The Man from U.N.C.L.E. - Review

Aka: Cliche 60s American and Cliche Russian Team Up

Does anyone find it ironic that this film has an English actor playing an American and an American actor playing a Russian? I guess Guy Ritchie knew the irony behind this casting, and well it works perfectly well.

The Plot

After suave American Agent, Napoleon Solo (Henry Cavill), rescues Gabby Teller (Alicia Vikander), a mechanic and daughter of a Nazi Scientist, from Communist East Berlin, he winds up being partnered with a Russian Agent, Ilya Kuryakin (Armie Hammer), to stop Nazi Radicals from forcing Gabby's father into creating an Atom Bomb. Their only lead is Victoria Vinciguerra (Elizabeth Debicki), a Nazi sympathizer who is connected to Gabby's family. As tensions between America and Russia escalate, can Solo and Ilya put aside their differences to accomplish the mission and possibly save the world? 

Review

Guy Ritchie may not necessarily be one of my favorite directors, but he is definitely someone I always give a chance. He won me over with his two breakout films, Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch, but although I found his later films entertaining, mainly the Robert Downey Jr. Sherlock Holmes series, he hasn't exactly solidified himself as someone who I need to watch immediately. And unfortunately for him, this film still gives me that feeling. However, fortunately for him, this film also maintains my stance of always giving him a chance.

Based on a classic 60s TV Show, Man from UNCLE is the very definition of an old fashion spy movie. Kingsman may have been a love letter and throwback to old spy films, but this one IS an old spy film. Which works well for it as well as against it. What definitely works for it is keeping the film in the 60s setting. The time was perfect as the backdrop for spy movies as you have America and Russia waiting to go to war with each other at any given moment. It also helps that the fashion is that midpoint between the suave sophistication of the 40s along with the sexiness that will over take the 70s. It just sells you with classic spy imagery, and it helps that Cavill and Hammer are playing stereotypes that fit in this setting.

Cavill has been on Hollywood's radar for YEARS and finally gets his chance to shine in the spotlight as Superman. Unfortunately his dour performance made people question why was everyone so impressed by this guy? Luckily here, Cavill exudes the charm and suave of Napoleon Solo extremely well, showing audiences why this guy was sought after for several high profile roles in the past before his big break. He shows he could be charismatic and lively, which will definitely help him in the long run, but it won't be enough to turn naysayers around to his side. Still, his cliche 60s American accent works really well for his character, especially given he is actually English...or Welsh...or...something not American. The one who is American though is Hammer, who also plays a cliche role in the film: the brutish Russian Spy. His turn as Ilya is not exactly ground breaking, as many people were already convinced this guy can act from the Social Network. However his cliche performance works hand in hand with Cavill's cliche performance as two stereotypes having to team up to fight a common enemy. At least no one can complain about casting problems, because they're both ironically casted.

But despite ironies in casting, the word cliche will come up a lot because in the end, this movie is definitely a cliche. Everything about it is a cliche because it is a cliche 60s spy movie that feels like it came out decades too late. Smart audiences in tune with how spy movies work will know how Vikander's Gabby and Debicki's villainous Victoria will operate before it happens in the story. There are no new twists to the genre, nor can there be because spy movies have done everything, and it doesn't try to claim it has one. This is probably the most pure 60s spy movie we'll ever get, and that is completely fine for me. But it does say something if the most exciting part of the film is the first half when the two agents meet for the first time and how they have to eventually work together. The second half is where things start heading to predictability and the fun feels forced rather than natural as it did in the first half. Nevertheless, the film still feels entertaining and engaging enough to keep you through. And it also doesn't hurt that all the leads in this movie are ridiculously sexy. Eye candy for ladies and gentlemen. 

Final Thoughts

In the Year of the Spy movie, this may so far be the weakest entry. It may not be the worst, as the year isn't over yet, but it definitely won't be the best. But what it is the best at is bringing back the old 60s spy movie flavor. However it may have done so a little too literally. There are some modern filmmaking techniques and Guy Ritchie-isms in the film, but overall it still feels like a movie that came out decades too late. The cast is magnificent, particularly Cavill and Hammer, but their characters are exactly as you think they're going to be all the way up to the end. No real surprises, but still a great time.

SCORE: 7/10 - A decent time for a film that feels like its from a different time

Fantastic Four (2015) - Review

"Say that again?" .... "Fantastic!"

Oh God, why? Why? WHYYYYYY??????????

The Plot

After nearly perfecting a teleportation device that he and his friend, Ben Grimm (Jaime Bell) have been working on as a child, Reed Richards (Miles Teller) is recruited by Dr. Storm (Reg E. Cathey) to join Baxter, a facility for the gifted to build a better future. To aide Reed on his quest to be the first to crack inter dimensional travel, Dr. Storm brings in his children, Sue (Kate Mara) and Johnny (Michael B. Jordan), along with a former gifted student, Victor (Toby Kebbell), to complete the machine. But once completed, their facility's advisor and government liaison, Dr. Allen (Tim Blake Nelson), decides to send a team of selected astronauts to be the first to use their invention. Not wanting to be sidelined for their success, Reed, Johnny, Ben, Victor and Sue highjack the first mission and successfully travel to a place they dub Planet Zero. But what they discover there, will not only change their lives, but their physical bodies as well.

Review

Let me just go right off the bat and say this... I love Chronicle. Love it. It is one of the best found footage movies I've ever seen. And I was highly impressed that director Josh Trank broke the record of being the youngest director to generate a blockbuster film at the age of 27. The last person who held that record? Steven Spielberg for directing JAWS at the age of 28. But JAWS was Spielberg's third film, whereas Chronicle was Trank's first film. Which makes it even more impressive. Though a lot of credit definitely should go to screenwriter Max Landis for crafting Trank's vision into realistic dialogue between young boys, it is still Trank's original vision. Which is why I was so heavily interested in his take on the Fantastic Four. From his interesting casting choices, to the fact that he was basing it heavily on Ultimate Fantastic Four, even all the way down to him stating it was going to be more like David Cronenberg's body horror films. I was hooked, and defended this movie against anyone who would say that it is nothing like the comic books.... then I saw it.

I wouldn't go down and say this is the worst movie I've ever seen. That title for me belongs to Transformers: Age of Extinction. But the feeling I had while walking out of this film was more than just disappointment. It was pity. I felt sorry for everyone who is involved with this movie. I felt sorry for the cast, I felt sorry for the studio and I even felt sorry for the director. It was like watching a car crash happen in slow motion with people you like in the vehicle managing to survive to live another day. That's how it felt, and I could probably use the car crash metaphor with how this movie goes.

Think of it as a road trip. At the beginning of the journey, you're all getting ready and feeling excited. That's what it was like at at the beginning of the movie involving the child versions of Reed Richards and Ben Grimm. It was filled with hope and optimism about how youth can accomplish great things if their minds are in the right place. Or in the case of the cliche parents, the wrong place. But cliche parents aside, it was a nice intro to a friendship. A friendship that should've carried over to when Teller and Bell took over as the present day incarnations of the characters. And while it does for a while at the beginning, it abruptly disappears later. More on that in a bit. But again, with the beginning of the road trip, that's when you're meeting up with all your friends who are coming along for the ride. That's where Mara, Jordan and Kebbell come into play as Sue, Johnny and Victor. It is cool seeing all of these young geniuses work together in order to accomplish creating something that could possibly change the world. But once the drive begins and the car pops a tire with a nail, that's when things start to go downhill.

The first act of the movie is brilliant, but the second half of the movie is when it becomes really clear that whoever was driving the car at the beginning is no longer in full control. Once the main four gain their powers, it is clear that there was suppose to be an entire body horror sequence that should've lasted the entire second act. But unfortunately, choppy editing makes it clear that whatever the second act was suppose to be has been trimmed down for the sake of getting faster to the superhero action. Which happens after abruptly time skipping midway through the movie to one year. That one year time skip completely destroys any sense of team building amongst the characters, which has been the central thrust of their comic stories. In here there is no sense of relationships being solidified by any of the team members. They are first horrified by what happens to them, one of them escapes government captivity, then skip one year later to see everyone seems to efficiently know how to use their powers now and suddenly are friends with everyone again. It is so jarring and not executed well that it is obvious several scenes are missing. And if you've seen the trailers, then you'll know most of the scenes in the trailer are missing from the movie.

