Star Wars: The Force Awakens (SPOILERS REVIEW)

****PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FAST IF YOU ARE TRYING TO GET TO NON-SPOILER REVIEW. UNFORTUNATELY THE BLOG POST IN ORDER OF DATE POSTED SO I CANNOT MOVE THE NON-SPOILER TO THE TOP. ****

      It is finally upon us, The Force Awakens!!! I have had the opportunity to see this movie three times thus far and still notice new aspects of the film upon each viewing. So I will express my thoughts.
     THIS IS A SPOILERS REVIEW SO I WILL BE DISCUSSING IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF THE PLOT. IF YOU HAVE NOT SEEN THE FILM THEN I HIGHLY ADVISE YOU TO NOT READ ON. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!!!

Initial Reaction
Star Wars is back and damn does it feel good! While this is not the most perfect film, it returns us to the beloved franchise for the first time since 1983 (sorry prequels). Hardcore and casual fans will have a lot of fun seeing this film and get that sense of nostalgia that we had with the original trilogy.

Dislikes
Under Utilization of a Character: I discussed how there was an under use of a certain character in my non-spoiler review. That character was Captain Phasma (Gwendoline Christie). The character was supposed to be Boba Fett 2.0 and hardly appeared on-screen. I would have liked to see more of this character instead of just a silly plot mechanism to deactivate the shields of Starkiller.

Smothering of Characters: At the beginning when Rey (Daisy Ridley) and Finn (John Boyega) first interact the chemistry is great and is pretty solid throughout the whole film. However I did feel as though when they were aboard the Millennium Falcon that the film was trying too hard to establish their relationship especially after their little celebration with each other when escaping from enemy TIE Fighters. It just felt like a little too much smothering. Although that was the only case where it was evident.

Han's Death: The idea of the death itself is not what bothered me. It was how it was executed. They could of gave us a more in depth relationship with Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and his son Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) or Ben Solo. It was fairly obvious Han was going to meet his doom when he said his final goodbye to Leia. They could have set it up a tad bit better.

Another Spherical Space Station: I understand JJ's logic trying to take the safe route but when will the Empire learn to stop building spherical space stations that can blow up so easily? However history does have a pattern to repeat itself sometimes.

Likes
The New Cast: This new cast and characters is great. The first new character we are introduced to is Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) and the man just oozes confidence. He brings a comedic and swagger about to this character, alongside his companion BB-8. JJ Abrams did a fantastic job when it comes to bringing an emotional appeal to this droid. The little guy is a hoot. Then we are given Kylo Ren. One of the more complex villains of Star Wars that we've had. He's obviously a fanboy of Darth Vader yet he acts very differently then Vader due to internal conflict within him when it comes to the lightside vs the darkside. Finn is quite the active character and John Boyega does really well this character. He's very funny when on-screen but also a very brave and kind soul when it comes to his friends. The new cast member that stole the show for me was Daisy Ridley. Rey is a very complex character with a shady past (which we will discuss speculation later on). This was Ridley's first full length feature film and she knocks it out of the park. It's so refreshing to see a strong female lead that is charming, vulnerable, kickass, and smart. She navigates her way around the Force and it adds to future excitement for these films.

The Cinematography: JJ Abrams and the camera crew do a great job with the cinematography. We get beautifully done rack focuses and continuous shots where you'd often think a cut would go. Practically any scenes involving X-Wings and TIE Fighters are a joy to watch because of this mix of nostalgia and fresh approach that is brought to the table within the cinematography.

The Old Cast: Harrison Ford goes out with a bang. The second him and Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew) appear, you get immediate excitement seeing the dynamic duo back on-screen. Harrison Ford gives his all in this final suit up of this iconic role. The humor is still there and he's still the smuggler that fans fell in love with so many years ago. Plus, Chewy really helps carry the team especially after a rampage upon seeing Han's death. Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher)  is now a general and while Fisher has been out of acting for a bit, she still does enough to get the job done. When it comes to Luke (Mark Hamill), while he does not speak a single line of the dialogue, the overall look is great and the man can really sport a nice beard.

The Setup For Future Films: This film has a lot of unanswered questions but it does a great job setting up for Episode VIII especially with the cliffhanger ending of Rey finding Luke. We have to wait till May 2017 and that will be quite painful with all the uncertainty with these characters and their story.

