Movie Reviews For September 25, 2015: HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA 2, THE INTERN, and THE GREEN INFERNO

HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA 2
Rated: PG
Release Date: September 25, 2015
Director: Genndy Tartakovsky
Stars: Adam Sandler, Selena Gomez, Andy Samberg
Plot: Dracula is intent on keeping his family at the hotel by teaching his half-human grandson how to be a monster
Trailer

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

This is one of the rare franchises where the second film is as good, possibly even better than the first. The story is quite similar, but the jokes are fresh and it is compelling for both adults and children.

I took my five year old daughter and she loved it. There were many moments where she was laughing out loud, and very few moments where she was fidgeting in her chair. I was interested in the film all the way through as well. I found it funny and endearing.

There are a couple of scenes that may be a bit much for the younger kids so beware of that going into it. Aside from that, this is a great movie for a whole family outing.




THE INTERN
Rated: PG-13
Release Date: September 25, 2015
Director: Nancy Meyers
Stars: Robert De Niro, Anne Hathaway, Rene Russo
Plot: A retired widower takes an internship at a successful internet start-up and brings some of his old school wisdom to the tech age.
Trailer

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

I was shocked at how much I liked this film. It was significantly funnier than I thought it would be, and there were very few cliche Hollywood moments. In fact, it was so funny that we missed a good dozen lines because we were all laughing so hard.

Anne Hathaway and Robert De Niro have a wonderful chemistry that will warm your heart. It's also nice to see De Niro playing a role that goes against his type. I can't recall the last time I saw him acting awkward or having a lack of confidence in a movie.

This film will give you an emotional roller coaster ride. As I said, it is hysterically funny, but it is also sad, heartwarming and triumphant. Bring tissues to wipe the tears out of your eyes as you cry and the snot off of your nose when you snort laugh.

This may be one of the best comedies of the year.




THE GREEN INFERNO
Rated: R
Release Date: September 25, 2015
Director: Eli Roth
Stars: Lorenza Izzo, Ariel Levy, Aaron Burns
Plot: A group of environmentalists on a mission to help save the rain forests are captured by Amazonian cannibals.
Trailer

Clint Says: Don't even bother

Oh, what could have been. This film had all of the opportunity in the world to be a spectacularly scary horror flick. Instead, it is a spectacular fail.

The actin is atrocious, the plot it ridiculous, it's way too long, it's not even remotely scary, it's full of massive plot holes and moments of convenience, and the audience is given no real reason to care about any of the characters.

This movie is extremely violent and gory, but most of that looks completely fake. And some of the violence doesn't even make sense.

The only thing even remotely decent about this flick is that it has a few moments that are somewhat suspenseful, but even those moments aren't really scary.

We've almost made it to October, save your money for a horror flick that is actually worth seeing.

DVD Review for April 8, 2014

THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG
Rated PG-13
Stars: Ian McKellan, Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage
Plot: Bilbo finds a mysterious ring while he continues his quest to reclaim the Dwarves' homeland from the dragon, Smaug.
Trailer

Clint Says: Buy this movie as soon as possible

If you saw the first movie in this series and gave up on it that is understandable. It was slow-moving and not up to the standards we have come to expect from director Peter Jackson. THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG is a return to excellence. I would suggest you give this series another chance.

While I will readily admit that there are several moments in this film that remind me of work, (namely a bunch of people having board meetings and then walking around in single-file lines), this film has a lot more action than the first and Smaug is amazing. It is completely worth sitting through the slower parts to get to the big dragon at the end.



AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY
Rated R
Stars: Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, Dermot Mulroney
Plot: A dysfunctional, estranged family is brought back together by a family crisis.
Trailer

Clint Says: Wait for it to show up on TV

This movie can be summed up in one sentence: A group of over-qualified actors overacting.

I know that Meryl Streep was nominated for an Oscar for this film, but I'm convinced that Streep could play a corpse and still get a nod from the Academy.

This movie really isn't worth your time.



GRUDGE MATCH
Rated PG-13
Stars: Sylvester Stallone, Robert De Niro, Kevin Hart, Kim Basinger
Plot: Two old, has-been prize fighters must put aside their life-long grudge for one last fight.
Trailer

Clint Says: Let someone else rent it

The only thing good about this movie is Kevin Hart and Alan Arkin, they are hysterical. The rest of the movie is, unfortunately, just as lame as it sounds...two old guys that hate each other gearing up for one last fight. Oh, and there's a girl involved, too.

If you see this movie, you'll find yourself cringing and saying to Stallone and De Niro, "please stop, you're both too old for roles like this."



JUSTIN BIEBER: BELIEVE
Rated PG
Stars: Justin Bieber
Plot: A documentary on the pop star's rise to fame.
Trailer

Clint Says: I don't need to say anything. Beliebers will buy it, the rest will ignore it

Really, there is nothing to say about this. I could say it was the worst film ever made and the Beliebers would still buy up every last copy.

I will tell you this though, if you aren't a Belieber, this movie isn't good enough to make you change your mind. If you want to see a well done, pop star documentary, rent ONE DIRECTION: THIS IS US.