TwitterReview: Vin Diesel is back as Xander Cage in the third entry of the “XXX” franchise, xXx: The Return of Xander Cage. Lots of action and fun. Grade: 3 stars
Movie Review: Rogue One, A Star Wars Story (2016)
The force returns…
Box Office Breakdown – 9/2/2016
Good morning Geek for E land! Hope you are all ready for a Labor Day holiday weekend. Anyone going to see anything new this weekend? Before you go out, here are the top five from last week.
Review: Suicide Squad, B-
“All my friends are heathens take it slow. Wait for them to ask you who you know. Please don’t make any sudden moves. You don’t know the half of the abuse” – Heathens by Twenty One Pilots (Suicide Squad soundtrack).
Yeah, those lyrics right about sum up this ragtag crew of misfits, weirdos, throwaways and just plain crazy folk. In fact, the entire soundtrack is a veritable ode to each of the characters. This film gets the job done. And by that I mean it’s a perfectly enjoyable action ride at the cinemaplex. What it’s not, is a fantasticly amazing, story intertwined, bridging of all things in the DC Universe. And that’s ok, it doesn’t need to be. I think there’s way too much pressure on comic book film-makers to not just make a good movie, which this is, but somehow weave magic into the story lines and forcibly captivate us into selling our young to get tickets to the next cross over or installment. How about just a fun and enjoyable ride? Suicide Squad is that. B-
This crew has some work to do…
Movie Review: Ghostbusters, 2016: A-
Don’t listen to the trolls, this is a funny and very original reboot. The story centers on Erin (Wiig) and Abby (McCarthy), two egghead scientists whose lives have taken different paths. After Erin is coerced into helping Abby and her new partner Jillian (played oh so well by Kate McKinnon of SNL fame) catch some ghosts, the team is reborn. After recruiting newcomer Patty (or did she recruit them?), the fearsome foursome battle city politics, and a skeptical public on their way to saving the city from a dark menace intent on unleashing all the evil spirits trapped in the realm between the dead and the living. Inspiring comedic performances by Chris Hemsworth as Kevin, a pretty-faced, but completely inept receptionist and of course Kate McKinnon as the eccentric Dr. Jillian Hotzmann. Stay through the initial credits for more fun. The only downer was the special effects used to create the final ghost (unless the film-makers were purposely doing an homage to the original 1980’s special effects capability). The original cast does manage to make it back onto the screen this time and each is used perfectly and in no way suggestive that they had any past involvement with Ghostbusting. Even Harold Ramis (who died last year) is represented, along with Ernie Hudson, Dan Akyroyd, Bill Murray and even Annie Potts who portrayed their original receptionist.
This is not the original and these ladies are dynamite!
TwitView: The Conjuring 2
Sequel slump averted – this film has scares, chills and creepyness just like it’s predecessor. The horror is upped a bit here, but it’s still got that claustrophobic chill director James Wan does so well. Recommended for all horror fans. Horror lightweight? You may want to stay home…or wait ’til Netflix, when you can watch with the lights on. Grade: A
“Warcraft” – so, that happened.
At a hair over two hours, Warcraft feels like four. That’s a hint and a half for your poor theater-seat tuchas, and your poor confused brain. Confused? Yep; because all through Warcraft there will be one overwhelming question on your mind:
What the [RADIO EDIT] is going on here?
I don’t know. Wish I could tell you. And apparently the screenwriters, director and cast don’t know either. Pity. The trailer was awesome. Really had me psyched for this. Unfortunately, a muddled script that feels like nobody bothered to check continuity when rewrites hit, hobbled this film. Crippled it beyond any hope of salvation.
Pity, as the cast is as game as they can be, considering they all have the shell-shocked look of ones who know they’ve made a horrible, horrible mistake that they’ll never be able to walk away from.
Plot? Here ’tis: stop the Orcs. That’s it.
Writer/Director Duncan Jones obviously got too close to his film, and apparently had nobody to tell him that nothing made sense. And that’s a pity crying shame, because Warcraft is gorgeous to look at. Art direction, costuming, set design; it’s all very well done.
Don’t bother, unless you’re a diehard D&D, Fantasy or of course a WoW fan.
TwitView: Me Before You
Light, fluffy romance that has a core of real-life tragedy that’s never fully explored. But Clarke and Caflin are amazing together, and it’s beautiful to look at. Bring tissues, and your ability to sail past the idea that perhaps this romance never would have happened if he wasn’t blessed with the money to keep the all too real daily hardships deep under cover. Grade: B
MOVIE REVIEW: Captain America, Civil War (2016)
The short of it:
Cap is back but a young nerdy Spider-Man steals the show! Full of explosions, action and laughter; Cap hits on all cylinders. This is the Avenger’s movie you have always wanted to see.
The long of it:
Exactly that! Weighing in at over two and half hours, Captain and his Civil War bring us on a an almost nonstop thrill ride. Almost.
Cap and the Avengers are presented with a decision that will only end up tearing them apart, a very obvious undertone of most of the movies, creating fun for us all. Tony and Cap are on different sides throughout this film, all the while bring full on bromance to the big screen. Their relationship is torn apart and rebuilt from the ground up many times throughout leaving secrets, pains, and people in their wake.
The film continues to delve into the past of all of our beloved characters, from Clint (Hawkeye) deciding to retire, Tony being introduced to a part of his past only a few were privy to, and introductions of new and exciting characters to the team.
From the Blank Panther (who was honestly meh…) to Ant-Man (Paul Rudd is the same guy in every movie! Am I right!?!) the team is assembled. BUT not until the introduction of Aunt May and the amazing Spider-Man does the film ramp up. The humor, the action, the scene stealing by Spider-Man makes the entire movie come together, like glue (or a sticky web!). Cap still has his awesome muscles bulging for the ladies, the romantic undertones, the action packed throwing of his amazing shield and his undying bromance with Bucky, but Spider-Man makes this movie what it is.
A great film with a large number of Superheroes in it!
The culmination of events in the film leads us down a road that can’t really end well. Not the storyline but the pace at which the story is told. It’s up and down and up and down and super high, and that is only two thirds of the way through the film, leaving a large mountain to climb to win us back for the last third. The pacing of the film could have been fixed. 15 to 20 minutes could have been shaved off to allow for a better climax to the film, rather than meeting us half way.
Overall the film was a great introduction to Spider-Man and what he will become in the universe played out before us already. The action scenes, the acting, and even the humor was spot on! This is a must see film with it’s high points and even low points. Cap and the crew put on a wonderful show all the while struggling to understand more about themselves and each other!
4 out of 5 stars (Matt Snider/GeekForE) #civilwar, #captainamerica, #mcu, #geekfore
TwitView: “Mother’s Day”
A whole lot funnier – and, surprisingly, sweeter – than I anticipated. Then again, I anticipated sheer crap. Director Gary Marshall manages to take what could have been a hideous train wreck of sap and turns it into a light, fun piece that may not stick with you for very long, but won’t cause any lasting damage either. A full grade bump-down for an absolutely horrible, bouncy sap-fest end credits song. Grade: B-