Captain America: Civil War Review (2016)

Captain America: Civil War

  Before I begin this review, I must admit that I'm not a Captain America fan and so my opinions on the movie are based on my personal feelings for the character. 

 That said, let's talk about the new additions to the Avengers.

  Chadwick Boseman as black Panther. Let me just say, that super suit was baaaad. (I mean that in a good way).

  I've been impressed with Tom Holland since 2012's disaster drama, The Impossible. If there was one thing motivating me to see this movie, it was definitely Spidey. Turns out, it was for good reason. Spidey was exactly how his character should be. Young, geeky, and with corney jokes. He was my favorite part of the film by far. I"m really looking forward to his solo movies.

  Let's continue to the plot. I like the way they set up both sides of the "war" and gave reasonable arguments. At some points in the movie you really don't know who's right or who to root for. This was cool because it engages the audience and they can actually partake in the story.

  My problem was with Bucky Barnes. I don't care if he's Cap's best friend, the length Cap went to defend him seemed ridiculous and frankly a little bit gay. There's a reason #givecapaboyfriend is going viral on twitter. At one point, Bucky even asks why he's doing this. Honestly, that what I wanted to know.

  As in every marvel movie, there are some funny quips and good actions, but also like other marvel movies, it's very shallow. Every film just feels like a long trailer for the next film and eventually they all start to blend together and feel like the same movie. 

  Am I saying it's bad? No. A lot of people enjoyed it as well as critics. However, if I never saw this movie again, I'd be okay. 4 out of 10 stars. (One Time See)

Jungle Book Review (2016)

Jungle Book

  Disney has done it again, bringing cartoons to life in their latest achievement, The Jungle Book. I'd seen versions of the Jungle Book as a kid, but I can't actually remember seeing the original cartoon. That said, I had no real remembrance of the story other than a kid in the jungle who talks to animals. 

  There was a lot of hype for this movie and I can see why because it is a visual feast. Not only are the animals beautiful and real looking, but the entire forest is made of CGI as well. Andy Serkis's motion capture studio takes us to a whole different world and it's gorgeous! 

  Another thing I really liked about the movie was the voice overs, especially Christopher Walker as King Louie, Idris Elba as Shere Khan, and Ben Kingsley as Bagheera. 

  The way they incorporated a couple of the songs into the film was really cool as well and gave it that Disney charm. In fact, I just loved the whole soundtrack in general and the way it added emotion to the scenes.

  As most of you know, I have a real hard time with child actors. Considering that the main character is a child, here's what I thought on the newcomer Neel Sethi. For his first film ever, going up against literally all green screen, I'd say that Sethi did quite a good job. However, there were times where the greenness of his performance took me out of the film.

  While I could go on nitpicking some of the minor things tone wise in the movie, we still have a very solid, heart-felt film that works on a lot of levels and is great fun for the whole family. I give Jungle Book a 6 out of 10 stars. (Worth Ticket Price)

Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice Review (2016)

Batman vs Superman: Dawn of Justice

  Today I review one of the most anticipated movies of the year, Batman vs Superman. I know a lot of people had some concerns about Ben Affleck replacing Christian Bale, but I personally didn't share those concerns. Going in, I was confident that he would do a solid job and that if the movie failed, it wouldn't be because of him, but because of Zach Snyder. Unfortunately, my predictions were true. Ben Affleck did a solid job, but the messy screenplay and the mediocre directing is what failed us all. Following in the footsteps of Man of Steel, Zach Snyder opened his film with annoying shaky-cam, unnecessary close ups, and CGI galore. 

  The best and worst thing that ever happened to the DC universe was Christopher Nolan's Batman movies. They weren't just good superhero movies, they were good movies in general. The gritty, realism that Nolan used has gained popularity with all of the wrong heroes. The Amazing Spiderman first, and now Superman. While Batman lends itself to the sort of realism found in the Dark Knight trilogy, Superman is simply too campy of a character. From his glasses that disguise Clark Kent, to the endless powers he possesses, to the invincibility of his character with only the exception of kryptonite; Superman is a character better suited to kitsch, fun, summer action. Unfortunately, Zach Snyder doesn't go this route and isn't talented enough to give Superman even an ounce of the depth that The Dark Knight trilogy possessed. The script is filled with stupid comparisons to God and the devil, and biased, Athiest views on morality and goodness, all in the name of "profundity" and all delivered to us by Jessie Eisenberg, whom I've never wanted more to punch in the face. Generally I am a fan of Eisenberg's borderline annoying, fast talking, nerd characters, but casting him as Lex Luther was the biggest mistake the movie made. Luther's calculated, smarts are replaced by a skinny, psychotic, Heath Ledger-inspired punk.

