Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle Movie Review

The Trailer:

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REVIEW LINK HERE

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Thor Ragnarok Movie Review

The Trailer:

Video Review: 

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REVIEW LINK HERE

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Kingsman: The Golden Circle Movie Review

The Trailer:

Video Review: 

You can read my review by clicking on the link below:

Kingsman: The Golden Circle Review

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Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 Movie Review

The Trailer:

Video Review (No Spoilers)

Video Review (Spoilers)

The Good:
From the very beginning of the movie, you can immediately tell that the 3D visuals instantly pop out. The visuals of the film do not disappoint. The vast array of colors were vibrant and amazing to see on the big screen.

The humor is, without question, the biggest highlight of this movie. You can tell compared to the first Guardians film that they clearly wanted to push more comedy this time around. It definitely embraced more of that "Marvel fun" that Marvel has been known for. This may be one of Marvels most comedic films because of that. However, despite the comedy, Guardians 2 was also able to find a nice balance with its dramatic moments.

I would probably have to say that this is also Marvel's most emotionally driven film to date. It was like everyone got their own dose of Dr. Phil therapy and confessional moments. They did a nice job of handling the various daddy issues among the characters. Beyond that, each character in the movie is very well developed. I really liked what they did with Yondu, played by Michael Rooker. We also got some great scenes for Rocket Raccoon since he was given ample time to shine. Baby Groot was cute too. That's about it in Groot's regard.

When it comes to the plot, I liked the twist in the film. It's minor, but I still enjoyed the implications it had on the motivations of certain characters. (Check my spoiler review video for more details.) I also really liked the potential setups that the end credit scenes hint at. Without getting into any specifics, I'll just say that it was very fun to see all the many special guest cameos throughout the film.

The Bad:
I guess my biggest issue (nitpicking alert) is what they did with Drax's character. In this film, Drax is made out to be more humorous, and in a very different way than he was portrayed before. I'm not a fan of it only because, to me, it kind of appears as though he's losing his edge.

Another issue was the language. This film gives off the appearance that it’s family friendly with the really fun vibe that it emits. However, it’s full of adult language like the “S" word, “B" words and "A" words. Not only that, but there's a lot of death in the movie too. It’s not graphic or anything like that, but the movie is a hard PG-13. I guess it's just not something I’d bring my 9 year old to go see.

Last thing is the overuse of the theme of family. It was simply driven home a little too hard for me. Now don't get me wrong, the "family" theme is important, and motivating, but you don’t need to say it 10x. I almost thought that I was watching a Fast & Furious movie or something. (Come to think of it, Kurt Russel and Vin Diesel are both in the movie.) -_-

The Reason:
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 almost felt like watching the Marvel version of Men in Black. It could probably be considered as the Deadpool of the MCU. The film pokes fun at itself without breaking the 4th wall. (Cue the superhero landings.) Personally, if I had to compare both Guardian films, I’d say the first Guardians was still better. What's important to take from that is simply that both movies are just different films. While the first Guardians would probably be considered as a Sci-Fi, Action, Adventure, Vol 2 is like a Sci-Fi, drama, comedy. So it really just comes down to your personal presence of genre.

Hopefully by now you don't need me to tell you, but you should definitely stay for the end credit scenes. There are FIVE of them all the way until very end. As I mentioned before, the 3D is totally worth it, so go check it out as soon as you can.

The Rating: 9/10

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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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Get Out Movie Review

The Trailer:

The Good:
From the very beginning the film hits on some very central social themes. In a brilliant way, Get Out explores the various challenges of interracial relationships. What makes it so smart, in my opinion, is that it not only takes a look at the inter-workings of those relationships but also how others (i.e. family, friends) are effected as well. Another social theme that gets addressed is of course the notion of "blackness" from different perspectives. You get that from the little racial jokes from time to time. Often times, you couldn't tell whether you should be scared or just continue laughing.

