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Hate movie spoilers? Good! You'll get straight to the point, quick, and spoiler-free movie reviews to help you spend your time and money wisely on movies. I'll give you the Good, the Bad, the Reason, and the Rating about each movie. ***Please disable any popup blockers***

Friday, June 24, 2016

Independence Day: Resurgence Movie Review

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The Trailer:

The Good:

Whether you decide to see this in 3D or not, it's fair to say that the visuals and action carry this movie more than anything. The level of destruction is taken up a few notches compared to the previous Independence Day (1996). The stakes are certainly raised and the threat of the alien attack no joke. It was intriguing to see the damage the aliens caused to the planet and the entire human race.

Credit goes to Jeff Goldblum ( played "David Levinson") and Bill Pullman (played former President Whitmore) for being probably the best vets from the previous movie. This may have been Liam Hemsworth's best performance to date. (Don't get too excited. This is more like an "Effort Award") However, my absolute favorite was Deobia Oparei (who played "Dikembe Umbutu"...or the badass with the double machetes) Both his character and story were soooo much more interesting than almost the entire movie. The entire time I wanted to know "How did he learn that?" ... "He did what to those aliens?"...."Why aren't more people asking Umbutu more questions?" Personally, I think that given the big time gap between the previous movie and this sequel, I think Umbutu's character's story arc would've been a great one to do a mini solo film. (Especially to get us all up to speed.)

I did appreciate what this movie set out to do, and the direction it's headed. I won't go into more detail than that to avoid any spoilers.

The Bad:
The movie spent maybe 30 mins too long consistently trying to play the "You Remember When" game. They were referring to characters and their past relationships as if we, the audience, were supposed to remember it all like it was yesterday (or 1996). For the most part, I really didn't even care about the nostalgia at all. It probably could've been easily summed up in one of those fake news reports in just 5 mins. Instead we're re-introduced to (literally) old characters who you may not even recognize unless you watch Independence Day (1996) right before seeing this sequel.

Furthermore, I wasn't sold on the character development of the new characters either. Liam Hemsworth and Jessie T. Usher didn't really seem to have the best on screen chemistry. Their backstory seemed random and just thrown in last minute just to give them an excuse to interact or have a past.

Other characters seemed unnecessary as well. Judd Hirsch, who plays Jeff Goldblum's character's dad, seem by far the most out of place. His attempt of being the comic relief barely even got a chuckle out of the audience at my showing. (It felt like maybe if you could identify from the Jewish parent stereotypes, then maybe the jokes will resonate more with you than others.)

Lastly, there were very little, if any, surprises in the plot. This was pretty predictable. If you pay attention and listen closely, you'll probably guess the direction of the movie's ending very early on. You still want to see how it plays out, but it just takes a little bit of the edge off in terms of the climax.

The Reason:
Had this sequel came out in 1998 (with Will Smith) it would've been an AWESOME film. Had it came out in 2006 (with or without Will Smith), it would've been a pretty good film. Coming out 20 years later put a little bit too much of a strain on this film. It's now just a "Very Okay" movie. A lot of this stuff we've seen, and only some of it we haven't in other films. You could probably think of this sequel as "Aliens + Starship Troopers".

Despite the visuals, I think you'll be fine if you skipped on the 3D. The 3D doesn't make or break the movie. I think this is worth seeing in theaters just because they do throw a lot of action your way and it is very nice to see it all on the big screen. I'd probably go in with low expectations. I don't think there's anything in this movie that will blow you away or having you leaving the theaters thinking it was "epic". As I said, it's a good movie that's just a little too late to the party.

The Rating: 7/10

My [Loosely based] Ratings scale
10-9 = A Must watch at any cost. 
8.5- 7.5 = Theater worthy 
7-6.5 = Matinee/rental worthy at best
6 = Watchable (If it's free)
5 - below = Avoid at all costs



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The Shallows Movie Review

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The Trailer:

The Good:
Blake Lively plays a great survivalist. You could tell she worked out for the part and immersed herself in the world of surfing to prepare for her character. She managed to display a fair range of aspects to her character. She was vulnerable when times seemed bleak, but tough when danger presented itself. The mere fact that she's able to keep your attention while being one of the only people on screen for about 75% of the movie speaks highly to her performance.

Kudos to the shark. It was convincingly terrifying to the level that you wouldn't want to trade places with Blake's character on any occasion. The suspense the shark brought to the table was probably equivalent to that of the shark in Jaws.

The Bad:

My biggest issue with the film was that it was incredibly predictable. You knew what was going to happen with almost every character, every time. The only minor surprises were probably the actual interactions with Blake Lively and the shark towards the end of the movie. The story and characters are pretty straight-forward and fit almost too perfectly. (Rather convenient for her that she went to a certain school.)

