Rings Movie Review

The Trailer:

The Good:
If for some reason you're curious about the origins of dead girl, Samara, then this film will certainly help you get just a little more insight into her dark past. Vincent D'Onofrio was probably the best highlight of this film.

The Bad:
The opening sequence just felt like a disjointed piece of a movie franchise thrown in for the sake of showing off the ghost-kid. Matter of fact it was very similar to a random scene from Final Destination 2-5. Granted, the opening scene had a loose connection to get the movie going, it just felt as though it could've been handled differently. Matter of fact, it didn't even feel connected to the past movies at all. So it's hard to say if this was even a reboot or remake or whatever.

I suppose the biggest issue with this film is just that the scare tactics don't feel any different than those used from the very first movie. Samara simply isn't scary anymore. Coming out of a TV doesn't make someone afraid the same way it did when it first surprised us in the early 2000's. Furthermore, her backstory isn't all that compelling either. I thought that this film was going to give some sort of explanation about how and why she is who/what she is, but I don't think it succeeded in delivering on that.

Along with the lack of innovative horror, this film appeared to almost copy the same scenes from the movie "Don't Breathe". It literally felt like the tone shifted from horror to thriller, and you were watching two completely different films. This also translated into issues with the plot. It felt like I was watching multiple cuts of different versions of the same movie.

Unfortunately, the characters were equally as uninteresting as the plot of the film itself. There was nothing compelling about the main character or her motivations to "keep going" throughout the film.

The Reason:
As a fan of the first "The Ring" film, I must admit that I am grossly disappointed in "Rings". The Ring, for me, was one of my top 5 scariest films. Rings unfortunately eviscerates the notion of any future "Ring" type of movies from holding that place again. Unless the studios can come up with some other type of innovative way to scare people with this ghost/monster kid, it's more than time to simply lay it to rest permanently. I couldn't recommend this film even to the most die hard Ring or horror fans. The irony here is that this whole movie is about warning you not to watch a video or else you suffer the consequences. I suggest you heed the movie's advice in advance. -_-

The Rating: 5/10

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

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[GUEST] The Space Between Us Movie Review

GUEST WRITER: Don Shanahan is a fellow Chicago film critic of "Every Movie Has a Lesson." He is an elementary educator who writes his movie reviews with life lessons in mind, from the serious to the farcical. Don is one of the directors of the Chicago Independent Film Critics Association (CIFCC). Please welcome him as an occasional contributor to Eman's Movie Reviews. 

The Trailer:

The Good:
Through all the glossy cheese, what is winning and worthwhile about this adventure are its positive messages and old-fashioned romantic vibes that lie far removed from the usual recipe of petulant Millennial angst that permeates the movies targeting today’s teen demographic. Composer Andrew Lockington’s blend of synth and strings merges well with a coffee shop pop soundtrack featuring a pair of Ingrid Michaelson songs. The key draw is Gardner. Asa Butterfield plays the teen as a pleasantly hopeless romantic. His smile and wide-eyed worldview are charming and contagious. The kid’s got spirit and so does the movie.

The Bad:

The high concept of a child raised on another planet in “The Space Between Us” downshifts to a teen-bonding road movie. It is peppered with a dash of “Starman”-esque initiative as Gardner detrimentally has trouble acclimating to the greener, wetter, heavier, and brighter Earth. The thought-provoking scientific ramifications that created the film’s intriguing premise are muddied by the silly coinkydinks and frequently preposterous holes and turns of the plot’s earthbound pursuits.

Telling you the film was written by Allan Loeb, the screenwriter of the reviled “Collateral Beauty” and directed by Peter Chelsom, the man behind “Hannah Montana: The Movie” does not help its cause. Nobody does frantic like Gary Oldman who is always overselling, forgivably so. 26-year-old Britt Robertson is too old to play a convincing teenager, but shows bossy pluck as the chatty and fetching love interest. You have to take the bad with the good because the same writer also composed the colorful fun of “21” and the director brought the masses the chick flick fave “Serendipity.”

The Reason:

Call me a softy or a sunny optimist, but I will take "The Space Between Us" over the next "Percy Jackson and the Hunger Maze Runner City of Bones Games with the 5th Wave of Divergent Mortal Instruments." The YA movie marketplace is overfilled with militarized kid-on-kid peril in the science fiction department. “The Space Between Us” is cheesy, corny, and pretends to be better than it really is, but, gosh darnit, the film has a charming and positive core that is hard to ignore. For as much as there is a place for the heady and heavy, there should be room for the simple as sweet too.

The Rating:  6.5/10

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

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Resident Evil: The Final Chapter Movie Review

The Trailer:

The Good:
Milla Jovovich once again solidifies herself as a legit action star. There were a couple of notable scenes where she gets to show off her kick-butt skills. As you can come to expect with these films there are a couple of jump scares to keep you on your toes. Luckily you'll probably see them coming so you won't have too bad of a heart attack.

