Creed Review

Normally boxing movies do not catch my interest, but the Rocky movies have always been the exception. While they all have had their ups and downs, the last Rocky movie, Rocky Balboa, did end on a high note. However, it did not reach the height of the first Rocky movie. Surprisingly, Creed is the best Rocky movie since the 1976 original.

Creed stars Michael B. Jordan as Adonis Johnson, the illegitimate son of famous boxing champion Apollo Creed, who never knew his father as Apollo died in a boxing match before he was born. Even though he never knew his father, he wants to follow in his footsteps. He seeks out Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone), who was Apollo’s friend and former rival. Although initially hesitant, Balboa agrees to train him as Adonis has a shot at the title shot against the world light heavyweight champion “Pretty” Ricky Conlan (Tony Bellew).

Even though the plot is similar to Rocky, Creed stands on its own, as it is an entertaining movie. Michael B. Jordan gives an outstanding lead performance as the driven boxer Adonis Johnson, but the standout performance is Sylvester Stallone. Stallone easily jumps back into one of his most iconic roles and is arguably the heart of the film.

Ryan Coogler steps into the director’s chair for the seventh Rocky film, and does a spectacular job. Coogler previously collaborated with Jordan in the marvelous “Fruitvale Station”, and does another marvelous job with this movie. Coogler does an excellent job with all of the boxing scenes as they are masterfully directed. He also captures the spirit of the first film so well that it is truly a worthy successor to the Rocky franchise.

Creed is no doubt the best entry in the Rocky franchise since the first one. It may be a bit formulaic as most boxing movies are, but strong performances, masterful direction, and heart make Creed a worthy successor to the Rocky legacy.

Creed - 4.4/5

Brooklyn Review

Brooklyn stars Saoirse Ronan as Eilis Lacey, a young woman from a small town who follows her sister’s plan to immigrate to Brooklyn, New York in the 1950’s so she can have a better life. Once she arrives in America she feels intense homesickness, as she is alone in a new country. However, she falls in love with an Italian man named Tony (Emory Cohen). However, terrible news forces Eilis back home, and soon she must make a choice to stay back in Ireland or her new home in Brooklyn.

Brooklyn is classic love story and a pleasant one also. Saoirse Ronan and Emory Cohen are the heart of the film. Their chemistry gradually grows throughout the film, and by the end you care deeply for their relationship. This is Ronan’s best performance to date as she starts out as a homesick immigrant, and transforms into a confident, self-assured woman at the end of the picture.

In addition, the production design and costume design is magnificently thorough. Every single detail is hammered out, and the viewer is immersed in the culture of the 1950’s. A minor problem I had with the film is that Ellis’ relationship with her sister is never fully fleshed out. The script could have developed that relationship more, so the film could have had more emotional weight in the third act.

Brooklyn has all the elements of the timeless love story and director John Crowley utilizes all of them. Ronan excels in her role, and her chemistry with Cohen is some of the best I have seen all year. In addition, thanks to excellent production design and impressive direction, Brooklyn is charming movie that is a throwback to the day of classic love stories.

Brooklyn - 4/5

The Force Awakens! (Star Wars Episode VII Review)

This poster is so amazing!

Star Wars: The Force Awakens takes place three decades after the defeat of Darth Vader and the Galactic Empire. However, Luke Skywalker, the last Jedi Master, has vanished. In his absence, the sinister First Order has arisen to take over the galaxy. Meanwhile, on a planet called Jakku, Rey (Daisy Ridley), a scavenger, finds a BB-8 droid that knows the whereabouts of Skywalker.

Eventually, Rey and Finn (John Boyega), a rogue Stormtrooper, meet two smugglers Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and Chewbacca, and are thrown into the middle of a battle between the resistance and the daunting legions of the First Order, which is led by the mysterious Jedi Kylo Ren (Adam Driver).

The original Star Wars trilogy is beloved by fans worldwide, but the recent prequel trilogy has tarnished the Star Wars brand considerably. Director J.J. Abrams had a paramount task of injecting life into Star Wars. He had to attract old fans and bring in new ones also. Fortunately, he succeeds for the most part. The newest Star Wars movie is more reminiscent of the original trilogy, which is a good aspect. The movie is good old-fashioned fun, with many call backs to 1977’s Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope and throughout its running time it is never boring. It does not suffer through boring exposition and jumps straight into the action.

The new actors in The Force Awakens are likable and marvelous. The standout performance belongs to Daisy Ridley. This is her first major motion picture role, and she excels as the character Rey. She is self-confident, likable, bold, and generally a good female action hero. Boyega also shines as Finn, the rogue stormtrooper, who gets many of the laughs of the film. In addition, Harrison Ford easily slips back into the role of Han Solo. Ford really embraces the role and his performance does not feel like he is in autopilot. Lastly, Driver is compelling as the evil Kylo Ren, who is conflicted by the light and dark side of the force. It will be interesting to see where his character evolves in the next movie.

