Red Series

Saturday 30 April 2016

Zootopia

Hello everyone, today is the final day and Z brings the highest grossing movie of 2016 so far.

Zootopia

Zootopia.jpg


Venue: Palace Cineplex

One of the best movies I have ever seen. If you ever thought Pixar's Up might be too lauded, here's something amazing in animation I hope will thrill you highly. Going to Palace Cineplex is a bit of chore since I have to jump on four modes of public transportation (2 to cinema and 2 to get home) unlike Carib 5 where I can end up using only 2 if I get the right bus on time (or better yet sometimes a family member will pick me up so I only pay for one bus). But Palace Cineplex is in Sovereign Center, one of my favorite malls in the country so there is an upside. Anyway I arrived early, got my ticket, ate a lovely meal of curry chicken and rice and peas in the food court and got inside in time to enjoy my first theater viewing animated movie for this year (first movie I saw in theaters this year was Deadpool). 

From the start I was taken away into a world where animals talked and walked on two legs. Which has been done before but the scale, detail and performances took this movie to a whole other level. This movie might be an animated movie with cute animals kids will love. But like Pixar's Inside Out last year this movie's not just for the kids. All kids of issues rise to the surface as new police officer Judy Hops tries to solve a crime while struggling to prove herself to everyone as more than a cute bunny rabbit. She 'recruits' hustler Nick Wilde to help solve a case that goes further than she can imagine. The movie covers so many things including obstacles to one's dreams, perseverance, prejudice, discrimination both in and outside the workplace, social structure and racism (in animal form). To go into deeper details would mean heading into big spoiler territory and I rather not.

So my experience with Zootopia was movie magic to put it lightly. Even supporting characters like the sloths had the DMV were able to make an impact with just minutes of screen time.

This post brings 2016 A to Z challenge to a close. We did it guys! Thanks for journeying along with me this year,

Friday 29 April 2016

You've Got Mail

You've Got Mail.jpg


Summary on Google: Struggling boutique bookseller Kathleen Kelly (Meg Ryan) hates Joe Fox (Tom Hanks), the owner of a corporate Foxbooks chain store that just moved in across the street. When they meet online, however, they begin an intense and anonymous Internet romance, oblivious of each other's true identity. Eventually Joe learns that the enchanting woman he's involved with is actually his business rival. He must now struggle to reconcile his real-life dislike for her with the cyber love he's come to feel.

This is one of those nineties movies that allows me to reminisce. A reminder that romance can indeed happen anywhere and with anyone. One of my favorite Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan movies. The top for each actor being Forrest Gump and City of Angels, respectively. Movies like these just don't make it in theaters anymore or at the very least just don't hold the level of that special something that this one did. That of course is my opinion and if you have seen this movie before and enjoyed it, I would suggest maybe giving it another glance. Also there are few quality movies starring book store owners these days. Can't imagine why.

Thursday 28 April 2016

X is for those movies that deserve a red mark

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We have all been there. That movie that just disappointed on all fronts. Now I will use X in this challenge to show four movies that I feel deserve that big X. From those that were a disappointment straight to the ones that were just flat out horrible.

1. Tomorrowland

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Source

This movie missed the mark in all sorts of ways. I posted it as T early in this year's challenge and almost every comment agreed with my disappointment. A movie with so much promise that crashed. Not quite a burned out hull but no firework show either.

2. Man of Steel

Superman, bearing his traditional red and blue costume, is shown flying towards the viewer, with the city Metropolis below. The film's title, production credits, rating and release date is written underneath.

Source

I really dislike this movie a whole lot. Worse I feel Superman Returns got shafted for this mess. I understand that there are people who enjoy it. But I am far from one of them. Saw this at home and every time I have tried to watch it since has only annoyed me more. Even if it came before Superman Returns I'd still hate it. I've nicknamed it 'Sophisticated Transformers'. Except I actually like the Transformers movies. Michael Bay knows how to make things go boom with limited deep story fun. Zack Snyder...yeah I'll just go watch Watchmen again and remember he can do better.

