Incredibles 2 Movie Review

The Trailer:

Review: 

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

REVIEW LINK HERE

Don't want to miss future reviews and contests?

 

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 @EmansReviews

A Wrinkle In Time Movie Review

The Trailer:

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

A Wrinkle In Time Movie Review

Don't want to miss future reviews and contests?

 

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 @EmansReviews

Star Wars The Last Jedi Movie Review

The Trailer:

(Spoiler-Free) Video Review: 

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

REVIEW LINK HERE

Don't want to miss future reviews and contests?

 

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 @EmansReviews

Thor Ragnarok Movie Review

The Trailer:

Video Review: 

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

REVIEW LINK HERE

Don't want to miss future reviews and contests?

 

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 @EmansReviews

The Mummy (2017) Movie Review

The Trailer:

Video Review

The Good:
From the very beginning of the film, it definitely isn't shy about setting the tone for the amount of action that will be on display. Most of the action scenes look very similar to some of Tom Cruise's Mission Impossible films. There were plenty of explosions, and chases, and of course Tom Cruise running. (Man, does he love to run.)

Besides the action, it was really interesting to see how this film was able to tap into its horror roots, so to speak. There were plenty of jump scares and "Zummies" (zombie mummies) to help create some really tense moments in the movie. I think they did a pretty decent job with the CGI effects for the most part. To top all of that off, there were some humorous moments of comic relief that may get a bit of a chuckle out of you here or there.

I think that without question one of the biggest highlights of this movie was Sofia Boutella who plays the Mummy. She was simply captivating every time she was on the screen. Dare I say, she was more intriguing to watch than Tom Cruise's character for the most part too. She was able to carry a sense of terror and beauty simultaneously.

The Bad:
*grabs some coffee & a Tylenol*
This movie tried to do way too much all at the same time. While it did have a mixture of action, horror and comedy it simply didn't blend well. (It reminds me of when you're trying to make a healthy shake without all the ingredients mixing well. Then when you drink it, there are lumps and chunks of random things you can no longer identify.) There were just one too many cheesy one-liners from Cruise in my opinion. Rather than allowing someone like Jake Johnson's character to shoulder the comedic relief, I think it was a misstep to have Cruise take that on as well.

Unfortunately, I can't go into detail, but I am not a fan of what they did with Tom Cruise's character. The way they end the movie, in my opinion, feels like the wrong direction if this will truly be a new "monster universe" film franchise for the studio. Cruise's character is left to make a decision by the end of the film, and I just don't think it made a lot of sense. Honestly, it was just really impractical and unbelievable. One of the reasons why is because of the forced and unrealistic relationship between Cruise and Annabelle Wallis' character ("Jenny Halsey"). Both of their characters have a rushed and unauthentic relationship that doesn't help make any sense of the actions taken later on in the movie.

I suppose it was also bit disappointing in regards to the lack of originality in this film. As I mentioned before, some of the action scenes looked really familiar to Tom Cruise's past films. In addition to that, there's a scene of the mummy that looked almost too familiar to the latest Power Rangers movie and Rita Repulsa's character coming to life. To make matters worse, the film's marketing probably didn't help with the spoilery trailers. They revealed, I think, too much with Russell Crowe's character. Even when we finally do see Crowe, his character is a bit underwhelming. They could've left his character as a shadowy figure that operated behind the scenes. Otherwise, some of his scenes could've been deleted and the movie wouldn't have skipped a beat.

The Reason:
The movie studio is clearly trying to use The Mummy as a setup movie for their future "monster universe" films where they will be introducing more characters. (ie: Wolfman, Invisible Man, etc)  It's really hard to see what direction this franchise is about to take. I can't tell if it wants to be something like Hellboy, Suicide Squad, or random monster movies in general. Given what we saw in The Mummy, I'm not all that excited to see what happens next. The story and the easter eggs just felt like they were all over the place and overexerting themselves to promote future films.

Unfortunately, I don't think that The Mummy will live up to the hype or expectation of a typical Tom Cruise movie, nor to the success of the the past Mummy films in the late 90's or early 2000s. While on paper this should be a solid home-run film, I think it's more a bunt play. (Whether they make it safe to 1st base will be your call.) If you're interested in the potential universe they are trying to create, then you obviously will have to watch this movie.

Oh and the 3D was simply not present enough to warrant seeing it that format. You get a few scenes here or there that pop out at you, but afterwards you forget you're watching a 3D movie. I think this movie is something you watch when your local theater is having a discount showing or matinee. At that point you can probably enjoy it a bit more. I think some people may still enjoy this film and ignore its many flaws, so I would just say go in with low expectations, avoid the trailers, and pass on the 3D. If you do that, you'll probably enjoy the film for what it's worth.

