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I.S.S. (2023)
Easily the Worst Movie on Outer Space I've Ever Seen
If you take all the sci-fi movies related to outer space from Apollo 13 to Gravity to Interstellar and all the ones in between about aliens, monsters, and mysterious forces, this movie is easily the worst I've seen in my life. There are so many structural issues with this movie it is hard to know what went wrong. The plot is all over the place and no where in place. What is the audience supposed to care about? What are we watching? You have some mysterious situation on Earth while you have these 6 people on the I. S. S. Going bonkers for no apparent reason. Is it AI? Is it real? What is going on?
Then you have the terrible acting by everyone in the movie. Now that's an accomplishment. I didn't like any of the characters. They all went insane at certain points and were all normal at other points. You then have certain things occur that seem to go against basic physics and spatial dynamics.
Finally, you have an ending that just makes you glad it didn't last another hour. After watching this, you realize that you need to start with an actual plot first before just adding special effects and a cool spaceship. It's no mystery this movie bombed in the box office. Absolutely awful.
No Hard Feelings (2023)
Surprisingly Entertaining from Start to Finish
First, this is definitely not a movie to take your kids unless you want to explain the beach scene to them afterwards. Second, this movie is surprisingly very entertaining from start to finish. The cast is done well. Matthew Broderick might be a slight miscast because he looks old and creepy, but that may have been intentional. The story seems cliche, but it keeps you wanting to find out how the movie ends. The plot seemed to be a combination of several past movies including The Girl Next Door.
As for Jennifer Lawrence, she seems to be good/great at nearly every movie she plays. Being part Producer in this movie probably helped her negotiate her $25M salary for the movie with a total budget of nearly $45M. With no special effects, it seems like a lot of the budget was to pay the cast as I don't remember much promotion for the movie in theaters.
Overall, the movie is a great watch for movie night at home and very funny from start to finish. Even with the nudity, it was still funny and didn't push the Rated R rating.
Dream Scenario (2023)
10/10 First Half, Misses Mark in Last Half
I saw the trailer to this movie a few times in theaters, but never got around to seeing it in theaters. I ended up seeing it on a streaming platform.
First, the movie is extremely original. It was so original, it was bizarre and leaves you wanting to see the next scene to try to understand what you are watching. This is rare in today's movie environment where everything is based on comics, remakes, sequels, prequels, new interpretations, or straight up copying a previous movie. There are literally no other movies like this movie and I've seen potentially thousands in my lifetime.
Cage hits the mark and I can't see another actor being able to play this character in the movie. The plot itself is so bizarre and strange, but also makes you think. The first half of the movie is probably one of the best first halves I've seen in years.
However, the second half, and whatever climax occurs somewhat misses big time and not sure if the writer or director just lost direction at what they wanted to reveal or tell the audience. The ending leaves you with a lot of interpretation and the movie goes from a comedy to a dark tragedy of depression. There are a lot of themes that echo today's society which makes the movie hit close to home.
A definite must-see if you get a chance or want to watch something totally out of the box.
Silent Night (2023)
No Dialogue? Challenge Accepted Says John Woo!
I had intended to watch this movie in theaters, but there were too many other movies I chose to pay for in theaters and missed out. It may have been good I did. I finally saw this on a streaming service and I was blown away. First, I usually run my sound system at level 20. I thought my ears were messed up and turned it to 25 and still heard very little. I had no idea this movie has nearly no dialogue. While movies have been able to pull this off for effect and purpose, I don't see why no other character in the movie could say anything. Lots of texting and sign language. I guess John Woo was challenged to direct a movie with no actual dialogue.
Second, this movie, while cliche to the max, could have been way more entertaining. Everyone loves a revenge / payback movie. However, this was a complete mess. The storytelling was all over the place, and without anyone actually talking, you, the viewer are left trying to learn how to read body language and texts. Third, this is a huge drop off for both Kinnaman who I loved in Altered Carbon Season 1 - IMO, the best single season in Sci-Fi TV history, and John Woo who directed Face / Off.
