REVIEW: Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb

NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM: SECRET OF THE TOMB

RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW

RATED: PG

RATING: ****/*****

PREMISE: (From IMDB) Larry spans the globe, uniting favorite and new characters while embarking on an epic quest to save the magic before it is gone forever. 

THE PRO'S: Very funny, great new characters and the old ones are great as ever, a well done finale, great script this time around, Robin Williams final performance really hits home.

THE CON'S: Could have been a little longer, underuse of Ben Kingsley (who is hysterical)

THE REVIEW:

I will make no secret of this, I LOVE these movies. I enjoyed all three in their own way, but I can definitely say "Secret of the Tomb" is by far my favorite out of the three. It's funny, clever, and an excellent conclusion to what has been a really fun trilogy. 

The sequel picks up a while after the second, with the museum now open for a widely successful "night program", which Larry Daley funds and runs. Things go horribly wrong, however, when the tablet begins to rust over, and turn the museum's exhibits insane. Realizing the magic is running out, Larry and the others rush to England in order to find Ahkmenra's parents, and save the tablet before time runs out.

It's a journey that is absolutely one of the most fun times I've spent at the movies this past year. First of all, as I felt the others were, the movie is outrageously funny. Without giving much away, I can honestly say that this one may have the best joke deliveries. The characters are all on point, with Ben Stiller's new character "Laa" being especially funny, and Lancelot being a real treat. And all the actors really give this one their all, especially at the climax. And a few surprising cameos only add to the fun. And of course, Octavius and Jedidiah are big highlights, being probably my favorite characters once again.

While I'm on this subject, I must say I got emotional at Robin Willams's last performance. He really has one of his best performances here.  He's funny, and dramatic all at once, and especially at the end, he gave it his all. One thing of note is that one speech Teddy gives (without spoilers) feels very fitting given it was the last film he made. So overall, bravo Robin, you gave a performance worthy of your amazing career, and may you rest in peace. 

Other highlights really come from Ahkmenra's parents played by Ben Kingsley and Ajanli Jay. Both are absolutely hilarious, and their line delivery is spot-on. But at the same time, I really feel more could have been done with Kingsley. His character practically steals the show in every scene he is in, but he is unfortunately criminally underused. A fact which I felt was an "oops" on the part of the filmmakers. 

The only other problem I had with the movie is the length. It is a rather short entry in the series, and the journey, while a ton of fun, goes by fast. I felt that overall the story should have extended further, especially as it was the final journey. But overall, it's not enough to hinder the movie too badly, I just felt we could have spent a little more time without the movie dragging.

That being said, I applaud the filmmakers for so awesomely bringing the story to the end. At the end, I felt a real sense of completion, and overall, felt satisfied with the trilogy. There is room left open for a sequel, but I truly hope there is not, despite all the potential left. It was a great story that I think capped off this trilogy all too well. 

So....

IN CONCLUSION: 

Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb is a fantastic ending to an exceptional trilogy. It's funny, well thought out, and really, really good overall. Despite its length, and underuse of Ben Kingsley, this was one night that stands out above the rest. 

4/5 STARS

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

REVIEW: Unbroken

UNBROKEN

RELEASE DATE:OUT NOW

RATED: PG-13

RATING: *****/*****

THE PREMISE: (From IMDB) The life of Louis Zamperini, an Olympic athlete who joined the armed forces during the second world war. Only to be captured by the Japanese navy after an almost fatal plane crash in the Pacific. After the Japanese have him, they send him to a refugee camp, only to face daring challenges head on. 

 

THE PRO'S: Masterful storytelling, excellent acting, an incredible story of an incredible man, great writing

 

THE CON'S: Not a movie for everyone, very intense and hard to get through, and therefore not for the faint of heart.

 

THE REVIEW:

So wow, this was EASILY my favorite movie of 2014, and I want to start my review by saying that. It is the most poignant, well-acted, thought-provoking film of the year. So I can't exactly say there will be a lot of negativity in my review. Because it's a movie that doesn't deserve it, at least to me.

The movie tells the incredible true story of Louis Zamperini, an Olympic runner enlisted in World War II. During his time in the army, he survives an extended fight for his life while stranded in the middle of the ocean (following a plane crash). Only to eventually be found, and captured, by the Japanese, who put him into a prisoner-of-war camp, where his true struggle to survive begins.

Now where to begin? I think I should start with the acting in this movie. Namely I want to single Jack O'Connel who plays Louis, and Takamasa Ishihara who plays the movies villain, best known as "The Bird". O'Connel is easily one of the best young actors I have seen on-screen, bringing so much to the role that he really made for him. While in contrast, Ishihara is an exceptionally hate-able, vile villain who really gets under your skin, and ultimately gets you to really, really hate him. A quality every great villain needs and truly comes off well here. 

And if that was not enough, their chemistry, which drives most of the movie is incredible. They truly come off as their characters (and the people they are based on), and not for a moment did I feel like that was unbelievable. And on the talk of chemistry, there is also a ton of great chemistry between him, and his two fellow castaways, played by Finn Wittrock and Doomhall Gleeson, is incredible as well. With their plight at sea being intense, and well balanced in a way that really just stands out.

This is my first Angelina Jolie directed feature, and let me tell you, she is a hell of a filmmaker. The cinematography is an exceptional treat, with the visual aspects playing well to the film. It's a dark movie, but in this case, the sometimes gritty feel of the movie absolutely plays out outstandingly. It really makes me want to check out her last movie, as well as any movie she may make in the foreseeable future.

But all of this is only second-hand to the absolutely incredible story. Zamperini is a hell of a man, and in my opinion, probably the original "badass" in my eyes. I was completely engrossed in his tale, and how he got through this incredibly heart-wrenching and intense situation. I was in awe, not only at his courage, but his sheer will to survive. And this was only added onto each and every time a new obstacle came his way.

 

That said, I would warn this is not an easy movie to get through. It's a brutal journey through World War II, and those that are faint of heart may find it hard to take many scenes in the prison camp, as one in my own party did. But if you can get through it, let me tell you, I feel that the journey is well worth those moments. 

So to say the least...

IN CONCLUSION:

I could go on all day about how truly incredible "Unbroken" is. It's an incredible, even uplifting story of human courage, as well as the courage of an incredible man. It may easily be one of my favorite movies ever made. So to say the least, I cannot recommend it enough.

5/5 STARS

MY PICK FOR MOVIE OF THE YEAR