The movie is immensely enjoyable, but flawed in the fact that it does not hold up well as a stand-alone movie. The movie leaves the viewer on a cliffhanger, which is annoying, but it does get you excited about the next Star Wars movie. Plus there are some characters that should get more screen time, but unfortunately they do not. In addition, many viewers have complained that it is very derivative of Star Wars: A New Hope. The Force Awakens did take a lot of elements from A New Hope, but I feel the film was just paying homage to the first film. I find nothing wrong with that as the first Star Wars film is one of the greatest Sci-fi films of all time. The Force Awakens is still a great chapter in the Star Wars' canon.

Is Star Wars back to its former glory? Yes it is. Abrams should be commended on rebooting Star Wars for the next generation. Even though some may find it too similar to the first Star Wars movie, Star Wars: The Force Awakens is still a fantastic film. It has just enough action and endearing characters to make it a worthy chapter in the Star Wars' mythos. If anything, it at least gets audiences excited to see the next Star Wars movie, which is currently shooting.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens - 4/5

Deadpool Review

Deadpool recently opened with $150 million dollars at the domestic box office over Presidents Day weekend. That is mind boggling considering that its source material. The movie is based upon Marvel Comics most unconventional anti-hero Deadpool. Basically, Deadpool tells the origin story of former Special Forces operative turned mercenary Wade Wilson (Ryan Reynolds), who is suffering from cancer. In order to cure his disease he undergoes a rogue experiment run by the sinister mutant scientist Ajax (Ed Skrein). The experiment leaves him with accelerated healing powers, but at the cost of disfigured skin and his sanity. Armed with his new abilities and a dark, twisted sense of humor, Deadpool hunts down the man who nearly destroyed his life.

Rated R comic book movies have always been risky in a market where the majority of comic book movies are rated PG-13. Most Rated R movies based off of comic books tank at the box office. The Blade trilogy was mildly successful, but that series ran out of steam by the third entry. Before Deadpool, 300 is really the only true breakout hit. So why is Deadpool so successful? Well, because it's just so entertaining. It's just that simple. Deadpool is by far the riskiest comic book movie I have ever seen, and I loved every minute of it. Ryan Reynolds owns the role of Deadpool. He is truly meant to play this role, and I could not see any other actor portray this violent and foul-mouthed character.

The first 20 minutes of the movie has one of the best opening action scenes I have ever seen. It combines just the right amount of graphic violence and insane comedy to make this movie stand out from other comic book movies. Deadpool is never afraid to go the extra mile, as it pulls no punches in regard to its violence, language, and nudity.

The only flaw is that the rest of the movie pales in comparison to the first 20 minutes. The rest of the movie is still good as it is constantly entertaining, but the rest of the movie does not reach the heights of the first 20 minutes. My guess is that most of the money went into that action sequence. In addition, Deadpool does fall into some of the stereotypes of the typical origin story. It is ironic since the film lampoons the clichés of the superhero origin story at certain points in the film. However, it does get me hyped for the sequel, which is alluded to at the end credits.

Deadpool is an entertaining comic book movie and a great addition to the X-Men cinematic universe. If you are looking for a different type of comic book movie, and do not mind raunchy humor and excessive nudity, then Deadpool is worth the ticket price.

Deadpool - 4/5

Prisoners Review

I watched Sicario the other day, which is an amazing film by the way. If you haven't seen it, check it out. Unfortunately, I thought Sicario should have gotten some Oscar nominations this year, especially for Bencio Del Toro's magnificent performance and for director Denis Villeneuve. Then I got to thinking that Villenvue's 2013 film Prisoners did not get much Oscar love either. So I decided to watch decided Prisoners again. I have to say that this film was robbed. Prisoners is a gritty, suspenseful, and thought-provoking crime thriller. This masterfully acted film should have been front runner for the 2013 awards season. I also realized that I never reviewed the film, so here it is.

The film starts with Keller Dover (Hugh Jackman), a deeply religious blue-collar worker, and his family attending Thanksgiving at the house of neighbor and family friends, Nancy and Franklin Birch (Terrence Howard and Viola Davis). The Franklins and the Dovers each have two children, the youngest of which (Anna and Joy) head out to play outside only to mysteriously disappear.

Upon a frantic search, the Franklins and the Dovers suspect the worse. Especially when their elder children tell them of a mysterious camper that was parked just down the street. Detective Loki (Jake Gyllenhaal), who is heading the investigation, soon finds the camper with Alex Jones (Paul Dano) behind the wheel and arrests him. However, a lack of evidence forces Alex’s release. Dover is still convinced that Alex has something to do with the kidnappings and takes matters into his own hands. Meanwhile, Loki follows leads that open up possibilities of a crime where multiple persons may be involved.

The ensemble cast makes this film come alive, but the best performance that stands out in this film is from Jackman. His performance as a tortured father who does unquestionable things to find his daughter is extraordinary. I still don't understand how Jackman did not get any Best Actor nominations throughout the 2013 awards season. The script, from writer Aaron Guzikowsk, drives audiences down many different paths and emotional rides, and Jackman's performance will have you rooting for his quest for answers even though his methods are unorthodox and highly illegal.

