The Huntsman: Winter's War

Long before the evil Queen Ravenna (Theron) was thought vanquished by Snow White’s blade, she watched silently as her sister, Freya (Blunt), suffered a heartbreaking betrayal and fled their kingdom. With Freya’s ability to freeze any enemy, the young ice queen has spent decades in a remote wintry palace raising a legion of deadly huntsmen—including Eric (Hemsworth) and warrior Sara (Chastain)—only to find that her prized two defied her one demand: Forever harden your hearts to love.  When Freya learns of her sister’s demise, she summons her remaining soldiers to bring the Magic Mirror home to the only sorceress left who can harness its power. But once she discovers Ravenna can be resurrected from its golden depths, the wicked sisters threaten this enchanted land with twice the darkest force it’s ever seen. Now, their amassing army shall prove undefeatable…unless the banished huntsmen who broke their queen’s cardinal rule can fight their way back to one another.

This movie was all pomp and circumstance with no substance.  Lots of over the top effects, scenery and costumes but not much else.  Considering the quality of the actors and actresses in the film, this was really disappointing.  There really isn't even anything else to say regarding this movie.   

I wouldn't recommend any wasting their time with this.  It really is nothing more than a huge waste.

Midnight Special

The sci-fi project, set in present day, follows a father and son who are forced into going on the run when the eight-year-old boy develops some kind of extraordinary power.

I really enjoyed this movie.  It just had an awesome feel about it.  It jumped right in without any explanation about why the boy is special or why they are on the run but you dont care.  Its filmed in a way that you are totally hooked without all the development and what not.  Loved that.  Its that kind of feel that made me fall in love with movies in the first place.  It takes you on a ride and you fully enjoy it even though you cant put your finger on why.  Add to that how simple it was for what is pretty much a sci fi movie with no special effects and that just makes me appreciate this film more.

I would absolutely recommend people checking this movie out.  It is a very great watch with such a natural hook due to storytelling simplicity that most movies massively miss the target on.

Criminal

The story of the right man in the wrong body. In a last-ditch effort to stop a diabolical plot, a dead CIA operative’s memories, secrets and skills are implanted into an unpredictable and dangerous death-row inmate in hopes the he will complete the operative’s mission.

This ended up being a pretty good movie.  The problem is that it took way too long to get there.  Kevin Costner was actually pretty good playing a character that he tends not to. The story was good enough.  The pacing was just atrocious with a lot of unnecessary character development for the first 45 minutes to an hour if the movie.  

I would somewhat recommend people checking this movie out.  Its not a must see by any means.  Its a decent watch but does take a while to get there.

Hardcore Henry

Strap in. Hardcore Henry is one of the most unflinchingly original wild-rides to hit the big screen in a long time: You remember nothing. Mainly because you’ve just been brought back from the dead by your wife (Haley Bennett). She tells you that your name is Henry. Five minutes later, you are being shot at, your wife has been kidnapped, and you should probably go get her back. Who’s got her? His name’s Akan (Danila Kozlovsky); he’s a powerful warlord with an army of mercenaries, and a plan for world domination. You’re also in an unfamiliar city of Moscow, and everyone wants you dead. Everyone except for a mysterious British fellow called Jimmy (Sharlto Copley.) He may be on your side, but you aren’t sure. If you can survive the insanity, and solve the mystery, you might just discover your purpose and the truth behind your identity. Good luck, Henry. You’re likely going to need it…

I get the premise of the movie since Point Of View games are so huge.  But that's really all this was - a clever premise.  The movie was off the wall absurd with everything that went on.    The action being first person ended up making it all too choppy.  The fight scenes ended up looking silly and annoying.  The movie was pretty much crap.

I wouldn't recommend anyone wasting their time with this choppy garbage.  Stick to just playing the video games instead of watching movie versions of them.

The Jungle Book

Directed by Jon Favreau, based on Rudyard Kipling’s timeless stories and inspired by Disney’s classic animated film, The Jungle Book is an all-new live-action epic adventure about Mowgli (newcomer Neel Sethi), a man-cub who’s been raised by a family of wolves. But Mowgli finds he is no longer welcome in the jungle when fearsome tiger Shere Khan (voice of Idris Elba), who bears the scars of Man, promises to eliminate what he sees as a threat. Urged to abandon the only home he’s ever known, Mowgli embarks on a captivating journey of self-discovery, guided by panther-turned-stern mentor Bagheera (voice of Ben Kingsley), and the free-spirited bear Baloo (voice of Bill Murray). Along the way, Mowgli encounters jungle creatures who don’t exactly have his best interests at heart, including Kaa (voice of Scarlett Johansson), a python whose seductive voice and gaze hypnotizes the man-cub, and the smooth-talking King Louie (voice of Christopher Walken), who tries to coerce Mowgli into giving up the secret to the elusive and deadly red flower: fire.