Lastly, the ending of this movie was more of a comedy than anything. I really don't know if John Woo was trolling the studio for the ending or what. The action scenes were ok, but the rest of the movie was a complete mess. The only positive is it's only around 100 minutes so you can watch in one sitting.
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (2023)
Decent Looking in IMAX 3D, But Just a Confused Mess
So, first of all, I'm not a big Aquaman fan. To put it into perspective, I just now saw the first Aquaman on streaming the day before seeing this movie because I had relatives wanting to see the sequel. My only knowledge of Aquaman comes from the show Entourage. But, here are my unbiased comments.
First, the first movie like this sequel is a mess in plot and characters. I don't know if this is a DC problem or a production problem or a writers problem. Aquaman is overpowered and there are literally no threats to his existence. It doesn't work for me. It would be the equivalent of Superman facing some street mobster with a bunch of guns and money. Aquaman continues to go about both movies barely getting a scratch and that ruins the excitement or anticipation. This is the big reason why Batman movies can always be very entertaining plot wise. The battles are balanced.
Second, even with 3D glasses, some parts of this movie looked very strange to awful. And, the background issues with Amber Heard has her character coming out of nowhere because it the movie was re-shot who knows how many times.
Third, the movie was entertaining. However, unless I'm forced to, I have no plans to see either the original or this sequel a second time. It's very forgettable and lots of scenes reminded me of other movies. They even have one scene that looked very similar to a famous Star Wars scene.
Overall, entertaining, but could have been written way better. Also, I think after the 10th time, the audience gets the idea about global warming.
Wonka (2023)
Good, But Could Have Been More
It's still official. The original Willy Wonka stands atop the throne of best movie of the franchise - and it isn't even close. You Tim Burton's version where Depp played a version so out there and so beyond whatever Gene's character was intended to be. Now you have a prequel where you learn how it all began - or at least how some of it began.
Without going into this take too much, first, the acting is great. The songs are catchy as expected and the scenes are well thought out. However, this is yet another prequel or origin story this year for a franchise that seems to not want to really get into how it started for whatever reason. Similar to Napolean, you are left without a lot of explanation and just dive right into the story of Wonka. Yes there are a few flashbacks to his childhood, but there could have been a lot more.
The side stories are well-done but I can see how they can offend some movie goers because of casting choices. Nevertheless, the movie is a much better take than Depp's version, but nothing near to Gene's. It may just be the point where Gene set the bar so high and the original movie was too perfect to have any sequel or prequel come close or worthy to be in the same class.
Worth seeing in theaters if you are a fan.
Gojira -1.0 (2023)
Excellent Cinematography, Storytelling, and Film
According to most sources, this is the 40th movie to feature the famous Godzilla. I have seen a few, but never was a big fan because it gets tiring trying to ignore all the plot holes in many of these movies. However, this might be the best Godzilla yet, and it really isn't even close.
The hype is real. I went to see this and had seen maybe one trailer about it weeks ago, and had overall low expectations.
First, the movie's cinematography is nearly perfect. The movie is shot in colors and in a way that makes it feel historic and based on facts aka a documentary. While you say this is ridiculous, you really need to see how it is filmed to understand. Second, the storytelling leaves you wanting more and anticipating every next scene. It's really done well and the subtitles don't leave you missing the action. Third, this is a really perfect way to go about the background of Godzilla without going overboard. The movie is linked to WWII and the acting, side stories, and action really make it a complete and nearly perfect film.
IMO, one of the best movies of 2023 and I've seen many. And, this is coming from a non-Godzilla fan.
