REVIEW: The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1

THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY - PART 1

RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW

RATED: PG-13

RUNNING TIME: 123 MINUTES

SCORE: ****/*****

 

THE PREMISE: (VIA IMDB) With the Games now destroyed and in pieces, Katniss Everdeen, along with Gale, Finnick and Beetee, now end up in the so thought "destroyed" District 13. Under the leadership of President Coin and the advice of her friends, Katniss becomes the "Mockingjay" and the symbol of rebellion for the people. 

 

THE PRO'S: Great storytelling, fantastic performances, great use of tension, a very faithful adaptation of the source material, great additions to the story through SHOWING the rebellion.

 

THE CON'S: Drags along at parts.

 

THE REVIEW:

 

Let me start by saying that I am in the minority in this series. Going by the books, I liked Catching Fire the least, and Mockingjay the best. Something which is usually the opposite, of course. And though Catching Fire as a MOVIE was great, I still have not changed my stance as far as books go. And here, I still believe that Mockingjay - Part 1 is by far the strongest of the three movies so far.

 

So, if you're seeing this movie, you probably know a bit about the story. But just in case, here's teh rundown. After the devastating, and shocking events at the end of Catching Fire, Katniss Everdeen finds herself in long-thought destroyed District 13 in the midst of a revolution. Driven to save Peeta, but with very little choice, she is unwillingly drawn into the conflict as a catalyst known as the "Mockingjay". A role that will help her start a revolution that is steadily beginning around Panem.

Mockingjay is a departure from the last two movies, and the first two books in many ways. We are finally not restricted to the arena, and rather the story moves into the revolution that has been stirring against the Capitol. And for the movie, this works to amazing lengths not even the book reached. Whereas in the book, we only saw it from Katniss's point-of-view, it excellently handles showing us what is going on beyond just this one point of view. 

And that's where some of Mockingjay's strongest scenes come from: the revolution. Scenes of bloodshed and revolt are difficult, with tons of intensity in this one. But without a doubt, it works well to hammer the point they are trying to make in: this is a very real war, and revolution. Rather than skip around the harder points of it, Mockingjay shows just how horrifying and intense things have become, and that's what makes it so strong.

As always in this franchise, the acting is superb. Jeniffer Lawrence is especially great, nailing many emotionally jarring scenes perfectly. Her rendition of the "If we burn, you burn with us!" scene was even met with a fierce applause from the entire audience. (I won't say the context for those who have not read the books, but it's definitely an amazing scene) While other stand-outs come from Julianne Moore, Josh Hutcherson, and Donald Sutherland who all simply own every scene they're in.

But someone who truly brings some great things to this adaptation is Effie. She was absent for almost all of the book, but here, she really brings her spark and charm into it. Her presence is greatly noticed, and her character is slowly beginning an interesting and well-written transformation. One which I am very interested, and dare I say it, excited to see play out on screen. Especially given my love for the character.

 

But while this movie is action-packed, and fun, I will admit its fault is that it can drag sometimes. It's a very faithful adaptation, and it was great to see some scenes expanded. But other expanded scenes could have been kept shorter, and as a result there are times I really wish they had had their focus elsewhere. Though it doesn't detract from the movie much, it is highly noticable, and hurt this one just a little bit.

 

But none of this matters, because in the general scheme of things, I can definitely say that...

 

IN CONCLUSION

 

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1 is a fantastic adaptation of the first half of the last book. Its expansion of the storyline, and great performances drive it towards what I'm sure will be an awesome conclusion. It's definitely a movie to check out, especially if you're a fan of either the movies or the books.

 

4/5 STARS

HIGHLY RECCOMMENDED

REVIEW: Big Hero 6

BIG HERO 6

RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW

RATED: PG

RUNNING TIME: 102 MINUTES

SCORE: *****/*****

THE PREMISE: (Via IMDB) From Walt Disney Animation Studios, the team behind "Frozen" and "Wreck-It Ralph," comes "Big Hero 6," an action-packed comedy-adventure about the special bond that develops between Baymax, a plus-sized inflatable robot, and prodigy Hiro Hamada. When a devastating event befalls the city of San Fransokyo and catapults Hiro into the midst of danger, he turns to Baymax and his close friends adrenaline junkie Go Go Tomago, neatnik Wasabi, chemistry whiz Honey Lemon and fanboy Fred. Determined to uncover the mystery, Hiro transforms his friends into a band of high-tech heroes called "Big Hero 6." 

 

THE PRO'S: Beautiful animation, lots and lots of heart, great story  of grief  and inner strength, handles the tougher aspects of the story perfectly, and just a whole lot of fun to boot. 

THE CON'S: Underdeveloped/predictable villain.

THE REVIEW:

Alright, so for my first review in a while, I'm going to take a look at my favorite animated feature this year: Big Hero 6. Which is based on a little-known superhero group from none other than MARVEL, and may go down, in my opinion, as one of the greatest superhero movies ever. If not completely skyrocketing this teams populalirity!

The movie tells the story of Hiro Hamada, a boy genius who loses his brother, and his impressive invention to a horrific fire at the school he was auditioning for. In a state of grief, he surprisingly befriends his own brother's greatest invention: Baymax, and along with him discovers someone has taken his invention for nefarious purposes. A discovery which leads the two unlikely heroes to gather his late brother's friends to form a superhero team, and hunt down the villain before it's too late. 

On the outside, Big Hero 6 sounds like any other superhero film. But where a lot of superhero films are dark and serious, or lighthearted and goofy, this movie seems to fall in the middle. Though it is very much meant for younger viewers, Big Hero 6 very excellently handles some tough issues regarding loss, depression, and closure while still making it whimsical and fun for the younger kids out there. 

