Maze Runner: The Scorch Trails - Review

Out of the Maze and into the Mundane (2/5)

The Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials is a sequel to the well received Maze Runner form last year and picks up where the last one left off (so if you haven't seen the first one please your not going to want to read the next sentence because it spoils the movie...just go check out the first movie its really good). Thomas and crew are now out of the maze and into the safe hands in a facility at an unknown location. However through a series of circumstances the gang leaves the facility and are forced to brave the scorch, a post apocalyptic wasteland dried by the heat of the and inhabited by brain dead zombies (oh I mean walkers)...(oh I mean cranks). Without any infactrutre and experience Thomas is pushed even further to his limits to survive the trials of the now "real" world he fought so hard to reach.

The Scorch Trials does everything a proper sequel should, it raises the stakes, expands the lore and even adds plot points that reflect back to the original movie; quite ironically Scorch trials also forgets why these things are important. In raising the stakes it makes them less personal, trading in the desires and hopes of a group of lost boys for the sake of a world we just don't care about. Scorch Trials expands more on the lore but at the end of the day there is really nothing more learned then what was resolved at the end of the last movie. Finally the points that reflect back to the original give weight to the story in place but really clarify why I think the second movie is less superior. The first movie's greatest tool was mystery and suspense. We didn't know why all those boys were trapped in the maze, well now we do (well sort of). We didn't know what Thomas did to get into the maze, well now we do...at the end of the day its nice to know these thing but in the original it didn't matter what the maze was about the only concern was escaping it. As for Thomas he was an interesting character before we knew his "origin story" because his actions showed that he was a confident strong personality and I was more interesting to speculate how and organization like W.C.E.D, may dislike that.

But thats enough of the rambling, this movie does bring some great action to table taking advantage of that increase in budget from the first movies success. If your a fan of zombies (ugggh Cranks sorry cough cough) then you'll enjoy the several great zombie horror moments that this movie has to offer (although I can swear some of those scenes are ripped straight from the Last of Us...not a bad thing though). Also its great to see a YA adaption where the youth stars can actually pose a treat to the bad guys (Im looking at you divergent). Thomas and the others from his maze work like a unit and more then once you'll see them collaborating together without words on the fly, I have to give props to director Wes Ball (even though this is only his second movie credited!).

However where there is good there is the bad. First and foremost If you haven't seen the first movie I recommend avoiding this one considering there is no lead into Scorch Trails and the first 10minutes fly by faster then the Green Goblin in Amazing Spiderman 2. Also arround the second half of this movie the pace drops like a rock and although their is still plenty of action it starts to feel more like a chore rater then a pleasure. Another huge con I had with the movie is the run time. This movie is way longer then it should be and by the time it feels like its going to end it goes on for another 30 minutes. If several scenes were just removes or shortened I think this problem would go away and fix a lot wrong but thats why I gotz a blog.

Overall I enjoyed Maze Runner The Scorch Trials but I still cant recommend it. Its not a bad movie but it is a bad sequel and sometimes in hollywood thats worse. Go if your a fan of the franchise but if you never had the fortune of seeing The Maze Runner (2014) then your better off skipping this one and saving yourself the headache.

Black Mass-Review

Oscar Bait Season Opens With a Modest Crime Drama and Strong Performances (3/5)

Black Mass stars Johnny Depp as the title character James "Whitey" Bulger and tells the the story behind the rise and fall of Boston's kingpin in the early 90s. The story focuses around Whitey's relationship with childhood friend and now FBI agent John Connolly (Joel Edgerton), who through a mutual understanding forge a one sided alliance between Bulger and the FBI. As the years pass Connolly's corruptions seeps deeper and deeper until Whitey sits on Boston's throne as protected FBI informant.

I'm going to keep my review short for Black Mass because odds are if you wanted to see this movie you saw it last weekend when the hype was at its peak. Yes Johnny Depp is awesome in the movie, his performance is the best he's given in years. Also terrific is the performance of Edger Edgerton) who plays up both the sympathetic and ignorant personality of John Connolly. Outside the performances is where the movie loses its girth and wholes and missed opportunities start to show more prevalently. I wanted this movie to be a big crime drama and deliver a modern day goodfella's or even something like the Departed...but its just not that type of movie. I feel my biggest criticism with the movie is that is lacked a level of ambition I think material like this deserves. The plot on paper is amazing and dynamic but it the movie the plot seems like a side note behind the characters involved. The directions is just okay, the cinematography is nothing special, and the score is just typical. Theres nothing in the movie I hated its just all as expected and nothing but the performances really defied standard. Black Mass is worth a trip to theatres just for Depp and Edgerton, but I think the best of 2015 (at least as far as Oscar Bait goes) is still to come.

