Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation (2015) Review

This is the year of the spy. More specifically it is the year of the retro-spy, the secret agent personified by Sean Connery on the big screen and by many other dashing heroes on the small one. This will become apparent to anyone who sees this new Mission Impossible film in the theater. Directly proceeding the film at my theater was a trailer for both Spectre (the new 007 adventure) and the Man from U.N.C.L.E. (an update of a classic spy TV show) all three of these properties have their origins in the Cold War with the USSR and the last time that all three were on our collective screens was 1967. In that year You Only Live Twice with Sean Connery was released, the Man From U.N.C.L.E. was in its third season (admittedly its worst), and Mission Impossible debuted. Adding to the retro feel is that all three of these properties seem to be going back to their roots. Bond is resurrecting a villainous organization he hasn't faced since 1971, U.N.C. L.E. is set in the 1960s, and this new Mission Impossible brought the classic organization "the Syndicate" up-to-date. I hope for great new outings for both 007 and Napoleon Solo but what is clear is that in 2015 the new Mission Impossible has set the bar very high indeed.

The film's opening tells you everything you need to know about this series in its current form. An airplane carrying some weapons is about to take off and it has to be stopped. There's a whole team trying to stop it but their technology is failing them. Coming to the rescue is Tom Cruise who jumps on the plane just before it takes off and has to hang off the side of the airplane while it takes off. The fact that this stunt was done for real only adds to the entertainment factor and before we know it we're passing the popcorn and the classic theme song is playing. Mission Impossible moves at the break-neck pace that the best blockbusters do. Its twisty plot is woven through impressive stunts and lots of fun. Like its 1960s counterparts no one here will win an award for acting but that's not the point, it's pure entertainment.

One of this new Mission's strongest assets is its strong female character. Ilsa is given complex motives and is never allowed to become marginalized by being "just another love interest". Simon Pegg also excels with both comedic gravitas as well as a good character arc. The action itself is well shot and the stunts are sometimes jaw dropping.

If I have to nitpick it is that the film may be slightly too long. This seems to be a problem with many action films these days. It all works to bring great entertainment though. Forget Mad Max, this is the best action film of the summer so far 4.5/5

Jurassic World (2015) Review

Jurassic World was a movie engineered to make money at the box office. Its a film about running away from dinosaurs, starring one of the most popular leading men right now and it was based on a beloved franchise from the 90's. The plot is also easy to follow and there is no real thinking necessary on the part of the audience while watching it. Jurassic World was destined to be summer gold but how does it stand up as a movie?

To me watching this film was like watching a 1950's Universal Studios monster movie. the plot is simple, the characters are cliché, and the dialogue sometimes unintentionally funny but the overall effect the film has is that it is fun. Fun is what I would describe Jurassic World as. It's not great, but it isn't trying to be. It was fun and I was never bored. This may seem like faint praise but with what I've seen from blockbusters this summer the fact that I was not bored is praise indeed.

Chris Pratt continues to cement himself as a movie star and in terms of acting he's the best thing here. That's not to say the other actors aren't good it's just that there isn't much written for their characters. As stated above the plot is simple and I think that works in this film's favor.

Overall, this was a fun summer movie experience that wasn't anything earth-shattering but that was a lot of fun. If you haven't already, go to your local theater, put on the ridiculous 3D glasses and enjoy a fun dinosaur spectacle for 2 hrs. 3.5/5

The Hobbit: the Battle of the Five Armies (2014) Review

Before I begin this review I will start with a short disclaimer. I have not seen the two previous Hobbit films, I have seen the original Lord of the Rings trilogy and read the book the Hobbit a long time ago, so long ago that I have pretty much forgotten the plot. With these things in mind, I understand that I come at this with a different perspective in that I am rating this film on its own merits and not in connection with the two that came before. I understand that some may view this perspective unfavorably or believe that I am at a disadvantage, so I just want to make sure it is known before we get into the meat of the review. I went into this film hoping for 2.5 hours of quality escapist entertainment with Martin Freeman's Bilbo as my guide and the world of Peter Jackson as my destination. Unfortunately, I found the experience disappointing.