The animated version of The Jungle Book was one of my favorite movies growing up.  I would watch it all the time, so I was a little bit skeptical about a "live action" version of this movie.  I'm happy to say that I was wrong because this turned out to be great.  They pretty much stuck to the story and didn't make any massive tweaks or changes.  They even worked in some of the classic songs from the original.  The CGI on the animals was incredible and really made several scenes amazing to watch.  The only problem with this movie is that with the animals looking so lifelike that a lot of the scenes where they are aggressive are going to be absolutely terrifying for younger viewers.  

The Jungle Book was a great watch with amazing effects.  It did a great job of translating from the animated version.  Just be careful bringing young ones to see this because they will be scared several times throughout.

My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2

My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2, the long-awaited follow-up to the highest-grossing romantic comedy of all time featuring Nia Vardalos, who stars alongside the entire returning cast of favorites, the film reveals a Portokalos family secret that will bring the beloved characters back together for an even bigger and Greeker wedding. 

I thought the original movie was pretty damn funny.  But that was like fifteen years ago and I really didn't remotely see the need for this sequel.  That being said, it was pretty damn funny and had some huge laughs.  But in all honesty - it was really just a redo of the first one and adding another generation to the family.  

If you liked the original, you will certainly enjoy this one too.  It's got plenty of laughs and family comedy.  If you never saw the original, you should . . . . And then wait like 15 years and watch this one and laugh all over again.

The Boss

Melissa McCarthy (Bridesmaids, The Heat) headlines The Boss as a titan of industry who is sent to prison after she’s caught for insider trading. When she emerges ready to rebrand herself as America’s latest sweetheart, not everyone she screwed over is so quick to forgive and forget.

I find Melissa McCarthy absolutely hysterical.  I have always been a huge fan of hers and have never walked away disappointed in anything she did except Tammy, the last movie that her and her husband wrote and he directed.  That was the only reason I was a little worried about this movie.  Those worries were obliterated about five minutes in when I had already laughed more than allof Tammy.  I thought this movie was hysterical.  McCarthy had great chemistry with Kristen Bell and her interactions with the children had me dying.  

I would absolutely recommend people check this movie out.  Its totally formula but still filled with laughs.  If you like Melissa McCarthy there is no way you won't like this movie.

Miracles From Heaven

Miracles from Heaven is based on the incredible true story of the Beam family. When Christy (Jennifer Garner) discovers her 10-year-old daughter Anna (Kylie Rogers) has a rare, incurable disease, she becomes a ferocious advocate for her daughter’s healing as she searches for a solution. After Anna has a freak accident, an extraordinary miracle unfolds in the wake of her dramatic rescue that leaves medical specialists mystified, her family restored and their community inspired.  

Wow!!!  This was quite the heart string pulling movie.  I have never been someone that could be accused of being a man of faith.  I believe in certain things but don't really believe in too much and definitely don't wear it on my sleeve or keep it at the forefront of my brain.  I thought that this would be one of those bible thumping type of movies.  Not that I am dissing those but just that they are not usually my cup of tea.   But I decided to check this one out and I'm actually glad I did.  It was a very good movie that didn't overly rely on the faith thing to the point of being a church infomercial.  It was a good movie, with good acting - especially by Jennifer Garner.  And you couldn't help but get choked up at several points during the movie.

Didn't think I would say this but I would definitely recommend that people check this movie out.  It was a very enjoyable watch and lights even the smallest of flames in people with little belief in faith like myself.  

Batman Vs Superman: Dawn Of Justice

Fearing the actions of a god-like Super Hero left unchecked, Gotham City’s own formidable, forceful vigilante takes on Metropolis’s most revered, modern-day savior, while the world wrestles with what sort of hero it really needs. And with Batman and Superman at war with one another, a new threat quickly arises, putting mankind in greater danger than it’s ever known before.

Where should I start?  I thought the movie was okay.  Not great.  Not the worst.  But okay and parts of it were actually very good.  That being said - I went into this movie with expectations of total garbage.  So that definitely helped my thoughts on the movie.  If I would have gone into this with Marvel movie expectations I would be off the charts ranting about how bad it was.   There were definitely things that were good.  The movie was actually great all around for like the first 45 minutes.  Believe it or not - Ben Affleck was actually really good as the elder version of Batman.  Jeremy Irons as Alfred was awesome.  The build of philosophical differences between the two superheroes started off really well.  Then it just kind of fell off the tracks.  Pretty much once the grossly over acted Lex Luthor showed up the movie was all over the place.  It came back together when Batman and Superman actually fought.  That stuff was great.  But then that ended so cheesy and the movie was pretty much crap after that with Zack Snyder's directing style becoming off the charts annoying.  

Marketing sidebar - they pretty much showed you every a-ha moment that would get the crowd all excited in the trailer.  You pretty much see the whole movie through the ads.  No clue why DC did that.  Also - if you have your whole DC universe launching off of this you don't use this as a launching point?  No mention of Suicide Squad which is coming out in a couple of months?   That's just dumb.  It's as if they don't have faith in their movies and are so programmed to reboots or repackaging that they don't want connections between the movies.  

