Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice Review

     When Batman v. Superman was announced at the 2012 San Diego Comic Con nerds everywhere rejoiced in celebration. They had finally gotten what they wanted. We've been waiting years and years to see Batman and Superman on the big screen together. Well it's finally been released and nerds everywhere still might be rejoicing but if so then their cries are much weaker. While this film has its moments of glory, it ultimately struggles.

     Batman v. Superman begins with quite a thriller of an introduction. The film opens with us once again seeing Thomas (Jeffery Dean Morgan) and Martha Wayne (Maggie Grace) being shot while young Bruce must stand by and witness this pivotal massacre. While the murder of Bruce's parents has been done over and over again, it is essential to be shown here because it serves to the brutal Batman (Ben Affleck) introduced in this movie. Affleck was the best aspect of this movie and shuts out all the hate he received upon the announcement of him being cast. If you're a fan of Frank Miller's Batman adaptations then Affleck will be right up your alley. This is by far the most brutal Batman that we've ever seen on the big screen. However he can also turn on the Bruce Wayne charm when necessary. The scenes between him and Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot) are executed very well Gadot was the real pleasant surprise of this movie. Although she didn't have a lot of dialogue, she handled herself very well and captured the character. This component of the movie gives me hope that she'll be able to hold her own in her future solo movie slated for 2017.
     The director, Zack Snyder, is well known for his films being visually breathtaking and Batman v. Superman certainly has its moments. The end fight sequence is beautifully choreographed and I have to give Snyder credit where it's due. It's apparent that Snyder thinks shot by shot on what he wants. He also takes quite a bold move in how a certain factor of the film unfolds and it's difficult not to admire this risk presented before the audience. Unfortunately he lacks in other aspects.
     Snyder's biggest problem is his lack of storytelling. Often times in this movie, Snyder leaves many events unexplained. I don't want to tread into spoiler territory but it's quite recognizable upon seeing the film. Often times he does not hit the mark on where the tone of this film should go. This is not Synder's only problem though. This movie is very weirdly edited. There are many moving parts to this story and this is ultimately Snyder's downfall. There were moments when they would cut back to a particular character and I would have to remind myself what that character was doing because it had been so long since we had visited them.
     There is also the character of Lex Luthor (Jessie Eisenberg). While I see what Snyder was going for, the character of Lex often felt over the top and cartoonish. There were glimmers of evil but it would quickly be defused by another gimmicky act.
     Another of Snyder's dilemma that hinders the potential of this movie is the fact they are trying to set up for the Justice League movie. DC is taking quite the opposite approach compared to Marvel. Instead of a bunch of solo films focusing on a single hero, they are taking the route of giving us the Justice League movie quite early in their slate. Unfortunately this puts a lot more pressure on Snyder and his introduction to the other heroes just seemed like a shoe in.
     While this movie has some really fantastically choreographed action scenes, it lacks very much in story and character development. Overall for me the bad barely outweighs the good. However I would recommend going to see this in theaters because we've waited years to see Batman and Superman on the big screen together. The potential is there if DC would reach out and take a hold of it. However DC has to take great strides if it wishes to catch up with the critical success of Marvel.

Rating: 5.9 out of 10

Zootopia Review

     Because who doesn't love animals running around in clothes and doing human activities? Not only does Disney's Zootopia look great but this story also has a lot of heart at its core. This is one of those animated features that will not only capture the hearts of kids but adults as well.
     Zootopia tells the story of Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin), a young bunny that has just joined the police corp of Zootopia. With the help of a con artist fox named Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman), Hopps hopes to uncover the mystery of all the strange disappearances within the city.
   

     There are many positive aspects of this film. Lets start off with the look of the film. I am not very knowledgable when it comes to the animated realm but the shot selection in this movie is very intriguing for an animated film. Directors Byron Howard, Rich Moore, and Jared Bush did a phenomenal job with making this animation feel like a cinematic live action film. They also beautifully draw from other movies and TV shows. There's a scene that's a complete parody of The Godfather that will have you laughing your ass off.
     The characters in this film were very well drawn out. Jason Bateman is the perfect fit for the voice of Nick Wilde and plays the character in a beautifully, maniacal manner. While at the beginning of the movie he's a bit of a sleaze, the audience sees his transformation into a good hearted fox. This movie is full of other stars as well including JK Simmons, Idris Elba, Bonnie Hunt, and Shakira.
 

