The Glass Castle Review

      The Glass Castle is a big screen adaptation of the true story, memoirs of Jeannette Walls and has all the ingredients to be an Oscar contender. Directed by Short Term 12 helmer, Destin Daniel Cretton, the trailers for this movie tug on all the heart strings and had the award season vibe to it. The film stars Academy Award winner Brie Larson and Academy Award Nominee Woody Harrelson. Although the movie has all the ingredients and story elements in place, it ultimately falls flat because of poor execution with character appeal.

     The memoirs of Jeannette Walls (Brie Larson) share the crazy lifestyle that her and her family experienced growing up. Constantly moving around because of her alcoholic father, Rex (Woody Harrelson) and his nonconformist ways, Jeannette will do whatever she can to escape her toxic household.
     I will begin by stating that I have not read the book that this movie is based off so I went in with no expectations except the trailers. The biggest strength of this movie is the cast. Larson and Harrelson especially give a wonderful performance that shows how fantastic of an acting range these two have. If there is anybody from this movie that will receive reward recognition, it'll be Woody Harrelson. The guy can change emotion in the wink of an eye and can do so in such an incredibly powerful manner.
     Although Larson and Harrelson are the most powerful performances, the surrounding characters do a great job as well. Naomie Watts plays Rose Mary, Jennette's mother and has more layers to her then audiences will expect. The movie heavily relies on flashbacks to touch on Jennette's family dynamic and has younger actresses to play the earlier stages of Jennette's life. The younger Jeannettes, played by Ella Anderson and Chandler Head, do a stellar job of bringing Cretton's vision to the big screen. Child actors can be very hit or miss but Cretton does a great job with directing with.
     Where this movie ultimately falls apart is the pacing. The Glass Castle has a runtime of 127 minutes and suffers because of it. They could have trimmed off around 20 minutes of this thing. The pacing also suffers because of the writing. Without getting into spoilers, we are supposed to sympathize for Rex towards the third act of the movie but it'll be difficult for audiences to get on board because of all his prior issues. The direction they went in was totally understandable but unfortunately it was a botched execution.

     I discussed earlier how stellar this cast is however there is one character that'll take people out and that is Jeannette's fiancee, David played by Max Greenfield. Greenfield just feels as though he's playing a character in a different movie. He's the comedic relief of the movie but the timing that his jokes are inserted feel out of place and do not fit the overall tone of the film.
     Although The Glass Castle had the potential to be a great movie it ultimately falls flat because of the pacing and writing. The characters have a rushed development and audiences will have a hard time getting behind them.

Rating: 5.0 out of 10

                                                   

The Dark Tower Review

     "The man in black fled across the desert, and the gunslinger followed" is a something all Stephen King fans know as the opening line of The Dark Tower series. King himself has described the series as his magnum opus and a live adaptation whether that be through the big screen or the silver screen of television has been sought after for years. After a through obstacles, Sony has finally brought the series to the big screen. I myself have never read the series so I went into the film without prior knowledge of the source material. Although the movie had potential to go into a really neat direction, it completely mishandles the stories and gives the audiences very one dimesional characters.

     When Walter O'Dim (Matthew McConaughey), the man in black, is determined to destroy the dark tower that holds the universe together, it's up the last gunslinger Roland (Idris Elba) and mid-world newcomer Jake Chambers (Tom Taylor) to defeat him.
     King was heavily inspired by J.R.R. Tolkien when The Dark Tower series was released and you can tell there elements of that in this movie. Elba and McConaughey both do an adequate job with the script that is giving them and they set up the conflict between the two characters well. Elba also has a good dynamic with Taylor throughout the film.
     There are some really cool gunplay sequences in the movie with Elba. The backstory of the gunslingers had me very intrigued and they could've definitely dove more into it. The script is ultimately where this movie falls apart.

     The script is ultimately where this movie falls apart. This movie is very formulaic but does not set up the mythology of the world at all. It's understandable that this series has a rich mythology but the script does not even crack into it. The plot is incredibly muddled and confusing. There are rumors of a potential TV show going forward with this cast and I am actually all for it because this content would probably play better on a 10 episode arc. This movie attempts to cram a lot within 95 minutes and it will leave audiences questioning a lot of aspects of the film.
     There's really not too much to say about this movie because it's certainly not the worst movie of the summer. The story tends to take a halt in multiple sections which hinders it greatly. This is definitely one you can wait on.

Rating: 4.5 out of 10

Atomic Blonde Review

     Atomic Blonde is the newest film from David Lietch, the co-director of John Wick and soon to be helmer of Deadpool 2. We're still well in the heat of summer blockbuster season and this movie was certainly marketed as a fast paced, action film in which many people commented on it being the female version of John Wick. While this movie has John Wick-esque elements and spectacular work from Charlize Theron, the film ultimately is underwhelming due to a draining story that is quite frankly a mess.

     Lorraine Broughton (Charlize Theron) plays an undercover MI6 agent that is sent to Berlin in order to obtain a lost list of agents, as well as uncover the murder of another agent. Along the way, she will quickly discover that everyone around her is working on their own agenda.
     The biggest M.V.P. of this movie is Charlize Theron hands own. The marketing for this film heavily focused on the action and Theron kicks so much butt in the scenes that require action. Audiences will definitely be able to identify the work she has put in to these scenes and the fight choreography she is given is fantastic. There's a particular scene that involves a stairway that might be one of the best directed scenes of the year. Unfortunately the movie falls apart significantly in other areas.
     There are not quite as many action sequences as the marketing suggests. This movie relies heavily on its story. That's not a problem for me, however the story is all over the place. It's the same stereotypes that we always see in spy movies and quite confusing at times. This film attempts to bite more then it can chew and drags on unnecessarily. The motives of particular characters, without getting into spoilers, just did not make sense and was inconsistent throughout the movie.

     The soundtrack for this movie is good but it often feels forced at times. This movie takes place in 1980's in the last fews days of the Cold War and plays a lot of great 80's jam. Unfortunately, the placement of the songs makes it feel much like Suicide Squad where it is just put in and feels very quick cut, music video like. They try to stuff a lot of songs in this movie and it's often overbearing.
     Maybe it was because I had different expectations going into this film but ultimately Atomic Blonde was a disappointment for me. Although Theron carries this movie, it's not enough to cancel out its wearing storyline. You can definitely wait for the Blu Ray release of this movie.