The Reason
:

If you've heard news or reviews about this movie you'll hear that this is the best movie since Jaws. I will agree to that, only because what other shark movies does it have to compare with? Sharknado? If that's the case, then yes, by default this was as good as we get since Jaws. It brings about a very similar sense of fear and terror that only Jaws was able to bring back in the day. I highly doubt this will have anyone terrified of going to sleep at night. However, it may have you second guess whether you want to go scuba diving the next time you go on vacation.

What you see in the trailers is exactly what you get. The Shallows isn't a terrible movie by any means. I enjoyed it. I just don't think it's worth paying a lot of money to go see. I'd probably recommend catching it during the matinee or if your local theater is doing one of those discount movie days. Otherwise, if you happened to watch this at home, I think it would be perfectly fine as well. I get the feeling that this would be a good Saturday night movie to watch on TBS or TNT. You may want to also wait 30 mins before watching. :)

The Rating: 6.5/10

My [Loosely based] Ratings scale
10-9 = A Must watch at any cost. 
8.5- 7.5 = Theater worthy 
7-6.5 = Matinee/rental worthy at best
6 = Watchable (If it's free)
5 - below = Avoid at all costs



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Thursday, June 16, 2016

Finding Dory Movie Review

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The Trailer:

Movie Critic Reactions:

The Good:
From the very beginning, the film does an excellent job in catching us up from the previous Finding Nemo film. (Which was 13 years ago!) It was nice to get see so many familiar faces from the past film and to be introduced to new characters in this sequel.

Something you may notice that's a little different from the previous film is that it's a bit more emotionally rich. Naturally, you'll have some funny and entertaining moments, but this time around there are a few more sentimental moments. I don't think it's anything comparable to "Bambi's mom dying" level of emotional. Although, there are some moments that may cause a tiny little lump in your throat to climb up.

Ellen DeGeneres is absolutely perfect for the character of Dory. It would be simply impossible trying to imagine anyone else being Dory. Her running jokes are funny throughout the entire film. Ellen, and the writers of the movie, bring forth a lot more depth in Dory's character. She's not simply the silly side-kick character for comedic relief. They showed through her (including all of the other supporting characters) just what makes Dory such a special character.

Moreover, it was especially refreshing to see yet another female lead character, but this time around it's a disabled female lead character. If you were like me, Dory's short-term memory used to be only perceived as comedic relief. In this sequel, while there are still funny moments, there are also moments that force you to look at disabilities (of other characters as well) in a different way.

The Bad:
Even though the movie isn't long (only 97 mins), there still seemed to be a few slow moving scenes. Now to be fair, those scenes just set up another good or emotional moment. However, with children in mind, those slow moments may lose younger children's attention.

As mentioned above, this movie is a little more emotionally heavy than Finding Nemo. There are some sad moments that may just require an additional conversation from parents with their children. It's nothing over the top, but just something to keep in mind for audiences under the age of six years old perhaps.

Look, maybe this is nitpicking, (and I know that this is a kiddie cartoon) but the ending did get a little too far fetched. In comparison to Finding Nemo, even though they all go on crazy adventures, it got a little over the top even for this cartoon.

Beyond that, I'd probably say feel free on skipping on the 3D for this film as well. There just didn't seem to be any memorable special effects that would warrant spending the extra money for that 3D ticket. Maybe it was just me, but the 3D glasses also seemed to make the movie a tad bit darker, and not as vibrantly colorful as the previous film.

The Reason:
In my opinion, I think that Finding Nemo was a better movie for younger children, because it was so much more light-hearted, colorful, and energetic. I do believe that Finding Dory is a great film for kids maybe between the ages of 6-12 years. (Adults will enjoy this as well) I think that Finding Dory is a great platform to spark meaningful conversations within families about differently-abled individuals in society. This is what make movies so special. They tap into our everyday lives, and find a way to have us relate to other people in ways didn't originally imagine.

So by all means, feel free to go watch Finding Dory. It's obviously a perfect family movie, and don't be surprised if you find yourself having some meaningful conversations afterwards. Oh and speaking of afterwards, stay until after the credits.

