Wednesday, December 31, 2014

BEST AND WORST OF 2014 NUMBER 5




BEST:
#5:"Gone Girl." After reading ths best seller by Gillian Flynn, I had a lot of expectations, and I will be darned if it didn't meet every one. I know a lot of people were mad about the story and how fincher portrayed it through the eyes of Amy and Nick, played by Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike. All I can tell you it is  one of those rare screenplays that has you at the edge of your seat. They brought Flynn's screen play into a great light with help from Kim Dickens, and Tyler Perry. Its well worth the cinema ticket.

WORST
#5: "Think Like A Man Too." Again there is something to be said about leaving well enough alone. All the actors in this movie are competant and talented. The shame is they are once again led down a stereotypical road of crappy one liners, and plot holes so huge you can run a truck through them. MUCH worse then the first one.

BEST AND WORST OF NUMBER 6





BEST
#6:  "X-Men: Days Of Future Past" Since they decided to reboot the X-men franchise using younger versions of the characters we know so well, they have not put a foot wrong. This story, meshing past and future mutants is extraordinary, and well thought out. The direction is precise, and the screenplay keeps us engaged from beginning to end. Can't wait to see the third in the installment, "X-men Apocalypse."

WORST
 #6: "Lets Be Cops," is just awful. Story, Acting, Directing. Nothing worked. I began to think that this was one of those movies that got pitched while the studio head was drunk. Two grown men pretend to be cops, get away with it for far too long, and then where do you go from there? No where thats where. Now get me another shot of Bourbon!

BEST AND WORST OF 2014 NUMBER 7






BEST
#7: "Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes" I was so ex cited for this, and I had NO IDEA it would be this good. They make an effort to be respectful of the first film, and with a terrific script, great actors and effects that are par none, they succeeded. And by god WHY havent they given Andy Sirkis and Academy award all ready. What he does is in a class of its own. His work As Ceasar, the ape leader was incredible.

WORST
#7: The problem with Jason Reitman's  "Men, Women, and Children," is that its incredibly stupid. He tries to make a statement on the social networking that is apart of our every day, and he just draws characters that are way too cartoon like. Plus I was so bored by their responses to everything. From Jennifer Garners over protective mom, to Adam Sandlers cheating husband, each actor had the weight of non realistic responses to put across. Its a shame because Reitman's "Juno," and "Up in the air," are thoughtful and intimate. This was anything but that.

Tuesday, December 30, 2014

BEST AND WORST OF 2014 NUMBER 8







 BEST
#8: Edge Of Tomorrow was surprising to me somewhat. I had hopes it would be good, I just had no clue it would be this good. Its the most original movie of the year to me. It is a most excellent combination of Actors, Directors, Editing and story. AND its pretty funny too.  Well worth watching again.

WORST
#8: 3 Days to Kill is a horrible mess. Most of all because it has  2 great actors, (Kevin Costner, and Richard Sammel, who was in INGLORIOUS BASTARDS)  and they are god awful in it.  They are not served by a mediocre screen [play full of bad spy puns and awkward action shots. Two hours of my life I will never get back.

THE BEST AND WORST OF 2014 NUMBER 10



BEST: THE INTERVIEW

THE WORST: SABOTAGE 




BEST
#10: The most controversial movie of the year, ended up being one of my favorites . While at the bottom of the list, I really did  love 90% of "The Interview." There were just a few little things in the first act that i took issue with.  Other then that? It was a crazy funny story.

WORST
#10 : No one likes a good Schwartznegger film more than me. And when I heard he would be working with Terrence Howard I got excited cause i really do think he's very under rated. But gosh this movie was awful. David Ayer, who has since redeemed himself with the movie FURY, has a script full of corny dialogue, and charachters you just don't like. You can't feel sorry really for any of them. Schwartzneggers character John is the only one you can really feel anything for, and even thats a little hard.  The editing is an awful, uneven mess, but I can say with all its faults, its kind of a hot mess. Bad... but I could watch it again if I had too. 