I understand that I, who have not seen the previous two films, came at this with a disadvantage but it was not my lack of knowledge of the story thus far that disappointed me. It was rather the mechanics of the film itself. No matter how involved the stories that came before were, the story confined to this film felt drawn out and clichéd. The whole thing centered around a big battle much like Jackson's previous trilogy closer but here the battle felt long and uninteresting. The character development that occurred in this film also felt clichéd. I could predict where the story would go, what little actual story there was, and thus began to feel bored. This feeling was only accentuated by the drawn-out nature of several of the action scenes. The length of some of the fights harkened back to the long fights in a Zack Snyder film and I found myself wishing they would get to the point. I am willing to give the film the benefit of the doubt on some of the more emotional scenes because I am assuming the proper character development has been put in place for them to work. Even with that in mind the pacing just felt off to me.

The acting in the film was alright and I think Freeman was a good choice for Bilbo. It's always fun to see Christopher Lee on screen and I think the performances from the rest of the cast seemed on point but the scripting and directing seem to have lost the magic that the original trilogy had. The way Jackson filmed this installment seemed to suck the magic out of what made the Lord of the Rings so incredible. That magic lay in its sense of grittiness and its sense of realism. The world in those films felt realized and inhabitable. Here, Jackson films the proceedings so that one feels as if one is watching a video game. If you enjoyed the previous films don't let me dissuade you from going to see the conclusion, but from my perspective, on its own merits, it is a disappointment. 2/5

Night at The Museum: Secret of the Tomb (2014) Review

The most moving moment in film this year came from the most unlikely of movies. That moment was Robin Williams' last scene in his last film, the third in the Night at the Museum series. The movie itself was okay in its own right but that final scene is something that transcends it. Oddly enough this third, and presumably final, Museum film also included Mickey Rooney's last scene on film, making it a kind of "in memory of" piece. For most audience members the film won't be more than just that, but it is neither a bad way to end the series or a bad swan song for Robin Williams.

I can honestly say that whoever outlined the plot of this last installment did a good job. Unlike the atrocious second film in this series, this film seems like an interesting and natural sequel to the first film. It allows us to meet up new characters but also for those characters to face new challenges. I don't really need to go into detail because if you wanted a synopsis you would just use IMDb. what I will say is that this film involves our heroes going to the British Museum in order to protect the magic which allows them, as museum exhibits, to come alive at night. The reason I think the plot is better outlined then the second film is that here the universe of the film is actually explored further and we get new perspectives of the characters we thought we knew. The second film was just a bad retreading of the first film.

I said the plot was "outlined" well because unfortunately the execution is very hit-and miss. Some of the jokes are alright, but some just go a bit too far, and some are just plain awkward. It's really a shame that the dialogue does not live up to the premise because this could have been a very good comedy, but, as it is, its just passably enjoyable. In terms of direction and acting there is not much to say. Ben Stiller carries the film pretty well and the supporting cast bring back their characters nicely. Robin Williams is by far the best of the lot and there is something powerful about seeing his last screen outing. Overall I recommend seeing this for that reason alone, that it is Robin Williams last film and that his final scene may be one of the most powerful things you see all year, 3/5

X-Men Days of Future Past (2014) Review

X Men Days of future Past is really a statement by its director, Bryan Singer. A statement that not only can he direct a great comic book movie but that X Men is HIS franchise. Singer began the franchise back in 2000 when comic book movies were not the box office giants they are today. It can be argued that he directed the first "modern" comic book movie. It was a film which utilized the relatively new tool of  CGI to help bring its powerful heroes to light. After that first installment he followed it up with a sequel which many critics believe is even stronger than the original. The franchise was off to a great start and Hugh Jackman's Wolverine, Patrick Stewarts Professor X, and Ian McKellen's Magneto were now instantly recognizable. Unfortunately for us movie-goers the third installment was helmed by another director and it suffered for it. After this, two wolverine movies were made, and then in 2011 the franchise was "rebooted" by Mathew Vaughn with X-Men First Class. First Class gave us the backstories of Charles and Erik before they became enemies. It was set in the sixties and had a great Bond-like vibe. I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. As you may be able to tell from this complicated history the franchise was really all over the place and the task was given to Bryan Singer to right it all. It is a seemingly impossible task but miraculously he has pulled it off and made my favorite X-Men film to date.