Napoleon (2023)
Good, but Could Have Been Great or Even Epic
Finally got the see if the hype was real with Phoenix and Napolean. First, the movie's pace is good. Despite being another longer than average movie, it didn't feel slow like "... Flower Moon". While the battles are great, the acting is awesome as expected, the beginning and ending could have been improved big time. From reading other reviews on IMDB, there appears to be a 4 hour director's cut coming out probably on DVD. My issues are all over the place. First, there is no introduction or background or even a text screen describing the very first scene. You have something big happening, and then it occurs, and cuts to Napolean staring out in space. Second, the character of Napolean needed at least 5 minutes of explanation - even if made up - of his ambition to power. I would even accept him getting picked on during recess - even if all fiction. Seems like Ridley Scott, known for epic movies like American Gangster, Black Hawk Down, Gladiator, and Alien, assumed the audience knew everything about Napoleon and all supporting characters at that time. No! Not me. Lastly, there needed to be some better explanation of the ending. Napoleon does all this stuff and then what? What was the point? One of the few movies where longer may have been better - or a lot better. Still recommend to see it for the battle scenes alone.
Thanksgiving (2023)
Surprisingly and I mean Suprisingly Good!
I had no intention of ever watching this movie. I was supposed to see Napolean, but due to issues with the area I was going to with traffic and excess police on a Black Friday, I missed Napolean and was allowed to see Thanksgiving instead as a compromise.
I had only see the trailers a few times, but had low expectations. Did we really need another horror movie this year? The answer is Yes.
The best way to describe this movie is how to take what the Scream franchise did and modernize it without blatantly copying the entire script. The opening segment of this movie is so insane and entertaining, I am not sure why more movies don't set up their stories like this.
The characters are very believable and the cast is picked correctly. While the plot might be extreme, there are enough pieces taken from modern society to make it feel real. The jump scares are there and you are left trying to find out who the killer is. The ending is satisfying.
Overall, a really well-done horror movie that actually has a believable and reasonable script that doesn't rely on super natural entities or unexplained background story lines. Well done!
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (2023)
Ending Could Have Been Way Better Linked
The movie was pretty good overall - and much better than any expectations for a prequel given the recent history of movie franchises trying to milk more money out of a successful trilogy. The cast is well-done and the story overall isn't like Hunger Games 2 where it was just more or less a replay of Hunger Games 1. I like how the background is constructed in a way that gives information without going through endless boring plots and side plots of characters that aren't memorable.
I would have given it a 9/10 (tying my rating for the original) if the ending was better linked to the first Hunger Games. While, a lot is implied by how the movie ends. I would have liked more linkage on Snow's health issues in the Mockingjay movies where he had poisoned himself in order to poison and kill all his enemies. Whether it be by the way he did in this movie or some other method, there should have been more hints that he was willing to hurt himself to wipe out all his enemies. Unless they are planning to make a sequel to the prequel, I think they could have added about 5 minutes of screen time to explain how exactly he became President Snow.
Arrival (2016)
Astronomical! Supernatural! One of the Greatest Sci-Fi Movies Ever!
I'm at home just minutes after watching the premiere at a sold out theater and there is just one word to describe the movie for me and the audience that stayed in their seats as the credits rolled - stunned. Without revealing spoilers, let's just say this isn't your cookie cutter Marvel Cinematic Universe film, and while it appears to be another "alien invasion" movie, there really is no movie like this one ever.
This movie knocks it out of the park as far as storytelling, soundtrack, acting, special effects, and an ending twist that just leaves you shocked, confused, amazed, stunned, or all of the above.
Amy Adams should get nominated for something and the movie script needs to be winning several awards this year.
I will say that you need to pay attention during the entire movie and have an open mind in trying to understand what is taking place. This isn't Independence Day where you can go use the restroom and come back and still see Will Smith kicking butt.
The only reason I didn't give it a 10/10 is because it doesn't quite have the replay value of other movies in this sci-fi/alien invasion category. However, it is still one of the greatest sci-fi movies of all time - and I've seen a ton!
Suicide Squad (2016)
Poorly Edited, Weak Script, Terrible Character Development.
I had high expectations and had August 4th marked on my calendar for months. Also, I'm a big DC fan but also like Marvel too (especially X-Men). I like Margot Robbie and of course Will Smith. I went into a sold out auditorium of 150+ fans. I just ate Chipotle. I was excited. Despite RT reviews and word of mouth disappointment, I was READY! Zzz...Zzz...Zzz...
