Sunday, June 29, 2014

TRANSFORMERS : AGE OF EXTINCTION REVIEW





They say you can't polish a turd, and after watching this movie I realized you can't transform one either.     The trailer states,  "The age of the transformers is over" Yes I hope so after watching this film.  I HATED THIS MOVIE!
First of all let me explain. The first Transformers movie came out in 2007,  and it was mindless, but fun. A "B," movie at best. Then the sequels came out in 2009, and 2011, and were bad and ok. What did these all have in common? Director Michael Bay and the same formulaic silliness he's become known for. There's the protagonist...who no one quite understands is not an idiot, but in fact, a secret hero. His girlfriend, who on his best day in a normal school could NEVER have a chance with her EVER! The parents, who are tough love, but decent kind of people. Patriotic Soldiers, one of whom for some reason has a wife, who just had a baby that he has never seen, (There fore, you really don't want him to die, cause that would be awful.) And one crazy government guy, always vaguely Italian looking, and always with the worst kind of silly lines that they have to make sound threatening and realistic. Now after the third one, it seemed evident that if there were going to be more Transformer movies, that a new cast and director would take over. That it might have had a real shot if that had been the case. But no. Michael Bay couldn't let it go. Only this time he gets Mark Wahlburg, Nicola Peltz, and Stanley Tucci. And wow....its the most awful three hours i have ever spent in a theater. (And I once had brain surgery!)





Taking place 4 years after the last film, the story is about a down on his luck mechanic, who mistakenly purchases an autobot truck that he thinks is just something he can sell for parts. It turns out, he made the find of the century. Turns out the Autobot is our old friend Optimus Prime, who has seen better days. He looks like I imagined he'd look if some kid left him outside all night during a hurricane. Anyway his resurrection  ticks the government off, and they come after Wahlburg and his family.  Naturally Optimus, "Calls all Autobots." And soon we see Bumblebee, and a couple of others. (Played by John Goodman, and "The Last Samurai" actor Ken Watanabe.)
I was curious as to why when he made the "Calling all autobots call," only four showed up? No idea why really. Now they must defeat Decepticons, bounty hunters, and corrupt government agents, led by Kelsey Grammer.   Along the way, we see the idiots in the White House, claim they didn't know the Autobots, a group that had saved the world more than once, were being hunted.
So many things came up in the movie. Big gapping plot points that were like giant holes in a road. Like what happened to the other Autobots? Why is the bounty hunter only hunting them? When he see's Decepticons all around him? Why when Optimus Prime has rockets that he can use to save the characters in the beginning, does he only use them in the end. " I know we have to get you out of here quickly. Here lets use this car....instead of the jet rockets I have available.... " WHAT THE HECK???

Peltz is AWFUL as the daughter. It seems every line she has is a "Help me," statement. With the words, "Daddy," attached.  And it's clear, she was basically filling in for Megan Fox.








Cause if you can't have a hot chick fixing a car, have one in front of an American flag! Nothing is really more American than the site of a really hot chick.... looking like something bad is about to happen.. with an American flag in the background. It screams "IM REALLY HOT, BUT A REALLY STUPID PATRIOT."
 Her boyfriend Shane, played by Jack Reynor, has multiple accents, never really settling on one, even though he was labelled as Irish.   Grammer and Tucci are wasted here, despite the fact both of them are easily the two most talented actors in the film. The voices of the Autobots played by Goodman and Watanabe, are , well just bad. Wahlburg is, Wahlburg. He knows how to play a guy who turns into a bad ass through circumstance. But I don't know how he didn't laugh with dialogue like this;

Wahlburg: You don't have a warrant!
Corrupt Government agent: My FACE is a warrant!

There are two other things that are ok.
2. The Autobots are great to look at.
3. Some of the actions scenes are cool





THE VERDICT

Transformers: Age Of Extinction may have a couple of good things, but it doesn't excuse its terrible script, and awful acting. Transformers: Age Of Extinction gets a D.