Speaking of jokes, this movie was practically laugh out loud funny! I wasn't expecting to be laughing as much as I did. I have to give a huge kudos to Lil Rel Howery (who plays Chris's best friend.). Lil Rel was absolutely hilarious every time he was on the screen. Bradley Whitford (who plays the dad) also had some pretty funny moments. Of course, Daniel Kaluuya (played Chris) does a nice job as the lead. Most of his facial expressions and reactions to others will probably match that of the audiences' as well.

Director/writer Jordan Peele simply did an amazing job of blending both comedy and thrills while still embedding social themes along the way. As far as the plot, I give it credit for being rather unique. Aside from the jokes and social issues, this was actually a nice bit of a mystery. For the majority of the film you're constantly trying to find out the actual motivations of the characters and just what is going on in that strange little neighborhood. I personally think that this movie had a lot of great pay offs for the audience, so don't be surprised if you find yourself really getting into the film.

The Bad:
The only slightly negative aspect to this film is that while there were a few nice plot twists, some things were rather predictable. It's not a huge deal even if you do predict some events though. I just thought it was worth mentioning at the very least.

The Reason:
First and foremost, let me say once again that Get Out was a really smart piece of film. The social issues that it touches on will certain drive an interesting dialogue for audiences. Not only that, but it doesn't come off as political or preachy. The comedy and thrilling aspect kind of take the edge off of any potential social bias or awkwardness someone may feel. The film essentially addresses cultural appropriation at it's finest. Lol

If you're afraid by the trailers, don't be. There's nothing really scary in this movie that I would say makes it horror film at all. I'll also say that because of this movie, and Lil Rel Howery, I have a new found respect for the TSA (Transportation Security Administration). Get Out is a surprisingly great movie that's more than worth the watch in theaters. Get out and go see it! (See what I did there?)

The Rating: 9/10

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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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War Dogs Movie Review

The Trailer:

The Good:
Director Todd Phillips recaptures the same feeling and style that will remind of you the Hangover films. Despite being labeled a comedy, this film felt more like a series of humorous moments. Jonah Hill, in my opinion, completely steals the movie. He continues to deliver in various ways through his character's insults, role playing, and banter with Miles Teller's character.

One of the things that I appreciated about this film was the writing. The movie explains the concepts of gun trading so effectively and practically that almost anyone can understand it. (Even if you're completely against the idea of war.) This was especially essential when certain plot points occurred in the story. We're not left in the dark about the impact of certain events.

The Bad:
There didn't seem to be any major standout scenes. While were good, they didn't have much lasting power. Unfortunately for this film, the story was rather predictable. You can see the plot twists from a mile away, and the character telegraph their motivations pretty clearly.

Miles Teller, despite being cast as the lead, never really felt like he stepped up to the challenge. Jonah Hill danced circles around him in terms of acting. Above all that, the movie felt a little long. It's hard to say what didn't need to be there, but I think that the pacing of the film drag the movie.

The Reason:
War Dogs was enjoyable and entertaining in my opinion. It felt like a more serious spinoff of the Hangover, but nevertheless it was a decent watch. Seeing as though this was based on a true story, it may even compel you to do a little research because the ending of the film had many people in the audience literally saying "WTF?!". Give War Dogs a shot, but go in with low expectations.

The Rating: 7/10 (matinee worthy)

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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Sausage Party Movie Review

The Trailer:

Movie Critic Reaction: 

The Good:
This movie is so over the top insane, that I'm not sure where to begin. If you have sensitive ears, then brace yourself for plenty of vulgar language that would make a sailor cringe. There was a good amount of laugh out loud moments due to the incredibly crude, raunchy and explicit humor. The dirty jokes were so in your face that even Deadpool would be appalled. (Well, maybe not)

I must say that the writing for this movie was actually pretty brilliant. The movie is a huge compilation of cleverly utilized innuendos. No subject or group is safe in this film either. A wide variety of topics are covered from politics to religion to racial stereotypes.  (Think of how South Park offends so many people that it ends up being fair because every gets insulted equally.)

The Bad:
My biggest issue with this film is that while it does attempt to equally offend all types of societal groups or people, it's not so balanced in its obvious bias against religious believers. As you'll see in the film, religion is a subject that is addressed, but it's pretty obvious that there's an especially heavy prejudice compared to the other topics. When you look at shows like South Park or even Family Guy, they insult and offend so many people that it's hard to really have issue with them. However, if the jokes of a movie or show pay a little too much attention to one group or people, then it can become a little problematic.