But while the second act feels like there are scenes that could've been extended or added to make it flow better, the third act completely derails any hope you will have of things getting better. The best way to put it? Remember my road trip metaphor and how I left off with the tires blowing out? Well what if someone on the road tries to help you by trying to drive your car to the nearest town at full speed? With the tires still busted. And not even bothering to use the spare tire you have in the trunk. Because you are only a few miles away to your destination. And against all your gut instincts that tell you this is a bad idea, you still allow it to happen. That's what happened to the third act of this movie, and that's where the car crash happens. 

Kebbell's Victor, who was barely developed at the beginning of the movie, yet there are clear hints as to who he is as well as his philosophy, is rescued after being left on Planet Zero for a year. And what happens when he comes back? He is now Doom and blah blah blah blah blah, wants to destroy the world all of a sudden. We don't get any incite as to why he suddenly believes he wants to do this. And also it was painfully obvious that everything involving Doom before and after the hallway Akira sequence was re-shot entirely. Because I have a strong feeling that his was not how Josh Trank wanted the movie to end. It is clear that his vision for this was definitely more like a Cronenberg face-off ala The Fly or Scanners, but that doesn't happen. It just turns into a cliche superhero battle that lacks any punch, despite having a lot of punches, and strange cheesy interactions between all the "heroes" who suddenly know how to work together. It's just so... so.... You know. A car crash. That thankfully everyone lived, but still have to be hospitalized in order to recover.

Final Thoughts

I want to say this is the worst superhero movie ever made, but the first act genuinely made me believe that I was watching something different than the standard superhero mold. It made me feel like I was watching a science fiction movie that abruptly shifts into a horror film then abruptly crashes and burns into a superhero film. I know there have been reports about Trank being unruly on set, but I can tell what kind of movie he wanted to make. He wanted to make a sci-fi horror movie that just happened to have superheroes in it. And unfortunately for him, the studio wanted a standard superhero movie. These two ways of thinking clash so severely that the end result is a muddled mess that starts off with so much promise, especially from the cast and crew, that then dive bombs into oblivion, especially when the cast appear to stop caring about what movie they're in by the end. I wish I could've seen the sci-fi horror epic I know this movie was suppose to be, but I guess we never will. And that's sad.

SCORE: 4/10 - 1 for Potential 2 for the Cast 3 for the Tone and 4 for a Pity Point

Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation - Review

It's official everyone...

Tom Cruise is completely insane... AND I FREAKING LOVE IT!

The Plot

After amassing a record of "wanton acts of mayhem" over the years, CIA Director Hunley motions for the dissolving of the Impossible Missions Force and have their assets absorbed into the CIA. As IMF Analyst, Brandt (Jeremy Renner), tries to stop Hunley, IMF Agent Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) finds himself targeted by a shadowy organization called The Syndicate, led by the even more mysterious Solomon Lane (Sean Harris). To prove that the IMF is still a viable force for good, Ethan makes it his mission to prove the existence of The Sydnicate while being the number one rogue fugitive on the CIA's list. He'll need help from Benji (Simon Pegg), Brandt, Luther (Ving Rhames) and the mysterious Ilsa Faust (Rebecca Ferguson) in the ultimate cat and mouse game against an enemy that has been secretly causing them trouble for years.

Review

Once the now infamous "Tom Cruise is strapped to the side of a plane" scene takes off at the very BEGINNING of the movie... I suddenly had no idea what I was in for. Usually a scene like that would've taken place in the middle or at the end of the movie. But no, the infamous scene is what starts this movie off with a bang. It is a shot of adrenaline that prepares the audience for the insane ride that will follow. And if you believe nothing in this film can top that opening scene, then you'll be pleasantly surprised.

I have to give a lot of credit to director and writer Christopher McQuarrie. Mainly because for the first time, I believe he's the director who completely nailed what this franchise is suppose to be. Him and his co-writer, Drew Pearce, took all the best parts from the Mission franchise along with an examination of how summer blockbusters are suppose to operate and doesn't try to reinvent the formula but resuscitates it into something that can truly breathe. The concept of having the big money shot at the beginning of the movie was done to ensure that audiences will no longer be waiting for it to happen, but instead be focused on the movie and its story. It is a brilliant move that just elevates this film above its predecessors and its peers.

But one thing that definitely makes this movie stand above its peers is the utilization of the action within the story. Usually action happens for the sake of action. But good action is used to accelerate the plot. And in this film, every single action scene was warranted for the sake of progressing the plot further as well as developing character motivations. All of them, from Hunt's first fight with the Syndicate to the Opera House battle to the underwater scene that escalates to a car chase that then escalates into a motorcycle chase all keep building momentum towards the finale which has surprisingly not been spoiled in any of the trailers or commercials. Which makes the third act of the film even more impactful in that everything that has been used to promote the film has been from the beginning and middle, but never the end.

Tom Cruise proves that he is still in peak physical condition at 50, and is probably THE action star of this current generation. His charisma and dedication to this franchise continues to shine with incredible results. And thankfully his team behind the camera has finally found out who Ethan Hunt is suppose to be. He is not James Bond, which they tried to make him like in the second film, but a team leader who prioritizes the safety of his team first over himself. That combined with making him someone who can get hurt is what makes him such a compelling character. And thankfully he is surrounded by equally compelling teammates, with one literally outshining him.

Simon Pegg, Jeremy Renner and Ving Rhames return as Benji, Brandt and Luther: Hunt's loyal friends. What truly makes them standout is how they're all utilized in the story at the most appropriate times. Pegg's Benji may have the most screen time of the three, and the most comic relief, but Pegg continues to prove that he is more than just a comedy actor. He is well rounded and looks right at home standing side by side with the likes of action men such as Cruise, Renner and Rhames. Speaking of the latter two, both of them are more utilized in a subplot that doesn't collide with the main plot of the movie till the third act, but Renner and Rhames were still utilized efficiently for the story. However, there is one person who is not a returning veteran, but a newcomer into the franchise.

Rebecca Ferguson will soon be the talk of the town, as her performance as Syndicate Agent (or is she?) Ilsa Faust is the biggest standout of the film. I always get irked by women who get cast as Bond Girls in James Bond films claiming they're "not your typical Bond Girl," then wind up being the typical Bond Girl with a little more to do. Thankfully in the Mission: Impossible franchise, there is no "Mission Impossible Girl." But if there had to be one to define that term, it would be Ferguson's Ilsa. She is probably the most well written ambiguous female spy character in a Hollywood blockbuster film while being extremely sexy and extremely efficient. What makes her so incredible is that you could easily take out Ethan Hunt and all the Mission Impossible characters, and still have an incredible spy film with her as the lead. She is so good that I hope she breaks the norm of female agents in previous Mission films never returning in the next one, because I want more of this incredible villainous/heroic (?) character.

But what about The Syndicate? The "Rogue Nation" of the title? What about their mysterious leader, Solomon Lane played by Sean Harris? Well, to put it simply, they are the best antagonists for the franchise so far. In fact, I believe them to be better than SPECTRE in the old Sean Connery Bond films. They are essentially a reboot of the IMF's original nemesis from the TV show (yes if you didn't know, Mission: Impossible is based on an old TV Show), and they are rebooted in the best possible way. Here, they are actually a legitimate threat as a completely evil incarnation of the IMF. Credit definitely has to go to Harris for his portrayal of Solomon Lane, who is believably more cunning and frightening than any villain in the Mission: Impossible franchise. The only downside I can come up with for him, as well as the whole movie, was wishing Lane was in the movie more, but again the amount of time he was present was utilized perfectly.

Final Thoughts

If you haven't figured it out yet, I really loved this movie. LOVE IT! And the more I think about it, the more I like it. And if you happen to be a fan of the original 60s TV Show, and have gotten bitter because the movies are nothing like the show, then this is the movie you've been waiting for because it finally has the elements of the TV show the original fans loved. Mainly the mind game aspect that is the real conflict between Hunt and Lane. There are callbacks to previous films as well as a complete reinvigoration of what a blockbuster should be. I'm hoping for the success of this movie, because it proves that you don't need Superheroes to make a good blockbuster anymore. Furious 7, Mad Max Fury Road and Jurassic World proved that. But this film proves it even more.