I doubt that my recommendation will influence whether or not anyone would see it.  You were either seeing it or not regardless.  My advice could not be stronger though to keep your expectations low for it and maybe you will come out thinking it was okay or good.

Risen

Risen is the epic Biblical story of the Resurrection, as told through the eyes of a non-believer. Clavius (Joseph Fiennes), a powerful Roman Military Tribune, and his aide Lucius (Tom Felton), are tasked with solving the mystery of what happened to Jesus in the weeks following the crucifixion, in order to disprove the rumors of a risen Messiah and prevent an uprising in Jerusalem.

Eh.  That's really all I have to say about this bad boy.  These movies are not and never have been my cup of tea.  Outside of Passion Of The Christ, I really have never been into movies about Jesus.  They all just seem like snoozefests that I would be forced to watch in religion class when I was younger and would struggle to stay awake in the uncomfortable folding chairs.  This movie was really no different for me.  

I wouldn't really recommend this to anyone unless they are really devout Catholics and heard from other devout Catholics that they should see it.  I was pretty much tuned out for most of the movie.

Allegiant

After the earth-shattering revelations of Insurgent, Tris must escape with Four and go beyond the wall enclosing Chicago. For the first time ever, they will leave the only city and family they have ever known in order to find a peaceful solution for their embroiled city. Once outside, old discoveries are quickly rendered meaningless with the revelation of shocking new truths. Tris and Four must quickly decide who they can trust as a ruthless battle ignites beyond the walls of Chicago which threatens all of humanity. In order to survive, Tris will be forced to make impossible choices about courage, allegiance, sacrifice and love.

I am a fan of this franchise and read all the books.  This movie was a decent watch but it was just another set up for the actual story.  Just like the part ones of the final Harry Potter, Hunger Games and Twilight, this was just fluff while you wait another year to actually see the story end.  They definitely put more money into this one and it looked better across the board with lots of extra special effects but that is just to make you enjoy the fluffy set up since the story is not going to be completed yet.  

I would obviously recommend this movie to anyone that is a fan of the franchise.  It's more of the same and is again a decent watch but the movie ultimately doesn't go anywhere since this easily could have been trimmed down to be the first 45 - 60 minutes of the full final chapter.

10 Cloverfield Lane

Of the film, J.J. Abrams says: "The idea came up a long time ago during production. We wanted to make it a blood relative of Cloverfield. The idea was developed over time. We wanted to hold back the title for as long as possible." It reportedly follows a girl who, after losing consciousness in a car accident, wakes up in an underground cellar with a man who tells her that the outside world has perished in a nuclear attack.


JJ Abrams is officially this generation's Stephen Spielberg.  I know he didn't direct this, but its just that anything he is involved in turns out to be a great ride.  This movie was no different.  The shrouded in secrecy marketing approach (textbook JJ Abrams at this point) helped to make the viewers not really know what this movie was about.  That became one of the best parts because as you were watching you really had no idea where this was going to go.  And due to how the majority of it took place in an underground bunker with tight confines and what not it led to a non-stop level of suspense where the viewer was pretty much on edge the whole time.  And then the conclusion just keeps you there even more.  I can't really say too much without giving it all away but I didn't fully realize how intense the movie was as a whole until it was over and I was sore or exhausted when I went to get up because I was so tense the whole movie.

I would definitely recommend people checking this movie out.  It was a great watch.  I am sure that there will be people that will knock it for lack of realism at certain points but that is where I say that this is a movie and you need to let go of some of that stuff to enjoy a ride like this one.  

London Has Fallen

The sequel to the worldwide smash hit Olympus Has Fallen, a non-stop, suspenseful action thriller that delivers high-octane excitement through a heightened sense of authenticity. The visceral intensity springs from a timely premise: after the British Prime Minister passes away, his funeral becomes a target of a terrorist organization to destroy some of the world’s most powerful leaders, devastate the British capital, and unleash a terrifying vision of the future. The only hope of stopping it rests on the shoulders of the President of the United States (Aaron Eckhart) and his formidable Secret Service head (Gerard Butler), and an English MI-6 agent (Charlotte Riley) who rightly trusts no one. Morgan Freeman also stars as the Vice President of the United States.


This is for the most part the same as the original.  The only thing that made this one better was that it took place throughout London instead of just inside the White House.  It's a wannabe Die Hard and succeeds in terms of crazy action and shootouts.  But nothing will ever be as good as Die Hard.  

I would recommend people checking this out if they are fans of these kinds of action movies.  Turn off your brain and enjoy the adrenaline ride for 90 minutes.  If you are looking for something with substance, this is not that movie.