The Rating: 6.5/10

Don't want to miss future reviews and contests?

 

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

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

Wonder Woman Movie Review

The Trailer:

Video Review (Spoiler-Free)

The Good:
First and foremost, if there were any doubts about whether Gal Gadot could carry a movie, she certainly should put those concerns to rest. She did a wonderful 😉 job of portraying the iconic super heroine throughout the movie. You get to see Wonder Woman's emotional growth and maturity through Gal's performance. What I really enjoyed about this movie was the fact that we finally got a DCEU movie where the character is developed and relatable in a proper way. We get to see the certain events and situations that shape her mindset and her motivations that mold her into the hero that we've all known her to be.

I personally liked the mythological background of Wonder Woman's story. As with most superhero movies, it was fun to see the different Amazonian culture, her fight training, and Wonder Woman's discovery of her powers. It was interesting to see how her background influenced aspects of her character such as her sense of duty and morality.

The movie's got some solid action scenes that will probably remind you of the film "300" almost immediately. (It's really hard not to see Zack Snyder's influence all over this movie.) Unlike in Man of Steel with the blurry and hard to follow action scenes, Wonder Woman utilizes slow motion fight scenes that were much more pleasing to the eye.

As far as the story or plot, I appreciated the fact that it was rather straight forward in regards to the origin story. We do get a surprising twist, and there are nice humorous moments that keep this movie from going too dark. Wonder Woman's social interactions are probably one of the funnier moments, especially when she interacts with Steve Trevor (played by Chris Pine). Speaking of which, Pine also does a pretty good job with his character who was surprisingly better than I expected.

The Bad:

Maybe it's because I've seen a ton of comic book movies before, but the origin story does seem a little redundant. You may see some very familiar situations through her discovery of powers similar to other superheroes we've seen in films. (i.e. Spider Man, Super Man, etc.) So unfortunately this kind of made a lot of the movie a tad bit predictable. The pacing in some parts also kind of drag a bit in my opinion. Personally I would've simply wanted more time spent showing her on the Amazonian island rather than the outside world. I just think that there was a bit more to explore and learn about their culture rather than speeding up to the events of the outside world.

Another issue is probably the main villain of the movie. I can't go into too much detail about the villain without ruining things so I'll just say that I would've really preferred a different actor for the role. While the build up to the final showdown certainly was executed effectively, the actual fight itself was a bit lackluster. At one point I felt like I was watching an X-Men movie from 2006 or something. The fighting itself was a bit disappointing when you compare it to the cooler fight scenes earlier in the film. Don't get me wrong, it gets the job done at the end of the day, but the way the battle ends didn't leave me wow'd.

The Reason:

I think there are couple of things to consider with this film. The first thing is that this movie was a bit cookie cutter in terms of a superhero movie. I'd probably venture to say that this was not intended to impress comic book movie fans. Instead, I think this movie is geared towards people who probably are new to superhero movies and at least have heard of Wonder Woman in general.

The other consideration is that this movie is clearly appealing to a more female demographic of all ages. That doesn't mean men can't enjoy the film. I think it's just a matter of what this movie and the character of Wonder Woman represents. She was created to be a symbol of female empowerment and a feminist (in terms of gender equality.) One thing that I realized is that there are going to probably be certain scenes in this film that will intentionally resonate with women more than it may with some men on average. I noticed this in my own screening where some women applauded and cheered during those certain scenes.

At the end of the day, whether you like this movie or not, one thing that cannot be denied is that Wonder Woman will carry an intangible quality that will resonate with fans one way or another. This movie will be a dream come true for some. It may empower others. Either way, I think it's safe to say that this is the best DCEU movie to date. As a matter of fact, Wonder Woman is what "Man of Steel" (Review) should've been. Her character is much more relatable and developed than the current Superman we have now.  If I had to compare, this movie is easily Captain America: First Avenger + Thor + Man of Steel. It's absolutely worth watching in theaters.

The Rating: 8.0/10
Don't want to miss future reviews and contests?

 

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

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

Power Rangers (2017) Movie Review

The Trailer:

The Good:
From the very beginning, compared to the Power Rangers TV series, the film sets a dark tone. Not only was the darker tone appreciated, but so was the additional backstory that was given about some prominent characters. Given that fact, the movie diverges to some degree from the television series and there are a few twists in the plot that you may not expect.