The heart of the film, of course, if you haven't seen the trailers is Baymax. Never since I first saw Guardians of the Galaxy, and discovered Groot, have I found a more adorable badass like Baymax before. He's fun, goofy, and a great character, whether he's kicking butt, or just being a good friend to Hiro and the rest of the gang, it's hard not to find a lot to love in him. I definitely left the theater wishing I could have a Baymax of my own.

And that brings me to where the show really shines: the characters. They're not the most developed of characters, but they all have so much personality, and vibrancy to them it never really amtters. You grow to love, and feel for them anyway. With big props here coming from the character of Hiro, whose transformation, and character arc throughout the film is really, really impressive for a film of this caliber. 

But we all go to superhero movies for action too, right? And let me tell you, this movie does not tone down the action. In fact, the action may be one of the most fun parts of the movie itself. Once "Big Hero 6" has formed, the movie kicks it into high gear, and even adds to the personality and fun of the characters.  Something which really adds to the story rather than detracts, and really, again, left me impressed.

 

The only, minor thing I found fault with was the villain. Even for a kids movie, it really feels like they could have taken more time to think this one through. And perhaps set up the motive in a way that was a little more original. But otherwise, this doesn't detract too much from the movie, which is still fun as heck anyway.

And so....

IN CONCLUSION

I cannot recommend this movie any more if I tried. It's a fun, action packed adventure which is fun for the whole family, and makes a great hour and forty minutes at the movie. Despite the minor fault of the villain, it's well worth a look, and sure to be another hit from Walt Disney Animated Studios.

5/5 STARS

MY HIGHEST RECCOMENDATIONS

REVIEW: The Book of Life

THE BOOK OF LIFE

RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW

RATED: PG

RUNNING TIME: 95 MINUTES

SCORE: *****/*****

 

PREMISE: From producer Guillermo del Toro and director Jorge Gutierrez comes an animated comedy with a unique visual style. THE BOOK OF LIFE is the journey of Manolo, a young man who is torn between fulfilling the expectations of his family and following his heart. Before choosing which path to follow, he embarks on an incredible adventure that spans three fantastical worlds where he must face his greatest fears. Rich with a fresh take on pop music favorites, THE BOOK OF LIFE encourages us to celebrate the past while looking forward to the future.

 

THE PRO'S: Fun and imaginative storyline, humor, and set-up. Great framework in making the story more like a bedtime story. Excellent and positive message.

 

THE CON'S: This may be the first movie I can't really think of con's for.

 

 

THE REVIEW:

 

Wow, what is there to say about The Book of Life? I knew from the trailers it was going to be good, but I was no expecting the masterpiece that was presented. It was, without a doubt, the most surprising movie of this year in that respect, and man others as well.

"The Book of Life" centers on Manolo and Joaquin, who are chosen by two Mexican Gods on the Day of the Dead to be the pieces in a wager. Each one choosing a different boy as their champion for the heart of their friend, Maria. Unfortunately, Maria is sent away soon after, causing the three to go on separate paths: Maria becomes a very forward feminist with a love of culture, Manolo trains to be a matador, while secretly wishing to sing, and Joaquin, the military hero of their hometown. Upon Maria's return, however, all three soon find themselves once again in a love triangle, which ends when one of the gods brings about the death of Manolo. Thus, sending him on a quest through the Lands of the "Remembered" and the "Forgotten" to find his way back to the girl he considers his one true love.

And what a quest it is! This is one of the few movies where I will honestly be giving nothing but praise, because it is all deserved. The beautiful world Guillermo Del Toro and his team have crafted is simply breathtaking, which automatically was an aspect I fell in love with. Because on the surface, I can honestly say that this is one beautiful movie to look at on the surface.

 

But that's only the beginning. The Book of Life's story is ultimately where most of the heart lies, as it should. What could have been a shallow story centered on yet another love triangle becomes the exact opposite. The love story between the three leads is very well crafted, written, and dare I say it, though the road isn't very realistic, their relationship progress is excellently paced. Only helped by the fact that each of the characters are funny, often zany, and enjoyable.

It's really hard to point out  just one character as being the "best" in a movie like this. As I just want to applaud the entire voice cast. Each of them are absolutely lively, entertaining, and colorful. With a special big thumbs up to each of the Gods, who were probably my favorite characters in the film. The writers carefully crafted them to be as much the stars of the movie as its three leads, and in some ways, they do steal the show away from them.

I want to also specifically praise the creative team for their AMAZING work on the three worlds. I know I said it before, but the colorful worlds are so filled with imagination that I sometimes couldn't help but get lost in them. Each world stands out very firmly from the next, and though we only get a small amount of time in tow of them, it doesn't matter much in the end, at least for someone like me. Who was to captivated in seeing how this story wrapped up for me to care.

Another thing that makes the movie really stand out is the final delivery of its message. It's not the message you were expecting, but the way it is delivered is a great way of presenting it to kids. It's also done in a way that I'd never have thought of presenting it either. So very, very big points for both the original and exciting execution of a message that a lot of kids these days need to hear.

I could probably write a long, involved essay about just how great this movie is. But at the end of the day, I think I've summed up my thoughts perfectly. And so I leave you with the bottom line...

 

IN CONCLUSION:

The Book of Life was one of the biggest surprises I have seen in my life. From its wonderful characters, fun storyline, vibrant visuals, to its great message, and mountains of heart, it's a must-see for anyone who loves animated films. It's definitely in my top five movies of this year. A true stand-out in every way.

