Moana

Three thousand years ago, the greatest sailors in the world voyaged across the vast Pacific, discovering the many islands of Oceania. But then, for a millennium, their voyages stopped – and no one knows why.  From Walt Disney Animation Studios comes Moana, a sweeping, CG-animated feature film about an adventurous teenager who sails out on a daring mission to save her people. During her journey, Moana (voice of Auli’i Cravalho) meets the once-mighty demigod Maui (voice of Dwayne Johnson), who guides her in her quest to become a master wayfinder. Together, they sail across the open ocean on an action-packed voyage, encountering enormous monsters and impossible odds, and along the way, Moana fulfills the ancient quest of her ancestors and discovers the one thing she’s always sought: her own identity.

Disney knocked this one out of the park.  The only knock I can make against this was that it was lacking the usually charismatic and funny side characters that they generate.  This one had the crazy chicken which was great but didn't really talk.  Outside of that, this movie was awesome.  The Rock as a Disney character was just as great as you would expect.  Moana is definitely a worthy princess addition.  And the story and animation were top notch.

I absolutely recommend people checking this movie out.  It's another Disney classic and what could be better than combining The Rock with Disney?

Almost Christmas

A new comedy from writer/director David E. Talbert ("Baggage Claim") and producer Will Packer ("Ride Along," "Think Like a Man" series, "This Christmas"), Almost Christmas tells the festive story of a beloved patriarch who asks his family for one gift this holiday season: to get along. If they can honor that wish and spend five days under the same roof without killing one another, it will be a Christmas miracle.

A dime a dozen type of movie.  Typical stereotypical characters.  Lots of family drama, heartstrings and laughs.  A decent overall watch that you honestly forget all about five minutes after watching it.  

I wouldn't recommend anyone wasting their time with this very forgettable movie.  It ends up just kind of being there.

Loving

From acclaimed writer/director Jeff Nichols, Loving celebrates the real-life courage and commitment of an interracial couple, Richard and Mildred Loving (portrayed by Joel Edgerton and Ruth Negga), who married and then spent the next nine years fighting for the right to live as a family in their hometown. Their civil rights case, Loving v. Virginia, went all the way to the Supreme Court, which in 1967 reaffirmed the very foundation of the right to marry - and their love story has become an inspiration to couples ever since.

Wow!  This was a very powerful character drama covering a time in our history that makes me feel very ashamed.  The tensions and judgements that these characters had to deal with while just trying to live their lives is very upsetting and this movie did a phenomenal job of taking the audience there and making you feel it all through them.  

I would absolutely recommend everyone checking this movie out.  It's definitely one of the better movies of the year carried by phenomenal acting.

Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk

Three-time Academy Award® winner Ang Lee brings his extraordinary vision to Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk, based on the widely-acclaimed, bestselling novel. The film is told from the point of view of 19-year-old private Billy Lynn (newcomer Joe Alwyn) who, along with his fellow soldiers in Bravo Squad, becomes a hero after a harrowing Iraq battle and is brought home temporarily for a victory tour. Through flashbacks, culminating at the spectacular halftime show of the Thanksgiving Day football game, the film reveals what really happened to the squad – contrasting the realities of the war with America’s perceptions.

There were great and then some lame parts to this one.  The story was told phenomenally well between the football game events and the flashbacks.  The innocence of the main character even though he was a soldier was excellently portrayed.  It really made you feel for all the kids that enlist as soldiers.  Unfortunately, there were several parts in the movie that were blatant heart string pulls and others that kind of ruined the realistic feel of the whole story.  On top of that, there was Kristen Stewart who pretty much sucks in everything she is in. 

I would somewhat recommend people checking this out.  There are many reasons to enjoy this movie.  There are some flaws too but I still kind of enjoyed the film.

Bleed For This

Bleed for This is the incredible true story of one of the most inspiring and unlikely comebacks in sports history. Miles Teller ("Whiplash, "Divergent") stars as Vinny “The Pazmanian Devil” Pazienza, a local Providence boxer who shot to stardom after winning two world title fights. After a near-fatal car accident leaves Vinny with a broken neck, he is told he may never walk again. Against all odds and doctor’s orders, renowned trainer Kevin Rooney (Aaron Eckhart) agrees to help Vinny return to the ring just a year after the accident for what could be the last fight of his life.

This movie was a decent watch with some decent performances.  But to call it like it is - the trailer pretty much told you the whole movie.  I can't think of a single part of this movie that I hadn't basically seen already.  That combined with a lot of the action coming across as overacting this movie was pretty much doomed to being decent at best.

I wouldn't really recommend anyone rushing to see this one.  Again - it's not bad but it's not that good either.  It's a 2 1/2 star movie that you can definitely wait to see.