The Rating: 8.5/10


My [Loosely based] Ratings scale
10-9 = A Must watch at any cost. 
8.5- 7.5 = Theater worthy 
7-6.5 = Matinee/rental worthy at best
6 = Watchable (If it's free)
5 - below = Avoid at all costs



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Friday, June 10, 2016

The Conjuring 2 Movie Review

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The Trailer:

Movie Critic Reactions:

YouTube Video Review (Spoiler-Free):

The Good:
Get used to it, but I'm going to be telling you often that director James Wan (Saw, Insidious, The Conjuring) is an absolute MASTER of horror. Just like in The Conjuring, he teases you with the stereotypical horror tactics that we've all seen in other horror films. Then he throws you a bunch of curve balls so you'll never really know what to expect. To make things even scarier, he even has the characters in the movie do what you or I would probably do in their situations. For example, if you saw a ghost, you'd probably run, right? I know I would.

If you allow me to nerd out a bit, I have to bring your attention to some of the unique camera angles that are used in the film. With the many horror films I've seen, I've never seen the ones he used in one of the "interview sessions", for example. (You'll know which one I'm referring to when you see it)

I would like to think that I'm one of those who don't scare easy, but this movie had me cowering in my seat the entire time. It was simply so intense and suspenseful that I had to check my heart rate a few times. (I'm pretty sure I died twice)

If you're a fan of James Wan's other work, then you may also catch on to the fact that there are a lot of similar themes that the movies share. The rules in his "horror universe" are almost the same.
I think overall, the characters all delivered. Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga continue to share great on screen chemistry.  As for the ghost in the film....it was scary. Matter of fact, I'm still in the process of trying to forget it, so that's all I'll say about it. :-/ 

The Bad:
This is 100% me simply nitpicking, but I was a little disappointed by the final moments of the movie. I've seen a ton of exorcism movies, and I thought that the final wrap up was a tad bit rushed.

The Reason:
If you liked Insidious 1 or 2, or the Conjuring (review), then you’ll enjoy this. I think it’s fair to say that this will probably be the best horror film for the year. Did I already mention that James Wan is the MASTER of horror? Honestly, I just don't think there's much of a comparison for another director in this decade.

Just like in one of my previous horror reviews, I do want to clarify the difference between "scary" and "Creepy". "Scary" means that it will have moments that shock you with jump scares. "Creepy" is all about the overall feeling and atmosphere that sticks with you well after the movie is over. Many horror films today simply don't find a nice balance between the two, or they just pile on a bunch of blood and gore to overwhelm you.
James Wan, in my opinion, transcended even himself by blending creepy and scary even more than before. I think that the Conjuring 2 is more than worth the watch and is a "Must See"in my book. I’ll tell you this, I’m not going to London, I don’t like nuns anymore, and I will never buy my children a fire truck.

Rating:  9.5/10


My [Loosely based] Ratings scale
10-9 = A Must watch at any cost. 
8.5- 7.5 = Theater worthy 
7-6.5 = Matinee/rental worthy at best
6 = Watchable (If it's free)
5 - below = Avoid at all costs



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Now You See Me 2 Movie Review

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The Trailer:


YouTube Review (Spoiler-Free)

The Good:
Let's start off with the characters. Woody Harrelson was funny given his "interesting" role in the movie. It was nice to see more of Mark Ruffalo’s character and his past. It would appear that Ruffalo had a few similar highlights in this film similar to how Dave Franco did in the last Now You See Me. (Remember when Dave Franco had that cool magic fight scene in the last film?) With Isla Fisher (who played "Henley") not present in this film, Lizzy Caplan stepped in without missing a beat. She was both entertaining and humorous.

The biggest highlight will probably be the "Security scene" as it was the most suspenseful scene of the entire film. (You'll know it when you see it.) The first 2/3's of the movie is overall really good. 

The Bad:
The story seems to have one too many forced twists the closer you get to the end. The more plot twists that were revealed, the more convoluted the story became. I was a little disappointed because the original mystery that made the story so compelling seemed to unravel rather hastily. When it came to the magic tricks, they simply didn't seem to be as grand as the last movie's tricks.

With all of the reveals of how the many tricks were done, a lot of the allure seemed to disappear. I also think that the marketing may have failed this film a bit too. The trailers, and even movie posters, all appeared to give away a major reveal that the movie tried to make a big deal; that includes some of the magic tricks or characters.

The Reason:
In all honesty, I can't say that this sequel lives up to the previous movie. However, it's a rather difficult task to exceed that surprise factor that Now You See Me pt 1 came in with. As you can probably tell in my previous Now You See Me review, I was very impressed with the previous movie. (Probably more so than others) Interestingly enough, news has been reported that the movie studios have already started working on Now You See Me 3. So maybe, just maybe, there's hope that Now You See Me 2 was just a bridge film, and there's room for more improvement down the road. Either way, I still think that this movie was entertaining and fun to watch. It's worth your time to see it in the theaters.