Rating: 4.8 out of 10

Dunkirk Review

     Dunkirk is the newest film from the creative mind of Christopher Nolan. While I was not the biggest fan of his two most recent releases, The Dark Knight Rises and Interstellar, the anticipation leading up to Dunkirk had me really intrigued. This is a more grounded story that is based on actual events during World War II. Although Dunkirk is not quite what audiences will expect as far as characters go, this movie works brilliantly because of the tension and directing that Christopher Nolan brings on screen.
     When allied soldiers consisting of Belgians, Britons, and the French are entrapped and surrounded by German forces, they must risk their lives in order to find a way off the beach. The film has three separate storylines. They tell of one week on the beach, one day on the sea, and one hour in the air.

     What stands out the most about this movie is the tension that Nolan manages to create and direct. There are a handful of scenes in this movie that are beautifully crafted and suspenseful. Nolan used IMAX cameras to shoot a good majority of this movie and the scenes are so immersive. The cinematography was done by Hoyte van Hoytema who worked with Nolan on Interstellar. This is a different take on a war film but is executed incredibly well. If there is a film that needs to been seen in the theater this summer, it is Dunkirk because you feel like you're smack down in the action with these characters.
     One aspect of Christopher Nolan's movies that audiences can always look forward to is the score from Hans Zimmer and Dunkirk continues that trend. The scores' forefront is a clock ticking but Zimmer uses this as an excellent pacing device and constructs the rest of the score around it. It's really enticing and beautifully adds to the tension.
     The way this story plays out is really well done. Nolan is famously known for his unique way of using a non-linear narrative. Memento is a phenomenal use of this device. This is done in Dunkirk as well and serves the story very well.

     This movie is not heavily relied upon by the characters. Most films that bothers me however Nolan creates audiences' loyalty with characters through the intense situations that we find them in. This movie does not have a whole lot of A list stars besides Tom Hardy but even he does not get a lot of screen time. This is the acting debut for One Direction member, Harry Styles and he does a serviceable job. This movie does not rely too much on dialogue so it's difficult to tell how good he really is but he did really well with his physicality, as well as the rest of the cast.
     Although I could have used a little more character development, Nolan's direction makes complete sense and he creates audience attachment through the situations at hand. The action is so phenomenal in this movie that it NEEDS to be seen in theaters like Nolan intended for it to be.

Rating: 9.5 out of 10

War for the Planet of the Apes Review

     The rebooted Planet of the Apes trilogy is one of the most underrated franchise in Hollywood today. The first two films, Rise of the Planet of the Apes and Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, have been a great success not only with the box office but with critics as well. While the first film was helmed by Rupert Wyatt, Matt Reeves has since taken over in the director's chair and greatly built upon what Wyatt introduced to audiences in the first movie. These films take a unique angle in which they frame the apes as the protagonists and it works incredibly. War for the Planet of the Apes is a bit different from what audiences will expect but is an amazing finish to very well developed trilogy.

     After Caesar (Andy Serkis) and his colony of apes are targeted by a militia group led by The Colonel (Woody Harrelson), the apes will go to great lengths to find the base and avenge his colony. It's difficult to really get into this without spoilers but that's the gist of it.
     This movie falls on the shoulders of the character, Caesar. When people gripe about there being too much CGI in movies, I automatically point to these films because the visual effects are flawless. Andy Serkis is the king of motion capture and seriously deserves to be in Oscar consideration because if he does not deliver then this movie falls apart from the get-go. I cannot praise the work of the visual effects artists and Andy Serkis enough in these films.
     Serkis is not the only standout when it comes to motion capture though. Steve Zahn plays the character Bad Ape and beautifully brings humor and charm to an incredibly dark story. The comedic timing in this is very well done and does so in a manner that will not take audiences out of the film. His character truly goes on a journey and audiences will love watching him on-screen.
     The story is a lot different then I was anticipating but it works on many levels because of our attachment to the characters from prior films. This movie begins with action and is greatly paced. The first act is probably the strongest of the film but that does not take from the remaining acts that are memorizing to watch.

     There is a bit of a story arc with The Colonel that has been done time and time again but that does not take away from Harrelson's performance. He is very intimidating figure and has a great build up. Due to great visual effects and performances, War for the Planet of the Apes is a wonderful cherry on top with this franchise. Although I did not enjoy it quite as much as Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, it's still a fun time in the theaters.

Rating: 9.0 out of 10

Spider-Man: Homecoming Review

    If there's one franchise that Hollywood loves to reboot it's Spider-Man. He's arguably the most iconic superhero on Marvel's roster but we have not really had a great Spidey move since 2004 with Sam Raimi's Spider-Man 2. Although Marc Webb's The Amazing Spider-Man films had good qualities, it overall did not land with audiences. Fortunately for movie and comic book fans, Sony and Marvel Studios struck up a deal that would have the young, web slinger officially become part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. We got a glimpse of Tom Holland's interpretation in Captain America: Civil War but it was only a short sample of the character. Although this is the third reboot in recent memory for the beloved web crawler, Spider-Man: Homecoming is a wonderful addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe and also greatly shines as a coming of age film.

     Spider-Man: Homecoming picks up almost immediately after the events of Captain America: Civil War. Peter Parker (Tom Holland) must learn to juggle the everyday obstacles of not only fighting crime in New York City as Spider-Man but also the struggles that come while trying to get through high school.
     Spider-Man is my favorite superhero from Marvel. What makes the character so likable is how relatable he is. All of us were in high school at one time and experienced the awkward situations that come with it. Marvel discussed prior to release of this movie that they want to combine a John Hughes feel with a superhero movie and they did just that. The dynamic between Parker and his best friend Ned (Jacob Batalon) is incredibly humorous. The diversity in this movie is also a big aspect that stand outs that other movies down the road could benefit from.

