The Wolf of Wall Street

The Wolf of Wall Street, based on a true story, is about Jordan Belfort, and how he made astronomical amounts of money through the stock market using illegal and corruptive practices.  Starring Leonardo Dicaprio, Jonah Hill, and Matthew McConaughey (don't get excited, he has 2 whole scenes; seriously), and directed by Martin Scorcese, the movie is 3 hours of nonstop movement (yeah, that's the word I think fits best).

So, what did I think?  Well, let's start w/ a rating.  I rate it:  4/5 stars.  The movie is rated "R," however, some of the scenes were close to a rating of "NC-17."  Seriously.  There is a LOT of nudity.  A LOT.  And a LOT of excessive drug use.  I guess the creators, wanted to show a close depiction of how this guy really lived.  Wow.  I knew that with this being a Scorcese film, that nothing is as it seems.  The previews show a lot of fun scenes, tons of money being thrown around, etc., and I knew there was another side...HOWEVER.  Seriously though, I did enjoy it, Leonardo did a really good job playing the part of Jordan, it was just a lot to take in all at once. 

I also never heard of Jordan Belfort.  As I did some reading about him on the 'net, I read that the movie Boiler Room was loosely based on him.  So, I would say that this movie was a great mix of Boiler Room and the movie Wall Street.  And I really liked those movies.

Saving Mr. Banks

Saving Mr. Banks is a true story about the work that went into the movie adaptation of the novel, "Mary Poppins."  Walt Disney and his team had the insurmountable task of working with the difficult (in every possible way) author, P. L. Travers, in trying to convince her to go with their ideas to make her work a masterpiece on screen.

Rating:  4/5 stars

I gotta admit, I'm slightly biased, as I am a fan of "Mary Poppins," the infamous Mouse (shame on you if you don't know who I'm referring to), and Disney in general, HOWEVER, despite all of this, the movie  was really good.  Tom Hanks was funny, Emma Thompson did a PHENOMENAL job portraying Travers.  She was especially persnickety and funny.  I was surprised to see Colin Farrell, who did a great job as well.  I learned a lot of stuff I didn't know, I got to sing some of my favorite tunes from the "Mary Poppins" movie, I have the burning desire to go find the book and read it now, and it was just good, clean, fun.  Younger kids (I wouldn't take anyone younger than 7) would have a hard time sitting still, and a lot would be over their heads, but, a good family film.  If I had to sum it up in one word, I would simply say it was "magical." :-)

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

Walter Mitty is a lonely daydreamer who lives a life with no excitement.  None.  That all changes when Walter is faced with an ultimate challenge.

Rating:  4/5 stars

When I watched some of the previews, I had a general idea of what the movie was about, but, there was still a lot of uncertainty.  It looked interesting enough, however, I still wasn't quite sure what to expect.  I was pleasantly surprised.  I loved this movie!  I laughed, and jumped, and enjoyed every single moment.  The scenery was phenomenal, there was just enough action to keep you engaged, and I was secretly adding items and locations to my bucket list throughout the movie.  If I told you what my true take away from the movie was, it would ruin it for you.  So, I will say instead that "you never know what life has to offer if you don't take a look around."  Kristen Wiig and Shirley MacLaine also star.  Check this one out, you won't be disappointed!!

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

 

The travelling Hobbit, Bilbo Baggins, is back to continue his quest with the dwarves and Gandalf the Grey which bagan in the 1st installment of this trilogy, The Hobbit:  An Unexpected Journey.  It is difficult to go into a lot of detail regarding this movie because it is just that, a LOT of detail.  The combination of special effects, music, and the details that are depicted through landscapes and conversations (there were times where I felt like I was reading the story vs watching it) truly brought this tale to life (which means the director did a phenomenal job). 

BTW - the quest (for those of you that don't know or didn't see the 1st movie) is to reclaim the dwarves homeland Erebor, from Smaug, a dragon.

Rating:  4/5 stars - I enjoyed this movie as much as the 1st, maybe even more so because my absolute FAVORITE character of ALL time (in this series anyway and Lord of the Rings), Legolas (played by Orlando Bloom) is back!  I also liked this one because they gave a little bit more history and background of the characters.  I will warn you though, the parts that I didn't like are that it was 2 hours and 40 minutes long.  While I'm used to these movies being long (and I know they have to be in order to give the history and details, etc), HOWEVER, it seemed exceptionally long AND to STILL have a cliffhanger was just TORTURE.  Yes, I know it is a trilogy and I expected a cliffhanger, but, that's besides the point. :-)  So anyway, if you like any part of The Lord of the Rings movies and/or you saw The Hobbit:  An Unexpected Journey, you will enjoy it!

P.S. - I forgot to add that this one was pretty decent in 3-D!!

All Is Lost

 

 

 

All is Lost stars Robert Redford as a sailor in the middle of a large body of water (presumably an ocean).  The character faces several challenges throughout his voyage including leaks, storms, and almost anything you can possibly imagine happening while at sea.

Rating:  4/5 stars

Let me just say that this movie was quite something!  I never thought I would enjoy a movie like this as much as I did, as there were less than 45 words spoken throughout the ENTIRE movie, Robert Redford was the only person in the movie, and there were several times that I had no clue what was going on (in regards to the circumstances).  But let me just say, don't let those reasons stop you from seeing it!  Redford did a phenomenal job at mastering the solo scenes and pulling the viewer into his world.  It was awesome watching him deal with each issue that came his way.  To tell you more would ruin it, but, it is indeed a must see!!

The Book Thief

 

 

Synopsis:  During World War II, Liesel goes to live with a new family in Germany.  During this time, there is fear among the Jewish population, as they have been ostracized by Hitler and are fearful for their lives.  Max, a young Jewish man, also comes to live with this new family, in hiding from Hitler's troops.  Together, Liesl, Max, and the family learn things about themselves and each other, the importance of words, and how something so small could be so meaningful.

Rating:  4.5/5 stars

Talk about a good movie!  The story sucks you in from the very beginning.  At times, I was reminded of the movie, The Diary of Anne Frank, however, the story is about so many different things.  I also love the point of view used.  All in all, this was very moving, heartwarming, and enjoyable.

Side note:  I am a reader, however, I have slacked off lately.  This movie made me want to go home and dive into a book.  

Black Nativity

Synopsis:  Black Nativity is a musical about a boy from Baltimore who is sent to New York to live with grandparents he has never met, and in turn, learns more about himself and his past.

This movie stars Angela Basset, Forest Whitaker, Jennifer Hudson, Tyrese, and Mary J. Blige, and is a good mix of songs and acting.

Rating:  3/5 stars.  I like musicals, I do.  But, I think I would have enjoyed this movie more if I saw the musical first.  Some of the songs were at points where I wanted to hear more acting, but, sometimes, the singing did fit.  Angela Basset and Forest Whitaker performed as expected (job well done).  Jennifer Hudson also did well.  Oh yeah, Nas is in the movie as well, but, just for a few minutes.

The Best Man Holiday

Synopsis:  The group from the movie, 'The Best Man' are back, this time to celebrate the holidays together, picking up almost where they left off.

I thought the movie was very good and well done.  If you didn't see the first one or haven't seen it since it came out in '99, its ok, because this is almost a totally different movie; new plot, save the characters and their personalities, and um their flaws lol.

I didn't have a favorite character in the original, but after watching 'Holiday,' Quentin is BY FAR my favorite!!  Some laughs, some tears, and overall great!!

Rating:  4.5/5 stars - I always hate when some of the preview scenes don't make it to the movie, so don't be surprised if you're looking for a specific clip and you never see it :-(

Thor: The Dark World

Thor is back!!  I'm such a fan - yes part of it is that Chris Hemsworth and Idris Elba star, but, I do like the character as well, thank you very much :-)

So, Thor has a new nemesis (well, not new, but, you get the picture), and he has to save the Universe once again. 

Before all you comic book fans and "Marvel geeks" come out of the movie reporting what was wrong and what could've been done better or should have been done differently, let me just tell you that yes, you will find something that you don't like.  So, allow me to make a suggestion.  How about going in with the mindset of "its just a movie" and enjoy it for what it is, pure entertainment.

Did I like it?  YUP, LOVED it!!!!  Nope, not as good as the first, but, like I said, it's Thor, who cares? :-) 

What I loved:

1.  Special Effects
2.  Action
3.  Tiny bits of sarcasm and cute pockets of humor

And the ABSOLUTE BEST PART????

The Previews!!!!  Seriously, they showed previews for the next X-Men movie, Days of Future Past, as well as the next Captain America, The Winter Soldier, (which by the way, looks 10 times better than the first)!

Just my 2 cents :-) - oh yeah, make sure you stay until the VERY END (after ALL the credits)!!

Rating:  3.5/5 stars

Ender's Game

Based on the sci-fi novel, Ender's Game takes place in the future, after aliens have attacked Earth and killed tons of humans.  The citizens of Earth swore they would never let that happen again, and devised a defense plan which consisted of training children to be skillful in combat and war strategy so that when the time came, they would lead the fight against and defeat the aliens.

Had to put my handy dandy lists together for this one.