The Reason:
Look, I walked out of this movie and immediately felt like Ace Ventura when he made a certain startling discovery. I just felt so unclean. The best way I could describe Sausage Party would be This Is The End + Toy Story + any porno flick.  To be honest with you, I have absolutely no idea how this movie got sanctioned in the first place. The fact that it's rated R is just laughable. Sausage Party was funny, disgusting, entertaining and a whole lot of WTF?! If you can't tell by now, this is NOT A MOVIE FOR CHILDREN! Seriously, I will call CPS if I see parents bringing their young children to this movie. I think that this is theater worthy due to the fact that you'll definitely be shocked and entertained with this film. If you're not a fan of Seth Rogen or his movies, then buyer beware. Don't be surprised if you never look at food the same again after watching this. Now if you'll excuse me, I will be starting my all-liquid diet.

The Rating: 7.5/10

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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Ghostbusters Movie Review (2016)

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The Trailer:

YouTube Review:

The Good:

The chemistry between the characters stands out throughout the film. They each are able to have their own identity and comedic style for the entire movie. Kristen Wiig and Melissa McCarthy delivered the same performances as we’d expect, but the more interesting characters were probably that of Kate McKinnon and Leslie Jones.

McKinnon was so weird, but in a good and funny way. She easily had one of the best scenes and almost steals the movie. Her role as the engineer was by far the most intriguing. Even for Ghostbuster fans who consider themselves purists, her ingenuity with various gadgets was a wonderful upgrade to the Ghostbusters overall.

Leslie Jones slightly exceeded my expectations. What I personally appreciated was how she didn’t completely fall victim to playing a generic stereotype. Matter of fact, I think she had the most normal reactions to some of the crazy situations the Ghostbusters faced. Best of all, I really appreciated how they highlighted that she was more than just a transit employee that knew about New York City. She was incredibly valuable and resourceful to the team.

The plot felt a bit stitched together, but it’s not like Ghostbusters is known for its deep story-lines. I think that the film overall did a nice job of paying homage with the numerous nods to the previous the previous film. You’ll get more than enough nods to the previous Ghostbusters films. You can probably also tell from the trailers that this film has some nice special effects. The visuals were definitely a sight to see as they keep your attention whenever a ghost is on the screen.

The Bad:

For the entire duration of the movie, I struggled to figure out what tone this movie was trying to have. The film felt like it had two different halves. The first half was nice, subtle humor. The second half seemed to try and juggle a sense of urgency and corny goofiness. For many instances, for me, the goofiness was a little distracting.

I won’t say who, but many of the cameos in this film just never really felt natural. They felt like they were just randomly thrown in just for the sake of seeing a familiar face. The cameos just felt misplaced and sometimes forced. My biggest issue with this film was not that it was a reboot or remake. Rather my issue was that this film could’ve simply just been a warm hand-off from the old Ghostbusters. This film erases the previous movies, but still tries to tap into the previous films by doing various things to call back them.

Given the fact that some of the characters are from Saturday Night Live, you almost get a sense that they tap into that same comedic style. Now for some people, that may be fine, but for me, it’s problematic. Just like in Saturday Night Live, some of the jokes in this Ghostbusters were just milked a little too long for me. After the fourth or fifth time of seeing that funny thing, it starts to lose its’ punch. For me, the movie’s jokes were chuckle-worthy, but not laugh out loud funny.

The Reason:

So it’s not breaking news that there’s been a lot of controversy surrounding this film. I was one of many people who were somewhere on the fence about it. So I came in with low expectations and an open mind. The movie was not “trash” nor was it “great”, in my opinion. It was “digestible”. In other words, it wasn’t black liquorish, nor was it a Snickers Bar. It was just a peanut. Yes, a peanut. Why a peanut? Because peanuts aren’t really bad. However, when you think of the rampant hate by some Internet people who vowed to never see this movie, you’d think they’d avoid this movie like they had a peanut allergy. (See what I did there?)