In this Power Rangers movie, there are actually deeper themes and struggles within all of the characters.  Some specific characters actually have different motivations than what the TV show initially demonstrated. Each one goes through some sort of drama or challenge that helps shape and define who they are. In a sense, you actually have legitimate "troubled teens" who have real world issues. Thankfully, it wasn't a cheap and cheesy write off like "Oh no, I don't think I'll get an A+ in Math class. I'm really bummed out.". *cue dramatic sad music* Instead the movie presents a very diverse cast that's also pretty inclusive. For example, one of the characters is "on the spectrum" meaning that they have a form autism.

One aspect that made this film unique was the journey of the group becoming Power Rangers. Unlike in the TV series, it is a process that they have to earn and achieve. (Rather than just being hand picked and automatically jumping into action.) This journey actually helps to make you connect with the group a little more, and make their bond a little bit more genuine. It also helps the audience relive the nostalgic feeling of wishing to become a Power Ranger. (Just a little.)

I will say that the final buildup of the film, which most of us probably should already know about, was pretty satisfying as well. The new look of the Power Rangers, and their "ultimate weapon" looked very cool with its modernized upgrade. (Even though it heavily resembled a very familiar talking, giant robot...you'll know it when you see it.)

The Bad:
While it is nice to see the journey that the group of teens take into becoming the Power Rangers, it does take a while for it to happen. It almost felt like it took 1.5 hours until they finally morph. (Keep in mind the movie is 2hrs long.) So that means you only get about 30 mins or so of real action, which in a way leaves more to be desired.

Goldar was a mess. It was just visually displeasing to see on the screen. He looked like golden, walking vomit. His conception probably sounded great, but the execution was just poor and didn't translate well on screen. Unlike many other instances in this film, this was probably the one thing that the TV show does better.

Another issue for me was the fact that the film felt the need to consistently show the faces of the Power Rangers while they were in their suits. I thought that it completely disrupted the entire fantasy/illusion and it also was counter productive to the long anticipation of them finally morphing. Not to mention the fact that it doesn't really help the idea of protecting their identities.

The Reason:
All in all, Power Rangers (2017) was much better than expected. You can easily tell that it's not necessarily for young kids. Actually, I'd probably go as far as to say that this movie isn't for people over the age of 36 either. It's probably best appreciated by those between the ages of 12-35, grew up at least enjoying a few seasons of the TV show, and enjoy movies like the recent Transformers series.

If you couldn't tell by the trailer, this movie is almost identical to the movie Chronicle (2012). It encompasses that nostalgic feeling of the TV series, while still being modern and updated enough to stand on its own. Personally, after being apprehensive about the news that there would be five more sequels, I'm actually very okay with seeing what's to come. Matter of fact, I hope they do a prequel movie too.

*Puts on parental hat*
This isn't the most major issue, but I'd probably say that due to the language of the film. It is PG-13 for a reason. You'll hear some A-words and S-words and BS. Also, unlike the TV show you won't hear them say "I shall destroy you!!". No, instead they just come right out and say things like, "We are going to KILL them!". You also have some scenes of under-aged drinking and so on. There are also just a few quick scenes that may be a little scary for kids younger than 7 or 8.

I think it's well worth the watch in theaters. If you were on the fence, just go and you'll be fine. There's a mid-credit scene so you can stay and check it out when the film ends. It's a little predictable, but whatever. You're probably already invested and interested, so just sit back and enjoy.

The Rating: 7.5/10

Don't want to miss future reviews and contests?

 

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

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

Kong: Skull Island Movie Review

The Trailer:

The Good:
Unlike the previous Godzilla 2014 film (Read my review here) we get a lot more of Kong throughout the film. Matter of fact, it doesn't take very long for him to appear on the screen either. This may be one of the best depictions of King Kong given the fact that this film doesn't really hold back with his level of destruction. The movie is only PG-13, but there are moments where the violence would make one think it was bordering the rated R level. I personally enjoyed the fact that they made Kong more expressive than just a big raging monster. You can read his emotions and can get behind him as a character.

Kong: Skull Island is truly a "monster film". The various creatures that populate the island almost give you the same feeling that you may have had when you watched Jurassic Park for the very first time. The movie includes some great camera angles and shots, but also some shocking death scenes as well. The havoc and chaos that the monsters evoke will keep your eyes glued to the screen.

As far as the characters go, I'd probably say that after seeing this film, I am now 110% convinced that Tom Hiddleston should be the new James Bond. Period. We don't need to debate this because it's already settled. He has a few moments in the film that show you the potential of being, not just suave and debonair, but fully capable of getting his hands dirty with some action scenes too. Samuel L. Jackson is exactly who we've come to expect and love with his character. John C. Reilly simply runs away with the comedic relief in the movie. His comedy was well timed and helped lighten the mood during some intense moments. The supporting cast including Jason Mitchell, John Goodman, and others were also really solid. I will also say that I was very happy to see some predictable Hollywood tropes not happen.