     One of the weaker points in most Marvel movies is the villain. Besides Loki, we have not really got a good antagonist in the MCU. Luckily, they went out and got Michael Keaton to play Vulture in Spider-Man: Homecoming and he knocks it out of the park. Every time he's on screen he is incredibly menacing but you understand where his character is coming from. He's a blue collar worker that is down on his luck because of the New York City attacks in the first Avengers movie. Him and Holland seem to work off each other very well.
     Holland is the stand out of this movie. For most people Tobey MacGuire is their favorite Peter Parker while Andrew Garfield was the better Spider-Man. Holland has them both beat in my opinion. Marvel going after a younger actor to play the title character was a wise decision and having the movie primarily take place in high school was a splendid idea. Audiences will be able to tell how much fun Holland is having as the character.
     This is not like the previous five Spider-Man movies. Although there's a fair amount action, the movie does not heavily rely on action set pieces. There are some really well done sequences but it's not quite the Raimi movies and that's where I think audiences will be let down.
     Overall Spider-Man: Homecoming is wonderful addition to the MCU and a fresh take on the character. It is a movie that benefits from being seen in theaters because the few action pieces it has are very well done. Audiences will have a lot of fun with this movie!

Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Baby Driver Review

     After the buzz from early screenings at SXSW, Baby Driver has been one of the most anticipated movies of the summer. Directed by Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz helmer, Edgar Wright, this had all the hype to be an incredibly fun flick. The film has a star studded cast with actors such as Ansel Elgort, Lily James, Kevin Spacey, Jon Hamm, Jamie Foxx, and many others. The results are exactly what audiences should expect. Baby Driver might not only be the best movie of the summer so far but could be the best movie of the year.

     When getaway driver, Baby (Ansel Elgort) finds a way out of his life of crime and develops a romantic relationship with Debora (Lily James), everything seems to be going swell in his once hectic life. Unfortunately, crime boss Doc (Kevin Spacey) has different plans for Baby and brings him out of retirement for their biggest job yet.
     This movie is phenomenal on almost all fronts but the one that stands out the most is the directing from Edgar Wright. The action sequences are incredibly well crafted and help to display the beautiful stunt work that has been put into this film. The opening scene of this movie feels very reminiscent 2011's Drive. The crucial difference though is Baby Driver is much more action oriented, whereas Drive is more character driven. That does not take away from Baby Driver though. Wright writes these characters so well and audiences will greatly attach to them. All of these characters are well rounded and not one dimensional which is typically the case with action oriented movies.

     This whole cast does a wonderful job of bringing these characters to life but the standout is Ansel Elgort. Going into this film audiences will most likely know him because of The Fault In Our Stars but soon change their tune after seeing this. Elgort shows excellent range in this movie and does excellent being the leading man. The relationship between Baby and Debora also feels very genuine. Elgort and James just seem to radiate chemistry when the two are on screen together.
     Another standout within the film of Baby Driver is the music. The music is essentially its own character in this movie and Wright perfectly flaunts it to the audience. All the sequences are greatly enhanced because of the soundtrack. Wright also uses the music as a mechanism of humor and it works in an outstanding matter. Wright beautifully blends humor with action to make for a really fun movie that has quite an unpredictable script. This story takes directions that is quite unexpected and it really payoffs.
     There are no negative aspects from me when it comes to this movie. I have a few nitpicks but overarching problems are not existent in this movie. Edgar Wright has struck gold and this is a movie that NEEDS to be seen in theaters. I cannot recommend Baby Driver enough. It is my favorite of the year so far.

Rating: 10 out of 10

Transformers: The Last Knight Review

     There is no other franchise in Hollywood today that is more hated upon then the Transformers franchise. I will say that I enjoyed the first film but everyone after I have very much disliked these movies and that is primarily because of Michael Bay. I actually really enjoy Michael Bay as a director. You can see my review of 13 Hours on this blog where I acknowledge his strengths, however those strengths are not captured in these films. It's the same shticks and gimmicks over and over. These movies alway trap audiences (including me) because they always cut really exciting trailers but then audiences are ultimately upset upon viewing the film. I went it with an open mind because I always want movies to be good, especially a franchise like Transformers. Sadly, this film repeats most of the same errors that the previous films posses with no clear story direction whatsoever.

     With Optimus Prime preoccupied on the Transformer's home planet of Cybertron, the human race must figure out a solution to the disposal of remaining Decepticons on Earth. With Cade Yeager (Mark Wahlberg) leading the way, they will try whatever it takes to make sure the planet is at a peace once again.
     I had a really difficult time typing the synopsis for this movie because the story is all the over place. It attempts to tie-in Transformers with King Arthur and WWII but ultimately just ends up with a cluttered story that has no direction. Cade, alongside Vivian Wembley (Laura Haddock) and Sir Edmund Burton (Anthony Hopkins), they will attempt to find the staff the Merlin because it destroys the Decepticons? You can make a succesfull movie with a ridiculous premise (just look at The Fast and the Furious franchise), however what bothers me is they do not try to explain to the audience whatsoever. It's perfectly okay to go into a movie and turn your brain off for two hours, we all do it but it's almost an insult to the audience when the writing does not even attempt to explain the premise.
     Another flaw with the writing, that also falls in the poor direction from Michael Bay, is the humor in this movie. It's the same perverted jokes that have been in the previous films that only middle schoolers will really only find enjoyable. It lands with a thud on every occasion.

     The only thing more poor then the writing in this movie is the editing. There is no continuity whatsoever with this thing. Audiences will easily be able to identify multiple moments in which the characters will be on side of the room and then be completely on the other side with no time in between. This film jumps locations every minute and leaves no time for the scenes to play out and breathe. The runtime is 149 minutes and you'll feel as though you've ran a marathon but with no sense of accomplishment.
     One of the perks of this movie is the action is better then the last couple of the films. It's not nearly as cluttered as the previous movies and the visual effects are top notch. I genuinely was entertained by the fights but that was really about it. This movie is a complete mess.
     Transformers: The Last Knight is a movie that you shouldn't really see in theaters. If you're a fan of all the previous films then you'll probably enjoy this one but these movies could be so much more then a waste of time with the right team. I am honestly excited for the Bumblebee spinoff movie because Michael Bay is taking a step away from this franchise.

