Money Monster Movie Review

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The Trailer:


The Good:
From the very beginning, you're reminded of the very thing that makes George Clooney famous. His wit and charm on screen translate perfectly through his character. Even more so, both he and Julia Roberts share amazing on screen chemistry together. Their interactions give you a perfect sense of how deep their bond goes as friends.

One of the biggest highlights of this films is the level of suspense and intensity that happens almost at every turn. There were rarely any dull moments and just when you think it was about to settle down, something pulls you right back in. To many people's surprise there were also a lot of pockets of mild humor. The good thing about them was that they gave you a moment to simply catch your breath, or in my case, allow your heart to stop beating so fast.

I certainly appreciated the fact that this movie didn't always do what you expected it to do either. There's one pivotal scene in the film where the entire audience simply feels the pain of one of the characters. As a man, I think if I had been that character, a tiny piece of my soul would have shriveled up and died. :-/

Director Jodie Foster (Yeah, that Jodie Foster, the actress) did a great job with the movie's pacing and, I think, also did a good job of steering your emotions throughout the film. Another nice addition to the film was how it was able to make the entire world a character in itself. Watching how society played a part in this film was rather unique and a very interesting reflection of today's world.

The Bad:
I would probably have to say that this film's ending started drifting more towards the unbelievable rather than more realistic side of things. It was definitely a bit of a stretch, but I suppose you go with it for the sake of the movie. Also, the main culprit was rather predictable to figure out from very early on. It was built up as if it were some surprise, but it really was a no brainier.

The Reason:
One of the biggest concerns I had about this film was whether or not it would be too heavy with the financial jargon and maybe go over some people's heads. Luckily it didn't go too over board with it and still found a way to keep viewers engaged with the intense and suspenseful scenes. I personally enjoyed the fact that this film felt a little more original, and a nice break from the onslaught of comic-book movies. Interestingly enough, I couldn't help but wonder, how different would this movie had been if the gunman was maybe black, or maybe Muslim. I suppose that's a conversation for another day though. Either way, if you're in the mood for something different and a change of pace, I'd recommend checking this out.

The Rating: 8/10

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

BONUS: Money Monster Critic Reactions

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Captain America: Civil War Movie Review (2016)

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Youtube Review (Spoiler-Free):

Youtube SPOILER Review:

Youtube Critic Reactions:
After my second viewing of Civil War, I got a chance to get some initial reactions from other professional film critics. See what they had to say about the film. 

The Good:

Similar to Captain America 2, within just a few minutes we're thrown into the suspense and action that sets the tone for the film. Almost each character gets their moment to shine in terms of action or just displaying their special abilities. The MANY different fight scenes will keep your eyes glued to the screen. There's rarely ever a dull moment and the overall pacing of the film was done very effectively despite being over 2.5 hours long. I think it’s also safe to say that the airport scene is by far one of the best scenes in the film.

 There were so many surprises in this film. Rarely do I get to say this, but the trailers actually didn't give a lot away. The trailers were altered to the point where some things will still look new.

The themes and writing in this movie were carried out in a believable, coherent and authentic way. The motivations of the many characters did not seem forced, in my opinion. This led to some nice plot twists that continue to progress the story. (Though some of those twists were mildly predictable). It's rather difficult to choose a side of one of the characters because the moral lines are so heavily grayed. As a fan of the Civil War comics (great read by the way), I was very appreciative of how Marvel was able to stay true to the nature and feeling of the source material even though they had to change a lot of the details for the sake of the movie. They did a great job of handling issues like the collateral destruction of cities, the loss of life, and the responsibility of great power.

What's even more interesting is how the movie is able to maintain an overall serious tone but still find time to have many humorous moments. It's not a comedy, but it does stay true to that "Marvel Fun" that we've come to enjoy.

Let’s get into the characters. It’s no surprise anymore that Spider-Man is a feature in this film. His scenes are probably one of the biggest highlights in the movie for both his humor and the action he brings to the table. Luckily what you see in the trailers is only a tiny glimpse of what’s to come with Spidey. 