     I can only think of a few negative aspects of this movie. At times this movie gets a little predictable and goes off of what we've seen from other animated feature films. We know from the get-go as soon as Hopps enters the city of Zootopia and we see all the different regions of the city that Hopps will go to each one in her investigation. It felt much like Pixar's Inside Out and seeing Joy travel all around the mind of her human. Another complaint would probably be the humor. While there are a lot of scenes in this movie that will have you laughing, the pacing of the humor could have been better executed instead of us having to wait around so long for the next laugh out loud scene.
     Zootopia is a fun movie that highly recommend taking the family to see. Not only will the kids laugh but there are certain scenes where the adults will really enjoy. It will definitely bring a smile to your face.

Rating: 8.3 out of 10

10 Cloverfield Lane Review

     Is it a sequel? Is it a prequel? Well...it's neither, really. 10 Cloverfield Lane takes place in the same universe as the original Cloverfield with a whole new set of characters.

     10 Cloverfield Lane tells the story of Michelle (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) who mysteriously wakes up in the doomsday shelter of Howard (John Goodman) after a nearly fatal car crash. Michelle is reassured by Howard that she is safe from a widespread chemical attack that has contaminated the air outside the shelter. When Michelle finds out that things aren't quite adding up to Howard's story, she looks to uncover the mysterious situation, with the help of another shelter member by the name of Emmett (John Gallagher Jr.).

 
     This film primarily takes place in the same setting and acts like a small, independent movie in many aspects. We really only get three characters with Michelle, Howard, and Emmett. However the performances of all three keep the audience very much enticed. The standout performance to me was from John Goodman. Seeing him as this creepy yet sympathetic man that you would most likely see on Doomsday Preppers, made the film very entertaining. He nails the role. John Gallagher Jr and Mary Elizabeth Winstead's performances are not far behind though. Winstead's performance felt very much like Sigourney Weaver's performance as Ripley in the first Alien movie but worked perfectly for this story.
     This was first full length feature film of Dan Trachtenberg's career and what a way to kick it off. Often times you will find that good directors get good performances out of their actors and Trachtenberg really got the most out of these three performers. There's also really well done editing and transitions that help the audience to feel just as confined in the doomsday shelter as the characters.
     The score was composed by Bear McCreary and it beautifully adds to the tension within the shelter. It is often times within the forefront of the scene and helps enhance the progression of the story.

      Although the storyline is predictable at times like many thrillers, it is very intriguing for the most part. This film tends to fall apart a tad bit in the third act. Once Michelle escapes the shelter (not a spoiler if you watched the trailer), the ending feels a bit rushed and it seems as though they tried to cram in a blockbuster action sequence when the movie felt small beforehand. The tone just didn't seem to match within the third act. They could have had her escape a bit early and develop the outside world a little more.
     This is just a minor problem with the film and Trachtenberg does a fantastic job directing for his first feature film. The performances are outstanding and this is definitely a film that you should see in theaters.

Rating: 9.1 out of 10

Deadpool Review

     Good things come to those who wait and Deadpool is a fine example of that saying. The "merc with a mouth" finally hit theaters February 12th and boy did it deliver!
     Deadpool tells the story of Wade Wilson (Ryan Reynolds) , a former spec ops agent, that falls in love with an equally demented escort by the name of Vanessa Carlysle (Morena Baccarin). Unfortunately Wilson is diagnosed with terminal cancer and will do whatever it takes to recover. When approached by a secret program, Wilson decides to take on whatever is thrown at him in order to be healthy once again. However this program is not all it seems and is actually trying to build a mutant army. Through a series of cringing torture, Wilson ultimately becomes a mutant with extreme healing abilities. Wilson is not the same though and becomes acquires a demented appearance from the torture. Wilson escapes the facility and hopes to find Vanessa but he's not the only one. When the leader of this torture complex, Ajax (Ed Skrein) kidnaps Vanessa, Wilson takes on the mantle as a foul mouthed, hilarious anti-hero by the name of Deadpool.
     This film executed the character of Deadpool perfectly. Ryan Reynolds was born to play this character and got the bad taste of Green Lantern out of our mouth (but not before cracking a few jokes about it in this film). Reynolds isn't the only good performance in this film. The brutally honest Weasel (TJ Miller) and the straight edged X-Men, Colossus (Stefan Kapicic) work great with Deadpool. Skrein does a solid job as Ajax and ultimately gets the job done as the villain. The chemistry between the characters is remarkable but it's not the only well accomplished aspect of this movie.
     The director, Tim Miller, tackled the breaking of the fourth wall in a well timed and gut-busting manner. A worry of mine going into the film was that audiences would be drowned with jokes. However they were very well paced and beautifully written. This movie had a lot of talk around it when it was approved for an "R" rating. They could've easily just gave it a rated "R" for a storm of curse words and blood but they didn't. Even though there is a great bulk of curse words and blood, it isn't used as a cop out. It's very well placed and adds to the humor in a beautiful way. From the opening credits, audiences will be laughing their ass off. Although this movie isn't strictly humor and action.