Anyway, I’ve always said that comedies are one of the most subjective movie genres to critique. What’s funny to me may not be funny to you, and vice-versa. While some people were in my theater were laughing out loud, myself and others were just smiling for a long time.

At the end of the day, trust your gut on this one. If you’re livid about this movie then don’t bother. Chances are you may just nitpick the movie anyway.  For those who are on the fence, I'd just say that it’s not as bad as it was made out to be by the people who didn’t even see it. I could see how this would be funny for some people, but it was just okay, for me. If you’re curious about it, I’d say give it a shot and make up your mind. If you’re a fan of director Paul Feig’s work (Bridesmaids, Spy, The Heat) then this is right up your alley. I also wouldn't recommend it for small children because some of the ghosts may actually be a little too scary for them. Be sure to stay till the very end of the credits for an end credit scene. 

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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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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Barbershop 3: The Next Cut Movie Review (2016)

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YouTube Review:

The Good:
Probably one of the most unexpected highlights of this movie is how it was able to be a comedy taking on the serious issue of gun violence. In a sense, the movie made the city of Chicago a living and breathing character in itself. It didn't simply treat the city of Chicago as just a random urban setting where people happen to get their hair cut. Instead, the film does a great job of tackling various issues through its characters. The film doesn't hold back on addressing the good and bad aspects of Chicago ranging from the gangs, neighborhood communities, or even the educational system.

Ice Cube ("Calvin") and Jazsmin Lewis ("Jennifer") both portrayed the day to day struggle of  parents trying to fight for the love and admiration of their children. What was interesting about this portrayal was that it didn't simply rest with a parent settling with telling their child all of the generic "parenting lectures" that we would get from a day-time television show like Family Matters. Rather, we were shown the, often times troubling, challenge of parents trying to prove to their children that their love is far greater than the attention gangs appears to provide.

Of course, the film has many comedic moments that will be sure to have you laughing; especially if you catch some of the jokes that are said under the character's breath. The jokes also serve to provide some social commentary on various issues from President Obama to even the battle of the sexes. What I particularly appreciated was how this movie attempted to demonstrate a practical solution to the issue of gun violence. (It wasn't anything earth-shattering, but it was far more realistic than...let's say...a sex strike.)

The wide variety of the cast was a great element to help the comedy. From Deon Cole's random side comments to Lamorne Morris' awkward humor to the old-school comedic performance of Cedrick the Entertainer; you can rest assured that you'll get some laughs from all sides.

Given the fact that I'm a HAPPILY married man, I'm just going to say that Nicki Minaj's scenes were .... umm..."entertaining". *Pssst* (Fellas, guys go see it. Thank me later.)

The Bad:
I think that one of the weaker parts of the film was with a very dramatic/serious situation happens. Not only is it predictable, but I think that it could have been a lot better. Obviously, I won't go into detail about the scene, however, I think that when you see it you'll know what I'm referring to. What I will say is that the way the situation plays out seems incredibly unrealistic, especially given the way the movie raises the level of suspense and tension during that one scene. I just think that the way it played out, there was a missed opportunity to make this film be a little more authentic and real.

The Reason:
As a Chicagoan, I'm going to be biased about this film regardless. As some of you may recall, I had an interesting and controversial review of Chi-Raq not too long ago. What I will say about Barbershop 3 is that it manages to accomplish something that Chi-Raq was unable to do. It was able to speak directly to the issues related to the Chicago violence that people who are affected by the violence can readily understand. Barbershop 3 respected and showed nothing but love to the city of Chicago while still addressing a very sensitive topic. This is what Chi-Raq should have been. This is what Chicagoans were hoping and expecting to see if a movie tried to tell their tale. It's not overly political, nor will it having you in tears. What this movie will do, I think, is give you a small sense of hope, encouragement, and laughter while still reflecting on the serious gravity of the tragic situation that plagues the city of Chicago. I don't believe that people will be disappointed with this film, and it's well worth the watch.

