Fantastic Four (2015) Movie Review

Click on the picture to purchase your tickets from Fandango.com

YouTube:

The Good:

First off, let's give this some effort points for being original. This version of the film tries to go a bit beyond the traditional comic book story and attempts to give a more realistic origin. You also get a couple new and interesting variations of their powers compared to the previous films.  This especially applies to Toby Kebbell's character, "Doom", who possess a number of new powers. Michael B. Jordan was probably one of the few bright spots in the film (no pun intended) due to his wise-cracks and humorous one-liners.

The Bad:

(Grab a chair, this may take a while.) This film tried way too hard to be different. I don't want to spoil it, but let's just say that their origin story may draw a lot of comparisons to the origin story of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. (You'll know EXACTLY what I'm talking about when you see it.) There was entirely too much time devoted to the characters, starting even from when they were children. As a result, you're not even given enough quality time of seeing what you want, which is the main characters using their powers, and fighting the villain.

Speaking of which, the character of Doom reminded me of some type of Darth Vader-like character, with no clear explanation as to why he's "evil". It just seemed counter intuitive to devote so much time into developing a character, and then under develop the explanation as to what motivates their actions. (Couldn't tell if he wanted revenge, or if he was just an evil Captain Planet.)

As for the fight scenes, get ready to wait about 1.5 hours for it to happen. The main fight scene was short, cheesy, and some parts just seemed lazy in my opinion. The end of the scene seemed to be covered up in so much flash and special effects that it's very difficult to make out what exactly happened. I'm not sure if this was done intentionally or not, but they practically stole a scene right from the script of Avengers: Age of Ultron. (So much for originality.)

The Reason:

*Deep Sigh* As you can probably tell by my face, this movie was a bit of a let down. Now to its credit, it was better than the previous Fantastic Four movies, but that isn't saying much at all. The previous films tried to stick too close to the comics and this one went too far off. In other words, this film failed to find the happy medium. A perfect example is the fact that this film tries to appeal to younger audiences with the super hero aspect, but then goes a little too dark with some semi-gruesome killings. Even one of the main actors, Miles Teller (who plays Reed Richards) said that this movie wasn't going to do well. Question is, "Eman, should I go see this for myself?"... My response would be, "Sure. Give yourself a root canal while you're at it too." (Okay that's too harsh, but you get my point.) I would recommend that if you don't believe me, and still want to see this for yourself, please find the CHEAPEST matinee price available. Otherwise, you can absolutely wait for this via rental or download. Lastly there is no end credit scene, so do not bother waiting after the credits. In the many movies I've seen, I can't recall the last time I heard so many boo's from the audience. :-/

The Rating: 6/10 

Enjoyed this review?  Share it and let me know what you thought.

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

Marvel Avengers: Age of Ultron Movie Review

Image by IMPawards.com

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

Enjoyed this review?  Share it and let me know what you thought.

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

Guardians of the Galaxy Movie Review (2014)

The Good: You'll love the characters and their unique backgrounds. Director James Gunn did a successful job at developing them, not only individually but as a group as well. Chris Pratt is going to charm audiences very similarly to how Robert Downey Jr charmed the world in his Iron Man debut. Oh and get ready to become a fan of that big tree guy "Groot". Also, there is plenty of unexpected comedy throughout the movie. Don't be surprised if you catch yourself actually laughing out loud a few times. The special effects were so good that the only way I could describe it would be as a "visually orgasmic, roller coaster ride for your eyeballs". To go along with that, the music assemble throughout the film is just great. Plenty of classic 80's songs for everyone! The 3D was done masterfully to the point where it may make you fall in love with 3D movies again. (You can tell when the 3D is bad while watching the movie you forget you're watching it in 3D. Not the case here.) Lastly, the storyline is just good enough where it's not overly complex, but it also has plenty of room to be expanded on in future sequels.

The Bad: N/A (Sorry there's little to nothing I could find wrong with this film without just being nit-picky.)