  Another flaw of the movie, is the lack of dimension any of the characters have. I don't care about Superman, I don't care about Batman, I don't care about Lois, or Superwoman, or anyone. Batman vs Superman is a narrative mess with only a little more entertainment value than it's predecessor. 4 out of 10 stars. (One Time See)

Beasts of no Nation Review (2015)

Beasts of no Nation

  Better late than never, right? Today I review Beasts of No Nation which I actually saw several weeks ago. As usual, I'll talk about my expectations going in. I knew this movie was set in Africa, that it starred Idris Elba, and that it had something to do with wars against tribes. Boy, was there a lot more to it than that.

  One name: Abraham Attah. This kid needs to be put in several movies after this. Debuting in his first feature film, this actor absolutely blew me away. There was never a single second where I doubted that he was this character and, in my opinion, he even out shined Idris Elba. Everyone in this film did brilliant.

  What I really loved about this film is the way it really brings out the humanity of people from Third World countries who are considered barbaric or uncivilized in our Western eyes. 

  The story is incredibly gruesome, violent, and hard to watch most of the time. Never does it define any of the character's morally, but it instead treats them as real complex humans. 

  At times, Beats of no Nation feels very long-winded, which isn't surprising considering it took the screenwriter so long to perfect. Condensing the film would've given it an even bigger impact. 

  From a regular child, to a captive, to a killer, we are taken along with our main character on a introspective, emotional journey for those with the stomach to handle it. 7 out of 10 stars (Very Good)

Room Review (2015)

Room

  Now that I've finally stopped crying, I can write this review. 

  Room stars Brie Larson and Jacob Tremblay. It is the story of a woman held captive in a shed for over seven years with her son Jack, their escape, and how they learn to rediscover the outside world. 

  I didn't know too much about the film before watching, except that it had loads of Oscar buzz and that it was going to make me cry. After seeing it, I can understand why it had been hyped so much. And yes I did cry. Several times.

  Brie Larson and Jacob Tremblay are both incredible in this movie. They break your heart with their subtle, but powerful performances. I've said it before, but I'll say it again, rarely do young actors impress me. Tremblay, however, managed to really nail all of his emotional scenes without overacting. I foresee big things for this kid.

  Room is a relentlessly heavy film, not for your casual Saturday night lounge. It makes you see the world through the eyes of an innocent child in a vigorously dark circumstance, yet embraces a strong theme of hope. 

  It's hard hitting, but completely worth the watch. 10 out of 10 stars. (A Must See!)

The Finest Hours Review (2016)

The Finest Hours

  This true story of a rescue mission at sea, takes place in 1952. A storm splits the SS Pendleton in two, trapping 30 sailors in the stern of the boat. Now Chris Pine must now go out into the storm and rescue them. Sounds exciting, huh? Well, it's not. 

  We are introduced to the main characters, Bernie Webber and his soon to be wife Miriam. From the beginning I never really cared about the characters, and if anything I found Miriam (played by Holliday Grainger) quite irritating. It's not that the acting is bad, it's that all of the characters are one-dimensional. This means, that when they're sent out on their dangerous mission, I could care less who makes it back. 

  It is a big problem for a movie like this to have flat characters, because it takes all of the tension out of the story. 

  In the end, the movie is safe, by the numbers, and ultimately lifeless. I wanted to like it, but instead I left the theater unmoved by anything but the cool CGI. 3 out of 10 stars. (Not Very Good)

The Revenant Review (2016)

The Revenant

  It's official, Ladies and Gentlemen, Leonardo Dicaprio might be taking home the Oscar.

  Inspired by true events, The Revenant takes place in 1820's America. During a hunting expedition, Hugh Glass (Leonardo Dicaprio) is mauled by a bear and then left for dead by his own team of fur trappers. Glass must now survive the brutal elements and take revenge.

  Before I get into why I think Dicaprio should win best actor, let me first talk about the real star of the film, Alejandro González Iñárritu. I mean, talk about visionary directing. Shot with all natural lighting, Iñárritu demonstrates breathtaking visual storytelling that immerses us from the very first shot to the last. The Revenant is truly an achievement, somehow making a 2 hour and 36 minute film never feel overlong. 

  I must also mention Emmanuel Lubezki's stunningly brooding cinematography! Definitely up there with 2015's Macbeth in it's grand scale and epic landscapes.

  While The Revenant can be hard to watch, due to the brutal nature of it all, you simply can't look away. Most of Leonardo Dicaprio's emotions are conveyed strictly through his eyes, since he has hardly any dialogue. Still we are with him the whole time, feeling everything he feels. It's an impressive performance to which Dicaprio fully commits, even to the point of eating raw bison liver despite being a vegetarian. 

  On the subject of acting, I can't not mention my boy, Tom Hardy. In a role, very different from his usual roles, he completely shines! Definitely worthy of a Best Supporting Actor statue.  

  Will Poulter also hangs in there with his fellow cast mates, exhibiting bright potential and emotional range.

  In the end, The Revenant strips all of its actors of their glamour and really brings out the savage, gritty nature of what it might have been like to survive in uncharted American wilderness. It is an uncompromisingly, impactful experience, 10 out of 10 stars.