Movie Review For August 28, 2015: NO ESCAPE, WE ARE YOUR FRIENDS, and WAR ROOM

BIG NEWS!!!!! I have a brand new, interactive movie review website that allows you to review the films you've seen and comment on other reviews. Plus it has some other cool features as well.

I'm going to keep this blog going for a while, but eventually everything will lead to the new site.

You can check it out at clintsmoviereviews.com. I'd love it if you take the time to register (it's free) and do your own reviews.

Thank you!

Clint




NO ESCAPE
Rated: R
Director: John Erick Dowdle
Stars: Owen Wilson, Lake Bell, Pierce Brosnan
Plot: A family trying to start a new life in Southeast Asia finds themselves in the middle of a rebel uprising
Trailer

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

This film should come with an oxygen tank with every ticket sold. It is so intense and suspenseful you will find yourself holding your breath and, at times, literally sitting on the edge of your seat.

I can't even begin to tell you how grateful I was for the moments of downtime in the film just so I could catch my breath.

Owen Wilson breaks from type for this film and does an outstanding job in the process. Lake Bell is spectacular as well, and the two play off of each other with authentic chemistry.

The film does have a few plot holes and several moments of convenience, but it also rings very true with the way a mother and father would do anything to protect their children.

If you are looking for a good, suspenseful flick that will make you gasp for breath, NO ESCAPE is a great choice.




WE ARE YOUR FRIENDS
Rated: R
Director: Max Joseph
Stars: Zac Efron, Wes Bentley, Emily Ratajkowski
Plot: Four friends try to come up with a plan to hit it big in the Electronic Dance Music industry
Trailer

Clint Says: Wait for the DVD

Have you ever helped someone move and they said, "put the couch here...no, over here...wait, let's try here"? That's kind of how it seems they made this movie. It's all over the place and it doesn't feel like there was a lot of planning before production began.

The actors do a fine job, nothing spectacular, but not so bad as to take away from the movie, but the plot is really thin. There are moments where the film tries to go deep, but it feels forced and fake. Then those moments are pushed aside quickly so we can get back to the party.

I would say this flick is a total waste of time, but there is a nice, educational seven-minute stretch that teaches us the theory behind being a great DJ with charts and graphs included. It's like watching "How To Become A DJ" on one of the science-friendly cable networks. At least I felt like I got a bit of an education, even if the rest of the film was all but useless.

I'm not really sure how to even classify this film. It's kind of a Rom-Com, but the romance is secondary and there isn't any comedy, it's kind of a music movie, but the music is shockingly minimal, and it's kind of a Bro-party flick, but you don't really care about them that much. It's just sort of....there. I'd suggest leaving it there and seeing something else.




WAR ROOM
Rated: PG
Director: Alex Kendrick
Stars: Priscilla Shirer, T.C. Stallings, Karen Abercrombie
Plot: A widow teaches a woman the power of prayer and it changes her life as well as her family's
Trailer

Clint Says: Wait for the DVD

This is a nice and heartfelt, inspirational film. It’s not as flashy or as precise as your typical Hollywood film, but it is better than your average made-for-tv movie.

Those that believe in the power of prayer will find this film to be inspiring. People that aren’t so sure about the whole prayer thing will find this movie to be thought-provoking and it might even give you the courage to give it a try.

The film does have a few slow moments, a few awkward moments, and a few moments of “Christian speak” where non-Christians might get lost in the jargon, but overall it is a good story with a positive message.

Strictly based on the quality of movie, I can’t recommend seeing this in theaters, but it will be a good rental when it comes out on DVD. 

DVD Review For September 23, 2014

NEIGHBORS
Rated: R
Stars: Zac Efron, Seth Rogen, Rose Byrne
Plot: A 30-something couple tries to keep up with the fraternity that has moved in next door, but things go wrong in a hurry.
Trailer

Clint Says: Rent this DVD soon...if you can handle the raunch

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.



THE ROVER
Rated: R
Stars: Guy Pearce, Robert Pattinson
Plot: A loner tries to track down the men that stole his car while traveling with the brother of one of the thieves.
Trailer

Clint Says: It's worth a rental, but it's an acquired taste

Robert Pattinson gives an Oscar-worthy performance alongside Guy Pearce in this very strange, post-apocalyptic road trip flick. He won't be nominated, because the film isn't that great and it's been too long since its release for Hollywood to remember, but he should be.

This movie is off the beaten path, so casual moviegoers will probably not like this film, but those willing to sit through it will be treated to the best performance of Robert Pattinson's career.

THE ROVER is gritty, violent and messy with long stretches that barely move the plot forward and the payoff is polarizing. Some people will be very happy with the ending while others will be saying, "he did all of that for THAT!?"