SCORE: 9.5/10 - The best Summer Blockbuster of the "Year of the Spy" so far

Justice League: Gods and Monsters - Review

"Someone once asked if I wanted to save the world or to rule it. Today... it's going to be hard to tell the difference."

Those words should already tell you what kind of characters you're going to be dealing with.

The Plot

In an alternate universe created by DC Animation's Mastermind, Bruce Timm, comes a gripping story focused on an entirely new Justice League. In this grounded world, there is no Kal El/Clark Kent, Diana Prince, or Bruce Wayne. But there is still Superman, Wonder Woman and Batman. But they are completely different. Superman (Benjamin Bratt) is the son of General Zod raised by Mexican immigrants. Wonder Woman (Tamara Taylor) is the New God, Bekka, who chose Earth to be the home of her self imposed exile from Apokalips. And Batman (Michael C. Hall) is Kirk Langstrom, a scientist who accidentally turned himself into a vampire trying to cure his lymphoma. These incarnations of the Justice League are not like their original counterparts, and are willing to cross the line when the situation calls for it. So much so that when several scientists are brutally murdered, leaving evidence that points to the Justice League as the culprits, the world does not believe they are innocent. As the body count continues to rise, the brutal superheroes must find a way to clear their names before the world finally decides that it doesn't need them anymore.

Review

For a detailed backstory of the creation of this film, check out my review of the prequel web series right here: Justice League: Gods and Monsters - Season 1

This film is pretty much a return to form of the beloved 90s and early 2000s DC animation created by Bruce Timm. The film brings back a huge level of complexity that not many people would be expecting from a film like this. Especially when the selling point of the film is that this is a darker and grittier take on the DC Universe. And given the state of DC Fans hating the constant need of having their beloved properties injected with dark and gritty, it is no surprise that their initial reaction will be negative without even seeing the final product. Well I'm glad to report that this film is not dark and gritty. It is actually a mature take on the DC Universe with a slight edge. Yes there are dark themes in the film, and yes the violence is not toned down, but it is no different than the beloved animated series Timm has created in the past. If there is a difference, it is in the characters themselves.

Benjamin Bratt plays this incarnation of Superman named Hernan Guerra. This Superman is more akin to a soldier and has a rougher upbringing given that he was raised by Mexican immigrants. This adds a completely different layer to him as a Superman who grew up poor and in the lower class who literally rises up to become the success story of the American Dream. This upbringing makes his sense of justice far more complicated as he knows that justice sometimes needs a heavy hand but also must have limits. Bratt does an excellent job of balancing a man who clearly has a lot of anger, but tries to manage it in more positive ways. If there is one negative that I have to give about this movie involving his character, it is the outright acknowledgement that he is the son of General Zod. It is not a spoiler, as it is used in the promotions and first 5 minutes of the film, but this Superman had no idea General Zod was his father and when he learns this information for the first time it would've been a more powerful moment if the audience didn't know already.

Tamara Taylor plays this incarnation of Wonder Woman named Bekka. Her Wonder Woman is clearly a lot more aggressive and sexually active. The best way to describe it is think of her as a less overly flirty version of Catwoman but with multiple super powers. However the reason for her aggressive and overt sexual nature stems mainly from her origin, which is pretty much a Disney Princess story that horrifically turns into a Game of Thrones wedding. This automatically makes you understand why she's the way she is, and why she still wants to be a good person. Her backstory doesn't add much to the overall plot of the film as say Superman's or Batman's, but it is arguably the most hard hitting of the three. Tamara had a fine line to walk of having this cocky and sexually active Wonder Woman who hides her vulnerable side, and luckily she does an excellent job showing the complexity of Bekka.

Michael C. Hall plays this incarnation of Batman named Kirk Langstrom. It should come no surprise why the actor who played Dexter was hired to play this incarnation, primarily because he's a vampire who feeds off of criminals. Parallels aside, strangely enough, despite the very un-original take on the caped crusader, this iteration of Batman is probably the most relatable of the new heroes. Granted, Batman has always been touted as the most relatable of the DC heroes, but here we actually feel that he is someone we can be. Given that he is now Kirk Langstrom and not billionaire Bruce Wayne, we actually see him more as a normal person who is gifted that winds up gaining a horrible vocation. Hall's portrayal of Batman is mostly monotone, but when he does show emotion, the tone of his voice changes just enough for it to register that he does still have feelings despite being a monster.

But at the core of the movie is the murder mystery that is the central plot of the film. It is a highly commendable achievement for Bruce Timm and his writing partner Alan Burnett (also a DC animation alumni) to weave these entirely new backstories seamlessly into the central plot. However, that means that there wasn't enough room to truly delve deep into the mystery of who is killing the world's greatest scientists and are the Justice League innocent? I blame the 75 minute runtime for this problem, as the film only need 15 more extra minutes to develop the mystery further as well as the antagonist driving the mystery. It is still a compelling story, despite being a plot that has been used in Superhero stories over and over again. This is again thanks to Timm and Burnett's great execution with the writing, but hardcore DC fans will be able to solve the mystery in an instant. That still doesn't take away from this dark, edgy and FUN alternate universe.

If there is one thing that I have to really complain about, it is the fact that the animation is not really up to par for movie standards. As much as I love that they returned to Timm's classic animation style, I find it hard to believe that they didn't have enough time to make the animation smoother. It is a nice callback to the old 90s and early 2000s, but it is hard to deny that the animation could use a few more extra frames to really sell the action or even dramatic moments.

Final Thoughts

While it may not be the best thing Bruce Timm has ever done, it is definitely the best animated film Warner Bros. animation has produced in almost a decade. The animation and voice acting is a loving call back to a time when DC animation was considered king, and also shows that it is okay to think outside of the box when it comes to the DC Trinity. Small problems and pretty predictable story aside, this is probably the most relatable and fascinating iteration of Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman in a long time. If you have a love for alternate stories or have an open mind for change, this movie will definitely entertain and enlighten you. If you are incapable of accepting other interpretations of the characters you hold so close to your fanboy/girl heart...then don't bother because you are absolutely going to hate this no matter how good it is. I have an open mind, and this is the Justice League I want in my life. I now have Season 2 and hopefully a sequel to this film to look forward to in the future.

SCORE: 8.5/10 - Despite being predictable, it is a great and welcoming return for Bruce Timm

Ant-Man - Review

"Baskin Robins always knows."

Great use of product placement there. No one is going to forget that anytime soon. Including me.

The Plot

After being released from prison, burglar Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) decides to go straight for the sake of his daughter. But when he is unable to keep an honest job due to his crooked past, as well as pressure from his ex-wife (Judy Greer) and her fiancé (Bobby Cannavale) for child support, Lang has no choice but to go back to his old habits to make ends meet. Re-teaming with his friend, Luis (Michael Peña), and his new crew (Tip "T.I." Harris and David Dastmalchian), Lang plots to rob a vault thanks to an anonymous tip through the grape vine. What he discovers in the vault changes his life forever, as he discovers he has been recruited by Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) to become the second Ant-Man to stop Darren Cross (Corey Stoll) from replicating the Pym Partical shrinking power. With Pym's daughter (Evangeline Lily) and several species of Ants as his allies, Lang must conduct the biggest, yet also smallest, heist job of his life.

Review

The film community is well aware of the production woes of this film. However most of the people who will watch this movie won't care. So I won't bother to write a long extensive lamentation of having one of my favorite directors, Edgar Wright, attached to this project then leaving it due to a disagreement with Marvel. Because again, the general audience doesn't care. I care, but they don't. So what does the general audience care about? Is the movie good? That's what they care about. And frankly, good is the word I'd use to describe it.

Ant-Man is a pretty good cliched Marvel film which has the major benefit of feeling more like a small independent film that happens to have superheroes in it. Which is probably the most welcoming aspect about this film within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. While indeed the crisis could cause massive amounts of destruction upon the world, it didn't feel like the world was going to end. Which is usually how Marvel movies are. Villain threatens the world, hero saves the world. And by world that usually means the planet. But in this film, the world is a small one. Very small. Which is much more fitting given what the title character's power is. Shrinking.