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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Deadpool Movie Review 2016

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YouTube Review:

The Good:
From the very beginning of its opening credits all the way to even its ending credits, Deadpool doesn't hold back with a flurry of comedic jabs. There are so many funny punch lines that you may miss because you'll be too busy laughing. As many fans already expected, Ryan Reynolds was made for this role and it showed greatly. His wit, charm and humor were on full display throughout.

The supporting characters in this film also do a wonderful job sustaining the movie, and not leaving the burden of keeping you laughing only on Reynolds. Ed Skrein (plays "Ajax") plays a great villain that compliments Deadpool's character very well. Gina Carano was finally utilized properly as an imposing figure in her role. Even the character of Colossus was finally done in a proper way that will make you enjoy the character opposed to his previous portrayals in other X-Men appearances.

The action scenes were also a great highlight to this film. Given the rated R rating, the violence was not held back in its gruesome form. Even better, while some of the scenes were really intense and fast paced, director Tim Miller was wise enough to slow them down so that the audience could fully absorb what they were seeing. In other words, it wasn't a bunch of blurry action scenes like in Man of Steel.

One last minor note, the love angle was done in a very genuine way. Ryan Reynolds and Morena Baccarin (plays "Vanessa") shared some great on-screen chemistry. While romances in comic book films usually don't help the movie progress, this one succeeded in my opinion. It was done in such a way that you really do end up rooting for the couple's success.

The Bad:
I think that any "critic" that attempts to find something wrong with this film is just unnecessarily nitpicking. The ONLY thing that MAY be considered "bad" is the constant references that lead into being inside jokes within the movie. Due to Deadpool's consistent breaking of the "4th wall", there are many jokes that may go over some people's head if they are unfamiliar with the former X-Men movies, Ryan Reynold's past movies (Green Lantern or X-Men Origins: Wolverine), or even the media criticism that has surrounded this film and the actors before. I can't hold that against this movie though so you can make of that what you wish.

The Reason:
Fellow Nerds and Geeks REJOICE! This is what every adult comic book fan has been waiting for! We finally have another perfect comic book movie! The same way The Avengers broke the mold by introducing multiple heroes on one screen, or how Captain America 2 placed superheroes in a different movie genre, Deadpool is now a game changer in the comic book world. The R rating opened up so many more opportunities for this film in regards to the violent action, humor and originality. In other words, the R rating gives Deadpool a unique advantage that former comic book movies could never obtain.

This was probably a combination of The Hangover + The Punisher.  By the way, this is in no way shape or form suitable for a young audience. This movie is very "adult" in every sense of the term. I strongly urge you all to steer away from any internet talk about this film. There a lot of surprises in the film that you'll enjoy. There are also TWO end credit scenes so feel free to stay to the end to catch it. Don't be cheap, go watch this film. It deserves every penny spent, because after watching it, you'll want to see more like this. As of right now, Deadpool just kicked off 2016 as the best movie going and its putting a lot of pressure on upcoming films like Batman V Superman and Marvel's Civil War.

The Rating: 10/10

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American Ultra (2015) Movie Review

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YouTube:

The Good:

As you can probably tell from the trailer, the action scenes are probably the best highlight to this film. At times it also get pretty gruesome, which only serves to ground this movie a little bit, and make some scenes seem more real. I actually appreciated the fact that Jesse Eisenberg's character didn't just walk away from a huge fight scene with only a minor scratch. He also does a decent job of giving you dry, satirical humor while still displaying some acting range in the serious moments of the film. John Leguizamo was probably one of the funniest characters, even though he had a smaller supporting role.

The Bad:

The entire movie banks on two factors: action and comedy. The comedy, at times, felt a little forced. The few times it was funny, you'll get a nice chuckle here or there. For the majority of the movie, I felt like I was stuck in "pre-chuckle" mode. (A "pre-chuckle" is when you're smiling, getting ready for a laugh, but only a quick exhale through your nose comes out.) Along with that, the action scenes felt discombobulated. Eisenberg just appears visually awkward in fight scenes. His character is made out to be some type of lethal weapon. However, one minute he's unbelievably invincible, and then the next he's getting hurt, or doing really dumb things.