If you are into film that stray from the typical Hollywood formula, you may enjoy this film.

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.

DVD Review for May 13, 2014

THAT AWKWARD MOMENT
Rated R
Stars: Zac Efron, Miles Teller, Michael B. Jordan
Plot: Three friends make a pact to stay out of deep relationships until one of them is ready to move forward.
Trailer

Clint Says: It's worth a rental

THAT AWKWARD MOMENT is basically one big awkward moment because it's a romantic comedy for guys. It follows the same tried and true formula for RomComs, but is full of raunchy jokes and typical 20-something guy behavior. The movie has a few good laughs and a couple of horrifically awkward moments, but there isn't an audience that is going to like this movie in it's entirety.

It's an ok movie that is worth seeing once, but don't waste your money buying it.



HER
Rated R
Stars: Joaquin Phoenix, Amy Adams, Scarlett Johansson
Plot: A loner falls in love with his computer's artificial intelligence operating system.
Trailer

Clint Says: This is worth a rental if you can handle the weird

When I first heard about the premise of HER I thought, "that sounds creepy and weird." Then I went to see it and thought, "that was creepy and weird." Don't get me wrong, the movie is well done and very well acted, especially by Joaquin Phoenix, but it's still creepy and weird. It's played out in a not-too-distant future and is set up in a way that makes it seem like it is something that could actually happen. That's probably why it came across as creepy and weird.

There are people that will love every aspect of this film and others will be offended by the very premise. My recommendation, see this movie based on your level of comfort with the plot.



I, FRANKENSTEIN
Rated PG-13
Stars: Aaron Eckhart, Yvonne Strahovski, Bill Nighy
Plot:  200 years after his creation, Frankenstein's monster finds himself in a battle between demons and gargoyles
Trailer

Clint Says: If you have to watch this movie, make someone else rent it.

After seeing the trailer, my first thought was, "this could either be really good or really bad." Unfortunately, it is really bad. And even more unfortunate, they set it up for possible sequels. Bill Nighy is one of my favorite actors and even he couldn't come close to saving this boring, uncompelling, go-through-the-motions, snoozer.

Movie Review for May 9, 2014

NEIGHBORS
Rated R
Stars: Seth Rogen, Zac Efron, Rose Byrne
Plot: A fraternity moves next door to a young couple with a baby, quickly making the couple realize that their party days are behind them.
Trailer

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

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.



MOMS' NIGHT OUT
Rated PG
Stars: Sarah Drew, Sean Astin, Patricia Heaton
Plot: A group of moms decide to take a night off and have some fun, but then everything that can go wrong does.
Trailer

Clint Says: Take your mom to see this movie for Mother's Day

If you like really funny, family-friendly movies this is a great movie for you. Sarah Drew is knee-slappingly funny and it is a true joy to see Patricia Heaton play a straight-laced preacher's wife.

While this movie isn't a big-budget film, (sometimes it looks made for TV), it does exactly what it set out to do...honor moms and make people laugh. There are some scenes where you may pee a little. It's that funny.



LEGENDS OF OZ: DOROTHY'S RETURN
Rated PG
Stars: Lea Michele, Kelsey Grammer
Plot: Dorothy returns to Oz to help have her old friends from The Jester.
Trailer

Clint Says: They did not preview this film

This movie was not made available for screenings. Hopefully it is good, but it's rarely a good sign when a movie is not screened before its release date.

Movie Review for January 31, 2014

LABOR DAY
Rated PG-13
Stars: Kate Winslet, Josh Brolin
Plot: An escaped convict hides in the home of a shut-in mom and her teen son. While the police search for him, he and the mom fall in love.
Trailer

Clint Says: Wait for the DVD

It's easy to see why this movie was released in January. It really has nothing to offer the audience for the first 90 minutes of the movie. Josh Brolin plays a compelling anti-hero, but the script doesn't give him much with which to work. LABOR DAY is full of contrived suspense and the fact that the main characters fall madly into lifelong love over the course of a long weekend makes the This-Feels-Fake Meter move a lot.

If you're looking for a slow-moving, slightly suspenseful love story you may like this movie, but chances are you'll walk out disappointed and wanting a large slice of homemade peach pie.


THAT AWKWARD MOMENT
Rated R
Stars: Zac Efron, Michael B. Jordan, Miles Teller
Plot: Three friends make a pact to stay out of deep relationships until one of them is ready to move forward.
Trailer

Clint Says: Wait for the DVD

THAT AWKWARD MOMENT is basically one big awkward moment because it's a romantic comedy for guys. It follows the same tried and true formula for RomComs, but is full of raunchy jokes and typical 20-something guy behavior. The movie has a few good laughs and a couple of horrifically awkward moments, but there isn't an audience that is going to like this movie in it's entirety.