Zootopia

The modern mammal metropolis of Zootopia is a city like no other. Comprised of habitat neighborhoods like ritzy Sahara Square and frigid Tundratown, it’s a melting pot where animals from every environment live together—a place where no matter what you are, from the biggest elephant to the smallest shrew, you can be anything. But when optimistic Officer Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) arrives, she discovers that being the first bunny on a police force of big, tough animals isn’t so easy. Determined to prove herself, she jumps at the opportunity to crack a case, even if it means partnering with a fast-talking, scam-artist fox, Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman), to solve the mystery.

This was a very fun movie.  Lots of great characters to love.  Lots of humor and symbolism for the parents to enjoy just as much as the kids.  Most importantly, it had a great message to the children about being able to be whatever it is you want to be if you set your mind to it. 

I would absolutely recommend this movie to everyone.  I loved it.  My old teenage kids loved it.  My young nieces loved it.  Thumbs up all around.

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot

An adaptation of journalist Kim Barker’s wartime memoir, "The Taliban Shuffle." The story recounts Barker’s experiences covering conflicts in Afghanistan and Pakistan. It's said to be a dark comedy dealing with Barker's fish-out-of-water experience and the challenges of being a woman in wartime Afghanistan and Pakistan.

This was a great story and I thought Tina Fey was perfectly cast for it.  It was a good autobiographical story and was very well paced.  My only knock against it is that it's was marketed as a comedy and it really wasn't.  The movie was much more of a character drama with some funny lines here and there.  

The movie was a pretty good watch and I would recommend people checking it out.  Just don't expect the laugh out loud comedy that all the ads would lead you to believe.

The Other Side Of The Door

A family lives an idyllic existence abroad until a tragic accident takes the life of their young son. The inconsolable mother learns of an ancient ritual that will bring him back to say a final goodbye. She travels to an ancient temple, where a door serves as a mysterious portal between two worlds. But when she disobeys a sacred warning to never open that door, she upsets the balance between life and death.

I expected this to be another corny horror movie that had no business being made.  I was surprised and wrong.  This movie had a good story and build up kind of like The Ring or The Grudge.  There were plenty of jump causing scares.  You cared enough about the people effected.  And most importantly, they actually didn't drop the ball at the end like most of these movies do.  

I am not saying this movie is great but it's much better than I expected and I would recommend people looking for a good scary or creepy movie check this out.  It ended up being a pretty good watch.

Triple 9

In Triple 9, a crew of dirty cops is blackmailed by the Russian mob to execute a virtually impossible heist. The only way to pull it off is to manufacture a 999, police code for “officer down”. Their plan is turned upside down when the unsuspecting rookie they set up to die foils the attack, triggering a breakneck, action-packed finale filled with double-crosses, greed and revenge.

This was a pretty good dirty cop movie.  The cast was awesome and the back and forth between the team members and the lack of trust playing out developed slowly but surely keeping you hooked throughout the movie.  

I would recommend people checking this out.  It's a fun and tightly paced ride with a really good collection of actors.

Gods Of Egypt

In this spectacular action-adventure inspired by the classic mythology of Egypt, the survival of mankind hangs in the balance as an unexpected mortal hero Bek (Brenton Thwaites) undertakes a thrilling journey to save the world and rescue his true love. In order to succeed, he must enlist the help of the powerful god Horus (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) in an unlikely alliance against Set (Gerard Butler), the merciless god of darkness, who has usurped Egypt's throne, plunging the once peaceful and prosperous empire into chaos and conflict. As their breathtaking battle against Set and his henchmen takes them into the afterlife and across the heavens, both god and mortal must pass tests of courage and sacrifice if they hope to prevail in the epic final confrontation.

Wow.  This was garbage.   Even the usual production value of movies like this were garbage.  No special effects or set production could save this.  How were these actors in this?  Total crap.

I would definitely not recommend anyone waste a single minute watching that.  Again - this was crap.

The Choice

When feisty medical student Gabby Holland moves in next door to perennial ladies’ man Travis Shaw, it sends them both on a romantic journey neither ever dreamed possible. Travis has always believed a serious relationship with a woman would cramp his easygoing lifestyle, while Gabby is all set to settle down her long-term boyfriend—until an irresistible attraction between the unlikely couple upends both of their well-planned lives. After a whirlwind courtship, Gabby and Travis wed and build a family together, making every decision hand-in-hand until one of them is forced to make the most important choice of their life alone. A poignant and life-affirming celebration of love, marriage and family that explores the most heart-wrenching question of all: how far would you go to keep the hope of love alive?

This was a textbook Nicholas Sparks movie.  Unlikely love story where just when everything seems too good to be true, something majorly dramatic traumatic happens and heartstrings are pulled.  This one was more watchable than I thought it would be and the heartstrings were not pulled too much which made the movie a decent watch.

I would lukewarmly recommend this movie to people.  It wasn't bad but it wasn't great.  It's just kind of floating inbetween.