Zemo (played by, Daniel Brühl) made for a good villain in this story. It was interesting to see how his motivations drove his actions. Similar to how Tom Hiddleston’s Loki’s character was developed, we are given a bit more complex villain with Zemo’s character.

Black Panther....YES! He was AWESOME. Yes I’m biased because he’s like the first black superhero (And because you know…I’m black) I was so happy and proud to see Chadwick Boseman bring this character to life. From his African accent, presence of royalty, all the way down to his proficient cat-like ninja fighting style, he truly embodied what the Black Panther character always intended. (That is to have a sense of pride in African culture) His role in the film has definitely made me more optimistic about the upcoming solo film. 

I was impressed with how this film was able to juggle so much at once. With this huge cast of characters, it rarely felt as though any one of them suffered from a lack of screen time. Not only that but Civil War also managed to still serve as a platform for the upcoming solo movies.

The Bad: 

What?! There’s some bad? I know I was shocked too, but bear with me. There’s are two issues I had problems with, but you’ll have to watch my Spoiler Review to see them. 

The Reason: 

I think it’s safe to say that Marvel has done it again. Civil War had a lot of expectations and I think it delivered on most of them. I know a lot of people really want to compare this to Batman V Superman because the movies share practically the same themes. I think that while this may feel like a natural comparison to make, it may be a little unfair to do so. Batman V Superman had a completely different motive and intent behind it. It was a setup movie for all of the other movies DC wants to kick off. (Not to mention they had to play catch up in the comic book movie realm) Civil War was a solo movie for Captain America that just so happened to set up other movies and continue the overall story arc of the Marvel cinematic universe.

So I think a much better comparison for Civil War would be to its predecessor, Captain America 2: Winter Soldier. Avengers: Age of Ultron was best compared to Avengers 1 because it was the same director trying to do better than before. Avengers 2, unfortunately, disappointed because it was really more of the same without very many new aspects to elevate the movie. All we got were the superhero team-up moves and three minor characters.  (Well…2 other characters that lived.) :-/

If I had to compare the two, I’d probably say that Civil War comes in slightly lower than Winter Soldier. Winter Soldier gets the edge for its originality. It was the first time we saw an espionage film that just so happened to have super heroes in it. It was the first time we saw super heroes cross into a different movie genre, thus making it rather hard to top. There was no way for Civil War to be any more original than Cap 2, in my opinion. Civil War does give us more of the same compared to Cap 2, except it does two things uniquely different. We’re given two new major characters in Spider-Man and Black Panther, and it accomplished the seemingly difficult task of juggling many characters at once. The movie was about 55% Captain America’s story 25% setup for new characters and 20% everyone else.

Overall, Civil War was a very good movie. I’m not sure if IMAX or 3D is necessary, though. (I saw it in a standard format and still enjoyed it) During my screening of the film, there was only a mid-credit ending scene, so I can't say for sure if there's a final scene at the end of credits in the theatrical release. I’d say Civil War is a must see in theaters and feel free to plan your weekend to check this out.

The Rating: 9/10
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

BONUS GIVEAWAY!

I want you to see this for free! So enter in my contest where I’m giving 8 lucky winners a free movie ticket to see Captain America Civil War! If you were one of the 8 lucky winners, please be sure to check your email and/or spam  or junk email for the winner's confirmation email. 

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The Jungle Book Movie Review (2016)

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The Trailer:

The Good:

One of the best highlights of this film is probably how well the visuals were executed. The scenery of the jungle is beautiful and it’s given a lot of depth with the 3D effects. The use of the CGI quickly adapts you to the idea that these animals feel and express themselves just like humans. If you're like me, you may actually believe that animals can literally talk for that hour and a half.

