Let me just say one thing: college is a whole different ballgame.
The reason why I say that is because it is important to remember that and I don't think 22 Jump Street properly emphasizes that point. Instead, we see a rendition of 21 Jump Street on a larger scale with elements of order restored to the plot.
In 21 Jump Street, Schmidt (Hill) proved to be the popular kid while Jenko (Tatum) was the outcast, contrary to what one may be led to believe. In college, the stars of 22 Jump Street align in the proper constellation as Jenko becomes a football star, while Schmidt identifies with the arts students. While this dynamic is changed along with the setting, not much else changes. The two conflict because one is popular and the other isn't. Schmidt even resorts to eavesdropping and spying on Jenko just as Jenko had to Schmidt in the first installment of the series.
Now while this film follows a lot of the steps of its predecessor, that doesn't make this film bad. In fact, one should realize that if a formula works, it shouldn't be changed, rather enhanced. That's the case in 22 Jump Street. Conclusion: Worth A Watch
I'm sure at some point you've heard about Edge of Tomorrow and the praise that it has earned. As you can see above, it is "Smart, exciting and unexpected." Of course it is, I would never have expected Tom Cruise to star in yet another science fiction, action film. There is one question that begs though: is it more appropriate to call him Tom Christ or Jesus Cruise?
The story follows a teenage boy playing a video game set in the future. Every time the kid's player dies, the game goes back to a checkpoint. That's not actually what the story is about, but I can definitely see where they got the idea. The actual plot follows Major Cage, who is sent to the front lines of Operation Downfall, a huge morning amphibious attack on the shores of France intended to deliver a decisive blow to the enemy (original, I know). Funny that this film was released on the 70th anniversary of D Day. After being sent in the front wave, Cage receives blood from an Alpha alien that gives him the ability to reset the day. The rest of the film is trivial like that little tad that I just said, involving Emily Blunt, or "Full Metal Bitch" or "Angel of Verdun" if you prefer. In the end, Cruise will rise from the ashes as he always does and the humans find a way in the end.
Like I mentioned before, Cruise in a science fiction/action film at this juncture of his career is noting new. Like Oblivion, Edge of Tomorrow follows a character who is virtually indestructible. The only difference is that Cruise is resurrected in this film, rather than being cloned into an army set to protect the planet.
Take away all of the beef I have with Cruise and the story, I thought this film was different and entertaining. It tried at plot elements that haven't been tried on such a high budget. In the end, I didn't mind watching it and I think it's a suitable film for all audiences. Conclusion: Worth A Watch
The Fault in Our Stars is an adaptation of the 2012 New York Times Bestseller of the same title by John Green. The movie follows the story of Hazel Grace Lancaster, a 17-year old Stage IV thyroid cancer patient who has had the cancer spread to her lungs, and her friend and lover Augustus Waters, an amputee due to osteosarcoma. However, this is not what the story is about. The story is about a young romance headed for inevitable tragedy, but also about how a short life can be a full life.
Having read the book shortly before I attended the midnight premiere of the movie on June 6th, I thoroughly enjoyed the book. Seeking a film that was true to the book was the first item on my check list. I was satisfied. The next item on my list was casting decisions and acting. This was also done well as Shailene Woodley performed exceedingly well while Ansel Elgort showed a few flashes of the true Augustus Waters. But casting actors for a film adaptation of a young adult book shouldn't be too difficult of a task, nor should adapting a book to film when the book has such believable language in a logical layout and format.
One thing about this film that absolutely dulled me was the latter half. Everyone in the audience knew where the film was headed because: A.) it was obvious and B.) they had all read the book. So why did this saddening, yet beautiful tale of true love being shared regardless of the looming end become a teenage girl "sob-fest." Sure, everyone needs a good cry every now and then, but this movie would be seen on too transparent of a level to be treated as a "sob-fest." The tears in the film were even accompanied by a scene in the rain following the news of tragedy. Let the tears flow, am I right? Knowing what happens next and how the story concludes, I grew tired and as a result, bored with the film.
In conclusion, I believe this film deserves a watch by any teenager who can relate and sympathize with a story of love, life, and death. I didn't have any problems with the film, but the audience that I couldn't help but associate it with and the hints and jabs that the film included to satisfy the teenage girl's urge to giggle and cry took away the meaning of the story. Perhaps if I hadn't seen this movie in a theatre full of sobbing teens and their moms, I would have enjoyed the latter half of the film more and taken it more as the fitting conclusion to a life fully lived. If you do happen to go see this film, take it for what it's worth. It's not an excuse to just cry and weep with your boyfriend or girlfriends. It's a love story tailored to the lifestyle and interests of the 21st Century. Conclusion: Worth A Watch
A Million Ways to Die in the West is Seth MacFarlane's latest attempt at a feature length film since Ted. The result: a million crude and rude jokes. Don't get me wrong, the movie made me laugh quite a bit. But instead of enjoying that laughter for the sake of a good joke, I felt bad for letting myself laugh at such crude and tasteless jokes.
