The Raid 2 Movie Review (2014)

The Good: Action, action, and even more action galore. The jaw dropping action will have you glued to the screen the entire time. The fight scenes look so authentic, that you may question whether they even use stuntmen or special affects. There is also a lot more blood and gore compared to the previous film, The Raid. This time around we're given a few more special characters that will certainly peek your interest. (Hammer Girl, Bat boy, etc) Lastly, there are some great and unique camera angles that director Gareth Evans shoots masterfully.

The Bad: In the previous film, the story line was kept very basic with minor twists. The plot does expand and go much deeper, however it simply gets over shadowed by the great fight scenes. There are some foreign concepts that may get "lost in translation" when it comes to an American audience watching a foreign based themes. Finally, the length of this film is rather long for an action film. (2.5 hrs) While the action more than makes up for it, the extra plot details could have been condensed a bit more to help the movie not drag in many parts.

The Reason: This movie, I believe managed to surpass its predecessor by far. The action is memorable and exhilarating to watch. It finally gives action lovers what they want in a martial arts based film. I would definitely recommend this as a great rental. If you're interested in the story line, then you may have to watch the The Raid part 1 only because the events take place right after. Besides that, I'm positive many will enjoy this film.

The Rating: 9/10

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

Hercules Movie Review (2014)

The Good: The plot was a welcoming variation from all of the traditional greek mythology-based movies we've come to see over the years. We get an interesting emphasis on Hercules' "legend" for the majority of the movie. It does a pretty good job of blurring the lines between truth and legend. (Kind of like in Game of Thrones) You're going to get a decent amount of action and the expected level of acting from Dwayne The Rock Johnson.

The Bad: While there was a minor plot twist towards the end of the movie, it just wasn't anything that would blow your mind. This was a pretty basic movie in terms of the story, the character development, and sometimes even the action.

The Reason: To the movie's credit, the trailer surprisingly didn't give a lot away. Majority of the scenes you see in the trailer are at the very beginning, which enables you to enjoy the movie spoiler-free. The movie does offer a 3D element, which is nice. Because the movie is entertaining, but far from epic, I'd recommend seeing this as a matinee at best. It would make for a pretty decent rental. If you love greek mythology, this will give you a different perspective on it, so you'll probably appreciate it. Go in with with low expectations, don't expect to be Wow'd. Be sure to stick around for the animated credits that continue showing additional parts of the story.

The Rating: 7/10

Lucy Movie Review (2014)

The Good: The special effects create very nice visuals for the movie. You can clearly see that from the trailer. There are some cool scientific theories that get tossed around that will make you at least wonder about the possibilities. If you like super powers, there are plenty here on display throughout the movie.

The Bad: If you were expecting for Scarlett Johansson to kick butt the same way she did as Black Widow in Avengers, think again. Some of the movie felt a bit rushed in terms of her acquiring all these new powers. Her powers also seemed to be random and more animated than anything. It just felt like something was missing either from character or from the story as a whole that could've made this movie a tad bit better. Oh and the ending may leave some people a tad bit disappointed.

The Reason: This movie looks like a random assortment of like multiple movies all jam packed into one. Think something like The Matrix + X-Men Movies + Limitless + Jumper + Tron = Lucy. If you don't like those types of movies, then this movie isn't for you. It really goes in a far off direction and may lose people with how animated it comes off in some parts. While it was obviously the goal of this movie to push the limits and all, I don't think it'll translate well for most audiences. Only go see this if you really liked the trailer. I'm not sure if I'd say it is worth a matinee viewing unless you just really like Scarlett Johansson. Renting it is a big maybe too.

The Rating: 6.5/10

The Purge 2: Anarchy Movie Review (2014)

The Good: This original storyline gets expanded on a much broader basis. We are given a much deeper look into the moral dilemmas that the "Purge" creates on society as a whole. One thing that is for sure is that the level of suspense will grip you for about 95% of the movie. There's always a sense of danger, even when you think it's safe. A nice little bonus is how the movie pays homage to The Purge 1 with an interesting surprise cameo. Probably one of the best aspects of this movie is the different level, or class, of "Purgers" you encounter. The various motives and beliefs about how people feel about the Purge will be rather thought provoking. Last thing, Frank Grillo seems to be making his mark, and plays this role quite nicely.

The Bad: Just like in the previous film prepare to be utterly annoyed with the unrealistic stupidity from...and i hate to say it...the stereotypical female characters. You know the type. The females that conveniently trip ONLY when danger is about. The female characters that scream at the WORST possible times, or the ones that simply talk too much rather than actually doing something to deal the situation at hand. It can be maddening at some points in the film. There are some points in the movie that are just a tad bit predictable, but they're so minor it won't matter.

The Reason: After the previous Purge film, many people criticized it for being too focused only on one particular family. Well this time those criticisms have been addressed, and I think that this sequel delivered. I would definitely say that this is worth the watch in the theaters because it continues an already unique storyline. Even though it's not necessary to watch it for this movie, I'd still recommend watching the first Purge movie. (You'll miss the guest cameo if you haven't seen the previous film) If you're still hesitant on watching this after checking out the trailer, at least check it out as a matinee to save a few dollars. Stay safe everyone!

The Rating: 8/10