But at least the top two don't have to share a table with the final two. Just this list.

3. The Last Airbender

Official poster

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Why did you let this happen Nicklelodeon? I just don't understand. You had an amazing animated series with dedicated fans. Why stab us in the face with this atrocity. And enough with the white washing and race bending using people who can't act!! The only real acting came from the actors who played the adult fire benders including Zhao and Iroh. Oh and don't get me started on the actress who played Katara. White washing was not her number one problem. It was talent and a dim witted casting director. Same with Sokka. If you are going to make black characters white at least get talented people who can do the role. Trust me while people are mad about Scarlett starring in next year's Ghost in the Shell, no one doubts her acting. Well, no one who could ever have been part of this shitty movie.

4. Elektra

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This movie was rubbish. It actually redeems just about every other movie on this list. It's that bad.

Wednesday 27 April 2016

Waterworld

Waterworld.jpg


Summary on Google: After the melting of the polar ice caps, most of the globe is underwater. Some humans have survived, and even fewer still, notably the Mariner (Kevin Costner), have adapted to the ocean by developing gills. A loner by nature, the Mariner reluctantly befriends Helen (Jeanne Tripplehorn) and her young companion, Enola (Tina Majorino), as they escape from a hostile artificial island. Soon the sinister Smokers are pursuing them in the belief that Enola holds the key to finding the mythical Dryland.

Honestly I don't really remember this movie all that well. Will try to watch it again in the future. But I did recall liking how big the world was and the scope that was put into making this. In a way it's the living novel no one can really afford to make which proves true since it had way too big a budget in 1995 to make back it's money. Ironic enough this was the first of two mid-nineties post apocalyptic box office flops/misfires for star Kevin Costner. In 1997 he had a true flop in The Postman which according to wikipedia made less than 20 million on a 80 million budget. Ouch! Yet I will say I do recall The Postman better and enjoyed that movie despite any faults that were present. Saw both at home on the dear ol' television. If you are a Kevin Costner fan or into watching television movies from the nineties. Well here you go. Also I think today audiences would be ready to go see an epic feature like this. Especially since there's still three functional Universal theme parks in the world based off this movie. Also these rides accompanied the film so technically it's not like Tomorrowland. Goodness gracious no one wants another one of those movies. If Waterworld can be done right, yay. If not, NAY to infinity.

Tuesday 26 April 2016

V for Vendetta

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Summary on Google: Following world war, London is a police state occupied by a fascist government, and a vigilante known only as V (Hugo Weaving) uses terrorist tactics to fight the oppressors of the world in which he now lives. When V saves a young woman named Evey (Natalie Portman) from the secret police, he discovers an ally in his fight against England's oppressors.

This film is what I would love to see more with superhero movies. Amazing one offs that focus on the deep elements of the world the story is set in. When I saw it on cable for the first time I was 100% drawn in. This is what helped me learn about graphic novels and during this time was part of a small boom of graphic novel adaptations including Sin City and The Spirit. Now don't think I'm dissing Marvel or DC superhero movies but I love seeing various sides of any medium and sadly superhero movies are becoming an area where newer franchises are afraid to adapt their heroes for the big or small screen. I mean look at Arrow, The Flash and Supergirl? All DC properties. Marvel: Agents of Shield, Daredevil (Netflix), Jessica Jones and so on are all Marvel. Remember when there was Hellboy? I mean how many superhero movies since have been anything like that? Too few in my opinion. Sure there are also the X-Men movies and Deadpool which are with Fox but there is a certain level of sameness that bothers me. 