The film opens in the future where Mutant killing Sentinels have wiped out much of civilization. Professor X sends Wolverine back in time to stop these  Machines from ever being used. This plot allows for a bridging of the universe of the first three films and the universe of the "reboot". Of course complications ensue and many great twists occur along the way which you should enjoy for yourselves. One of the best things about this film is just how great the cast is. everyone is back and plays their characters with a virtuosity the blurs the line between actor and character. Stewart IS Professor X and Jackman IS Wolverine just as Fassbender IS the younger Erik and Jennifer Lawrence IS Mystique. The story fleshes out both time periods even if the majority of the film is set in the past. The film is not afraid to have fun either. It was probably tempting to make everything in a film this epic deadly serious but it is a credit to the script and to singer that the film ahs plenty of moments of fun.

Singer shows off in several sequences that remind the audience just how good the early X-Men films were at bringing the comic books from the page to the screen. The action sequences work and they are done with an energy which keeps the film exciting. There enough surprises along the way that the movie never becomes stale. To be a comic book movie made in 2014 and still feel fresh is a great feat.

If there is one nit-pick it would be that the characters who are specific to the future don't get much time to be fleshed out. Some of them are just kinda there. For comic book fans this is probably fine because they are already familiar with the characters but for the average film goer some of the characters seem like extras. I'm not suggesting they should've been fleshed out because that would have weighed down the film but it is something which I noticed. The film packs so much into its run time it's really incredible how well paced it is. The fact that Singer was able to bring together this convoluted franchise is as great a feat as what Whedon did with the avengers. The fact that he made me really excited about future X-Men movies is maybe something he deserves even more praise for 4.5/5!   

Captain America The Winter Soldier (2014) Review

I may be in the minority but I enjoyed the first Captain America movie. It wasn't the greatest superhero extravaganza put on film but it was enjoyable, old fashioned fun, even if it took a bit too much from Indiana Jones. I was probably more excited to see this sequel than any of the other Marvel movies since the Avengers. As the hype grew my expectations were raised. After seeing the film I can definitely say it was worth the wait even if it didn't exceed my expectations.

Captain America the Winter Soldier's plot is something I really don't want to reveal. I know that many people have seen the movie already but for those that haven't you aren't going to get any spoilers here. The story involves Captain America, S.H.I.E.L.D., Black Widow, and a certain Winter Soldier. It is a movie that is filled with several sequences of action and which has a decent espionage plot to back it up. Chris Evans does a great job of bringing to life this classic hero. The rest of the cast play their roles very well and at this point it is hard to imagine these iconic characters in anybody else's hands.

The action in this film is truly incredible. I don't usually commend movies for their action but Cap 2 deserves praise. The opening sequence is probably the best opening Marvel has ever done, a character scene followed by a Bond-like sequence aboard a ship. This sequence brought the Captain and his shield to life like I have never seen before. The camera seemed perfectly placed throughout the scene and the stunts felt realistic. This opening was followed by so many good sequences that I think there wasn't a poorly done action scene in the film. The plot and script of the film are good but not great. The major twists and turns were pretty easy for a mystery and spy enthusiast to spot but luckily there were a couple of little twists that were unexpected. The dialogue had a sharp wit that never felt forced (cough Iron Man 3 cough).  It did not feel all that original though. It played around with current events which was interesting, but it felt surface level. The center-piece of the film was the action.

It's a good thing that the action was so good but there may have been too much of it. If a couple of the scenes had been shortened I feel like the pacing of the film would have been better and the plot more exciting. This is probably the hardest thing for an action film to get right, the pacing. In many ways Captain America the Winter Soldier is one of Marvel's best but despite its potential it can't beat out the big two (the first Iron Man and the Avengers). It's still one heck of a fun movie 4/5

The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014) Review

Wes Anderson is a filmmaker with a unique vision. His films create characters and worlds that are truly original. For some, his style can be off-putting in its oddness, for others, everything he does is a delight, for me, I find that his creativity is exciting, but not everything he does works. When it does work though, it's a filmmaker at the top of his game. Such is the case with the Grand Budapest Hotel a film that is my favorite Wes Anderson film to date and one that I'm sure will be in the running for my favorite movies of 2014. In short it is a true delight.

