The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Movie Review

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The Good: Seems to be much more character development in this film for the majority of the characters. For instance, we get to see how Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) gains a certain perspective and sense of responsibility for the war that is going on. Liam Hemsworth also seems to finally develop into a respectable character and not just the "forgotten boyfriend" as he was in the previous movies. It is also interesting how the film distinguishes, but yet blurs, the lines between the "rebels" and the "Evil Capitol" under President Snow's control. The entire tone of the movie seems to shift into more of a political drama/suspense rather than the action-like feel the previous movies had when Katniss was actually in the Hunger Games.

The Bad: Unfortunately this movie seemed to drag the same point for far too long. The point being that war sucks, you can't escape the politics, people die, and it's really depressing. It seemed rather disappointing that there wasn't a bit more action because the 3 major scenes of action were actually pretty entertaining to watch. For some reason, it also seemed like the movie should've ended about 5 mins earlier than it did. (You'll see what I'm talking about when they do a long fade to black towards the end)

The Reason: Without having read the books, it's hard to say whether this movie is headed in the right direction or not. It is, afterall, only part 1 of 2 films. So with that said, it's more than likely that those who will go see this movie will probably do so out of loyalty from watching the previous Hunger Games movies. I think that if you go in fully knowing that this movie will not give any real answers or conclusions, and that it will end with a semi-anti-climatic ending, then you will more than likely enjoy the film.

The Rating: 7/10 

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The Last Exorcism Part II Review

 The Good: This movie will keep you in suspense from beginning to end. I liked the fact that they did recap a bit of the first movie especially how they start the movie exactly where the first ended.

The Bad: There's nothing really scary about the movie. I mean they do have some shocking moments that may make that scary girl in the movie theaters drop her popcorn, but nothing that will make your heart skip a beat.

The Reason: If you're a fan of exorcism movies like myself, you'll want to see this. I think the first film was better because there was more mystery involved. You didn't know if she was really possessed or if she was a psychological case. This movie pretty much just let's you know it's all demon possession and the dynamics of that situation. This movie really isn't begging for your money in the theaters. You'll be just fine if you rent it at home.

The Rating: 7/10

The Maze Runner Review

The Good: From the very beginning you're thrust into a world of mystery. The plot is carefully unraveled and even till the very end, there are a few unpredictable twists. From then on it doesn't take long to grip you with suspense throughout the entire movie. The camera shots and angles when the boys are running through the maze will probably have you on the edge of your seat.

The Bad: While it's a major plus that the movie is unpredictable and keeps you guessing, it may come off as a little frustrating to some that you'll probably be left with more questions than answers at the movie's end. This could be due to a possible setup for a future sequel. Lastly while this may just be my own personal opinion, it was kind of hard for me to take Will Poulter seriously after seeing him in We're the Millers. No matter how tough he tries to act, he'll always be the kid that knows all the words to TLC's "Waterfalls".

The Reason: I must admit that I walked into this movie with extremely low expectations. I thought this was going to be yet another "teen movie" like the Divergent Series or The Twilight Saga. But, luckily there aren't any boring love scenes, or predictable storylines. You do still have the "teen movie" stereotypes like "The cool guy", "The mean bully", and a bunch of random cliques. Either way, if you're a skeptic of these types of movies, this one may just be the exception to change your mind. I'll recommend it for matinee viewing and/or rental material.

The Rating: 8/10

Dark Skies Review

The Good: Did a good job with presenting the aliens in a creepy way. Camera angles were done very well so that you couldn't see it coming if a "scary moment" was on the horizon or not.

The Bad: Story line wasn't that deep, and the twist ending didn't really pack much of a punch. Keri Russell for whatever reason constantly had close ups, and the only thing I could pay attention to was the bump on her lip. (Herpes? Cold Sore? Mole?) *shrugs* Either way, it was kind of distracting. Also the unbelievable doubt from the father will probably leave you frustrated. You know it all too well, all the obvious signs of trouble are flashing, and he'll just continue to believe "There's got to be another answer". Oh and that ending scene in the trailer, where the alien raises it's head up and all...NOT IN THE MOVIE. smh Must be in a deleted scene on the blue-ray or something.