In a sense, the film is a Marvel film with all the now famous Marvel tropes shrunk to a smaller scale. The characters are not larger than life but rather very small compared to the rest of the world. They are businessmen, cops and thieves. Individuals who you see or probably know about in everyday life. Yeah, Michael Douglas is a tech genius, but he's no Tony Stark. Which works really well in having everyone be pretty much everyday people who happen to be battling over something very powerful. But because they are like everyday people, that doesn't make them memorable people.

Paul Rudd does a great job playing this overly cliche role of a good thief who doesn't like killing, only stealing, for the sake of his daughter. His comedy is not exactly my cup of tea, but he was definitely a passable lead for what role he is given. I'm sure he'll probably blow me away in another outing, but for now he was just okay. Evangeline Lily was a great supporting character, though her description is pretty much stated by a character in the film as "mean pretty lady." Throw in a dash of "father and daughter issues" and you have her character, Hope Van Dyne, in a nutshell. She was good. Then there is Corey Stoll as the villainous Darren Cross. Despite having an added layer of doing evil things in order to please someone, that still doesn't stop him from being a standard Marvel villain. However, there are some standouts.

Michael Douglas as Hank Pym is probably one of my favorite performances in a Marvel film to date. Pym is known in the comics for being a heavily complex character, and occasional wife beater, and while the wife beater part is gone he is still pretty complex thanks to Douglas. He was the most fascinating character in the film, and makes me crave for an Ant-Man prequel about his days as the original Ant-Man side by side with his wife who was The Wasp. But he isn't the only Michael in the film who was a standout. Michael Peña, who plays Luis, is probably the big highlight of the movie. Him and his crew played by rapper T.I. and David Dastmalchian of The Dark Knight fame were responsible for most of my favorite parts of the film. Especially Peña's character, as he reminds you so much about that one friend you know, making him the most likable character in the movie. I wish there was more of them, but in the end they were utilized very effectively.

But what about the action? Well....there isn't a lot of action. This movie is a heist film, so the action is more dedicated to characters, and ants, breaking into things rather than battling other characters. But that doesn't prevent it from being boring. The shrinking action is breathtaking with smart uses of the power put on full display. Particularly one scene involving a certain Avenger that will make up for the long absences of action. They are used at the appropriate times, but they are not the focus of the movie. But when they happen, they are brilliant.

Final Thoughts

I was hoping that this would be a movie that I would love after the disappointing Avengers: Age of Ultron. While it does make for a good film, I don't think it is a great film. Or a movie that I would actually go about to buy. Mainly because I believe I set myself up to have expectations lowered. But as reviews started piling it calling it the best superhero movie to happen in a long time, my low expectations became sky high. I wish I could've kept my low expectations, because this sudden burst of high expectations made this movie enjoyable for me, but not to the level that everyone else feels. An admirable small superhero movie within a larger superhero movie universe. Good job, but its just not for me.

SCORE: 7/10 - Entertaining, but ultimately don't think I'll care about it after

Terminator Genisys - Review

"I'll be back."

We won't be waiting.

The Plot

In the future, humanity has achieved victory over the machines of Skynet thanks to the leadership of John Connor (Jason Clarke). But Skynet has put to use their secret weapon, a tactical time machine to send a Terminator back in time to kill John's mother, Sarah Connor (Emilia Clarke), which would erase John from existence. To stop the machine, John sends back his most trusted soldier, Kyle Reese (Jai Courtney) back in time to save his mother. But when Kyle arrives in the past, he discovers Sarah is already battle trained and prepared for his arrival, as well as under the watchful eye of her own Terminator Guardian, Pops (Arnold Schwarzenegger). With the timeline drastically changed, Kyle must join forces with this new alternate timeline Sarah and her Guardian in order to combat an unexpected new threat to the past and future.

Review

Terminator Genisys was meant to be a rebirth of the very forced franchise churned out of the first two Terminator films. The method the writers of the film chose to go about this? Time Travel. It has become a device that is known for fixing problems in sci-fi movies that need a reboot. The two biggest, and probably only examples, are J.J. Abrams' Star Trek and X-Men: Days of Future Past. If I had to compare Genisys to one of those films, I'd say it is more in line with Days of Future Past. Both films use time travel as a plot device to wipe away the previous continuity in order to establish a new one by directly referencing events that occurred in previous films. However, Days of Future Past did this very seldom and was really focused on telling a story that requires time travel for an unseen point in time in the film's series chronology. While Genisys directly takes you back to the first Terminator film and does shot for shot scenes from it as well. This is where the biggest problem lies.

Genisys possesses a story that cannot stand on its own. A reboot's job is to completely start fresh, referencing the old, while making way for the new. This film however, almost requires you to have seen the first two Terminator films in order to fully understand what is truly at stake. Yes, there is enough to make it feel like a stand alone, but the first hour of the film just required too much homework of watching the previous films in order to fully understand it. Ironically though, the first half is the best part, which is a testament to how good the first two Terminator films are. It is the second half of the film where things really fall apart, because in the second half the heroes (the human ones) time travel to 2017 in order to combat a new threat. And this threat is a very familiar face.

If you've seen the trailer, then you know who the threat is. If you haven't, then I won't say here. It is a shame really, because the new threat the writers devised for this film is actually an intriguing premise that gets poorly handled. The very existence of this new threat, along with the new old threat that creates the new threat, is at the center of what is wrong with the movie. The story gets too convoluted in trying to explain this new threat, as well as tries too hard to bring the characters to our current present day for future installments. This was all really about getting the characters where the studio wants them to be so that they can do whatever they want with them without feeling like they're disrespecting the franchise. Unfortunately all this convoluted mess feels more as a disrespect rather than a respect. It just doesn't work and doesn't make that much sense if you were to think about it.

But how are the performances? They're below passable. The leads that is. Emilia Clarke is an incredible actress in Game of Thrones, and given that the director of this film is from Game of Thrones one would expect a great performance. Unfortunately, she is far from being the successor to Linda Hamilton. Plus, you'd think at this point since she's raised by a Terminator she'd be a lot more muscular like Hamilton in the second film. But here she looks like a normal girl, who can handle guns, but not the beast of a woman Sarah Connor is usually associated with. Then there's Jai Courtney. I'm pretty sure the guy is really nice, or has a good agent, because he's pretty much in every major Hollywood film. But he's just so wooden, that he'd be more perfect as a Terminator rather than the human hero.

The three big standout performances though come from Schwarzenegger, Jason Clarke, and J.K. Simmons. The three of them are easily the best parts of the movie. Schwarzenegger stills shows he's old but not obsolete as the Guardian Terminator, Jason Clarke proves to be an admirable and heroic John Connor, while Simmons plays a his role, that I won't specify, with such memorability, you'd wish he was in the film more. Their performances are the only saving grace of the film. Which is saying a lot since most of the action scenes in the movie are not bad, but not impressive either. Which doesn't help making this convoluted plot anymore watchable.

Final Thoughts

Despite being convoluted and confusing, while also blatantly setting up for sequels, the film itself is passable entertainment. But by passable, it actually suffers from being extremely boring. Which is a word that should never be associated with The Terminator. It is a forgettable film with competent direction, but a terrible misguided story that doesn't give its leads enough to work with. You won't remember watching this film, as I'm having a hard time remembering anything in the movie after seeing it a few hours ago from writing this. So in the end, it can be passable, but it is not memorable.

SCORE: 4/10 - The four is for Emilia Clarke, Schwarzenegger, Jason Clarke and J.K. Simmons

Jurassic World - Review

Welcome, to a place where nothing can possibly go wrong...

Right? Right? I mean seriously...right?

The Plot

After nearly two decades, John Hammond's dream of creating a fully functional theme park with living dinosaurs has come true in the form of JURASSIC WORLD. But over the years since its opening, the public is no longer impressed with seeing a dinosaur anymore. That is when corporate pressures the current Operations Manager of the park, Claire Dearing (Bryce Dallas Howard), to come up with new attractions to get attendance spiking again. The solution: creating a new, genetically modified dinosaur that is bigger, scarier, and with more teeth. This doesn't sit well with the park's raptor handler, Owen Grady (Chris Pratt), who believes the creation and treatment of the new dinosaur could lead to disaster. And it proves right when the monstrosity outsmarts its handlers by escaping and killing everything in its path. Now Claire must team up with Owen to not only stop the monster she created, but to save her two nephews (Nick Robinson and Ty Simpkons) who are visiting the Park.