What I LOVED:

1.  The special effects - they were GREAT!  (You have got to see this in IMAX)
2.  The training action scenes
3.  Asa Butterfield (who played the main character) did a really good job!

What I didn't necessarily care for:

1.  There honestly wasn't much.  Harrison Ford's voice was a little annoying, but, it was easy enough to ignore.

If you enjoy Star Wars, love sci-fi (well even if you don't love sci-fi), enjoy technology, then you will really like this movie!  But, I think that even if you're not a fan of all of the above, you'll enjoy it just because its cool to look at, the special effects were good, and it kind of just draws you in.  I could definitely see this one again.

Rating:  4/5 stars 

Enough Said

Enough Said is about the day (well, days really) in the life of a massage therapist (Eva, played by Julia Louis-Dreyfus).   Eva is a divorced, single mother who spends her days going in and out of people's homes listening to their endless chatter about their lives while giving massages.

Fast forward (I don't want to ruin it by giving you every detail)....Eva has met someone that is charming and funny and things seem to be moving right along.  While working with a  new client (Marianne), Eva learns that this client is the ex-wife of her "Mr. Charming (Albert, played by James Gandolfini)," and listens to EVERY bit of information that Marianne shares about Albert.  As most people know, its not always a good thing to know "the good, the bad, and the ugly" details about someone that you just met and are dating. 

So, I'll have to end this here.  To tell you more as well as the ending would ruin it, and that's not gonna happen.  I can tell you that its not as predictable as you think :-), and I think it is a good movie.  It reminded me a lot of the television show, "The New Adventures of Old Christine," partly because Julia Louis-Dreyfus was the main character of the tv show, but also because the lives of the characters were the same; divorced, dating single mother with interesting comical adventures.  Yeah, would definitely consider it a chick flick (I cried once), but, it was really funny too.  And it was nice to see James Gandolfini, although a bit surreal.  Anyway, check it out.  I think you'll enjoy it.

Rating:  3/5 stars

The Counselor

Well, I would tell you what this movie is about, but, unfortunately, I can't.  I can't because I honestly have no idea.  Yes, I was in the theater, and my eyes were open (for most of the movie anyway), but, yeah...

So, here's my attempt at a summary.  The Counselor is about an attorney who has a plan.  It takes about 1/2 of the movie before you put two and two together to figure out exactly what the plan is.  There's a love interest, (Penelope Cruz) and a few other characters (Brad Pitt, Javier Bardem, Cameron Diaz) that are involved.  Once I sort of figured it all out, the plot goes a totally different direction and I was left asking myself if I really just wasted almost 2 hours of a perfectly good day.  I seriously could've been spent that time watching grass grow, I'm almost sure I would have enjoyed that more.

So, I'll add this to my list of "not so enjoyable movies of 2013."  This ranks right up there next to Getaway.  (See review here).  Save your money.Seriously.

Rating:  1.5/5 stars

Last Vegas

As childhood friends, Billy, Paddy, Archie, and Sam were inseparable and enjoyed great times together.  Fast forward to 2013 (some 65 years later), and their adventures continue.  4 old guys (there words, not mine) go to Vegas for one (several actually) unforgettable experiences, and show their family, friends, doubters, and the world that just because you get older doesn't mean you stop living.

This movie was awesome!  I LAUGHED (at some parts more than others), but, this was true enjoyment!  Morgan Freeman.  That's all, there is no need to elaborate, as he is "The Man" (as usual).  Robert DeNiro did a great job at comedy (even with his usual straight, no nonsense face), and I was actually impressed with Kevin Kline too (I never looked at him as old, but, he definitely held his own w/ this cast).  Yup, if you're looking for something different to see that you will enjoy, check this one out.

Rating:  4/5 stars

Escape Plan

Sylvester Stallone plays a guy (Breslin) who makes a living breaking out of prisons to expose the weak areas and links in the penal system.    Somehow, Breslin gets double-crossed and ends up in an unknown, sophisticated, high-tech, impenetrable prison, that is run by a warden whose main goal is to maintain order, no matter the cost. 

Arnold Schwarzenegger plays a convict (Rottmayer) who wants to get out of this particular prison.  The two meet, and the rest is history.  Well, not quite, there is more to the story.  But, you can kind of put two and two together :-).

Anyway, I thought I would do an oldie but goodie, and insert some lists at this point:

What I loved:

1.  Huge fan of watching Breslin work.  Its always neat to see one make something out of nothing.
2.  Stallone & Schwarzenegger make a good team.  Took me back to 'Tango & Cash.'

What could've been better:

1.  The movie was too long in parts.  I didn't get bored, but, I did want it to speed up some.
2.  It had a "been there, seen it before" kind of feel.  Can't quite put my finger on it, but, it did.
3.  I was not a fan of the warden (Jim Caviezel - High Crimes) - but wait, that means he actuallly did a good job and shouldn't be in this list huh?

Rating:  2.5-3/5 stars - I only score it kind of low because of what I already stated.  The action scenes were decent, and like I said S & S made a good team, but, I probably won't be adding it to my dvd collection, and I would recommend seeing it at matinee cost.

Just my two cents :-)

The Fifth Estate

I think I will classify The Fifth Estate as an "informational thriller;" contains a bunch of information and is thrilling, but, not suspenseful.  It could probably be classified as a drama, too, but, not really to me.  Ok so anyway, the movie is about Wikileaks; it's founder, how the organization works, what the concept/purpose of it is, etc.

Before seeing this, I had heard of the organization and heard of some of the information that was leaked (most recently, Snowden), but other than that, I was pretty clueless.  After seeing this however, I think I have a better idea about it.  Based on a novel written by one of the former Wikileaks employees, the movie follows Daniel Berg (a techie) as he begins to get involved in the world of secrets and life as a journalist, and the fine line of what information should actually be released no matter the cost.

Rating:  3/5 stars - I enjoyed it.  The movie held my interest from the beginning and I always like to see "true stories" brought to life on the big screen.  It was also really cool to see Daniel Bruhl on the screen so soon after he played the role of Niki Lauda in Rush.

The Inevitable Defeat of Mister & Pete

The Inevitable Defeat of Mister & Pete is about an 8th grader named Mister (don't ask).  This is a kid that faced a struggle in every aspect of his life; school (he was failing miserably), home (he lived in public housing, didn't have much food, and his mother was a heroin addict), socially (zero friends), and yet, he managed to keep it all together, (on the surface anyway).

During the Summer, Mister's struggles become real (as if they weren't already) when his mother is taken away, and he is forced to take care of himself and his young naive neighbor, Pete. 

First, let me just say WOW!! I had sort of an idea what I was getting into when I went to see this, but, yeah.  Some parts were very hard to watch, but, I admired what young Mister was able to accomplish on his own.  The movie definitely made me reconsider before throwing food away, going out to eat, and what I spent money on.

Executively produced by Alicia Keys and others, Jennifer Hudson did a dynamite job playing Mister's mother.  I was also pleasantly surprised to see Anthony Mackie, Jordin Sparks, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje (The Mummy Returns), and Jeffrey Wright (007's Casino Royale).

Rating:  3.5/5 stars

Runner Runner

Runner Runner is about a cheater that gets cheated, in a nutshell. 

But, its so not that simple.  Richie Furst (Timberlake) is just trying to pay his way through school, by playing internet poker, and after he is cheated out of his money by Ivan Block (Affleck), Richie decides that this "wrong must be righted," and goes after Ivan in an attempt to retrieve his money.  Ivan gives Richie an opportunity of a lifetime to make more than he could possible imagine, and of course, that is never as good or as easy as it seems.

I liked this one.  I'm a fan of JT and Ben Affleck, but, they both seriously did a good job.  Sometimes, I thought I had it all figured out, but, there's always something that I didn't consider.  I loved that Justin played an extremely intelligent character, and Anthony Mackie did a great job as well (as usual).

Rating:  3/5 stars

About Time

If you were given the ability to go back through time and change or relive it, would you?  Well, at the age of 21, Tim learns that he can do just that.  Tim, a young man living a boring life, decides to take this "gift" and use it in search of that which is sometimes the hardest thing to find:  true love.  Of course through his adventures, Tim learns some hard lessons, and that sometimes, some moments should be enjoyed exactly as they are.

Totally a chick flick, but, a VERY good one!  Don't worry guys, I promise you won't be bored if you are "chosen" to attend this one w/ a special someone :-) And yes, I laughed, cried, and totally enjoyed this one!

About Time stars Rachel McAdams (The Notebook, The Time Traveler's Wife), who once again does NOT disappoint, Bill Nighy (Underworld, Valkyrie), and Domhnall Gleeson (Harry Potter's Bill Weasley).  If you loved The Notebook, this one will become a favorite as well.

Rating:  3.5/5 stars

Thanks For Sharing

Thanks For Sharing is a movie about a group of people going through Recovery.  Not from alcoholism or drugs, but, from sex.  Yup, you read that correctly, sex addicts.  Now, I didn't know that when I went to see it.  I had read in the brief synopsis posted on one of the movie ticket purchase sites that it was about a group of addicts and saw that Mark Ruffalo, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Tim Robbins were starring in it.  So, I figured with a cast like that, it had to be good.