What happened? The movie started off OK, but the plot is absolutely terrible. Who approved of this script? It appears they spent more time and money on the trailers and the text color effects than actually developing a script that fans and casual fans would want to sit 2 hours through.
This movie is a complete mess. While the cast is decent, the character development isn't. While the soundtrack is decent, the dialogue wasn't. And what is up with the villain? Overall, this movie has too many unfamiliar characters within a far too short movie length, a confusing villain most DC fans don't even know much about, and stars that almost seem miscast. As a DC fan, I can only dream of what it could have been.
X-Men: Apocalypse (2016)
Not As Good As Days of Future Past, But Still Very Good and Entertaining
Before I begin, let's just say that if you aren't very familiar with X-Men or at least the 1990s cartoon series, you will not understand much of this movie. To you it will seem like a bunch of CGI, explosions, and random dialogue.
However, to the medium to hardcore X-Men fan (not just Marvel fan, but X-Men fan), this movie is the one you've been waiting for. The movie tells the story nicely, but slightly different from the animated series. If you want a background, I suggest you check out the Apocalypse mini-series where Wolverine and Rogue played a much bigger part in fighting Apocalypse.
Of the 3 recent X-Men movies, I would say this is tied for the first. DOFP is in a league of its own IMO.
My only complaint is that they could have made Apocalypse use more of his powers. But, I do like how they gave his origin in this movie.
Overall, the movie is extremely entertaining. I prefer this movie over Avengers 1, 2, and Civil War, but it really depends on whether you can handle violence - which this movie has a lot more of.
8/10.
Captain America: Civil War (2016)
Where is the Plot?
The new Marvel movies seem to follow a formula these days. It's obvious executives have a chart of what sells and what doesn't. Riskier Marvel movies have not sold as well and the more serious they are it seems the less revenue they generate. So executives basically have forced the studio to use a plot that revolves around elaborate CGI action sequences mixed in with a little dialogue to keep the movie going along.
Except... this movie doesn't really have any plot at all. It doesn't really have a conclusion.
The movie seems like Avengers on steroids but without the climax. A Civil War with more characters than most fans can even point out at this point. They introduce Black Panther and even bring yet a newer version of Queens, NY's finest. How many renditions will they do on the web crawler? Ironman, Captain America, Black Widow all appear the same and their newness has faded movies ago. Their sidekicks have returned to but are even more forgettable.
The villain in this movie is just bad. I don't mean a bad man, I mean just a terrible villain for a movie of this magnitude. Captain America Civil War? Where was the war? Seemed more like an argument and a 10-15 minute battle with a few punches.
In my sold out premiere, many people walked out before the after credits scene. I probably should have too. 6/10.
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)
A Fresh Batman, A Fresh Story, Underrated, Misunderstood by Critics
SPOILERS BELOW - WARNING.
I just got out of the theater. It was sold out. People had to sit all the way in the first row in the corner just to get a glimpse of the much-anticipated movie of early Spring 2016. I got my tickets ahead of time, front and center, and was it worth the wait? Yes.
As you can see I'm giving this movie a 7 out of 10. That doesn't mean it sucks. That doesn't mean it's the best Superman movie ever. It just means it's solid despite critics saying it's the worst Superman movie of all time. I'm going to break down some themes I've heard regarding complaints from this movie and end with quick conclusion and my opinion.
1. First, this isn't your Christopher Reeves Superman. If you are still living in the 1970s/1980s, don't bother watching. Comic books movies and specifically Superman and Batman have gone darker and taken on much more mature themes. This movie, IMO, connected great with Man of Steel. It was almost as if this movie was planned all along and links up perfectly with how Man of Steel ended. It gives Batman a purpose and a connection in this Superman/Batman universe.