Rating: 1.9 out of 10

Cars 3 Review

     One of my favorite studios working in the movie industry today is Pixar Studios. Pixar seems to have a clear understanding of how to make animated movies that not only kids will genuinely enjoy but will appeal to the adult demographic as well. They know how to tug on the heartstrings and play up a great story, however that's not always the case. The Cars franchise is one of those for me personally that does not quite hit like other Pixar movies. Although these movies deliver for kids, they seem to have a very generic plot and doesn't really seem to stir up emotions. The first film was decent but the second one is arguably the worst Pixar movie released to this day. Fortunately, Cars 3 is a decent step up from Cars 2, however this film still under performs in many areas.

     Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson) is getting up there in age and must do whatever it takes to compete with hotshot rookie,  Jackson Storm (Armie Hammer). With the help from his trainer Cruz Ramirez (Cristela Alonzo), McQueen will have to adapt if he wants to be the top racer once gain.
     The story is incredibly simple. It's a comeback story essentially. The only problem with this story though is how simplistic and beat for beat it is with every other movie that focuses on a comeback. You can see the exact direction that this movie is going from the beginning. It felt a lot like Pixar's attempt at a rehash of Talladega Nights, no joke. Without getting into spoiler territory, you find yourself trying to get behind a particular character except the execution is completely botched come third act.
     One of the problems with Cars 2 was how much Mater (Larry the Cable Guy) was in the forefront of the movie and the humor was poorly executed. Fortunately, he takes a significant step back in this movie but the humor still falls flat. They seem to throwout these reoccuring gimmicks but they do not really hit to begin with so it's just a waste all around.

     Fortunately, this movie is very much enticing when it comes to the visuals. There are some fantastic shots in this thing that make the race sequences feel very realistic. Directed by Bryan Fee, I don't think the direction is the problem here. The problems fall more on the writing side of this film. Since this movie is ultimately a comeback story, you have to touch on the training for Lightning McQueen. There are some training sequences that are really unique and fun to watch, especially when it comes McQueen's relationship with former trainer, Doc Hudson (Paul Newman). This is where I felt the film really delivered.
     Cars 3 is has its strengths and weaknesses but at the end of the day it falls towards the weaker side of Pixar. I think children will generally enjoy this but it might be a slight headache for the adults that have to take their kids.

Rating: 5.3 out of 10

The Mummy Review

     Universal has officially kicked off their Dark Universe of monsters and gods with The Mummy. Directed by Alex Kurtzman with leading man, Tom Cruise, Universal hopes to launch their newest shared universe off to a good start. When this universe was initially announced many were hesitant because it seemed like a desperate attempt by the studio to get into the shared universe craze. However when they stared to sign grade A talent for their projects such as Russell Crowe, Tom Cruise, Javier Bardem, and many others, I was very interested to see where this universe goes. Unfortunately, The Mummy is not only a dull kickoff with under utilized characters but a very forgettable story.

     When Nick Morton (Tom Cruise) accidentally awakens an ancient, evil princess known as the Ahmanet (Sofia Boutella), he will soon realize that his world is not only in danger but there is a larger world of monsters at hand. With the help of Dr. Jekyll (Russell Crowe), Morton will have to find a way to take down this monster.
     So this movie is not necessarily terrible. I do not believe audiences will leave the theater thinking, "Man, that was so cringe worthy." The story is just incredibly forgetful. Kurtzman tries to make Morton this slick, cunning character much like Nathan Drake in the Uncharted games. Unfortunately though audiences will ultimately end up disliking this character. He's a jerk and it's really difficult to get on board with his actions. The character development in this movie is very much under utilized. The relationship between Morton and colleague Jenny Halsey (Annabelle Wallis) is all over the place and poorly written.

     One aspect the script does get right with character development is the origin of Ahmanet. Sofia Boutella is really solid in the role and genuinely creepy. There are great horror elements in this movie. At times it feels like a prologued episode of The Walking Dead and delivers in that area. Unfortunately, the tone is all over the place. The jokes in this movie fall very flat and the action pieces are incredibly average.
     Again this is not the worst movie of the year but will probably be the most forgettable. This is a kick off for a new, shared universe and Universal it seems as though they've not quite landed on the tone they want to go with. This isn't the summer blockbuster you have to rush out to see.

Rating: 4.0 out of 10

Wonder Woman Review

     The DCEU (DC Extended Universe) had a bit of a rocky start when they decided to launch their shared universe. Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice received very mixed reviews and did not quite hit like Warner Brothers wanted it to. Its follow up Suicide Squad was an even bigger mess and the future of DC's movie slate was very uncertain. Audiences were introduced to this universe's Diana a.k.a. Wonder Woman, played by Gal Gadot, in Batman v. Superman. Although Gadot was certainly a strength of that film, it was a mystery as to whether she could carry her own movie. Fortunately, Wonder Woman is not only a fantastic movie for the DCEU but it's also a great addition to the superhero genre and could help change the landscape for studios going forward.

     The film starts out of on the Amazon home-world of Themyscira during World War I. When British spy, Steve Trevor (Chris Pine) washes up on the beach and informs the colony of the terrors that are going on in his home-world. Diana must join Trevor to help end this war and discover her full powers along the way.

     The biggest strength of this movie is the directing by Patty Jenkins. Jenkins directed Charlize Theron to an Oscar win with her previous film, Monster, and she certainly works great in this film with Gadot. Gadot is not necessarily chewing on heavy dialogue that will transcend acting, however I always find the best directors exhibit the strengths of their actors. Jenkins helps to display the strength and physicality that Gadot brings to the role. This movie is a bit more lighter in tone compared to the other DCEU movies and that certainly enhances it as well. 

     When Diana joins Trevor in London, she is unaware of the culture and customs which helps create really sweet moments. The movie at time feels like Will Ferrell's Elf because of Diana's innocence in a strange, new world but it definitely enhances the movie. Gadot and Pine have such great chemistry and you really buy into their dynamic. The performances are certainly strong and I think that's because of the phenomenal directing of Patty Jenkins. This is the biggest budget ever given to a female director and I hope this paves the way for more females to land big projects because it does not matter what sex you're. A good director knows how to effectively tell a story and Jenkins does just that.

     The action in this movie is really incredible to watch. There is one moment in particular that were highlighted in the trailers that is a whole lot of fun. It relies heavily on slo-mo which could of been reduced but it is made up by all the kick butt moments audiences are given. The action pieces are greatly strengthened by the musical score from Rupert Gregson-Williams. Rupert does a wonderful job of blending the score from Hans Zimmer in Batman v. Superman with a new, fresh take on the heroine. It helps to create a lot of high octane but also beautifully, tender moments.