 

5 OUT OF 5 STARS
MY HIGHEST RECCOMENDATIONS

REVIEW: This Is Where I Leave You

THIS IS WHERE I LEAVE YOU
RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW

RATED: R

RUNNING TIME: 103 MINUTES

SCORE: *****/*****

 

PREMISE: (Via IMDB) When their father passes away, four grown siblings, bruised and banged up by their respective adult lives, are forced to return to their childhood home and live under the same roof together for a week, along with their over-sharing mother and an assortment of spouses, exes and might-have-beens. Confronting their history and the frayed states of their relationships among the people who know and love them best, they ultimately reconnect in hysterical and emotionally affecting ways amid the chaos, humor, heartache and redemption that only families can provide-driving us insane even as they remind us of our truest, and often best, selves.

 

THE PRO'S: An absolute riot, fun characters, great character development, excellent ensemble cast, good message.

THE CON'S: Perhaps a little too short.

 

THE REVIEW:

 

This was a great little movie that I found myself very impressed with! I've saved the review of by far the best movie I've been putting off the review for, for last. And to top things off, it is absolutely one of the funniest movies in a while. But be warned if you've read the book, I have not, so this is from a non-fan of the book.

 

This Is Where I Leave You tells the story of the Altman Family. Who, upon their father's death, must sit shiva as their father's final wish before his death. The problem? This is a very dysfunctional family filled with secrets that slowly, one by one begin to come to light and cause chaos upon the entire event.

 

It's a very simple plot that is executed excellently and with great comedy. Jason Bateman and Tina Fey are by-far the standouts of the cast, but there really is no weak link or even "unfunny" person here. Everyone puts out a fantastic performance, and to top it off, their characters are just exceptionally real and fun. I really enjoyed getting to know each one, and also enjoyed watching them develop.

 

And develop they do. This is one movie with no lack of character development to be had. Each character has a very big evolution over the course of the movie. And for the sake of staying spoiler-free I won't give any of their journeys away. But I will say that I was very impressed wit the lengths the screenwriter went to make sure these were characters you would grow to care about and love.

 

The other thing it has going for it is that it is just so funny. It's not always trying to crack a joke, but when it does, it's side-splittingly funny. With my favorite taking place within a Hebrew school with the three brothers that pretty much stole the whole show. I could hardly keep myself from laughing so hard that I would disrupt the audience 90% of the time, and that is definitely what helps.

 

The only problem I really have to note here is simple: it's a little too short. I felt like the movie could have easily reached two hours or more, and not seemed to long or start dragging. In fact, I really would have loved to spend more time with the Altman family, and see more of their antics, as well as see their stories develop even further.

But that's okay, because ultimately, the shorter running time doesn't hinder it at all. And without a doubt, I can say that it's an enjoyable ride all the way through.

IN CONCLUSION
 

So, in short, this was pretty much one of the best, and funniest movies this year. If you're looking for a funny story, with a great message and a lot of heart, this is the movie for you. I cannot recommend it any more than I already have.

5 OUT OF 5 STARS

MY HIGHEST RECCOMENDATIONS

 

 

REVIEW: Gone Girl

GONE GIRL
RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW

RATED: R

RUNNING TIME: 149 MINUTES

SCORE: ****1/2/*****

 

PREMISE: (Via IMDB) On the occasion of his fifth wedding anniversary, Nick Dunne reports that his wife, Amy, has gone missing. Under pressure from the police and a growing media frenzy, Nick's portrait of a blissful union begins to crumble. Soon his lies, deceits and strange behavior have everyone asking the same dark question: Did Nick Dunne kill his wife?

 

THE PRO'S: Excellent on almost every level: Acting, Directing, Story, Visuals, Writing

 

THE CON'S: Falls apart at the end, and cumulates into one of the worst endings in recent memory.

THE REVIEW:

 

Gone Girl is probably one of the best films I've seen this year. It's got everything: a love story, intrigue, suspense, and a great cast of both actors/actresses and characters. But unfortunately, I can't say it's the perfect movie, because, and I'll say this now: the ending ruined its chances of being a perfect film.

 

For those who don't know, and have not been drawn into the hype already Gone Girl tells the story of Nick Dunne. A man who, after returning home on his anniversary to find his house in shambles, and his wife missing, becomes the central figure in a missing person's case. One that has the entire world asking the same question: did he kill his wife?

I have so many great things to say about this movie, so let me explain why I'm not giving this movie a five out of five first. The ending, as I've said, is plain and simple HORRIBLE. I walked out of the movie not only feeling numb, but ultimately, a little cheated. It fit the movie, sure, but overall it was just felt like something that was done for shock value more than anything. And I honestly can't stand it no matter what way I looked at the point of the ending.

 

But the good thing? This is the only real problem with the movie. Because otherwise, it's absolutely fantastic on every level. The acting is superb, with Ben Affleck seriously killing the role of Nick. It is, quite honestly, his best role I've ever seen him in. But quite honestly, everyone's performance here is great. With another huge shout-out going to the film's other star: Rosamund Pike, Carrie Coon, and Tyler Perry, who just kick all kinds of butt in their roles.

The story is also handled in a fresh and new way. With some great twists, and in a way that really just gets really awesome. The first act is engaging, but without giving anything away? The second act is mind-blowing, and absolutely intense. And for it's part, although the weakest part of the movie? Act three is pretty good too up until it's rather disappointing conclusion.

 

But the film's strongest point, by far, is the writing up until the ending. Everything about it is just fantastic, realistic, and surprisingly, unpredictable. Just when you think you know where the movie is going, it takes one twist after another, and slaps you with a serious case of "you don't know anything". And that's where Gone Girl truly succeeds, because it just is so fun to unravel the mysteries and the deep dark secrets that drive it.

 

And most of all? Gone Girl is just an epic thrill-ride. I don't know that I could call a movie with this subject matter "fun", but it's definitely entertaining and intense. On a level that I haven't really seen in movies of its kind in a while. And I definitely think that in future years, this is going to be a classic. And despite not being "perfect", it earns that title to its fullest.

 

I'm going to cut this review short in hopes I won't spoil this movie for anyone. As a result, I will say...