The Reason: To describe this movie as a whole I'd probably say it's a fun, comedy, action, adventure. The interesting thing about this film is that they stuck to the same formula that the Avengers did. Chris Pratt = Robert Downey, Zoe Saldana = Scarlett Johansson, Groot = The Incredible Hulk , Batista = Thor, etc. So if you enjoyed The Avengers movie, you'll more than likely enjoy this one as well. Luckily for most people, you do not have to be a comic book fan to enjoy this movie. Anyone can just walk right in and enjoy the movie without any prior knowledge of the characters or story line. Now, I don't do it often, but I absolutely advise that you watch the 3D version, and even the IMAX 3D is worth the money. Heads up, there is a scene at the very very end of the credits, but keep your expectations low about it. It's not a tie in for future movies, just a little more nostalgic humor for Marvel fans. This is an absolute must watch by all means.

The Rating: 10/10

X-Men Days of Future Past Movie Review (2014)

The Good: From the very beginning, you're smacked with some suspenseful action. Director Brian Singer does a great job at developing the main characters in meaningful way and successfully balances out the large number of characters on screen as well. There was much more humor and comic relief than the previous films with plenty of inside comic jokes, and many references to the previous movies. (Probably to help make you feel less bad about watching them.) There's a chance Quicksilver (comics) may become a fan favorite for a few minutes the same way Nightcrawler did in X-Men 2, or how The Incredible Hulk did in Avengers. Beyond that, the [future] Sentinels were very intense and great to finally see on the big screen. Lastly, the powers displayed by many of the new mutants will surely not disappoint.

The Bad: Any time you're dealing with Time Travel in movies, it can get very messy. Even though they do make an effort to explain a lot of inconsistencies from the previous films, there's a good chance some people may get lost. There were a few times during the movie when some things just didn't add up, or that you may miss, and would probably require a 2nd or 3rd viewing to fully comprehend. The 3D aspect was minimal and was only apparent in a few scenes, and are probably forgettable.

The Reason: This film did exactly what it set out to do; Fix the problems of the previous films. (due to change of directors and such) Fans will be pleased that a lot of issues are fixed, and whether they make another sequel or not, this film can stand firmly on it's own. Caution for parents, even though this is rated PG-13 there is a partial nudity scene, and adult language to consider. (1 F-Bomb, and about 3 S-bombs) If money is tight, then don't worry about the 3D. You can enjoy this film perfectly fine without it. If you want to see it in 3D, try going to a matinee show to save a few bucks. Many will try to compare this film with other Marvel films like Captain America: The Winter Soldier...The best way I could compare them would be to use a sports analogy: Captain America was like a team that took a 30 point lead, while X-Men:Days of Future Past is like a team that fought back from a 30 point deficit. While this very well may be the best X-Men movie to date, that's still not saying much. But it definitely will give hope to the franchise moving forward. Go watch this film, and enjoy. Watching the previous films may not hurt either since this film will make heavy references to all of the previous films in some capacity, but it's not necessary to do so. ( FX Movie Channel has been known to run marathons of X-Men Movies so check your local listings) Oh and stay for the ending credit scene all the way after the credits.

The Rating: 8.5/10

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 Movie Review (2014)

The Good: The visuals and camera work were simply amazing. This film managed to take the web slinging experience up a notch to the point where you really feel like you're attached to Spider-man as he slings through the city or free falls from tall buildings. Audiences will also appreciate the emphasis of SpiderMan's quick, matrix-like, reaction time and thinking under pressure during some pretty suspenseful action scenes. I believe this sequel learned from the mistakes of Spider-Man 3 by not overloading a bunch of enemies all at once. Enemies are handled in a timely manner, which doesn't make the film feel less authentic. Probably one of the most refreshing elements of this movie is how Andrew Garfield highlights the witty, comedic, sarcastic personality of Spiderman. The character brings much more comic relief compared to the previous movie. Lastly, Jamie Foxx did a good job at making his character a formidable enemy to push the film's great fight scenes beyond expectations.