     There are some negative aspects of this movie though. One of them being the villain. I cannot really get into it without bringing up spoilers but there is one actor that is just kind of over the top at times. It will take audiences out of the movie. The final fight is fun to watch but could have a lot more at stake if audiences were given a better backstory with the villain. I also found some of the dialogue could have been a little more polished but that's a small nitpick.

     Wonder Woman is the first female led superhero movie within a shared universe and does not disappoint. I hope Hollywood will green light more female superhero movies, as well as more female directors landing bigger projects. This is such a delight to watch and I am really curious to see where they go with the character in future projects.

Rating: 9.0 out of 10

      

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales Review

     The Pirates of the Caribbean franchise has been a box office monster since the first one was released in 2003. Although the films as a whole have certainly had their ups and downs, their box office success as been a primary strength. I was very curious to see how this one would do considering it's been six years since the last one. This is a very intriguing franchise considering every film after the original has not been too strong. Although I enjoy the second movie, Dead Man's Chest, I understand its complaints. The third, At World's End, is even worse and the fourth, On Stranger Tides, is almost unbearable. However, the trailers for the newest one, Dead Men Tell No Tales, had me curious especially with the villain, Captain Salazar being portrayed by Javier Bardem. Although Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales has some incredibly massive missteps, it has some pleasant moments and certainly takes strides in the right direction.
     When Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) takes down Captain Salazar (Bardem) and his crew. It leads to a treacherous curse for Salazar's crew so they will do whatever it takes to hunt down Sparrow and get their revenge. Sparrow has other plans in mind in which he will track down the trident of King Poseidon with the help of newcomers, Henry Turner (Brenton Thwaites) and Carina Smyth (Kaya Scodelario).

     The biggest strength of the film actually comes from the newcomers. Henry Turner is the son of beloved character Will Turner (before everyone freaks out it was in the marketing material) but is almost more intriguing. He's more cunning but certainty exhibits the determination of his father. I found his and Carina's storyline the most interesting more then Jack's. While Jack has enjoyable moments, especially involving guillotines and zombie sharks, it almost feels like he's makes his way through scene with sheer dumb luck. In the first movie, Sparrow certainly had lucky moments but he was also very clever and persuasive. It seems as though Disney kind of just forgot about that and wants to make him incredibly over the top all the time. Even Captain Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) has a better character arc then Sparrow in this film.
     The villain for this movie, Captain Salazar is definitely one of the more better developed villains within this franchise. Although the trailers marketed the character as a little goofy, he's certainly creepy and is humor is more twisted then goofy. Bardem has a great habit of stealing every scene he is in nearly every movie and he definitely has his moments in this.

     Visually this movie relies heavily on CGI. While I think some more practical effects would of greatly enhanced the movie, the visuals effects in this are actually pretty good. There's a scene that involves a young, Jack Sparrow that is really solid. This paired with an awesome score from Geoff Zanelli creates for some really pretty scenes.
     Besides Sparrow, the place where this movie struggles the most is within all the side quests that go on. There's a side quest for Barbossa and another involving the British Navy that are just kind of there. Much like Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, it feels as though the movie bit off way more then they can chew. The runtime for this movie is a little over 2 hours and we could have cut about 15 minutes out if it weren't for these side quests.
     Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales is probably the best of the franchise we've gotten since the second movie. It has some incredible weak areas, especially with Captain Jack and trying to take on too much but it could help set up a trend for future movies. That's why I am going to barely rate this as a pass.

Rating: 6.0 out of 10

Baywatch Review

     I'll kick off this review by saying that I am a HUGE fan of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. I also really enjoy Zac Efron when he's in the right roles. Both of these guys are incredibly charismatic and have really solid comedic timing. So when Paramount announced they were doing a big screen adaptation of the hit TV show, Baywatch, I was actually very intrigued when they started casting. The trailers didn't do much for me but I thought The Rock and Efron would have great chemistry and make the film work. Although The Rock, Efron, and the rest of the group have good chemistry, this movie completely falls flat on all fronts due to the juvenile writing.
     The plot for this movie is pretty straight forward. The Baywatch lifeguard crew is led by Mitch Buchanan (Dwayne Johnson) who has to train hot-head, Matt Brody (Zac Efron) and a bunch of new recruits. They soon learn that there is a local drug quickly spreading throughout the beach and they will do what they can to uncover the mystery.

     I'll open by saying I wasn't expecting an award winning movie. I went in hoping to get a few good laughs. The trailers really gave me a 21 Jump Street vibe and unfortunately, that's one of the problems with this movie. It tries so hard to replicate that type of comedy with running gags that don't land and very juvenile humor. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy juvenile humor when it's done right. 21 Jump Street has plenty of juvenile or low brow humor but it's cleverly done and the setup is executed very well. Baywatch not so much. It's just constant dick and boob (pardon the language) jokes that a 7th grader could think of. Also, this movie loves to acknowledge how meta it is (much like 21 Jump Street) yet the writing is done in such a messy manner.
     There's one scene in particular that caused me to laugh and that was because of how poorly done the visual effects were. The Rock is saving passengers aboard a ship that has caught on fire and eventually explodes. The only problem with this is the fire is all done via CGI and looks like something a kid would make with an iPhone app. It's incredibly painful to watch. Part of the problem with this particular scene and the movie as a whole is the editing.
     The editing for this movie is flat out bad. There's really no continuity whatsoever and character motivations change more then LeBron James picking teams in free agency. It relies heavily on club music that all sounds the same and you feel like you're watching the same exact scene over and over again.

     The one positive aspect of this movie is the group as a whole seems to have good chemistry. However, all the chemistry that they is completely ruined by the terrible jokes. The silver lining is at least they got paid after this disaster of a movie. Audiences can certainly skip this one in the theater.