Pride & Prejudice & Zombies

A zombie outbreak has fallen upon the land in Jane Austen’s classic tale of the tangled relationships between lovers from different social classes in 19th century England. Feisty heroine Elizabeth Bennet (Lily James) is a master of martial arts and weaponry and the handsome Mr. Darcy (Sam Reilly) is a fierce zombie killer, yet the epitome of upper class prejudice. As the zombie outbreak intensifies, they must swallow their pride and join forces on the blood-soaked battlefield.

The version I watched was a bootleg with choppy sound, but I really don't think it would have mattered.   This movie was just a time period variation of a zombie movie and it was pretty blah.  Part of the allure of the zombie stuff is the thought of it actually happening so putting it in this time period takes that away and leaves you with no hook.  It's just boring.

I wouldn't recommend anyone bothering with this movie.  I'm usually a fan of zombie stuff but this movie really is just kind of there.

Deadpool

Based upon Marvel Comics’ most unconventional anti-hero, Deadpool tells the origin story of former Special Forces operative turned mercenary Wade Wilson, who after being subjected to a rogue experiment that leaves him with accelerated healing powers, adopts the alter ego Deadpool. Armed with his new abilities and a dark, twisted sense of humor, Deadpool hunts down the man who nearly destroyed his life.

This movie was awesome.  It was the R rated comic book movie that everyone wanted.  It mocked itself openly.  It mocked comic books openly.  It mocked Hollywood openly.  It didn't take itself seriously and still delivered on every level.  Great action.  Great writing.  Great back and forth story telling.  Great acting since Ryan Reynolds was basically born to play this part.  And there is the possibility of X-Men tie-ins too.

I absolutely recommend people checking this movie out.  It is ALOT of fun.  It's definitely a comic book movie for adults but it was awesome.

The Witch

Set in New England circa 1630, The Witch follows a farmer who get cast out of his colonial plantation and is forced to move his family to a remote plot of land on the edge of an ominous forest rumored to be controlled by witches. Almost immediately, strange and unsettling things begin to happen-the animals turn violent, the crops fail, and one of the children disappears, only to return seemingly possessed by an evil spirit. As suspicion and paranoia mount, everyone begins to point the finger at teenage daughter Thomasin. They accuse her of witchcraft, which she adamantly denies...but as circumstances become more and more treacherous, each family member's faith, loyalty, and love will be tested in shocking and unforgettable ways.

Let me start by saying that this movie was filmed in a specific way that made you weirded out from the start.  It was as if we were there and watching this family in their regular day to day life and should not be seeing what we were seeing.  Not sure if that makes sense or not but it did give the movie a certain kind of allure to it.  Unfortunately it failed to capitalize on that and the movie pretty much failed.  There were definitely a few scary moments and lots of creepiness but the whole audience pretty much groaned in disappointment when the credits started.  

I wouldn't recommend anyone seeing this.  It was a great filming style but not much more than that.

Zoolander 2

The original 2001 film about a dimwitted male super-model turned wannabe spy earned $60.8 million worldwide. The beginning of the movie is set 10 years later, and Derek & Hansel are literally forgotten. Nobody even knows who they are, so they have to re-invent themselves. Stiller said that Will Ferrell's Mugatu would be back, if the actor is up for it. "If Will says yes, he definitely has to be a part of it. To me, Mugatu is one of the classic screen villains of all time."

This is definitely one of those did we really need a sequel to this movie situations.  Zoolander was what it was - an SNL like skit idea that was expended to a movie.  There are some good laughs but no real need to expand on this as a continuing story.   There were some decent laughs throughout the movie but nothing that warrants a need to see it.  

I wouldn't really recommend anyone bothering with this.  It could have been worse but it wasn't all that good and ultimately there was just no need for a continuation to the Zoolander story.

Norm Of The North

A polar bear of many words, Norm’s greatest gripe is simple: there is no room for tourists in the Arctic. But when a maniacal developer threatens to build luxury condos in his own backyard, Norm does what all normal polar bears would do…he heads to New York City to stop it. With a cast of ragtag lemmings at his side, Norm takes on the big apple, big business and a big identity crisis to save the day.

This was one hell of a lame January animated movie release for the sole purpose of miling parents of their money on a holiday weekend.  It was only 90 minutes long but still felt about 80 minutes too long.

I would not recommend anyone wasting their time with this.  And for the record - my 10 year old niece said the same thing.

Fifty Shades Of Black

If you got hot and bothered by Christian Grey, wait until you get a load of Christian Black! Brought to you by Marlon Wayans and the comedy team behind the "A Haunted House" franchise, "Scary Movie," and "White Chicks," comes a parody like you've never experienced before. Get ready for an erotic spoof comedy as "Fifty Shades of Black" takes you through a maze of hard, rough, and pre-mature encounters from inside of Mr. Black's playroom.


This movie was awful.  I've always managed to find something redeeming or laugh worthy in spoof movies.  I've always been a big fan of Marlon Wayans.  But this movie was just plain awful.  I watched it with an ewwww face on pretty much the entire movie.

I wouldn't recommend anyone bothering with this.  It was garbage and a total waste of time.