The beginning of the film sets up the main story by framing it not once, but three times.
The main story takes place in 1932 at the Grand Budapest hotel and it is about Gustave H. an esteemed concierge. The story is told from the perspective of his lobby boy who was new at the time. Soon the lobby boy and the concierge are wrapped up in a caper involving inheritances, prison break-outs, priceless art, ski chases, and murder. Ralph Fiennes brings the concierge to life with peerless timing and wit. It is he who helps give the film its great doses of humor with his delivery. The cast list is one of the most esteemed I have seen in some time and every actor gets to make a memorable appearance. This is a film that can handle actor cameos very well and I felt like they were all done to good effect without detracting from the overall story.

The true star of the film is the world Anderson creates and the innovative techniques he uses to get us into it. First there is the way he frames the story as a book being read. Many films have been structured this way but in this case the frame narration takes on a truly literary style. I felt it worked very well and added to the atmosphere that helped bring us into this world. In the main story Anderson is able to create the feeling of a classic Hollywood back-lot but with a very Andersonian touch. This film is meant to evoke those cosmopolitan comedies done to perfection by Ernst Lubitsch in the 1930's and 40's as well as some of Alfred Hitchcock's earlier work. It is not just a tribute though, it comes into its own in the way that is able to combine all of those elements with its own signature style. This helps the film to feel thoroughly fresh. The comedy is wonderful and the film is never afraid to surprise, which helps add to the audiences enjoyment.

Overall this is an entertainment of a highest order and something which I have not seen in a long time; an escapist film that is both intellectually interesting as well as a truly wonderful escape. Unlike many great recent superhero blockbusters which have gotten their intellectual side by going darker, the Grand Budapest Hotel does what many of its great, old-Hollywood pedigree did and creates an uproariously funny and enjoyable comedy which has layers to be found underneath its surface.  By doing this, like his influences, Anderson creates a world I certainly would not mind exploring again 5/5!

The Lego Movie (2014)

As the first movie that I saw of 2014 the Lego Movie holds a special place. It was a fantastic start to this year of movies and I can honestly say that watching the Lego Movie was one of the most pleasantly surprising cinematic experiences I have ever had.

I am going to refrain from giving a plot synopsis of this film because I honestly feel that viewers should go into this as in the dark as possible. All I will say is that it is truly a Lego Movie. The cast here is fantastic. It includes Chis Pratt, Will Ferrell, Liam Neeson, Will Arnett, and Morgan Freeman. If that sounds like a fun cast to you than you would be right. You just get the feeling that all of these actors were just having a blast making this movie and it shows. The humor in this film is razor sharp and will go far over the heads of many kids who see this film. In fact I would say that adults may actually find more to enjoy in the Lego Movie than their children will. That's not to say that there isn't plenty for the younger ones to enjoy, there is, but this film is really almost geared towards an older audience.

The best thing about the Lego Movie is its storytelling and its originality. There are so many films these days trying to be like Pixar that it was refreshing to see a movie not trying to follow that mold. The Lego Movie feels unique and exciting in a way that animated movies quite frankly haven't for a couple of years. The cast and the humor in this film work on many levels and the whole experience will leave you smiling as the credits roll. I would recommend wholeheartedly seeing it for yourself because quite frankly the Lego Movie is awesome, period. 5/5!

2 Films: 1950's Noir

Film Noir (literally translated “dark film”) was a genre that flourished in the post WWII era of filmmaking. Its genesis came from the hard boiled pulp fiction of the 1930’s by the likes of Dashiell Hammett and Raymond Chandler. By the 1950’s, especially the mid 50’s noir was nearing the end of its reign as the most prominent genre in film but before it left there were still a couple of classics in store.