No Escape Review

A Grounded SuspenseThriller That Delivers on Suspense but Not the all of the Thrills (3/5)

Top 13 Movies of Summer 2015

So I was planning on posting a review of Hitman Agent 47 since last weekend but after seeing it last weekend, and it was really nothing special, a sudden realization griped my subconsciousness. I tried to deny it but as the days continued and we move closer and closer to next weekend it simply became fact...Summer is Over. Next weeks releases include No Escape and Zac Efron's We Are Your Friends, two films that may due well but I doubt have the attention of a huge summer blockbuster like Jurassic World or even a smaller more modest film like Southpaw.

So What about this summer stood out? I would argue this summer compared to last summer feels like a flunk but that would be disrespectful to what this summer had offer. We saw the return of George Miller and the reaffirming of Pixar Studios as the best name in animation. The Avengers Reassembled and the Fantastic Four flopped. The Spy movie took front and center this year establishing its self and a once again respectable genre and the Comedies this year brought more to the table then ever before. This Summer had a couple standouts that I will remember as the year goes on, and since I only recently started this blog, here is my chance to honor them.

Just before I begin lets clarify from where I see the summer movie season beginning. I know the summer solstice is June 21 but the Summer Movie season officially begins for me after the first major release in May. This year that was Avengers: Age of Ultron so anything between that and now is fair game. Also as to why I chose to do thirteen films as appose to the standard ten; thirteen is my favorite number and doing the typical approach is often boring. If you think its a cop out to squeeze three more films onto the list then skip to number ten, or five, or even one...however you enjoy this list is up to you. And lastly note that this list is my own personal opinion, if you see something that you thought should be on here then its likely I didn't like it or (in the case of horror movies and magic mike) I didn't see it.

13. Southpaw (3/5)





Jake Gyllenhaal's performance in Southpaw was defiantly the standout but their was plenty more to enjoy in this boxing movie. The complex farther daughter dynamic and the sound editing during the boxing matches was some of the best I experienced in a theater all year (the roar of the crowd was so intense in some scenes it made me thankfully I saw this at a movie theatre and now on my couch). I give this film a pass on its predictable plot and down right depressing depictions in favor of its strengths.

12. Man from U.N.C.L.E (3/5)

If your as new to this blog as I am considering this is only my fourth post then you have probably read my thoughts on Man from U.N.C.L.E. and you'll know I really liked the films style and chemistry between the two main leads. Considering on just how well Spectre does this November this year my very well go down for me as the year of the spy movie and Man From U.N.C.L.E. would have defiantly have a hand in that.


11. Shaun the Sheep (3/5)

Aaah Aardman animation, its always a joy to see these guys crank out another claymation motion feature but I have to admit I was apprehensive when I saw the first trailers to Shaun the Sheep. First off I had no idea of an old tv show and the trailer voice guy made facepalm over and over again. Fortunately once I saw the movie my fears were addressed. The story is told without any dialogue giving clarity to the corniness of the trailers. The film then continued to evolve from a cute story to a funny one to a sad one and back again to a great one. Its smart, witty and most defiantly the funniest animated movie this year so I cant give it anything less then a thumbs up.

10. Jurassic World (3/5)

And here we are the top ten with none other then this years biggest surprise Jurassic World. It was the film that surpassed Avengers in worldwide box office as well as beating it in opening weekend numbers. This is made all the more surprising that Jurassic World isn't all that great. Its good and very fun but the movie isn't really deep and the characters are laughably thin. This movie doesn't hold this spot because of the quality of film it is however it is because of what its accomplished and the amount of joy and enthusiasm it brought to movie goers, and that's something (...because shut up).

9. Spy (3/5)

Spy is a movie that needed to happen for Melissa McCarthy. After the Identity Thiefs and Tammys the world need to be reminded that with the right director, like Paul Feig, McCarthy is a comedic force. Spy works so well as a comedy because it doesn't just make the audience laugh, its a great action flick (seriously that fight in the kitchen is still one of my favorite moments in the movies so far this year). Its characters and its situations work so when the comedy misfires, and it does in the first act, you forgive it because your invested in the characters and the plot as opposed to other flicks this summer (cough..cough...ted2.cough). Now Ghostbusters is one of my most anticipated movie next summer and its all because of what Feig has done with this movie this year.

8. Trainwreck (3/5)

Narrowly beating out Spy to be the best comedy of the summer is the Judd Apatow flick Trainwreck written by Amy Schumer about Amy Schumer (or essentially her on stage persona). What helps edges Trainwreck over Spy is the drama and just how much it caught me off guard. Schumer is a comedian and Judd Apatow does comedies, so when the flick starts discussing how choices we make can design a lifestyle for us to follow and blind us to the opportunities around us it really spoke to me and the comedy helped ground that. Props to Amy Schumer looks like she is as much as a writing talent as she is a comedic one. As for you Apatow, you may have lost Rudd to Marvel (which we'll get to later) but od may have sent you another shooting star.

