DVD Review For November 4, 2014

MALEFICENT
Rated PG
Stars: Angelina Jolie, Elle Fanning
Plot: The untold story of how Maleficent came to be and the story behind the story of Sleeping Beauty is finally revealed.
Trailer

Clint Says: Buy this DVD now

Unlike many film critics, I am a sucker for a good Disney flick, so walking in to see MALEFICENT I had high hopes that it would live up to the incredible trailers and that the story they chose for her would be worthy of a film of this magnitude. My high hopes were met with an astoundingly epic movie that was suspenseful, charming, and funny.

Kudos to the special effects team. If they aren't nominated for an OSCAR there is something wrong in Hollywood. The creatures' texture and movement is as close to real as I have ever seen in a movie. Their attention to detail was so precise that you almost feel like you can reach out and touch the scenery.

Angelina Jolie puts the entire cast and crew on her back and carries them all to the finish. She is Maleficent, and if you aren't completely enamored with her by the end of the film we probably need to break up. As for the secondary characters (read: everybody but Angelina), they do a fine job of supporting Jolie without getting in the way of her stellar performance.

My only beef with this film are two gaping plot holes near the end that are obvious enough that even casual movie-goers will most-likely notice them. Aside from that though, MALEFICENT is one of the best movies of the year.



HERCULES
Rated - PG-13
Stars: Dwayne Johnson, Ian McShane
Plot: A mercenary fights alongside a small band of warriors while trying to live up to the legend of Hercules
Trailer

Clint Says: Rent this DVD as soon as you can

This film really surprised me. I'm typically not a fan of Greek legend movies because they are either over the top with violence or long and plodding. HERCULES is neither. It is action-packed, fast-paced, thrilling, humorous, and the story is compelling and well done.

This is a new take on the legend and myth of Hercules that will satisfy fans of the classic Hercules story as well as fans of good action flicks.

Dwayne Johnson does a marvelous job of portraying Hercules, but in a way that doesn't make the demi-god too serious. Ian McShane is a scene stealer throughout, and the rest of Hercules's team round out a fun cast with great on-screen chemistry.

The special effects are well done and not overbearing. You'll want to see this on as big a screen with the best sound system possible.

It's nice to see that someone finally made a movie about Hercules that is worth seeing and is not only entertaining, but fun and exciting as well.



PLANES: FIRE AND RESCUE
Rated - PG
Stars: Dane Cook, Ed Harris
Plot: Dusty becomes a firefighter after pushing his engine too hard while racing.
Trailer

Clint Says: Rent this DVD for the kids and leave the room

This movie has a lot of action and adventure for the younger crowd, but parents will not be amused. The plot has potential but the execution is fair at best. It feels like the honchos on this film just went through the motions knowing that no matter how good or bad it is it will still draw crowds and make a nice profit.

I will say that the animation in PLANES is spectacular. In fact, there are a couple of scenes that I thought might be real. If incredible, true-to-life animation is your motivation then this movie will blow your mind.

One aspect of the film that some movie-goers will not appreciate is the seemingly constant use of plays on words to make it sound like the characters are cursing. One example being when Dusty says, "I kicked As...ton Martin." I'm really not sure why the creators of films for kids do this. It adds nothing to the movie and offends a portion of the crowd.

The movie does have a few good lessons on listening, patience and perseverance, but I wouldn't say that it is worth the price of buying the DVD. A single viewing will be satisfactory for most people.

Movie Review for May 2, 2014

THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2
PG-13
Stars: Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Jamie Foxx, Dean DeHaan
Plot: Peter Parker continues his journey to discover more about his parents while fighting new villains and past demons.
Trailer

Clint Says: See this as soon as possible and spend the extra money for the huge screen

When the original Andrew Garfield as SPIDER-MAN reboot hit theaters I was nervous that it would be simply another rehash of a tired story with better graphics. I was happily surprised at how compelling and well done it was.

The second in the series is just as good and just as compelling as the first and the graphics are insanely incredible. I was thrilled to see that the director took the time to give us close up, slow motion shots of the action rather than flash through it as quickly as possible, as is typical for many other comic-book action movies.

SPIDER-MAN 2 also bucks the trend of the one-dimensional villain. Both Electro and The Green Goblin are flawed, misunderstood and sympathetic characters rather than being evil for evil's sake. Jamie Foxx does a superb job of transforming from a misfit to an angry, delusional misfit with the power to do something about his situation. The moment where he is forced to decide to follow Spider-Man or try to destroy him is heart-breaking and tragic, but entirely understandable.