This is also the first American film from acclaimed Canadian director Denis Villeneuve. The directing in this movie is gripping and pulls the viewer in from start to finish. Villenvue brings out the best in his actors and captures the haunting atmosphere in the movie. Thanks to this film, he got plenty of Hollywood gigs like Sicario and the upcoming Blade Runner sequel. Plus, the film looks stunning because of the famous Director of Photography Roger Deakins, who is actually nominated this year for Sicario. He probably will not win this year, even though he totally deserves it. Deakins brings a beautifully bleak look to film, which perfectly matches the tone of the film.

The thing that hurts this film is the running time. It could have been trimmed about 30 minutes as the torture scenes go on too long. In addition, Villenvue wraps loose plot lines too quickly, and the climax is too cliché for this story and abandons some of the realism that the film is going for. Nevertheless, these are still minor complaints.

Prisoners has a multitude of elements that makes it engaging for the audience. It is an emotionally complex film and questions difficult moral dilemmas. It also has a sense of dread, which makes for an emotional, disturbing, and absorbing viewing experience. I still think Prisoners was one of the best films of 2013. Sadly for this film, 2013 was a very competitive year at the Oscars. Check this film out if you can.

Prisoners - 4.5/5

Welcome to the Family

The Family stars Robert De Niro as mafia boss Fred Manzoni, whose family is relocated to a sleepy town in France under the witness protection program after snitching on the mob. However, assimilation is never easy for the Manzoni family. Despite the best efforts of CIA Agent Stansfield (Tommy Lee Jones) to keep them in line, Fred and his family revert to their old habits and attract trouble along the way.

De Niro breaks no new ground in this role, but he plays what he does well, which is a mafia type role. This is a relief considering that he has been doing a lot of subpar projects in recent years. The Family even has some meta-humor thrown in with several references from past mob movies like Goodfellas, which also starred De Niro. This makes the movie even more enjoyable.

The Family is darkly comic, but most of the action and gun play does not come until the end of the movie. Director Luc Besson does not break any new ground with the film, but it is better than some of his latest. The other members of the family, which include Michelle Pfeiffer, Dianna Agron, and D’Leo share some good chemistry with De Niro ,and it shows on the big screen. They all make for a very convincing family. In addition, Tommy Lee Jones brings some much-needed deadpan humor to the movie. The only factor this film lacks is a menacing villain. A truly frightening villain could have brought this film to a new level and increased the stakes for the Manzoni family. Nevertheless, the film still succeeds, and it is enjoyable for a September release. While this is not one of Besson’s best films, the strong performances and dark comedy help the film rise above your average mob movie.

The Family - 3.5/5

Giant Robots Vs. Big Monsters (Pacific Rim Review)

Pacific Rim takes inspiration from the elements of any material that involves giant creatures and robots. When monstrous creatures, known as Kaiju, start rising from the ocean, a war erupts that destroys cities and consumes humanity resources for years. The nations of the world come together to face this threat by building Jaegers. Jaegers are basically giant robots controlled simultaneously by two pilots whose minds are locked in a neural bridge. However, kaiju get stronger with each battle and the forces defending mankind must turn to two unlikely heroes – a washed up former pilot (Charlie Hunnam) and an untested trainee rookie (Rinko Kikuchi) – who are teamed to drive a legendary, but seemingly obsolete Jaeger. Together, they are mankind’s last hope against the upcoming apocalypse.

Pacific Rim is the latest film from visionary director Guillermo del Toro, who has directed films like Hellboy, Pan’s Labyrinth, and The Devil’s Backbone. Pacific Rim is easily his most mainstream and blockbuster film. The large-scale battles between the Jaegers and Kaiju are spectacularly well done and are very thrilling. The designs of the creatures and robots are simply marvelous and stunning. The backstory involving the Kaiju, the mechanical details of Jaegers, and how society has become affected due to the Kaiju attacks is very fascinating. Basically, the film plays homage to monster movies, which is filled with anime inspired robots.

Nevertheless, while the film does satisfy on a visuals effects level, it is greatly lacking in substance. The story is rather weak and is filled with clichés and generic plot points. Plus, while the cast is talented they are only playing stock characters, which are the norm in almost every other science fiction movie. In addition, while the film looks extraordinary, the majority of the battles take place at night, sometimes in the rain. While the battles are amazing in that setting, it does make it hard to keep up with the fighting sometimes. Despite those problems, it is still a fantastic movie.

While Pacific Rim is not completely groundbreaking, it is still a movie that is best experienced in theaters. The film is intriguing and action packed, but sadly the plot suffers from some lackluster storytelling and one-dimensional characters. However, it is a monster vs. robots type of story, so I cannot expect too much depth from it. If you liked the Transformers series, then you will definitely appreciate this movie.

Pacific Rim - 4/5

The Man of Steel Returns

Superman is the most iconic superhero in the world. Although you would not know it judging by the last several films released. It seems like the last great Superman film was Superman II, but that was nearly decades ago. Superman III was a joke, and the less said about Superman IV: The Quest for Peace, the better. Superman Returns, which was supposed to relaunch ended up falling flat despite its good intentions. So I was hesitant when Man of Steel was announced. I was even more apprehensive when Zack Synder was going to direct it. Synder knows how to direct action well, but his last two projects are mediocre at best. However, Christopher Nolan was a producer on the film, so I still had some optimism about the film. After seeing the film,I have to say that it greatly exceeded my expectations.

