King Arthur: Legend of the Sword | Movie Review

 This was an outstanding film by one of my favorite directors, Guy Richie.  If you are unfamiliar with his work, he is the director of Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, Snatch and the two Sherlock Holmes films w/ Robert Downey, Jr. and Jude Law.  

In this film, Guy brings back Jude Law and has a great cast lead by Charlie Hunnam (Sons of Anarchy & Pacific Rim).  This is was Guy attempt at period pieces and he placed his own flair as usual on to it.  With great dialog and cinematography, Guy brings on what I call, another masterpiece.  

Charlie Hunnam does a great job portraying King Arthur as he tries hard to take on his destiny welding the mighty Excalibur and leading a small band to take over the thrown.  Jude Law was also great as he did a good job making me not like him.  Not as comedic as his precious roles, but a nice performance nonetheless. I also give a nod to Aidan Gillen, Eric Bana and Djimon Hounsou.  Great supporting cast.  

Scores (out of 4)

Charlie Hunnam: 3.5

Jude Law: 3.2

Djimon Hounsou: 3.4

Aiden Gillen: 3.3

Eric Bana: 2.7

Writing: 3.7

Cinematography: 3.9

Production: 3.5

Soundtrack: 3.8

Direction: 3.3

Overall: 3.4 (B+)

Little Boxes | Movie Review

 Grade: B-

So we stumbled in to this film late on Monday night on Netflix as it recommended it based on my wife's interest.  It stars Melanie Lynskey (Two and a Half Men), Nielsen Ellis (True Blood), Janeane Garofalo and introducing Armani Jackson.  

A family up roots themselves from Brooklyn, NY and moves to Rome, Washington for a job at a university.  They encounter some new things in this new small town and experience in a sense corruptions that changes them in a drastic way.  

There are some senses of racism, but not in an evil way and the folks of the small town are way more welcoming than expected.  Adjustment in a new house while waiting on their product from the movers prove to be very difficult how they fair by the end of the movie?  Well you will have to check it out and see. 

A was a very intriguing film.  Definitely not very predictable at all.  The performance was subtle by the main cast and the supporting cast showed some eye opening moments.   Especially this young lady who befriends Clark.  

Check it out if you like.  Pretty good film to stumble on to. 

And yes.  They do play the song.  

Don't Breathe | Movie Review

So um yeah.  

The makers of "The Evil Dead" brings a unique and very suspenseful thriller called, "Don't Breathe".  This movie in a nutshell puts a group of young thieves in the hunt for a major cash flow in a house occupied by a old, blind, ex-military man.   They go in thinking it will be a piece of cake, but things take a major turn and discoveries make it more and more difficult to finish the task at hand.  The ending will make probably leave you with mixed feelings.   

To be honest with you I was not sure about this one until I saw a trailer that made me say, "Oh man!  I think I need to see this one."  My partner in crime of Twist Cone was not sure at first, but she changed her mind very, surprisingly quickly.  It turned in to an incredible film that constantly made us ask, "Where the hell are they now?!"  I definitely kept our attention from start to end.  I feel the best performance was from Stephen Lang who played The Blind Man.  

Highly recommended this film in which ever way you please.  

Grade: 8/10

Make Your Mark

Per the request of a friend, we decided to see the movie, The Good Dinosaur.   I will admit I was not sure if I wanted to see this movie even though I never miss a Pixar film, but I am a bit cautious when Pixar decides to release 2 films in one year.   The same with The Marvel Cinematic Universe.  So with a slightly closed mind I prepared to see this movie.  

The movie starts off with a hypothetical asking what if 65 million years ago, the asteroid didn't hit the Earth killing the dinosaurs.  Even though I do not enjoy speculation,  I do love hypothetical movies.  Millions of years later it shows how life on Earth could be if that happens.  It was kind of nice, showing the birth of a new family and those in the family learning their way I life.  

It was to me, pretty much predictable until the young dinosaur starts on his challenging journey.  In a nutshell, he suffers a loss, meets some new people, learns some life lessons and makes a friend from an enemy.

This movie had to grow on me and it did.  As it progressed, it just got better, to me.   The two folks who went with me weren't too impressed (including the one why suggested it), but I ended up thoroughly pleased with it.   

One of them said it was really good from a kids prospective, but I rate all movies mostly the same.  This movie was very good.   Like Inside Out, it was pretty thought provoking and could challenge your way of thinking only if you open your mind to the hypothetical.  

Check it out if ya like.  I would see it again with my nieces and nephews.  

Score: 7/10

Star Wars: The Force Awakens Official Trailer - Review

THAT! JUST! HAPPENED!

