The Age Of Adaline

After miraculously remaining 29 years old for almost eight decades, Adaline Bowman (Blake Lively) has lived a solitary existence, never allowing herself to get close to anyone who might reveal her secret. But a chance encounter with charismatic philanthropist Ellis Jones (Michiel Huisman) reignites her passion for life and romance. When a weekend with his parents (Harrison Ford and Kathy Baker) threatens to uncover the truth, Adaline makes a decision that will change her life forever.

This was a beautifully told story.  I realize how wussy that sounds but it really does apply to this movie.  I loved the way that the first ten minutes had a narrator going over what was happening.  It felt perfect.  Then the narrator would return a couple of times throughout the movie and again it just felt so right from a storytelling format.  The love story definitely hooked you and Blake Lively did a great job of showing the several different emotions involved with her not aging.

I would definitely recommend people checking this movie out.  It was a great story with an excellent way of it being told.

The Gunman

An adaptation of Jean-Patrick Manchette's "The Prone Gunman." Sean Penn stars as Jim Terrier, an international operative who is betrayed by the organization he worked for, and must go on the run in a relentless game of cat and mouse across Europe.

This movie was a really good watch.  How did this not get a wider a better promoted release?  Sean Penn was great in the Liam Nesson Taken-ish role and Javier Bardem is awesome in anything he does.  The fight scenes were great and they would go from 0 to 60 so fast.  There might have been a little too much dramatic talky talky at times but it was still enjoyable.

I would definitely recommend people checking this movie out.  It's a good action movie.  Unfortunately it was in and out of theaters pretty fast after minimal advertising.

Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2

After six years of keeping our malls safe, Paul Blart has earned a well-deserved vacation. He heads to Vegas with his teenage daughter before she heads off to college. But safety never takes a holiday and when duty calls, Blart answers.

If I'm being realistic, this is definitely on the list of sequels that will surely be questioned for being made forever.  Is it stupid?  Yes.  Is it formula?  Of course.  That being said, if you find Kevin James funny and you liked the first one despite its same level of stupidity and formula - I'm sure you will like this one too.

Again, I would recommend this to anyone who enjoyed the first one.  Same kind of laughs and same kind of corniness.  If that one wasn't for you, then you shouldn't touch this one either.

Unfriended

Ushering in a new era of horror, Unfriended unfolds over a teenager's computer screen as she and her friends are stalked by an unseen figure who seeks vengeance for a shaming video that led a vicious bully to kill herself a year earlier.

It was a decent idea and shown well using social media and an absurd amount of computer attachment and usage of the current generation.  Honestly - it made me feel really old because of the massive a.d.d. that it seems the whole generation has.  Anywho - the problem with the movie was that there really wasn't much of a fear element.  You just kind of watched it play out in a completely formula way.  It was a very short movie so it ended up being okay.

I would somewhat recommend people checking this movie out.  It might be more entertaining/scary for this generation since they can probably identify with it all more. Otherwise, it was a decent premise but not too scary.

The Water Diviner

Starring Russell Crowe, The Water Diviner is an epic adventure set four years after the devastating battle of Gallipoli in Turkey during World War I. Australian farmer Connor (Crowe) travels to Istanbul to discover the fate of his sons, reported missing in the action, where he forges a relationship with the beautiful Turkish woman (Kurylenko) who owns the hotel in which he stays. Holding on to hope, and with the help of a Turkish Officer, Connor embarks on a journey across the country to find the truth about the fate of his sons.

Not going to sugarcoat it at all.  This movie was a straight up snooze fest.  I made it about 45 minutes into it and I couldn't have been less interested if I tried.  There really was no hook whatsoever.  The plugged was pulled.

I obviously wouldn't recommend anyone wasting their time with this.  It's 45 minutes I wish I had back and I couldn't imagine wasting a full two hours on it.

It Follows

For 19-year-old Jay (Monroe), the fall should be about school, boys and weekends at the lake. Yet, after a seemingly innocent sexual encounter she suddenly finds herself plagued by nightmarish visions; she can't shake the sensation that someone, or something, is following her. As the threat closes in, Jay and her friends must somehow escape the horrors that are only a few steps behind.

This was easily one of the most original horror movies I've seen in a very long time.  Its so simple and so different.  And they didn't rely on any usual horror movie cheesiness for scares.  It was all done with amazing camera work and a really creepy tension inducing score.  I would go so far as to say that this was an artsy horror movie with how legitamitely well made of a movie it was.  

I would definitely recommend people checking this out.  I'm a pretty big fan of scary movies and this one was one hell of a great mind screw.  You will leave this movie asking people if they see creepy people around just to make sure you are not losing it.

Furious 7

Continuing the global exploits in the unstoppable franchise built on speed, Vin Diesel, Paul Walker and Dwayne Johnson lead the returning cast of Furious 7. James Wan directs this chapter of the hugely successful series that also welcomes back favorites Michelle Rodriguez, Jordana Brewster, Tyrese Gibson, Chris "Ludacris" Bridges, Elsa Pataky and Lucas Black. They are joined by international action stars new to the franchise including Jason Statham, Djimon Hounsou, Tony Jaa, Ronda Rousey and Kurt Russell. 

I will be the first person to admit that I LOVE these kinds of movies.  If you are looking for a well done piece of film - this is not the movie for you.  If you enjoy crazy roller coaster rides and pretty much shutting your brain off and enjoying it - these movies are the best.  Sure the 2nd and 3rd entries were eeehhhh at best but the rest have been the dictionary definition of popcorn movies.  Crazy over the top action.  Cheesy acting and dialogue.  A story that is really not all that important.   Lots of laughs sprinkled in. And a love of the characters that have grown throughout all the movies on the audience.  This entry is right on par with the others.  Probably not as good as Fast Five (my personal favorite one) but its definitely up there.  This entry did take it to a whole other level though.  Along with the action, comedy between the characters and what they always do - they did the most amazing job of heartstring pulling at the end of the movie regarding Paul Walker's death.  I won't spoil how they did it.  I will say that they do NOT kill his character off but say goodbye to him in one of the classiest things I've ever seen in a movie and pretty much left the whole theater sniffling or sobbing like they were watching a Nicholas Sparks movie.  

I would absolutely recommend people checking this movie out.  It is another phenomenal entry in what is probably one of my favorite movie franchises and one that I would be okay with them continuing to go on with.  That's pretty impressive seven movies in.