Everyone should know the origin of Superman, but here it is anyway. The planet Krypton is in ruins. After years of depleting the planet’s natural resources, the Kryptonians face imminent destruction. Jor-El (Russell Crowe) and his wife Lara have given birth to their son Kal-El, which is Krypton’s first natural birth in centuries. Before Jor-El sends his son off to space, he implants him with the genetic codex of the entire Kryptonian race. Decades later Kal-El, now named Clark Kent (Henry Cavill), is living on Earth and trying to find his purpose in life. However, when General Zod (Michael Shannon), Jor-El’s old nemesis, comes looking for him, Clark must embrace his Kryptonian heritage and protect his adopted home world.

The movie is simply fantastic as it provides exhilarating action and spectacle. The frantic battle scenes in Man of Steel are some of the best I have ever seen. It even beats Iron Man 3, which came out earlier in May. Henry Cavill is a great Superman but still does not reach the same heights as Christopher Reeves. Cavill does not try to imitate Reeves, which is what Brandon Routh tried to do in Superman Returns. He puts his own spin on Superman, and it works for the most part. Amy Adams shines as Lois Lane because the script actually gives Lane something to do this time. She is not just the damsel-in-distress and actually contributes to the main plot.

The main problem I had with the film is the tone. Superman is supposed to be upbeat and inspiring, but at times the film can be dark and brooding. That kind of dark tone is okay for a Batman film, but Superman is supposed to be a little more uplifting. However, it still did not prevent me from liking the film.

Man of Steel is a great summer blockbuster with spectacular action, good performances, and it is definitely the best Superman film I have seen in a long time.

Man of Steel - 4.5/5

Oblivion Review

Oblivion is takes place in the year 2077, which is set 60 years after Earth is attacked by aliens known to humans as Scavengers. The humans and the aliens go to war, with the human race emerging victorious. Sadly the earth is left largely uninhabitable due to the moon being destroyed and the overuse of nuclear weapons during the war.

Tom Cruise plays Jack Harper, a technician and one of the few humans stationed on the planet with the task extracting the earth’s remaining resources for the new planet called Titan, where the rest of the surviving humans have settled. He does this by fixing drones, which help drain the resources and are used as weapons. One day everything that Jack knows is brought to a halt when he discovers a beautiful stranger in the wreckage of a downed spacecraft. Jack is drawn to her arrival and it triggers a chain of events that makes him question everything he knows about his mission and himself.

Joseph Kosinski directs the film and it looks beautiful. It is a visually striking movie that portrays apocalyptic earth brilliantly. Of course, this is not a surprise considering that he also directed the visually stunning "Tron: Legacy". Although the drones look simplistic, they also give off a menacing vibe at the same time. Plus Tom Cruise gives a pretty good performance compared to his last several films.

However, this film suffers from the same problem that Tron: Legacy suffered from, which is that the film is stunning, but thinly scripted with weak characters. With the exception of Cruise, all of the actors are flat and undeveloped. It is especially disappointing that despite giving Morgan Freeman top billing, he is still given nothing to do.

Unfortunately, Oblivion ends up being an empty experience despite having flashy special effects and a good performance from Cruise. Kosinski will make a great science fiction film someday, but as long as he places special effects over character development his efforts will be mediocre.

Oblivion - 3/5

Iron Man 3 Review

The first Iron Man movie was an immediate blockbuster mainly due to the casting of Robert Downey Jr. The smooth-talking actor fitted the role of the eccentric billionaire and philanthropist turned superhero perfectly well. Iron Man 2 was not as good as the first one, but Downey Jr.’s performance still made the film bearable. However, in The Avengers, Downey Jr. shows that he is still one of the most beloved superheroes in film today.

Iron Man 3 takes place several months after the events of The Avengers. Tony Stark (Robert Downey, Jr.) is suffering Post Traumatic Stress Disorder from the battle in New York presented in The Avengers. He seals himself off of the outside world and keeps building Iron Man suits to try to forget about the trauma. As a result, his relationship with girlfriend Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow) becomes strained. Soon, a terrorist who goes by the name of the Mandarin, (Ben Kingsley) starts a series of bombings that concern the American people. When Stark’s limo driver Happy Hogan (Jon Favreau) gets injured in one of the bombings, he issues a televised threat to the Mandarin. Of course, things do not end well as Tony’s house in Malibu is destroyed, Pepper gets kidnapped, and he is left stranded somewhere in rural Tennessee with a low powered Iron Man suit. Now, Tony must overcome his demons and must find out: does the man make the suit or does the suit make the man?

In the third installment of the Iron Man franchise, Shane Black takes over the director’s chair from Jon Favreau who previously directed the first two films. Black, who also co-wrote the script, is basically one of the pioneering screenwriters in the action genre for films like Lethal Weapon. He has previously worked with Downey Jr. in the very underrated Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. It is a good idea to bring in Shane Black because his style has a nice fit with Iron Man. Black draws a nice balance between action and humor. Naturally, it’s a Shane Black film so it takes place around Christmas. I think it is a nice touch because we never really see any superhero movies take place around the Christmas season. 