V for Vendetta was a dystopian political thriller that stood out from the pack. While not a huge hit at the box office, it's a movie that shows how fear and control overused by the government can tear down society. Not only that but our complacency in the situation as citizens also makes us responsible. The anti-hero of this movie holds everyone accountable for the terrible totalitarian government that had taken root and stole all their liberties. Before Captain America: Winter's Soldier brought up the right of freedom versus safety in their blockbuster. V for Vendetta went for the jugular and didn't let go. There is so much I could say that I enjoyed about this movie but at the end of the day I loved that it was different from a lot that was out there. Yes there were similar tropes but this movie turned them inside out. Evey went through a transformation not seen enough with female lead characters who these days either need to be super bad asses or damsels in distress. The transformation from a regular woman who is thrown into a perilous situation and has to decide for herself what to do is not covered often enough in this manner. When she is captured, tortured and set with an execution date it is very gripping. But the outcome was something else and one I hold up to the test of what an amazing screen writer and director can do with a film with the addition of talented actors.

So I'm going to leave it here and say I recommend this film for everyone. Love it or hate it you'll be treated to a piece of movie-dom not pushed into our movie going experience as much as I would like these days. There is a reason people say television has much better quality show viewings than what is available at the theaters. Because sadly that is true. 

Monday 25 April 2016

Tomorrowland and Ultraviolet

Note: Check out my version of A to Z Lite! Kidding, the weekend was a bit tough and I had to prioritize work over blogging. Flu still with me but I aint complaining because I'm thriving. Suck it sickness I'm still going. Zombie shuffle everybody! Thanks for stopping by.

Tomorrowland

Tomorrowland poster.jpg


Summary from Google: Whenever Casey Newton (Britt Robertson) touches a lapel pin with the letter T on it, she finds herself transported to Tomorrowland, a city filled with huge robots and sleek buildings. The gifted young woman recruits the help of scientist Frank Walker (George Clooney), a previous visitor to Tomorrowland, who years ago made a startling discovery about the future. Together, the two adventurers travel to the metropolis to uncover its mysterious secrets.

You ever have a movie that makes your lips go thin just seeing the poster? Before seeing this epic disappointment I was excited. The trailers promised an epic adventure that I wanted to go on. Well guess what? You get a road trip to a futuristic junk town. Yeah after all that promise of seeing an amazing Tomorrowland our female star Casey and cranky side man Frank end up in this...place. Which made me wonder why the hell were we shown all these amazing holographic images of Tomorrowland in the first place. Oh and if you were excited to see Hugh Laurie in this prepare to be disappointment. He's more useless than a promotional marquee for a movie that ends up never being made. It's like someone just said we need a name who we can plop in and trick people into thinking that he will actually be a menacing villain. Anyone who thinks Loki is a disappointing villain needs to see this movie to see true disappointment in villainy. Then there's that bad Skynet shit when the monitor ends up getting the blame. That just infuriated me beyond imagining. Talk about a useless and tasteless tactic to try and rush an end to a graphically beautiful movie with a disappointing build up. 

I can see why it got 50% on Rotten Tomatoes because Brian Bird and the screen writers just tried to make this movie great part way then just went fuck it. Guess they thought hey it had a great start no one will care if we don't follow through on the greatness promised. This is an 'original' movie so we spectators would be wowed. Now listen: 1. Environmental movies have been around a long time. Let PETA show you some. 2. Sparky girl and cranky scientist is not new either. 3. Neither are delinquent teens. 4. Why am I even...this movie was a colossal waste of my time!

So yeah I'm still bitter about this movie that not only had so much potential but flat out lied. I'm sick of movie trailers promising much more than is in the movie. This mind fuck is only beaten by the Fantadtic Four (2014) trailer that showed action scenes that did not make it into the movie. So at the end of the day this movie deserves to burn in hell for me. But if you want to see it feel free. Just never invite me to a movie night and show this. I will steal your food and leave.