Well, I gambled correctly.  And, there was a surprise member of the cast (surprise to me anyway), Alecia Moore AKA Pink, who did a really good job (by the way). 

To recap, Thanks For Sharing is about a group of sex addicts and their journey to recovery.  A romantic comedy (although I don't know if I would label it as that - more of a "light drama with some comedy" I think).  And FYI, the whole movie does not consist of a bunch of people sitting in group meetings), I definitely found myself rooting for each of the characters, especially Dr. Banner.  Oops, I mean Mark Ruffalo :-)

Rating:  3.5/5 stars

Gravity

Gravity stars Sandra Bullock and George Clooney, who portray two U.S. astronauts on a mission in outer space when something goes terribly wrong.  What follows is 90 minutes of intensity that truly made me ok w/ not adding space travel to my bucket list.

So, let me share my thoughts:

1.  I was hesitant to see Gravity because in every single one of the previews, all they ever showed was Sandra Bullock floating into space asking for anyone to respond to her.  I thought that was all it was going to be about.

2.  The movie is slow for all of 5 minutes.  The remaining 85 minutes will have you on the edge of your seat.  Yup, I actually talked to the movie this time, sorry, but, it was so necessary.  I just know I helped out the characters in the movie.

3.  The special effects and cinematography are out.of.this.world!  I mean, it is space after all.  So, spend the extra few dollars and see it in 3D, and even in IMAX 3D, SO TOTALLY worth it!

Rating:  4/5 stars

Baggage Claim

Baggage Claim stars Paula Patton (Montana), a flight attendant who is searching for love...and a husband.  Enter her crazy "helpful" friends played by Jill Scott and Adam Brody who use the friendly skies in an attempt to grant her request.

I laughed.  Seriously laughed.  My mother and grandmother have these laughs that are so contagious that when you hear them, you will laugh, not even knowing what you're laughing at.  Yeah, it was like that at times (especially the last 15 minutes).  And whomever was in charge of casting did a DYNAMITE job putting Rickey Smiley, Thomas Miles, Jenifer Lewis, not to mention ALL the good looking men (Derek Luke, Taye Diggs, Djimon Hounsou, and how could I forget Boris Kodjoe, whew!) together.  More laughs than morals and lessons, however, the lessons that were included were important, profound, and something to take note of.

Just a little predictable (but honestly, what movie isn't these days?), but not enough that it is annoying.  You should definitely check this one out!

Rating:  4/5 stars

Rush

Talk about a ride!  Rush portrays the rivalry between Formula One race car drivers James Hunt (Liam Hemsworth) and Niki Lauda (Daniel Bruhl) that took place during the '70s.  The movie takes you up close and personal with each of the drivers and their lifestyles, gives a pretty good impression of what it feels like to be behind the wheel of the race car as well as reminds the viewer how grave and dangerous the occupation is.

One driver is clearly made out to be more likeable than the other, and you feel the pain each race car driver in the movie faces when there is any type of accident.  Since this took place in the early '70s, I wasn't familiar w/ the rivalry or the drivers (I had heard of Andretti though).  But after today, I think I have a pretty good understanding/idea of it/them.

Rating:  4/5 stars - Directed by Ron Howard.  Good job as usual :-)

Instructions Not Included (No se Aceptan Devoluciones - original title)

Meet Valentin.  Valentin is from Acapulco, Mexicom and his #1 job is to flirt with and enjoy the company of all the visiting tourists, do just enough to get by, and try his absolute hardest to avoid responsibility.  Unbeknownst to Valentin, he has a daughter with an American named Julie (Jessica Lindsey) who decides that she is not ready to be a mother and that it is time for Valentin to take care of their daughter, Maggie.  Valentin does exactly what any parent would do; he sacrifices his care-free life and his home to raise Maggie as best he can.

Instructions Not Included has been getting a lot of buzz lately, so, I added it to my list of "movies to see," and even more so because it is an independent movie (and I've been digging these a lot lately; thumbs up Hollywood). 

What I did not know was that the ENTIRE movie was in Spanish and I had to read sub-titles.  BUT, do NOT let that deter you - this movie was funny (like, for real LOL funny), endearing, and all around great (and even had a little twist).  So, take a chance, step outside of the "typical, been there done that" type movies and check this one out.  I promise you won't regret it!!

Rating:   3.5/5 stars

Blue Jasmine

Blue Jasmine was written and directed by Woody Allen.  I decided to give it a chance, since the last one I saw by the director was Hannah and Her Sisters, (which I really was too young to truly comprehend, and was totally over my head).  So, like I said, I decided to give this a chance, I mean hey, it's Woody Allen, right?  Anywho, on to the review...

The movie is about a woman (Jasmine) who once lived a lifestyle of the rich and famous; she and her husband had a home in the Hamptons, she owned designer clothes, purses, and shoes, and she attended and gave tons of extravagant dinner parties.  After a turn of events, she becomes penniless and goes to live with her divorced sister and kids in San Francisco. 

Movie highs:

1.  Decent plot; it continued to unravel during various flashbacks
2.  Great cast (Alec Baldwin, Cate Blanchett, Andrew Dice Clay, and Bobby Cannavale)
3.  Laughable moments

Movie lows:

1.  The ending totally left me hanging.  I mean, I had no idea what to infer.  I had all types of questions, and I really wanted to know what happened (I was NOT a happy camper, lol).  I seriously sat looking at the screen for a couple of minutes trying to close my mouth from the disappointment.

So, I say all that to say that I was disappointed.  Started off great, cast did a tremendous job, wonderful throughout, and went downhill at the ending. :-(

Rating:  2.5/5 stars

Captain Phillips

In 2009, a band of Somali pirates hijacked a US cargo ship, and kidnapped its captain.  Tom Hanks portrays the lead character and in his usual fashion, takes the viewers through a roller coaster ride of emotions and nail-biting moments.

Very much like Zero Dark Thirty and Argo (also based on real life events), I was on the edge of my seat waiting for what I knew what would eventually happen.  Slow at times, I got excited when the Navy and the Navy Seals became involved in the situation.  Tom Hanks and supporting cast does not disappoint, definitely a must see!!

Rating:  4/5 stars

Prisoners

In Prisoners, two little girls are abducted in broad daylight, and their families fight to hang on to their morals and their values, as well as try to keep it together as their hope begins to slip away each day that they are missing.

Hugh Jackman, Terrence Howard, Viola Davis, and Maria Bello put on great performances as the parents of the missing girls, and Jake Gyllenhaal blew me away in his portrayal of the detective assigned to the case.

I didn't even notice the movie was 2 hours and 33 minutes; I was on the edge of my seat constantly trying to figure everything out, down to the very last minute.  My heart was in my throat, my hand was over my mouth, WHEW!!!!  Excellent job!

Rating:  4/5 stars

Riddick

The journey of Riddick continues.  In Riddick, the main character fights for his life against the elements of another unknown planet, and bounty hunters anxious to claim the bounty offered for his capture.

Rating:  2.5/5 stars - This one reminded me a lot of the plot of  Pitch Black, the first movie in the trilogy.  Unlike Pitch Black, however, 40 minutes passed before Riddick (played by Vin Diesel) had any interactions with humans.  It was just him against the world.  I think the only way you will really enjoy this is if you are a true fan of the trilogy and/or Riddick.  The action scenes were good; though they were far and few between.  So, save your money, or at least go during a matinee.

Battle Of The Year

Battle of the Year is about groups of B-boy dance teams from all over the world that come together to "battle" for the title of "best of the best."

The United States hasn't won the title in over 15 years.  As a result, Lax Alonso (Jumping the Broom), and Josh Holloway (Lost television series), put together a "dream team" of dancers from all different parts of the U.S. to compete against the current world reigning champs in hopes of bringing the title and the trophy back to the States, where it all started.

Rating:  2.5-3/5 stars - LOVED it for the dancing, and it was actually pretty cool in 3D (one of the first movies I've enjoyed in 3D in a really long time), and REALLY LOVED it for the music; (took me back to the '80s for a second).  The acting was "so-so" (not bad, but, not oscar winning either).  While not really a Chris Brown fan, it was nice to see that the spotlight wasn't totally on him.  The auditions in the movie reminded me of auditions for "So You Think You Can Dance," and the performances reminded me of "America's Best Dance Crew."  As I wasn't expecting a whole lot, I was pleasantly surprised.

Austenland

WARNING!!!  Before you read any further, this is a 100% CHICK FLICK!!!  Just wanted to put that out there for any guys that ventured onto this post.  While I love that you clicked, had to give you a heads up :-)

Ok, so Austenland, is an independent movie about a woman (Keri Russell) that is in love with the character "Mr. Darcy" from the novel, "Pride & Prejudice."  I mean her ENTIRE life is a fantasy of falling in love with him and living happily ever after.  So, she hears about this wonderful trip to England where she can enter a world similar to that of the novel; where she can live, dress, and act as if she is in those days and times, and quite possibly, fall in love.  And, you can figure out the rest, of course she goes, and who and what she encounters is a pretty "cool" ride for her and the viewer.