The Edge Of Seventeen

Everyone knows that growing up is hard, and life is no easier for high school junior Nadine (Hailee Steinfeld), who is already at peak awkwardness when her all-star older brother Darian (Blake Jenner) starts dating her best friend Krista (Haley Lu Richardson). All at once, Nadine feels more alone than ever, until the unexpected friendship of a thoughtful boy (Hayden Szeto) gives her a glimmer of hope that things just might not be so terrible after all.

This was a very funny coming of age movie about teenage angst as well as family dealings with tragedy and daily curve balls of life.  Hailee Steinfeld was amazing and the awkward moments she experienced throughout the movie brought huge laughs.

I would definitely recommend people checking this out.  The writing, the acting and the direction were all top notch.

Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them opens in 1926 as Newt Scamander has just completed a global excursion to find and document an extraordinary array of magical creatures. Arriving in New York for a brief stopover, he might have come and gone without incident…were it not for a No-Maj (American for Muggle) named Jacob, a misplaced magical case, and the escape of some of Newt’s fantastic beasts, which could spell trouble for both the wizarding and No-Maj worlds.

I'm pretty sure that this movie is going to be all about people's expectations when going in to it.  If you are super pumped and want something Harry Potter level - you will probably be disappointed.  If you go in thinking it is a lame knock off of the Harry Potter movies - you will probably be surprised and like it.  If you are down the middle - you will walk out thinking it was a pretty good movie and a good setup for a spinoff franchise moving foward.  I fell into that third group.  They did a good job of developing the main characters (although Newt Scamander kind of felt like my least favorite one).  They did good with the effects on the "beasts" and the story progressed well enough to keep you interested as the tension built.  The only real knock I'll make against the movie is that I had hoped that when it started with a quick story update via newspapers in the opening credits that the movie wouldn't be so long.  I was wrong and it was definitely longer than it needed to be.

I would recommend people checking this out.  Not that my thoughts ultimately matter on this.  You were either definitely seeing this or definitely not seeing it already.  Just keep your expectations not too high and you will be able to enjoy the movie more.  

Arrival

When mysterious spacecraft touch down across the globe, an elite team - lead by expert linguist Louise Banks (Amy Adams) - are brought together to investigate. As mankind teeters on the verge of global war, Banks and the team race against time for answers – and to find them, she will take a chance that could threaten her life, and quite possibly humanity.

Let me start by saying that this is soooooooo not the movie that you go into it expecting.  Sure it is a movie about aliens arriving and is advertised as a heavy sci-fi kind of movie but it really doesn't play like a sci-fi movie even though it's all about communicating with aliens.  Normally something like that would infuriate me and I would hate the movie just because of that.  But this movie was one of the best psychological movies about being a human being I've ever seen.  And the fact that it's a movie that is actually about communication period shown through trying to communicate with these aliens makes it truly impressive.  You leave the theater really wondering about life as a whole and if you would still go down certain paths in life.  I can't really say much else without ruining the movie.

I seriously enjoyed this movie on a very deep level and it really is an incredible deep thought conversation starter for people who have seen it.  I would absolutely recommend people checking this movie out but don't go into expecting to see a bona fide sci-fi movie because the best part of it is the non sci-fi aspects or parts of it.

Keeping Up With The Joneses

An ordinary suburban couple (Zach Galifianakis, Isla Fisher) finds it's not easy keeping up with the Joneses (Jon Hamm, Gal Gadot) - their impossibly gorgeous and ultra-sophisticated new neighbors - especially when they discover that Mr. and Mrs. "Jones" are covert operatives.

This movie was literally the trailer.  I don't remember seeing anything that I had not already seen in the ads for it.  Add to that the trailer was not funny at all and you have a pretty big piece of garbage. All four of these actors are better than this.

I would absolutely not recommend anyone wasting their time with this.  Really just a big waste of film.

Hacksaw Ridge

Hacksaw Ridge is the extraordinary true story of conscientious collaborator Desmond Doss (Andrew Garfield) who, in Okinawa during the bloodiest battle of WWII, saved 75 men without firing or carrying a gun. He believed the war was just, but killing was nevertheless wrong; he was the only American soldier in WWII to fight on the front lines without a weapon. As an army medic, Doss single-handedly evacuated the wounded from behind enemy lines, braved fire while tending to soldiers and was wounded by a grenade and hit by snipers. He was the first conscientious objector to ever earn the Congressional Medal of Honor.