2. Batman. This isn't TDK so don't compare. It's like comparing Curry to Jordan. It's a great version, it just isn't Christopher Nolan/Christian Bale good. Ben Affleck got bulked up for the role so this is by far the biggest Batman ever depicted. It didn't have the wow factor and didn't really show the brains behind Batman like TDK trilogy did, but this movie was already 150 minutes long as it is.
3. Wonder Woman. Not talked about much and when her character was fully introduced, it was starting to seem like Spiderman 3 - too many characters, too little time, not enough depth. That is what may be an issue with this movie. Imagine if Batman Begins and The Dark Knight were 1 movie. That would just be torture and make for 1 lousy movie instead of 2 epic movies.
4. Lex Luthor. People complaining need to get a grip. It was a fresh version. Not your TV version with the Adventures of Superman and not your Kevin Spacey version of Man of Steel. Something just didn't seem right here and not enough background was done. Was this version super rich? Or super crazy? Or something else? 5. Lois Lane. It's Amy Adams. You either like her or you don't.
6. Storyline. If you aren't familiar with the epic 1993 Death of Superman comic book, then don't bother with this movie. You will leave mad and whiny.
7. Doomsday. Decent, but again too many characters at this point.
Conclusion: 7/10. This movie comes up short to Man of Steel IMO. But it did have it's positives. I have a key issue with how they did Batman during the fight scenes. It was starting to seem too Ironman 2+ like if you know what I mean. Whereas Ironman 1 made the story and the hero much more realistic and TDK trilogy portrayed Batman as someone very vulnerable, they got Batman here doing something else entirely. I really liked Superman. I liked the ending. The pace at times seemed strange and the editing seemed like they had to cut a lot of the movie out during final takes. Definitely see in theaters.
Terminator Genisys (2015)
Better Than Salvation, About the Same As T3, Far Worse Than T1/T2
OK guys. Let's get one big thing out of the way! Arnold is old. Much older in fact than where this series all started. However, if you understand the character he plays, it actually makes sense given what he is and how the entire franchise has never went against this simple fact (true fans know what I'm talking about).
However, his age does make it somewhat more difficult during fight sequences, etc., but the Terminator never ran - at least the T-800 never did.
I guess the biggest problem fans have is that T1 and T2 were in a class by themselves. T2 is probably one of the top movies of all time - forget about limiting it to the sci-fi genre. The plots were complex and they had meaning. However, with the movies since T2, the time-line has gotten so warped, that it requires a lot of explaining and a lot of loopholes to ignore.
Genisys was far better than I expected given the poor ratings. Keep in mind guys that sci-fi movies generally don't get rated highly for numerous reasons. The movie made good use of addressing everything from Arnold's age to the whole time-line paradox. The action is awesome, Arnold is charismatic as ever, and the supporting cast do what they can to make the movie work.
Bottom line: it's no T2, but let's get serious. Is a T2 match even possible without James Cameron? See this movie if you are a big fan of the franchise and T3 wasn't as bad as everyone else said it was to you.
Jurassic World (2015)
Better than 2 and 3, But No Where Near The One That Started It All
While the average movie goer groups Jurassic Park 1-4 all as dinosaur movies with lots of CGI and elaborate action scenes, I say no.
Jurassic Park 1, the legend behind the legend, was a masterpiece. What made it a masterpiece? It wasn't the dinosaurs boys and girls! It was the science. At the time I thought I was watching a documentary. The science made sense. It was explained in great detail. The idea behind the park made sense. Everything went together. The scenes were thought out. The soundtrack was epic.
Jurassic Park 2, more of the same that tried to just make money. The beginning of the end of this great franchise.
Jurassic Park 3, the worst movie of the 4 by far. The acting was cheesy. The wife of William H Macy's character was the dumbest person in the history of the movies. Just stupid! The movie was stupid. Everything was stupid.
This movie. It was better than 2 and 3 but no where near the excitement and awe of the first. That is what you get guys. Chris Pratt did what he could and the other characters played their parts. But the script just wasn't good. It wasn't deep and it wasn't original. It was victims doing stupid things and getting eaten. I mean CGI this CGI that. Can I really be that impressed? 7/10 Good job, good effort, but let this be the last!
