I watch crappy movies so you don't have to.

Thursday, August 28, 2014

Movie Review for August 29, 2014

THE NOVEMBER MAN
Rated - R
Stars: Pierce Brosnan, Luke Bracey, Olga Kurylenko
Plot: An ex-CIA operative is called back into action to bring down one of his former trainees.
Trailer

Clint Says: Wait until after opening weekend, but see this in theaters


Typically, this is the time of year when Hollywood dumps all of the films they don't expect to do well into theaters. But there are always one or two exceptions. Thankfully, THE NOVEMBER MAN is an exception.

This film is a very good, high entertainment spy flick that will keep you engaged and guessing. It is also done in a way that you really don't know if the main characters are going to make it out alive or not, adding to the suspense and thrills of the movie.

It's a lot of fun to see Pierce Brosnan return to the big screen in a high-action spy role. His cool-as-a-cucumber approach is the perfect juxtaposition to his quick-acting adversary.

It's not quite on par with the better James Bond films, but you won't walk out of the theater disappointed.

Get a big bucket of popcorn and enjoy the ride.




AS ABOVE SO BELOW
Rated - R
Stars: Perdita Weeks, Ben Feldman, Edwin Hodge
Plot: Dark secrets are revealed in the catacombs below Paris.
Trailer

Clint Says: Wait for the DVD


This is about as basic and formulaic as you can get in the found-footage horror genre. The premise is quite interesting and the execution is tolerable, but the only real scary parts of this film are the jump-out-and-yell-boo moments. The rest of the movie is somewhat suspenseful, but by no means scary.

As with most horror flicks, there are several huge plot holes and missing or non-explained elements throughout the film that will drive some moviegoers crazy. However, the typical horror film fan will find this movie to be a decent horror flick with enough scares to raise heart rates for 90 minutes.

If you aren't into horror films this one will either bore you or give you lots of time to study the theater ceiling with all the eye rolling you will be doing.

Personally, I kept waiting for Harry Potter to show up somewhere in the catacombs under Paris. (You'll have to see the movie to understand why).

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

DVD Review for August 26, 2014

BLENDED
Rated - PG-13
Stars: Adam Sandler, Drew Berrymore
Plot: Two single parents that can't stand each other end up on the same African safari.
Trailer

Clint Says: It's worth a rental


While I will say this movie is significantly better that Sandler's last four or five movies, that's still not saying very much. It's not quite funny enough and it's not quite heartwarming enough, but it does enough to keep the audience fairly entertained throughout.

I was pleasantly surprised that the chemistry between Sandler and Barrymore is still there like in 50 FIRST DATES. And the addition of some of Sandler's regular go-to actors add a fun element to the film.

Sandler really hasn't made a film worth talking about for several years, but this is his best work in quite a while.



BELLE
Rated - PG
Stars: Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Matthew Goode, Tom Felton
Plot: A mixed-race woman is raised in a life of aristocracy, but, because of the color of her skin, is still shunned.
Trailer

Clint Says: Rent this as soon as possible


This movie is based on the true story of Dido Belle Lindsay and it is a highly compelling tale. The acting is superb and the story is fascinating. It is by no means a fast-paced movie, but the content will keep you engaged throughout.

Thursday, August 21, 2014

Movie Review For August 22, 2014

NOTE: I am currently traveling out of the country through August 22. There are several movies being released this week that I have yet to see and will not get a chance to see them before they are released. If you see any of these films, please feel free to write your own reviews in the comments section. I will do my best to catch up with the reviews when I return.

SIN CITY: A DAME TO KILL FOR
Rated - R
Stars: Jessica Alba, Eva Green, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Josh Brolin
Plot: The toughest of the tough clash in a hardened city.
Trailer

Clint Says: Don't even bother...unless you are the world's biggest graphic novel fan


This is one of those sequels that should have never been made. This first movie was pretty good because it was innovative and unique at the time of its release. Now, we see two or three movies of this ilk hit the theaters every year.

This movie is a collection of four separate, but overlapping stories. There are very few moments in any of them where we get any sort of depth of character or plot. It's mostly just surface stuff that makes it easy for the audience not to care about any of it.

This is one of those movies that I see in theaters that, when it finally hits the DVD shelves I'll have to go back to my notes to remember the plot.

Even big fans of graphic novels are going to think this film is okay at best.