Wow.  For a very slow paced movie for the first 3/4 of the film, this movie massively slammed on the gas pedal for the last 1/4 to end up giving you a movie with a little bit of everything.  You had the love story that you liked because of the chemistry between the two actors.  You had the wearing your character on your sleeve no matter what thing with Andrew Garfield wanting to be part of the army but fighting them at the same time about not wanting to use a gun.  This felt like it was going to be pretty much the whole movie.  But then they got past that portion of the story and the actual part that took place on Hacksaw Ridge was some of the most intense war movie stuff I've ever seen.  You really felt like you were there in the battle and I'm not going to lie - I almost jumped clear out of my seat like three times during the battle portion of the movie because the intensity was dialed up to 1,000.  Normally a movie with so many pieces to it like this ends up being hurt for being all over the place.  That was not the case with this movie because it was told very well and had plenty of hooks throughout to keep you fully vested in the outcome of the story.

I would definitely recommend people check this movie out.  It was a great watch and had a little bit of everything.  Just be warned that there is a lot of war type violence/gore towards the end of the movie.

Trolls

After the Bergens invade Troll Village, Poppy (Kendrick), the happiest Troll ever born, and the overly-cautious curmudgeonly Branch (Timberlake) set off on a journey to rescue her friends. Together, this mismatched duo embark on a rescue mission full of adventure and mishaps - trying to tolerate each other long enough to get the job done.

This was an extremely fun movie.  The characters/voices were great and done in a way that you get hooked by several of them.  The story is told both through the adventures of the trolls and scrapbook like narration which also gets mocked throughout the movie.  And the music was awesome.  I found myself dancing with the nieces several times throughout the movie.   This is absolutely one of those movies that are just as enjoyable for the adults as it is for the kids.  

I definitely recommend everyone checking this movie out.  It was lots of laughs, fun and dance music.  Definitely worth the trip to theaters.

Doctor Strange

Marvel’s Doctor Strange follows the story of the talented neurosurgeon Doctor Stephen Strange who, after a tragic car accident, must put ego aside and learn the secrets of a hidden world of mysticism and alternate dimensions. Based in New York City’s Greenwich Village, Doctor Strange must act as an intermediary between the real world and what lies beyond, utilizing a vast array of metaphysical abilities and artifacts to protect the Marvel cinematic universe.

When the movie was in go mode - this was one of the craziest things I've ever seen visually on screen.  When it was not in go mode - there was waaaaaaaaay too much explaining of the backstory and the world of mysticism.  It's not that it was bad.  It was just ALOT to take in.  There are origin stories that are amazing movies and lead to a line of enjoyable sequels and then there are origin stories that are kind of like that we need to get this stuff out of the way type movies so that there can then be awesome sequels.  This movie was definitely one of those second types.  And honestly, it kind of had to be.  There is way too much info that needed to be put out there before you could really enjoy the character and movies of Doctor Strange.  Honestly, it was one of the reasons that I never really read this comic.  But I really don't want to sound like I'm knocking the movie because I did like it very much and I absolutely can't wait for sequels or for Doctor Strange (which Cumberbatch is perfect casting for) to show up in future other Marvel movie.  Again - it was just alot to take in.  

I would definitely recommend that people check this out.  It was one hell of an enjoyable ride and amazing visually.  Just be prepared for ALOT of explanation of this universe we are starting to go into to with Marvel.

Kevin Hart: What Now?

In Universal Pictures’ Kevin Hart: What Now?, comedic rock-star Kevin Hart follows up his 2013 hit stand-up concert movie Let Me Explain, which grossed $32 million domestically and became the third-highest live stand-up comedy movie of all time. Hart takes center stage in this groundbreaking, record-setting, sold-out performance of “What Now?”—filmed outdoors in front of 50,000 people at Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field—marking the first time a comedian has ever performed to an at-capacity football stadium.

The movie sketch stuff before the comedy special was pretty stupid.  But once it got to his stand up stuff it was great.  Pretty much similar material of Kevin Hart's other stuff but still funny as hell at times.

If you like Kevin Hart's stuff - then I would definitely recommend this movie.  If you don't - then why bother now?

Masterminds

In this action comedy based on true events, directed by Jared Hess ("Napoleon Dynamite," "Nacho Libre"), David Ghantt (Zach Galifianakis) discovers the true meaning of adventure far beyond his wildest dreams. He is an uncomplicated man stuck in a monotonous life. Day in and day out he drives an armored vehicle, transporting millions of other people’s money with no escape in sight. The only glimmer of excitement is his flirtatious work crush Kelly Campbell (Kristen Wiig) who soon lures him into the scheme of a lifetime. Along with a group of half-brained criminals led by Steve Chambers (Owen Wilson) and an absurdly faulted heist plan, David manages the impossible and makes off with $17 million in cash…only problem is he foolishly hands the money over to this wild group of double crossers and has been set up to take the fall. With the bandits blowing the millions on lavish and ridiculous luxuries, they leave behind a glaring trail of evidence. Now on the lam and in over his head, David must dodge the authorities, evade a hilarious hit man, Mike McKinney (Jason Sudeikis), and try to turn the tables on the ones he trusted most.