The action in this film is spectacular, and what makes it stand out is the fact that for most of the movie it is just Tony Stark. Tony’s armor is out of commission for a good chunk of the film, so he has to rely on his intellect and instincts. At its core, it is kind of like a detective story. In his battle against The Mandarin, Tony is forced to go on a full-tilt investigation, revisit crime scenes, dig through evidence and even interview witnesses. The scenes with Downey, Jr. and James Rhodes/War Machine (Don Cheadle) are very enjoyable. Black really taps into a Lethal Weapon type of relationship between these two characters.

However, I did have a couple of gripes about the film. Halfway throughout the film Stark teams up with a little kid named Harley (Ty Simpkins) while he is stuck in rural Tennessee to investigate the remains of a local explosion caused by The Mandarin. While Downey, Jr. and Simpkins play well off of each other I really did not understand why the kid needed to be in the story. Also Iron Man 3 was marketed as a story where Tony Stark would meet an opponent that would break him physically and mentally. The trailer made it seem like the film would be dark and gloomy. In reality the film basically had the same tone as the previous Iron Man films. I ultimately had no problem with it, but it felt like a classic bait-and-switch, which I do not care for. Speaking of bait-and-switch, there is a big twist involving the identity of The Mandarin. I did not like the twist, but fortunately the film did not suffer too much from it.
 

Iron Man 3 was not the superhero film I was expecting, but that is not a bad thing at all. It has surprising twists, thrilling action, good amounts of humor, and another flawless performance from Downey, Jr. Recently he signed another contract to appear in The Avengers 2 and The Avengers 3, but no word on whether he will be in another solo Iron Man film. If this is indeed the last Iron Man film with Downey, Jr. as the title character, then this was a great final solo outing despite its flaws.

 

Iron Man 3 - 4.5/5

42 Review

Brooklyn, we go hard.

I am not particularly a big fan of sports dramas. It is mostly because they are too formulaic and overly sentimental, but this movie is a notch above most of them. 42 is about the life story of Jackie Robinson (Chadwick Boseman), the first African American baseball player to break the color line in Major League baseball.

The film focuses on Robinson’s first couple years in the big leagues. Robinson is recruited by Brooklyn Dodgers General Manager Branch Rickey (Harrison Ford) to come over from the Negro Leagues to try out for the Dodgers. He spends his first season playing for the Montreal Royals, but the next year he is signed to the Dodgers and the rest is history.

Boseman turns in a fine performance as Jackie Robinson and really portrays all of the quiet strength and internal struggle that Robinson went through during his first major league baseball season. Boseman absorbs the role and you really believe that he is Robinson himself. Harrison Ford gives one of his most lively performances in years as the over-the-top baseball manager.

The director of the film, Brian Helegand, best known for penning Oscar winning films like L.A. Confidential and Mystic River does an adequate job with the film, but you can definitely tell that he is a better screenwriter than director. Events that sound epic on paper do not necessarily translate great on the big screen. It seems like Helegand wants every scene to be Oscar worthy when it is really not. The film does look good and he does direct the cast well, but it seems like at times he plays it too safe.

Plus while I liked Boseman’s performance, I would have liked to see more of Robinson’s background. For example, we never see Robinson’s days at UCLA and only see a tiny part as his days playing in the Negro Leagues.

42 is a good film, but it could have been a great one. It plays it too safe and is too old-fashioned for my tastes. If the film went a little deeper it could have been an early Oscar contender. However, 42 is still an earnest and respectful tribute to one baseball’s most iconic figures and will satisfy audiences.

42 - 4/5

Dark Skies Review

Writer and director Scott Stewart, who has made awful special effects extravaganzas like Legion and Priest goes the original thriller route this time around. However, Dark Skies is not really that original at all. The movie seems to be a compilation of bits and pieces of movies like Poltergeist, Paranormal Activity, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, The Birds, and more. Since all the second-hand ingredients are delivered without much style or flair, the movie makes for a pretty insipid dish.

Keri Russell and Josh Hamilton play Lacy and Daniel Barrett, a couple whose world has been shaken ever since Daniel has lost his architect job. After a couple of weird, unsolved break-ins, their teenage son Jesse (Dakota Goyo) and his little brother, Sam (Kadan Rockett), start acting strangely. Sam insists “the Sandman” has come to visit them each night, and strange things keep happening to the family until they realize who the culprits are.

There’s nothing really new in this story, but the Stewart does initially get some mileage out of the economic anxieties reflected in the family’s descent. Russell and Hamilton actually do a good job and take their roles seriously, and this helps the emotional impact of the movie. The movie starts off strong, but for a while it just wanders around as the pace is tedious, and the action is not that thrilling. It’s really a pleasure when J.K. Simmons shows up as a wise paranormal expert, but it’s disappointing since he’s only in the movie for about five minutes.

Ultimately, Dark Skies is one of those mediocre genre mash-ups that really has no reason to exist and will be forgettable in a few months.