The Bad:
I suppose one issue is just the mere fact that there wasn't really anything ground breaking or new with this film. You've seen big monsters on the screen before. You've seen monsters fight on screen before too. It's entertaining, but like I said, nothing really all that original.

This may be a bit of nitpicking, but the film seemed to have some sort of difficulty with its character development. Throughout the film we are introduced to a variety of characters. However, it seemed difficult to really get attached to most of them. Besides that, I could've sworn they added a bunch of extra soldiers to the film to be used as collateral damage. At one point it felt like we were only dealing with about 7 characters but 20 get included in the battle scenes.

The Reason:
Kong: Skull Island was definitely an entertaining film. It's a nice stepping stone to continue building the mythos that the studios are creating with this "monster universe". For those wondering, yes, there is an end credit scene that teases a connection to future movies. It's well worth the watch in theaters, so feel free to plan your weekend to check it out. I saw the film in 2D and thought it was just fine in that format.

The Rating: 8/10

Don't want to miss future reviews and contests?

 

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

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

Assassin's Creed Movie Review

The Trailer:

The Good:
As you can probably tell from the trailers, Assassin's Creed is definitely action packed. For fans of the Assassin's Creed video games, there are some familiar elements to look forward to in the movie. We get some nice chase scenes and a fair amount of fight scenes. There's a variety of close combat scenes and various weapon use. You can also bank on the signature parkour that is featured throughout the film.

There was never any worry about Michael Fassbender. He easily excels within his character of "Cal". A nice surprise was the casting of a personal favorite of mine being Michael K. Williams. He didn't do much, but it was nice to see him in a slightly different role nevertheless.

The Bad:
There was little to no character development when it came to the actual assassin, Aguilar. One of the aspects that makes each Assassin's Creed game great is the Assassin from the past and the current decedent. This film missed an opportunity to develop the motivations and provide sufficient background on the Assassin. Thus, the experiences in the Animus machine lose a bit of value.

Seeing as though there wasn't any real character development with the Assassin, most of the overall plot was rushed. A lot of the plot twists that kept you engaged in the video game are simply laid out in this film and remove a lot of the mystery. A lot of other events felt hurried as a result and other elements of the film just weren't really fleshed out enough.

The Reason:
As a fan of this specific video game franchise, I must admit that I was disappointed with the film. When the Assassin's Creed game first debuted in 2007 I was very excited for its potential. As the games progressed it seemed almost too easy to make a movie adaptation because the games pretty much laid out an easy framework to follow. Unfortunately, this Assassin' Creed film feels very watered down without really capturing the fundamental things that make the series great. We simply get some fan service with a "leap of faith" and the traditional hidden blade usage.

I will say that I don't think that this movie is as bad as other reviews out there are suggesting. It's not the best nor the worst video game movie out there. As a matter of fact, there's probably a chance that if you've never played any of the games, then you may actually enjoy the film. I think the only people who will be really disappointed are the gamers who know just how great this movie could've been. I'd recommend checking out the trailer to see if it interests you before you decide on checking it out or not.

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

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

Passengers Movie Review

The Trailer:

The Good:
Chris Pratt and Jennifer Lawrence's chemistry is a nice focal point for the film.  It really drives home the romantic/love story angle for the majority of the movie. However, without giving anything away (and depending on which trailer you've seen), this film does raise some very interesting topics surrounding the issue of consent. (I think my feminist friends will have a field day with this film.) What I appreciated about Passengers is that it will really challenge some moral positions given some of the decisions that are made by the characters.

The visuals are pretty nice given all of the futuristic, yet practical, technological advances. There are a few pockets of suspense sprinkled towards the end of the film. There was one scene especially that I thought really showcased the unique dangers and terrors of being in space.

The Bad:
I think my issue with this film is the marketing. The trailer gives you the impression that these two people woke up early for some mysterious reason, and danger is afoot with the ship. Well, that's only partially true. What was so enticing about the trailer is that it leads you to believe that there's a greater mystery that needs to be solved (ie: What was the reason why they woke up early?) Unfortunately, you find out the reason rather soon into the movie and then it jettisons into more of the love story angle. Now this MAY not be an issue for those going in cold, but it definitely messed with my expectations and didn't end with a good enough payoff for me.

Also, I personally wasn't a fan of the "Magical negro" cameo that was made in the film. I just think that they could've found another way to progress the story without having to include the random character that they did. That's all I'll say about that.