Ultraviolet

Ultraviolet poster.jpg


Summary from Google: In the late 21st-century, a vampiric disease modifies some people, imbuing each of them with superhuman strength, intelligence and speed. Worldwide civil war looms as normal people, feeling threatened by their enhanced brethren, demand the extermination of the group. One such transformed female (Milla Jovovich) finds herself caught in the crossfire when she becomes the protector of a boy who is perceived to be a threat to humanity.


When I saw this movie on cable it was quite interesting. One of the most colorful vampire movies I had seen and also one of those which focused on vampirism as a virus instead of a mythical curse. Now it has 9% on Rotten Tomatoes but I like it. The action is watchable and while not a great movie I would recommend to anyone who wants to see a vampire movie that is not all doom and gloom or goes beyond the mythic theory and fangs. Or just bored. As long as you're willing to watch movies with supernatural beings and hot people this can fall into your wheel house.


Friday 22 April 2016

San Andreas (A to Z) and Seismic Crimes Book Release

Honestly guys mid-week became very flu-ish. *Sigh* I need more medicine. To my bed with my cache of flu tablets! Oh wait I'm already in bed. I type there. Reach!

San Andreas poster.jpg


Summary on Google: A seemingly ideal day turns disastrous when California's notorious San Andreas fault triggers a devastating, magnitude 9 earthquake, the largest in recorded history. As the Earth cracks open and buildings start to crumble, Ray Gaines (Dwayne Johnson), an LAFD search-and-rescue helicopter pilot, must navigate the destruction from Los Angeles to San Francisco to bring his estranged wife (Carla Gugino) and their only daughter (Alexandra Daddario) to safety.

Frankly guys I'm too deep in flu hell to really give out much about my movie experience. But I will say that I recall having a good time. It was exactly what is needed from a disaster movie with satisfactory acting and lots of destruction. Whoopee! 

 Seismic Crimes Book Release

Today is also the release day for Seismic Crimes novel by Chrys Fey. I have known her for a while as a blogger and not only is this not her first book release but she also works as a freelance book editor. So I'm pleased to show you the latest crime novel from one sweet and yes busy lady.

BONUS S: SEISMIC CRIMES!

Today is the release of Chrys Fey's first novel!

BLURB: An Internal Affairs Investigator was murdered and his
brother, Donovan Goldwyn, was framed. Now Donovan is desperate to prove his
innocence. And the one person who can do that is the woman who saved him from a
deadly hurricane—Beth Kennedy. From the moment their fates intertwined, passion
consumed him. He wants her in his arms. More, he wants her by his side in his
darkest moments.

Beth Kennedy may not know everything about Donovan, but she
can’t deny what she feels for him. It’s her love for him that pushes her to do
whatever she has to do to help him get justice, including putting herself in a
criminal’s crosshairs.

When a tip reveals the killer's
location, they travel to California, but then an earthquake of catastrophic
proportions separates them. As aftershocks roll the land, Beth and Donovan have
to endure dangerous conditions while trying to find their way back to one
another. Will they reunite and find the killer, or will they lose everything?

DIGITAL LINKS:


Thursday 21 April 2016

Repo Men (2010 film)

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Summary on Google: In the future, medical technology has advanced to the point where people can buy artificial organs to extend their lives. But if they default on payments, an organization known as the Union sends agents to repossess the organs. Remy (Jude Law) is one of the best agents in the business, but when he becomes the recipient of an artificial heart, he finds himself in the same dire straits as his many victims. With his former partner (Forest Whitaker) in hot pursuit, Remy runs for his life.

Wasted potential. Something no one wants to hear slapped on their movie. But that is exactly what happened with this movie. Saw it at home on the SYFY channel and was excited. By the the end I still liked it but knew this was way below what was offered. I can see why the director has only done television since this. A movie with a plot as intricate as this movie was not for him. This is a movie Christopher Nolan should have directed. I can just imagine how kick ass that would have been. Still Jude Law and Forest Whitaker do their best with that they are given and do their roles with a satisfactory result from a messy script and average everything else. You feel for the characters as the plot moves along but you still know the movie could be better. At the end of the day I had a good time watching it and have seen it since my first viewing. But there is no question this movie could have been so much better. If there could be a reboot of this in the future that's actually great. I'd be all ears.