Review

I know that plot synopsis seems long, but that is not even close to covering the other plots that are happening in this movie. And there are many, but the one I stated above is the clear plot. Which automatically brings me to my first negative. There are too many plots going on in the film when the focus should've been concentrated on the premise that was promoted in the movie. Now, don't get me wrong, what was promised is pretty prominent, but it gets weighted down by so many unnecessary plot points.

Don't take this the wrong way. I highly enjoy the film. But I find it necessary to disclose what bugged me in the first place. And the multiple plot problem stems mostly from the lack of characterization and focus on a central character for the audience to latch on to. This problem starts mainly because it opens the film with the two kids played by Nick Robinson and Ty Simpkons. Both of them are phenomenal actors... in other movies. Here they are passable child actors and set up to be the audience's point of view as visitors of the theme park. The problem is there isn't enough development for either of them to make us want to remain invested in their side of the story. Robinson's character comes off as too much of a bully and unfaithful to his girlfriend back home. Simpkons is just a child with no real personality other than a fascination with dinosaurs. Had they been handled like the kids in the first Jurassic Park movie as another obstacle for the clear main character to handle, then I would've been fine with their presence, despite it being a lazy throwback. But we didn't get a lazy throwback, just lazy character writing.

It takes a while before the movie really locks on to the film's true main characters, Bryce Dallas Howard's Claire Dearing and Chris Pratt's Owen Grady. The movie would've been a lot stronger had it began with both of them from the start, rather than the children who gradually become an after thought in the film. While Owen may be the most fascinating character, due to his ability to train raptors, and Claire has the clear character arc of the story, they are both still just as poorly underwritten as the other characters in the film. Pratt's Owen is the badass, grizzled hunk and Howard's Claire is a workaholic who has to learn to loosen up. Characters that literally could've been played by anybody, but we're just thankful that it's these two who are casted. If anything, Pratt's turn as Owen shows the world that he's very capable of becoming Indiana Jones, if a film is to ever be made. And Howard shows incredible endurance by going through this whole ordeal in High Heels. Again, these are stock characters who are more interesting than the others, but the talent casted as them seems wasted.

Stock characters is going to come up a lot if I keep going about the rest of the cast, so I'll just sum it up here. Everyone is a stock cliche character in this film. Irrfan Khan plays an eccentric billionaire. Jake Johnson plays a nerdy computer guy. Omar Sy plays the foreign sidekick. And Vincent D'Onofrio plays the evil military commander. All of them, including the main ones, are stock characters who could've been spun into far more interesting ways, but they aren't. Which is surprising because director Colin Trevorrow and writer Derek Connolly have shown they are fully capable of crafting interesting characters in their debut film, Safety Not Guaranteed, but for some reason here they are completely lacking. But where they both do excel at, is delivering the spectacle the audience desires.

Yes it takes nearly 30 minutes before a fully fledged dinosaur is seen. But once they are showcased, the movie suddenly gets a thousand times better. Nothing can beat the sheer spectacle of seeing these majestic creatures on the big screen once again. But even as the movie states, the audience wants more. And what Trevorrow and Connolly devise is definitely a worthy villain for this outing of the franchise. That villain being the Indominus Rex, a monstrosity spliced together from several animals, not just dinosaurs, in order to be exploited for the audience's enjoyment. Though the only audience who would enjoy such a thing is us, the viewers, not the park attendees who have to run for their lives from this monster. And in order to stop this monster, the Park managers require the utilization of a controversial story device that has been criticized by fans.

The training of the raptors has been constantly complained about by fans as a terrible way of destroying one of the best villains in the series. However those complaints prove to be ill informed, as it is pretty clear in the film that these things can't be tamed and are still extremely dangerous. They may have a relationship with Pratt's Owen, but it is only with Owen. They are not docile, they are still animals and will follow whoever is the alpha, which Owen has worked hard on becoming their alpha. What is even more surprising is that the relationship between Owen and his raptors, particularly the one named Blue, is probably the most compelling relationship in the movie. And come on, watching Chris Pratt hunt the Indominus Rex with his raptor pack is awesome! As is the rest of the dinosaur action in the movie, which gets pretty graphic more so than I thought it would. Particularly regarding Katie McGrath's character and her encounter with several dinosaurs standing out as the one that will stick in people's memories. Trust me, if you don't know who she is, you will remember her.

Final Thoughts

While that may sound like a mostly negative review, I really mean it by saying once the dinosaurs enter the picture, the movie drastically improves into a spectacle. Is it a worthy follow up in the Jurassic Park legacy? I believe it is. Does it surpass the first movie? No it doesn't. Does it surpass the second one? For me personally, no it doesn't. Does it surpass the third one? Yes it does by the power of a thousand. The dinosaur action is spectacular, the monstrous new villain is terrifying, and there is enough likability in the two leads to make this a completely watchable experience. The movie delivers what it promises: a damn good time in the theater! 

SCORE: 7.5/10 - Weak start, weak characters, extraordinary spectacle, terrifying villain

SPY (2015) - Movie Review

The Second Blockbuster Spy movie of 2015

It definitely is the YEAR OF THE SPY!

The Plot

When the CIA's top agent, Bradley Fine (Jude Law), is killed by an arms dealer heiress, Rayna (Rose Byrne), who not only has possession of a nuclear bomb but the identities of every field agent in the CIA. The only option is to send in Fine's handler, Susan (Melissa McCarthy), to get close to Rayna and discover the location of the Nuke before it falls into the wrong hands. Believing that a desk agent is unfit to fulfill the mission, field agent Ford (Jason Statham) goes rogue in an attempt to complete the mission and prove Susan is not meant for the field. But there is more to this special agent than initially perceived.

Review

Paul Feig is probably the only director who knows how to craft a proper Melissa McCarthy vehicle. Because while McCarthy has made a name for herself in Feig's breakout film, Bridesmaids, and his follow up, The Heat co-starring Sandra Bullock, she has not made a great Hollywood film that isn't directed by Feig. Which is a shame because Identity Thief and Tammy threatened to cause the public to get tired of her "schtick." But luckily this film, and perhaps a small little indie film called St. Vincent, allows the audience to realize she's not a one note character.

McCarthy shines in this movie in a role that is completely different to what she's done in her previous big Hollywood films, while at the same time still maintaining the humor that she is known for. Here she plays Susan Cooper, a CIA Analyst who is desk bound and is merely the voice in Agent Fine's ear, guiding him on where he needs to go and warning him of impending danger. Fascinatingly enough, she actually joined the CIA to be a field agent but was talked into taking the desk job. This small bit of information makes her character a completely different animal to most Spy Parody movies. Meaning she is actually a competent agent. She's not a bumbling bafoon who gets lucky, she's actually capable of doing the job. But having a lack of experience does show she has a weak stomach for violence, and there is plenty. But what really makes doing her job difficult, and hilarious, is Statham's rogue Agent Ford.

Statham is definitely the true standout of this movie as he is pretty much playing a complete parody of himself. Statham's Ford is pretty much an over confident and condescending take on every character Statham has ever played in an action movie, spun to sound like his profile of being the perfect spy. His long speeches of how he is capable of doing anything, and I mean anything, because he is such a badass will definitely bring laughs to an audience who recognizes that he's pretty much attacking his action hero image in the most hilarious way possible. It is quite refreshing seeing the more capable agent being the bumbling fool this time around instead of the protagonist. This offers a completely fresh take on the spy parody as it makes us like McCarthy's Agent Cooper rather than wishing the movie was about Statham's Agent Ford. I'm looking at you Get Smart.

But while McCarthy and Statham are definitely the heavy hitters of the movie, they would be nothing without their supporting cast of agents and terrorists. Miranda Hart plays Nancy, the voice in Agent Cooper's ear and her best friend prior to becoming a field agent. She offers great support to McCarthy's Cooper, however it feels like she's barely in the film despite being sprinkled carefully throughout it. Peter Serafinowicz, most famously known as the voice of Darth Maul and Denarian Saal in Guardians of the Galaxy, plays Agent Aldo, Cooper's Italian contact who provides some of the best laughs in the film due to his constant need of physical contact with Cooper. Then there's Agent Cooper's nemesis, Rayna played by Rose Byrne, another actress who has skyrocketed in the comedy circuit thanks to Bridesmaids. Here Byrne plays the very definition of a Spoiled Bitch, which works great as both a satire on the rich and powerful as well as the stereotypical Bond villains. Bobby Cannavale also makes an appearance as a possible buyer for the Nuke, but that's all you really need to know.