Rating:  3/5 stars

When I first started watching this, I had a general idea of what the movie was about, however, I still didn't know exactly what I was getting into.  When it started, it actually scared me because I never read "Pride and Prejudice," and it felt like I was going to be clueless and not understand anything because of this.  Thankfully though, this was not the case, and when other characters were introduced (such as Jennifer Coolidge - who played "Stifler's mom" in "American Pie"), and the plot began to develop, the movie was pretty funny and enjoyable.  Definitely would characterize it as romantic and somewhat of a comedy, and I really liked it :-)

The Family

Robert DeNiro is (for lack of a better word), a TRIP!!!

The Family is about, um, a family that is in witness protection.  This is no average family, however.  Their fearless leader "Fred" (played by Robert DeNiro), was once a member of a mob and as a result of becoming a snitch, has landed himself, his wife (Michelle Pfeiffer), and his children under the watchful eye of CIA Agent played by Tommy Lee Jones.  You would think that this family (the Blakes) would "lay low" and try to blend in and live nice, "normal," productive lives at this point; yeah, not so much.  I almost felt sorry for Tommy Lee Jones and his team as they tried to keep up w/ all of the Blakes' issues and troublemaking.

Rating:  4/5 stars - I absolutely loved this movie!  Robert DeNiro and Michelle Pfeiffer (and especially their children) do not disappoint.  The film was sarcastic and funny, and had some action and irony as well.  It also put a nice spin on the "typical" mob movies.  Yup, can definitely see adding this to the collection!

Closed Circuit

In today's world of government secrets being released, privacy (and the lack thereof), and terrorism plots,  along comes the movie, Closed Circuit.  This movie starts off explosively (no pun intended), and does not slow down!

Set in London, the movie follows two barristers and their attempts to defend a client who has allegedly committed an act of terrorism.  During which, they uncover all sorts of deadly secrets, which lead them down a trail that threatens their lives as they know it as well as their very existence.

Rating:  4/5 stars - talk about a THRILLER!  If you enjoy a good spy movie with twists and turns, you will enjoy this movie!  The cast includes Eric Bana (the 1st Hulk),  Rebecca Hall, and Julia Stiles.  While only 96 minutes, it definitely felt longer and will not disappoint.   

The Ultimate Life

This is a follow-up (sequel, if you will) to the movie The Ultimate Gift.  I had never heard of the latter, but, let me tell you, after seeing The Ultimate Life, I am definitely going to rent it!!

This inspirational movie is about a billionaire (who is running a foundation left to him by his grandfather), and his life struggles involving his own life, the constant battles with his family, and continuing his grandfather's dream and legacy.

Rating:  3.5/5 stars - At first, I was a little leery on this one.  It is very similar to the content of Fireproof, and it originally comes across like an "after school special."  I was pleasantly surprised however.  The actors (including Peter Fonda, Bill Cobbs, and David Mann) do a wonderful job portraying the messages and storyline of this movie.  Like the main character, I think this movie may lead you to re-examine what is truly important in your life.

Getaway

So.very.disappointed.  Then again, maybe I'm not, I really didn't have high expectations.

Wait, sorry.  I'm doing it again.  I'm telling you how I feel and I haven't even told you about the movie yet.

Ethan Hawke plays a former race car driver.  His wife is kidnapped, and he is forced to drive while someone tells him what to do and where to go.  If he doesn't follow instructions, they will harm his wife.  Oh yeah, Selena Gomez is in this movie too, she plays the passenger.

Thats all.  There is nothing else to tell you because thats all there is to it.  All 90 minutes of it.

Rating:  2/5 stars - Big yawn on this one.  If you like car chases, you might enjoy it; maybe (and that is a very big maybe).   But thats all there was, just car chase after car chase after car chase.  Have you ever seen the movie called Phone Booth, where Colin Farrell answers a call in the phone booth and is threatened if he leaves the booth without doing whatever the caller says?  Well, that is exactly what this movie is like except the main character is in a car.  If you throw in the last 30 minutes from Gone in 60 Seconds, you have the entire movie.  Another disappointing movie from Ethan Hawke.  Selena Gomez' lines felt forced, especially when the writer decided she needed to curse.  SO glad this was a free screening.  SIGH.

Blackfish

I checked out this film over the weekend, and I'm really glad I did!  You may be familiar with the Orca (Killer Whale) named Tilikum at Sea World that in 2010 killed it's trainer by dragging her in the water by her ponytail.  I heard about it on The Today Show one morning and was totally shocked.  I never thought that the animals may not like their environment or that they were mistreated, I mean it is a "family park" after all, right?

This documentary explains how Sea World and other water parks/aquariums acquire Orcas and other animals, and how they are taken away from their families and their natural habitats and put into seclusion.  Several former Sea World animal trainers are interviewed and they discuss not one, but MULTIPLE deaths (and what actually occurred vs. what was reported) of trainers caused by these giant whales.  They also discuss the lawsuit and subsequent court trial that OSHA brought against Sea World.


Rating:  4/5 stars - while short (83 minutes), it appeared SO much longer.  It was very moving and thought-provoking.  After viewing, I am no longer a fan of parks that mistreat animals and remove them from their natural habitats just to make money.  I'd much rather visit them in the ocean.  I know everyone can't do that, but, is it worth the misery of animals just to make people happy?

Paranoia

Paranoia stars Liam Hemsworth (The Last Song, brother of Chris Hemsworth, BKA Thor).  That about sums it up.

No seriously, the movie is about a young IT professional who finds himself in trouble, and while attempting to get out of trouble, he ends up in the middle of a "technology war" between two CEOS (Harrison Ford and Gary Oldman) of huge money making technology (cell phones primarily) companies.  

Rating:  2/5 stars - needless to say (but, I will say it anyway), I didn't love this one.  The last 20 minutes or so were good; but, otherwise, the movie dragged on.  I really felt like I was watching another made for tv movie, or an after school special.  Save your money on this one too :-(

You're Next

You're Next is about a family that goes from celebrating a momentous occasion to fighting for their lives as they are terrorized by a group that is identified only by the animal masks (sheep, wolf, and tiger) they wear.

This movie reminded me a lot of the movie, The Strangers; similar plot, the killers wore masks, the home was in an isolated area, etc.  So, here are my takeaways:

What I loved:

1.  The parts that made me jump (after all, that is the point of a scary movie, right?)
2.  The parts that made me laugh.  I mean laugh, for real.  Weird, right?
3.  The family wasn't completely defenseless (sorry, to tell you more would give it away).

What I didn't love:

1.  Way too predictable (yeah, all "scary movies" are these days, but, this one REALLY was).
2.  Not much of a plot (again, I know I was reaching, but still).

Rating:  2.5/5 stars - This is more of a horror movie to me vs. scary.  There was a bunch of gore and violence (and laughter, gotta mention that again), but, outside of a few jumping moments (which were really good), there were more "ewwww" and "yuck" moments to me.

The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones

Loosely based on the 1st in a series of novels w/ the same title, The Mortal Instruments:  City of Bones is a movie filled w/ magic, special effects, werewolves, vampires etc etc etc.  Anyway, the gist of the movie (in a nutshell), is good vs. evil.  So, the main character becomes aware of "an alternative world" within her own and discovers a past that she is a part of unbeknownst to her.

Rating:  2.5/5 stars

I think I will describe this movie as "cheesy."

I was so not impressed w/ this movie.  There were some scenes that really drew the line for me; some things are just taken too far.  The first 1/3rd of the movie started off pretty good, then, it became more and more unbelievable.  Yeah, I know, its a movie, its not real.  But, I at least want to think it COULD be, and this one didn't do that for me.  And before you ask, No, I didn't read the series; I honestly didn't even know it was a book series.  This reminded me a lot of other "tween" series; "The Host" and "Beautiful Creatures."  I didn't care for either of those movies either, maybe I should stay away from these types of movies, huh? :-)

P.S.  I checked w/ some of the moviegoers that were at the screening with me (some that read the book and some that hadn't), and they didn't like it either.

Jobs

Jobs stars Ashton Kutcher as Steve Jobs, the mastermind behind and the creator of the technology giant, Apple.  The movie begins with Steve Jobs in college and shows some of the intricacies of his mind, his differences and viewpoints.  From there, we learn how Apple came to be and some of the challenges Jobs is faced with when his creativity and ideas are limited due to financial constraints and differences in minds.

Rating:  2.5-3/5 stars - ok, while I enjoyed the movie; and Ashton Kutcher did a great job re-enacting Steve Jobs (no pun intended), I was disappointed.  I expected the movie to really dive more into Jobs' life, not just the fact that he was the creative genius behind Apple.  There were a ton of loose ends, and when it ended, there were no "where are they now snapshots" with details regarding what happened to some of the people that were involved in Apple's history.  There was also no mention of how Jobs died.  While I (and probably 75% of people viewing the movie), already know what happened, the person that doesn't know who Jobs was would only learn that he was creative, thought outside of the box, and created Apple.  If you've seen Pirates of Silicone Valley on tv, you've pretty much seen this movie.