Entourage (2015)
The Long-Anticipated Movie For the Fans Lives Up To Expectations!
Entourage is a you either love it or hate it type of show. The show caters to younger guys mostly because it depicts the dream of money, girls, alcohol, and partying. It is about friendship and bringing your closest friends for the wild ride. This is what negative critics don't get about the show or this movie. What they find as despicable is what fans find fascinating.
This movie lives up to the hype with a plot that matches the tone of the hit show. All the characters are back with tons of random cameo appearances. The plot itself isn't groundbreaking deep, but it is fresh given how many seasons the show Entourage was on HBO.
I will say that this is a movie that you really need to see the show to fully appreciate. There are many inside jokes that only true fans would understand like Drama's screening tryout to the small inside jokes the friends say to each other. This is what makes the movie for the fans and this is why it works.
Bottom line: Entourage the Movie doesn't take itself too seriously and doesn't try to jump to another level of storytelling. It is what it is and if you like the show, you will love the movie. Like others have said, at my 9pm opening night showing, the place was packed and there was an applause at the end.
Take that for what it is worth!
Utopia (2014)
If Cosmos Is One Of the Best Shows In Fox's History, Utopia Is One Of the Worse!
I tuned into this show by accident due to there nothing being on worthwhile on the 150+ other channels I unfortunately get and pay for. I wasn't planning on watching anything for long because I was about to go out to the gym.
Anyways, I was like "let's see what this show is about". Well I figured that out within 5 minutes. This might be the worst show on TV today and one of the worst shows ever created in the modern area of TV.
Reason 1: If you notice, you will see a pattern in this cast members in charge of creating this Utopian society. Half of them apparently didn't work before the show and the other half were employed in jobs that are not very well paid or regarded when compared to other jobs that require college education and above. Not hating. But having a marketing assistant, preacher, and yoga instructor in charge of the food supply isn't really making sense to me.
Reason 2: What is the point of this show? Like really. Watch it for 10 minutes and try to figure out what is the point to any of it. It is like a reality show with no true purpose. Yeah, they are supposed to make a "Utopian" society. But for what?
Reason 3: This show is utterly boring. There is nothing here you haven't seen on hundreds of other reality shows. You got promiscuous people, you got weirdos, you got honest people that get walked on, you got your typical disrespectful people, etc.
If I could, I'd give this a 0/10 and feel I was still being nice.
Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey (2014)
Possibly the Greatest Non-Fiction Show of the Past Decade!
This show is astronomically good! Haha! But seriously, I didn't know about this show until just a few weeks ago. Now every night before I go to sleep, I got to watch a few minutes of Cosmos.
Why just a few minutes? Every show is packed with information! Those wanting your everyday low-level nonsense should look elsewhere. Anyone can recite high level theories and ideas. It takes a true genius like Neil Tyson to break down these high level ideas into simple terms that anyone can follow and understand.
I used to watch him when he was on PBS and he is better than ever here. The show is slightly different from Morgan Freeman's Through the Wormhole series. This show is more of a prequel of knowledge you should know in order to watch Through the Wormhole or other scientific shows.
What I really like about this show is that after an episode I can remember most of the ideas. During many shows, I have found myself pausing and looking on the internet to research more about topics.
From learning how dogs evolved from wolves, to how the light you see in the sky is really looking back in time, to how the visible light spectrum is a gift that only humans can see completely, to how things so tiny to the human eye are really the superheroes of the universe. It is all here and more.
I just hope it can continue for several more years and it doesn't get cancelled for "religious" reasons.
Before I was 50/50 on evolution theories. Now after watching over half of season 1, I am over 90% on evolution.
This show is awesome and is a must see whether you are in the religious camp, evolution camp, or a little of both. It doesn't shut down religion, it just opens doors to believe in both because science still can't go back before the "big bang".
CHEERS!