IF I STAY
Rated - PG-13
Stars: Chloe Grace Moretz, Jaime Blackley
Plot: A girl in a coma has an out of body experience that allows her to decide whether to die or to live a life completely different than the one she had planned.
Trailer

Clint Says: Save some money and see a matinee


Chloe Grace Moretz has become one of the premiere go-to girls in Hollywood, and rightfully so. She pulls off a wonderful performance in this young love tale.

This is a dark film, but it is also filled with hope and inspiration. The director does a very good job of keeping the film from being overly sappy or overly depressing. And the back and forth between past and present works really well in this film.

If you liked THE FAULT IN OUR STARS you will enjoy this movie as well.



WHEN THE GAME STANDS TALL
Rated - PG
Stars: Jim Caviezel, Alexander Ludwig, Michael Chiklis
Plot: The triumphant story of the heart behind the 151 game winning streak of De La Salle's high school football team.
Trailer

Clint Says: I didn't get to see this one yet


If you see this movie please write your own review in the comments section for all to enjoy.

Monday, August 18, 2014

DVD Review for August 19, 2014

THE QUIET ONES
PG-13
Stars: Jared Harris, Sam Claflin, Erin Richards
Plot: A professor and his students perform experiments on a strange woman and the results are supernatural.

Trailer

Clint Says: If you have to see it let someone else rent it


While the premise for THE QUIET ONES is interesting, the movie is lacking. This film comes from Hammer Films, the makers of THE WOMAN IN BLACK and LET ME IN, both well done horror flicks, but it seems that the film makers may be resting on their past successes with this movie.

If you want to see a good horror flick in theaters this weekend, go rent OCULUS instead.

Thursday, August 14, 2014

Movie Review For August 15, 2014

NOTE: I am currently traveling out of the country through August 22. There are several movies being released the next two weeks that I have yet to see and will not get a chance to see them before they are released. If you see any of these films, please feel free to write your own reviews in the comments section. I will do my best to catch up with the reviews when I return.

THE GIVER
Rated - PG-13
Stars: Brenton Thwaites, Jeff Bridges, Odeya Rush
Plot: In a seemingly utopian society, a boy begins to learn the truth that they are all being manipulated by the government, and must figure out a way to stop them.
Trailer

Clint says: Save some money and see a matinee


This is one of those films that will mean a lot more to some people than to others. For those that read THE GIVER and understand the importance of that book in helping to create and shape the Young Adult genre this will be a film of great importance. For your average movie-goer, this film will probably be a little slow with a mediocre payoff.

The world-building is unique and interesting and there is enough suspense to keep you engaged throughout the film, but it isn't as exciting or fast-paced as DIVERGENT or THE HUNGER GAMES.



THE EXPENDABLES 3
Rated - PG-13
Stars: Just about every action hero in Hollywood
Plot: The Expendables team comes up against a new foe in an old friend and must work together to stay alive.
Trailer

Clint Says: I didn't see this yet, but it doesn't matter...it's going to be AWESOME!


Here's the deal with this franchise, just think SHARKNADO only with a huge budget and A-List actors. These films are so ridiculously over-the-top that they are among the most entertaining films ever. They aren't meant to be thought-provoking or important movies. They are meant to poke fun at the action genre in a non-parody way that satisfies completely.

Grab a big bucket of popcorn, get a bunch of friends and go have a great time with this movie.



LET'S BE COPS
Rated - R
Stars: Damon Wayans, Jake Johnson
Plot: Two buddies dress up like cops for a party, but when people start taking them seriously they keep the charade going.
Trailer

Clint Says: I didn't get to see this movie yet


If you see this movie please post your review in the comments section for others to enjoy.



WHAT IF
Rated - PG-13
Stars: Daniel Radcliffe, Zoe Kazan
Plot: A man tries to be friends with a woman who has a boyfriend.
Trailer

Clint Says: Drop everything and go see this movie now


While this movie is at its base a formulaic Romantic Comedy, the chemistry between Daniel Radcliffe and Zoe Kazan is incredible. Their banter and non-verbal communications will make you smile throughout the movie, and there are several moments that will make you laugh out loud.

This is one of those sleeper films that seem to come out a couple of times a year that, for whatever reason, don't get traction among moviegoers, but are exceptional movies. I highly recommend WHAT IF.

Monday, August 11, 2014

DVD Review for August 12, 2014

BEARS
Rated - G
Stars: John C. Reilly
Plot: Cameras follow a family of Alaskan bears as the young learn how to survive.
Trailer

Clint Says: Rent this one and enjoy with the whole family


Disney Nature brings their A-game once again with BEARS. It is a fun and encouraging story with incredible cinematography. John C. Reilly does a great job narrating this film. He has a great ability to add to the mood of the moment with his voice.