This is one of those movies where you watch the entire thing asking yourself what made all these stars do this movie.  There was no point throughout the movie where I was not thinking this.  The movie was pretty stupid and has been delayed forever because of legal issues and it really was just a giant waste of time.

I wouldn't recommend anyone wasting their time with this.  It never should have been made and should have just been delayed forever.

Inferno

Ron Howard returns to direct the latest bestseller in Dan Brown’s (Da Vinci Code) billion-dollar Robert Langdon series, Inferno, which finds the famous symbologist (again played by Tom Hanks) on a trail of clues tied to the great Dante himself. When Langdon wakes up in an Italian hospital with amnesia, he teams up with Sienna Brooks (Felicity Jones), a doctor he hopes will help him recover his memories. Together, they race across Europe and against the clock to foil a deadly global plot.

I've read all the books in the Robert Langdon series.  This one was one of the easier to read ones but wasn't too high on the suspense.  I could see things coming way before they panned out.  I figured that would lead to a pretty dull movie.  I was wrong.  The movie made some tweaks here and there to make it a much more flowable movie and to actually have surprises and what not.  Unfortunately, they also changed the ending of the book - which was my favorite part.  They made it more of a cut and dry type of situation and lost the philosophical not so happy ending from the book.  Regardless - it was a decent watch and I would say it was better than Angels & Demons but not as good as The Da Vinci Code.

I would somewhat recommend people checking this out.  It's not bad but it's not a must see by any means.  Fans of the book will probably feel the same way that I outlined above.   

Boo! A Madea Halloween

Tyler Perry will write, produce, direct, and star in the latest project with the popular character Madea. In Boo! A Madea Halloween, Madea winds up in the middle of mayhem when she spends a hilarious, haunted Halloween fending off killers, paranormal poltergeists, ghosts, ghouls, and zombies while keeping a watchful eye on a group of misbehaving teens. Perry will play the role of “Madea,” in addition to the roles of “Joe” and “Brian.”

I am a HUGE fan of the Madea character.  I can't put my finger on it but the character always cracks me up . . . . . . .  in small doses.  She is like an ultimate SNL character.  Full length movies dull the hell out of the comedy and I really wish that they would stop making these sadly.  There are a couple of good laughs sprinkled throughout but the the movie is pretty much awful besides that.  Maybe we could just see Madea shorts before other Tyler Perry movies to highlight the good laughs instead of diluting them so much?

I wouldn't recommend anyone bother with this.  It really was a pretty big waste of time and definitely not worth anyone's money. 

Jack Reacher: Never Back Down

Jack Reacher (Tom Cruise) returns with his particular brand of justice in the highly anticipated sequel Jack Reacher: Never Go Back. Major Susan Turner (Cobie Smulders) is the Army Major who heads Reacher’s old investigative unit. She is arrested for Treason and knowing that she is innocent, Reacher must break her out of prison and uncover the truth behind a major government conspiracy in order to clear their names and save their lives. On the run as fugitives from the law, Reacher uncovers a potential secret from his past that could change his life forever. 

Weird how far Tom Cruise has fallen.  Used to be the main summer blockbuster guy and now his random movies open up mid-October.  Anywho - this movie was pretty much exactly the same as the first one.  Good action, good temp, decent story . . . . . . . . . .but after you are done watching it you have pretty much forgotten about the movie five minutes later.  It's not that the movie is bad or good.  It's just sort of an action movie that is there.

I would not really recommend anyone go rushing to see this.  It's not a bad watch and is pretty enjoyable but it really isn't anything to talk about after seeing that.   The first one wasn't that memorable so why would the sequel to it be?

Ouija: Origin Of Evil

It was never just a game. Inviting audiences again into the lore of the spirit board, Ouija: Origin of Evil tells a terrifying new tale as the follow-up to 2014’s sleeper hit that opened at number one. In 1965 Los Angeles, a widowed mother and her two daughters add a new stunt to bolster their séance scam business and unwittingly invite authentic evil into their home. When the youngest daughter is overtaken by the merciless spirit, this small family confronts unthinkable fears to save her and send her possessor back to the other side.

This movie had lots of good moments and creepy sights.   The kid being possessed was actually really good.  Unfortunately - the rest of the cast . . . .  not so much.  And they also mailed it in on a lot of effects by basing the movie back in the 1960s.  There were also at least 2-3 really major scenes that just made me laugh at the movie more than get hooked and invested in it.  

I wouldn't really recommend people checking this out.  It wasn't the worst thing I've ever seen but way too many points where I found myself mumbling well that is just stupid.