The Bad: Most may agree that the film was a tad bit longer than it probably needed to be. The film tried to development the loving relationship of Peter and Gwen throughout the film (which is important), but in my estimation a few scenes could have been deleted. With so many characters to develop, ironically, there just wasn't enough time to really explore them all. This may be because this film is purely a set up for future films ( Sinister Six ?), but either way, it felt like the "bad guys" just turned bad real fast and in a hurry. (But that's the comic-book world for you)

The Reason: While this film is a definite step up from the previous film, it's just a tiny step below "epic status". I think the greatest appeal to this is movie is that almost anyone can step in and enjoy it without even really knowing the comic lore behind it. For the comic heads, there are plenty of hints for the future films so keep your eyes open. For the non-comic fans, prepare to be visually amazed and entertained with Spiderman's comedic highs and his real life struggling lows. This movie was DEFINITELY worth watching in 3D and/or IMAX 3D. I think that if you end up watching it at home on a regular tv, or on your computer, you'll simply regret it. Go watch it, and enjoy. Also, there's an after credit trailer scene for X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014) and that's it.

The Rating: 8.5/10

Captain America 2: Winter Soldier Movie Review (2014)

The Good: From the guns, to the high speed chases, to the hand-to-hand combat, you'll get more of your fill of non-stop action from beginning to end! When it comes to the story line, this movie strays away from your tradition comic book formula. It lends itself more so to being a conspiracy/spy type of movie so it's filled with lies, deceit, twists and turns. The acting was actually pretty impressive too. Chris Evans IS Captain America. All Scarlett Johansson had to do was walk and talk and she owned her role as Black Widow. (And more close ups would be appreciated! lol) For as powerful as Captain America is, the The Winter Soldier (played by Sebastian Stan) really gives the Cap a run for his money as a villain. Surprisingly enough, Anthony Mackie did a fine job as a supporting role as the Falcon. As with most Marvel movies, despite the high octane suspenseful action, there still managed to be a satisfying amount of comedic relief sprinkled throughout the movie. For the comic fans, or just fans of the Avengers movie franchise, you'll be happy to know that there are PLENTY of name drops and clues pointing towards the future of the Marvel Avengers franchise. So pay attention!

The Bad: I know, I know. In an interest to be fair, I have to point out at least something bad. Don't worry, it's not that bad though. The advertised 3D element was a complete waste. There was nothing in 3D that was memorable or worth paying the extra money for. Lastly, while there were many twists and turns throughout the movie, there may be some people out there that will still view some of the twists as predictable. (on a really minor scale.)

The Reason: This movie, I believe, has finally broken the mold and raised the bar for solo, comic character based movies. It completely stands on its own. In other words, if there were no Avengers movies, this movie would still be great! Please do not waste your money on IMAX and/or 3D. It's not worth it. It only makes the punches sound harder, which is nice but not worth the extra $$$$. And worry not, there are TWO bonus scenes, so don't be that person who walks out. Is this a must see? To that I would say, "Why are you still reading this and not in the theaters right now? Go!" You might as well get your Blu-ray pre-orders ready while you're at it.

The Rating: 9.5/10

Thor 2: The Dark World Movie Review (2014)

The Good: Unlike the previous Thor movie, we're finally given a bit more depth into Thor's world of Asgard. The character development of Loki goes a little deeper and may change the audience's opinion of him. Rene Russo (Playing Thor's mother) was actually a bit surprising as a character, in a good way, with her supporting role. The enemies, which I'd like to call the JABAWOCKEEZ Elves, were kind of cool with the type of anti-matter weapons. One thing this sequel emphasized a bit more was the use of Thor's hammer and the damage it can cause. Also, in this sequel, you can tell that there are many more comic relief sequences that were inserted in the movie. Plenty of chuckles to go around.