Emma Stone returns as Gwen, the love interest of Peter Parker, but she is so much more than that. The dynamic she brings to the role and the way her character is written is as beautiful and strong as any leading lady I've seen in a while. It's refreshing to see her do her part to save the day to the point where Spider-Man couldn't succeed without her, both against the bad guys and in their own relationship.

Andrew Garfield may be one of the best actors in Hollywood right now. His banter and delivery throughout this two-hour plus movie keeps it light and refreshing without losing the drama of the moment.

Without giving anything away, I will say I was very excited to see the film makers make a very gutsy decision, that will have people talking as they leave the theaters. If I had any kind of heart at all I would have ugly cried.

If I had to say anything bad about this film, it's that the movie ends and then there is another half hour of movie. I'm not sure why MARVEL movies tend to be edited this way, but the climax comes really early and then there is a ton of clean-up work left to do. The climax in this movie is so powerful, but it gets watered down and even a bit lost as we sit through the tidying up process. Even so, this is an incredibly fun, exciting and well done film.

So far it's looking like the MARVEL/DISNEY marriage is a huge success, not only for their company, but for moviegoers as well.

DVD Reviews for April 1, 2014

ANCHORMAN 2: THE LEGEND CONTINUES
Rated R
Stars: Will Ferrell, Christina Applegate, Steve Carell
Plot: Ron Burgundy and his misfit TV news team move to New York to help start the first 24-hour news channel.
Trailer

Clint Says: Let somebody else rent it.

ANCHORMAN 2 has moments of brilliance and several moments that are simply cringe worthy. This film is about half an hour too long and that half hour is brutal.

If you want to see a really good version of ANCHORMAN 2, watch the movie until he falls on the ice, then skip ahead to the last few minutes of the movie. You'll be glad you did and you won't miss anything worth watching.

I do give this movie an A+ for the completely hysterical way it makes fun of the 24-hour news cycle, but most of the humor in the sequel is just a rehash of jokes from the first ANCHORMAN movie.



47 RONIN
Rated PG-13
Stars: Keanu Reeves, Hiroyuki Sanada
Plot: A small group of dishonored Samurai fight to avenge the death of their leader.
Trailer

Clint Says: Rent it

47 RONIN is an interesting movie that fans of the genre will enjoy, but if you are only a casual observer, this will probably bore you.

Its slow pace allows for some incredible cinematography, but there is a noticeable lack of action. The movie takes more than an hour before it feels like it starts moving. When is does finally get going, it is intense and action-packed.

Like the pacing, the special effects are hit and miss. Sometimes they are incredible, other times they look like they were done on an old computer for a movie in the 80s.

It's not a bad movie at all, it's just not a movie for everyone.



THE PIRATE FAIRY
Rated G
Stars: Mae Whitman, Christina Hendricks, Tom Hiddleston
Plot: Zarina, an inquisitive fairy, finds herself in trouble and alone. She joins a band of pirates and plans to steal all of the pixie dust from the fairies, but Tinkerbell and her friends have plans of their own.
Trailer

Clint Says: Buy this for the little princess in your home

If you've seen any of the Disney Tinkerbell DVDs you know the feel of this movie as well. I took the toughest little four year old critic to see a screening of this movie and although she was not overly thrilled with the entire movie she liked it, and that's saying a lot coming from her. (The only movies worthy of her time are CINDERELLA and THE LITTLE MERMAID).

Personally, I loved the foreshadowing to Peter Pan. We get our first glimpses of Skull Island, the Tick Tock Croc, and Captain Hook (voiced by Tom Hiddleston...awesome).

If you have a Tinkerbell fan in your home, she will be thrilled with THE PIRATE FAIRY and will watch it again and again.

Movie Review for March 21, 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: Wait until after opening weekend, but see this in theaters

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.


MUPPETS MOST WANTED
Rated PG
Stars: Kermit The Frog, Miss Piggy, Tina Fey, Ricky Gervais, Ty Burrell
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: Save some money and see a matinee

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.

 If you’ve got the money to spend at the theater, this would be a good treat for the younger kids, but you won’t miss out on anything if you just wait for the DVD.