Rating: 2.0 out of 10

Alien: Covenant Review

     Ever since the first film was released in 1979, the Alien franchise has been a staple within the horror and sci-fi genres. The first two movies of the franchise are considered to be classics but ever since the franchise has been quite divisive. Alien 3 didn't hit with all fans and Alien: Resurrection solidified that the franchise might be at the end of its run. Soon after we got the abominations known as the Alien vs. Predator movies. The franchise was all but lost until original director and creator Ridley Scott announced that he is coming back to give audiences a prequel of Alien. In 2012, Prometheus was released and it caused quite the divide among fans. The movie was visually gorgeous but was heavily criticized because too much thrown at audiences and its separation from the original films. I was incredibly eager to experience Scott's follow up Alien: Covenant. The marketing for the movie looked like the franchise was heading in the right direction. Although there are some plot devices that don't quite stick, Alien: Covenant is adequate return to the horror and action roots that audiences got with the first two movies.
     Alien: Covenant tells of a colony ship with 2000 passengers that is headed for a new planet to inhabit. However, when the crew experiences some unexpected problems, they will land on a nearby planet. Upon arrival, they soon learn of the many threats that this planet holds and will do whatever it takes to escape.

     The biggest strength of this movie is the horror elements that audiences are presented. The first act of this movie feels very much like the original Alien film. It is a very generic monster movie but still enjoyable for fans. The Xenomorphs are officially back (it's in the trailer so don't whine about spoilers) and man are they creepy! There are a lot of nice callbacks to the original one that will make audiences happy. Scott does a fantastic job of building tension. The third act of this movie is much like the sequel Aliens. It is very action oriented and feels like a summer blockbuster.
     Where this film struggles the most is the second act. It is the sequel to Prometheus and if you have not seen that movie then you will be very confused by the progressions on screen. I even revisited Prometheus the night before seeing Alien: Covenant and it still confused me. There's a plot direction that is not completely fleshed out and doesn't necessarily add up with what we were exposed to in Prometheus.
     The performances in Alien: Covenant are all pretty solid. The movie focuses Daniels played by Katherine Waterston. Although she is no Ripley, she does a serviceable job and audiences will understand the motivations behind the character. The stand out surprise of this movie is Tennessee played by Danny McBride. I was worried he would just be used as the comedic relief character but he actually has the most range out of any members within the crew. I seriously hope we get more serious performances from McBride because of this movie.

     The biggest negative of this film though is the ending. The ending is something audiences will see coming from a mile away and will ultimately be underwhelmed because of it. It almost felt like the screen writers were rushed to finish the screenplay and just inserted the first generic finish that came to their minds.
     Although there are some glaring flaws and continuity, Alien: Covenant has some fun elements that will please fans of the old films. It does not necessarily bring anything new to the table but with a movie like Prometheus that I felt tried to take on way too much, Alien: Covenant was a lot more simple and formulaic.

Rating: 6.6 out of 10

King Arthur: Legend of the Sword Review

     Guy Ritchie is known for greatly directed action spectacles. With a filmography such as Snatch, Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, and the recent Sherlock Holmes movies, Ritchie has created his unique style incorporating witty dialogue and incredibly exciting fight scenes. King Arthur: Legend of the Sword is the newest film from Ritchie with Charlie Hunnam helming the title character. While there are some exciting aspects within this film, there are some really big drawbacks that become more and more evident with the passing of time from when I watched it.

     The plot for this movie isn't the most original. It's ultimately a revenge story in which Arthur (Charlie Hunnam) must seek the throne of Camelot after he finds out that his uncle, Vortigern (Jude Law), had killed his parents and taken the throne for himself. Arthur is the true heir and must learn to wield the mighty sword of Excalibur if he hopes to become king. It's very much like every other King Arthur movie's story.

     My biggest question going in was how would Ritchie's style translate with the King Arthur story. When I think of epic, Arthurian movie, Guy Ritchie is the first name on my list. That being said, some of directorial choices translate very well with this story. The most evident one is the action choreography and visual effects. The release for this film was pushed back almost a year and the visual effects greatly paid off from it. There are segments where the effects are not necessarily perfect but for the most part it was greatly done, especially with how much this movie required.

     The pacing of this movie is incredibly quick which translates to a lot of action set pieces. The majority of them were highly entertaining and you could definitely tell as to why Warner Brothers hired Ritchie to direct this movie. They practically made the Excalibur it's own character and there is some very good swordplay. The biggest hinderance within the action though is the shaky cam. There is a particular scene (which was in the trailers so it's not a spoiler) where Arthur and his gang are running through the streets of a bustling city. There was lots of shaky cam and POV shots here that will most likely just be daunting for audiences. 

     Seeing as this film only made 15 million domestically on a estimated 175 million budget, I think it's a valid point to state Charlie Hunnam is not really the guy that should be leading a movie. While he was great in the very little I've scene of Sons of Anarchy, studios must be very cautious with the box office draw from this film and Pacific Rim. He's not a guy that puts butts in seats. You could have placed a ton of actors in this role that would be good for marketing and utilized much better then Hunnam on screen. The standout performance however goes to Jude Law as the evil king, Vortigern. There's a particular scene in which his character explains the intoxication of power that will really give audiences a great understanding of the mindset that he has.

     While there are entertaining aspects, this film ultimately falls flat with formulaic story beats and not a lot of positive take aways. This lost Warner Brothers A LOT of money so we won't be seeing any sequel probably ever again to this film. I can't recommend going to see this in theaters but it wouldn't be a bad cable watch on a Saturday afternoon.

Rating: 5.5 out of 10

Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 2 Review

     When Marvel released the first Guardians of the Galaxy movie back in 2014 it was quite the surprise. At the time nobody except the hardcore, comic fans really knew who these characters were. Fortunately for the studio, it was a huge hit and one of the most exciting Marvel movies to come out to this day. Audiences fell in love with the loudmouth, ragtag group. The marketing material for Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 2 seemed to carry the tone and flavor of the first film. I had the opportunity of seeing a double feature of the first and new film at my local theater here in College Station. My excitement for this movie was quite high. Although the sequel is not quite as fun and charming as the original, Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 2 offers a lot of emotional depth and effectively adds on to these characters audiences fell in love with in 2014.

     Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 2 continues the story and exploration of Peter Quill's (Chris Pratt) parentage...And that's really it. One of my biggest complaint with this movie is the story. When try to describe it to someone who has no idea what it's about, it is very difficult to do so. The story is very simplistic and formulaic, however the movie is nonetheless entertaining because of the characters. This film is very character oriented and really explores the gang well, old and new members. The standouts are Rocket Raccoon (Bradley Cooper), and Yondu (Michael Rooker). Baby Groot (Vin Diesel) will make audiences cry because of how adorable he is.