The Reason:
If you did see the trailer like I did, then you'd probably expect that this film was going to be a sci-fi heavy, suspense thriller. Instead it's more of a lite sci-fi romantic film with a splash of suspense. I'd probably say that Passengers is about 65% Romance, 25% sci-fi, and 10% suspense/thriller. You can think of this film as Gravity + Castaway + Titanic. It's worth a watch, but I'd avoid the trailers and I'd also go in with low expectations. This could probably make for a decent date movie as well.

The Rating: 7/10
   

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

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

Doctor Strange Movie Review

The Trailer:

Video Review:

The Good:
Well let's get this out of the way since it's the most obvious highlight. The visuals were by far the best aspect of this film. The first thing that comes to mind is that this film's visuals are similar to that of the movie Inception, except multiplied by 10. The 3D special effects were done very well and didn't seem like a cheap money grab. I thought it gave just the right amount of psychedelic special effects without getting extremely too trippy. More importantly, the 3D effects were more than memorable and not just a "one and done" as in other films.

Benedict Cumberbatch portrays the role of Doctor Strange pretty well in my opinion. The character is supposed to be arrogant and cocky, similar to that of Tony Stark from Iron Man. You get all of that from Cumberbatch to the point that at times you simply don't like his character, as a person. Both him and Rachel McAdams (who plays Christine Palmer) share fun and witty banter in various occasions. Thankfully McAdams wasn't just thrown in to be the helpless damsel in distress. Instead she seemed like a grounded character that was much more relatable to those of us in the audience.

Doctor Strange was filled with much more comedy than expected. More specifically there's more physical comedy with a certain character that has a mind of its own. (You'll know it when you see it.) Besides that there were plenty of jokes and humorous moments in the film that will get some chuckles and laughs out of you.

One of the most surprising supporting roles to interest me was Tilda Swinton's "The Ancient One". I was a little dubious about her role at first, but it was intriguing to see how much depth was given to her character. It actually made me want to know and see more of her past in some other Marvel medium. (Maybe in a Marvel One Shot or something.)

The Bad:
As we may know from previous Marvel films, the issue of having a underwhelming villain strikes again. While Mads Maikkelsen's performance as "Kaecilius" wasn't bad, his character simply didn't seem as moving. Rarely did he ever seem to elevate Cumberbatch's Doctor Strange character or really impose a threatening sense of urgency.

The only other thing that I could see be a bit of an issue is the sense of over-familiarity. The film pulls from so many other Marvel films that it could feel a bit repetitive. Dr. Strange is Tony Stark and Christine is Pepper Potts from Iron Man 1. The comedy of this film is almost similar to that of Ant-Man. Dr. Strange's road to spiritual journey is similar to Thor's journey of becoming worthy again to lift his hammer. The list continues and I'm sure you may find more commonalities.

The Reason:
Doctor Strange overall was another success for Marvel in my book. It was a relevantly safe film, though it did push a few boundaries in some form. Parents be advised that there are some S-bombs, and "A-hole" language throughout the film. There were also a bit more graphic deaths compared to what you may be accustomed to in a Marvel/Disney film as well. I think they were really aiming for a hard PG-13 rating here.

If you've been keeping up with even half of the other Marvel films, then this one will probably not disappoint. Doctor Strange set out with the main purpose of introducing the magical and mystical element that will surely only grow in later films. It succeeded in that venture. As you could probably tell this movie will be like a combination of Batman Begins + Inception + The Matrix + Iron Man + Guardians of the Galaxy.  (In that exact order.)

I know I said it before, but let me really emphasize this. The 3D is absolutely worth every penny. If you've been frugal all year or if you're the type of person who doesn't like to spend more for 3D, consider Doctor Strange to be that one film you make an exception for. I only wish I had the chance to screen in 3D IMAX because I'm sure it would've been even better. If you choose to view this in any other lesser format, you can already expect for this film to be devalued. (Or take 1 point off the rating below.) I think it's safe to say that Doctor Strange is a must see in theaters. There are two end credit scenes, so don't be that person who walks out too early. May the Force be with...(sorry...wrong movie) I mean Abra-Ka-Dabra! (Disappears in a puff of smoke.)

The Rating: 9.0/10 (in 3D) 8/10 (w/o 3D)

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

BONUS: Doctor Strange Free Movie Ticket Giveaway! I know watching movies in 3D can get expensive so I'm going to hook up 10 lucky winners with a FREE movie pass to see Doctor Strange in theaters! 

Entry-Form

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

X-Men Apocalypse Movie Review

Support this site by clicking the pic to buy your tickets.