Lee Daniels' The Butler

The Butler (starring Forest Whitaker, Oprah Winfrey, Cuba Gooding Jr., Lenny Kravitz and a host of others, including Mariah Carey), is a true story about the life of Cecil Gaines, a White House Butler who served 8 presidents during his tenure.  Included in Cecil's story are the struggles between he and his oldest son, Louis, as well as a view into history; the civil rights movement, the Vietnam War, etc.

Rating:  4/5 stars - the movie was great; great story, great ensemble of actors - (especially Forest, he  blew his part out of the water), just all-around great!  As many times as the '60s has been discussed or portrayed in movies, this movie gives another view (a fresh look, if you will) that didn't make me feel like, "here we go again."  Definitely recommended for the family, will lead to many thought-provoking discussions!

Elysium

Elysium is the name of a habitat created to provide a "home" for the rich and powerful, away from overpopulated, diseased, and the poor that live on Earth.  As the "privileged," the inhabitants of Elysium enjoy clean, fresh air, upscale living, and the benefits of the latest, state-of-the-art, advanced medical technology.  This is a sci-fi action thriller movie, set in the year 2154, starring Matt Damon and Jodie Foster.

Elysium shares 2 of the same producers, the same cinematographer, and director of District 9, (another sic-fi futuristic movie where the Earth is taken over by aliens); and it shows, I was constantly comparing the 2 movies.  While not a fan of District 9, I really enjoyed Elysium.

Rating:  3.5/5 stars - The movie starts off slowly, however, gains momentum within the first 30 minutes, and doesn't slow down!  Lots of action, good acting, and "edge of seat" moments; however, it was rather violent at times.  As a Matt Damon fan, he does not disappoint.

P.S.  I enjoyed seeing Faran Tahir (Captain Robau - Star Trek, 2009) and William Fichtner (The Lone Ranger, Armageddon) as well.

2 Guns

"2 Guns" is a movie about 2 men (Denzel Washington and Mark Wahlberg) that are undercover, get set up, and end up working together trying to figure out who set them up and why.

Now, you can't go wrong w/ either of the main characters starring together b/c both are good looking, there's great drama (Denzel), and great action/slightly comedic (Mark) actors.  The movie was definitely a mix all of the above. 

So, here's what I liked:

 1.  Both good looking (I know I said it already, but, it doesn't hurt to mention it again, it is the truth, after all :-)

2.  Good action, and Mark was definitely the comic relief in the movie.

3.  Good story line/plot.

Rating:  3/5 stars

I expected more from what was shown in the previews.  The previews made ME think that it was much more comedy than there actually was.  This movie reminded me a lot of "Safe House," which stars Denzel, had great action, but, had very little comedy.  So, it was way more serious than I expected.  I'm definitely not complaining, it was a good movie and I think Mark & Denzel make a great combination.

It was also good to see Paula Patton and Denzel together on screen again ("Deja Vu").  Edward James Olmos also stars.

We're The Millers

What do you get when you take 4 people from all walks of life that have absolutely nothing in common, and throw them together for an adventure of a lifetime?  You get "We're The Millers," and let me tell you, it was a great combination of characters, real-life actors, and the perfect formula for non-stop laughs!!

The movie is about a drug dealer (Jason Sudeikis), the fake family he creates so he can safely (and without drawing any suspicion) cross the Mexican/American border with a RV full of illegal substances, and the journey/adventures they encounter as a result.  Enter the wife (Jennifer Aniston) and his fake kids (Will Poulter and Emma Roberts).  

Rating:  3.5/5 stars

I will warn you now if you have sensitive ears; as there is definitely some serious profanity and middle finger usage in this movie (but not nearly as bad as in "The Heat.")  And, the more previews you see before the release date (8/7), the more jokes and funny scenes you'll see.  BUT, even after the previews that I saw, the movie still had a LOT of funny moments and lines, and I was looking forward to the parts I already knew about.  And I was really glad that the movie didn't go in a "sappy" or unpredictable direction.  The movie also stars Ed Helms (Stu from Hangover), and he was funny as usual.  I was reminded a lot of "The Hangover" with some of the scenes.  

Yup, good job on this one, Hollywood!! :-)

Smurfs 2

The little blue creatures that live in the hidden part of the forest are back!!! 

Gargamel is up to his usual tricks.  This time, he intends to use what makes Smurfs smurfy to carry out his sinister plan.  Smurfette plays a key role in this movie; we learn about her origin, and of course, the humans (Neil, Grace, and their family) come to the Smurfs' aid, as in Part 1.

Even if you're not a fan of Papa Smurf, Grouchy Smurf, Hefty Smurf, Greedy Smurf, Smurfette, Painter Smurf, Brainy Smurf, Clumsy Smurf, Jokey Smurf, etc etc etc, you can't help but enjoy this one.  Plenty of laughs (seriously, I laughed out loud quite a few times), some adult humor, one hand clap to the beat moment (seriously, kids were clapping to the beat of one of the background songs), and only a few morals.  I guarantee that you will catch yourself singing the Smurf song (La la la la la la...)!

Rating:  3.5/5 stars - I liked the 1st better, but it was still good.  Shaquille O'Neal is trying to become quite the actor I see (he actually plays Smooth Smurf).  Make sure you stay to the VERY end of the credits, for just a little bit more of the movie! :-)

P.S. I didn't like it in 3D.

Fruitvale Station

Fruitvale Station is an independent film documentary that follows the last day in the life of a young man trying to make it.

Oscar Julius Grant III, 22 years old.  Murdered by a BART police officer at Fruitvale train station in the Bay Area of California. 

What I loved about the movie was that Oscar was not portrayed as a "saint," he had issues, he wasn't perfect.  This film simply showed who he was and the kinds of things he dealt with.  That turning your life around is not the easiest thing to do, but can be done, and life comes with challenges, good times, and bad times. 

Rating:  4/5 stars - Stars Michael B. Jordan (Red Tails) and Octavia Spencer (The Help), and produced by Forrest Whitaker.  There were some cheerful moments, definitely some sad ones, and some moments that just make you think.  I'm still thinking about it.

The Wolverine

Release date:  July 26, 2013

Logan, AKA Wolverine, is back.  And this time, (as with "X-Men Origins:  Wolverine), we get another glimpse (albeit small) into his past, and learn a little but more about his background.  Logan gets offered an "opportunity of a lifetime" and with it, a new adventure, a new nemesis, new alliances, well, you get the picture. 

Highlights: 1.  Special effects were great (as always)
                   2.  Some serious (and I mean SERIOUS) action scenes took place!

Low lights: 1. Way too many slow moving talking scenes (I got bored, twice; is that even possible??)
                    2.  Not enough mutants and not enough action scenes


Rating:  3.5/5 stars - 1st, let me say I am a HUGE fan of the X-Men, ALL of them.  So, I was REALLY looking forward to seeing another one on the big screen again, even if it was only going to be the Wolverine all by himself.  But, (and I really hesitate in writing this part), I wasn't as impressed with this one as I was with others.  This was one of my least favorite of all previous X-Men movies (original, stand, united, 1st class, and wolverine).  Way too slow in parts, and not enough action.  Don't get me wrong, I liked it, but, didn't love it.  Oh yeah, don't waste your money on 3-D, there wasn't enough stuff jumping out at you to pay for it.

Finally, make sure you stay for the first 5 minutes of the credits.  Trust me, you do NOT want to miss it.  (I actually liked this part better than the entire movie, seriously).

Well, one more thing (sorry), a lot of the cast of "The Last Samurai" was in the movie, loved seeing them again!! :-)
 

Grown Ups 2

I was really enthusiastic about seeing this one, only because the 1st one was entertaining; good cast, decent jokes and story line.  So, I took a chance since some (key word, some) sequels (Terminator 2, RED 2, Transformers 2), have been as good as the 1st, sometimes better.  Yeah, not so much with Grown Ups 2.  To say I was disappointed is an understatement.

This time, almost all of the cast is back (Adam Sandler, Chris Rock, David James, Kevin Spade; Rob Schneider didn't make an appearance this time, can't really say I blame him), living now in their childhood town that they visited in part 1.  That's about the highlight.  No true storyline, the movie just follows each of the characters in their day-to-day activities.  The humor was much too raunchy (and overkill to me) this go 'round and I just wasn't amused, plain and simple.  There were some laughs, but they were few and far between.

Rating:  2/5 - Save yourself some money on this one, unless you are or were truly a fan of the 1st one. It may be pretty good in the dollar theater or the Redbox.  I must admit though, Shaquille O'Neal did a good job :-)

Girl Most Likely

This independent film stars Kristen Wiig (SNL), a troubled playwright that can't seem to make it "big," suffers a severe meltdown when her boyfriend breaks up with her.  As a result, she has to live with her mother Annette Bening (American Beauty), who has her own crazy issues and her boyfriend, Matt Dillon (There's Something About Mary), with his secret spy life, and her "interesting" brother.

Rating:  3/5 stars - this is a quirky, yet funny film.  Kristen Wiig does not disappoint with her sarcasm and wit.  I enjoyed it, yet, the ending reminded me of a Lifetime movie; it just stops, no "for real" wrap-ups, conclusions, just ends.