The true stars of this film are the camera crews that obviously worked long hours to catch hundreds of hours of footage in order for the rest of the crew to put together a compelling story. Make sure you stick around through the credits to see some of the camera crews in action.




NEIGHBORS
Rated - R
Stars: Zac Efron, Seth Rogen, Rose Byrne
Plot: A fraternity moves in next door to a married couple with a young child. Soon their lifestyles clash in an epic battle of wills.
Trailer

Clint Says: Buy this DVD, but keep it out of the reach of the kids


NEIGHBORS is seriously funny. It is also seriously raunchy. It is also a great movie. If you can handle the raunch you will be entertained the entire time and you will laugh more in two hours than you've laughed in the last month.

Rogen and Byrne's chemistry is fun to watch and their dialogue is hysterical. Efron plays a perfect frat boy and, if a shirtless Zac is your thing, you won't be disappointed.

It's nice to see Rogen and Efron sticking to their roots, but still growing with the kind of characters we've grown to love and expect out of them.




A HAUNTED HOUSE 2
Rated - R
Stars: Marlon Wayans, Jaime Pressly
Plot: Malcolm has finally moved on from his possessed ex, but strange things start happening when his new girlfriend and her kids move in.
Trailer

Clint Says: Don't even bother


If you saw the first one, you've already seen this film. And believe it or not, this flick is actually worse than the first one.

It's full of the same sex and racial jokes that are slightly funny at best, but most of the time they are just tired. Spend your money on something better than this junk.




MUPPETS MOST WANTED
Rated - PG
Stars: Ricky Gervais, Ty Burrell, Tina Fey
Plot: During a world tour Kermit and the gang get mixed up in a jewelry heist orchestrated by a Kermit look alike.
Trailer

Clint Says: It's worth a rental...once



MUPPETS MOST WANTED is exactly what you expect from a Muppet movie. Not much of a plot, not overly funny, but a lot of good music, good cameos by several of Hollywood’s hottest stars, and enough humor to make the movie enjoyable for kids and tolerable for adults.

Friday, August 8, 2014

Movie Review for August 8, 2014

NOTE: I am currently traveling out of the country through August 22. There are several movies being released the next three weeks that I have yet to see and will not get a chance to see them before they are released. If you see any of these films, please feel free to write your own reviews in the comments section. I will do my best to catch up with the reviews when I return.


THE HUNDRED-FOOT JOURNEY
Rated - PG
Stars: Hellen Mirren, Om Puri, Manish Dayal
Plot: Two rival restaurant owners clash when the son of one goes to work for the other.
Trailer

Clint Says: Save some money and see a matinee


This movie is straight up food porn for foodies. If you like slow-motion egg beating montages and people eating ripe, juicy fruits and vegetables as their eyes roll back in their heads, this is the movie for you.

I would be remiss if I didn't try to use as many food analogies as possible while reviewing this film so here we go...

While I did like this movie there were ingredients (1) that were missing making it rather bland to the palate (2). I wish the director had chosen to spice things up (3) a bit with more conflict between the characters
rather than figuratively throwing it in a microwave (4) to resolve it quickly.

The parallel love stories do heat up (5) well as the movie progresses and the story is intriguing. Although this is not a children's movie at all it is clean enough to take any little foodies in your family. In a summer filled with blockbuster action flicks, THE HUNDRED-FOOT JOURNEY is a respectable palate cleanse (6) for everyone.




TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES
Rated - PG-13
Stars: Megan Fox, Will Arnett
Plot: The four turtle brothers must work together to bring down the criminal rule of Shredder.
Trailer

Clint Says: Wait for the DVD and let someone else rent it


This is one of this reboots that nobody asked for, but Hollywood made it anyway. The turtles are creepy, the story is tired, Megan Fox still can't act, and the action scenes move and jump so fast it's hard to tell what is going on.

There are several things that happen that are way too coincidental or convenient giving the audience ample opportunities to eye roll.

It's also a film that misses its core audience. The older fans are going to be turned off by the sheer stupidity of the film and it is too intense for the under 8 crowd.

This film is significantly less cheesy than the 1990 version, but it's still not worth seeing.