The Reason: This movie will have the alien conspiracy enthusiasts to jump for joy. There's definitely more specific alien info presented here that goes way beyond little big head, wide eyed aliens that we are all accustomed to seeing. While this was a decent movie, it was far from great. The scare level was mild at best, and rather than having you jump out of your seat, you'll probably be saying "Whoah" rather than "AHHHHHHHHH!!!". You can rent this, but if you do go to the theater catch this as a matinee.

Rating: 6.5/10

SNITCH Review

The Good: Dwayne The Rock Johnson has done a great job at delivering this dramatic performance. (for an action star that is) This movie has displayed his wide range as an actor. He really makes the audience sense the feeling of being a father, and the sacrifices that parents make for their children. Heck I wanted the Rock to be my dad while watching the movie. lol

The Bad: The rock is a large individual, and it's just a really strange visual to see him not kicking butt. Seeing him outside of his normal action genre is very different, and in some cases just seems unrealistic.

The Reason: Despite the Rock's reputation as an action star, and the way this movie was portrayed in the trailer, this was far from an Action/Suspense film. It's more of a Drama/Suspense that happens to have one major scene of action. While I kinda think a little more action wouldn't have hurt in this movie, it would be a good watch in the theater. Of course, it would also make for a solid rental.

The Rating: 7.5/10

Identity Thief Review

The Good: This actually had more funny scenes than the trailer advertised so that of course is always a good thing. I must say that Melissa McCarthy is really coming along with her comedic movies. She was hilarious in Bridesmaids and she kept it going in this film. One surprise was the fact that she really showed some range as an actor by presenting some dramatic scenes. Who knew she could do drama and comedy at the same time? *shrugs*

The Bad: This film seemed really long. (almost 2hrs long) I think that comedies should just be 1hr 30mins max. The story line seemed a little unrealistic and in some places over the top as well. Jason Bateman is also only mildly funny at best.

The Reason: While this had some funny and memorable moments (e.g. Throat punches... Lol) I wouldn't say it was theater worthy unless you REALLY have to go see a comedy and just get out of the house. Otherwise you can definitely wait, and honestly if you didn't rent this, you wouldn't miss it.

The Rating: 6.5/10

Lincoln Review

The Good: An excellent display of acting from Daniel Day Lewis. He has you believing he's Abraham Lincoln from beginning to end. The story is pretty much during the Civil war and after the Emancipation Proclamation was passed. It shows more of an insider's look at the politics behind what it took to get the 13th amendment (to abolish slavery) ratified. It also shows President Lincoln's political genius in how he manipulated the political parties to achieve his goal for abolishing slavery. How historically accurate that may be, I cannot say however. Oh and Tommy Lee Jones comes in, surprisingly, and almost runs away with the show. His portrayal of Thaddeus Stevens was definitely worthy of Best Supporting actor nomination for the Oscars in my opinion.

The Bad: If you're not into politics then this movie is definitely not for you. The political dialogue is long, and sometimes hard to follow. (Subtitles may be your best friend for this) Took me about 3 tries to finish the movie. The back and forth from both political parties felt like I was watching the 1860's version of Fox News vs msnbc.

The Reason: While this was a solid movie, I'm hard pressed to believe that the average movie goer will go for this. I think that movie purists will definitely love it, and give it the due credit that it so rightfully deserves. I'd say it's rent worthy if you REALLY want to see it.

The Rating: 8/10

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A Good Day to Die Hard Review

The Good: Well Bruce Willis is BACK! The Good: TONS of action. There was so much unnecessary, but fitting, action in this film which would come at no surprise for Die Hard fans. The car chase scene from the beginning of the film sets you up roller coaster ride of suspense, and did I mention Action? Die Hard Fans will definitely appreciate the memorable moments.

The Bad: The father-son relationship seemed a little unnecessary. The whole "I hate you dad...you were never there for us! " thing just got tired real quick. Also, unfortunately the trailers seemed to have given away maybe 3/4 of the action scenes. So by the time you see them, you already know what's about to happen. The twist in the story line is also mild at best, and the movie was just sooo short. (only 1hr 30mins)

 The Reason: While I do think that Die Hard fans will be way more excited to watch and appreciate this, I think it's safe to say that this would be theater worthy if you're an action fan. It would also make for a great rental, but with all the explosions and gun fire, seeing it on the big screen does bring some value to the viewing experience.