With the combination of the human-like CGI infused with the animals, the addition of quality voice actors only makes the entire viewing experience that much better. Ben Kingsley (plays Bagheera the panther) and Bill Murray (Baloo the bear) are fully immersed into their characters. Idris Elba is both intimidating and terrifying as the tiger, Shere Khan. (He almost reminded me of that drunk, abusive step-dad character in movies). Neel Sethi is a perfect version of Mowgli, and Christopher Walken as King Louie the Monkey king is just a perfect casting as well.

What I personally appreciated was how this live-action remained faithful to the 1967 animated version. It seemed as though this film took all of the good parts and just went along with that. Even the songs were done pretty well without making this movie feel like a musical. It also had many humorous points throughout the film which kept the movie entertaining and fun for the most part.

Another highlight is how the movie's characters able to connect with viewers on an emotional level. (It is a Disney movie afterall) It does deal with some pretty classic themes such as not fitting in with society, the sense of family, bullying, and much more. For example, when it's time to feel the motherly love between Raksha (mother wolf played by Lupita Nyong'o) and Mowgli, you feel it. When it's time to feel tense and frightened by Shere Khan hunting you down, you feel that too.

The Bad:

I'm not sure how the 3D effects were shot but there are moments where it was just terribly blurry. It doesn't happen too often, but it was enough to notice. (Luckily the rest of the 3D effects don't overtake the viewing experience.) Besides that, the only thing I'd say is that this film's tone is a little darker than what many may expect. There are some jump scares and animal violence that more sensitive and younger audiences may want to be cautious about.

The Reason:

Well this certainly brought me back to the days when I used to watch the animated Jungle Book on VHS on repeat for days on end. If you grew up watching that film then you'll more than likely enjoy this new remake as well. I think it's well worth the watch in theaters. I can already see why Disney is already greenlighting a sequel. As I said above, be cautious with your children. While this movie is overall fun, charming, and heart-warming, the dark tones almost push the limits of the film’s PG rating. If they can handle watching Discovery channel animal fights, then they'll probably be okay for this film. So just use your best parental judgment before going in. (Or have an extra pillow ready in case someone needs to sleep next you for a few days) 

The Rating: 8/10


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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Criminal Movie Review (2016)

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The Trailer:

The Good:
Kevin Costner's character finds an interesting way to be both uncaring and caring at the same time. The somewhat unique story line allows his character to deal with two minds at the same time, so to speak. It was far more interesting watching his normal self as the ruthless "Jericho Stewart". A few of the action and chase scenes were entertaining to watch. Ryan Reynold's character seemed a bit more interesting despite his appearance in the film being short-lived. Gal Gadot provided a much better glimpse of what we can maybe expect, acting-wise, from her future solo movie roles (i.e. Wonder Woman).

The Bad:
Where do we begin?? Kevin Costner just isn't believable as an action star. The story makes sense for him to be both cold-blooded and have a heart at the same time, but there just wasn't enough of a separation. This came off to be like an actor just wanting to show off his range in an acting school or something. His character's interactions with Gal Gadot were probably the biggest stretch for me. It goes from one very intense extreme (which was believable) to an utterly flimsy one as the movie progressed.

The most innovative thing about the story was the memory transplant operation. Unfortunately we see that in the trailer, and there's really nothing more about it throughout the film. (If you like that mind swapping story angle, you'd probably be more interested in the movie Self/Less which took it further). While this film had a great cast on paper, it didn't really translate very much to the big screen. Each actor seemed to do well on their own but not enough to raise the bar for the movie as a whole.

The Reason:
Unfortunately this film feels kind of stuck in time. You would think that it was a generic action movie from 2002 except someone dusted it off and placed 10 minutes of new aged sci-fi to give it a boost. I completely understand how this movie will appeal to those who liked older action films. However, Criminal seems like a straight to DVD rental that you can watch on a Saturday night when you have nothing else to do. Given the fact that it does have some good actors, it wouldn't be a complete waste of time though. I think if you REALLY, REALLY  liked the trailer, then watch this as a matinee or discounted rate at your local theater. Otherwise you can watch this on DVD or for free in the comfort of your own home. For a movie about memories, this was pretty forgettable.

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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