Dark Skies - 2.5/5

Snitch Review

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is arguably the most successful pro wrestler turned actor. He is a great action star, and he is not afraid to go out of his comfort zone. This is ranging from family comedies to artsy films. Now he is trying for a more dramatic role.

Snitch stars Johnson as John Matthews, the owner of a small, but successful construction company. His college bound son Jason agrees to let his friend ship some ecstasy to his house, but Jason is immediately arrested by the DEA for distribution of illegal drugs. Despite not being a dealer and being set up by his friend, he is facing a minimum 10-year prison term. In order to lessen his son’s prison time, Matthews agrees to go undercover for the DEA to catch the most dangerous drug kingpins.

Even though the trailer portrays the film as action packed, it is actually quite dramatic. The movie spends time developing its characters like Susan Sarandon as an ambitious prosecuting attorney or Jon Bernthal playing an ex-con who is trying to leave his old life behind, but is dragged into Matthew’s plans.

Nevertheless, Johnson’s performance is just average. In fact, that goes for everyone else in the movie. I appreciate this film for trying to be something more than a straightforward action film, but Johnson’s performance just isn’t convincing enough for me. Plus, there is so much exposition for the first hour and too much preaching about drug laws. To be honest, the best part of the movie doesn’t even come until about the last 15 minutes of the film.

Snitch would have been better as an action film as this is what Johnson does best. This is just another forgettable drama, but even if it were an action movie, it would still be forgettable. At least Johnson is trying to expand his acting range, and hopefully he will find better material next time he decides to do a drama film.

Snitch - 3/5

Escape from Planet Earth Review

The story takes place on planet Baab where admired astronaut Scorch Supernova (Brendan Fraser) is a national hero to the blue alien population. A master of daring rescues, Scorch pulls off astonishing feats with the quiet aid of his nerdy brother, Gary (Rob Corddry), head of mission control at BASA (Baab Aeronautics and Space Administration). When BASA’s chief Lena (Jessica Alba) informs the brothers of an SOS from a dangerous planet, which is Earth, Scorch doesn’t listen to Gary’s warnings and goes off for another exciting mission. However, once Scorch lands on Earth he finds himself caught in a fiendish trap set by the evil General Shanker (William Shatner). As the interplanetary stakes rise, it’s up to Gary to save his brother.

Escape from Planet Earth has been in development at the Weinstein Company since 2007 and finally got released in February with little-to-no marketing, and I can see why. Compared to the animated films released by Disney, Pixar, and DreamWorks, it pales in comparison. However, compared to earlier animated films released by the Weinstein Company like Hoodwinked and Doogal it is a huge step forward. That’s still not saying much though. There are a couple of good jokes, and some of the characters are well-designed and voiced with standouts being Jane Lynch, William Shatner, Ricky Gervais, and Brendan Fraser. The prison-like setting where Scorch, Gary, and the other aliens are kept and much of the humor is reminiscent of films like Paul, Monsters, Inc. and Monsters vs. Aliens.

Nevertheless, the characters are poorly written and many of plot arcs fall flat. The film is filled with a plethora of pop culture references and satire that will pass right over kids' heads. At the same time, the plot is presented in such a muddled and emotionally unsatisfactory fashion that older audiences will dismiss the film. It also doesn’t help that the Weinstein brothers forced 17 rewrites on the script. Ultimately, Escape from Planet Earth had potential, but it’s just another forgettable animated film.

 

Escape from Planet Earth - 2.5/5

Die Hard 5 Review

Well, at least it's rated R

The Die Hard franchise is probably one of most consistent action series in terms of commercial and critical success. The thing that has made this series so successful is the appeal of John McClane, played by Bruce Willis. McClane is a wisecracking New York cop who is always thrown into dangerous situations. The man basically attracts terrorists, but always emerges victorious in the end thanks to his instinct, luck, and determination. I have enjoyed all of the films in the series despite the last installment, Live Free or Die Hard, being bombarded with CGI effects. The latest film in the franchise, A Good Day to Die Hard is a huge step down from the previous Die Hard movies.

This time, John McClane (Bruce Willis) travels to Russia to help out his estranged son Jack (Jai Courtney), only to discover that Jack is a CIA operative working to prevent a nuclear-weapons heist. Now McClane and his son must team up against underworld forces.

It is great to see Willis as John McClane again, but writer Skip Woods and director John Moore clearly miss the whole point of the character’s essence and likeability. In this movie, John McClane is an invulnerable super cop. The problem is that McClane is a vulnerable human being. He is a reluctant hero in the first four films and can get seriously wounded, as he is up against worthy adversaries that are cool, calculative and almost one step ahead of him. Here, McClane immediately causes mass vehicular damage just to stop thugs from attacking his son, and has no qualms about killing the bad guys wherever they pop up here. His son Jack tries to fill in for a sidekick, but Willis and Courtney have no chemistry at all. There are times when the film shows a few glimpses of character development in the relationship between McClane and his son, but it is cut short by the merciless and absurd action sequences.

