Quick Description

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 27, 2014

Transformers 4 Movie Review (2014)



The Good: The visuals are definitely incredible. This was the first film to be shot with an actual IMAX 3D camera, and it sure does show. Of course, there is plenty of action from beginning to end. There's rarely a dull moment without some fighting or random explosions. Mark Wahlberg, and the entire "human cast", was a tremendous upgrade from the played out Shia LaBeouf story. They made the story seem more authentic. The Transformers themselves look great too. There's plenty of tidbits of humor that's chuckle-worthy as well.

The Bad: Interesting fact, each of the Transformers films literally get longer after each sequel. (Almost 3 hours long this time) There's a bit too much over-acting and some people may get tired of the comic relief the further you get into the movie. You'll probably notice the extremely overdone, and even unnecessary slow motion effects. On top of that, it is simply unbelievable how the humans are able to walk away from ALL of the danger that they're involved in without a scratch! Also, while the action is indeed from beginning to end, there are many points where it just becomes random chaos. Finally, whether this was done purposefully or not, there are many holes in the story line that will leave you wanting to know more. (Sequel or just bad writing?)

The Reason: I think that it's safe to say that director Michael Bay is the new Tyler Perry of action movies. Same plot, same character development, same camera angles, same random explosions, same everything. If you don't believe me, click here for the "Honest Trailer" before you see Transformers 4.  The best way I could explain this film would be like to say it is Transformers + Terminator 2 + Jurrasic Park all combined. If you didn't like the previous TRANSFORMERS films, get ready for more of the same. I saw it at Navy Pier IMAX and I don't regret paying for it. So I'd say it's worth the money. If you enjoyed Transformers: Dark of the Moon, then you'll probably enjoy this film as well. Go watch it.

The Rating: 8.0/10

Friday, June 20, 2014

Think Like a Man Too Movie Review (2014)



The Good: Obviously the comedy will be one of the biggest highlights of the film. Kevin Hart is probably at his best in this film, showcasing his brand of comedy to the fullest. You'll probably think of Real Husbands of Hollywood except on the big screen. There will be so many random laughs, (or hard chuckles) that you'll probably miss some of the additional jokes due to Kevin's fast, under breath talking. In addition to the comedy, you'll be pleasantly greeted with a vast array of special guest cameos popping up at random times in the movie, so keep your eyes peeled. Lastly, one of the most interesting aspects of this film, that probably gets easily buried in all of the humor that takes place, are the interesting dynamics in the various relationships. Some of the situations with each of the couples may seem superficial, but in reality they highlight some real issues and even present some interesting insight as well. (ie: The Momma's boy relationship goes much deeper than expected.)

The Bad: Ironically enough, it may just be Kevin Hart. As I said before, his brand of comedy can be a force for good, but it can also be a deterrent for those who just simply don't find him funny. Unlike the previous film where he was showcased for about 35-40% of the movie, this film highlights him much more. (Maybe about 50-60% of the movie) So if you're not a K. Hart fan, you'll probably be way more annoyed than entertained. Oh, and I do believe that Gary Owen's comedic prowess was severely under utilized. I just think that he was held back and, as ironic as it may sound, the "boring white guy" role just doesn't suit him very well.

The Reason: As was the case with the previous Think Like A Man film, this movie makes for the perfect date movie. My rating is simply based on its "dating appeal" and not the merit of the movie itself. If you were to watch this film at home, or by yourself, it may not have the same effect. I'm sure many people in relationships will be able to identify, at some level, with one of the couples.The best way I could describe this film is probably as The Hangover + Romantic comedy + Kevin Hart: Laugh at My Pain. Luckily for this movie, it didn't fall victim to being just another stereotypical "Black Movie". Prepare for some good comedy and, surprisingly towards the end, some insightful drama. Find a date, go to the theater, and enjoy this movie.

The Rating: 8/10

Friday, June 13, 2014

Non-Stop Movie Review (2014)



The Good: The action and suspense are mixed in nicely throughout the film. The best part of the movie was obviously the mystery surrounding the identity of the villain. Liam Neeson isn't half bad either with his Steven Seagal fighting style in close quarters.

The Bad: Ironically, it's probably the plot. The biggest element to this movie is the big surprise reveal. Normally surprises are a great thing in movies, however I can imagine some people feeling unsatisfied with this reveal. Unfortunately, even though you are teased throughout the movie with who the potential suspect could be, there's no way you'll really figure it out. It's almost as if the writers threw a name in the hat and said "Okay THIS will be the villain".

The Reason: Well if you're a Liam Neeson fan, this movie should be no surprise compared to his other films. You get exactly what he's always given you. Action, suspense, and the continuation of no one ever believing him when he keeps telling people "You've got to listen to me!" (see Unknown, Taken, and The Grey (MOVIE)) Wait for this to be available as a rental or digital download via Netflix or Redbox. Should be a decent watch on a night where you're just looking for something to watch.

The Rating: 6.5/10

Thursday, June 12, 2014

3 Days To Kill Movie Review (2014)



The Good: Some of the action scenes were actually enjoyable. Who knew Kevin Michael Costner could still be a believable assassin. He's effective in his craft of killing, despite his older age in the movie. The ending also had a nice little twist that you may enjoy.

The Bad: The story isn't as completely as advertised. You're sold on the idea that this movie is an action flick, but it's not really that. It's more like 40% action and 60% drama. You'd think this was a story about a killer having to do extreme things under a deadline, but instead it's more of a drama that you'd probably see on Lifetime. Also the character development is kind of weak with various characters. For example a Amber Heard's character will mysteriously pop up, with no real motive, and then mysterious disappear later. (Update: apparently depending on what version of this movie you get, more information about her is shown.) To top it all off, this movie is LONG. It spends so much time trying to develop the non-action parts of the movie that it just begins to bore.

The Reason: I'm glad this isn't in the theaters anymore, because I'd definitely advise against paying money to see it. However, I think that this would be an ok rental IF you understand the fact that this is NOT the pure action film it's portrayed to be in the trailer. It's not terrible, but let's just say that if you can get it for free, or it happens to come up on Redbox or Netflix then maybe it will be worth your time.

The Rating: 6.5/10