The Equalizer


In The Equalizer, Denzel Washington plays McCall, a man who believes he has put his mysterious past behind him and dedicated himself to beginning a new, quiet life. But when McCall meets Teri (ChloĆ« Grace Moretz), a young girl under the control of ultra-violent Russian gangsters, he can't stand idly by – he has to help her. Armed with hidden skills that allow him to serve vengeance against anyone who would brutalize the helpless, McCall comes out of his self-imposed retirement and finds his desire for justice reawakened. If someone has a problem, if the odds are stacked against them, if they have nowhere else to turn, McCall will help. He is The Equalizer. 

This was a fun, badass movie.  It was very easy and enjoyable to sit back and watch Denzel kick ass.  His silent and assessing nature of each action scene just made the intensity that much better.  This is basically the type of story that everyone daydreams about if anyone were to harm their loved ones.  

This movie was a great watch.  I would definitely recommend everyone checking this out.  There are some parts that were crazy violent but still a great watch.

Dolphin Tale 2


Dolphin Tale 2 will tell another true story inspired by the life of Winter, but also involves a new baby dolphin named Hope who was rescued by the Clearwater Marine Aquarium in 2010. Winter, who still resides at the Aquarium, played herself in the original film and returns in “DT2” and Hope will play herself in the sequel.

This movie was just like the first one.  Totally formula in every way.  You know how it's all going to play out just by watching the commercial.  There are several heartwarming moments and you will no doubt love this if you are an animal lover.  There really isn't anything else to say about it though.

If you saw and liked the first one - I'd recommend this to you.  If not or you didn't see the first one, I wouldn't bother with this.

A Walk Among The Tombstones


Based on Lawrence Block's bestselling series of mystery novels, AWalk Among the Tombstones stars Liam Neeson as Matt Scudder, an ex-NYPD cop who now works as an unlicensed private investigator operating just outside the law. When Scudder reluctantly agrees to help a heroin trafficker (Dan Stevens) hunt down the men who kidnapped and then brutally murdered his wife, the PI learns that this is not the first time these men have committed this sort of twisted crime…nor will it be the last. Blurring the lines between right and wrong, Scudder races to track the deviants through the backstreets of New York City before they kill again. 

This movie was a snoozefest.  I expected something similar to Taken and all I got was a bunch of talky talky.  Seriously.  It was just Liam Nesson having lots and lots of conversations.  I actually stopped paying attention halfway through because of how bored I was.

I wouldn't recommend anyone wasting their time with this.  It was nothing like what was advertised or what I expected.

This Is Where I Leave You


When their father passes away, four grown siblings, bruised and banged up by their respective adult lives, are forced to return to their childhood home and live under the same roof together for a week, along with their over-sharing mother and an assortment of spouses, exes and might-have-beens. Confronting their history and the frayed states of their relationships among the people who know and love them best, they ultimately reconnect in hysterical and emotionally affecting ways amid the chaos, humor, heartache and redemption that only families can provide—driving us insane even as they remind us of our truest, and often best, selves. 

One of the greatest things that has come out of Hollywood over the last couple of years is the rebirth of Jason Bateman in to regular roles and relevancy.  There are few actors that are funnier at delivering lines in the most perfect way.  Dry humor, sarcasm, dramatic physical reaction, disgust - he kills me across the board.  He was great in this.  Honestly, the whole cast was.  The only knock you can make on this is that it is as much a drama as a comedy (if not more so).  That being said, it still does an amazing job at portraying a family with all levels of dysfunction in an accurate, touching and funny way.

I would definitely recommend people checking this out.  There are plenty of laughs and even some tears but you are able to connect and root for all the different family members.

The Drop


The Drop follows lonely bartender Bob Saginowski (Tom Hardy) through a covert scheme of funneling cash to local gangsters – "money drops" – in the underworld of Brooklyn bars. Under the heavy hand of his employer and cousin Marv (James Gandolfini), Bob finds himself at the center of a robbery gone awry and entwined in an investigation that digs deep into the neighborhood’s past where friends, families, and foes all work together to make a living – no matter the cost. 

Although this movie was a much more artsy character drama than I expected based on advertisements, I still enjoyed it very much.  They had several different angles all playing out at the same time and even though you were not aware of the connections yet you were so intrigued throughout wanting to see how it played out.  The chemistry between the cast was phenomenal - especially Tom Hardy and James Gandolfini.  This was a great last role for the departed Gandolfini and Tom Hardy really is becoming one of my favorite actors at this point.

I would definitely recommend people checking this movie out.  It's artsy and edgy but really is a very enjoyable watch.  

The Maze Runner


When Thomas (O'Brien) wakes up trapped in a massive maze with a group of other boys, he has no memory of the outside world other than strange dreams about a mysterious organization known as W.C.K.D. Only by piecing together fragments of his past with clues he discovers in the maze can Thomas hope to uncover his true purpose and a way to escape. Based on the best-selling novel by James Dashner.

I loved this book and was really excited to see this movie.  The story is basically like a forced version of Lord Of The Flies.  You don't know why this is happening to these people but its done in a way that keeps you hanging on to find out.  There were parts of the book that I thought were too much or kind of silly and clearly the filmmakers agreed because they were the parts that got changed for the better in the movie.  They pretty much kept to the book but with less of the drawn out fluffy stuff.  It was a great paced ride with lots of action and characters that you really are able to get behind.

I would definitely recommend people checking this movie out.  I can't wait to go read the other two books of the trilogy now.

No Good Deed


Terri (Taraji P. Henson), a devoted wife and mother of two, lives an ideal life that takes a dramatic turn when her home and children are threatened by Colin (Idris Elba), a charming stranger who smooth-talks his way into her house, claiming car trouble. The unexpected invitation leaves her and her family terrorized and fighting for survival. 

This was a textbook "see the trailer - you have seen the whole thing" kind of movie.  There was a big advertised twist at the end that is nowhere that big of a deal as advertised.  You still know what is going to happen long before it all plays out.  However, it is still watchable for two reasons.  One - Idris Elba and Taraji P Henson are both great actors.  Even though their roles are formula/textbook they are both captivating enough that you enjoy it.  Two - the movie is super short and they don't waste any time on overdevelopment of unnecessary stuff.  If this would have been a 2 hour movie instead of an under 90 minute movie, I probably would have just pulled the plug on it.  

I would not really recommend people checking this movie out.  I know that it came out at a time when there really nothing else.  If you are in desperate need to see something - its short enough to check out and not be annoyed.  I think you are better off waiting a week or two for better options though.

If I Stay


Mia Hall (Chloƫ Grace Moretz) thought the hardest decision she would ever face would be whether to pursue her musical dreams at Juilliard or follow a different path to be with the love of her life, Adam (Jamie Blackley). But what should have been a carefree family drive changes everything in an instant, and now her own life hangs in the balance. Caught between life and death for one revealing day, Mia has only one decision left, which will not only decide her future but her ultimate fate. If I Stay is based on the best-selling novel of the same name.

I don't know what was missing.  I just didn't connect enough to this movie to really enjoy it.  It felt like it was trying too much to pull heart strings instead of really connecting the viewer to the events that were taking place.  I also was not really feeling the storytelling of flashing back from the hospital.  It just felt very fragmented and again trying to pull heart strings too much.

I wouldn't really recommend anyone bothering with this movie.  It was way too melodramatic and made The Fault In Our Stars seem oscar worthy.