Watching renowned actors Liam Neeson and Charlize Theron in such a crude film tampered my respect for them. The roles they played could easily have been taken by lesser actors. If these two stooped to roles so beneath them, it's a bad sign for their careers. I guess that comes as no surprise given the veteran Neeson's roles in a slew of mindless action films.
I guess once you get over yourself (as I should when I watch films like this), it is an entertaining comedy set in the west that does not require nor deserve a second thought. Conclusion: Pass On It
Godzilla is easily one of the, if not the, most anticipated film of 2014. It's trailer had all of the right things: evidence of a story, dramatic dialogue, scenes of the aftermath, and little hint at the king of monster's actual physical appearance. What audiences got was a film that lacked identity.
Imagine watching a film and after a third of the way through, most of the storyline dissolves and it basically becomes a porno loosely based on the premise of the film. Hard to imagine, but that was the sense I got in the theatre when watching Godzilla. The first third was driven by a powerful acting performance by Bryan Cranston, allowing the audience to sympathize with his struggle. Even Aaron Taylor-Johnson's acting performance came as a pleasant surprise early on in the film. However, (SPOILER ALERT) when Cranston's character dies, the movie loses guidance and results in destructo-porn. Taylor-Johnson becomes a bumbling shell of what he could have been and Ken Watanabe could have saved some face, but his character was unintentionally funny with the way he carried himself.
Once Godzilla proves himself (or herself) as the king of monsters, the San Francisco media thanks him. There is no way in the world that the general public could have known the Godzilla was the equivalent of the storing force of nature. For all they know, the monster fought two other monsters in the middle of San Francisco. No more, no less.
This movie was set up and headed for better things. At some point, it just failed to execute and gave into the temptation of bringing in the big bucks by virtually destroying an American city. I guess there is room for a sequel, but it won't even have the promise of a plot. Conclusion: Disappointing, Pass On It
Have you ever seen a trailer that whetted your appetite so much that your expectations were way too high? I'm sure we all have. Have you ever seen a movie that had all its good parts in the trailer? Well, I sure did when I saw Neighbors. I wasn't so misled to expect a smart comedy, rather just a series of good laughs. Instead, I was treated to another one of those Seth Rogen comedies that kept hitting you over the head with a sledgehammer (or in this case, a dildo) for crude joke after crude joke.
The premise of having a fraternity move in next to a new family is interesting because there is no way the two could coexist. At least, that's what one is led to believe. Instead, in the film, Rogen's character wants to party with the college kids and the fraternity is set against him only after Rogen violates a circle of trust. This sets off a powder keg of mindless antics. Once its over, you don't feel any satisfaction or humor. Nothing. If you were me, who was so wrongly misled by the trailer, you'd feel disappointed. Conclusion: Disappointing, Pass On It
Admittedly, I did not see the first Amazing Spiderman, but after seeing its sequel, I feel as though I don't have to and that I probably shouldn't waste my time. What I got from this new series of Spiderman is a hero who is caught up in serious affairs, but deals with them without seriousness. A whiny, unlikeable Peter Parker is not the character audiences would like.
This film was caught up between entertaining children and entertaining teens. The whole teenage drama that ensues in this story is quickly and frequently dumbed down by childish antics. The acting in this new series is poor all around. Watching respectable actors in the older roles is painful because there is nothing for them to develop. The younger actors were terrible. They were unlikable and irritating.
The one redeeming factor of this movie is that the "spider" sequences in NYC were better than the past series. Comparing Electro to Doc Oc is no contest as I think that Spiderman 2 was the best spider flick of all time. Conclusion: Pass On It
This movie had some redeeming qualities in that it tried. Oculus tried to be an intelligent horror movie that forced audience members to connect dots and think about the plot as a hole. However, in doing so, it left out important aspects such as character development and couldn't balance between too little and too much guessing.
One of the main troubles this film experienced was time. It begins in the present and flashes back to the past in order to reveal certain aspects of the plot. However, these flashbacks are only resorted to sparingly in the first half of the film until the movie and story devolve into a confusing mixture of past and present. Perhaps it is to hint that history has a way of repeating itself, but it was never clear.