The Rating: 8.0/10

My [Loosely based] Ratings scale
10-9 = A Must watch at any cost. 
8.5- 7.5 = Theater worthy 
7-6.5 = Matinee/rental worthy at best
6 = Watchable (If it's free)
5 - below = Avoid at all costs



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Friday, June 3, 2016

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Out of the Shadows Movie Review

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The Trailer:


Youtube Movie Critic Reactions:

The Good:
This film takes full advantage of the in your face 3D special effects. There was probably one key moment in the middle of the movie where one of the effects may actually have you ducking and dodging a bit with how real it looked.

If you're a fan of the Turtles cartoons, then you'll more than likely appreciate both BeBop (played by Gary Anthony Williams) and Rocksteady (played by Stephen Farrelly). They were definitely captured in their truest form with their comedic and off-beat characters. (Especially if you like fart jokes) This goes for the Turtles as well. If you enjoyed their unique personalities from the previous film then you'll be satisfied with how they are basically the same.

The Bad
:


Sadly the acting in this film was also sub-par. I blame the writing for this, mostly. And no, I don't think anyone expected Academy Award level acting. However, I highly doubt that a 7th grade play should be comparable either. Stephen Amell (who plays "Casey Jones") should probably just stick to playing on the show Arrow and making wrestling appearances on the WWE. There's no reason for him to include this movie on his resume at all. While he did have a select few decent moments when he put his hockey mask on, everything else was just a tad bit over dramatic acting on his part. (e.g. His reactions to seeing the turtles for the first time.) *insert eye roll*

Brian Tee, who plays "Shredder", initially appeared to be a truly menacing character, in the beginning of the film. Although as it progressed, you soon realized that his entire character was pointless and wasted. I don't even know if he threw one single punch at ANYONE.

On paper, this movie appears to have all the right parts, and the perfect cast. The
execution, in my opinion, was simply poor. The writing is probably what hurt this movie the most for me. In the previous movie, this new reboot of Ninja Turtles has a much more serious tone while still maintaining some humorous and entertaining moments. This movie on the other hand was all over the place with over the top plot and twists. 

The story tried to fit in a bunch of different things that never really felt fully developed. Everything with Krang was rushed including his random out of the blue introduction. Even the big scene in Brazil felt randomly inserted into the film and out of place. Seemed like just an excuse to have some special action sequences, but never mind how they got there, or how they get home or any other details that require thought. 

Even some of the motivations were just ridiculous. The motivation that drove Raphael and Michelangelo to go on their secret mission was just dumb. It's one thing if you want to tackle the theme of "not fitting in with society" but it's entirely different when you go after the route they were seeking. Not to mention the fact that I don't have the slightest clue as to how Donatello can start off being a garbage collecting tech genius, to all of a sudden becoming a Tony Stark from Iron Man. How?!..Never mind -_-

The Reason
*Sigh* I guess you can call me biased. I am one of those millennials who grew up watching the Turtles cartoon in the 90's. So as with any of my reviews, take it with a grain of salt. I think that this movie is very self aware of itself in knowing that it's not set out to be serious. My issue with it is that if this was the route they wanted to take, then they should've just set that tone with the previous movie from the beginning. If you can recall, these more recent films are polar opposites of one another the same way that Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990) was to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2: Secret of the Ooze (1991). The first being a more serious film with humorous moments, and the second being wacky and cartoonish. TMNT 2: Out of the Shadows is exactly the latter. Honestly this probably would've just played out better had it been a cartoon. If you enjoyed the previous TMNT (2014) then don't expect this sequel to anything like it.

I cannot, with any sense of integrity, recommend paying for this film without some HEAVY disclaimers first. TMNT 2 Out of the Shadows is more of a kid-friendly movie compared to the previous film. The violence is watered down, the jokes are over the top, goofy, and corny. This isn't the type of movie that you can watch and think at the same time. If you're 14 years or younger, or just a big kid at heart, you may actually enjoy this film. If you've got children, then that's another pass to go see this film. I would still encourage paying for a matinee price at the very most. As for myself, I don't think you could pay me to go rewatch this. I'm currently consulting a lawyer to see if I can sue the city of Chicago for emotional distress and a refund for my parking. -_-

The Rating: 5.5/10 


My [Loosely based] Ratings scale
10-9 = A Must watch at any cost. 
8.5- 7.5 = Theater worthy 
7-6.5 = Matinee/rental worthy at best
6 = Watchable (If it's free)
5 - below = Avoid at all costs



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 to join our weekly email list. One email, every Friday, to get my latest reviews. Don't forget to follow me at @SpoilerDashFree