The Accountant

Christian Wolff (Ben Affleck) is a math savant with more affinity for numbers than people. Behind the cover of a small-town CPA office, he works as a freelance accountant for some of the world’s most dangerous criminal organizations. With the Treasury Department’s Crime Enforcement Division, run by Ray King (J.K. Simmons), starting to close in, Christian takes on a legitimate client: a state-of-the-art robotics company where an accounting clerk (Anna Kendrick) has discovered a discrepancy involving millions of dollars. But as Christian uncooks the books and gets closer to the truth, it is the body count that starts to rise.

This was kind of like Jason Bourne with autism.  I'm not remotely trying to be funny.  That is literally what the movie felt like.  Great action.  Great story progression.  The characters, both main and side ones, hook you and make you care about what happens to them.  It was just enjoyable all around.

I would definitely recommend people checking this out.  It was a very enjoyable action movie and a fun ride.

Birth Of A Nation

Set against the antebellum South, The Birth of a Nation follows Nat Turner, a literate slave and preacher, whose financially strained owner, Samuel Turner, accepts an offer to use Nat’s preaching to subdue unruly slaves. As he witnesses countless atrocities – against himself and his fellow slaves – Nat orchestrates an uprising in the hopes of leading his people to freedom.

This movie was amazing and will easily end up being one of the better movies of the year.  I can't remember the last time that a movie did such a good job stirring anger and sympathy inside me at what the world was once like and ideals that unfairly and inexcusably still exist today.  It's a true testament to how good a movie is when you leave the theater feeling almost broken and silent yet will definitely suggest that others go see the movie.  

I would absolutely recommend people checking this out.  It was an incredible film and is deserving of awards love at the end of the year.

The Girl On The Train

In the thriller, Rachel (Blunt), who is devastated by her recent divorce, spends her daily commute fantasizing about the seemingly perfect couple who live in a house that her train passes every day, until one morning she sees something shocking happen there and becomes entangled in the mystery that unfolds. Based on Paula Hawkins’ bestselling novel.

I wish I would have read the book but never got the chance.  Based on the buzz and the trailers I was expecting a crazy psychological thriller like Gone Girl.  And honestly it was kind of close to that.   But it wasn't as intense.  The movie was still a great watch and I really enjoyed the different way of telling the story that enabled the viewers to figure things out as the main character does.  Emily Blunt was great as was the rest of the cast and the movie avoids dragging at any point which is really essential for a movie like this to succeed.

I would definitely recommend people checking this out.  It was a very enjoyable watch but I would recommend not having your expectations too high to avoid disappointment.

Deepwater Horizon

On April 20th, 2010, one of the world’s largest man-made disasters occurred on the Deepwater Horizon in the Gulf of Mexico. Directed by Peter Berg ("Lone Survivor"), this story honors the brave men and women whose heroism would save many on board, and change everyone’s lives forever.

Even though it took over half the movie to get to the intensity, once it got there the intensity was awesome.  The tension brewing with the mechanical parts of the rig was crazy and you couldn't look away from the screen once the disaster starts playing out.  The character development was done so well that I didn't even realize that I was connected to them so much until they were in danger.  This was a very well done movie across the board.

I would definitely recommend people checking this movie out.  It's a great telling of heroism in the face of disaster/tragedy.

Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children

From visionary director Tim Burton, and based upon the best-selling novel, comes an unforgettable motion picture experience. When Jake discovers clues to a mystery that spans alternate realities and times, he uncovers a secret refuge known as Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. As he learns about the residents and their unusual abilities, Jake realizes that safety is an illusion, and danger lurks in the form of powerful, hidden enemies. Jake must figure out who is real, who can be trusted, and who he really is.

This was Tim Burton finally getting back to his roots.  While not as dark as his best stuff it wasn't as bright and fluffy as some more recent efforts.  It was a very enjoyable fantasy movie with characters that you got hooked to and a story with great visuals as it plays out.  Again - not as big of a hook as his best stuff but more than good enough to keep you invested in how it turns out.  

I would recommend people checking this out who are in to these kinds of movies.  I thought it was a very enjoyable watch.  There is some pretty creepy stuff in this for anyone with younger kids just to warn those this would pertain to.

The Magnificent Seven

Director Antoine Fuqua brings his modern vision to a classic story in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures' and Columbia Pictures' The Magnificent Seven. With the town of Rose Creek under the deadly control of industrialist Bartholomew Bogue (Peter Sarsgaard), the desperate townspeople employ protection from seven outlaws, bounty hunters, gamblers and hired guns - Sam Chisolm (Denzel Washington), Josh Farraday (Chris Pratt), Goodnight Robicheaux (Ethan Hawke), Jack Horne (Vincent D'Onofrio), Billy Rocks (Byung-Hun Lee), Vasquez (Manuel Garcia-Rulfo), and Red Harvest (Martin Sensmeier). As they prepare the town for the violent showdown that they know is coming, these seven mercenaries find themselves fighting for more than money.