Future Questions and Speculation:
Where Does Rey Come From?: The theory I have taken a liking is that Rey is in fact the daughter of Luke. It seemed that was what they were setting up for throughout the film. Rey could have possibly been trained as a Jedi before Kylo and the Knights of Ren overthrew Luke. So out of fear, Luke dropped off Rey on Jakku but not before wiping her memory. This would make sense with her ability to use a lightsaber and use Jedi mind tricks on a stormtrooper. However they could be throwing us a curveball and Rey's parents could be an unknown couple of characters.

Captain Phasma's Fate? We are told she was thrown into a trash compactor but we never actually see this happen and with how much they under used her in this film, it would not surprise me if they brought her back in Episode VIII.

Who is Supreme Leader Snoke? I am hoping this is in fact Darth Plagueis and Rey's staff is secretly his lightsaber. Darth Plagueis was the master of Darth Sidious and while we were told he was killed by Sidious in his sleep, he was able to save loved ones from death in his lifetime. Was he able to save himself though? This would give a very powerful and badass villain to this trilogy if it is in fact Plageuis.

There are many unanswered questions that I am sure will be addressed in the next two films. Overall this is a great starter for the new trilogy and JJ Abrams really did well to resurrect this colossal film trilogy. This wasn't my favorite film of the year but by far my favorite movie going experience of the year.

Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Star Wars: The Force Awakens (Non-Spoilers Review)

     ***This is a non-spoiler review!!! Which means there will be no discussion of the plotline, take that as you will but don't blame me if there's something that angers you. You chose to read this****

   

      It's finally here! Hardcore nerds such as myself have waited so long to see Star Wars hit the big screen once again. While the prequels are part of the Star Wars franchise, they do not capture the true essence of what Star Wars actually in. So let's dive into a review!!!

Complaints: 
Only a few minor complaints but still some nonetheless.
- Misuse of a character: I can't go too much into detail here but I felt as though the development of a certain character was not well done. It could have been utilized in a much better way (will go into more detail in a spoiler review).
- Character interactions: There was a particular scene in particular where the characters' interaction bothered me. I felt they threw too much too soon and should have paced it out a little more.

There will be more in-depth complaints in the spoiler review so keep you're eye out for it after you've seen the film

Approvals:
Lots of approvals on this one
- Stands alone as a film: JJ Abrams perfectly combines that nostalgia from the original and puts his own mark on this film. Really well done.
- Cinematography: Really well done continues shots and rack focuses. Often times you'll find places where a cut would have been appropriate but he continues the shot that'll mesmerize the audience.
- Good introduction to the new characters: They introduced and got us engaged very well with these new characters. I particularly loved Rey, Poe, and BB-8. I really excited to see the direction they take with these characters in future films.
- Those old characters still kickass: Han Solo and Chewbacca are the best dynamic duo in the business. Nuff said.

It's hard for me to get into the nitty/gritty details without revealing spoilers so I hope this at least did the job to spark your interest. Overall this is very fun film that introduces us to the future of Star Wars and sets up perfectly for future films.

8.5 out of 10

Spy Review

   

     The summer comedies officially kicked off with Paul Feig's "Spy". Although this film isn't a laugh your ass off every second kind of movie, there are a few scenes that will crack you up. There are other aspects of this film that stick out though.
      The action scenes are very well choreographed. Paul Feig showed off his to ability to not only make a compelling comedy, but also presents the audience with very high paced grueling fight scenes.
      The main character, Susan Cooper, is played by the clumsy and hysterical Melissa McCarthy. Although, some of McCarthy's previous films show her dim wits and clownish personality can get a tad bit old at times, she has a bit of a fresh character in "Spy". We see how she develops from a CIA desk guide into a spy that actually goes out into the field and tackles new missions. Feig did a wonderful job of giving us a believable character to get behind.
      The highlight of this movie, surprisingly, was Jason Statham. Jason Statham plays the loose cannon spy known as Rick Ford and he practically steals every scene he is in. Statham showed off his comedic chops in this movie with the overbearing, egotistical personality that comes with the character. Truly a delightful surprise for this film.
      Although there are many other perks to this film, there are some flaws as well. When I go to see what was supposed to a comedy, I expect to laugh a whole lot (if it's good, that is). Unfortunately, spy didn't have me laughing too much. There were a few one liners that cracked me up but nothing memorable. Statham is what makes the comedy fun but even he doesn't get a whole lot of screentime I think Feig focused too much on the action and didn't give those hilarious moments the audience got with his previous films such as "Bridesmaid's" or "The Heat".
      All in all, this is a solid and fun film. I wish there was more laugh out moments but still a delightful movie. Definitely, worth the see in theaters.