 

IN CONCLUSION:

 

If you're a fan of movies like this? Definitely see it! It's a thrilling, engaging, and suspenseful story that impresses on every level. Just be sure to go in with somewhat low-expectations for the ending if you're like me. Because it's the one and only part of the movie that falls flat.

 

4 1/2 OUT OF 5 STARS

Highly Reccomended

REVIEW: Annabelle

ANNABELLE

RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW

RATED: R

RUNNING TIME: 98 MINUTES
SCORE: **1/2/*****

 

PREMISE: (Via IMDB) John Form has found the perfect gift for his expectant wife, Mia - a beautiful, rare vintage doll in a pure white wedding dress. But Mia's delight with Annabelle doesn't last long. On one horrific night, their home is invaded by members of a satanic cult, who violently attack the couple. Spilled blood and terror are not all they leave behind. The cultists have conjured an entity so malevolent that nothing they did will compare to the sinister conduit to the damned that is now... Annabelle.

 

THE PRO'S: Fun story, a few good scares, Annabelle remains scary, great use of the time period.

 

THE CON'S: Overall very suspense less, definitely NOT as scary as The Conjuring, underdeveloped characters, sketchy acting.

 

THE REVIEW:

 

Let me start by saying this: I loved The Conjuring. It is by far one of the scariest horror movies ever made, and ultimately one of my all-time favorites. I also know a lot about the true story of "Annabelle" (who is actually a Raggedy Ann Doll in real life, believe it or not), so I was very excited for this film. Unfortunately, I felt very disappointed at the end result, and ultimately was left feeling it should have told the TRUE story behind it. Because ultimately, the fictional story they tell here just did not measure up to its predecessor.

 

"Annabelle", which picks up a year before the events in the opening of "The Conjuring" focuses on young couple John and Mia. After a very pregnant Mia is nearly killed by a pair of psychopaths, John and Mia are trying to move on with their lives with their newborn daughter. Unfortunately, one of the dolls in Mia's extensive collection is not about to let that happen. As the night of the attack, an ancient evil entered the doll, and created the porcelain monster known as Annabelle.

 

Considering none of this actually happened, it did not pack the same punch as The Conjuring. But, that's not to say that Annabelle is a terrible movie by any means. First of all, Annabelle is a GREAT story. The plot is really well thought-out, and though at times cliché makes for a great, spooky horror tale to tell with this terrifying doll. This is only helped by the fact that ultimately, it uses the time period it was set in excellently. Though I can't go into detail there without spoilers.

 

And for that matter, Annabelle is as unnerving as ever. If you thought she was creepy in those first few minutes of The Conjuring? She only gets more and more eerie here. Which is what makes the movie so intense and unnerving about 90% of the time. And it kind of shows going by how much they seem to linger on her face. Though there are some really good creepy moments, and even moreso, there is a great and well executed scare found here that ensures it's not a "terrible" horror movie.

 

The problem here is that this is where the pro's end. As, for a well-crafted story, the characters are just beyond dull and lifeless. The actors here try their best to work with what they're given, but most range from clichéd characters, to just boring. And for that matter, the acting isn't always great either. There are some very cringe-worthy moments that just detract from even the best acting of the movie.

 

On top of this, the bottom line is: Annabelle isn't very scary, or suspenseful. The scary bits pretty much amount to one moment where everyone in the theater (including me) screamed at the top of our lungs. Whereas the others seem very predictable, and what's more? With very, very little build-up to be found. A ghost story without suspense is just not a very good move. It seems like they put all of it into that one scene and the rest of the movie there's none of that.

 

And this is ultimately why I can only "like" and not "love" Annabelle. It was truly a disappointment to me when its supposed to spin-off from something as terrifying as The Conjuring. I wasn't looking for perfection, but I definitely wanted a scarier, more suspenseful movie, with characters that didn't feel cheap and leave me feeling empty.

 

I feel as though the filmmakers are better off sticking with true stories for these movies. Because if this is anything to go by when it comes to "original" ideas out of true ghosts, then we're in for a bumpy road ahead before we ever get "The Conjuring 2".

 

IN CONCLUSION:

 

While Annabelle could have been something great, it just does not achieve it. Bland characters, acting, and a lack of suspense all make Annabelle very disappointing. I personally wish I had just rented it, but for what it's worth, other people in the theater and my friend really liked it. So it is still worth giving a chance. I just wouldn't go in expecting anything as good as what we were given before.

 

2 1/2 OUT OF 5 STARS

Very Disappointing; See It At Your Own Risk

REVIEW: Dracula: Untold

DRACULA: UNTOLD

RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW

RATED: PG-13

RUNNING TIME: 92 MINUTES

SCORE: ****/*****

 

PREMISE: (Via IMDB) At the turn of the century, the young lord Vlad and his family live a peaceful life ruling over their small kingdom, but when a Turk warlord demands from Vlad a thousand boys and his son to create an army Vlad seeks a terrible power that will allow him to protect his kingdom and family from the Turks at a terrible cost.

THE PRO'S: Dracula stays Dracula while getting a face-lift in a way, great acting, great storyline.

THE CON'S: Shorter running time, could have gone more -in-depth on some aspects, could have taken more time to develop secondary characters.

THE REVIEW:

So, I'm going to start out the reviews of movies that I owed reviews for with one that I was quite iffy about. But I must say, I was very impressed by it. As you can see this is everyone's favorite vampire, Dracula.

The new movie, which brings us the "untold origins" of Dracula, tells the story of true historic figure: Vlad The Impaler. When a Sultan from another land demands his young son for his army, Vlad fights back, and in a desperate attempt to save his family, decides to fight back. But in order to do so, he ultimately makes a deal with a demon, a deal which begins his decent into darkness, and begins his journey to becoming the most feared vampire of all time.