This movie was great for being exactly what it was supposed to be.  This is a popcorn western movie.  There is a bad guy.  A crew gets rounded up to fight him.  Said crew bonds together.  They fight the bad guy.  No extra nonsense.  No pointless filler.  Straight and to the point and a very enjoyable ride.  The cast had great chemistry and you find yourself attaching to several of the characters.  It's exactly what it was supposed to be and that really is a rarity in today's movies.

I would definitely recommend people checking this out.  It's a very enjoyable ride with great on screen chemistry.  

Storks

Storks deliver babies…or at least they used to. Now they deliver packages for global internet giant Cornerstore.com. Junior, the company’s top delivery stork, is about to be promoted when he accidentally activates the Baby Making Machine, producing an adorable and wholly unauthorized baby girl. Desperate to deliver this bundle of trouble before the boss gets wise, Junior and his friend Tulip, the only human on Stork Mountain, race to make their first-ever baby drop – in a wild and revealing journey that could make more than one family whole and restore the storks’ true mission in the world.

This movie was a lot more enjoyable than I thought it would be.  With its September release date I kind of expected one of those family movies that kids like but the adults are tortured through.  This one was plenty fun for the adults as well and the movie had lots of laughs throughout.  It wasn't Pixar or Dreamworks level but it was definitely better than expected.

I would recommend families checking this out.  It was a decent watch for all and is a good family trip to the movies.

Bridget Jones's Baby

After breaking up with Mark Darcy (Firth), Bridget Jones’s (Zellweger) “happily ever after” hasn’t quite gone according to plan. Fortysomething and single again, she decides to focus on her job as top news producer and surround herself with old friends and new. For once, Bridget has everything completely under control. What could possibly go wrong? Then her love life takes a turn and Bridget meets a dashing American named Jack (Dempsey), the suitor who is everything Mr. Darcy is not. In an unlikely twist she finds herself pregnant, but with one hitch… she can only be fifty percent sure of the identity of her baby’s father.

Why is this a movie franchise?  Was there really a demand for another Bridget Jones movie?  Besides the fact that if you saw the trailer you pretty much saw the movie.  There really is nothing more that needs to be said about this rather turdly movie.

I wouldn't recommend anyone bothering with this.  Hopefully that will mean they don't bother making any more of these.

Blair Witch

A group of college students venture into the Black Hills Forest in Maryland to uncover the mysteries surrounding the disappearance of James’ sister who many believe is connected to the legend of the Blair Witch. At first the group is hopeful, especially when a pair of locals offer to act as guides through the dark and winding woods, but as the endless night wears on, the group is visited by a menacing presence. Slowly, they begin to realize the legend is all too real and more sinister than they could have imagined.

This movie was absolutely awful.  I remember seeing the original Blair Witch Project.  It was about a month or more before it was released.  The studio came to my movie theater and asked if they could screen it for the staff.  We had no idca what it was but said sure.  We then sat there and crapped ourselves as we watched the very original and creepy as hell movie with handheld cameras.  The hype then started advertising it as the scariest movie ever and that ruined it for a lot of people because of heightened expectations.  Which is unfortunate because it really was an amazing movie.  Simple as hell but very scary.  Since that movie came out the handheld camera thing has been done to death.  Its now formula for like every other scary movie and tired as hell.  I don't know why I got my hopes up for this relaunch of this movie but it was god awful.  There was nothing scary.  The shaky handheld camera stuff was nonstop and way too much.  The movie was only an hour and 20 minutes long but felt like three hours.  Please just leave well enough alone and don't bother with these movies anymore.

I would absolutely NOT recommend anyone wasting their time or money on this movie.  It was a total waste of time and a massive insult to the greatness that the original Blair Witch Project was.

Snowden

Oliver Stone, who brought "Platoon," "Born on the Fourth of July," "Wall Street" and "JFK" to the big screen, tackles the most important and fascinating true story of the 21st century. Snowden, the politically-charged, pulse-pounding thriller starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Shailene Woodley, reveals the incredible untold personal story of Edward Snowden, the polarizing figure who exposed shocking illegal surveillance activities by the NSA and became one of the most wanted men in the world. He is considered a hero by some, and a traitor by others. No matter which you believe, the epic story of why he did it, who he left behind, and how he pulled it off makes for one of the most compelling films of the year.