Dirty Grandpa

Jason Kelly (Zac Efron) is one week away from marrying his boss’s uber-controlling daughter, putting him on the fast track for a partnership at the law firm. However, when the straight-laced Jason is tricked into driving his foul-mouthed grandfather, Dick (Robert De Niro), to Daytona for spring break, his pending nuptials are suddenly in jeopardy. Between riotous frat parties, bar fights, and an epic night of karaoke, Dick is on a quest to live his life to the fullest and bring Jason along for the ride. Ultimately, on the wildest journey of their lives, “dirty” Grandpa and his uptight grandson discover they can learn from one another and form the bond they never had.

This movie had me dying.  The comedy and dialogue was off the charts vulgar but was so damn funny.  Robert DeNiro was hysterical and Zac Efron was also great at playing the straight guy.  I really did not expect to enjoy this movie or laugh nearly as much as I did.  One of DeNiro's better and funniest stuff in a while.

I'd absolutely recommend people checking this out.  Again - very vulgar but still incredibly enjoyable.

Kung Fu Panda 3

In 2016, one of the most successful animated franchises in the world returns with its biggest comedy adventure yet, "Kung Fu Panda 3." When Po's long-lost panda father suddenly reappears, the reunited duo travels to a secret panda paradise to meet scores of hilarious new panda characters. But when the supernatural villain Kai begins to sweep across China defeating all the kung fu masters, Po must do the impossible—learn to train a village full of his fun-loving, clumsy brethren to become the ultimate band of Kung Fu Pandas!

The original Kung Fu Panda is probably one of my favorite animated movies of all time.  It was one of those classic Dreamworks or Pixar animated movies where the humor was there for the adults and the kids love it too.  The second one was decent but nothing that I would repeatedly watch like the original.  It seemed more like a straight to dvd movie.  This entry was MUCH better than the last one.  This was a much better sequel and much more in line with all the things that made the original so awesome.  The humor was crisp and the characters both old and new were great.  The pacing of the movie was perfect with a run time of barely 90 minutes.

I would definitely recommend people checking this movie out.  It's a great watch and the parents can enjoy it as much as the kids.   

The Boy

The Boy is a frightening thrill ride directed by William Brent Bell (The Devil Inside) starring Lauren Cohan (The Walking Dead). Greta is a young American woman who takes a job as a nanny in a remote English village, only to discover that the family’s 8-year-old is a life-sized doll that the parents care for just like a real boy, as a way to cope with the death of their actual son 20 years prior. After violating a list of strict rules, a series of disturbing and inexplicable events bring Greta’s worst nightmare to life, leading her to believe that the doll is actually alive.

I am shocked at how much I ended up enjoying this movie.  I will be the first to admit that I had zero expectations for it based on the trailer but it was definitely done creepy enough to keep you interested and you are all in for the payoff by the time it comes around.   This is a prime example of Hollywood being able to do more than enough with a little premise as opposed to usually having this crazy over the top and detailed premise and failing to deliver.

I would definitely recommend people checking this out.  Like I said - I'm shocked at how much I enjoyed this movie and it was actually one of the better creepy/scary movies to come out in a while.

The 5th Wave

In the new film The 5th Wave, four waves of increasingly deadly attacks have left most of Earth decimated. Against a backdrop of fear and distrust, Cassie (Chloë Grace Moretz) is on the run, desperately trying to save her younger brother. As she prepares for the inevitable and lethal 5th wave, Cassie teams up with a young man who may become her final hope – if she can only trust him.

This is a movie that is attempting to capitalize on the teen novel craze that has brought us The Hunger Games and Divergent series.  It failed miserably.  The movie started out pretty decent and the effects of the first few "waves" were cool.  But then it just went to crap.  I don't know if you can put it on Moretz being not as good as Jennifer Lawrence or Shainne Woodley, but it was just seriously lacking any quality once the special effects stopped.  

I wouldn't recommend anyone bothering with this movie.  It's a pretty big waste of time and I seriously doubt that it will do well enough to warrant making a series out of it.

Regression

Minnesota, 1990. Detective Bruce Kenner (Ethan Hawke) investigates the case of young Angela (Emma Watson), who accuses her father, John Gray (David Dencik), of an unspeakable crime. When John unexpectedly and without recollection admits guilt, renowned psychologist Dr. Raines (David Thewlis) is brought in to help him relive his memories and what they discover unmasks a horrifying nationwide mystery.

This seems like it could have been a good movie but the hook and the payoff just were not there.  I was not remotely pulled in to be interested in the developing story and the payoff didn't really deliver.  A great movie comes with both of those.  A movie can be good with at least one of them but this movie kind of dropped the ball with both and ended up being a movie that is just kind of there.

I wouldn't really recommend people bothering with this movie.  Again - it is pretty much just there and you have forgotten all about it the day after seeing it.