A good action movie has to have a good villain, and this movie has none. The first Die Hard had Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman), the second one had Colonel Stuart (William Sadler), and the third one had Gruber’s brother (Jeremy Irons) as the main villain. Even the villain in “Live Free and Die Hard” is more memorable, which is pretty sad. This film has three primary villains who are all forgettable. They are not intelligent, menacing, or memorable in any way.

John Moore is a passable director, but for some reason he feels the need to place smash cuts in every scene, which gets tiring after a while. The movie relies heavily on CGI for most of the action sequences. Some of them look very good, but If you think the action scenes in the previous movie are too over-the-top, then wait until you see this movie. It is full of them.

The action scenes are satisfying even if it is borders on the absurd side sometimes. Nevertheless, thanks to a weak script, lack of worthy villains, and incoherent direction, the fifth installment in the beloved Die Hard saga ends up as the worst of the series so far. 

A Good Day to Die Hard - 2/5

Bullet to the Head Review

It is always nice to watch old school action movies. They are movies that do not rely too much on CGI, and the action scenes and stunts are real. This is why I liked Schwarzenegger's The Last Stand. This movie is entertaining despite its ridiculous plot and stock characters. Plus, I think Schwarzenegger makes a good comeback movie despite his age. However, it is a box office flop. Now we have Sylvester Stallone’s new movie, Bullet to the Head, which is Stallone’s first solo movie in nearly five years. So, can Stallone still sell this movie on just his name alone?

Bullet to the Head stars Sylvester Stallone as Jimmy Bobo, a New Orleans hit man who is hired to eliminate corrupt ex-cop Hank Greely. Bobo and his partner Louis Blanchard (Jon Seda) accomplish this task, and wait at a local bar to receive their payment from their employers. However, Bobo realizes their employers have set them up when an assassin kills Bobo’s partner.

Meanwhile, Washington D.C. detective Taylor Kwan (Sung Kang) is sent to New Orleans to investigate the murder of Greely, but the local police chief does not like Kwan’s intrusion in their investigation. Eventually, Kwan meets Bobo and he tells him that he knows that Bobo and Blanchard killed the ex-cop. When Kwan brings up the possibility of Bobo getting revenge for Blanchard’s’ death, Jimmy leaves. While Kwan is following Bobo, two corrupt cops attempt to kill Kwan and Bobo saves him. Now the two decide to work together, and their investigation leads to a wider conspiracy involving an African gangster, corrupt politicians, and dirty cops.

This film tries to pay homage to the mismatched buddy cop action films like Lethal Weapon, Running Scared, and Tango and Cash, but it fails to do that. Stallone is one of the kings of 1980’s action movie, but during this movie he seems to be on autopilot. Director Walter Hill, who jump started the buddy cop film genre with 1982’s 48 Hrs., does nothing new here. Given the director’s long and interesting career, I had expected something better than this stale film. The movie treats itself so seriously that it has no time to develop any type of buddy relationship. Kang and Stallone have no chemistry at all, and that really hurts the film.

Ultimately, Bullet to the Head does not add anything to the action genre. The movie is based off the critically acclaimed French graphic novel, “Du Plomb Dans Tete”, but something obviously gets lost in translation as this is just a generic action movie. There are so many recycled elements in this film from better action movies. This movie has nostalgia on its side, but besides that aspect, this is cliché action film that can easily be labeled as direct-to-DVD material.

Bullet to the Head - 2.5/5

Amour Review

Amour tells the story about Georges (Jean-Louis Trintignant) and Anne Laurent (Emmanuelle Riva), an elder couple who lives in their apartment in Paris, France. Georges and Anne's companionship is unbreakable, but their relationship changes when Anne is struck by a stroke and becomes dependent on her husband who does everything humanly possible to comfort and encourage his beloved friend and life partner.

The director of the film, Michael Haneke is best known for his bleak and sometimes depressing films. While most of his other films focus on violent and psychotic youths, this is a more intimate project for the director. Haneke creates a memorable and meaningful portrayal of a loving and faithful relationship between two aging human beings, and their somewhat estranged relationship with their daughter. Everything from the production design to the cinematography is done very well. The lack of score in this movie makes this dialog-driven and intimate coming-of-age story even stronger. Nevertheless, if you do not like foreign movies, then this movie is not going to change your opinion of them.

Amour is a poetic, atmospheric, quick-witted and universal love-story about two musicians who are faced with one of the many unpredictable moments in life. The movie has a brilliant narrative structure, subtle character development, and great performances by authentic and reverent acting performances by Emmanuelle Riva and Jean-Louis Trintignant. The film clocks in at about two hours, which may seem like an eternity for people who hate reading subtitles. However, if you keep an open mind, you will appreciate this bleak, yet moving film.

Amour - 4/5

Parker Review

Parker (Jason Statham) is a thief with a unique code of professional ethics. After doing a heist at the Ohio State Fair with four other associates, he is double-crossed by them for not wanting to do another heist. His crew shoots him, and leaves him for dead on a country road. When he awakens, he assumes a new disguise and forms an unlikely alliance with a real estate agent (Jennifer Lopez) in order to hijack the score of the crew’s latest heist, so he can get his revenge.