I have to give this review an incomplete for now because out of total exhaustion I passed out like 15 minutes in and woke up with about 15 minutes left.  DAMN YOU, COMFY RECLINING CHAIRS!!!   Anywho, the opening and closing both felt very powerful and I know that I felt hooked by the movie even though I had missed most of the it.  I will reference Wonder Woman's thoughts on the movie for an actual perspective.  She loved it.  She was definitely hooked and is still talking about the movie a couple of days later.  It didn't seem like too much of an Oliver Stone movie in that his usual biases come into play and he is showing a specific perspective.  He definitely provided a much more human side of Snowden than we have seen before and you come away from the movie with a much better understanding of everything that happened.

I would definitely recommend people checking this out . . . . . . including myself again so I can see the whole movie.  WW definitely gives it a big thumbs up and I can't wait for it to show up online so I can finish watching it.

When The Bough Breaks

John and Laura Taylor (Morris Chestnut and Regina Hall) are a young, professional couple who desperately want a baby. After exhausting all other options, they finally hire Anna (Jaz Sinclair), the perfect woman to be their surrogate – but as she gets further along in her pregnancy, so too does her psychotic and dangerous fixation on the husband. The couple becomes caught up in Anna’s deadly game and must fight to regain control of their future before it’s too late.

This movie was pretty much a massive waste of time.  It was basically a wannabe Fatal Attraction or Hand That Rocks The Cradle.  If you saw the trailer - you saw the movie.  I wanted to leave after like 20 minutes and thinking about all the other things I could be doing instead of watching this.  There was no suspense.  There was no surprises.  There was nothing positive to say about this movie.

I would not recommend anyone bothering with this total time vacuum and I saw it for free.  The thought of paying for this would lead to me probably having to punch someone in the face.

Sully

On January 15, 2009, the world witnessed the “Miracle on the Hudson” when Captain “Sully” Sullenberger (Hanks) glided his disabled plane onto the frigid waters of the Hudson River, saving the lives of all 155 aboard. However, even as Sully was being heralded by the public and the media for his unprecedented feat of aviation skill, an investigation was unfolding that threatened to destroy his reputation and his career. Clint Eastwood is directing the film from a screenplay by Todd Komarnicki, based on the book "Highest Duty: My Search for What Really Matters," by Sullenberger and Jeffrey Zaslow.

This was a great movie across the board.  The direction, the acting, the way the story was told were all really top notch.  I was curious to see how they would make this in to a full length movie that wouldn't just tell you the story that you already knew and they did an exceptional job of telling it from the pilot's point of view and in a non-heart string pulling kind of way.  The fact that I enjoyed this movie so much is that much more impressive when you take into account that this story/movie took my biggest fears (flying and birds) and combined them in the most horrible of ways and I was still loving every second of it.  

I would absolutely recommend people checking this out.  It's a great reminder of how awesome Tom Hanks still is and is easily one of the better movies to come out this year.

Florence Foster Jenkins

Set in 1940s New York, Florence Foster Jenkins is the true story of the legendary New York heiress and socialite (Meryl Streep) who obsessively pursued her dream of becoming a great singer. The voice she heard in her head was beautiful, but to everyone else it was hilariously awful. Her "husband" and manager, St. Clair Bayfield (Hugh Grant), an aristocratic English actor, was determined to protect his beloved Florence from the truth. But when Florence decided to give a public concert at Carnegie Hall, St. Clair knew he faced his greatest challenge.

I really didn't get this movie.  Was it a comedy?   Was it a drama?  So she couldn't sing well but thought that she could?   That was it.  I still don't get it.  Why would Meryl Streep and Hugh Grant do this movie?   I would think that there should be much more substance to it, no?   Maybe this is just one of those not my cup of tea type of movies and people that are more familiar with these historical people or time era that it took place in will really like this.   I pretty much sat there for the vast majority of the movie thinking "huh?"

Like I said above - I'm really not sure how to review this one.  It's just kind of there and I have no idea why it was made.  But maybe I'm just ignorant about the times/characters and people that are not would like it more?

The Light Between Oceans

After four harrowing years on the Western Front, Tom Sherbourne returns to Australia and takes a job as the lighthouse keeper on Janus Rock, nearly half a day’s journey from the coast. To this isolated island where the supply boat comes once a season, Tom brings a young, bold, and loving wife, Isabel. Years later, after two miscarriages and one stillbirth, the grieving Isabel hears a baby’s cries on the wind. A boat has washed up onshore carrying a dead man and a living baby.  Tom, who keeps meticulous records and whose moral principles have withstood a horrific war, wants to report the man and infant immediately. But Isabel insists the baby is a “gift from God,” and against Tom’s judgment, they claim her as their own and name her Lucy. When she is two, Tom and Isabel return to the mainland and are reminded that there are other people in the world. Their choice has devastated one of them.