Rating: 6.5/10

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The Inevitable Defeat of Mister and Pete Review (2014)

The Good: Really nice performances from Skylan Brooks (Mister) and Jennifer Hudson. They do a pretty nice job of portraying the dynamics of a strained mother/child relationship affected by drug use and poverty. I suppose if I have to say something good about Anthony Mackie I'd say he did a great job at looking like NBA star James Harden in this film.

The Bad: The character development of many of the supporting cast just didn't seem well grounded. For example Jordin Sparks' character seemed to just pop out of nowhere, and her friendship with Mister just didn't come off as natural. Seemed like the director just put her in the movie as a favor or something. Not only was the character development lacking, but so were many other issues in the story itself. There seemed to be more holes in the overall story than actual resolutions. (e.g. The store keeper's actions at the end, or Anthony Mackie's character entirely)

The Reason: This wasn't an entirely bad movie to watch, but it wasn't something you could plan your night around either. It has some rather depressing or sad issues that it deals with, so it's far from a "pick me up" type of movie. This would movie would probably be best for someone who's taking a sociology class or someone who can relate to being in the inner city. It's on Netflix and is ONLY worth the watch if you like the trailer. It is also available on DVD here as well. Otherwise, you're not missing much if you don't see this.

The Rating: 6/10

Interstellar Movie Review

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The Good: As expected, Matthew McConaughey shows off his Oscar Award winning acting chops as well as the supporting cast. The visual effects are great, especially with the help of the 70MM camera used to film it. (Movie purists will appreciate that) One of the most interesting things was the unique look at the effect of space-time relativity and various philosophies that impact our relationships with others. Of course Christopher Nolan delivers a multi-layered story filled with philosophical and scientific nuggets to leave you thinking, wondering, and questioning things even after you've finished watching. It was also enjoyable to have a bit of comedic relief from the military robots. (They may remind you of R2-D2 from Star Wars)

The Bad: Typically with Christopher Nolan films, you're in for a 2-3 hour movie. It's not necessarily the length that is troublesome (because the plots usually keep you locked in), but rather it's the complexity of the many layers buried into the plot. Watching a Nolan film is like going to a university lecture with actors doing the presentation. I'm not saying that it's a bad thing to have deeply intellectual storylines, but I do think that it's fair to say that the average movie goer (who doesn't like sci-fi) isn't always trying to overthink things while trying to watch the film. Some of the concepts in the movie will either require for some people to rewatch the movie again, or go back and read a wikipedia page about it to make sure you really understood what happened. (Like yours truly did)

The Reason: The honest truth is that this movie is for us sci-fi lovers. If you're a fan of Nolan, you'll love this automatically. If you're an average movie goer, who hates the Syfy (SciFi Channel) and couldn't care less about special relativity, then I'd say take caution before watching this film. Similar to the movie Gravity, I believe that this is the type of movie that should be watched on a big screen so that you can get the full experience intended by the director. ONLY go see it in IMAX if you know that you'll appreciate good camera work. This is not like Avatar or Transformers, because nothing is in 3D or all in your face. (3D wasn't needed for the film anyway) This is probably the best and most authentic sci-fi film that we have to date outside of the typical Star Wars and Star Trek series, in my opinion.

The Rating: 8/10


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Edge of Tomorrow Movie Review (2014)

The Good: Tom Cruise doesn't disappoint with his delivery of sci-fi action. Surprisingly, there was a bit of comedic relief with all the "repeats" that occur in the film. One of the best aspects of the movie is how they don't really waste that much time with all of the time loops. You get the idea that he has to repeat the day, and the well planned editing allows us to explore all of the possibilities in the film's story.

The Bad: The supporting cast really didn't seem all that...well supportive. They seemed to just be extras who only become relevant later in the film. Beyond that there may be some out there who find issue with the ending. You will have to pay attention to detail, so there may be some confusion with some of the storyline if one isn't careful. Because of that, some people some may view the ending as a bit anti-climactic. Finally, the movie does seem to feel a little long with all of the continuous time loop possibilities that it seeks to explore.

The Reason: This movie could be easily summed up as Groundhog Day + Elysium+ Oblivion + The Matrix 3. The story is original but you can't help but feel as though many parts of it are recycled. Either way, if you're into sci-fi movies and a decent amount of action, it's worth your time. I'd say it makes for a solid rental to watch at home.

The Rating: 7.5/10