Wednesday 20 April 2016

The Quick and the Dead and Mini Book Review: The Great Hunt

Q was not an easy letter. But I got three movies I saw at home and decided to go with the one below.

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Source: Wikipedia

Summary on Google: A mysterious woman gunslinger, Ellen (Sharon Stone), saunters into the town of Redemption looking for revenge. Her father was killed by the town's sadistic mayor, Herod (Gene Hackman), who is in the midst of organizing a quick-draw tournament. The lady enters, joining a cast of miscreants and outlaws for a brutal competition in which the loser dies. Among the competitors is "The Kid" (Leonardo DiCaprio), an upstart who has his own score to settle with Herod.

I saw this movie at home years ago. Now at age 31, I still love that this was a movie set in the Wild West that actually had a starring female who could handle a gun. There are not nearly enough of these types of Westerns in my opinion. Growing up most of the females in Westerns were damsels in distress. While it did not make me hate those kinds of movies this one was a nice change of pace. Wasn't perfect and I'm certain if I watch it again in the future I'll see all kinds of flaws that I probably missed in the past. But I'll still remember seeing a female gunslinger who was not animated and in a live Western taking care of business. Also there were other themes including seeking a parent's approval as well as strength versus virtue which I also enjoyed. Again not perfect but a movie I liked all the same. Feel free to look it up and decide if you want to take a gander if you haven't already.


The Great Hunt Mini Book Review


Summary: Wendy Higgins, the author of the New York Times bestselling Sweet Evil series, reimagines a classic Brothers Grimm fairy tale with The Great Hunt, a dramatic, romance-filled fantasy with rugged hunters, romantic tension, and a princess willing to risk all to save her kingdom.When a monstrous beast attacks in Eurona, desperate measures must be taken. The king sends a proclamation to the best and bravest hunters: whoever kills the creature will win the hand of his daughter Princess Aerity as a reward. The princess recognizes her duty but cannot bear the idea of marrying a stranger she was meant to marry for love until a brooding local hunter, Paxton Seabolt, catches her attention. And while there s no denying the fiery chemistry between them, Princess Aerity feels that Paxton s mysteriousness is foreboding, maybe even dangerous. Paxton is not the marrying type. Nor does he care much for spoiled royals and their arcane laws. He is determined to keep his focus on the task at hand ridding the kingdom of the beast but the princess continues to surprise him, and the secrets he s buried begin to surface against his wishes."



Mini Review: From the start I enjoyed The Great Hunt immensely. Books where it seems something bad can happen to anyone intrigue me and from start to finish you could not be sure who was safe. Aerity is not the typical princess yet she also is. Raised in luxury there are certain things you are just not going to be privy to, that's natural. But she uses her grace and manners to not just be regal but also strong and defiant in the face of adversity. It was good to see being a princess taken seriously and shown how it can not be a disadvantage when facing outside adversity but also a strength. Her knowledge of archery and horseback riding come in handy. Even when the commoner Paxton comes to try and slay the beast terrorizing the kingdom among other competitors, her upbringing helps not be completely overwhelmed by his at times plain crass behavior. A lot is at stake as there is a beast that needs to be vanquished and a princess who is willing to sacrifice a chance at love to save her kingdom while fending off temptation and other situations she comes face to face with.

This novel is both story and character driven. You can't have one without the other and Wendy does the best she can to create a high fantasy worth reading and succeeds. Now I'm not saying she is the next Tolkien. She does not need to be. Wendy Higgins instead has written a novel that fantasy fans can enjoy and both fans old and new can delve into her latest release and decide for themselves if it is her best work yet. For me, I'm already ready for the sequel. 