Parker is an adaptation of Donald Westlake’s novel “Flashfire, which is the 19th novel in the Parker series. However, it comes across as another Jason Statham movie. Nevertheless, that is not a bad thing. All of Statham’s movies are somewhat formulaic, but I surprisingly liked this one better than his recent efforts. It is fast paced with mindless action, and entertaining despite the film being almost two hours long. Statham has a great screen presence and in league with action heroes like Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone, and Bruce Willis.

The movie’s strong points are the action scenes, which are filmed quite brilliantly. The fight scenes are brutal, intense, and well choreographed. The editing is a little too frenetic at times, so it can be hard to tell what is going on. In addition, Jennifer Lopez’s character distracts from the movie at times, and is nothing but eye candy for the target audience. If the movie just focused on Parker, then I think this could have been a stronger film.

Parker looks like your average Jason Statham movie and it is. However, it is exhilarating and action-packed despite its underdeveloped characters and formulaic story.

Parker - 3/5

Movie 43 Review

Bad comedy. Bad.

I’m going to be blunt with this review. Movie 43 is a terrible, agonizing experience. It amazes me how so many actors got roped into making this dreadful film. The movie is a collection of 12 shorts that features a cast that includes Elizabeth Banks, Kate Winslet, Hugh Jackman, Halle Berry, Emma Stone, Jason Sudeikis, Dennis Quaid, Richard Gere, Greg Kinnear, and other talented actors.

Eleven of the segments are related to the main short, which stars Dennis Quaid as a desperate screenwriter who is trying to pitch his idea to a studio executive. Quaid starts pitching his ideas, and this is when the film starts to become terrible.

Most of the shorts are crude, tasteless, and unfunny. One short involves Kate Winslet and High Jackman going on a blind date. To Winslet’s surprise, Jackman has a large scrotum hanging from his neck, and nobody seems to notice it except her. Another short stars Liev Schreiber and Naomi Watts as parents trying to recreate the dangers and turmoil of high school for their homeschooled child. This short features bad jokes involving bullying, homosexuality, and even incest. Then, there is a short about a couple (Anna Faris and Chris Pratt) that thinks sex acts involving defecation will strengthen their relationship. This is complete garbage.

However, I did find three of shorts mildly funny. One short stars Chloë Grace Moretz as a girl who experiences her first period while hanging out at her boyfriend’s house. The short mocks how men are so clueless when it comes to female problems. At one point, one of the men suggests clogging her uterus with frozen peas and a sponge. Another one stars Terrence Howard as a basketball coach who is trying to inspire his African-American team to beat their arrogant white opponents. It puts a nice spin on those cliché true-life sports stories. Then there is a disturbing yet funny short about a couple that lives with their cartoon cat named Beezel. There are several other shorts, but the rest of them are not worth mentioning.

Movie 43 is an abomination, and is a movie that will be forgotten quickly. I still can’t figure out how so many good actors and actresses agreed to do this abysmal film. The only explanation I can think of is blackmail. Each segment is only around 5-10 minutes, but this is a blemish that I don’t think any actor wants on his/her resume. This has to be one of the worst comedies I have seen in a long time. Surprisingly it's not even the worst comedy of 2013. That honor belongs to a movie much worse. Hint: It's an Adam Sandler film.

Movie 43 - 1/5

The Last Stand Review

I'd told you I'd be back!

Whether you love him or hate him, you have to admit that Arnold Schwarzenegger has a great, screen presence. He is a true, action movie star, so it’s great to see him again in top billing action roles again.

Basically, the film is about the leader of a drug cartel, Gabriel Cortez (Eduardo Noriega), who busts out of prison. He speeds off in a modified Chevrolet Corvette C6 ZRI with a hostage and a fierce army of gang members to the Mexican border. However, before he gets there he has to pass the small town of Sommerton Junction, Arizona. The only thing in his path is Sheriff Ray Owens (Arnold Schwarzenegger), an ex-LAPD officer who leaves his post following a bungled operation that fails and cripples his partner. The sheriff is reluctant to get involved because of his inexperienced police staff, but ultimately Owens decides to get involved and stop Cortez before he gets to the border.

The formulaic script really brings down the film a lot, and the supporting characters don’t really help the situation either. However, the film's strength lies in two main things. First is Arnold's undeniable screen presence. He carries the movie on his shoulders and doesn't look back. When he's on screen, good or not, we keep watching, though his acting has visibly improved compared to his past entries. He jokes about his age, but he can still shoot and fight pretty well for a man his age.

The other major thing is the direction from South Korean helmer Kim Ji- Woon. This is Kim's Hollywood debut, having directed the creepy horror drama, "A Tale of Two Sisters", the fun Western "The Good, the Bad, the Weird", and the brutal crime thriller, "I Saw The Devil". Kim knows he is working with formula here, and he ups the ante with comic, graphic violence and fast, paced direction.

Had it not been for Arnold or Kim's involvement, this would have been a direct-to-DVD action thriller. However, the stunts are good, well choreographed, and not a tinge of CGI in sight, and the action is comically violent in certain parts of the movie.

This is a fun, popcorn movie, and I look forward to seeing Schwarzenegger doing new action movies for the new decade.

The Last Stand - 3.5/5