Saturday, June 21, 2014

TRAILERS TO WATCH THIS WEEK

EXPENDABLES 3- SYLVESTER STALLONE, ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER, MEL GIBSON,  HARRISON FORD, ETC...

THE JUDGE - ROBERT DOWNEY JR, ROBERT DUVALL, VINCENT D' O NOFRIO.

GOTHAM TV SERIES TRAILER- BEN MCKENZIE AND DONALD LOGUE

Friday, June 20, 2014

22 JUMP STREET REVIEW



JUMP! Down on jump street, 22 jump street! I love this movie. its hilarious, and clever. The first one was funny too but I think this one might be even better. Now lets get to the story!



This is the sequel to "21 Jump Street, and
while The story of "22 Jump Street," has the same premise as the first one, (Young looking cops going undercover at a high school to bust a drug ring, now going to a college.)I know what you could be thinking.... Is this going to be like, "Hangover 2"? Believe me when I say that while filthy, its funny, and while simple, it's also clever. Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill have a terrific chemistry. Ice cube reprises his role as the Lieutenant, and is as funny as ever. The main complaint I have is the repeat of certain jokes about Jonah Hill being old looking.  But other than that it was pretty funny.


THE VERDICT

22 Jump street is better than its previous outing. Fun and fast moving, if you liked the first one you will love the second
Grade: A-.

Thursday, June 19, 2014

HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON 2 REVIEW


"How To Train Your Dragon 2" stars Jay Baruchel, Gerald Butler, America Ferrera, Cate Blanchett, Craig Ferguson , Kit Harrington and Djimon Hounsou. I was very excited for this movie, I liked the first one a lot, and like "Shrek 2" which was also made by Dreamworks, this sequel lived up to the first one.



   5 Years after the events of the first one,  Hiccup's  ( Jay Baruchel) village has become bigger, with the villagers getting along with the dragons.  His father Stoick ( Gerald Butler) wants him to become king of the village so he can retire. Hiccup loves spending time with his friends and his dragon Toothless, and giving that up is not something he wants to do. He becomes nervous about talking to his father about this. He confides in his girlfriend Astrid, (Ferrera) that he really is unsure.  His encounter with a war lord (played by Hounsou) sets off a series of events that teach Hiccup about life and when its time to grow up. and what it takes to keep the peace.
 I love this movie! This movie is emotional, dark, heart pounding, and best of all exciting! It has beautiful animation and a terrific score and a really really awesome scripit. I love almost every second of this movie. This is by far the best animation of the year.


The Verdict:

How To Train Your Dragon 2 is an exciting sequel that lives up to its potential. How To Train Your Dragon 2 gets an A.

Monday, June 16, 2014

MY MOVIE BACKGROUND

Favorite movie of all time: The Departed
Favorite sequel of all time: The Dark Knight
Favorite trilogy of all time: The original Star Wars trilogy
Favorite comedy of all time: Hot Fuzz
Favorite animation of all time: Toy Story 3
Favorite western of all time: Unforgiven
Favorite si-fi movie of all time: Star Wars Episode 5: The Empire Strikes Back
Favorite adventure film of all time: Indiana jones Raiders Of The Lost Ark
Favorite bio-pic of all time: The Social Network
Favorite horror movie of all time: From Dusk Till Dawn
Favorite fantasy movie of all time: Lord Of The Rings 3: Return Of The King
Favorite action movie of all time: Die Hard
Favorite Crime Thriller of all time: Pulp Fiction
Favorite war movie of all time- Full Metal Jacket
Favorite superhero movie of all time- The Dark Knight
Favorite original movie of all time: The Star Trek Remake
Favorite bad movie: Batman And Robin

Thursday, June 12, 2014

A MILLION WAYS TO DIE IN THE WEST REVIEW


Its sad when the best part of a comedy movie is in the trailer. This is no exception. A Million Ways To Die In The West stars Seth MacFarlane, Charlize Theron, Liam Neeson, Giovani Ribisi, Neil Patrick Harris, Amanda Seyfried, and Sarah Silverman.  Seth MacFarlane writes, directs, produces, and stars in this movie. This is his follow up to Ted, a film that I really enjoyed. lets get to the story