YouTube Review (Spoiler-Free):


YouTube Review (Spoilers): 

Youtube Critic Reactions:

The Good:

Right off the bat, the 3D effects and visuals immediately stand out as bright spot for this movie. The story was also nice and fitting with the previous X-Men movies, First Class and Days of Future Past. All of the past story lines connect and make sense which makes all three films feel like one big continuous film. If you watched the previous movies, you'll pick up on many of the references that are dropped throughout.

It's very easy to say that Michael Fassbender provided some of the best acting in this film. You could connect and feel every ounce of his emotions through his performance. Surprisingly, there were some rather dark, emotional moments in the film that did very well in enriching the characters. This wasn't left to just Fassbender's character alone, but also to that of Cyclops (played by "Tye Sheridan". There was also some interesting moments with Jean Grey's character (played by "Sophie Turner ") that fans of the series will more than likely appreciate as well. Oscar Isaac was exceptional as Apocalypse. He was dark, intimidating and powerful. He felt like a genuine threat to the world given his abilities.

To my surprise, this movie was rather violent and somewhat graphic. Even though it is PG-13, it still managed to push the limitations just a bit. However, while it was violent, and took on such a serious tone, it still found time to bring in a little fun. We can thank Quick Silver (played by "Evan Peters") for that. Just like in the past films, he managed to bring in the comic relief.

The Bad:

Mystique. Her character is overly emphasized in this third installment. Almost every single character in the movie redirected their attention and focus back to Mystique. There was such an unnecessary focus on her character that many of the other issues almost seemed to lose their significance. Seriously, it was just over the top and ridiculous. I don't think the movie could go 10 minutes without some sort of praise or reference to Mystique. Because of the constant focus on her character, much of the other characters were also lost in the process. Even worse, there simply didn't seem to be any level of separation within Jennifer Lawrence's character because she was a carbon copy of Katniss character from The Hunger Games. (I think they even used some of the same lines.)

There was a lot of excitement to see Olivia Munn play Psylocke and Alexandra Shipp play Storm. Unfortunately, they each probably had a total of maybe 20 lines combined between the two of them. It was rather disappointing to feel as though we had seen their best in the trailers.

Yet again, the trailers have ruined what may have been a nice surprise. The reveal and announcement of Wolverine (played by "Hugh Jackman") by the trailers simply deflate any real anticipation while viewing the movie. We know what's going to happen the moment a certain character walks onto the scene. Also, the way he looked was just lacking in certain way. A few minor tweaks to the costume design would've been an easy remedy. (Come back to watch my spoiler review, May 26th, to see what I mean)

The Reason:
At the end of the day, X-Men Apocalypse was really just more of the same. I guess you could just think of it as being The Hunger Games w/ Mutants. There wasn't anything significantly different or epic to make this movie stand out from the rest. It's not a horrible movie, but I'm not sure I'd say it is the best. It's in their top 3, possibly.

I still think that X-Men Apocalypse was a good movie, despite my grievances. I should probably also note, that I don't entirely blame Jennifer Lawrence for the Mystique portrayal. I think that's more on Director Bryan Singer and the Fox Studio execs as a whole wanting to do a money grab with her since Hugh Jackman is leaving.
I've been a fan of the X-Men franchise for a while, so you can take my critique with a grain of salt. I have never been a fan of the push of Mystique as the reluctant hero. We all know that this is only the case because it's Jennifer Lawrence playing the part. I would've been okay if they had cast her as Rogue instead... maybe. (At least then they wouldn't have to completely revise the stories and characters). Now, before I get labeled as some misogynistic, sexist film critic, let me explain. IF Fox was really concerned about making a female hero, why didn't they highlight a character like Storm? A BLACK...WOMAN...(that's two wins right there) who actually was a leader of the X-Men.

My bigger problem with Jennifer Lawrence/Mystique is that her character revision completely over shadows the issues and themes that made X-Men so relevant and timeless. The focus on her as a single hero, nullifies the X-Men's concept of being a team. Even worse, her character's emphasis undermines the racial themes that the X-Men franchise used to tackle. While it wasn't a matter of "black vs white", the "Mutants vs Humans" basis was a mirror reflection of the civil rights movement. Both Professor X and Magneto's characters were based on the ideologies of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. I think it's unfortunate that rather than using this franchise to bring attention to a relevant social issues, this Mystique hype waters down to a more one dimensional, cliche', hero story. Maybe this wouldn't be an issue if Fox decided to just do a Mystique solo film, but to use the X-Men franchise to guise this Hollywood romanticizing of Jennifer Lawrence is a bit too much for my liking.