This film as a whole lacked the thrills I had hoped for. Todays horror movies usually resort to cheap thrills such as booming sound effects, but timing is key for the maximum scare. Another key that this film sorely missed on was plot and predictability. Like looking in a mirror and being certain that what you see is a reflection of yourself, I was certain that I could see what would happen next. Not due to foresight, rather due to the obvious plot elements that attempted to be clever. Conclusion: Don't Bother
Dallas Buyers Club gained a lot of momentum prior to the Academy Awards. I hadn't seen the movie yet, so I didn't know what to expect and what gave to all of the publicity when other films were in the midst of garnering attention. It seemed as though Buyers Club simply stole the air from The Wolf of Wall Street and Matthew McConaughey snatched the Oscar from Leonardo DiCaprio.
The plot to this film follows a homophobe who has been diagnosed with AIDS. Seeking a cure, he finds it in his heart to accept others who share his condition, specifically one member of the gay community played by Jared Leto. Finding a way around the system, McConaughey's character navigates his way around the system to establish the Dallas Buyers Club to get medication to AIDS victims.
Through character development, the audience is satisfied by the conclusion of the film to see how hardship changed a man for the better. McConaughey's performance was superb; however, I felt as though Leto's was even better. Both won an Oscar for their work, so there is no great injustice here. The difference that set apart the two performances was that McConaughey seemed to be his regular self, just more involved within the film while Leto submerged himself into a unique and difficult role.
Every now and then, a movie comes along that allows an actor to win an Oscar by doing something different that appeals to the Academy. This film on the surface about AIDS and also about transformation presented two of these opportunities that were thoroughly executed. Conclusion: Worth A Watch ("Alright, alright, alright")
12 Years A Slave is the best film I have seen in the '10s of the 21st Century. The decade is still young, so you may think that this doesn't mean much, but it does. As a film, it is a work of art, crafted by the masterful hands of Steve McQueen. The characters are perfectly performed, highlighted by Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender, and Lupita Nyong'o's career defining performances. The fact that this film only won three Academy Awards is a tragedy in and of itself.
12 Years follows the improbable story of Solomon Northup, a freeman living in the north who is captured and sold into slavery in the south. Solomon uses his talents as a well educated man to manage a less cruel living with his Master Ford. Once sold into slavery again, Solomon must reside on the Epps plantation, run by the wicked and cruel Edwin Epps. These two existences in slavery seem different, as Solomon is allowed to entertain his master with his violin but sent to the cotton fields by the next master; however, theses existences share the same root. Both Master Ford and Epps are flawed and twisted characters. Though Epps acts on the urges to whip and rape whomever he pleases, Ford is evil in the sense that he cannot bring himself to do what is right since his will is too weak. From talking with people who have seen this movie, this is the one of the few points that some people seem to have missed from the film.
Overall, I think that the story of Solomon Northup had to be told. It's a painful reminder of a brutal chapter in our history; however, it is a necessary one to learn from. McQueen's craft and the excellent acting performances added another, higher level of cinema to this film. I believe that everyone should watch this movie. It examines human character, by looking at the great injustice, lack of will, willpower, and hope that any person can demonstrate. Conclusion: Must See
Captain Phillips is an absolute and unyielding adrenaline rush. I'm sorry for the next person who is going to sit at my seat in the theatre because I left a puddle of sweat there. I'm sure many people knew about the Somalian pirate situation, but this film makes the entire process seem so nerve-racking, which by now after seeing the film, I'm sure it is.
The story follows Captain Phillips, the captain of a cargo ship, and the hostage situation that ensues once Phillips is captured by Somalian pirates. Once Phillips is taken off of his ship and held hostage in an escape vessel, there is a thick air of uncertainty about his fate, even though the audience knows that he does not die.
Briefly introducing Phillips as an everyday family man makes the audience more involved and sympathetic of his situation. Casting Tom Hanks as the captain also didn't hurt. The movie also surprisingly briefly introduces us to the everyday lives of the pirates as well. While we don't condone their crimes, we do feel sympathy for the everyday struggle that is there life.
All in all, Captain Phillips is a well made thrill ride that shakes us from start to finish. The acting and direction of the film brings about another element of the film that makes it even better. Conclusion: Watch It
Pacific Rim was one of those films where I couldn't decide if it was the an awesome dumb movie or a dumb awesome movie. It had a plot and roaring special effects, which created a great viewing experience. The problem is that once you're finished with the film, you still have to ask yourself what you just saw.