 

It's an ambitious project to take on, mixing real history with the mythology of Dracula. Vlad The Impaler, was, of course, the real-life inspiration for Dracula though, so it was a fun and original idea. And for the most part, the film works really well, though it never reaches a level of "fantastic", it definitely ends up being fun and thrilling, both important aspects of a "Dracula" film.

Let me start by saying Luke Evans was a fantastic casting choice for Vlad. I was very impressed, both by his screen-presence, and his acting. He plays a character that is sure to seduce women, as well as terrify them, and others. All qualities you need if you're going to play Dracula, and he seems to do it without any problems at all. I did like the fact his Dracula also felt more human, and less cardboard cut-out movie monster. It's a fact that works really well for the movie, and really well for this new take on Dracula.

And this is where the movie really shines: with its acting. All its stars churn out excellent performances, without a real "weak-link" amongst them. With Sarah Gordon and Charles Dance both giving stellar performances as Vlad/Dracula's wife Merina, and The Master Vampire respectively. Another one that truly stood out to me was the atmosphere, which is just so fantastic and spooky. It was very unsettling the whole way through, as a good horror film should be.

But unfortunately, for all the fun to be had, the movie does have its faults. While his origins are interesting, and his decent into darkness and madness are intriguing, the movie seems to rush them a bit. I feel as though more time could have been given to see Dracula's full transformation into the monster we know and fear. They did such a good job concocting an interesting origin for him, could they not have spent a little more time on it? Such as seeing more of Dracula honing to his new powers, or more on his relationship with his wife? Surely more could have been added to the running time to incorporate more.

On top of this, the only other complaint is that it really needed to give better use to its secondary characters. Many of Dracula's underlings seem to blend together after a while, and his son at times seems to be just there (which is too bad, as he's a great young actor). And I felt this could have really given the movie the drive it needed to be a modern day monster classic.

All this being said however, Dracula: Untold is well worth the admission price. And if you ask me, is getting far too much unnecessary hate. If this is the start of an actual Universal Monsters Cinematic Universe, I truly look forward to seeing where it heads.

IN CONCLUSION:

Dracula: Untold may not be the best Dracula movie ever made, but it is a worthy addition to the mythology. With a great cast, clever story, and creepy atmosphere, it's a fun, wild ride at the movies that, despite its flaws, is a great start to a universe I hope to see come together.

4 OUT OF 5 STARS

Very Reccomended

REVIEW: The Boxtrolls

THE BOXTROLLS
RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW

RATED: PG

RUNNING TIME: 96 MINUTES
SCORE: ***** /*****

SPOTLIGHT MOVIE OF THE MONTH - SEPTEMBER 2014

 

PREMISE: (VIA IMDB) THE BOXTROLLS are a community of quirky, mischievous creatures who have lovingly raised an orphaned human boy named Eggs in the amazing cavernous home they've built beneath the streets of a city called Cheesebridge. The story is about a young orphaned boy raised by underground cave-dwelling trash collectors who tries to save his friends from an evil exterminator, the town's villain, Archibald Snatcher. When Snatcher comes up with a plot to get rid of the Boxtrolls. Eggs decides to venture above ground and "into the light," where he meets and teams up with fabulously feisty Winnie. Together, they devise a daring plan to save The BoxTrolls family. The film is based upon the children's novel 'Here Be Monsters' by Alan Snow.

 

THE PRO'S: It's Lakita - and they make dang good movies. Engaging and imaginative storyline. Good mixture of humor and seriousness. Fun characters. The Boxtrolls are just so much fun to watch. Some great messages at the heart of the film.  

 

THE CON'S: A third act plot twist that felt unnecessary.

 

THE REVIEW:

To be straight-forward, this is yet another masterpiece from the creative minds behind the "Coraline" adaptation and one of my all-time favorite films, "Paranorman". Lakita is a company that never ceases to amaze me with each of its absolutely fantastic films, and I can honestly say I have no dobut it will entice many others as well.

"The Boxtrolls" tells the story of Eggs, a young boy who has been raised from infancy by Fish, a Boxtroll (so named for the boxes they wear over their bodies. Resulting in odd names such as: "Eggs", "Fish", "Bucket", etc). The Boxtrolls, for years, have lived in fear of Archibald Snatcher, a nasty exterminator who is kidnapping them all one-by-one for nefarious purposes and in order to make his way into the above-worlds "ruling" party, "The White Hats". Their terrifying situation takes a turn for the worse when Fish is snatched, sending a devastated Eggs on a rescue mission which puts him in the path of a young rich girl, Winnie, and many other colorful characters.

 

At its heart, The Boxtrolls is a story about learning to embrace who you are. The Boxtrolls are, by all accounts, hated for being different. And as a result, live in fear. And at its core, the movie does a fantastic job of portraying this underlying message. Without giving away any spoilers for those who wish to remain spoiler-free.

 

The cast of characters in this movie are among the most vibrant Lakita has given us. The Boxtrolls are all very animated, funny, and surprisingly well-developed. Fish and Eggs relationship, one of the emotional centerpieces of the film, especially is a very touching and well done storyline. If not easily a show-stealing one.

 

Elle Fanning does a great turn-out here in voicing the adventurous Winnie, who just barely falls short of stealing the show. Second only to The Boxtrolls themselves. While Eggs makes for an excellent, and well-developed protagonist, there is no denying Winnie and The Boxtrolls are what make the movie. With Eggs having his own fun moments, especially when it comes to later in the movie.

 

But while the movie is so fabulously put together, it falls just bellow the company's other masterpiece: Paranorman. And the reason is the only complaint I have: the plot twist in act three. I won't spoil it, or even hint as to what it is. But a part of me liked it, and a part of me thought it was just so totally unnecessary. The movie would have likely benefited from nixing it all-together.