     Audiences are given a lot more backstory and depth with these guys. The story is very focused on Quill though and his relationship with his father Ego (Kurt Russell). The two have a great dynamic and director James Gunn does a wonderful job adding emotional depth to these characters. The stand out of this film is Dave Bautista as Drax. Drax was the surprise of the original due to the uncertainty with the casting of Bautista, however his comedic timing is really solid. Audiences will definitely be able to tell that they wanted to up the jokes with Drax and all the characters in general. Unfortunately, that hurts the film.
     The jokes are really witty and audiences will enjoy them but timing is a key aspect of comedy. There are a lot of jokes that are delivered and there did not seem to be any pacing. What I enjoy with the original and a lot of the other movies in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is they blend comedy really well. Guardians 2 doesn't seem to really give us any breathing room and goes a bit overboard at times.

     I don't necessarily know if the soundtrack for this one is better then the first but it is still an awesome mixtape. This one seems to have a more songwriting oriented tracklist where as the original was a little more guitar oriented. Both serve the and work in the story very well.
     This film is definitely more character oriented then story and while that's not necessarily a bad approach, the film's story could of greatly used some improvement. Thanks to some heartfelt performances and decent character development. Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 2 is a fun time in the theater.

Rating: 7.5 out of 10

The Circle Review

     Technology being evil is a tale as old as time. Your Grandpa shouts it at you at every holiday dinner and audiences are fascinated with this idea of machines rising. Shows like Black Mirror and countless A.I. films have placed this phenomenon on-screen. The Circle is the newest film to explore this movement. With director James Ponsoldt (The Spectacular Now and Smashed) behind the camera and a talented cast such as Tom Hanks, Emma Watson, and John Boyega, this film has all the right pieces to be a magnificent social commentary on technology. Unfortunately this film is far from magnificent. Even with intriguing concepts, The Circle falls incredibly flat due to botched execution and horrendous pacing.
     Based on the novel by Dave Eggers, The Circle focuses on Mae Holland (Emma Watson) who receives a job at the prestigious tech company known as The Circle. Headed by Eamon Bailey (Tom Hanks) and Tom Stenton (Patton Oswalt), Mae will quickly rise up the company ranks but will also find out the company is not as clean as it makes itself out to be.

     I was greatly excited for this film initially. The talent behind it is great and the concept is very intriguing, however this was a very difficult film to watch. Anybody who knows me well knows that I absolutely adore Emma Watson. She is one of my favorite actresses working in the business and I have enjoyed her in every film she's been apart of. With The Circle, you could have inserted any actress into the role as Mae and they would have sufficed. The character is incredibly one dimensional and Watson's performance often feels wooden. She is the main focus of the story and audiences will not have an ounce of care for her upon seeing this movie. Although Tom Hanks is the most enjoyable character to watch, he is incredibly underutilized. There is only really one moment in the entire film where the character seems relatable and it does not come until the third act.

     The writing and pacing for this movie will be the biggest gripe among audiences. This story seems to be all build up and yet no climax. Audiences will see where the story is going from a mile away and while this isn't necessarily a bad aspect if the setup and execution is well done, however this film completely botches it in regards of execution and the characters are nowhere near likable. Eggers also wrote the screenplay for this and I've heard the book is phenomenal but the screenplay for this movie felt like it was written by a student taking a college course on Screenwriting 101. The runtime for The Circle is 110 minutes but it feels like a marathon.
     Besides the acting of Tom Hanks, this movie is not only disappointing but might be one of the worst films of 2017 so far. All the pieces were in place for this to be an incredibly thought provoking concept but because of the botched execution and under-developed characters, audience will most definitely forget about this movie.

Rating: 3.1 out of 10

   

Fate of the Furious Review

     Fate of the Furious is the newest and eighth installment in the Fast & Furious franchise and while these movies have certainly had their good and bad moments the recent films have been enjoyable, popcorn flicks. Since the soft-reboot with Fast Five the franchise has greatly embraced the silliness and over the top action that comes with the movies. Although Fate of the Furious is not the prime model as to what these films have brought to the table thus far, it is still an entertaining, popcorn flick that delivers in some areas.
     When Dom Torreto (Vin Diesel) mysterious goes rogue thanks to the influence of cyber terrorist, Cipher (Charlize Theron), the team must assemble to hunt down Dom and find out why he's exhibiting this bizarre behavior. Assembling a team is not as easy as it seems when former enemy Deckard (Jason Statham) joins the picture. They must do whatever they can to figure out a solution and hunt down Dom.

     The biggest question going forward for me was how would the team chemistry be without the late, great Paul Walker. While the old cast seemed to continue with the chemistry we saw from the previous films, it was not as easy for some of the newcomers. Scott Eastwood plays government agent under the alias of Little Nobody. Although I do not whole heartedly blame the Eastwood for the portrayal, his comedic timing did not seem to really fit like the rest of the group. This can not all be Eastwood's fault though because the script he was dishing from was not necessarily the best. I realize you're not expecting an Oscar caliber script with this franchise but these films have always had good humor. Unfortunately that was not a strong suit for the latest installment.
     The standout performances in this movie comes from Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Jason Statham. These have a fantastic dynamic and pretty much steal the show. All the rest of the performances are about what you would expect with this franchise but those two really go another level from everyone else.

     Much like the other films, the action pieces are directed quite well. F. Gray Gray brings in an unique direction with flying cars and grappling hooks which works a lot better in action then it sounds on paper. All the action scenes in this are very well crafted and will get a few laughs with audiences because of how much this movie embraces the cheesiness.
     This movie has a runtime of 2 hours and 16 minutes but the pacing is actually quite good. It never feels drawn out or repeated. Although this film's humor is not quite as good as previous and the team chemistry is 100% effective, the film is still a pleasant joy ride.

Rating: 6.1 out of 10

   

Life Review

     Life is the newest sci-fi, horror flick to hit theaters this weekend and going into it audiences were not quite sure what to expect. The trailers and marketing made the film seem very reminiscent of Alien but the cast that surrounds is what mostly had audiences interested. Although the story is very formulaic and the characters are not the most intriguing, Life thrives as a beautifully creepy, monster movie.