Rating: 7.0 out of 10

Mad Max: Fury Road

   

     Beautiful...sheer, beautiful chaos. There's really no other way to describe Mad Max: Fury Road. George Miller absolutely hit a home run with this film. From start to finish, this film is visually breathtaking and an emotional roller coaster. Unfortunately, I have not gotten around to seeing the original three films so I won't be able to give you a comparison but I kind of think this film stands on its own.
    While this film lacks in narrative and isn't necessarily a movie full of rich dialogue, we the viewers are presented with a visual spectacle. Miller's post apocalyptic world is full of despair and anguish but the audience can see the beautiful technicality and work that is presented to us with this film. Although most of the film is shot in the desert, Miller does a fantastic job of giving us well angled and gorgeous scenery. The cinematography is quite breathtaking at moments and presents the audience with a grand spectacle. Other interesting aspects are the physical items. The cars themselves are pretty much weapon heavy, dirty, four wheeled monsters but they are so well crafted that it almost makes you feel overwhelmed. The costumes do an outstanding job to display the roughness and pain that these people are going through.
     Often times action films have an act to be your stereotypical plot line with cheesy dialogue. We get fairly decent dialogue and an intriguing storyline. Although there isn't a whole lot of dialogue and story depth due to immense action that surrounds most of the scenes.
     The character chemistry between Mad Max (Tom Hardy) and Imperator Furiosa (Charlize Theron) is intriguing and pretty well developed. You see the characters start to evolve and warm up for each other as the film progresses. However, they aren't the only characters that made their mark. The slave women play great supporting characters, along with Furiosa, show that women can play more than just "damsel in distress" stereotype. Very well done and freshly done by Miller.
     Still the best part of the film are the action sequences (no question about it). Miller gives us a fast paced, over the top action that fits perfectly from beginning to end. The quick camera changes are beautifully edited and chaotic. Miller does this thing with quick camera changes but it seems as though the action is a tad bit sped up. It's sounds a little silly but it works fantastically.
     My only complaint with this film was the lack of Tom Hardy we got. Although he got a lot of screen time, I would have liked to see a little more dialogue and focus on this character. However, that hardly takes away from this visual masterpiece.

Rating: 9.8 out of 10

Avengers Age of Ultron ***Spoilers Review***

IF YOU HAVE NOT SEEN AVENGERS AGE OF ULTRON AND DO NOT WISH TO SEE SPOILERS THEN I HIGHLY SUGGEST YOU DO NOT READ THIS BLOG POST. IF YOU STILL HAVE NOT SEEN IT BUT WOULD LIKE TO READ THIS POST ANYWAYS, BE MY GUEST. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!

     The 2015 summer blockbuster season kicked off with the long awaited superhero extravaganza Avengers: Age of Ultron. Although it fell short of its predecessor, the highly anticipated sequel reeled in $187.6 million domestically on it's opening weekend alone. There is so much to go through in this film, so let's start with the positives and negatives.

Negatives

New Character: The speedy character of Pietro Maximoff (Quicksilver) was new to the Avengers films, but he felt a tad bit out of place at times. The writing for him was a bunch of short phrases and we never really got a significant in depth look at him. We knew that his twin sister, Wanda Maximoff (Scarlet Witch), and he had a strong relationship due to their parents dying when they were very young causing them to have a personal vendetta with Tony Stark (Iron Man). Other than that, they didn't dive into this character very well. When he took that ultimate sacrifice for Clint Barton (Hawkeye) at the end, I didn't quite get the emotion I was hoping for because I didn't feel attached to him. I would have liked a little more screen time and development with him. Although I do like that Marvel is now showing that they aren't afraid to kill off their characters.

Needs More Clarification at Times: Another aspect I felt this film was lacking in was clarification in some scenes. An example of this was the scene where Thor goes on his journey to find answers from his vision. The audience just kind of got thrown with him into this magical hot springs where he saw the Infinity Gauntlet. Although this scene is VERY NECESSARY for future setup, I was not really quite sure how Thor figured all of this out so soon. Another scene where I was a bit confused was how Nick Fury managed to get the Helicarrier out from the bottom of the ocean where it sank in Captain America: Winter Solider. In the film he said he had a few friends help him along the way but that seems like a rather big task.