The Official Trailer has released!  Ticket sales in the US have sold out pretty much for the weekend release.  Maybe for the entire week up to Christmas.  This trailer.............Ok I was going to rant on that word, but I am going to leave that for future blog entry. This trailer was very impressive and epic.  You can definitely tell that this movie is being done by J.J. Abrams.  Very ominous and looks action packed.  I can see it being as deep or dark like the Star Trek movies he directed.

The X-Wings look great, the Tie Fighters look great and my favorite, Millennium Falcon, looked outstanding.  I wish it would stopped being chased by the empire.  FIGHT BACK!!!!

I didn't jizz like most of the Sci-Fi fandom world, but I am more excited about this film.  Our marathon will begin in a couple weeks.  One movie each week.  I wish I can go through the Clone Wars series, but I don't own it. 

I hope you all will have fun with your own marathons (I Know You Are Having Marathons!).  Also, enjoy Episode VII.

Later.................

Movie Review: Scortch Trials

So yeah!  I am watching the new book to film franchises!  So what of it.  I did it before with:

So now I have moved on to franchises including:

 

 

 

I know you would say, "but Wil.  These are series for the teenagers.  There is no reason you should show any interest in them!".  True, but I do show interest.  I will admit that I was very resistant in checking them out, but later I did and I found them intriguing.  So, judge all you want!  This is where I am and that's that!  Yeah!!

 

And with that I have pick up a new franchise:

 

Like the previous trifecta of series, my wife was into the initial films especially after reading the books and then after seeing the trailers for their sequels, I became interested.  That happened again with The Maze Runner.  My whole deal with movies is that the trailer/preview must sell me.  It must show interesting to me, not give away too much and the casting must make sense.  With Maze Runner, it just didn't sell.  The premise was a bit too obvious and silly to me.  I know there is usually more, a lot more to this, but the job of the trailer is to sell the movie, right?  So, I said nay to the movie, but then after seeing the trailer for the sequel, The Scorch Trials, I was very interested.  So we rent the initial film and later checked out the sequel.

 

 

Now on to the review of the sequel.  This movie in some way showed some predictability, but not too much.  The kids move on from their rescue and brave the scorch on their way to try to find answers about the maze trail, WCKD and the virus.  They didn't exactly have a goal.  Like teenagers, they were completely impulsive.  They did learn a lot through their journey and reached a new destination.  Now something has happen that makes then need to return what they were running from.  Very Star Wars like.  I was happy to see Giancarlo Esposito and Lily Taylor in the movie.  I am looking to the next installment to see how this finishes out.

Owner: Maybe     Grade: 7/10

Out of the Frying Pan - Movie Review

The Hobbit - 4.5 Stars

So I have now seen this movie twice. Actually never thought I would do that, but I am glad I did.

PeterJackson has done it again, folks. The Hobbit was an extremely enjoyable movie. I had been a very long while since I read the book so I barely remember any of it. It was well done for a prequel. I felt it ran strong from the beginning to the end.

There was a lot more comedy than LOTR and just about as much action. I does make you see the dwarves in a different light.

Martin Freeman (The Office and Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy) was great as Bilbo. Funny as always and never disappointing. It was also, of course, great to see Ian McKellan, Hugo Weaving, Cate Blanchett, Ian Holm, Elijah Wood and Andy Serkis.

I is definitely a must see in the theaters if you love Lord of the Rings.

Looking forward to the next movie.

Until then.......

Watchmen

So we went to see Watchmen in IMAX this past Sunday. The last time I want to see an IMAX film was in June '08, The Dark Knight. Well I have to say that Watchmen was a very good film, but definately was not worth the hype people made it out to be. This was a very complex film that seem to deal more about the heroes unstable emotions then their abilities or advnetures.

The big deal keep hearing about was Dr. Manhatten and how he loves to go in the buff a lot. It is true, but it wasn't that big of a deal. Lots of graphic fighting and an intense love scene. I do recommend this film to all who are interested. Probably don't need to see it in IMAX though.

I give it 3 out of 5.

Hulk Smash

4 Stars

So we went out to see The Incredible Hulk this past Tuesday and I must say it was great. It was great to see Ed Norton in an intense film again. The last great film I enjoyed him in was American History X.

Tim Roth was another big surprise, too. He did a great as a skillful soldier with a great lust for power.

Liv Tyler was okay, but a bit annoying as Elizabeth Ross, love interest of Banner. She seem like she was reliving Aewen (I could never spell that right).

Overall the film was well done. Still don't know if it was a sequel or not, but definitely better then the first.

Later......