     Miller accomplished a film with a lot of heart at its core. The relationship between Wade and Vanessa is surprisingly very well developed and easily buyable. Their deranged lifestyles mold well together. Another intriguing aspect of this film is the narrative trajectory. The film tells the story through a series of flashbacks and it works very well.
     There are very little concerns with this movie. One complaint is the secret-agency that tortures Wilson. The film could have explained this society a little better. We weren't really sure where they came from. They just showed up and tortured Wilson. It would've been nice to see a little more development. My next complaint is nit picking so it doesn't affect my rating too much. The budget for this film was next to nothing for a superhero film. There were a few shots that it was a little obvious that it was CGI. However that's a very minor complaint.
     Deadpool might be one of the better superhero films we've gotten in awhile and the fact it can poke fun at superhero films by breaking the fourth wall only enhances the experience. If you're old enough then I highly recommend going to see this film in theatre. It's so much fun and you will laugh the whole time.

Rating: 9.0 out of 10

13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi Review

     When most people hear the name Michael Bay they automatically think "Oh, that one dude who puts all those explosions in his movies". While this true in his more recent films especially the Transformers franchise, Bay has shown us that he can direct a solid action film if given the right story. Some of his previous films such as The Rock and Bad Boys often go unnoticed now. With 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi, Bay returns to his days of a high octane, fun, and entertaining action filmmaking.

     13 Hours tells the story of an elite group of Spec-Ops that must defend their base after an American ambassador is killed at a U.S. compound in Libya. However when their allies and enemies are just everyday people roaming the street, it makes for quite a confusing situation.
     It was great to see Bay make a film and not overdo it with classic Michael Bay-isms. There were many explosions. Although they were much needed and paced very well. There were no girls in daisy dukes washing tanks. There wasn't that overuse of blue and yellow lighting we get in every single one of his films. This felt like a natural and fresh take from his previous projects. Although there was one classic Bay-ism that took me away from the film.
     There are a lot of slow motion shots. While they work for some scenes, there were times where it just felt unneeded and dragged on a little too much. There were also some normal story problems as well. Pacing was a little off at times. It was understood, Bay was trying to show how war can often be waiting around at times, however it felt like this dragged on as well. I also felt as though are characters were never that vulnerable and it felt a little too patriotic at times. I am happy Bay did not dabble in the politics of this film but he could have done a little better with the character development.

     The performances in this film are pretty solid for the most part. Jack Silva played by John Krasinski is the main focus on the story and Krasinski really does well for his first action blockbuster. You can definitely see the anger in his eyes in certain scenes and he goes through quite the range of emotions in this film. The standout for me was Kris 'Tanto' Paranto played by Pablo Schreiber. Tanto is the kind of the comedic relief for this serious story but the jokes are well placed and stay true to the character. There was not any case where his jokes took the audience away from the action.
     This is just a January action-flick so the expectations weren't that high going in. Although this is a fun, pulse bounding, action film that I believe Michael Bay really needed for his career. Other then lack of character development, too much slo-mo at times, and bad pacing here and there, this is a pretty fun action film that you don't have to see in theatre but there's a smidge of more enjoyment by doing so.

Rating: 7.3 out of 10

The Revenant Review

     Is The Revenant the film that will finally win Leonardo DiCaprio an Oscar? That will certainly be an interesting result to see when the award ceremony rolls around in February but man does he give a stellar performance in The Revenant. This highly anticipated film directed by Alexander González Iñárritu has been the talk of award season. It just recently brought home the Golden Globes for Best Motion Picture - Drama. While it's not the best film of the year it certainly deserves much of the hype it has gotten thus far.
     The Revenant tells the story of Hugh Glass (Leonardo DiCaprio) a frontiersman who has been through quite a brutal turn of events. When Glass is left for dead after a bear attack and witnesses his son's death by the hands of John Fitzgerald (Tom Hardy), he will do whatever it takes to track down Fitzgerald and get his revenge.