The Way Way Back

Being a child of divorced parents is hard.  Its even harder when your mom is dating a boyfriend that is a jerk.  Welcome to the life of Duncan.  As a teenager, he is already dealing with enough, and his mom's boyfriend and the way he treats him isn't helping; that is until he meets Owen and the staff of a water park and begins a fun-filled summer.

This independent movie stars Maya Rudolph (SNL, Up All Night, and Bridesmaids), Steve Carrell (The Office, Despicable Me 2), Sam Rockwell (Iron Man 2), Toni Collette (The 6th Sense), and a host of other great actors.

Rating:  3.5/5 stars - I absolutely loved this movie!  I went through the entire "emotion spectrum;"  I totally empathized with Duncan, was angry with the way he was treated, laughed at the extremely sarcastically crazy neighbor and employees of the water park, and almost let a tear drop at one point.  This is definitely a feel good type of movie; "The Way Way Back" was "way way good!!" :-)

The Conjuring

Release date:  July 19, 2013

"The Conjuring" can best be described in one word:  SCARY.

Based on a true story, the setting for "The Conjuring" is early '70s in New England.  Much like a modern day "Poltergeist" or "Amityville Horror," the movie is about a house that is possessed, and the poor family that moves in and ends up dealing with it.   A husband/wife team of paranormal investigators are enlisted to help.  The movie stars Vera Farmiga ("The Orphan" and "The Departed"),  Patrick Wilson ("The A-Team"), and Lili Taylor ("Say Anything")

Rating:  4/5 stars - VERY suspenseful!!!! - If you're not a fan of scary don't do it.  But for those that are, this is a good one!!  There were a few moments of "seen that before," but the other scary AND suspenseful moments FAR outweighed those!!!!  WHEW!

Mannnn, I'm not 100% sure why I continue to talk myself into seeing these types of movies, as I'm always mad at myself as soon as it's over.  Sure, I enjoy scary movies, however, as I get older, I feel like Brad Pitt in "The Curious Case of Benjamin Buttons,"  like my life is going backwards.  Let me explain.  When I was kid, I was TERRIFIED of scary movies, yet, I wanted to see them, already knowing that they would cause much heartache at bedtime.  Now, I'm starting to feel like that kid again; can't get the images out of my head, even though I liked it.

Pacific Rim

Pacific Rim stars Idris Elba, who is the leader of a group of a special forces Rangers team put together to defend the Earth.  I need to back up though, because there is more to the movie than that; clearly though, Idris is a HUGE part of the movie for me :-)

Anyway, the Earth gets attacked by some aliens and the defense against these aliens are these huge robots run by men.  I'm starting to feel like a broken record lately (perhaps more like a robot, how appropriate lol) with these posts; all these movies are starting to run together (well actually, its just stuff that has been done already).  So now that you know the gist of the movie, I'll tell you what I liked and disliked about the movie.

Likes:

            1.  Idris Elba (wait, I said that one already.  Well, it (he, rather) was worth mentioning again.
            2.  Great action scenes
            3.  Interesting (not blow your mind interesting, but good) concept
            4.  Great special effects

Dislikes:

            1.  It was a little cheesy (the acting, mostly)

Rating:  2.5-3/5 stars

Ok, so here are my true thoughts.  This movie was like 7 different movies put together.  Here goes, you ready?  "Pacific Rim" is like "Godzilla" meets "Jurassic Park" meets "Real Steel" meets "The Matrix (Reloaded & Revolutions)" meets "Prometheus" meets "Iron Man" meets the "Rock 'em Sock 'em" robot game.  The movie would definitely be even better if you can see it in IMAX.  Like I said, good action, plenty of special effects and sci-fi stuff, w/ a few edge of your seat moments.  My 2 cents anyway. :-)

P.S.  Make sure you stay for the beginning of the credits, there is a special treat.  AND, I absolutely LOVED the name of one of the robot teams - they have a special relationship w/ CRIMSON!! 

Coming Soon: RED 2

Release date:  July 19, 2013

The infamous old retired assassins are back in a brand new adventure! 

But, in case you missed the first, let me give you some background.  'RED' stands for:  "Retired, and Extremely Dangerous."  This is what the CIA labels you when you are too old for the "killing, super spy game."  {This originated from a DC comic strip (I only know b/c I pay attention to the credits, I have never read one of the comics :-)}.  So, in the 1st one, we learn who the RED agents were and what they did in their prime when they become a target, and have to show their pursuers that they are not yet "out of the game."

In RED 2, the retired agents are once again under attack, and they have to figure out why, while trying to remain alive.  Equally as funny as the first, and several new characters are introduced in this one.  Bruce Willis and John Malkovich make an incredible team, and John Malkovich steals several scenes w/ his lines and facial expressions. 

Rating:  3.5-4/5 stars - It felt longer than it was (just under 2 hours), but, very entertaining!!

P.S.  It was very nice to see the guy that played Remus Lupin in the Harry Potter movies (I'm such a fan :-)

Kevin Hart: Let Me Explain

Kevin Hart is definitely one of the funniest comedians around!  This movie was filmed all over the world, however, the actual show was filmed during his performance to a sold out crowd at the Madison Square Garden in Manhattan.  I enjoyed the performance, despite the cursing.

I really hadn't paid much attention to Kevin Hart or attended any of his shows until he recently hosted Saturday Night Live.  As I was watching his silly antics and listening to his jokes, I definitely understood what all the "fuss" was about, and didn't want to miss this movie when it was released. 

Kevin Hart is like a cross between Eddie Murphy (with the clothes and the jokes) and Chris Tucker (with the voice), in my opinion.

Rating:  3.5/5 stars - My only complaint was that it was MUCH too short!!!  The movie was only 1 hour, 15 minutes.  Then again, it kinda matches Kevin's height. Before you say it, it's not mean, he acknowledges his vertical challenges all the time, and I'm only 4'11", so I can make short jokes/comments if I want to! :-)

Despicable Me 2

The Minions are back!!!  Well, actually Gru, Margo, Agnes, and Edith are back with them, but, I REALLY like the Minions and they are just as funny this go 'round as the last!

This time, Gru is recruited by the "Anti-Villain League to put away a really evil villain.  And in the meantime, he is doubly challenged with the girls growing up and with that, all the interesting things that kids like to talk about. 

I would love to see a Minion movie, but, they would have to have closed captioning, or something because I have no clue what they are saying.  I think I would still go see it, even without the closed captioning.  They sang a few songs and did some performances of some famous singing groups.  If you liked the first one, you will like this one too.  And if you didn't see the first one, you should seriously consider it.  Seriously.

Rating:  4/5 stars  - Yeah, I'm a fan :-)

 

The Lone Ranger

Ahhh..The Lone Ranger.  I'm really not going to go into detail about the background of the movie.  It was a television show, back in the day, about ummm a single (lone) ranger (sorry, there really is no other way to explain it) and an Indian (Native American) named Tonto (played by Johnny Depp) and their fight for justice.  Oh yeah, there was also a horse, named Silver.  Anywho, Disney and the money man (Jerry Bruckheimer) behind "The Pirates of the Caribbean," "Bad Boys," "Days of Thunder" etc., got together and turned the show into a movie.

The movie took quite awhile to create/develop the character of the Ranger and the relationship between him and Tonto (and at times, moved rather slowly).  Johnny Depp added comic relief throughout and did a rather good job (in my opinion, anyway).  The movie did pick up though and of course there was a great finale.  (Be prepared to sit for 2 hours, 41 minutes).

Rating:  3/5 stars - Enjoyed it, didn't love it.  I wasn't a true fan of the tv show, but, I did watch it and like it (from what I remember anyway).  So, if you are a fan, I'm sure you'll find something wrong with it, but, it is a movie after all.  Reminded me a lot of the remake of Zorro and it's sequel; of course Hollywood had to add something to it.  I say, if you like Johnny Depp and his movies as well as a glimpse into how a tv hero came to be, and Disney movies, go see it. ** Parents, while technically a "kid like" theme, some scenes were a bit much (kinda graphic).  Just a heads up.

Oh yeah!  Sit tight after the credits start rolling, there is a little more to see.  (Just a little, nothing extravagant).

P.S.  Helena Bonham Carter (Bellatrix Lestrange, Harry Potter movies) starred in this as well.  She was also in Sweeney Todd with Johnny Depp.  I don't know if I'll ever be able to see her in a movie w/o seeing Bellatrix though :-)

The East

"The East" is an independent film about an agent for a private intelligence firm and her "adventure" as she goes undercover to infiltrate an eco-terrorist group.  The group goes after major corporations that have caused harm to others through use of their products.

The movie was pretty good.  It involved some "spy stuff," a little action, and some drama.  I wasn't that happy with the ending; they (the creators) did a really good job building up the storyline and the characters and then kinda left me hanging on the end.  Decent ending, but, definitely could've been better.

Rating:  3/5 stars

Really getting into independent films these days.  This one starred Alexander Skarsgard (Eric Northman in "True Blood" series), Aldis Hodge (Hardison in the "Leverage" series), Jason Ritter (Mark Cyr in "Parenthood" series), and Ellen Page ("Juno," "X-Men: the Last Stand," and "Inception").  Also, produced by Ridley and Tony Scott).