The Sorrentinos (2014)
If You Are Expecting Jersey Shore v2.0, Look Elsewhere, But...
The show is good for what it is. One of the positives is that it is only around 25 minutes long without commercials. The other positive is that each episode has a different plot.
The Situation is back and trying to remake himself and his career after blowing up on the Jersey Shore before being one of the reasons why the show ended due to his drug/alcohol use.
This show has him with his close family and you see just how crazy everyone is in the family with the exception of his sister who supposedly runs the family "empire".
One of the highlights of the show is his brother Frank. It is hard to tell if the director has picked him to purposely act stupid in each show but he is the one that provides the comedy within the family.
Overall, the show is a solid 5 out of 10. This isn't as "revolutionary" as Jersey Shore and it seems to be stuck on a network (TVGN) that doesn't get many viewers to begin with. I actually didn't know the Situation was back on TV until browsing through channels one day. The show would have better success back on MTV or VH1. However, it is a start to the return of the Situation.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014)
Full Review of TMNT 2014 From IMDb's Biggest TMNT Fan
By now you've seen many critics and the press rate this movie down big time. Whether it is because they can't stand Michael Bay or think that Megan Fox can't act or because they don't "get" TMNT, they all have their reasons.
I was a huge TMNT growing up. I literally could cover myself from head-to-toe with TMNT merchandise: socks, shoes, sweatpants, belt buckle, underwear, tees, sweaters, wallet, bandanna, pajamas, watch, cassette, action figures, video games, hell I even went to their concert tour (yeah they had one and it was sold out BTW too).
Entering Theater
I debated all week whether or not to go see this movie. I lowered my expectations a couple of weeks ago and just wanted it to be "ok" in critic's eyes. This week, each review got worse and worse. Tonight I even had a plan B to see Boyhood instead.
However, in line I saw that I wasn't alone. TMNT fans surrounded me. They were the 25-35 age variety, guys and girls, and they all were willing to be loyal to the brand they grew up with. Even the guy in front of me said "Ninja Turtles for 10:15". I said the same.
The theater I went in was actually twice as packed as last week when I saw Guardians of the Galaxy at the same time. Now let's not get things confused. GOTG is 100x better than this movie. But that's not the point. TMNT fans never left. That is the point.
What Works in the Movie?
While everyone has complained for months about how bad the turtles look themselves, that isn't even a problem in the movie for me. It actually works. Every turtle has their personality and quirk. As expected, Michelangelo is the star.
Also, the fight scenes were actually good too. You could feel the hits and kicks and the martial arts and weapons were all there in TMNT style.
What Doesn't Work in the Movie?
Where do I begin? Well I will start at the beginning.
The first 15-20 minutes were actually solid. It was dark like the 1990 movie with rain and you only got glimpses of the turtles. At the 20 minute mark actually, this movie is a solid B.
However, things get bad real quick. The storyline goes off track and starts making a lot less sense. I will focus on a few BIG issues with the movie.
Shredder?
We are introduced to Shredder early on in the movie (without mask). However, despite showing scars on his face, the movie never explains why. In fact, forget what you might have thought from the TMNT franchise. Splinter and Shredder have zero connection. Did Shredder then get those scars from shaving? I mean come on! See the 1990 movie if you don't see the problem.
On top of that, Shredder has been transformed into a semi-Transformer being when he is in his "suit". The ties to the Transformers franchise are clearly there from the sound effects used during his fight scenes to all the aerial weapons he has suddenly got out of nowhere.
Overall, his story, design, and costume make zero sense. Oh and did I mention his scars yet?
Splinter?
Ugly, ugly, ugly. On top of that his connection to the turtles is even more weird. Even worse, because Shredder has no connection with Splinter, you can only guess how Splinter ever learned how to do karate or how he even taught the TMNT karate.
April?
Forget Megan Fox. The bigger problem is April's story to everything. Without saying too much, let's just say that April's connection makes up for the lack of connection between Shredder, Splinter, and the TMNT.