Character Development: This kind of falls with the whole Quicksilver aspect of the film but I felt there was a lack of character development with another character as well. This character was Ultron. We didn't really get much of an in depth look at Ultron. He emerged from Stark's lab and was just immediately evil. We didn't  get an explanation of what causes this hatred and why Baron Von Strucker had a bunch of robots lying around the Hydra base. I would have enjoyed a little more time to development Ultron and the reasons for his intention besides thinking the human race needs to be destroyed to be reborn (which we have seen in multiple superhero films).

Positives:

Writing: Joss Whedon did a fantastic job with this script. The tone was very well set. There are many one-liners throughout this film that give the audience a comic book like tone. We get that classic Tony Stark smart remarks from the beginning of the film and Whedon continues to amuse the audience till the very end. There were also subtle jokes throughout the film that are quite amusing to the audience. The storyline for this one was more intriguing due to the characters prior stories, especially the characters of Clint Barton (Hawkeye) and Natalia Romanoff's (Black Widow). We got a glimpse of Clint's personal life away from the Avengers while also poking a little fun at his place within the team. We see how he's just trying to provide for his family, even if it takes putting his life on the line. Natalia's troubled past gave us a preview of the darkness and chaos that haunts her.

Action Choreography: Whedon took the action from the first film and amped it up like crazy. The fight scenes were very well shot and full of awesome moments. I loved the hammer and shield teamwork we got with Thor and Captain America, as well as Iron Man, Thor, and the Vision working together to bring down Ultron. Also, who doesn't love watching Iron Man in enhanced armor trying to calm down the Hulk? The emphasis throughout thes film on having to work as team was really pivotal and the action scenes backed it up.

Character Relationships: This was a key factor to look out for in this film. In 2016 we will get Captain America: Civil War and finally see Cap and Iron Man go toe to toe. There was an interesting dynamic in Age of Ultron where the characters would bicker at times yet in the end they seemed to say farewell on good terms. Another character relationships that drew me in were Bruce Banner (the Hulk) and Natalia Romanoff. Although the writing was bad with these two at times (the "I adore you" line before kissing him), I really understood the draw between the two. Natalia said, "There's been a lot of people in my life, all of them fighters. Then there comes this guy, who's not like anyone I've ever met; he doesn't want to be a fighter". This line really captured Banner's mindset towards the Hulk but showed how Natalia understands that he really isn't just a big, green monster.

New Characters: There were two new characters to this film that really caught my attention. The first was Wanda Maximoff. Unlike her twin brother, I felt a sense of emotion and attachment to this character. She showed her weakness and uncertainty towards fighting. I loved the raw emotion that we saw with her when she let out a giant wale after her brother is killed, as well as her ultimately finishing off Ultron. Another newbie that I enjoyed was the Vision. We saw Stark's program Jarvis come to life through artificial intelligence and he did not disappoint. The character served a vital part in not only helping take down Ultron but also in being a key factor for Avengers Infinity War. My only complaint would be we didn't get enough action sequences of him.

Future Setup: This film really did an outstanding job of future setup. Although I would have liked more setup for Civil War, we still saw a bit of tension between Cap and Iron Man. It was cool to see the Phase 3 Avengers team at the end led by Captain America and Black Widow, including War Machine, Vision, Scarlet Witch, and the Falcon. Age of Ultron also did a splendid job of getting us ready for Avengers Infinity War. The mid-credit scene showed us Thanos is ready to go as well.

Memorable Scenes: There were a few scenes that really stood out to me. The beginning scene was a great way to kickoff the film. We immediately see the team all together and running straight into the action. Another notable scene was the party scene where all the Avengers attempt to lift Thor's hammer, Mjolnir. It gives the audience quite a few laughs and shows us how even superheroes can relax and have fun in their free time. My favorite scene though was towards the very end. All the team has assembled in the courtyard and are guarding Ultron's core of destruction. Ultron approaches with his army and next thing you know all hell breaks loose. This scene felt straight out of a comic book. Whedon does a great job giving the audience this beautiful round shot that shows the whole team in action. This one scene gave me goose bumps.

Overall Impression: Overall this was a really solid film. A tad bit better than the first one for me due to its story line and in-depth character life and relationships. Definitely a fun film that Marvel delivered with once again.  

Rating: 8.8 out of 10