What is probably the most shocking aspect about this film is how violent and action oriented it is. Now, this is nowhere near as violent as the first blockbuster spy film of the year, Kingsman, but while that movie was awesomely violent, this film is shockingly violent. This is mainly because the film is sold mostly as a comedy rather than an action film, which will catch people completely off guard when blood and gore enter the picture. Though I can't help but feeling this is director Feig's way of saying, "Hey! I can do other stuff besides comedy," and it shows brilliantly. The fights and action sequences in the film are well choreographed without falling too far into the trap of being parodies of Spy Movie action. They feel just right and not too over the top, making it very believable for McCarthy's Cooper to be a capable fighter in the film.

Final Thoughts

This is definitely the best film Melissa McCarthy has starred in so far. It is both funny and a smart way of subverting not just the spy genre but the spy spoof genre as well by not falling into familiar territory too much. Though it still is just as predictable as Kingsman, both films benefit by feeling fresh enough to make one forget just how worn out and predictable the spy genre is. With an all-star cast and a great use of humor at times that merit it, Spy is living proof that McCarthy can still make us laugh and that Paul Feig is the right person to helm the all female Ghostbusters reboot.

SCORE: 8/10 - A well executed subversion of the spy spoof genre, despite being cliche

San Andreas - Review

The best 90s disaster movie...that isn't from the 90s

And for the most part, that is completely okay. Because if it was, it would've been directed by Roland Emmerich. Who is a director of many of my guilty pleasure movies. But I'm so glad he didn't direct this.

The Plot

Rescue Helicopter Pilot Chief Ray Gaines (Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson) and his estranged wife, Emma (Carla Gugino), must team up to rescue their daughter Blake (Alexandra Daddario) who is trapped in San Francisco as a catastrophic earthquake tears California apart. Meanwhile, a CalTech Seismologist (Paul Giamati) tries to warn the world that the worst is yet to come.

Review

That synopsis is pretty much the entire plot of the movie in a nutshell. And if you've seen the trailers and TV spots for this movie, then you know very well what you're getting in for. Because if you expect this to be a game changer in the disaster movie genre, then you're sadly mistaken. What you should be hoping for is does this movie deliver what it promises. And the answer is Yes, it does.

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson has re-teamed with his Journey 2 director, Brad Peyton, to deliver a new big budget hollywood disaster movie. And with all out honesty, I truly believe that the two prominent reasons why this movie is so entertaining, despite being a paint by the numbers disaster film, is because of these two. Peyton knows what type of film he's making. And he has an entire catalogue of disaster films to draw from, whether it be from the school of Roland Emmerich or Irwin Allen, the original disaster king. His film doesn't really differ too much from any of them, but his approach of dominantly showcasing the spectacle and the terror from the human perspective instead of the epic wide shot is what makes it so compelling. This unique approach, combined with the charisma of The Rock definitely elevates this film above its peers. It may not be a high elevation, but it is enough to give it more intensity.

Now. All that credit can't just go to The Rock Johnson, it also has to go to the rest of the cast. Carla Gugino is once again playing Johnson's wife/ex-wife/love interest for the third time and still continues to be a heavily underrated actress. She's very real and believable in her role, despite how limited it is. Which will be a recurring theme when talking about the rest of the cast. Believable despite being limited. Alexandra Daddario is believable as the heavily competent and capable daughter of a rescue pilot. Though some of her scenes of being terrified may not translate well due to her facial expressions, but the vocal and emotion she's projecting sells it. She is joined by Ben and Ollie Taylor, played by Hugo Johnstone-Burt and Art Parkinson, who save her on occasion but are mostly saved by her instincts and competency. Both of them were fine additions and helped showcase some of the more emotional sides of the story from within the terror.

But the one standout performance in the film has to go to Paul Giamatti as Lawrence, a CalTech Seismologist. While he is mainly there for exposition, it comes off as easy to understand for whatever rules the film has set about how its science works. This should really come as no surprise given that Giamatti is an Oscar caliber actor, and he gives in to the role that is essentially Mr. Exposition. But again, repeating my sentiment, believable despite being limited. 

After all, one does not go to these movies for a compelling story and well drawn out characters. You go for the spectacle. And to see the Rock battle an earthquake. And this movie completely delivers on that promise. As the spectacle of the movie just keeps ratcheting into more and more danger at ludicrous levels, Peyton doesn't lose sight of how horrific this event would actually be. Mad props to him and the effects team for creating a film that is both awe-inspiring and terrifying.

But really, it is a Dwayne Johnson movie after all. And while his performance is not at the same level as Giamatti, it is clear that this is definitely one of his best performances of his career yet. His chemistry with Gugino is evident, and how he handles the emotional scenes are extremely powerful for his standards. He is slowly showing the world that he's not just the charismatic action guy, he is also a good actor. And I'm pretty sure eventually, he'll become an incredible one. He's almost there, and this film shows he can get there.

Final Thoughts

I keep having to re-iterate this. It's a disaster movie. You know what happens in disaster movies. If you don't like disaster movies, then don't watch this movie. Because nothing I say will change that opinion. However if you're willing to have an open mind and turn off logic for a while to enjoy a competently made disaster movie starring one of the most charismatic actors in Hollywood. Then yes, go see this movie. It is definitely a fun and terrifying time at the theater that won't disappoint if you know exactly what you're getting in for and expecting nothing more. And who knows, maybe you'll be surprised by some of the things the team behind this film has done. Because I was sure as hell impressed by it, despite being what it is.

SCORE: 7/10 - I was genuinely entertained and moved by this film, because I know what it is and expect nothing more from it

Tomorrowland - Review

"You wanted to see Tomorrowland..."

Well.....here it comes....eventually...maybe....now.....or.....now....orrrrr.......NOW......okay now...

The Plot

When young dreamer and genius Casey Newton (Britt Robertson) gets hold of a mysterious pin, she glimpses a world beyond her imagination. A world where nothing is impossible. But when the visions of this world end, she seeks answers that leads her to cross paths with a mysterious girl, Athena (Raffey Cassidy). It is from there that the duo must join forces and find a man who came from that wondrous place. That man is Frank Walker (George Clooney), and he can take them to... Tomorrowland.

Review

The name Brad Bird is completely unknown to the general movie going audience. But to the filmmaking world, the name means perfection. A name that has The Iron Giant, The Incredibles, Ratatouille, and Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol under his resume. Movies that are universally acclaimed and beloved by millions. He is also responsible for some of the greatest Simpsons episodes in the late 80s and early 90s. So it should come no surprise that expectations for his next film are extraordinarily high amongst the film lover community. But alas, not everyone is perfect. And this film shows even Brad Bird is not perfection.

Tomorrowland has a beautiful message. Optimism can lead to a brighter future and imagination can create wonderful things. It is a nice counter to the extreme amount of apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic media that the audience is subjected to recently. We embrace the apocalyptic world as the future we are going to have instead of the bright future that people in the 60s used to dream of. And while that message is beautiful and very much needed for this generation, it comes off extremely heavy handed. There is not subtlety about this message, which comes as a surprise to many as Bird's films usually exhibits great subtext. Unfortunately, subtlety isn't the only thing missing from this film, but the weaving of a cohesive story also appears to be gone.

This seems to stem mostly from clashing ideologies between Bird and his co-writer of the film, Damon Lindelof. Whereas Bird is someone who loves to exhibit wonder, Lindelof is someone who likes to exhibit mystery. A habit that can be drawn from his involvement with the show LOST which required nothing but mystery and intrigue. It is where these two writing styles clash heavily, so much so that it is pretty obvious that two completely different movies could've been made. There is Bird's movie, which revolves around Clooney's character Frank as a child (Thomas Robinson) being accepted into Tomorrowland and his relationship with Athena. Then there is Lindelof's movie, which revolves around Casey discovering Tomorrowland exists and seeking out Frank in order to go there. It was a valiant effort by Bird to try and combine both of these films into one, but it just doesn't work. Which is a shame because the acting talent involved is wonderful.