Feel free to watch this in 3D. Parents please be advised that this isn't the most kid friendly movie. There was at least one F-Bomb dropped, and as mentioned the violence does push the PG-13 boundaries a bit. Go in with low expectations so that you can get the most out of this film. Don't be in a hurry to leave either because there's one end credit scene to see.

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

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

Gods of Egypt Movie Review (2016)

The Trailer:

The Good:

The visuals in this film are going to be the best aspect of this movie. You can tell pretty early on that this movie was fully intended to be seen in 3D. 

The Bad:

*cracks knuckles and pours a full cup of coffee*

I think that for a movie of this nature, two hours was about 30mins too long. It was just too far drawn out, and it's not like the story line was that deep either.

While many of the 3D special effects were very entertaining to see, there some moments where it simply failed miserably. In the story, the “gods” are portrayed as being much bigger and taller than normal sized humans. For whatever reason, the special effects used to depict their size difference made the scene look of lesser quality. In many of the fighting sequences (i.e. when the gods fight a monster) a lot of computer effects were used. It looked cheap when you compare it to all of the other great 3D visuals during the movie. It would have been much better had they used more practical effects, or even just actors dressed up in costumes.

If you’re familiar with Egyptian myths or lore, then you’ll probably be a little dismayed at the fact that the story changed up a good majority of it. My guess is that it was probably more so to make the movie more PG-13, rather than rated R, given the fact that some of the Egyptian myths were much more “adult”. (Check out Horus’birth story here compared to how it’s watered down in the movie, for example)

One of the biggest criticisms this film received even before it was developed was for its lack of diverse casting. Many people felt as though having lead actors like Gerard Butler  (a Scotsman) or Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (a Dutch actor) could hardly pass as Egyptians. It probably didn’t help much that the majority of brown to dark skinned actors were cast primarily as servants/slaves or ordinary people with less than significant roles. Although, it should be mentioned that Chadwick Boseman, who played the god of wisdom, was cast for whatever that’s worth. (His character was actually enjoyable.) Either way the casting is more than likely going to bother many other movie goers who are conscious and aware of the consistent lack of diverse representation in leading roles in Hollywood.

Whether this is good or bad, I think it was a bit of a loss on Gerard Butler’s end as he really didn’t do anything different in this role as he did in 300. He was basically King Leonidas except with magical powers.

The Reason:

Gods of Egypt is like Clash of the Titans but set in Egypt. You may even think that you're watching a Michael Bay film given how the gods looked like Transformers and Power Rangers when they changed form.  Here’s the deal with this movie; You’re either going to be offended by it and not watch it, go see it because all those listed “Bads” don’t matter to you, or you won’t see this at all. This is hardly the type of movie that will be remembered in the next couple of years, let alone a couple of weeks. It will come and go just like Exodus: Gods and Kings did, which also suffered from similar criticisms. Matter of fact, even a recast of this film wouldn’t really save it. Regardless of your views about this film, I don’t think it’s really necessary to go see. Honestly, if you don’t see it in theaters for the 3D aspect, then it’s more than definitely not worth watching at the end of the day. Save your money and time. 

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

Star Wars: The Force Awakens Movie Review (2015)

Click on the pic to buy your tickets. 

The Trailer:

The Good:

Director J. J. Abrams was able to bring to life the visual aspects of the movie that simply wasn’t possible in the late 70s or 80s.  Everything about the film brought about a sense of nostalgia from the original films. The cast especially was a delight to watch on screen. 

Harrison Ford remained the iconic “Han Solo” that we’ve all come to know, and his performance will probably meet expectations. John Boyega (“Finn”) and Daisy Ridley (“Rey”) both possessed great onscreen chemistry, and will do well in being the new lead characters.  I also appreciated Adam Driver bringing to life a more complex and layered villain in the character of "Kylo-Ren". His use of the force was simply amazing! It may be safe to say that the little droid, BB-8, almost stole the show.

Overall, the actions scenes were visually great. The 3D aspect really made many of the battle scenes that much better in my opinion. The plot was also effective in continuing the ongoing saga of good vs evil. It was refreshing to see a nice blend of bits of humor, suspenseful action, and even some sentimental/emotional moments.

The Bad:

You can take this with a HUGE grain of salt (and maybe this is because I re-watched the original trilogy two days before watching Force Awakens) but this movie came off as very predictable. There was rarely a moment, or scene, or a revel that you didn’t have some sense was going to happen. The film borrowed a lot of themes from the previous movies, so in a sense, it almost feels like history repeating itself.

Beyond that one of the characters, whom I will not name, came off a little unbelievable. Certain things happened with this character that simply felt rushed and underdeveloped. You'll know it when you see it. 