The villains that he has to face, called the "assets" were also a disappointment because none of them had any of the "unique" traits that they were supposed to have. The only one that had a unique trait was "The Laugher" (played by Walton Goggins) and even he was a weak villain. All of the villains just seemed like petty henchmen that easily get disposed of in the movies. If you were expecting Kristen Stewart to break out and display some serious acting range....keep waiting.

The Reason:

You could easily sum up American Ultra as The Bourne Identity + Half Baked + The Equalizer's ending scene. Most of the things that this movie tried to excel at, just didn't hit, in my opinion. I'm sure some people may find this film somewhat funny, but I'm almost positive that the majority will agree that it's absolutely not worth your time or money in the theaters. You know what, this is a movie that you watch when it comes on TBS. As a matter of fact, it's not "TBS Very Funny", it's only "TBS funny"... but don't be surprised if you change the channel the moment the first commercial comes on.


The Rating: 6.5/10

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Ant-Man (2015) Movie Review

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The Good: 

From beginning to end, the humor and comedic element probably stands out the most for this movie. There were constant chuckle worthy moments, and a few laugh out loud moments that make this movie "Funny" but not "Hysterical". Best of all, none of the humor seemed forced in any way, and all seemed to just flow seamlessly throughout the film. Unlike in the comics, there's an an interesting twist with Michael Douglas's character, Hank Pym, that fits well with Marvel's other properties.  It's also easy to relate to Paul Rudd's character (Scott Lang/Ant-Man) due to his wit and charisma. It's probably fair to say that Michael Peña comes very close to stealing the show with all of his funny scenes. The action scenes were nicely done and there is a surprise scene that I cannot describe without spoiling it, but it was a nice addition for the sake of continuity based off of Marvel's previous film. (Update: Marvel has ruined the surprise. Click Here if you don't mind the spoiler.) A final interesting tidbit is the CGI that's used in the film is remarkable. If you can't notice or tell what I'm talking about when you watch the film, then that's a testament to how good the CGI was implemented.

The Bad: 

Majority of the film is very predictable and done in a pretty standard cookie cutter fashion. They drop so many obvious hints and foreshadowing that the main plot is pretty much laid out before it plays out. While Paul Rudd does a good job overall, this role is not much a stretch for him. If you're not a fan of Rudd's previous performances or his comedic style (This is 40, Knocked Up) then you may be disappointed yet again. The 3D element was a fail. There were some good opportunities to really make the 3D effects stand out, but you can't help but get the feeling that Marvel simply didn't want to put any more money into special effect in those scenes. Maybe it's just me, but I was a bit taken back at the amount of cursing that was in the film. There were a lot of "S" bombs dropped and it just didn't seem like Marvel/Disney's style with such a potential kid-friendly superhero character.

The Reason:

The main question many of you will have is "Was this better than Avengers Age of Ultron"? To that, I will say...wrong comparison. Avengers Age of Ultron was a different type of movie; it was a "superhero movie" with super heroes starring in it. Ant-Man is a "heist movie" that just so happens to star a super hero in it. This is similar to Captain America 2: Winter Soldier being a "spy conspiracy movie" that happened to star a super hero. So it's difficult to compare the two films head to head. The closest comparison would be to Guardians of the Galaxy because, along with Ant-Man, it was a film about some relatively unknown characters. I'd say this movie can be considered a success primarily due to making an unknown character interesting enough that they can become fan favorites in futures movies. To sum up the overall impression of this film, I'd say it's funny, entertaining, good, but not epic. It's well worth the watch in theaters, and even on DVD or download when it becomes available. Feel free to skip the IMAX or 3D versions of this film in theaters and save some money. Oh and don't forget, there are two end-credit scenes. One is in the middle of the credits, and the other is all the way after the credits.

The Rating: 8/10

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Dope (2015) Movie Review

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The Good: The film does an amazingly good job of blending both drama and comedy together. The comedic moments are well timed, unpredictable, and don't disrupt the serious moments of the movie. Writer and director Rick Famuyiwa (The Wood, Brown Sugar) does an excellent job of having the over arching themes all connect seamlessly with all of the side stories that happen within the the film.  The plot itself is layered with ironic twists and a satisfying ending. Best of all, there's an even greater message that this movie portrays for the audience that ties everything all together. Each of the actors do a really good job of playing their roles. Shameik Moore (as "Malcolm") does an especially good job of portraying the role of a true geek. His character's development and maturation process will have you on his side from beginning to end.