The Killing (1956)

The heist film is a sub genre of film that I find to be surprisingly popular. Practically every year there are at least a couple new heist films and there are actually a lot of good ones. If we’re talking straight heist films then I believe that Stanley Kubrick’s the Killing is the greatest of them all. What I mean by straight heist films is that many heist films focus less on the heist and more on either the preamble (the Asphalt Jungle another classic) or what happens afterwards (Reservoir Dogs another more modern classic). The Killing is just a wonderful tautly paced noir heist film with great acting and even better directing. Stanley Kubrick (Dr. Stangelove, 2001) made the Killing quite early in his career and this tale of a racetrack heist is really his break out film. He is inventive with his use of time and with the way the camera is always moving. This jumping around and inventive camerawork gives the film a crackling energy and suspense. There are many classic noir elements here like the use of shadow and the double cross and the heist here is done to perfection creating suspense and anticipation. Movies don’t get much better put together and entertaining as this. You won’t mind letting the Killing steal an hour and a half of your time 5/5!

Kiss Me Deadly (1955)

Kiss Me Deadly is a movie like no other. This film is a classic detective story and one of the three classic detective films (the Maltese falcon, and The Big Sleep being the other two) but it also turns the whole genre on its head. The film is about the detective Mike Hammer who was one of the top selling fictional characters of the day. Hammer was a no nonsense guy who believed in delivering what he saw as real justice and bedding as many women as James Bond. Hammer is the blueprint for all of the classic anti heroes we see today like Dirt Harry. The screenwriter did not like Mike Hammer or what he stood for and he crafted a screenplay in which Hammer is a sleazy and mean guy. In the film as Hammer goes on the case he is constantly being belittled and beaten down by the characters around him both verbally and physically. Unfortunately or fortunately the attacks never seem to stick. Although Ralph Meeker’s Hammer isn’t a hero he is still the one we root for and in the end the attacks almost seem to fall flat because there is no way that the audience hates Hammer like they should. Believe it or not this adds to the movie, this and the wonderful surprises Kiss Me Deadly has in store for the audience. I don’t want to even talk about the plot because that would ruin what an incredibly modern, interesting, and entertaining film this is. It’s a strange and new film while also being a really good classic detective adventure. It’s one of a kind and it only gets better with age. It’s just plain fantastic!  5/5!

Star Trek Into Darkness Review!

Here's My Video Review of Star Trek Into Darkness!! Don't forget to subscribe!

Star Trek Into Darkness (2013)
Directed by J. J. Abrams
Starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Chris Pine, and Zachary Quinto with Simon Pegg and Zoe Saldala

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MkUw39ZKRr8

Iron Man 3 Review

I remember walking into the theater in 2008 not knowing what to expect when I saw the first Iron Man. I left feeling ecstatic. There was somethign fresh there that had never been done before. It felt new and awesome. The action was cool the comedy was great and you got the feeling that you were watching an actor, in this case Downey Jr., playing his signature role. Needless to say I loved Iron Man and when the credits rolled I was looking forward to more. fast forward to the present, after a muddled sequel I was ready to give the big tin man a 3rd chance and I am sorry to say that I am a little underwhelmed.

Iron Man 3 is one of those films with wasted potential. The movie has originality that soon gives way to the generic and it picks up and loses momentum in a matter of minutes. There is a lot in this movie that we've seen before and that just gets to you after a while. That being said there were parts of this film that were on a role that felt like they were going somewhere. In the end Shane Black has basically concocted Iron Man Vs. Terminator with a little Lethal weapon thrown in for good measure. Ideas are started that never really get going, themes are tossed out and then thrown out. The movie has some greatness in it but it just doesn't quite have enough.

Downey is still greatt and the cast is really not the movies weak link. Guy Pearce and Kingsley do fine jobs but there's nothing ground breaking. Downey definatley keeps the movie from being bad by giving another go around at his iconic role and the rest of the cast do a fine job.

 The scripting is rather uneven. Parts of the film are well crafted and other lines of dialogue are stupid and kind of inexcusable. This may sound like nit picking but just go watch it for yourself. There are plenty of jokes and some of them are quite funny and Downey is as good as ever at delivering a punch line. I love the way the film gives the events of the Avengers impact while also making sure this is a standalone movie. Most of the stuff here is complete impossible but it's all in the name of summer entertainment.