Unlike the more recent Resident Evil films, The Final Chapter actually does a nice job of drawing from the same style and feel of the first film. As you can probably see from the trailer, the story comes full circle. As a matter of fact, the plot is more sound compared to the last couple of movies. We do get a couple of twists in the story and some interesting connections revealed at the end.

The visuals for this film were also a highlight. There's plenty of action and gore with the zombie creatures. The combination of zombies and explosions give the impression that this film definitely had a higher budget and wasn't afraid to let loose.

The Bad:
Right off the bat, the biggest disappointment I had with this film was that it merely skips the huge battle that culminated at the end of Resident Evil: Retribution. While the film does try to catch you up with a little bit of narration covering all of the previous films, starting the movie without even showing the big fight scene was a little discouraging. Another issue was the pacing of time within the movie itself. At one point in the movie, time is quickly running down, and then towards the end time simply crawls (despite a lot of events taking place.)

Another disappointment was the character of "Wesker". In the previous two films, Wesker was a formidable opponent and villain. Without going into too much detail, he was a completely wasted character. I don't even know why he was in the film. -_-

The Reason:
If you've been invested in watching the previous five films, I know what you may be thinking. "Was this better than the first two movies?". Well I think it's safe to say that the first two Resident Evil films were easily the best of the franchise, and The Final Chapter comes right into 3rd place. It wasn't as good as the first two films, but it wasn't as bad as the last three. If there was ever a The Walking Dead  movie directed by Michael Bay, Resident Evil: The Final Chapter would be it. 

I saw the film in standard 2D and not in 3D. I didn't feel like I missed a thing, so if you want to save some money don't feel overly pressured to see it in 3D. I do think that it's worth the watch in theaters at a discounted price or matinee at the very best. I don't believe that fans of the series will be disappointed in this.

The Rating: 7/10

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

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Split Movie Review

The Trailer:

The Good:
It certainly looked like James McAvoy really put some serious effort into making these characters work. It's difficult enough for any actor to portray a believable character, but to be able to clearly distinguish between alternate personalities within seconds is just really good acting in itself. Every time McAvoy is on the screen, he's clearly the most interesting person that grabs your attention.

One thing I appreciated about the film were the educational moments. Since the movie does deal with a mental disorder, it was really interesting to hear about the potential theories surrounding the mental illness that may go beyond our normal understanding. It was a great way blurring the lines of normal psychology with that of maybe even the supernatural.

Another aspect of the film that I appreciated was the uniqueness of both the themes and message of the movie. I like to give credit for originality in films, so whether I actually agree with the message/theme is irrelevant. I just like the fact that the movie attempts to communicate something different to help it stand out.

Best of all, director/writer M. Night Shyamalan returns with yet again another classic twist. Obviously, I don't want to ruin that big reveal, so the only thing I'll say is that if you're not familiar with M. Night Shyamalan's movies, then you'll probably miss the significance of the big surprise.

The Bad:
The movie deals with some pretty heavy subject matter. More specifically it deals with abuse (sexual, physical, mental, etc.) While the issues that are explored are disturbing to some degree, it was a little awkward to continuously see the main actresses portrayed in certain situations. Just keep in mind that the main three girls are supposed to be playing high school students, but often times they're placed in situations that are just awkward or uncomfortable to watch. There were even some questionable camera shots that make you just wonder "of all the places to zoom in on her, why there?".

Aside from the moments of awkwardness, the majority of the movie is kind of predictable. Some of the characters do things that are just plain dumb, but we all know they have to be dumb to make the movie interesting.

The Reason:
The concern about M. Night going overboard with the unexpected plot reveals or crazy stories can probably now be laid to rest. It appears that the director has taken a more settled approach of surprising audiences and it's apparent in Split. In M. Night's last film, The Visit (Video Review), we see a similar safe approach to main stream audiences too.

If you've been cautious to seeing M. Night films, or if you've been overly scarred from his previous films, then consider Split as a make-up film. Yes, there are some eye rolling moments, but overall the movie is pretty solid. I'd recommend giving it a watch especially if you're a fan of his earlier work.

The Rating: 7.5/10

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

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A Cure For Wellness GIVEAWAY

The Trailer:

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CHICAGO: Here's your chance to see the mystery thriller film A Cure For Wellness early and FREE! I've got a limited number of passes to see the film February 02, 2017, at 7:30pm in downtown Chicago. HURRY, these tickets go super fast and they are first come, first serve.

Be sure to arrive early because the screenings are overbooked intentionally to fill maximum capacity. Seating is not guaranteed, so again ARRIVE EARLY!

Screening Location:
Kerasotes Showplace ICON
150 W Roosevelt Rd
Chicago, IL 60605
Time: 7:30pm CST

LINK:   A Cure For Wellness Studio Code

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About the Movie:
Release date: February 17, 2017 (USA)
Director: Gore Verbinski
Cinematography: Bojan Bazelli
Production company: Regency Enterprises
Story by: Gore Verbinski, Justin Haythe

Plot: An ambitious young executive is sent to retrieve his company's CEO from an idyllic but mysterious "wellness center" at a remote location in the Swiss Alps. He soon suspects that the spa's miraculous treatments are not what they seem.