The Bad: The film dives  into some really technical computer related topics (i.e. online currency, black market websites, etc) that may just go over the heads of the average movie goer. Hell, I'm an IT professional, and some of the topics discussed were things I only recently learned about last year. Granted, the techy things they discuss are explained to an extent, and they don't necessarily ruin the movie. However, I do get the feeling that some people may miss the full implication of what happens during one specific scene. Lastly, there are a lot of "N-words" dropped throughout the film. While it does stay true within the context of the film, I believe that it will also alienate the film to being stuck in the "black movie" category.

The Reason: Overall, I fear that many will not see this movie, but many should see this movie. I came into it with EXTREMELY LOW expectations, and I left the theater pleasantly surprised. (Matter of fact, I went back to see it again) The trailers do it no justice, and make the film seem like some random straight to dvd rental. In my opinion, this film accomplishes what most movies today lack; good writing, good directing, original story, and most importantly something to think about when the movie is over. Take this review with a grain of salt because I feel a little biased due to the fact that I can personally relate to this movie. I'm black and I grew up as a nerd (I know this is probably a shock to most, but I wasn't always this cool.) Even if this film doesn't appeal to most, I'll still stand behind it and I do recommend checking it out. It may be cliche` to say, but Dope was dope. (Theaters or at home, whatever you choose)

The Rating: 8/10

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Ted 2 (2015) Movie Review

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The Good: Similar to the previous Ted (2012) film, this film doesn't miss a beat with it's comedy. It doesn't go over the top (like they did in Hangover 2), and probably the funniest jokes were saved for the movie and not spoiled by trailers. The running jokes are a nice plus, and the film has a bunch of other surprises that I cannot even begin to mention without spoiling it. It's comedic strength will be the constant pop-culture and movie references. As for the plot, it manages to sneak in a pretty relevant social justice message that many will be and to relate with.

The Bad: While the multiple pop culture references can help the jokes, it can also hurt them. As with any joke, if you don't get the reference, you won't get the joke. For example, if you're not at least familiar with Lord of the Rings trilogy, then you're going to miss out on a funny running joke, while everyone else is laughing out loud. Quoting a friend of mine, this film is filled with "crass male humor". So if jokes about male reproductive appendages bother you, avoid this film. Lastly, it was a little disappointing that there wasn't another fight scene similar to the one between Ted and Johnny (played by: Mark Wahlberg) from the first film.

The Reason: If you loved Ted, you'll definitely enjoy Ted 2. Sequel keeps the same humor going along with the same level of randomness you could expect from Seth MacFarland. So if you are a Family Guy fan, this is right up your alley. Now should you go pay to see this? That really depends. You don't have to at all, because it's a comedy, and it's not like there's a ton of special effects or anything  that. But, if you're in the mood for some great laughs and want to get out of the house, this is more than worth your money to see.

The Rating: 8/10

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Marvel Avengers: Age of Ultron Movie Review

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The Trailer: 

The Good: The film starts of with exactly what you want to see. Super hero action galore! Unlike the previous Avengers film, the super-powered team-ups were one of the best highlights to the action. As seen from the trailers, you can believe that the Hulk vs Hulkbuster fight will live up to the hype. (Think of Superman vs Zod in Man of Steel, but you could actually visually make out the action.)

This time around, we get a bit more development with the under utilized characters. Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) is much more relatable, and  Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) and the Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) both develop their character's struggles by piggy backing off one another.  Both Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen) and Quicksilver (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) were introduced with a more realistic explanation of their "special abilities" compared to other comic book films. One thing that stood out with Quicksilver was that he's not ridiculously overpowered like the Quiksilver in X-Men Days of the Future Past.