A Milllion Ways To Die In The West is about how a sheep farmer named Albert (MacFarlane)  who is such a coward to people that his girlfriend breaks up with him. Whats clear is she doesn't see whats the best thing about him, which is he just wants to survive in the west. Which proves to be a very scary place where people die from simple things. One day, in an act of bravery during a bar brawl, he saves the life of Anna, a woman with a past who moves to Alberts town under shady circumstances. To show her gratitude, she decides to give him lessons on how to be brave.  Albert thinks it will convince his ex girlfriend that Albert is who she belongs with. By this time however the girlfriend has moved on and become the girlfriend of the richest man in town. (Neil Patrick Harris.) Albert and Anna become good friends sharing their hopes and dreams.  Of course Anna has a major secret, and thats where most of the story gets good. Will Albert prove he can be brave when he needs too?
Now I really like this cast and I like the cameos, they're pretty cool. However most of the jokes are cringe worthy. Only a few are really good. Its clear what Macfarlane wanted to do, which is make a modern day story in an old west back ground doesn't always work. Its at its best when its NOT trying to be so funny.  I liked the premise, but because it's MacFarlane, I expected more.

At almost 2 hours, the movie is too long.  MacFarlane wrote a book to it first which I found very funny. And some of the best bits in it, did not appear in the movie.   The score and cinematography are rich and interesting, and while MacFarlane and Theron are good, the rest of the cast doesn't have a lot to do.



THE VERDICT
Overall A Million Ways To Die In The West isn' terrible, I just expected more. Its a rental, and not a buy.  I give A Million Ways to die in the west a C.

X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST REVIEW





Bryan Singers new movie X-Men: Days Of Future Past has hit in theaters, with  a star studied cast and a terrific ride of a story to tell.  The audience sees how the far the X-Men  has gone from X-Men to its prequel X-Men First Class.  In the movie, more often than not the X-men cast is playing their younger versions, which are the same actors from the prior movie , X-Men: First Class, the cast is spectacular, including actors such as Patrick Stewart and Ian Mckellan who are playing old friends/ rivals that must ban together to help save mutants and humans. Hugh Jackman who plays Wolverine is doomed to live forever, so he is chosen to embark on a dangerous journey to save the rest of the mutants. His journey in the past takes up the majority of the films plot. The film takes the audience on  awesome time traveling adventures, switching in- between present-time and the 1970s.





Characters from earlier movies in the series like Storm ( Halle Barry) and Kitty Pride ( Ellen Page) don't have a lot of time on screen, but they still contribute to the story. However, the movie really belongs to the younger versions of the characters, namely James MacAvoy playing a younger Professor X and Michael Fassbender's forever angry Magento. The audience travels with eh characters, getting a feel for the torture there separation from each other creates. One of the best scenes involves MacAvoy, and Stewart speaking to each other through time in an effort to convince the young Xavier he needs to be brave and help the cause despite how much it could hurt him. Even though Matthew Vaughn, Jane Goldman, and Simon Kinberg's script stays within the X-Men world, it provides enough room to wiggle out of plot holes that were created in the prior movies. Bryan Singer, who also directed the first two installments of the X-Men franchise, is so familiar with the characters and the plot that the story stays smooth.  In Addition the action sequences and special effects are superb. When the X-Men use their powers to protect themselves, it is evident that their powers match their personality. The final battle sequence, when Magneto directs the mutant killing robots in a fight for the destruction of Washington D.C., is terrifically timed and just outright enjoyable to the eyes. I don't recommend the movie for anyone who hasn't seen the X-Men movies, because the stakes are high and the script relies heavily on backstory, but if you know you like this kind of thing run ( don't walk) to the theater. It is wicked fun




THE VERDICT

X-Men: Days Of Future Past not only is the best X-Men movie, it's one of the best comic book movies ever made. I give X-Men Days Of Future past an A.