13 Hours

13 Hours presents, for the first time ever, the true account of the events of September 11, 2012, when terrorists attacked the US State Department Special Mission Compound and a nearby CIA station called the Annex in Benghazi, Libya. A team of six American security operators fought to repel the attackers and protect the Americans stationed there. Those men went beyond the call of duty, performing extraordinary acts of courage and heroism, to avert tragedy on a much larger scale. This is their personal account, never before told, of what happened during the thirteen hours of that now-infamous attack.

Let me say first that with this being a Michael Bay movie, there is of course a lot of heart string pulling that could definitely be seen as over dramatic building up to the attacks.  However, I was very much okay with it in this movie.  It played incredibly well and I thought this movie was awesome.  I thought that the six soldiers were perfectly cast and I thought John Krasinski was great in a totally different role than he usually plays.  The movie did a great job of portraying the overall confusion in Benghazi and didn't just show things from one point of view.  I don't remotely pretend to be knowledgable about history or current affairs so I can't vouch for any of that accuracy.   But it seemed very much like you were there with them fighting your way through it all.

I would absolutely recommend people checking this movie out.  It was an awesome watch leaving you with lots of adrenaline and appreciation for the people that protect our country.

Ride Along 2

Kevin Hart and Ice Cube lead the returning lineup of Ride Along 2, the sequel to the blockbuster action-comedy that gave us the year's most popular comedy duo. Joining Hart and Cube for the next chapter of the series are director Tim Story, as well as Cube's fellow producers—Will Packer, Matt Alvarez and Larry Brezner—who will produce alongside Cube.

This is basically just more of the same from the original.  If you enjoyed that one than you will probably enjoy this one.  It really comes down to if you like Kevin Hart or not.  It was totally formula in every way with a couple of decent laughs throughout.

I would somewhat recommend this movie to people.  It's not awful.  It's not great.  It's a decent comedy sequel.

The Forest

Rising with terrifying grandeur at the base of Mt. Fuji in Japan, the legendary real-life Aokigahara Forest is the suspense-filled setting of the supernatural thriller. A young American woman, Sara (Natalie Dormer), journeys there in search of her twin sister, who has mysteriously disappeared. In the company of expatriate Aiden (Taylor Kinney), Sara enters the forest having been well warned to “stay on the path.” Determined to discover the truth about her sister’s fate, Sara will have to face the angry and tormented souls of the dead that prey on anyone who dares come near them. These malevolent spirits lying in wait for Sara at every turn will plunge her into a frightening darkness from which she must fight to save herself.

This movie was poop.  Just straight up poop.  It started off super slow and never picked up when they got to the actual forest.  There were no good scares and the story (or lack of) was garbage.  I held out hope that there would be some sort of redemption in the end but it just got worse.  

I would not recommend anyone wasting 90 minutes of their life on this.  It really was garbage.

The Ten Best Movies Of 2015

Honorable Mention - The Hateful Eight
It was tough to leave this off the top ten, but I really enjoyed a couple of over the top blockbusters more and Tarantino spent way too much time ranting in the stage coach before getting to the cabin where the movie really kicked into high gear.

10 - Furious 7
Was this a well done movie?  No.  Was it even the best of the Fast & Furious movies?  No.  But was it a movie that had the audience cheering out loud and clapping.  YES!!!  I love movies like this.  It's what makes the franchise so awesome.  Totally over the top in every way but one hell of a ride and so much fun.  Add in the amazing send off and paying respects to Paul Walker - and this movie made the cut for me.

9 - Avengers: Age Of Ultron
Another mega-franchise that had the audiences cheering and oohing and aahing.  Was it as good as the first one?  Not at all.  But they introduced some newbies, honored the repeating ones, had a great story and was another amazing entry in the Marvel cinematic universe.

8 - It Follows
This was one of the better and more original creepy/scary movies to come along in a long time.  You couldn't help but get completely hooked and keep your eyes on the screen.  The usual horror movie stuff was absent and it was still creepy as hell.

7 - Inside Out
Pixar has struck gold again.  This was a perfectly voice casted movie that provides some of the greatest teachable moments for parents with their kids regarding emotions and maybe even more importantly adults coming to terms with some of their own surpressed feelings.

6 - Room
This movie was awesome simply because it was a completely different take on your textbook kidnapping movies.  It wasn't about the actual kidnapping or the rescue.  Those parts really didn't even matter in this movie.  This was all about dealing with being in captivity for both an adult and a child and then the two of them dealing with the real world after the fact.  Original and very well done.

5 - Mad Max: Fury Road
Wow!  This movie was like straight testosterone on screen and ALOT of it.  This movie hit the ground running and didn't let up on the gas at all.  Yet they still managed to develop characters and tell a story at the same time.  One of the better reboots to come along in a very long time.

4 - The Gift
This movie barely got a wide release.  and that is a shame.  This was a great psychological thriller.  You get totally sucked into the movie right from the start and leave wondering if their were any people in your past that you may have wronged and if you have anything to worry about.  Take into account that this movie was directed by one of its starts - Joel Edgerton and that just makes it all much more impressive.