Monday, December 29, 2014

HONORABLE MENTIONS FOR THE BEST MOVIES OF 2014

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER
INTERSTELLAR
WISH I WAS HERE
THE HOBBIT BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES
THE LEGO MOVIE
HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON 2
THIS IS WHERE I LEAVE YOU
ST. VINCENT
CHEF
NEIGHBORS
BEGIN AGAIN
THE IMITATION GAME
THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING
JOHN WICK
THE JUDGE
TOP FIVE
22 JUMP STREET
THE AMAZING SPIDERMAN 2
UNBROKEN


MOVIES I DID NOT SEE THAT DID NOT COME WHERE I LIVE ( ILL BE SEEING THEM NEXT YEAR):
AMERICAN SNIPER
STILL ALICE
BIG EYES
SELMA
INHERENT VICE





























Sunday, December 28, 2014

BEST AND WORST OF 2014 NUMBER 9






BEST
#9:  Fury was a surprise for me because while I was interested I thought it would just be some decent B movie. It's so much more! It's an intense ride with clever editing and terrific direction.  The sound was bar far the best part. I seriously could close my eyes and imagine everything on the screen. The acting was terrific and the story kept me interested.

WORST
#9: POMPEII  This has Kit Harrington, and Keifer Sutherland, two actors I love and who I am bitterly disapointed thought this was remotely a good idea. Good Grief this was bad! Full of cheesy dialogue and crappy special affects. I did not care if this whole city was covered in ash. I think I'd rather be covered in ash then watch it again.

Friday, December 26, 2014

2015 MOVIE CALENDAR

January: Taken 3, Paddington  and American Sniper, (maybe Mortdecai, Still Alice and Selma)
February: Kingsman: The Secret Service and The Spongebob movie: Sponge out of water 
March: Chappie ( Maybe Unfinished Business, and Second best exotic motel)
April: Furious 7 
May: The Avengers: Age Of Ultron,  Mad Max: Fury Road, Pitch Perfect 2, Tomorrowland 
June: Entourage, Jurassic World, Ted 2
July: Terminator Genisys, Minions, Ant-Man
August: The Fantastic Four
September: None 
October: London Has Fallen, The Jungle Book, Untitled WW2 movie: Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg 
November: Spectre, The Hunger Games Mocking Jay PT 2, Untitled Christmas Project: Joseph Gordon Levitt, Seth Rogen, Anthony Mackie, and Jonathan Levine
December: Star Wars Episode 7: The Force Awakens, and Mission Impossible 5 

NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM : SECRET OF THE TOMB


When I was a kid and the first one of these movies came out, I just loved it. So original in its idea, it gave the kids who watched it a real lesson in history without feeling like it was being taught. But by the time the third one was being wheeled out, I wasn't sure I would go to see it. But because one of my heroes this year passed away, (Robin Williams) past away, I knew I had to see it. It ws his last live action role, and really how terrific that given who he was, it would be a movie for kids. The film also stars, Ben Stiller, Rickey Gervis, Dan Stevens, Ben Kinsley, Owen Wilson, Steve Coogan, and Rebel Wilson. Now how is the film? Well you'd be surprised, story here.



The third a final installment is about how Larry the guard, learns from Prince Ahkmenrah, (Rami Malek,) that the Egyptian tablet that makes the wax figures come to life is malfunctioning. Larry believes the only way to fix it is to bring it to England where the tomb of Ahmenrah's father Merenkahre (Ben Kingsly) is and get him to explain it's secrets. After some convincing, Larry manages to get permission to travle with the tablet, Ahmenrah, and his son to England, to the British Museum. (He Doesn't know that Teddy Roosevelt, Sacagawea, Octavious, Jed, and Dexter the monkey came along to help.)
Along the way they encounter Sir Lancelot, and Rebel Wilsons security Guard.
 I have to say…. this film is a sweet film. It can be for both kids and adults.
The writing is decent, the direction good, and the actors are all great. Its not the best of the three, (That title still belongs to the first one,) but it was worth my movie ticket. And most of all, it was worth to watch Robin Williams. You see, I really do believe Robin Williams was one of the finest comic/actors of our age, and isn't it terrific that the last time we see him, he's riding off into the Sunset as Teddy Roosevelt? That alone makes the film worth seeing. You won't regret it.
RIP Mr. Williams.