Monsters University

Mike & Sully are back!  Well actually, this is before they were actually friends, co-workers of Monsters, Inc., and before Mike was as short as he is now.  Ok, you get the point.  Anyway, Mike's dream is to become a "Master Scarer" and the only way he can do that is to attend Monsters University.  Not too much adult humor but I totally laughed out loud (literally, perhaps even louder than some of the kids that were in the theater), and once again, NO SONGS!!!!  (I'm starting to like cartoon movies more and more :-)

So, the movie goer in me noticed a whole lot of similarities between this movie and some "non cartoon" (real) movies:

1.  The dean of the Scare School looks like Professor McGonagall and acts like Professor Snape (both from Harry Potter movies)...I liked that character, lol.

2.  The letters that Mike and team received looked very much like Harry Potter's invitation to join Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry.

* Definitely a Harry Potter theme here, maybe its just me??*

3.  One of the professors was EXTREMELY similar to the Economics teachers from "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" (played by Ben Stein).

Anyway, I liked the cartoon, thought it was cute.  And I can NOT WAIT for "Smurfs 2" and "Despicable Me 2!!!" :-)

Rating:  3.5/5 stars

P.S.  There's a little something special for you "Cheers" tv show fans.  Loved it!!

The Bling Ring

It has been said that kids say the darndest things; apparently, they do the darndest things as well.  In "The Bling Ring," spoiled kids that live near the superstars in LA, decide that if the door is open, its ok to walk right in, make yourself at home, and take whatever tickles your fancy.  Based on a series of true events, this independent film re-enacts some of these events.  The film stars Emma Watson (plays Hermione in Harry Potter movies) as one of the rebellious teens, and she does a pretty good job at her attempt of an American accent. 

I missed this in the news when all this took place, I was really tripping at the stuff the kids thought they could get away with!!

Rating:  2.5/5 stars - plays like somewhat of a documentary, as one of the teens narrates throughout the movie.  It was relatively entertaining though.

World War Z

Another apolcalyptic zombie movie has been added to the countless numbers of those done previously.  This time, Brad Pitt takes the lead in defending the good 'ole US of A (and the world) against the "undead."  This movie though, was just a tad bit different.

Apparently, the movie is supposed to be based on the novel (same title) by Max Brooks, and after reading some of the reviews online, fans of the writer and novel were disappointed with the adaptation.  I didn't read it, but, I liked it, a lot!  I didn't know the movie was supposed to be suspenseful, but it was.  I jumped, several times.  I cringed, held my breath once, yup, it was definitely a different type of zombie movie.  Not as extreme as "Dawn of the Dead," but, not as slow moving as the television show "The Walking Dead."  If you are not a fan of scary/suspenseful movies and/or zombie movies, don't do it.  If you are though, I think you'll enjoy this one.

Rating:  3.5/5 - I am a fan of zombie, vampire, scary, suspenseful, etc. movies, so, this one was right up my alley w/ a decent bit of action too.

The Kings of Summer

Nationwide release:  June 21, 2013

This indy film is about 3 boys who tired of living by their parents rules, take the plunge and go off to the woods to live on their own.  Filled with tons of sarcasm and wit, the film stars Megan Mullally from the tv show Will & Grace (Karen) and Nick Offerman from the tv show Parks & Recreation.

The movie reminded me of the movie "Stand By Me," another movie about friends coming into their own.  Both movies definitely teach the boys lessons, however, Stand By Me was only a short trip for a weekend.

Rating: 3/5 stars - if you love sarcasm, this is definitely a movie for you.  Just remember, nothing fancy about this movie (it is independent).

Man of Steel

And yet, another movie I can describe in one word:  WOW!!!!!

Seriously, the.best.super.man.movie.EVER!!!!!!!!

Ok, now that I got that out, let me slow down and back up some.  Everyone knows the story of Superman, from the planet Krypton, planet blew up, sent to Earth by parents, blah blah blah.  But, THIS version was just wow!  (I am seriously at a loss for words here).  This version was different because it looked at dear Kal-El's (sorry, Clark Kent) life story from a totally different angle.  Picture Superman 2 with much better cinematography, special effects, story line, (just as good looking Superman though - as Christopher Reeve, that is), and no predictability.  I honestly and truly had no idea what would happen next.

Even if you're not a fan of super hero movies, Superman, etc., go see it.  I PROMISE you will NOT be disappointed!!

Rating:  4.5-5/5 stars (its really hard for me to give any movie a perfect score lol)

So, random thought: everyone from Krypton has a name that ends in "Al," or "El."  So I would be "Nneka-El." Like I said, random.

White House Down

Release date:  June 28

The White House is compromised, and the President must be saved, at all costs.  Enter wanna-be Secret Service agent, John Cale (Channing Tatum), and the leader of the free country (Jamie Foxx).  The two make an incredible team taking on the bad guys.

I'm not exactly sure why Hollywood decided to release this movie so soon after the release of Olympus Has Fallen", since both are SO closely related.  As in the past with "Armageddon" and "Deep Impact," as well as "Dante's Peak" and "Volcano," the plot or point of each set of movies is similar, however, each movie addresses the issue differently.  So, lets talk about "Olympus" and "White House Down."  Both are about the White House being attacked, and the POTUS needs to be saved/rescued.  I think of  "Olympus" as the "serious, save-the-world version," while "White House Down" is "save-the-world w/ a side of comic relief."

Rating:  3.5/5 - Did I like the movie?  Yup, I sure did!  I liked "Olympus Has Fallen" as well, for different reasons.  Jamie and Channing are hilarious, and do a great job in all of their scenes together.  Jamie really resembled President Obama in so many ways, and the action scenes were great.  I realize it was just a movie; about 95% of it was pretty credible.  That remaining 5% were hilarious and "just wow" moments when I caught myself (literally) asking the screen, "SERIOUSLY?" (And not in a good way, I might add).  :-/

This Is The End

This movie is basically about a bunch of Hollywood guys (Seth Rogen, James Franco, Jay Barucho, Jonah Hill, & Craig Robinson), having a party in LA, when the "apocalypse" hits.  Due to the level of craziness outside, they are stuck in a house, with just a little bit of food, water, but lots of drugs and alcohol.  There are a lot of cameos from other Hollywood stars such as Rihanna, Emma Watson (Harry Potter), Kevin Hart, and others.

I can sum up this movie in one word:  RAUNCHY.  That's not to say it isn't funny; it has its moments.  But, if you are looking for "for real" comedy, this ain't it.  If however, you are a fan of "Project X," "Movie 43," "Pineapple Express," or even "Hangover 2 (not 1 or 3)," then you will definitely love this one. 

Rating:  2/5 stars - I think the movie was ok, but, sometimes, they (the directors/creators/writers) can sometimes take things too far.

Epic

I am not a huge fan of cartoon movies; its hard to fathom paying for a cartoon, instead of some action packed, jump-out-of-your-skin scary, or full-of-laughs comedy.  But, I've had some pretty good luck this year w/ cartoon movies (Wreck-It Ralph was SO good!!!!), so, I took a chance on Epic.  In Epic's defense, the previews were really good, so, I was actually really excited about it.

Plot:  An adventurist/explorer father has dedicated his life and his life's work to discovering a world of tiny beings that he is convinced live in the forest, and searches for them while ignoring the "real world," including  his daughter.  Once the other world is discovered, an adventure begins that teaches a lesson to everyone about life.  Favorite quote:  "Just because you haven't seen something, doesn't mean its not there."

Rating:  4/5 stars - I absolutely loved it!!!  It wasn't sappy, there weren't a bunch of songs (thank goodness it was not a musical), and it was a great story. 

The Purge

Background:  America in the future has little to no unemployment, low crime rate, and things are good.  Supposedly, this is due to "the purge," during which one day a year, for 12 hours, citizens are free to commit whatever crime they choose without any coincidence.  This movie stars Ethan Hawke as the head of a family that goes along with these "rules."  Unfortunately, everyone in the family doesn't agree with this new order and terror follows.

I really didn't expect much since the premise of the movie is already unbelievable.  As far as horror films go, it was pretty decent (not great, just decent).  I jumped a few times, but, I think I like story lines that deal with the unknown in regards to why something is happening to the people in the movie, rather than everyone (including the characters) already know bad stuff is going to happen.  Reminded me a lot of the movie "The Strangers."  Very similar in regards to some of the things that happen in the movie.

The question is, "What would you do???"

Rating:  2.5/5 stars

The Heat

Release date:  June 28, 2013

Melissa McCarthy (Bridesmaids) and Sandra Bullock (The Blind Side) team up and take on the bad guys in this comedy full of non-stop wisecracks.  Sandra Bullock has reprised her role as an uptight FBI agent similar to her roles in Miss Congeniality 1 & 2, and Melissa McCarthy plays a Boston detective who creates fear in everyone.