 

That being said, don't let this one minor deal fool you, The Boxtrolls is a masterpiece in so-called "children's films". Between the colorful cast of characters, and a story that is not only full of heart, but excellently scripted, how could it not be? I left this movie so enthused and in love with it that I have my fingers crossed for a return to this universe. It's said to be a book series, so I will be interested to see if we might see that happen someday.

 

For all these reasons, I have named "The Boxtrolls" my first spotlight movie of the month. If you're going to see one movie this month and these movies are up your alley, you can't miss this. It's truly one of the best "kids" movies I've seen in a while, Frozen included.

 

IN CONCLUSION:

 

The Boxtrolls is a wonderfully crafted, fun, albeit somewhat-dark adventure the whole family will love. Another modern masterpiece from Lakia, I could not recommend it anymore. Parents, mark this on your must-see list with the kids, it's a wonderful time at the movies you're all sure to enjoy.

 

5/5 STARS
MY HIGHEST RECCOMENDATIONS

SPOTLIGHT MOVIE OF THE MONTH - SEPTEMBER 2014

REVIEW: The Equalizer

THE EQUALIZER
RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW
RATED: R

RUNNING TIME: 131 MINUTES

CHRIS'S RATING: ****/*****

 

PREMISE: (VIA IMDB) In The Equalizer, Denzel Washington plays McCall, a man who believes he has put his mysterious past behind him and dedicated himself to beginning a new, quiet life. But when McCall meets Teri (Chloë Grace Moretz), a young girl under the control of ultra-violent Russian gangsters, he can't stand idly by - he has to help her. Armed with hidden skills that allow him to serve vengeance against anyone who would brutalize the helpless, McCall comes out of his self-imposed retirement and finds his desire for justice reawakened. If someone has a problem, if the odds are stacked against them, if they have nowhere else to turn, McCall will help. He is The Equalizer.

THE PRO'S: Denzel Washington is always a pro in my book. Interesting premise and story, very stylistic execution.  Great, terrifyingly creepy villain. Excellently picked supporting cast.

THE CON'S: Lack of real backstory for the lead character, mostly.

THE REVIEW:

Let it be known I highly agree with what many other reviews are saying - this is Denzel's best movie in years. It's action-packed, thrilling, has a great story, and so many things going for it. Making it a near perfect action thriller. But it just barely misses those "perfect" marks.

The Equalizer, which is adapted from a TV Show of the same name, focuses on Robert McCall, a man with a special set of skills, and a 9-to-5 job in a home depot-like store. While spending his nights in a diner, he makes friends with Teri, a young call girl who wants to be a singer, and whom he forms a bond with. Things go from pleasant, to sour when Teri is beaten half-to-death. Using his special skills, McCall sets out on a road to helping Teri, and others in his neighborhood from a Russian mobster who rules it with an iron fist.

I'll be honest and say I never saw the television series, so this is a review from a non-fan. The story of The Equalizer, while not "new" per-say is handled exceptionally well, and carried beautifully by Denzel Washington. But I could go on and on for hours about Denzel Washington, who is one of my favorite actors, and who is just awesome in this movie. Who I'd like to highlight more here is the supporting class.

I am very impressed with Chloe Moretz, between her performance here, and in If I Stay. Here, she really pulls a very different, and excellent performance from her previous work. Despite her screentime, she truly is one of the biggest stand-outs here by far. But even she and Denzel were not the real show stealers for me, this title goes to Johnny Skourtis as Robert's buddy, Ralphi. If there's one character to root for in this movie other than the star, it was definitely him. And luckily, he gets a lot of screentime to really let this performance shine.

In fact, most, if not all the cast handles their roles exceptionally well. The characters in the movie are fluid and well fleshed-out. As well as carrying one of the most terrifying thriller villains to date in my opinion, in the form of "Teddy", who just chills me to the bone in each scene he's in. All of these things make for an awesome, if not at times gruesome action-thriller.

The only weakness the movie has, that makes it only near perfect, is Robert's character himself. We never really are given concrete reasoning for why he has his skills. We know he worked for an "agency" but never get past that. And here, I think the film would have benefited from giving us a bit more of a backstory as to fully flesh out the character to his potential. Unfortunately, this knocked the movie down a grade for me as he is, after all, supposed to be the main character.

That being said, the movie is still extremely enjoyable minus this one flaw. The action is fluid, the kills are just absolutely jaw-dropping and epic, and Denzel Washington is simply put a badass. This is an action movie where I can definitely say you get your bang for your buck, a very satisfying bang at that. And has definitely peaked my interested to watch the television series as well.

IN CONCLUSION:

The Equalizer is a finely-crafted, sometimes gruesome, and extremely satisfying action-thriller. If you're looking for a good action-thriller that is not only smart, but tells a good story as well, this is one you don't want to miss. Definitely Denzel's best film in years, hands down.

4/5 STARS
Very Recommended 



DVD REVIEW: EQUILIBRIUM (2002)

EQUILIBRIUM

RELEASE DATE: DECEMBER 6TH, 2002 (Limited)/NOW ON DVD

RATED: R

RUNNING TIME: 107 MINUTES

CHRIS'S RATING: *****/*****

 

PREMISE: (Via IMDB) In a futuristic world, a strict regime has eliminated war by suppressing emotions: books, art and music are strictly forbidden and feeling is a crime punishable by death. Cleric John Preston (Bale) is a top ranking government agent responsible for destroying those who resist the rules. When he misses a dose of Prozium, a mind-altering drug that hinders emotion, Preston, who has been trained to enforce the strict laws of the new regime, suddenly becomes the only person capable of overthrowing it.               

 

THE PRO'S: Extremely stylistic, fantastic premise and storyline, Christian Bale is a badass in this plain and simple, fantastic acting all around, some very nicely placed twists.