THE VERDICT
"Night At The Museum : Secret of the Tomb," may not be spot on all the time, but its a sweet film, that has a decent story, and good performances. "Night At The Museum : Secret Of The Tomb,"gets a B.

TOP FIVE REVIEW




Top Five Stars Chris Rock, Rosorio Dawson. Chris Rock, who writes, directs, and stars in this film shows us how talented he actually is. Because, "Top Five," is a hysterical ride through fame, and fortune.





Chris Rock portrays Andre Allen, a top comedienne and actor whose previous films are a crazy franchise called the "Hammy the Bear," movies. They are widely popular, and while Andre understands, he longs for being taken seriously. Newly sober, he stars in a new movie about the slave uprising in South America. But of course, no one wants to talk about that. Because his personal life includes being engaged to a Kim Kardashian like reality star who wants to broadcast their upcoming wedding on TV. It seems with everything he does, Andre gets farther and farther from what he wants. Until he meets Chelsea, (Rosario Dawson) who as a writer for the New York Times, could help promote his film, and get  a better handle on his image. But what is clear from the moment he meets her is, she is not like normal writers. She remembers, having seen him when she was in college, how funny Andre USED to be. The rest of the movie, is the journey that Andre and Chelsea take together over a course of the day, and the many people they encounter along the way.

 Now how is this movie? Without a doubt, this is Chnris Rock's best film. He directs carefully, knowing when to let his cast do their thing. He wrote a good basic script, and let the comics he hired expand where they could, and as far as his acting went, well given how Rock started, you could see this as being a good representation of how his life was.  It was also a great romantic story, and I really believed the chemistry between Dawson, and Rock. And I LOVED some of the cameos. I only wish some of them had more time. Its their introductions and quick departures ar the only parts of the film that really didn't work for me.



THE VERDICT
"Top Five," works on many levels,  their were a few hiccups along the way with the many cameos. But still the script, direction and most of the writing make up for that.  I give "Top Five," a B+.

Monday, December 8, 2014

IMPORTANT INFO!

THE FOLLOWING IS HAPPENING IN THE MONTH OF DECEMBER:

Reviews:
The Imitation Game
Top Five
Inherent Vice
The Hobbit The Battle Of The Five Armies
Unbroken
Into The Woods
The Interview



top 10 best and worst films of the year - December 29th

movie year schedule 2015- December 30th

top 10 most anticapted films 2015 - December 30th

Thursday, December 4, 2014

DUMB AND DUMBER TO REVIEW





Ooooo boy........ oooooo......... so this is what we've been waiting for after 20 years? is it terrible? is it bad? is it ok? or is it actually decent? well........ my review down here.





Dumb and Dumber To stars of course Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels. Once again its directed and written by the Farley brothers. Its about how harry needs a new kidney and they discover he had a daughter that he didn't know about. so they go on another crazy road trip adventure to find her. Which is funny because this is almost the same movie as the first one. I'm serious!!!! Its a road trip movie where 2 people are trying to kill someone and these 2 idiots manage to foil their plans. The only difference is thats its 20 years after the first one and its about how they have to find a kidney. Now is this movie terrible? No. is it excellent? No. Its ok. its the very deffinition of a rental. Its not worse than the prequel, thats an awful movie.But its not as good as the first one. And I like the first one but its not perfect to me. I do have some problems, but that was atleast decent. This is just ok. lets talk about the pros and cons. So con is this. about 60% of the jokes suck. 40% is ok, or actually funny.  It just comes to show you that, you shouldn't do a sequel 10 to 20 years later. Examples are Indiana Jones 4 and Tron 2. I will say though, what saves me from saying that this movie is awful  or mediocore is 3 things. 1. is that Jeff Daniels and Jim Carreys chemistry is awesome. They are still perfect together.  another thing is that the 2nd act is perhaps the best part of the movie. Its where all the great jokes kick in.  And the last thing ill say is the acting and editing is all fine.  Other than that, if your interested in seeing this movie rent it. If your dying to see it, matinee. But if your me, you'll watch this when its on tv, but wont buy it on blu ray.