#iFightForPaxton

Rating: 5 Stars

Tuesday 19 April 2016

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl

Note: The Great Hunt book review is actually being posted on Wednesday (tomorrow), not today. 

Pirates of the Caribbean movie.jpg

Source: Wikipedia

Summary on Google: Capt. Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) arrives at Port Royal in the Caribbean without a ship or crew. His timing is inopportune, however, because later that evening the town is besieged by a pirate ship. The pirates kidnap the governor's daughter, Elizabeth (Keira Knightley), who's in possession of a valuable coin that is linked to a curse that has transformed the pirates into the undead. A gallant blacksmith (Orlando Bloom) in love with Elizabeth allies with Sparrow in pursuit of the pirates.


I saw this movie first in theaters on a fluke. Some family members had seen it before and when we went on as a group most either wanted to either see it for the first time or again. I didn't have to pay for the ticket and liked going to the movies so go figure. But I ended up having a nice time. There are not many pirate movies coming down the pipeline in the twenty-first century but this one was pretty good. Of course it was a stylized version and not for those who want the grit that's in a certain pirate series on Starz (I don't watch it but a peek makes it seem a bit more on the historical side - ish. I don't know). Still they did a good job with the visuals and I became a big fan of Jack Sparrow. Didn't hurt that he was played by Depp. Kiera Knightley's character was also fun to watch transform from a protected rich girl into a seafaring rebel. The corset scene was hilarious. So glad I don't need to wear that today. I like my back, and boobs and my whole body in general. Though I would not mind it trying one in the future for a cosplay or something like that. But never as something to wear regularly. Ouch! I think it's the female version of guys being glad men no longer wear high heels (yes gentlemen, that used to be 'the rage') - well not as much. 



Now tell me if the nobility back in the day were not fashion conscious and proud? 
Some models need training today to pose this good!

On a whole I had a good time watching this swash buckling adventure. This movie was very character driven so if they fell flat for you very likely the film would not be as enjoyable. There are now four movies in this series and another coming in 2017. So if you ever wanted to get on this series now is the time.

Monday 18 April 2016

Oblivion and Monday MishMash during A to Z Challenge

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Source: Wikipedia 

Summary from Google: In the year 2077, Jack Harper (Tom Cruise) works as a security repairman on an Earth left empty and devastated after a war with aliens. Jack has two weeks left before his mission ends and he joins his fellow survivors on a faraway colony. However, Jack's concept of reality comes crashing down after he rescues a beautiful stranger (Olga Kurylenko) from a downed spacecraft. The woman's arrival triggers a chain of events that culminates in Jack's nearly single-handed battle to save mankind.

If anyone saw my Movie Love: Oblivion post in 2013 then you already know how I feel about this movie. It was a feast for the eyes with a sci-fi plot that will either intrigue you or confuse/bore you. This is not an in-between movie, you'll either like it or dislike it. Tom Cruise plays Jack Harper a man on a ravaged Earth who among other things repairs drones. Most humans are now off planet and other than his partner (in both work and life) there are no other humans he has direct contact with. That all changes when he saves a woman from what seemed to be an unprovoked drone attack. As secrets come to light and his life starts to fall a part Jack starts to see things as they really are and it is not a pretty sight. And like in my 2013 post I will again say to get the full scope you need to see this on the big screen. Stunning visuals, just...I can't say enough about the look of this movie. If you're curious go read up more about it and decide if it's a movie you would like to see whether through cable or a rental. 

Monday MishMash



Monday Mishmash is a weekly meme sharing your thoughts and happenings. You just grab a button and create your post. Sure I guess I write it differently from most but moving on...

1. A to Z blog posts still going up as I write them. My plans to write all in advance hit a snag but I'll still get them up.