Britt Robertson is a name that will probably be popping up a lot in the future. Her performance as Casey Newton is very much about a teenager who hasn't lost sight of what wonder is suppose to be. And it is refreshing seeing a teenage character who thinks about saving the wonders of science instead of succumbing to the problems of the world. It helps that she is so magnetic, as it takes a while before the film reaches George Clooney as the old and bitter Frank Walker. He is definitely embracing his age, as well as showcasing someone who has lost that spark of wonder, yet still holds on to a little bit of hope. But probably the biggest revelation of the film is Raffey Cassidy as Athena, who is the very definition of wonder and hope. She will be the one people remember from this film, for several reasons. Though one may be the wrong one, but that is a fault to the Lindelof side of the film's story.

What does come off as a prominent weakness no matter who it gets spun by is the villain of the film. Hugh Laurie plays David Nix, one of the leaders of Tomorrowland. While his performance as a cliche villain is very admirable while at the same time oddly not being too cliche, it doesn't prevent the fact that neither him nor his Secret Service of robot warriors presented a real conflict. Yes, they are robots that help sprinkle the film with great action scenes, mainly another area that Cassidy's Athena will shine, but their conflict with the protagonists never felt solid or had too much weight. And when that conflict is revealed, it is revealed so late that any weight that could've been built upon it is completely wasted.

Final Thoughts

Despite the numerous problems with the screenplay and plot, no one can deny that Bird is definitely a top tier director. It is a shame that this project will go down in history as "the film Brad Bird made instead of Star Wars: The Force Awakens," because he now finally has what can be considered a terrible film under his belt. I don't believe the film is terrible. Odd to say the least. Mainly because I do believe that there are two films fighting to be one. But in the end, the one we got was not the one that lives up to the Brad Bird name. A commendable effort to be different and original. Yes I know this movie is a reference to a Disney Theme Park, but it is still an original film. If only it were as good as many of us hoped.

SCORE: 6/10 - It is watchable, but you'll be begging for one part of the movie to be the entire movie, and not the rest of the movie.

Mad Max: FURY ROAD

"It is by my hand! You arise, from the ashes, of this world!"

That quote could've easily belonged to director George Miller as his rallying cry to action movie junkies craving the next big thing.

The Plot

His name is Max (Tom Hardy) and he lives in a world of fire and blood. The Road Warrior finds himself caught in the crossfire between Warlord Immortan Joe (Hugh Keays-Byrne) and Imperator Furiosa (Charlize Theron) thanks to the machinations of an eager War Boy, Nux (Nicholas Hoult). This brings Max on the chase of his life across the vicious Fury Road as he decides to aide Furiosa with her cause in defiance against the monstrous Warlord. To deliver the Five Wives (Rosie Huntington-Whitely, Zoe Kravitz, Riley Keough, Abby Lee Kershaw and Courtney Eaton) to freedom in the Land of Mothers.

Review

Oh what a film! What a lovely film! MAD MAX FURY ROAD is hands down probably, and will be, the best action movie of 2015! Some are already considering putting it in the category of The Raid and The Raid 2 as some of the best new action movies of all time! Do I think it deserves to be up there? Hell yeah I do!

But okay, let's be serious though. I'm going to point out the two negatives of the film so that I can just go on and on about what makes this movie incredible. First off... the plot is pretty straight forward. It get from point A to point B because of reason X. Simple and not exactly that complex. Luckily the film is done with very little dialogue and forces great performances to show off character growth as well as propelling the story. Second... the second half of the movie feels like it slows down a little bit too much than the first half of the movie. This is mostly attributed to the more quieter scenes that set up the finale. But despite slowing down, the entire film is still one hell of a thrill ride!

This is the first action movie that George Miller has directed in 30 years, with the last one being Mel Gibson's last outing as Mad Max, Thunderdome. Pushing 70, you'd think that he would be too old to direct something as vicious and dangerous as this beast. But no, Miller is still completely capable of delivering the thrills the same way he did decades ago directing the first Mad Max movie. The man knows action has evolved, but he wants his old school techniques to evolve to meet the challenge. This is evident as 90% of the film is done with practical effects and very brave stunt men. It is this old school style of filmmaking that ramps up the intensity and makes the danger feel more real than ever. However even he knows that CGI can be a useful tool when utilized properly, and he uses it as a cleaner or to make subtle changes rather than rely on it. This is what will definitely set the film up there in the pantheon of Action Movie Greats. And it doesn't hurt that the cast he assembled to go on this mad adventure with him is filled with talent.

Tom Hardy takes over Gibson's legendary role as Mad Max. In here, he is still a broken man wandering the world with a very mythic quality to him. This is a character who has truly gone insane but is pretty much fighting to keep his sanity in tact. And driving beside him in the spotlight, Charlize Theron as Furiosa. Theron delivers a strong and subdued performance as the ferocious one armed Imperator driven by her singular mission of achieving redemption. Chasing after the duo, with his entire armada of muscle cars from Hell, Hugh Keays-Byrne as Immortan Joe. This isn't his first drive through the apocalypse as he was the original villain in the first Mad Max movie. But here, he plays a completely different animal who is both evil, yet extremely practical with crafting his society. But the true scene stealer of the film is Nicholas Hoult as Nux.

Hoult delivers probably the most human performance and most relatable character in the film. His Nux is pretty much a devoted disciple to Immortan Joe who will do anything to please him. While he could've easily fallen into the category of creepy mad henchman, he transcends it by actually going through a journey that changes his character drastically. This comes from his failures as well as his interaction with the Five Wives, the reason for Immortan Joe's pursuit of Furiosa.

Rosie Huntington-Whitely, Zoe Kravitz, Riley Keough, Abby Lee Kershaw and Courtney Eaton play the objects of Immortan Joe's desire: a healthy breeder for his heirs. While most of them were played by models, with the exception of Kravitz who is a legit actress, they all do a fine job as playing these determined young woman hoping for a better tomorrow. Whitely in particular delivers a performance that elevates her above the rest, mainly because of the position she is in, but proves that in the hands of a talented director, she can become a good actress. But all in all, they are all just fine. And that's okay. Because this entire picture is filled with crazy people already. It's good to have some people who still clench to sanity.

Final Thoughts

There are a couple of smaller details I could point out and one small plot twist that I wish I could talk about, but I'd rather the viewers experience this on their own. This is a film that has to be seen on the Big Screen. A MASSIVE SCREEN! The film is definitely special in a time where blockbusters are pretty much almost recycled by story and method of filmmaking. It is definitely a film that will go down as one of the greatest action films of all time. And it deserves to be. I can't imagine any other film this summer coming close to the amount of fun and insanity that this film delivers. GO SEE IT!

SCORE: 8.5/10 if you think about it, but 9/10 immediately after watching it!

The Death of "Superman Lives": What Happened? - Review

My Personal Road to "Superman Lives"

I remember sitting in the University Library, looking up any details I can about the then yet to be filmed Man of Steel. That is when I stumbled upon a small blip in my nerdy research that led me to the infamous Kevin Smith video detailing his experience on a film called Superman Lives. And soon after, my obsession with this mythic project that never was grew exponentially. I scoured the internet looking for anything I possibly could relating to this film. From the Kevin Smith Draft, to the Wesley Strick draft,  to the concept art, and that now infamous unflattering photo of Nic Cage with a mullet rocking a very shiny rubber Superman suit. But at some point I realized I should be focusing on my studies and not on a motion picture that was never made. However, luckily for me, and thousands of others, one of us was willing to delve much deeper. Enter Jon Schnepp, famed animation director of Metalocalypse and The Venture Bros. as well as famed internet personality, who took to Kick Starter with the proposal of discovering what truly happened to this now infamous film in the form of a Documentary. And after many years since that announcement, Schnepp and producer Holly Payne have crafted a highly informative film that gives eager "sweaty nerds" and general audiences a glimpse into what could've been.

The Truth Behind the Legend

I was lucky to attend the Houston/Cypress screening of the film which had Schnepp and Payne present to let everyone know up front, this is their first time making a documentary. While it definitely shows, that does not hinder the experience they created.

After a very simple intro made by Schnepp, we then enter the world of Hollywood politics and water cooler talks that go way too far. For those who have seen the Kevin Smith video about the genesis of Superman Lives and how he became a part of it, the first 20 minutes after the intro may be a bit boring, with a few interjected interviews here and there to add a little bit more flavor. But to someone who has never seen that video, then the WHOLE package from beginning to end will be one hell of a revelation!