INTO THE STORM
Rated - PG-13
Stars: Richard Armitage, Sarah Wayne Callies, Matt Walsh
Plot: A massive outbreak of tornadoes has people running for their lives.
Trailer

Clint Says: Wait for the DVD and let someone else rent it


This is nothing more than an overdone, crappy version of TWISTER. The Director starts this film out using the "found footage" technique where all of the video the audience sees is shot by the characters in the movie, but about halfway through the film he starts using interspersed shots from an outside perspective. It felt like there were scenes that they really wanted in the movie, but couldn't figure out a way to have a character shoot it so they took the lazy way out and hoped the audience wouldn't notice.

There is one very compelling scene in the film where you actually feel for the two people that are about to die, but that covers about four minutes of the film. The other 100 minutes is eye-rolling stupidity.

I'm sure the planning meeting for this film included a brain-storming session with the title, "Forget About Plot And Continuity, What Cool Things Can A Tornado Destroy?"

Without giving away anything that the trailer didn't already show us, my favorite eye-rolling scene is when the massive, climactic uber-tornado hits the small-town airport and takes out a half-dozen 747's. Apparently, Silverton, Oklahoma is a major international hub.

The special effects are well done, but that alone is not worth the price of admission.



STEP UP ALL IN
Rated - PG-13
Stars: Ryan Guzman, Briana Evigan
Plot: The best of the best from other Step Up competitions come together to find fame and glory in Las Vegas.
Trailer

Clint Says: I didn't see this one yet


If you see this one, please let people know what you thought in the comments section.

Tuesday, August 5, 2014

DVD Review for August 5, 2014

DIVERGENT
Rated - PG-13
Stars: Shailene Woodley, Theo James, Cate Winslet
Plot: Post-war Chicago's inhabitants are divided into five groups, each assigned with a specific task to help the others. Tris, a Divergent that doesn't fit into the system, finds herself on the run from a sinister government that wants all Divergents dead.
Trailer

Clint Says: Buy this DVD



DIVERGENT is a perfect example of a good book being made into a very good movie. I would put it on par with THE HUNGER GAMES and significantly better than THE MORTAL INSTRUMENTS: CITY OF BONES. It has great moments of suspense and intensity, the world building is top notch, and Tris's arc is played out very well.

If I had to say anything bad about the movie it's that Peter, Will and Al look so similar, if you didn't read the book you may have trouble telling them apart. Also, there are a couple of plot holes that will drive detail-oriented viewers crazy.

Fans of the book will really enjoy the movie as will fans of the dystopian young adult genre. Adults should not skip this movie thinking it's just another teen movie, it is definitely worth a watch.

FUN FACT: Be on the lookout for a Veronica Roth cameo. She shows up as a Dauntless.



NEED FOR SPEED
Rated - PG-13
Stars: Aaron Paul, Dominic Cooper, Imogen Poots
Plot: A small town racer gets himself into the biggest underground, illegal street race of the year to avenge the death of his friend and take down his rival.
Trailer

Clint Says: A very good rental


I was pleasantly surprised by NEED FOR SPEED. As far as car movies go, (and they are almost always horrible), this one was one of the best. Aaron Paul does a great job, Jesse Pinkman fans will not be disappointed.
 
Incredibly, according to Aaron Paul, this movie is 100% camera caught, meaning no CGI or green screen technology was used. If that is the case, kudos to the director because some of the racing scenes are almost too amazing to believe.
 
One warning on this movie: Watch your speed after seeing it. You'll want to tear up the asphalt like never before.




OCULUS
Rated - R
Stars: Karen Gillan, Brenton Thwaites
Plot: A woman tries to overturn her brother's murder conviction by claiming a possessed mirror creates evil twins.
Trailer


Clint Says: Rent this if you can handle the scary


I was pleasantly surprised that this was a horror movie that was actually scary. It does do the usual scare tactics that most horror films use, but this film has an interesting plot and a cast that is able to carry it off in a way that isn't cheesy.

This is a great popcorn flick that will have you avoiding mirrors for a while.



GOD'S NOT DEAD
Rated - PG
Stars: Kevin Sorbo, Shane Harper
Plot: A philosophy student challenges his professor's way of thinking about God.

Clint Says: Rent it, it will challenge you


This is the little movie that could. When it was released in theaters it had a very small marketing budget, but word of mouth quickly spread that this was a movie worth seeing. In fact, it was in the top 10 weekly grossing films for several weeks in a row. 

Critics hated this film and fans loved it. That tells me one thing, it's worth a watch. It's not the greatest movie ever made, but the content will challenge you, and it's isn't so cheesy that you'll be pulled out of the story.