3 - Tomorrowland
I know that this movie was pretty much poorly received and that is a shame.  This was a great fantasy/imagination movie and struck a major chord with me.  Movies like this are why I got so into movies to begin with.  You pay your money, get your popcorn, settle in and go for a crazy ride to a totally different world for a couple of hours and enjoy it.  This movie was exactly that for me.

2 - The Revenant
This was one of the grizzliest movies I've even seen.  Besides the blatant and realistic violence, the filming style pretty much takes you right there and you feel like you are going through the same trials that Leonardo DiCaprio is.  And the bear attack scene?  Pretty much the craziest scene I've even seen on film.  No clue how they filmed this without him actually getting attacked by a bear.  Add in Tom Hardy's acting and this movie would have easily been the number one of the year if it wasn't for . . . . . . .

1 - Star Wars: The Force Awakens
This is the movie that I have waited 32 years ago.  Forget the prequels.  Pretend they never happened.  This movie felt like a Star Wars movie.  This movie felt exactly like seeing those others in theaters.  The new characters were introduced flawlessly and you immediately love them.  The returning ones each got their moment for applause . . . . . you can't help but geek out when a whole sold out audience reacts in unison like that!  And I'm already dying to see more of the new generation moving forward.  I have watched this movie 6 times (4 in theaters) in the last two weeks and I am totally ready for viewing 7.

The Ten Worst Movies Of 2015

Dishonorable Mention - The Last Witch Hunter
How does Vin Diesel take his mega-stardom from the Fast & Furious movies and make this?  How was this a good idea?

10 - The Visit
This could have been a legit creepy movie.  M Night Shyalalalalalalaman might have finally got his redemption.  Instead he went with the stupidest ending with a feces scene that I'm still cringing typing about 3 months later.

9 - American Ultra
This was basically an idea that some stoners had on a couch and somehow got made into a movie.  This would have struggled as a SNL skit much less a full length movie.

8 - The Water Diviner
Pretty sure that this was the snoozefest of the year.  I can barely remember anything about it since it was so damn boring.

7 - Hot Tub Time Machine 2
Did this really necessitate a sequel?  If so - wouldn't you want to go all out to get your lead back from the original?  Doomed from the start.

6 - The Transporter Refueled
Another franchise question.  It was a somewhat decent franchise if you like the senseless action type of movies.  The star leaves.  You want to reboot it?  Was the world dying for a Transporter reboot with a no name lead?

5 - Hitman: Agent 47
See the above thoughts on senseless franchise rebooting.

4 - The Boy Next Door
So beyond formula and ridiculous.  This would have been a nonsensical episode of a television procedural.

3 - Magic Mike XXL
Despite the subject matter - the first movie was actually pretty funny at times and a somewhat decent watch.  This was just an excuse to get money from male stripper starved women and had no substance whatsoever.

2 - The Ridiculous 6
This was a made for Netflix movie from Adam Sandler.  It was so god awful I just kind of sat there with a disgusted look on my face for the first half before pulling the plug.  Why would Netflix sign a deal with him for crap like this?

1 - Mortdecai
I can't believe that anything with Johnny Depp in it could ever be this bad.  I mean it was seriously God awful.  Hopefully he has hit rock bottom at this point and get back on track because something like this should be illegal.

The Big Short

When four outsiders saw what the big banks, media and government refused to, the global collapse of the economy, they had an idea: The Big Short. Their bold investment leads them into the dark underbelly of modern banking where they must question everyone and everything. Based on the true story and best-selling book by Michael Lewis and directed by Adam Mckay, The Big Short stars Christian Bale, Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling and Brad Pitt.

This movie was very well directed and acted.  I won't even remotely pretend to have any sort of understanding of banking, or mortgages or any of the things that this movie was about.  But that being said - they still managed to keep me hooked to the movie because of the acting and the directing.  Steve Carrell was especially great playing a character that is pretty much the total opposite of what he usually plays.  The movie exposes a lot of the corruption and no sense of morality that exists in the banking world and is sure to be mentioned several times during award nominations.  

I would definitely recommend people checking this movie out.  It was a great watch with awesome acting, direction and pacing of the story.  The only bad part of the movie is that it leaves you hating the corruption that you know exists already even more than you did before you watched the movie.

Anomalisa

Charlie Kaufman's first stop-motion film about a man crippled by the mundanity of his life.

This was one weird ass movie.  I only watched it because it had been nominated for Best Animated Film of the year.  Had no idea what it was about or anything.  The stop-motion animation was definitely cool.  The weird thing was seeing it used for regular life.  Usually this would be for a silly over the top animation movie.  But it was just an old man's interactions with people . . . . . and then there was the sex scene.  So weird.  In a strange way it kept your attention just because of that.

I don't know that I would actually recommend anyone checking this out.  It was a very weird watch.  Interesting but weird.  Again - I only watched it because of its nomination and that it showed up online while I had some down time to watch.