7. Paper Towns (3/5)

Here's a movie that I can bet a lot of my friends didn't see but are going to wish they had. I remember going into this movie and everybody was telling me "dude thats a chick flick its so stupid" and "why are you going to see that its for like teen girls" and I walked out with a huge smile on my face. There is such thing is as a chick flick, but calling this flick a chick flick is like calling the Dark Knight a horror movie, maybe from the images and themes of the movie you might come to that conclusion but you would be woefully misguided. Paper Towns is a delightful, smart and engaging teen discovery/ road trip movie about growing up and stepping out of ones comfort zone. It isn't winning any Oscars this year but I'll be damned if I forget when Ben starts singing the Pokemon theme song!

6. Avengers: Age of Ultron (3/5)

Now My favorite studio takes its turn at the bat and comes out swinging with the follow up to one of the biggest movies of all time with the sixth biggest movie of all time Avengers: Age of Ultron. So many people bashed on this movie and declared it was the herald for Marvel's fall from the heavens but I just have to declare...WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT! If this movie came out May 4, 2012 everybody would have been singing its praises but now since its has its predecessor to be compared to people have to say it missed the mark. The Avengers was lightning in a bottle and lightning rarely strikes the same place twice let alone in the same way. The only reason of disappointment I had for AOU is when you compare it to Marvel's more resent afair. Is AOU better then Guardians of the Galaxy? No. Is AOU better then Captain America: The Winter Solider? Hell No. The reason I was only slightly disappointed with the latest avengers was because compared to Marvels latest entires it lacks the depth and wow factor that I had from my expectations being blown away similar to the first Avengers. Our expectations have been spoiled by Marvel the last couple of years to the point now where its almost expected of them to surpass our expectations and that is too much to ask of any studio. Avengers Age of Ultron is still a great world spanning adventure epic that combines the events of the previous MCU movies and forwards the story in its own way. Its still funny, its characters are still incredibly deep and the expirence is still a blast from start, when they attack Struckers asylum, to end, where they stop a city from crashing into the earth.

5. Mad Max: Fury Road (3/5)

First I would like to acknowledge all the following entries on this list including Mad Max here. It's is significant for me when I can say I liked a movie more then a corresponding marvel release and all of these flicks have that privilege. Also with this entry it should be noted that while I have been singing the praises of these movies I have not yet on this list given any movie above a 3/5. The reasons are variable (and the explaining of my ratings is a post for another time) but ultimately it comes down to my enjoyment of the movie more then anything else. With Mad Max I spent a long time debating what its rating should be. The word masterful gets tossed around a lot in today's culture so I try to reserve it to only a couple of cases, and although I gave Mad Max: Fury Road a 3/5 I would still claim that their are aspects of it that are masterful. The Action on one hand is some of the best directed action I have even seen in a movie period. Going back to Mad Max I enjoyed it more and more and learned more about its plot and its messages, though I never went the step up and awarded the movie more then a 3/5. At the end of the day I stand by this rating firmly and claimed that I highly enjoyed mad max and that there isn't really much wrong with it but considering I enjoyed it only so much and less then the following entries on this list I could never award it more then I thought it deserved. Movies are subjective and I think Mad Max: Fury Road is a brilliant film that may get attention come Oscar season, though it only gets a firm recommendation from me.

4. Inside Out (4/5)

Inside out gets the honor of the first 4/5 on this list because for me it deserves it most. I loved Inside Out! It had me smiling, it had me in tears, and most of all it reminded me of why Pixar is so great. Inside Out clicks because its more then just a kids movie about growing up, it explores themes that other movies wouldn't dare come across. It's not just a compilation of fun ideas, like the train of thought being a train and long term memory being a labyrinth like archive, but it uses those ideas to say something about the world of its characters and develops its message. Engaging for kids, engaging for adults, good job Pixar your back on the map!

3. Dope (4/5)

Its funny that the best film to take place in Compton summer of 2015 wasn't Straight Outta Compton even though it may have been the favorite. So what makes dope better? For me it was the message, it characters and the style of the flick. Dope is funny, like really funny and the best part is that it fell like its not trying to be at all its just that relatable. Everything weaves together seamlessly in Dope just like it should in a great film. Most of you guys reading this probably haven't even heard of Dope or maybe you have and thought the movie wasn't for you, but as a middle class white college student let me tell you, seek it out, you'll be glad you did.