This is one of those truly frustrating movies.  As you are watching it - you know that it is a very well done movie in every way.  Direction, Cinematography, Screenwriting and especially acting.  But regardless of all that - you are just so damn bored throughout the movie.  I felt like I was sitting there for years watching this.  LOL!!!   Again - the performances were great and very powerful especially when they were conveying emotions without talking.  But I couldn't wait for it to end just so I could go home and move on to doing other things.  

I would recommend this movie to people that want to see all the award nominated movies because even though this was released in September, I could definitely see it getting acting nominations at the end of the year.   But it is one of those slowly paced and torturous well done movies.   Be warned.

Morgan

A corporate troubleshooter (Kate Mara) is sent to a remote, top-secret location, where she is to investigate and evaluate a terrifying accident. She learns the event was triggered by a seemingly innocent “human,” who presents a mystery of both infinite promise and incalculable danger.

This was a decent idea with some pretty decent action/story progression.  The problem was that there was no need for this to be a wide release film or honestly to be made at all.  It's not that it's a bad watch.  It is just there.  It's a textbook September release in that you forget about it within 48 hours and that brings you back to why did they spend time even making this?

I wouldn't really recommend anyone bothering with this in theaters.   It's not worth the time and definitely not the money.  It's a decent watch if you have some down time at home when it's on cable or netflix but still no rush in having to see this.

Before I Wake

In this supernatural thriller, Jessie (Kate Bosworth) and Mark (Thomas Jane) decide to take in a sweet and loving 8-year-old boy, Cody. Unbeknownst to them, Cody is terrified of falling asleep. At first, they assume his previous unstable homes caused his aversion to sleep, but soon discover why: Cody's dreams manifest in reality as he sleeps. In one moment they experience the incredible wonder of Cody's imagination, and in the next, the horrific nature of his night terrors. To save their new family, Jessie and Mark embark on a dangerous hunt to uncover the truth behind Cody's nightmares.

This movie was a decent watch.  It had its fair share of creepy images and moments that make you jump.  The problem is that it was missing an emotional hook.  Without that in scary movies you tend to forget about them five minutes after seeing them.  That is the boat that this movie falls into.  Watchable.  Enjoyable at times.  But overall forgettable.

I would not really recommend people spending money to watch this.  It's a decent watch but not good enough for that.  Wait to see it at home for free or something.

Ben-Hur

Ben-Hur is the epic story of Judah Ben-Hur (Jack Huston), a prince falsely accused of treason by his adopted brother Messala (Toby Kebbell), an officer in the Roman army. Stripped of his title, separated from his family and the woman he loves (Nazanin Boniadi), Judah is forced into slavery. After years at sea, Judah returns to his homeland to seek revenge, but finds redemption. Based on Lew Wallace’s timeless novel, "Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ." Also starring Morgan Freeman and Rodrigo Santoro.

This movie wanted to be an epic film but it absolutely was not.  It didn't even really have the budget to be so or it was massively misspent.  The acting wasn't epic.  The action wasn't epic.  The movie ends up just kind of being there.  It's a textbook end of summer type of movie.

I wouldn't really recommend people wasting their time with this.  There are much worse things you could watch but this just really isn't worth your time and definitely not your money.

The Wild Life

From the over-exuberant parrot Tuesday to the snack-obsessed tapir Rosie, from the persnickety echidna Epi to the acrobatic pangolin Pango, from the ditzy goat Scrubby to the commonsensical kingfisher Kiki and the always-cool chameleon Carmello, things are larger-than-life on a tropical isle that is pure wild animal paradise. Then Robinson Crusoe, a marooned human, arrives in the midst of a furious storm, and their lives are forever changed by this bewildering new “creature.” No matter their differences, castaway human and quirky animals embark on an hilarious new adventure, building the island’s first tree-house and surviving together. But when two conniving members of the animal kingdom — the savage cats Mal & May – pounce into a battle for control of the island, Crusoe and his animal posse must uncover the true power of friendship against all odds (even savage cats).

This movie was eh.  It was kind of watchable but there really was not the necessary hook that comes with most animated movies today.  The characters had moments but there were none that really carried the movie.   It almost felt like the animators kind of mailed it in on this one.  

I wouldn't really recommend people checking this out.  It's just kind of there and is one of those blatant money grabs by it being released when there really are not any other options out there for kids or families.

Don't Breathe

A group of friends break into the house of a wealthy blind man, thinking they’ll get away with the perfect heist. They’re wrong.

See how simple that synopsis was?   That's easily what made this movie so great.  It had a short running time, didn't waste time with over development, and jumped right into the creepiness and thrills.  The movie was very enjoyable and had you sitting on the edge of your seat plenty of times.  Just when you think the movie is going to get a little played out, it switches gears and gets you hooked for the second part of the story.   

I would definitely recommend this movie to thriller fans.  Its short, well directed and paced in a way that keeps you hooked and makes you jump plenty of times.