I was indeed one of those people who wished I could skip Smith's launch of the project and get to the parts that I don't know. And it is GLOURIOUS!

From the number of concept and visual effects artists, to the beautiful concept art, to the tidbits of how Smith's story would morph into Wesley Strick's story then eventually to its possible final form with Dan Gilory. The insight, the splendor of Krypton, the painful bad memories that director Tim Burton had to release as he talked to Schnepp. Every single aspect of this film was meant to inform the viewer with one thing: THIS WAS A WORK IN PROGRESS!

The reason for such an angle, and I'm glad Schnepp took it by that angle, is that many people were quick to judge that everything that has been leaked on the internet was the final product. VFX Artist Steve Johnson's light up neon crystal rainbow Superman suit was blasted for being terrible, when people didn't even know the context of why Superman was wearing that suit. The really horrible Nic Cage picture of him wearing the Superman outfit? That wasn't even the final outfit! It was just a costume test to see how he feels about the costume and what they can change. I heavily commend this film, and other documentaries about movies that never were, always address that filmmaking is a process of controlled evolution. And we see that evolution from the story, to the costumes, to the design of the film.

But I honestly have to say. While it is nice to have Tim Burton, Kevin Smith, Wesley Strick, Steve Johnson, Colleen Atwood, and Dan Gilroy talk about the film; there was one voice who I was pleasantly surprised to see pop in this movie. The infamous producer that Kevin Smith has turned into a legend, Jon Peters! The man himself brings his extreme charisma, as well as his wild out of the box ideas that shaped this movie into what it could've been. It is highly commendable for talents such as Burton, Smith, Strick and Gilory to find a way through the madness of Peters to create something that may have possibly worked. But is is clear that this is a movie that Peters was definitely passionate about, even though he is not a hardcore Superman fan and wanted to change everything. But someone who was a hardcore fan and was sorely lacking from this film was an interview from the What If Superman himself, Nicolas Cage.

Schnepp was unfortunately unable to secure an interview with the former Oscar winner, who has now become a meme and long running joke in Hollywood. But Schnepp makes up for this loss with some behind the scenes home video footage provided by the production's costume designer, Colleen Atwood. In there we see the origin of that unflattering picture, but it is a completely different story when seeing Cage in motion in the suit. But what is more impressive about the footage, is hearing Nic Cage dissect and analyze the character of Superman with director Tim Burton observing him. He has a clear grasp on who the character is, as well as how to treat his alter ego Clark Kent. It was a fascinating and intimate video about one man's willingness to put his own spin on the character, but acknowledge everything he loves about him.

Final Thoughts

I've held back on a lot more details such as the plot of Superman Lives and how the documentary explores its evolution. But I feel that those moments and that information should be experienced by watching this documentary when it becomes available on Blu Ray. There is so much more than what I pointed out here, and I leave all that for the viewer to enjoy. By all means though, if you do find yourself curious by this, please go out and buy the film. I wasn't able to pledge money to Schnepp and Payne when they were Kick Starting the project, but I'll gladly pay to own the Blu Ray. This truly is an incredible film that feels bittersweet by the end. It will leave you wondering with one simple question: What if? And that's okay.

SCORE: 8.5/10 - If you didn't see the Kevin Smith video, then this is a 9/10!

Avengers: Age of Ultron - Review

"There are... no strings on me."

This is it... Finally! A Villain that can finally go down in comic book cinema history as one of the great ones! A Villain that will finally show that MARVEL knows how to create credible threats!............... Or so I thought.

The Plot

The Avengers are back! Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), Captain America (Chris Evans), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) and Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) are now a fully functioning team operating on their own terms in taking down the remnants of HYDRA! But when Iron Man, Tony Stark, discovers a method of creating an artificial intelligence that can police and protect the world, he enacts on his desire to create a "suit of armor around the planet." But that program calculates that the only way to save the world, is to cause humanity's extinction. That program is Ultron (James Spader)! Aiding him in his vendetta against the Avengers are enhanced twins, Quicksilver (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) and Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen), who have a bone to pick with Tony Stark, but unaware of Ultron's true intentions. Can the Avengers stop this robotic threat?

Review

I'm just going to flat out say this. The movie is....good. Maybe even okay. But it is not the excellent game changing film that it was expected to be. There are a lot of things this movie does good, but there are a lot of things that the movie.... doesn't do wrong but horribly executes with bad editing. The pacing is completely all over the place and doesn't have the build up the previous film had. However in this film's defense, the opening of this film is a thousand times more exciting than the previous one.

Okay, I shouldn't compare it to the first one. But the problem is, because of how the Marvel Cinematic Universe functions, you not only have to think about the first one but also the third and fourth Avengers movies coming in the future. The film suffers from cramming in too many story lines from previous films as well as setting up what is going to happen next. This hurts the main plot of the Avengers going up against Ultron, because there are so many things in the mix that wasn't really necessary to the plot. And while those seeds are necessary going forward, I didn't feel like they were warranted to the story, which should have been about developing this ultimate threat: Ultron.

James Spader can do no wrong as far as voice work goes. This Ultron's personality is a far cry from his comics counterpart, mainly because he does have a personality in this film. I loved that director Joss Whedon tried to do something different with the robot villain archetype by not having him be robotic, but rather more human. He is portrayed as a dark mirror to Tony Stark, but lacks the menace that was displayed in the trailers. His actions are, but his personality just doesn't fully match up. He is still one of the best villains ever put on screen in the MCU. But he is nowhere near as good as Tom Hiddleston's Loki in The Avengers.

But speaking of Tony Stark, let's talk about The Avengers! You know them by name, and you know who play them. They're all great. Hemsworth amps up the comedy as the outlandish alien god, Thor. Evans does great as Captain America. And while Ruffalo does a good job playing Dr. Banner and the Hulk, it feels like his character devolved instead of evolved. Last time we saw the Hulk, he was in full control of his anger, but in here, he still has a problem with his anger and devolves back to the character he was in the Ed Norton Incredible Hulk movie. His character has a small progression with Johansson's Black Widow, whom we finally learn her backstory, but the romance aspect between them wasn't handled too well. The only two characters who really feel like they've grown are Downey Jr.'s Stark and Renner's Hawkeye.

Stark is still reliving the trauma of what he experienced in The Avengers and the fallout from Iron Man 3. It is his paranoia about not wanting to experience such trauma ever again that causes him to create Ultron, which works brilliantly well for him. But the real standout of the team is Hawkeye, because in here we not only get to see him as the sarcastic character he is known to be, but also get a sense of who he is and why he wants to be an Avenger. He is pretty much the most developed character among the original core team, but there are new kids on the block. And one of them steals the show.

Paul Bettany is probably best known as voicing JARVIS in the Iron Man films, but in here he appears in full physical form as Vision, a fan favorite who is directly linked to Ultron. He is arguably one of the best parts of the movie, despite being quickly developed, it felt appropriate and well handled. Which is more than Ultron's enhanced human henchmen, Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch. Johnson and Olsen do what they can with what they're given in bringing the iconic twins to life. There is the stigma of Evan Peters playing a far superior and effectively used Quicksilver in X-Men Days of Future Past that completely downgrades Johnson's portrayal of Quicksilver. Still, Johnson does fine, but it definitely is not a highlight. Neither is Olsen, who does a good job playing creepy, but comes off really campy with her fake Russian...Sokovian accent.

Final Thoughts

All in all though, despite lacking a sense of development for all the players on the board, as well as rushing way too many plot lines in a mad dash to the finish line, the film still works fine. It is an entertaining piece of cinema that will probably go down as one of Joss Whedon's weakest film outputs, unless something else he directs comes along to take that title. But even though it is not the strongest film in the Marvel catalogue, it still delivers the promise of spectacular entertainment with Earth's Mightiest Heroes. I don't know if I'm willing to watch this movie again in theaters, but I'll definitely be buying the Blu-Ray. And hopefully, just hopefully, Whedon's original 3 hour Director's Cut makes its way on Blu-Ray to clear up all the mess wrought upon this film. Still good though.

SCORE: 7.5/10 - This was not easy to do...and it really shows in the final product