Every boy has probably at some point played with toys and thought about what it would be like if they were huge. That's Pacific Rim. The problem with a film based on such childish thoughts is that is had several glaring plot holes. For example, why do people have to sync or "drift" with each other to power the machine? I understand that the film explained that one brain would be overworked to power the giant machine. Well then why could the protagonist power the machine by himself at the beginning of the film to escape? Also, if it's so important to be "drift compatible" then why can two strangers who awkwardly flirt be "drift compatible"? And how come they didn't realize they had a hidden weapon up there sleeve (literally) earlier in the film?
I guess if you can get over the glaring plot holes (which I sadly can't), then you can appreciate this film for what it is: mindless action. It did a great job in this department, but that's not what everyone is looking for in a movie. Conclusion: Pass On It
World War Z is an action-packed summer hit that doesn't have a whole lot to it. I expected action and a different kind of zombie plot story. I got both so I can't be too disappointed as this film attempted to be something different, but ultimately just became another forgetful summer action flick.
From the very beginning, when Brad Pitt's Gerry Lane is talking with his family during breakfast, the filmmakers decided to use an action cam for quick movement. This instantly drew me off, but the shaky action filming didn't end as the rest of the movie was a thrill ride without too much guidance.
I heard that there was conflict between the producers on where the plot was heading and from watching the movie, I don't doubt it. An expert scientist slipped and shot himself with a gun. Gerry was impaled and still survived. In the end, we got a Brad Pitt Jesus figure drinking Pepsi who realized that getting sick will make the zombies want to stay away from you. Not a bad ending as it is something different, but it's nothing special.
Overall, this film had a high budget and delivered its thrills and special effects, but it lacked a more decisive plot that could have made the film much better. Conclusion: Nothing Special
Here's a question for you: have you ever seen or heard about the movie Moon? You probably haven't seen it. Have you seen or heard about Oblivion? You probably have heard about it. What we get is an attempt to bring the story of a small budget film to the big screen. The attempt wasn't necessarily a success or a failure, rather just an interesting development at filmmaking and adaptation.
The story is set in 2077 and follows Jack Harper, a veteran who is assigned to a station in the clouds with his partner Vika. Harper's job is to repair drones down on Earth to destroy scavengers that hunt for resources. Jack performs this tireless job without question till one day, he finds a pod with people in it. This forces him to question his surroundings and look for answers. As it turns out, he is not alone. The rest of the film is an interesting quest of self discovery that has several major twists that you will just have to see for yourself.
The story itself is fine, but it doesn't seem original when set side by side with Moon. I did enjoy watching this film in theaters, as it had good visuals in establishing a ruined Earth. I don't think this film reached it's potential, but it pleasantly surprised in other aspects and categories. Conclusion: Worth A Watch
Flight follows the story of a airline pilot who saves most of the passengers from certain death and the aftermath of the incident. The twist: though no one could possibly successfully land that plane other than that captain, the pilot was drunk and intoxicated during the hour of heroism.
Denzel Washington delivers a terrific performance as Whip Whitaker, the pilot of the ill-fated plane. As authorities begin to investigate the incident and that alcohol was found in the cabin, we get to see Whitaker's true character. He is a hopeless alcoholic. The film and Washington's performance do paint a true and hopeless picture on just how dire Whip's case of substance abuse is. As all of the right actions were done to protect Whitaker from prison and preserve his image as a hero, all that was necessary to save face was the slightest amount of willpower. Unfortunately for Whip, he did not have it. During the final court case towards the end of the movie, Whitaker can get off free as he is in the clear. However, Whip chooses the path of justice as he declares he is a drunk. He is convicted.
Washington's outstanding performance and portrayal is not meant to be sympathized with. Whitaker is an unlikable man who has led an unfortunate life and as a result, he doesn't deal with his emotions well. However, at the end of the film when we realize Whitaker has been sober in prison for a signifiant time, we see that his inability to tell a lie corrected his inability to will himself away from alcoholism. A fitting conclusion to a powerful film. Conclusion: Worth A Watch
Cloud Atlas is not your everyday film. It is something different that demands your attention and focus for 172 minutes. With six different stories intertwined into one general history, the plot is at times difficult to follow; however, it examines the general truths of life that we see in love, living, deception, and death.
This movie was directed by three different people and used the same cast for all six stories. In doing so, each actor had a theme that they brought to each character they portrayed on the screen. For example, characters played by Hugo Weaving and Hugh Grant were consistently antagonists, characters played by Jim Sturgess were continually victimized, and characters played by Tom Hanks displayed the many follies of man.