2. Working on a manuscript for Camp Nanowrimo. Check my twitter for more details.

3. I have decided to create a new blog called Movie Love. Yes you read right. My love for movies and going to the theater has only increased as I have been able to afford to go see them more often. So much so that it has practically taken over this blog. Now while I enjoy doing it this blog is supposed to have various topics including Book Reviews, Getting Personal and so on. Which is what led me to this decision. There will still be a movie love segment but I want to decrease it to once a month or so and let the new blog be where I post regularly about my thoughts on movies and son on. Here is what I will write about when the new blog comes in May. Subject to expansion.

A) My thoughts on movies I have seen whether in theaters or at home.

B) Youtubers who review movies. Might even try to get a few guest spots if possible.

C) Create segments to help diversify the content. So far I have: Cheap Seats Rewrites - Give a movie I think had issues my own quick rewrite flare. Not meant to push my zero screen writing skills.

D) Favorite characters, movie scenes.

E) Fan casting, ideas, etc.

4. Getting back in book review mode on my main blog. Tomorrow I'll have a review up for The Great Hunt by Wendy Higgins.

5. Arrange to deal with that darn tooth and stop wishing to hurt a certain dentist.

6. Being Grateful.

Saturday 16 April 2016

Nightcrawler

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Source: Wikipedia

Summary from Google: Los Angeles denizen Louis Bloom (Jake Gyllenhaal) survives by scavenging and petty theft. He stumbles into a new career as a cameraman and -- armed with a camcorder and police scanner -- begins nocturnal forays across the city in search of shocking and grisly crimes. When he catches the eye of a shopworn news director (Rene Russo) who welcomes the chance to raise her station's ratings, Louis goes to increasingly greater lengths to catch the "money shot."


This movie was one of those gems you're just glad you were smart enough to go watch.  A guy going from petty theft to cameraman is just the tip of this marvelous iceberg. There is not much I can say without giving away the plot so I'll just say you must see it. Everybody has dreams but the ways and lengths the star of this movie goes to get them is just mind blowing. So much so sometimes you almost agree with him despite being appalled. Now that is great acting and writing coming together in one movie.

Friday 15 April 2016

The Maze Runner and Mini Movie Review: Batman V Superman

The Maze Runner poster.jpg

Source: Wikipedia

Summary from Google: Thomas (Dylan O'Brien), a teenager, arrives in a glade at the center of a giant labyrinth. Like the other youths dumped there before him, he has no memory of his previous life. Thomas quickly becomes part of the group and soon after demonstrates a unique perspective that scores him a promotion to Runner status -- those who patrol the always-changing maze to find an escape route. Together with Teresa (Kaya Scodelario), the only female, Thomas tries to convince his cohorts that he knows a way out.

I got the book before the movie came out but found it a bit outside my taste. Still think it's a good read and plan to finish it one day. But I still wanted to see the movie. It was good to see the Dylan O'Brien outside Teen Wolf (which I enjoyed on MTV) and he definitely has a bigger career in the works if he plays his cards right. This movie is another YA dystopian adaptation and does an adequate job at showing how these teens with no memories of their lives before waking up in a glade survive. Especially when their only means of escape is through a deadly maze. Adding a girl into the mix was sort of interesting but in the end she was not a shining point of the movie. Some characters shined including Newt who I loved. Others ranged from okay to bland to just annoying. It was an okay movie to watch and I'd recommend it to those who are a fan of YA adaptations, especially dystopians.

Mini Review: Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice

The two titular heroes, Batman and Superman, are confronting each other, with the film's logo behind them, and the film's title, credits, release date and billing below.

Source: Wikipedia

So I went to the movie yesterday on a free movie pass to see this movie. While I will say that the movie deserves every penny it has made sadly I can't give it a positive review. The movie does have amazing visuals, action packed fight scenes, a great Batman and Wonder Woman and some really good scenes including a man who lost his legs spray painting a statue.  But the story is very choppy and convoluted, obvious unnescessary scenes, glaring plot holes and the epic fights promised in the trailer take way too long to happen. Sorry but when a movie named Batman V Superman takes more than an hour and a half for them to actually fight? No. Plus the way that the fight actually starts between the two is completely tasteless and just another reason why this version of Lex is just not very good. Will digress though that the bomb thing was scary as hell and he got some villain points from me on that one. But on a whole he was just too cartoony for this serious dark film. At the end of the day if you want to see this movie to watch these two juggernauts go head to head, go for it. But if you are looking for a polished rich story to go along with your superhero then no. So not an awful movie but it could have been better.