 

THE CON'S: Ends a little too abruptly, lacks proper development for some key players.

 

THE REVIEW:

 

This movie came highly recommended from my older brother, and as such, he and I sat down to watch it this weekend. And while it is definitely not the best movie I have ever seen, it definitely ranks high up there and overall makes its way high up on my list of favorites for a variety of reasons.

 

To sum up the story as best I can, Christian Bale plays John Preston, a man who lives in the distant future, where, after World War III, the world has destroyed emotions and rendered them unlawful. As a single father to two children, Preston watched, and helped with his own wife's execution, as well as that of his partner. The latter of which causes him to begin down a dangerous path, a path of feeling.

As far as dystopian stories go, this definitely ranks very high up there as far as originality goes. The story is told in a very stylistic fashion almost reminiscent of The Matrix Trilogy. Much of the action in the movie is well placed, and for the most part, the movie relies on its actors, dialogue, and exposition to tell the story. With an especially excellent exposition that opens the movie in a way that instantly grabs your attention much like a good book.

 

The acting is excellent here as well, with its two leads, Christian Bale and Taye Diggs carrying the movie with relative ease. I find it interesting to note that there are some very early shades of Bale's Batman portrayal here, which are of note, especially when he's kicking butt. You can very easily see what he's capable of here, long before he became The Dark Knight.

5/

But, where it's leading characters shine, the movie seems to underuse and undervalue its supporting cast. Most notably William Fischner's character, and the main villain of the film. Both seem to be there mostly as plot devices to push the story along, and while they do their job, they just seem to be there. While it doesn't ultimately hinder the movie in any way, it does detract from some of the enjoyment that comes from it.

 

Another, albeit minor issue I had with the movie was the final scene. The movie very much leaves you desiring more of an ending than it provides. The way it ends is excellent, and while predictable, very well executed. But the final shot leaves you rather wondering "Well, that's it? What happens next?" and overall, I believe a little more should have been added to correct this issue.

 

That being said, it is still an expertly crafted, well acted, and well-written sci-fi epic. If you like other Dystopian stories, it's very easy to find a lot to like in this. Much like The Maze Runner, which I previously reviewed, it does a lot to stand out from the norm. Here, foregoing a love triangle, and teenage angst for a power struggle, and a set of mature, and intriguing characters. In short: it's an action packed thrill-ride which I enjoyed from beginning to end.

 

IN CONCLUSION:

Equilibrium is an action-packed, fun, and intriguing take on a desolate Dystopian society. Christian Bale and Taye Diggs both give stand-out performances that are awesome. And while the supporting characters are underused, the movie does an excellent job of enticing you in many other ways. A must-see for any lovers of the genre.

 

5/5 STARS
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED





REVIEW: LET'S BE COPS

LET'S BE COPS

RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW

RATED: R

RUNNING TIME: 104 MINUTES

CHRIS'S RATING: ***1/2/*****

 

PREMISE: (Via IMDB) It's the ultimate buddy cop movie except for one thing: they're not cops. When two struggling pals dress as police officers for a costume party, they become neighborhood sensations. But when these newly-minted "heroes" get tangled in a real life web of mobsters and dirty detectives, they must put their fake badges on the line.               

 

THE PRO'S: Some extremely funny moments, good acting, very fun and fast-paced, relatable characters, avoids any "potty humor", and instead goes with straight up slapstick and classic humor.

 

THE CON'S: The last ten-fifteen minutes start getting borderline silly, somewhat-cliché, some of the humor does fall flat.

THE REVIEW:

 

In a year without many "comedy" options, I was a little weary of Let's Be Cops. Yes, it looked very funny, but so did one of the biggest dud's of the year: A Million Ways To Die In The West. That being said, Let's Be Cops was a very excellent and well-written surprise with some great laughs and surprisingly great acting.

 

As the premise denotes, the movie tells the story of Ryan, a former college football star turned wash-out and Justin, a struggling video game designer. After they (in rather comedic fashion) show up to a fraternity party dressed as cops, they take to the streets, and end up saving a small business in the process. As a result, they are mistaken for real cops, which they decide to roll with, tired of being "losers" in life. The problem? They've just busted the biggest crime ring in the city, and now the mobsters behind it are looking to get even.

 

It's a rather comedic story that makes for many, many laughs and stupid antics from the two. Damn Wayans, Jr. and Jake Johnson make an excellent pair, and play off each other rather well. While other noteworthy side-characters come from Nina Dobrev's Josie, and a Rastafarian man named Pupa, played by Kegan Michael Key. All of these characters drive the heart of the movie and excellently handle their comedic roles and timing excellently, with Pupa easily stealing the show in every scene he's in.

 

I want to especially commend the movie for avoiding any "potty humor". There are no poop, fart, and juvenile jokes inside the movie, and instead, it's mainly well written slapstick and classic humor. And while at times, the movie does not always hit its mark with humor, it always manages to at least earn a chuckle. I cannot deny in any way that this is, a very funny movie.

 

The problem here is not its humor, but rather how much it has. Towards the end of the movie, it becomes very clear that they are running out of ideas. With the jokes starting to get borderline silly, or repeated too often. And this is overall, the biggest downfall the movie has: it feels like it should have ended about twenty minutes earlier, and it could have been wrapped up more quickly.

 

The only other complaint to note is that the movie is not the most creative comedy ever. The storyline has been done a million times before in a different context. But this is helped overall by the fact that the script is written so well. I can easily ignore the clicheness of it in order to appreciate the writing and humor, but in the end, it's still a very cliché movie, unfortunately.

 

This all being said, it truly is one of those movies that utilizes the buddy-comedy genre well, and knows what kind of movie it's making. Between the great humor, and its many stars, the movie is a great way to spend a couple hours at the movies. Even if it probably only offers one watch, given it's hard to see much rewatch value once the story is over.