Overall I found Iron Man 3 to be more interesting than Iron Man 2 but really not too much better. The freshness of the first is pretty much absent in this sequel and the movie fails to reach its full potential. Iron Man 3 is an okay start to the summer but it won't have you leaving the theater ecstatic. 3/5

Iron Man 3 Preview

On May 2nd The Summer movie season begins with Marvel Studio's Iron Man 3. Besides this being the first Marvel film actually released by Walt Disney Pictures the film is also a first in that it begins Marvel's Phase 2. Phase 1 ended last may with the release of the Avengers and Phase 2 will include Iron Man 3, Thor the Dark World, and Captain America Winter Soldier as well as the Avengers 2. Dark World is due out later this year and a trailer has already been released and Winter soldier is due out next spring. This preview is to help prepare viewers for this third Iron Man installment by taking a look at the history of Avengers Phase 1.

Phase 1 began back in 2008 with the release of the Original Iron Man. I personally loved that film and felt both Downey Jr's performance and the overall storyline really breathed new life into the superhero movie. More than anything else Iron Man was fun to watch. It had a great cast and was quite funny at points and as of this date I still feel it is the best of the Avengers Movies. I highly suggest watching Iron Man if you have not already. Only 2 years later came Iron Man 2 and this film left me much less enthusiastic. It did not feel like it was of the quality of the first and although the special effects and new characters like the Black Widow were cool in the end it just felt rushed. The film also just felt too light to the point of being a joke fest and the plot was only a shadow of the former film. I think that Iron Man 2 almost soured me on the possibility of any more Iron Man and I just felt tired of it. Thor came next and that film was really fun when I first saw it but after the first viewing it just seemed less and less fun. Parts of Thor were really very awesome and the film was better than Iron Man 2 but it lacked something that it needed to hold its plot together and I just can't pinpoint what that would be. After Thor was quite a different film and that was Captain America. This film I found to be quite fun, mainly because I like old fashioned stuff like that and although I think it was robbed of an ending I still enjoyed Captain America more than both Thor and Iron Man 2.

Then Came the avengers. This movie was so highly anticipated that I almost felt there was no way it could be very good. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that the film in fact was good and I think the key ingredient was the revival of the Iron Man character. Downey Jr. had seemed overcharged in IM2 but now in Avengers he gave a performance worthy of the first Iron Man. The cast for Avengers was pretty good as a whole and when the heroes are together it is like lightning in a bottle. Unfortunately I don't like avengers as much as most people do. I loved most of it but the final battle which should have been the coolest part instead felt drawn out to me. Still Avengers would have to be tied with Iron Man 1 as far as quality is concerned and both films represent great films of their genre.

Overall Based on positive reviews and early buzz I am excited to kick this season off with Iron Man 3. We'll have to see how it holds up to other Marvel fare soon. Check back here for the Review this weekend!

Blockbuster News: Iron Man 3 Clip and Gatsby Trailer!

                It’s almost that time of year again. In less than a month the 2013 summer blockbuster season will begin with the release of Iron Man 3. Because of the upcoming event many of these films are releasing new footage.

First up we have a trailer for the delayed and highly anticipated film the Great Gatsby. This new trailer focuses more on the romantic aspects of the films. To me it has the same strengths and weaknesses as everything else I’ve seen from the film. On the one hand it seems as though the story is being rendered well. That’s very good because Gatsby is one of the greatest works of American literature and one of my all time favorite books. The movie also sports a strong cast that seems well chosen for their roles. On the other hand I don’t like how much CGI ( computer Generated Imagery) there is, I like movies to be done for real and sometimes this trailer almost looks like a video game. I think we’ll have to wait and see when the film is released but I am apprehensively excited.

Here’s a link to the trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozkOhXmijtk

Next up we have our first clip from Iron Man 3. Due to the power of the internet movie clips released by studios are becoming more and more popular and for us critics this is very helpful for making early predictions. I was disappointed with Iron Man 2 and am not really all that excited about the third installment but I have to admit that this role is definitely Downey Jr.’s defining one. From what I see it is his presence that allows this clip to work and it was also his presence that made the Avengers so good. I am, however, a little apprehensive about what I’m seeing because it seems like the same old same old. This time Stark is once again overconfident but this time by blind revenge. He will get beat up and realize his stupid, rash, ways and save the day in the end. If this is done well it will be formula but watchable. If not done perfectly it will just feel old and uninteresting, we shall see.

Here’s a link to the clip:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edkcosdafcg