Will post a full review next month in my Movie Love Segment. Also I want to add that I do believe Snyder tried to improve upon Man of Steel by adding more story. Unfortunately there were too many subplots and some were just left hanging. If this were a book sent to an editor it would get slashed to ribbons. I hope the Justice League movies have better oversight. 

Thursday 14 April 2016

Lucy (2014 film)

Today I am excited to say that I'll be seeing Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice this evening on a free movie pass. Won it yesterday on Twitter during Palace Amusement's #AListers giveaway. Will I be blown away? You'll know tomorrow when I post M along with a mini review for B v S (will post full one in May).

Oh and this month I'm a minion for the Joy Brigade. Been doing my best to keep up my minion list but dang dentist drama got me sidelined some days. Thanks for dealing with the wrong tooth Mr. Dentist. I really wanted you to deal with filling in the tooth without the painful cavity. So yeah, I have to see a different dentist month end. Not going back to that pompous idiot (before you think I'm being mean this guy decided to just take on the I'm the . Listen to your patient!!


The Joyful Brigade

Lucy (2014 film)

Lucy (2014 film) poster.jpg

Source: Wikipedia

Venue: Carib 5

Scarlett Johanson has really done the right things for her career. She has become an integral part of a Marvel franchise, a popular actress, likable on and off screen and through this movie proves that she is bankable even in a standalone movie without Marvel backing her up. In this movie she is Lucy, a 24 year old woman studying in Taiwan and living a regular life. That all changes when her boyfriend tricks her into delivering drugs. Worse she is soon captured and forced to be a drug mule delivering a special synthetic drug called CPH4 after he gets murdered. If all this was not bad enough everything turns upside down after one of the drug bags breaks inside her and she in transformed by the leaking drugs into a otherworldly genius femme fatale who crosses paths with Professor Norman (played by Morgan Freeman) a man who can better explain her condition. Her transformation gives her special abilities and the capacity to use more of her brain than any other human. But as she changes she starts losing the very thing that makes her human and stopping a drug lord and saving the other drug mules proves to be a tough sell even when you are more than just a mere human.

I was taken a back by this movie. This is the kind of movie usually starring a guy not female. Thankfully this was named Lucy not Luke and watching a female do a science fiction action right was wonderful. Anything over the top matched with the film and many of the awful tropes in some female starring films that end up turning off or boring the audience were avoided. Lucy started off as an ordinary woman so it was easier to connect with her than some sexy secret agent or ultra bad ass toting character from the get. Sure as the movie goes on she does become the ultimate bad ass but it is a progression even if it is a swift one that can be jarring if you're not following along with the story. Even the secondary characters have their moment. From the poor taxi man just lucky enough to speak english, to the jerk off boyfriend right up to the henchmen of the drug lord. Oh those henchmen were off the wall. They should go join Deadpool because they elevated the movie quite well. Marvel could also do well pulling in henchmen like these to help bolster their sagging villain movie characters (sorry but the cries of so many audiences about your villains can't all be wrong) - though I LOVE Loki. The conclusion takes you on an even bigger bender but I enjoyed it quite a bit. So in the end I definitely recommend this movie if you enjoy your action with some crazy sci-fi elements. Also if you want to see a female action star do things right and not just stand around doing hair flips, hip thrusts and the bedroom tango. This aint no bedroom Bond girl movie.

Waiting on Wednesday: Reconnected

Please Note: The final WOW on this blog as I take my final bow this month. I want to thank all readers of this post and all my blogging. I r...