THE VERDICT
Though Dumb and Dumber To is not worse than the prequel its not as good as the first one. Even though it has some great moments, it has some bad. However the chemistry is whats saves this movie.  Dumb and Dumber To gets a B-.

FOXCATCHER REVIEW



"Foxcatcher," is without a doubt my most anticipated movie of the year. There is so much to it, and the amount of buzz that has gone along with it has been amazing. Here's the story.



Foxcatcher is based on true events story about a wrestler named Mark Shultz who forms a relationship with his new benefactor and millionaire John du Pont. DuPont, who knows nothing about wrestling, except that he likes it, becomes close with Shultz, as he trains for the Olympics and World wrestling championships. What becomes clear after while is that DuPont is really more interested in Mark's older and more successful brother Dave. And how crazy and drug fueled DuPont really is.It's what causes Mark to have a semi break down, and leave his brother and DuPont together, which ends in tragedy.
 This is by far my favorite movie of the year. First critics are right about the oscar buzz. Steve Carell, Channing Tatum, and Mark Ruffalo are all incredible in this. Even the supporting roles ( Sienna Miller, Anthony Michael Hall, and Venessa Redgrave) are all terrific as well. The screenplay is amazing and the directing is superb. You care so much about these brothers, that its heart breaking to know the road they are going on is bad. You want to yell to them... "Get out of there!"



THE VERDICT
Foxcatcher is the best film I've seen all year, with superb acting, amazing dialoge, and awesome directing. Foxcatcher gets an A++++++++++.

THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING REVIEW ;




Here is a movie I was very curious by, as it had gotten great reviews. But as it was about the science of black holes, I wasnt sure I would understand it. I went anyway. And I was happy I did. Here;s the story






The Theory of Everything stars Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones. Its a biopic about the story of Stephen and Jane Hawking's life together. It starts when they are both students at Cambridge university. He's a scientist, and she is studying Art. But somehow, even though they don't have much in common, they like the passion they each have for life and the things in it. Just as Hawking was beginning to really do things in college, he starts to show signs of having a brain disease Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. 
Otherwise known as Lou Gehrigs disease. Its a nerve disease that prevents movement. The usual prognosis is 2 years, and because it looks as though he will not live long, he tries to get Jane to leave him, as he doesn't want to make her feel like she should stay and watch him die. But she loves him and in an act of bravery, decides to stay with him no matter what. They get married and have kids, and he does some of his best work trying to figure out when time began, and then whether or not time ever began at all, but in fact has always just been there. He explains it, by describing the difference between Quantum and Relative theories of physics. He believed and studied Quantum physics. Which is the nature and behavior of matter and energy on a sub atomic level.(As opposed to Einstein, who studied Relativity, and thats the study of gravitation and space time IN time. understand?) Hawking has spent his whole life studying Quantum Physics. And even though he was very ill, he has lived well beyond his initial prognosis. He is now 72. And even though he and Jane are no longer married, they had three children, and managed to do a great deal of work together to help him become the scientist he is today. The movie goes into great detail of how she helped him, how they lived together, and how they grew apart. 

Hawkings most famous book is called, "The Brief History of Time," and while it explains a lot about the universe, it is thought of as being very hard to understand if you don't understand basic physics. There were moments in the film that I was confused. The script does at points try to make it easy for the watcher, like a "Physics for Dummies," moment, but it still wasnt easy. However, it did make me glad that there were people out there that understood the world in a much bigger way then I do.







THE VERDICT

The Theory Of Everything may be a little confusing sometimes, but the performances and story are worth watching. I give it a B+