The Bad: The action scenes seemed less "epic", despite the fact that you had more action scenes compared to the first movie. There was absolutely no reason to see this in 3D. Maybe to see some flying debris? O_o Even though this time around we see more character development in the main characters, most of the storyline is kind of predictable. Don't expect that many twists and turns...well maybe one, but that's it.

The Reason: I think this movie will obviously do well due to the success of the Avengers movies, but this movie may calm down the hype just a tad. I think that most viewers who enjoyed the first Thor, will also enjoy Thor 2, but just don't expect the movie to blow you away. It's a good watch, but honestly I think that many people can wait to see this later. If you must watch it, just don't pay extra for the 3D version. Oh and there are TWO after credit, and after-after credit bonus scenes. The first one is more than likely a set up for Guardians of the Galaxy (comic fans will probably appreciate that scene more) and the second one is just a little add on scene just because. Marvel fans, go see this...casual movie fans, wait for the rental.

The Rating: 7.5/10

The Wolverine Movie Review (2013)

The Good: Unlike in X-Men Origins: Wolverine, we finally get a rich, deep sense of the struggles of the WOLVERINE character. The character development, for him alone, really separates the Wolverine character/movie away from the traditional comic book hero movies we've been seeing lately. Hugh Jackman has earned the role of Wolverine just as much as Robert Downey Jr has solidified the role of Iron Man. He makes you empathize with Wolverine's suffering so that you can finally understand the man behind the claws. There's a big twist that most people won't see coming towards the end, and it'll leave you semi-shocked.

The Bad: A lot of the supporting characters seem to be just thrown into the story without much depth to them. For example, that snake lady you see in the trailers, she raises way more questions than answers. While you really want the action to reach it's potential level, it never gets there due to the movie's rating. The movie feels like it was originally rated R, but then watered down to being only PG-13. That kind of leaves the audience in a type of limbo, so to speak, because you'll see really violent fights...with tiny amounts of blood. Another instance of that limbo would be the fact that even though it's PG-13, Wolverine swears like he's in a R-rated film. The action scenes only happen in a few pockets throughout the scene. Seeing that it's 2hrs long, one's expectation that this will be an action packed movie may not be met. Finally, the movie's ending falls flat as the highly anticipated fight scene leaves you with a big surprise, but mild action at best.

The Reason: Bottom line is that this movie was better than any of the previous movies that the Wolverine has appeared in. It's not an action packed, comic book movie. It's more of an actual movie that happens to feature a comic book hero. Parents may need to be advised though, because the PG-13 rating does seem very misleading due to the intense violence and the adult language used. Do not bother watching this in 3D because you'll only see one or two scenes that have it, and it won't be worth it.  Even though the movie's ending seemed lackluster, the mid-ending credit scene more than makes up for it. So please don't walk out too soon. Go see this movie. Good theater watch, EXCELLENT rental.

The Rating: 7.5/10

Iron Man 3 Movie Review (2013)

The Good: Within the first moment you're pulled into the movie, and it never lets your attention go. The action is MUCH better and spread out throughout the entire movie. The 3D was actually done nicely as well. While you may go in expecting action, let me tell you now that you should also expect some nice comic relief. The banter between Robert Downey Jr, Don Cheadle, and the "kid" in the movie are really funny. You'll see that Puss In Boots scene and Lol.

The Bad: There are only two negative things that I can note that actually don't even count against the movie. First thing is that the Mandarin, played by Ben Kingsley, isn't what he's supposed to be from the comics. This MAY only bother comic book fans who actually know about the Mandarin's character, but surprisingly enough, Marvel made their creative change work. The second knock I'd have to give is the ending credit scene. It just doesn't give ANY type of hints for any of the upcoming movies the way Marvel has spoiled us with in past comic movies.

The Reason: Not many movies are able to live up to their own hype but this one definitely did so. Like I said, the ending credit scene is there, but don't get your hopes up like I did thinking that it will reveal much. Go watch it in 3D, and yes this is a movie you should RUN to go see. Anyone who tells you otherwise is on bath salts and eating spoonfuls of cinnamon.

The Rating: 10/10