The plot itself has too much to address in just a blog post; however, I will say that it is very important to follow the well-crafted montage set at the beginning of the film. The film also does have a collective and fulfilling resolution, which should satisfy even the confused audience members once they are down with the film. All in all, I would say that this is a visual experience that not everyone will enjoy, but it is a marvel and I commend everyone involved for taking on something wholly original. Conclusion: Watch It
Prometheus was one of the biggest summer disappointments that I saw in theaters. As prequel to the Aliens franchise directed by Ridley Scott, I expected a film that would do the series justice. Instead, I got a film that asked too many questions and had too few answers.
Prometheus is the name of a ship headed by a crew searching for the answers of human origin. No xenomorph in this plot, so I can accept the Scott's claim that this is not exactly a prequel to the Aliens films. So why is it that they find some huge white guy who is supposed to be the ancestor to humans IN the same spaceship that had the Alien.
On the surface, it seems like a different franchise, but it might be the same. There is a little identity crisis, but it doesn't have to ruin the film. So as it turns out, these large white people are storing weapons in their ships. Still no Alien. These weapons are organic and can develop around their surroundings. Still no Alien. Eventually, a worm gets into one of the main male characters before he impregnates the main female character. She then gives birth to a gigantic face hugger. Still no Alien. The face hugger then latches onto the large white guy. Bam. Alien out of his chest. So I guess Aliens, xenomorphs, the horrific acid bleeding monsters with mouth-tongues come from humans. Makes sense I guess.
The movie has a cliffhanger as the female protagonist leaves for the home planet of the large white people and the alien is left on the deserted planet. So there is a possibility of a sequel; however, this prequel didn't provide any answers, just assumptions and questions. If Scott does intend on creating a prequel trilogy, I may look back on this film more forgivingly. However, as of now, I am an unsatisfied viewer. Conclusion: Disappointing
I have never seen the TV show that 21 Jump Street, but that didn't hinder my enjoyment in this film as it had several great laughs, tapping into Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum's comic ability and potential.
The story follows Schmidt and Jenko, polar opposite cops who have become great friends through circumstance. As younger looking cops, the two get promoted to an undercover mission to infiltrate a high school as fake students. The two both experience the ups and downs of reliving high school, delving with the nerds and cool kids.
Along the way, there are several hilarious scenes. My favorite, which I think is the most memorable, is the stages of high scene. Watching the entire movie is worth it to just get to that scene because it's ridiculous but also alarmingly relatable.
In the end, the two find their niche, but not in the sense that we may presuppose and suspect. That being said, the film's story rides its inevitable waves and returns safely to shore with an intriguing story to tell. I think this movie will appeal to any teenager watching it as it's loaded with crude humor, but I think it's quite an enjoyable comedic experience. Conclusion: Worth A Watch
Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close is one of the most touching films released in 2011. I am thoroughly puzzled as to why such an emotional story and well made film garnered a 6.9/10 rating on IMDb. The only thing sadder than parts of this film is that rating.
The story follows Oskar, a young boy with autism. Oskar's father just passed away during the September 11th terrorist attacks, so in order to keep the memory of his father alive, Oskar goes on a quest throughout New York to find the keyhole of a key his father left behind. Through this quest, Oskar is assisted by the renter, a mute who happens to be his grandfather. In the end, Oskar is forced to realize that not everything is an adventure and that not everything has a meaning.
Well this film had meaning. Beautifully directed by Stephen Daldry, emotions run high in this film as the audience is drawn to sympathize with this troubled character. The poor kid was exposed to real life in an unrelenting, forceful manner and we can't help but sympathize. Conclusion: Worth A Watch
Dragon Tattoo is a brutal and unrelenting film that stays true to the book. That being said, this film was nearly identical to the original adaptation, making this movie nothing special at all.
The plot to this film is complex and disturbing as a journalist is aided by a young computer hacker in search for the whereabouts of a girl who disappeared 40 years ago. Daniel Craig's performance in this film was better than most anything he has displayed on screen before. Rooney Mara, a newcomer on the scene, may have had better fortune if she had a different early role. Nonetheless, she performed extremely well, delivering an equally convincing performance compared to Noomi Rapace as Lisbeth Salander.
This film is not for everyone. It is dark and has its moments of extreme brutality. If you can put up with that, the film has an intriguing plot that is different and original. So if you don't like subtitles (I actually like them) and want to see what all the fuss is about with the book series, I'd suggest this film. Conclusion: Worth A Watch