     Is this movie very much like Alien and multiple other sci-fi horror films? Yes, very much so. But I think what makes this film work well is the setup of tension, especially with the Mars alien that they refer to as Calvin. What makes Calvin so intriguing on-screen is the development that is presented. Calvin needs the food, oxygen, and water just like humans therefore it makes sense as to why he wants to eat everyone that is aboard the ship. The creature also doesn't necessarily look like a threatening at the beginning but develops into this terrifying monster throughout the film. There are truly creepy visuals in this movie and by the end of it, you're really hoping that this creature is killed... Like soon.
     The creepy visuals stem from the camerawork in this film. The cinematography is done by Seamus McGarvey and he does a wonderful job of making the audience feel isolated in this spaceship. Much like the original Alien, you truly feel the monster could be at any corner just lurking. There's also an opening shot in this movie that is awesome and really helps to display the setting.

     The characters in this movie don't necessarily bring anything new to the table. But the performances are not bad. The three stars that helm this movie are Jake Gyllenhaul, Ryan Reynolds, and Rebecca Ferguson. All of them do well in their roles but it's nothing to write home.
     The biggest problem this film has occurs within the final 15 minutes. The ending is one that audiences will be able to recognize from a mile away. Predictability within a movie isn't necessarily a bad thing but it needs to have a good setup and execution. This ending here feels very rushed and just seems like the writers decided to shake it up at the last minute.
     Life is an intriguing sci-fi, horror flick even though it does not necessarily bring anything new to the table. It's not one that has to be seen in theaters but if you would like to see it then I would advise against it.

Rating: 6.3 out of 10

Power Rangers Review

     Go Go Power Rangers! That was a term that heavily ruled my childhood. I was a huge fan of the old TV shows and the original Mighty Morphin Power Rangers movie. When Lionsgate announced that they would be doing a new movie, I was very eager to see what type of film they would bring. I enjoyed most of the trailers but my biggest worry was that cheesiness from the original series would not fit well on the big screen today. Although it is far from a perfect movie, Power Rangers is a delightful film with a great blend of nostalgia and a story that will appeal to a new, younger generation.

     What's intriguing about this movie is how it's almost two separate movies. The first being the team setup and training, while the second is their action piece. The setup was something that pleasantly surprised me. The team dynamic is really easy to buy into because of the cast. The standout is RJ Cyler as the Blue Ranger. RJ caught my attention in Me and Earl and the Dying Girl and continues to show off his comedic chops in Power Rangers. The guy is fantastic. Some other standouts include Dacre Montgomery as the Red Ranger. They could have very easily made him just a stereotypical jock but he was actually a very well layered character with a great on-screen presence. I was not necessarily on board with Ludi Lin as the Black Ranger until around the second act when we got a little more depth to his character. There are also some really good performances from Bryan Cranston as Zordon and Naomi Scott as the Pink Ranger.

     The performance that took me out of the movie was Elizabeth Banks as Rita Repulsa. At first I was very intrigued because the director, Dean Israelite, portrayed her almost as this horror like figure at the beginning of the film. Unfortunately though it seemed to me she was a little over the top when she was delivering dialogue. Although she is miles more tamed then the Rita Repulsa in the original show, for me I felt they missed the mark to make her a great villain.

     I am not sure that this film will necessarily appeal to older people who were not a fan of the original show but fans of the old show and younger generations will really enjoy this movie. It blends nostalgia with an up to date story very well. Once we see the Rangers all suited up for the first time, that's when the influence of the older show is really on display. The pacing for this film is pretty good, although they probably could have cut around 20 minutes from the second act and thrown that into the third. The third act is satisfying that is definitely trying to appeal to the older fans. Although the fighting action isn't the best, it's solid and gets the job done. There are also some glaring plot holes within the story but that doesn't take away from the movie too much.
     This movie is far from perfect but is actually a delightful surprise. I think fans of the original will love this movie and I am hoping it will attract some new fans along the way. It's not necessarily a film you have to see in theaters but I hope you do because I would love to see sequels for this property.

Rating: 6.8 out of 10

   

Beauty and the Beast Review

     It's a tale as old as time but this is Disney's newest live adaptation of Beauty and the Beast. Disney has kind of been all over the place with their live adaptations from previous animated films. Some not so good while others such as Cinderella and The Jungle Book have really stuck well with the fans. So when Disney announced they would be adapting the 1991 Best Picture nom, Beauty and the Beast, audiences were eager to see how the studio would go about this classic. Fortunately not only is the live adaptation of Beauty and the Beast a great retelling of the original, animated film but also expands upon the story in a truly magical way.
     This is a star studded cast and they definitely deliver. The standout is Luke Evans who plays the handsome, egocentric villain, Gaston. Every time he is on screen, audiences are sure to get in a good laugh. He is not the only comedic superstar though. Josh Gad stars as his clingy sidekick LeFou and is quite the delight.

     The most credit for their performances though should go to Emma Watson and Dan Stevens for their performances of Belle and the Beast. If audiences do not buy into their performances and their love dynamic then this movie does not work at all. They are two of the most famous Disney characters of all time and Disney definitely delivered on the casting. The look of the Beast was something that kind of concerned me going into the movie and while it takes sometime for audiences to adjust to it, Stevens helps to add life to this CGI beast. The visual effects artists definitely could of tinkered with the character a lot more but it is serviceable.

     This is a musical and all the actors do very well on beloved classic songs such as Belle, Be Our Guest, and Beauty and the Beast. But they also add some new songs that don't quite resonate as well as the original songs but definitely help to serve to the story. The supporting cast includes Kevin Kline, Ewan McGregor, Ian McKellen, Emma Thompson, and many more that help add phenomenal performances for the film.
     The story is very beat for beat with the original, animated film with a few new additions. Without getting into spoilers, there's a certain aspect explored in Belle's story that helps the story and gives audiences a much better understanding of the character.
     I am not sure if this is the adaptation that should have been at the top of Disney's list but it is definitely one that will leave audiences smiling upon exiting the theater. This formula of retelling the originals while expanding upon them at the same time is something that hardcore Disney fans will greatly appreciate. This film is going to be a Box Office juggernaut that fans will probably go to multiple viewings.

Rating: 8.7 out of 10