On top of that, whoever directed the movie decided that the TMNT were attracted to April. Who knows why.
The Foot?
Maybe the worse part of this movie? Motive is never there. How one becomes a member is never explained. Forget about the 1990 movie showing that it was troubled youth getting recruited by Shredder to take over New York. From what I gathered in this movie, Shredder had no part in recruiting any of these guys.
-Overall-
I'm giving this a 5/10. I found myself daydreaming about 1 hr into the movie thinking on why the direction went the way it did. I tried to reason with what purpose the creative team had to completely change the story yet again. I tried to ignore the sound effects that repeatedly sounded like Transformers transforming. I tried to ignore Shredder's ridiculous suit. I just couldn't.
Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
One of the Top 3 Marvel Films to Date - One of 2014's Best Movies By Far
OK, just got back from opening night. Let me first say that I was hugely disappointed at the audience turnout. I wasn't sure if I was even in the right theater. I did have to wait in a line outside the door before the movie doors opened, but let's talk about this line: 10-15 people. NO! That is no typo. And this wasn't 1 hr+ before the movie started. It was like 15 minutes before. It was mostly nerds and dorks but still, what's the deal?
Anyways, let's forget about those that decided to stay at home and miss out on this blockbuster! I will first say that I am a HUGE Zoe Saldana fan. In fact, I would marry her even if she punched me in the face. I can't really tell if I like her as Gamora or Neytiri. Hard to pick! Anyways, this movie will satisfy any Marvel or Sci-Fi fan.
The action is definitely there. The visuals are second-to-none (which is saying something given it is 2014 and many movies these days are just CGI by default.
The story is simple but it keeps you interested from beginning to end. The casting was excellent. In fact, Batista may have broken the curse of WWE stars being busts in the movie business (cough Cena cough Rock...) There is an after-credit scene but it is nowhere near as epic as X-Men Days of Future Past.
Overall, this is definitely the movie to go see this summer if you were going to pick just 1.
While I gave X-Men Days of Future Past a 10/10, I'm giving this a 9/10.
Solid overall and I predict it will make plenty of money to warrant a solid sequel.
X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014)
Best X-Men Movie Ever By Far. Best Marvel Movie Ever Too!
Not going to give spoilers, but let's just say this: I haven't watched a movie in theaters like this since TDK trilogy where you were actually hoping the movie wouldn't end and that the story would continue.
This movie from beginning to end is top notch in story telling, action, and in keeping to the source material. As a huge fan of the time travel saga from the X-Men cartoons, this movie was just amazing. You get all the characters of that time which include Bishop and his friends.
On the other side, you get the past and present characters of the X-Men. You get cameos here and there. Mystique and Wolverine were awesome.
For those that want jokes, this movie has them. However, this movie is a lot darker than the Avengers, Captain America, and Thor movies. I would put the "dark" level in between TDK and Ironman 1.
Overall, see this MOVIE NOW! Also stay for the ending. You haven't got goosebumps yet until you see what I saw!!! 10 out of 10! A rare perfect movie. Blows away the other X-Men movies and is the best Marvel movie made yet!
Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
A Little Better Than the First But Still Not Buying Into Captain America
I gave this movie a 7 out of 10. Hopefully that prevents my review from suffering many unhelpful votes from Marvel fans just because I think Man of Steel and TDK trilogy are more watchable, more interesting, and I felt more involved in those movies.
This movie had its moments and to be honest, nothing is really wrong with the movie. It does what Captain America is about. Maybe that is the problem. I agree that this movie is fun, but I don't think it is great. It did seem somewhat predictable and maybe that is why I don't feel this movie is a 9 or 10 like many others.
I think Marvel is smart in cashing in on the 'to be continued' type of endings for all the Marvel movies. Like others of the Marvel Universe phases, this had some type of ending after the credits. But to be honest, I had no idea what it was even talking about. Similar to Winter Soldier. If you aren't a die-hard Captain America fan, you just won't feel satisfied as you would with Batman or Superman.
In short, the movie is good, not great.