Another issue is that while this film does a great job of paying homage to the older Star Wars films, I think that it may have spent a little too much time being nostalgic. I’m afraid that a newcomer to the series will simply miss out on maybe 60% of the references and fail to make a connection with the characters. The connection to the characters is probably the biggest source of success for this film.

The Reason:
 J. J. Abrams just gets it. He clearly knows how to remaster and remix an old franchise to successfully transition a film into a more modern rendition. If you enjoyed how he remade Star Trek, then it may be safe to say that he outdid himself this time around with Star Wars.

The story is filled with funny, sad, and breath-taking moments that make this a great movie watching experience. I’ll be the first to admit that every movie doesn’t have to be seen in 3D. However, I highly recommend watching this in 3D or even IMAX 3D. I think you’ll be robbed of the visual experience if you see it any other way. 

For those of you who were wondering if it’s necessary to re-watch the older movies, I’d probably say that re-watching them will give you a deeper appreciation for what the movie was trying to do. It’s bridging a generational gap while also creating a path into a new story for a new generation. If you’ve seen all of the Star Wars films, then just re-watching episodes 4-6 will be suffice if you haven’t seen them in the last 10 years. If you’re completely new to this, then it may be best to watch in the “Machete order” which is Episodes 4-5, 2-3, and then 6. Either way, I think you’ll have a great time watching this movie, and hopefully you don’t run into any spoilers on the internet. May the Force be with you! :)

The Rating: 9/10

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

The Last Witch Hunter Movie Review 2015

Click here to buy your tickets

The Trailer:


The Good:

As expected, Vin Diesel brings the strong, cool demeanor that we've come to know over the years. The film gets you started early with some magical action. This movie is chock full of special effects with all of the magic that is used from beginning to end. One thing that will keep you engaged is probably how the story is presented. We get to follow an interesting mystery that unravels at a reasonable pace. Best of all, there's a nice plot twist that was completely unexpected. Also, while this movie wasn't necessarily a horror film, there were some scenes that had the Queen Witch looking kind of scary.

The Bad:

There were a couple of moments where the the CG effects were just a tad bit over kill. Things would happen so fast, with so many lights flashing, that it was hard to make out what exactly was going on. Probably one of the most disappointing aspects of this film was the anticlimactic ending. For the entire duration of the movie, we're led to believe that the main enemy is so powerful and a threat to be feared. However, the final battle just felt rushed and was a little unsatisfactory. Matter of fact, the entire ending seemed under-developed. It seemed like the writers wanted to just finish the movie, which ended the film in a very convenient way.

The Reason:

The best way I  could describe this movie would be to say that it's Blade + Constantine (except with witches.) There haven't been very many witchcraft or magic oriented movies for a while, since we've been stuck on vampires, zombies and paranormal activity ghosts. What you see in the trailer is exactly what you're going to get. Despite the so-so ending, it was still an enjoyable movie overall for the most part. I'd recommend seeing it in theaters for the matinee price and with low expectations.

The Rating: 7/10

click here to buy your tickets

Bonus:

I was lucky enough to join renowned Chicago film critic Ian Simons on his podcast. You can Click here to listen to our discussion about The Last Witch Hunter. (WARNING: Podcast contains spoilers)
You can find Ian's detailed review of Last Witch Hunter by clicking here, (may contain spoilers) and his other reviews on his website Kicking The Seat.

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

Jupiter Ascending Movie Review

Image by www.impawards.com

The Good: The absolute best thing about this film are the visuals. From beginning to end, the 3D special effects will simply captivate you. The Wachowskis (directors of the Matrix Trilogy) do a superb job of really bringing to life original alien worlds. They even managed to make those traditional big head aliens we're all accustomed to seeing really look creepy. Overall, if you watch the film in 3D be prepared for a visual buffet for your eyes. Oh, and Channing Tatum wasn't half bad either with his action scenes and those really cool boots.

The Bad: The story was just blah and all over the place. There were no real twists or turns that keep your interest or keep you guessing. It's a pretty basic story line that honestly holds this movie back in many regards. In other words, if they played this movie on mute, it would probably be slightly better.

The Reason: I suppose you could think of this movie as Cinderella meets the 5th Element with a sprinkle of Star Wars. I hardly see this movie going down in history as one of those sci-fi cult classics or anything. I do think that if you are interested in seeing this film then watching it in the theaters, in 3D, for the matinee price, is the best way to go. It just seems that if you wait to watch it on a regular tv then you'll be missing out on the visual experience. IMAX 3D is NOT necessary and NOT worth the cost in my opinion.

The Rating: 7.0/10

Enjoyed this review? Click Here to join our weekly email list. One email every Friday.