As for the plot, there is A LOT going on; Old characters, new characters, new villains, setups for future movies, all within the time frame of a little under 3 hours.  Director Joss Whedon seemed to actually juggle and hold it all together. (Think the complete opposite of the Spider-Man 3 movie.) Lastly, there was a lot more comedy throughout the film. The banter, side comments and running jokes from the characters were quite enjoyable.

The Bad: Ultron (James Spader) never seemed to reach his full potential of badness. It seemed like he was more interested in playing mind games, than actually following through with his devious plans. He seemed much more menacing in the trailers than he did in the movie. Some of the action was a bit too fast paced. Similar to Man of Steel, it was a little difficult to keep up with all of the fast moving action on screen. This is being said under the consideration that it was viewed in IMAX 3D, in which case the glasses may have played a bigger role. (So take that with a grain of a salt) During some of the more tense, action filled moments, there were some comedic scenes. They weren't terrible, because they still made you laugh, however, it took away from the tense vibe the drama/action was building up to. Some of the comedic scenes seemed like bloopers that should've been deleted.

The Reason:
I know what you're thinking: "Was this better than the first Avengers film or not?" To answer that I will say, NO...because it's different. The one thing that the previous film has over this film is the fact that Avengers 1 was the first of its kind. The originality factor is huge and will always solidify its place in movie history. Now as for this film, it was incredibly successful at being a great sequel. It took all the good stuff you loved and gave you more of it. It also did a good job of bridging the gap for future films to come. This movie, I believe, is made to viewed in the theaters, or else you'll miss out on much of the visual experience. One way to save some money is to see it in REAL 3D, and not in IMAX 3D. Reason being is that this is a long movie. With the REAL 3D version, if you tilt your head, or change positions in the seats, your glasses won't blur the movie. Oh and there's only ONE mid-credit scene to wait for, so don't bother wasting your time for another scene at the very end of the credits. So is this film epic? Probably not so much. Is it worth the watch? Absolutely! Why are you still reading this? Click the big button below and buy your tickets!

The Rating: 8.5/10

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Furious 7 Movie Review

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The Trailer: 

The Good: As we've all come to know from the previous 6 movies, there's plenty of non-stop action and suspense. Many of the car scenes really get turned up a notch. The fights scenes were very entertaining. Fans of Dwanye "The Rock" Johnson will certain appreciate his throwdown with the feature villain, Jason Statham's character. Tyrese Gibson and Ludacris chime in from time to time with some chuckleworthy comic relief. Vin Diesel,of course, doesn't disappoint as he continues playing the role of "Dom". They also did a nice job of tying in the third movie, Tokyo Drift, to help fill in the gaps that were left in the previous films. Finally, we know this was one of Paul Walker's final major film, and one of the best parts of the movie was the honorable tribute to him. It was classy and fitting.

The Bad: This movie franchise hasn't really been known for it's amazing plots, so don't be surprised if you can predict most of what's going to happen. That includes many of the corny catch phrases and cheesy jokes thrown all around. (That doesn't mean it's not entertaining though) Many of the actions scenes, while entertaining to watch, you'll have to give them a pass because they get pretty unrealistic. In the last Fast and Furious 6, the characters all figured out a way to seemingly defy the laws of gravity. In this one, apparently these people are able to take blows to the head, be in car crashes, or walk away from explosions without being in a coma. Oh, and sorry MMA fans, Ronda Rousey should not be in any more movies. If she is, she shouldn't be given any speaking lines. Great fighter, but horrible actress. (Don't tell her I said that. I enjoy breathing.)

The Reason: So we're on the 7th iteration of this movie franchise, so it's kind of hard to say things that haven't already been said before. You've got your action, corny jokes, CONSTANT theme about family, things blow up, people fight, cars go really fast and quite a few bikini bottoms. Summer is finally around the corner and this was the perfect movie to usher in the upcoming summer blockbusters. If you've been hibernating all season and waiting for a good movie to get you back in the theater, this definitely would be it. One thing though, IMAX is completely optional and not necessary. There's no 3D visual effects so you'd only be paying for amped up sound, which only helps make the punches in the fight scenes a little better. Again, you can feel confident in saving your money on the IMAX version. Go check it out.

The Rating: 8.5/10

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