     There are two elements of this movie that particularly stand out. The first is the brilliant cinematography. The cinematography was done by Emmanuel Lubezki who won the Oscar for Best Cinematography the last two years. This film also gained a lot of attention when audiences and critics found out Iñárritu was to shoot the majority of the film in natural lighting (there are some campfire scenes that use artificial lighting). Although you can tell Iñárritu is a little limited to mostly shoot during the day and at dusk or dawn, to pull off such a daunting task is incredibly impressive. You can see the beauty of it while watching this. This is not the only beautiful aspect of the cinematography though. We get those long continuous shots much like Iñárritu gave us in Birdman. However there are a bit more cuts in this film just because it switches locations at times. The long continuous shots put stress on the actors to perform well since there are less cuts which leads us into the second element of the film that really stood out.
     The acting in this movie is very well done. Even though DiCaprio is not given a lot of dialogue in the second act of this film, he carries the performance with body movements and facial expressions. That is very much easier said then done. DiCaprio is not the only stand out performance of this movie. Him and Tom Hardy both have such a powerful on screen presence when we get them together. You can tell they feed off each other very well. Hardy's character is beautifully written and acted out. It would not be surprising to see both DiCaprio and Hardy get an Oscar nomination. More particular stand outs in this film are Domnhall Gleeson and Will Poulter. Both of these young up and coming stars, bleed talent throughout this film.
     The only concern with this film was the second act and a little character development with Glass. Without giving away spoilers, we see him get attacked by the bear and they could have developed his recovery a little better. The first and the third act are brutal and has you on the end of your seat most of the way. However the second act has a bit of a problem with pacing and tends to drag on just a little bit. It seems as though they could have cut about twenty minutes out of this film.
    Although the pacing of the second act is a bit slow and Glass' recovery was a tad bit rushed, this is one of the best films to see in the theater all year due to the gorgeous cinematography and vast landscape that almost acts as its own character. Although it's not my favorite film of the year, I would very much recommend seeing it in theaters.

Rating: 9.0 out of 10

The Hateful 8 Review

   

     Critics say that the best directors are those who can get great performances from their actors and Quentin Tarantino certainly does so in his eighth feature film The Hateful 8. This film is surrounded with fantastic performances that help to carry this murder-mystery like story.
     Hateful 8 tells the story of John "The Hangman" Ruth (Kurt Russell) and his voyage to take Daisy Domergue (Jennifer Jason Leigh) to Red Rock, Wyoming in order to be hung. Unfortunately, inclement weather forces them to bunk up at at a nearby haberdashery. This haberdashery is not what it seems though. Full of deceit and conspiring, Ruth must do whatever he can from keeping Domergue from escaping.
     Quentin Tarantino manages to scrape out masterful performances on all cylinders with this film. Particular standouts include Kurt Russell, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Samuel L. Jackson, Tim Roth, Walter Goggins, and Michael Madsen. Tarrantino does an exquisite job of layering these characters and these performances really display that.

     Furthermore the story is very intriguing as well. This takes after many Tarantino's films in its manner to tell stories in an unorthodox order of events. It very much feels like a western Reservoir Dogs due to the use utilization of the majority of the story taking place in one setting and how the order of events are presented to the audience.
     There are only a few complaints with the him. The dialogue is a bit underwhelming at times. Tarantino does an effective job with the dialogue but it does not have that witty taste to it like most of his previous films. It is a bit dry at times. Some scenes tend to drag on as well. Tarantino scenes quite often are long and drawn out to increase the tension of the story. However in Hateful 8 there were some scenes that could of easily been cut down to decrease this run time of 2 hours and 47 minutes. Tarantino could have easily made this a great film but due to these complaints it's just pretty good.
     Overall this is a film that needs to be seen in theaters (preferably 70mm if you have the opportunity) due to its intriguing storyline and wonderful performances. If it weren't for the long runtime and dry dialogue at times this might be a legit Oscar contender.

Rating: 8.3 out of 10