2. Ant-Man (4/5)

"Here it comes Marvel's first bomb." "What are they thinking?" "Ant-Man looks stupid!"...........can we all just start giving Marvel Studios the benefit of the doubt now. Does anybody remember Guardians and the hate it was getting up to its release? Is it the same now? Well What about Ant-Man surly that must have sucked (and if your reading its placement in the list you'll know Im being sarcastic)? Well no surprisingly (again sarcastically speaking) Ant-Man didn't suck, in fact its my second favorite movie all year. Its not an action flick and its not a comedy, it's Marvel Studios take on a heist movie. Its also the 12th financially successful film in the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe) and ties in the threads of Hank Pym to the greater story line that is going to unfold. Once again Marvel delivers the full package. Hank and Hope Pym are fully fleshed out and realized characters and Paul Rudd performance of everyman Scott Lang turned thief/criminal turned superhero grounds the story and events at play. The parallels between Hank and Hopes relationship help Scott grow his relationship with his daughter and sway him into ultimately becoming a better person for the people around him. Ant-Man may have some great action toward the end, and it may be one of marvel's funniest movies yet thanks to Michael Pena, but really this is a movie about mentors. This is a movie that shows us that sometimes its the people around us, the ones we look up to, can shape the person we become and then have the biggest impact on our lives...Are you still one of the people who just won't see Ant-Man because it looks dumb? If you are would you kindly get off my blog. 

1. Mission: Impossible - Rouge Nation (5/5)

Here it is. The first and only 5/5 I have given this year and it goes to the movie that is personally responsible for making the upcoming bond film Spectre quivers in its wake as it sweeps more and more money from the latest summer blockbuster (if you can call what were getting now blockbusters) by staying in the second spot in its now third week. Rouge Nation isn't just a great summer movie or a well told story or an interesting character study or a bombastic action film, but the embodiment of everything I love about going to the movies. I have never seen a Mission Impossible film until the night before I saw rouge nation when I bought the blu ray of Ghost Protocol just to make sure I wouldn't be lost but honestly even if I didn't do that I would have still loved it. Rouge Nation doesn't lean on the plot of its previously successful entries when it tells its story and instead goes full throttle telling a brand new one. Where to begin...there is Tom Cruse of course and his portrayl of Ethan Hunt as he embodies his inner Ahab pursuing mastermind Soloman Lang who is the head the fictionalized syndicate. There is Rebecca Ferguson whose portrayal of is she good is she bad spy gives dramatic weight to almost every scene she's in. Simon Pegg never feels unwelcome and complement Hunts badass determination as the endearing and hilarious sidekick who is just as valuable in his own right. Then there is that underwater tank scene, or the motorcycle chase or the entire opera segment which blends beautiful cinematography with incredible characters with a high stakes intelligent plot. This movie is probably the only entry this year I would deam unforgettable which is why it is also the only entry of the year to earn my most prestigious rating of 5/5.

Thank you so much for checking out this latest post guys, I have spent literally all day on it. If anybody has any thoughts on why I rated something more or less you should post a comment below, or if you just have something to say the comment board is yours as well. I'll be posting more of my post and I'll send links through facebook. 

Straight Outta Compton - Review

N.W.A.'s Story is Told with Great Characters

Man From U.N.C.L.E. Review

Style is the Game in This Late Summer Spy Flick

Brand New Blog!

Good Morning afternoon evening and night (depending on what time your reading from) and hello Internet! This is a new movie blog that i'm starting up today that will offer movie reviews and other discussion topics involving movie related media. I wanted to build this as a way to communicate my thoughts and experiences on all new weekly releases at the theaters. With this blog I will be offering weekly reviews as well as my thought on other bits of news or topics related to movies.

Just a little bit about me, My name is Matt and I am brand new to the internet space. I haven't really commented on youtube video let alone operate a blog (hence why my site is pretty much the uber generic google blogger set up...maybe in time I can change that). I do not do this for money. I don't even do this for attention. I do this because I like movies. I love watching the new releases that come out and spending hours afterward on youtube hearing what the online community has to say about it. I am an active follower of youtubers like Jeremy Jahns, Schmoesknow and of course Collider Movie Talk. If your a fan of any of those well known youtube commenters then I think you can get the idea of where Im coming from.

So keep an ear out (well you don't really listen to a blog but you catch my drift) for new content because I intend to update fairly often. If you like spending hours reading movie reviews, stick around I might be able to give you another five minutes. If you like reading a review that completely bashes on a movie well I'm sure 2015 has one or two more disasters on the way. And if for some chance your that 0.00001% who has never heard of the internet and you just happened to find my blog as your first site then let me tell you that the internet can be a hostile place and just try and follow the golden rule...(quote) "don't be a dick".

Anyway thats going to do it for me, I still have a job to get ready for! Like I said keep a watch on the blog I should have content coming up soon!