Despite seeing a lot of the funny parts in the previews, this movie does not disappoint!  I laughed (a lot), and will probably have to see it again to hear some of the jokes.  (I missed a few because the entire theater laughed as well, lol).  I was surprised to see Marlon Wayans and Michael Rapaport as part of the cast, and there was a newcomer who goes by the name "Spoken Reasons."  Apparently, he is known as a professional "youtuber" (yes, I had to look that up :-)  Anyway, he did a really good job as well.

Rating:  3/5 stars

The Internship

Billy (Vince Vaughn) and Nick (Owen Wilson) are two middle-aged men in need of a job and in their search, become the oldest ever interns at Google! Co-written by Vince Vaughn, there are tons of laughs and entertainment!

Release date: June 7

Rating: 3/5 stars - Vince was hilarious as usual! Loved that it wasn't slapstick humor, just pure funny. There was one setback though; if you've seen more than one preview for the movie (and I think I saw all of them since they started showing them), you have already seen 75% of the funny parts, but there are still a few left. Also it is a little long for a comedy, at 2 hours (and you can tell lol).  Funny yet heartwarming, good job!!

After Earth

A more appropriate title would've been "After Death," or perhaps "After I Am Legend."

This was a MAJOR sigh, especially for a movie written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan.  I expected so.much.more (then again, maybe not, the story is by Will Smith). 

It wasn't all bad, there were like 2 good parts (seriously).  And the speech (about fear) by Will Smith that they show in EVERY preview of the movie was really good too (really great point).

So, on to the plot.  The movie takes place in the future, after Earth is no longer a suitable planet for humans (ha ha, get it?).  Will Smith is the commander of the protectors (known as rangers) of the human race, and his son, Jaden (who plays his son in the movie), aspires to become a ranger, like his Dad.  Fast forward (as explained in the previews), the pair end up on Earth battling it's elements.  That's about it in a nutshell.  I was extremely bored for the first 75% of the movie.  It was VERY similar to watching Will Smith wander around Earth by himself (talking to himself) with his dog during the movie "I Am Legend."

Yup, I expected more.  So, for you sci-fi fans, I would stick to this summer's previous sci-fi releases, "Star Trek" and "Oblivion."

Rating:  1.5/5 stars

P.S. Zoe Kravitz (Lisa Bonet & Lenny Kravitz' daughter) did a pretty good job!

Peeples

I was dragging my feet on this one.  I couldn't decide whether I should see it because it appeared to be really silly, and it looked like a cross between "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner,"(which has already been redone), and "Meet The Parents."  Since it will not be playing in a whole lot of theaters tomorrow due to the new releases of "After Earth," and "Now You See Me," as well as a pretty decent review from a friend, I decided to check it out today.

If you haven't heard of it, "Peeples" is about a couple (Craig Robinson & Kerry Washington), that have been dating for a while; the boyfriend knows everything there is to know about his girlfriend, but, hasn't met her family, the Peeples.  Hoping to finally meet them, he surprises her family on a weekend getaway.

Very much like "Meet the Parents," (so, I won't tell you about it, as it would ruin it and make it way too predictable), however, it has different types of family members and the plot has a few twists.  I chuckled quite a bit (not to be confused w/ laughing).  I really liked the brothers, and the mother (S. Epatha Merkerson), and you can never go wrong with Kerry Washington.  Her facial expressions really crack me up.  Side note, she may be on the path of Morgan Freeman; I haven't seen her in a bad role yet.  (Something to think about).  Anyway, on to the rating....

Rating:  2.5/5 - It was decent, (actually not bad for a free movie - I used my pass I got from the Iron Man 3 theater screw up).  So, when it makes it to Redbox (or the dollar theater), check it out! :-)

P.S. there are some good movies coming out later this year:  Kevin Hart in "Laugh At My Pain," "The Best Man Holiday), "Baggage Claim," and "The Butler," which is based on a true story starring Forrest Whitaker.

At Any Price

I'm quite sure you've never heard of this one, I wouldn't have either if I hadn't gone to see so many independent films this month! :-)

"At Any Price" caught my eye because it stars Dennis Quaid, Heather Graham, and Zac Efron.  I think its neat that all these "big" stars are making movies for smaller studios, and they're pretty good movies too.  Anyway, the movie is about a family that owns a farm in Iowa.  As with any other family, they have their share of problems; the father wants his rebellious son to take over the family business one day, and the son wants no part of it.  Along with that, the family is faced with a crisis that could definitely change their lives as they know it.

I don't know if I would be pressed to see this on the big screen.  While decent, I can see why a "blockbuster movie studio" may not have decided to pick this one up.

Rating:  2.5/5 stars - I will say though, that Zac has come quite a ways since "High School Musical," his acting was pretty good!!

Hangover 3

The Wolfpack is back!!!!  Yes, for the 3rd and final time, Phil, Stu, Alan, an Doug are together again for one final adventure!

I have to be honest though, I was a little hesitant about seeing "Hangover 3," as I was NOT a fan of Hangover 2; it was much too detail oriented, intricate, overdone, and just too much.  I'm glad I decided to see part 3 though, because it was NOTHING like part 2!  It was the perfect formula, just like the original Hangover.  This one is centered around Alan and his issues, however, (as usual), everyone else (including Mr. Chow) ends up with some part in the action.  I laughed, and laughed, and laughed.

Yup, I can definitely see this one again, and I will more than likely add it to my collection along with the original. 

Rating:  4/5 stars - make sure you don't jump up as soon as the screen goes black, there is some more to see (but, you won't have to stay and watch all the credits though).

Now You See Me

"Now You See Me" will be in theaters May 31st, and I could quite possibly be in line to see it again!  Yup, it was that good!!

The movie is about a group of 4 illusionists that pull off massive tricks involving millions of dollars.  You never know what's coming, who did it, how it was done...I could go on forever (you get the point).  When it was over, I definitely added it to my list of "do overs."  For me, it was on the scale of "The Sixth Sense."

Anyway, it stars superstar Jesse Eisenberg (The Social Network), Woody Harrelson, Mark Ruffalo (Avengers' Hulk), Michael Caine, and the always on point, Morgan Freeman.  Seriously, has Morgan EVER made a bad movie??! :-)

Rating:  4.5/5 - great action scenes, tons of "make you think moments," and a whole lot of good acting!

And P.S., how come I didn't know Common was in this movie?? #addedplus :)

THE ICEMAN

I had to list this movie, "THE ICEMAN" in all caps, because that is exactly how it should be emphasized.  The movie is based on a true story of a contract killer that worked for the mafia.  Richard (Richie) Kuklinski was just that, "ice cold," and completed his contract missions (to earn money to support his family) without batting an eye.

I was surprised that I never heard of this man (he was arrested in '86), but, then again, I haven't heard of half of the criminals that were arrested in the '80s and '90s, unless it was local or a really huge story that made national news.

I am really impressed with the limited release and independent films that have been coming out lately, they have been really good.  I would definitely recommend checking out this movie, especially if you like gangster type mafia movies.  It wasn't very gory (which I liked) and kept up with the time period when everything actually took place.  I was also surprised that there were a lot of stars in this movie; Ray Liotta, Winona Ryder, David Schwimmer (Ross from 'Friends'), Chris Evans (Captain America), Michael Shannon, and James Franco.

Rating:  3.5/5 stars

Star Trek Into Darkness

Okay, "Trekkies," Captain Kirk & his crew are back to take on a new nemesis of Starfleet Command!  As expected, this movie does not disappoint; there are TONS of special effects, great action scenes, and space adventures.  Kirk still flies by the seat of his own pants, and Spock doesn't let you down with even more logic to annoy Kirk & the good doctor McCoy, and if you're a true fan, the similarities between this film and some before it will be enjoyable.

I'm definitely more of a Star Wars than Star Trek fan, but, I am definitely a fan of this new generation of Enterprise crew and I truly enjoy seeing them on the big screen.  Both series (especially this movie) contain intricacies involving explanations and details that the average person would need a Star Wars & Star Trek encyclopedia/dictionary to totally comprehend (I'm quite sure both exist, lol), but, I am not complaining!  Anyway, I liked "Into Darkness" as much as the 1st Star Trek released in '09, I could easily see it again, and will be adding to my DVD collection.

Rating:  4.5/5 stars - there is no surprise after the credits, but, the theme music is phenomenal (if you decide to stay).  They really need to consider making a "Star Trek in concert" like they did Star Wars.  It would be GREAT!!! :-)

Fast & Furious 6

I checked out a sneak preview of "Fast & Furious 6" tonight.....LOVED IT!!!!  100% action!  This franchise and the "Die Hard" franchise will never get old to me. 

This one starts where 5 left off with a new journey for Dom and company.  Ludacris and Tyrese are definitely my favorite of the crew, they have a new found talent, comedy.  The 2nd set of movies (4, 5, & 6) are my favorite, and the studio has already announced this week that part 7 is currently being made.

So, if you're looking for action and lots of fast driving, crazy stunts, (and a few surprises), this is your movie.  Make sure you don't jump out of your seat as soon as the credits start.  Oh yeah, make sure you don't jump in your car and take off flying down the street either, you may get a ticket lol.

Favorite quote:  You've gone from Shaggy to Scooby. This is something we don't doooo. - Tej Parker (Ludacris)

Rating:  3.5/5 stars