 

IN CONCLUSION:

 

Let's Be Cops is an above average buddy-comedy that had me in stitches. While it's not the most original story, it's fantastic use of its actors and fantastic writing save what could have been a rather subpar movie. It's definitely worth giving a watch, being this is one of the better comedy choices this year.

 

 

3 AND A HALF/5 STARS
RECCOMENDED



REVIEW: THE MAZE RUNNER

THE MAZE RUNNER
RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW

RATED: PG-13

RUNNING TIME: 113 MINUTES

CHRIS'S RATING: *****/*****

 

PREMISE: (VIA IMDB) Thomas wakes up in an elevator, remembering nothing but his own name. He emerges into a world of about 60 teen boys who have learned to survive in a completely enclosed environment, subsisting on their own agriculture and supplies. A new boy arrives every 30 days. The original group has been in "The Glade" for two years, trying to find a way to escape through the Maze that surrounds their living space. They have begun to give up hope. Then a comatose girl arrives with a strange note, and their world begins to change. There are some great, fast-paced action scenes, particularly those involving the nightmarish Grievers who plague the boys.                

 

THE PROS: Excellent story, fantastic acting, nice , brisk pacing. Follows the book nicely with changes working well to not ruin any of the future movies. If you're a fan of the book, you're sure to love it.

THE CONS: Only a few minor ones of note here, mostly nitpicks as a fan. Downplaying of Glader lingo made me a little sad. Somewhat weaker-acting from Teresa's actress. Lack of telepathy.

THE REVIEW:

Let me first start out my review by saying that I am a huge fan of James Dashner's Maze Runner series, which I only discovered a month ago. The books rank very high up for me in the "Dystopian" series, ranking high above Divergent, and even The Hunger Games, but just bellow the truly mesmerizing "Legend" trilogy by Marie Liu. So going into this movie, I was very excited, but admittedly had very high expectations for this adaptation.

I can honestly say, that much like other fans, my expectations were blown away.

First of all, I think the biggest, and hardest thing to nail about this movie was the acting. Especially because I was going into this knowing the emotional centerpieces that drives the sequels. And I was VERY impressed to find that nearly the entire cast absolutely killed it. Dylan O'Brien, who, as our lead, Thomas, has to drive the film gives an excellent performance and so beautifully interprets the character I grew to love over the book trilogy. Other big stand-outs here to me were Thomas Brodie-Sangster, who turns out an excellent performance as "Newt", which makes me happy, given later on, he is a big emotional pull of the series.

But by far, I was most impressed with the actor they chose for my personal favorite character in the books, "Minho". Ki Hong Lee, being an actor that I had never heard of, had huge shoes to fill in my mind because of this. But boy, did he deliver! If he wasn't a name already and I just hadn't heard of him, I definitely can imagine that this could be the series that gives him his start. And if this was just his acting in the first movie, given Minho's somewhat-smaller role in the first one, I can only imagine how he'll do as he's thrust into main character status in The Scorch Trials.

This being said, despite all the good actors/players in this movie, there was a weak link. And unfortunately, its one of the most key players in the series. Kaya Scodelario, who plays Teresa, while not a bad actress by any means, seemed a little out of place as Teresa. For a girl who is supposed to be tough, and a bit of a badass, she didn't play up these elements, and instead gave us a more stoic Teresa. And while it was not a big problem, I think that I would really like to see her try to step up her game for the already confirmed sequel, "The Scorch Trials".

On this note, I will voice one of my minor problems with this film. And that's probably the biggest one, which is: the lack of telepathy between Thomas and Teresa. While I understand why it would be "silly" to the director, it took away some of the character development from Teresa, and definitely needs to be re-implemented in the sequel. It's a very necessary element, so I trust they will find SOME way to get in there. But it was a somewhat-missed element in the film.

That being said, the rest of the changes here were handled exceptionally well. There are quite a few changes to how things go down, but I am impressed by the fact that everything played out the same regardless. The changes are noticeable, but don't detract from the overall story arc of the novel, and thankfully, every element that needs to be there for the sequels IS there. So bravo for that. I think that it may have even helped clean the pacing up a bit, just a tiny bit, which impressed me. Though, and I will say this, I wish they had used the Glader lingo a little more. Yes, they do use "Shank", "Shuck Face", etc, etc. But it's not nearly as much as in the novel and kinda made me a little sad. At the very least, Greenie is very prominent.

Last, but most certainly not least, I will say that this was a fantastic adaptation. As a fan, it was amazing seeing the world come to life before me with all the story so well in-tact (changes and all). It's a very enriching, sad, dark, and intense story. I wouldn't say it's the feel-good film of the year, but I definitely think it's a very big stand-out in the "Dystopian" genre where we see a new franchise every day. I definitely think that whether you're into the genre, or not, it's one of those franchises that is worth giving a chance and I am at least certain will not disappoint.

IN CONCLUSION:

The Maze Runner is a fantastic adaptation of the young adult Dystopian series I have come to know and love. It's a great, intriguing, well-acted, and well-paced movie that should capture the imaginations of both fans, and newcomers alike. I cannot recommend this movie more, I am so glad that this was worth the wait, and definitely will be looking forward to "The Scorch Trials", "The Death Cure", and "The Kill Order" with great enthusiasm. This is one fan that has been impressed beyond measure.

5/5 STARS

HIGHLY RECCOMENDED 



WELCOME!

So, I've been a movie fan for my entire life, and absolutely LOVE seeing what new stories that Hollywood or otherwise, comes up with. For a long time, I've been told by friends who read my Facebook about how I should start a blog or a vlog of my movie opinions and reviews, and so here I am! Bringing my reviews to you starting today, I hope you'll enjoy reading my opinions. :)