X-Men: Days of Future Past Review

     Before the relaunch of Batman, or the popularity of the Avengers movies, the X-Men started the super hero craze with the first film in 2000. Since then the series has been rather hit or miss; The first two films and "X-Men: First Class" were great and some of the best super hero movies ever, the other films in the series were sub-par. Really it all came down to the director, and despite the controversy revolving around him of all the directors to get behind an X-Men movie Bryan Singer is easily the best. Director of the first two movies (also "The Usual Suspect"), every fan of this movie series was thrilled to hear that he would be directing the latest movie "X-Men: Days of Future Past." Based off the comic of the same name (arguably the most well known of the X-Men comics), "Days of Future Past" is the movie this entire series has built up to. And the result is just phenomenal. 

     "Days of Future Past" starts off in the year 2023, where a species of sentient robots known as the Sentinels have nearly wiped out the human and mutant population. The last pocket of resistance is the surviving members of the X-Men. After gathering together, Professor X and Magneto come up with one last plan to save the world; they want to send someone back in time right before the event that caused the creation of the Sentinels. It turns out Mystic is who causes this terrible future, because she murdered the creator of the Sentinel program which was all the convincing the government needed to approve the program. They also reverse engineer Mystic's DNA to obtain her power and give it to the Sentinels, meaning they can adapt to any mutants power and be more effective killers. Using Kitty Pryde's ability to send a person's consciousness back in time to their past body, they send Logan (the Wolverine) to convince a young Professor X and Magneto to unite in order to change the future; but they were much different men back then. Professor X has all but given up on life, and Magneto is being held by the US government. While he doesn't think he's the best man for the job, Logan understands the severity of the situation. If he can't change the past, the future will be lost. 

     The third film in this series, "X-Men: The Last Stand," is often credited with ruining the franchise; "Days of Future Past" is so good it actually makes up for the mess that was "The Last Stand." This movie does just about everything right, and is easily the best film in the series. One thing that this series has always done right was the casting, it's been perfect since the first movie; and every actor gives a great performance. I'd also like to add that the actor who plays Quicksilver steals the show, I thought he'd be a dumb character but is hilarious and plays an important role in a few scenes. The movie has a really good screenplay, the source material is one of the most respected comics ever and the film adaptation is great. The movie also has a really great sense of humor, and will have you laughing several times; but the movie's sense of humor doesn't take away from the overall serious tone of the movie (unlike other super hero movies like "Thor: The Dark World" and "Iron Man 3"). While the movie is certainly funny, at the end of the day this is an action movie and those action scenes are awesome; it also helps that the CGI and the cinematography are great and really add to the action. Everything that is great about this film is all due to the brilliant directing of Bryan Singer. It's obvious he had a vision of how he wanted this movie to be and he did it. I also respect him for taking on this movie at all, "Days of Future Past" is the most well known and respected X-Men comic and turning it into a movie must have been a daunting task; and he did an amazing job. As great as this movie is, it's not devoid of some problems. The biggest issue with the movie is that a few new characters are introduced and some old characters are re-visited that don't play a very important part in the movie. They feel kind of shoe-horned in for fan service. Also, and this is just nitpicking, there is some ugly costume designs for a few characters. "X-Men: Days of Future Past" is the X-Men movie we've all been waiting for. It takes all the strengths from the previous movies and even manages to fix some things it's done wrong. From start to finish this movie was fantastic, and if you plan on going to the theater anytime soon I would suggest seeing this movie. "Days of Future Past" isn't just the best X-Men movie or even one of the best movies of the year, it is easily one of the greatest super hero movies ever made. 

Pros: Perfect casting, cool action sequences, beautiful CGI and cinematography, great acting from the entire cast, very funny, sense of humor doesn't ruin the serious tone, good screenplay, brilliant directing from Bryan Singer.

Cons: Several characters are introduced that don't play an important role, some ugly costume design.

4.5/5 Stars

Godzilla Review

   The monster movie has been a staple of cinema going back to the silent era with monster like the Mummy, Dracula, and Frankenstein's Monster. In 1933, the world met the first giant monster with the classic "King Kong;" it redefined the genre and would set up for all the monsters to come. But it wasn't until 1954 we were introduced the king of the monsters, Godzilla. Godzilla was originally a lizard that was mutated by nuclear radiation. Over the next several decades dozens of official and unofficial sequels were made in Japan, and in 1998 Roland Emmerich decided to make an American version; it resulted in one of the worst movies you will ever see. When it was first announced there was going to be another American Godzilla film I was excited but still nervous, especially since a fairly inexperienced director was at the helm. Even with an impressive cast, and some very cool trailers I was still apprehensive. The only good monster movies from the past decade I can think of would be "The Host" (2006) and "Pacific Rim." Fortunately though, we can add 2014's "Godzilla" to that list.

     The story revolves around Joe Brody, a nuclear physicist living in Japan, and his family. One day a mining company in the Philippines discovers an underground cavern with the fossils of some giant ancient creature. They also find two huge eggs, one of them has hatched and escaped. Back in Japan, Joe monitors some seismic activity in the area and is worried it could damage the nuclear facility. Not long after, huge trimmers hit and start to tear the plant apart; unfortunately, Joe's wife who also works at the plant doesn't make it out. 15 years later Joe's son Aaron has found success in the arm and is married with a son, but has become estranged from his father who is determined to prove that a natural disaster didn't cause the earthquakes. Aaron learns that Joe has been arrested in Japan and flies out to get him, and while there Joe convinces him to sneak into the quarantine zone near the old plant. They learn that the zone is no longer irradiated and that government officials have set up some sort of facility there. It turns out what ever hatched from the egg survived and has laid dormant in the plant for the past fifteen years, but it doesn't want to sleep anymore. The creature awakens, and they have no idea how to kill it. So the scientist in charge of the whole situation presents a crazy idea, he tells of an ancient alpha predator that could kill the monster; while it's a long shot, the creature known as Godzilla is their only chance.

   Giant monster movies are a hard thing to pull off; in recent years the genre has mostly consisted of B grade horror movies on the Sci-Fi channel. They often come off as cheesy, and it's really hard to make one truly interesting while not being a piece of garbage; fortunately, my high hopes for this movie were met and I absolutely loved it. The most surprising thing about this movie is that it is more than just a monster movie; it actually works as a really great disaster movie. The overall plot of the movie is also pretty good; it’s more than just Godzilla killing some other monsters. The dialog is also surprisingly good and much less cheesy than I thought it would be. There are a few story elements that don't make a lot of since here and there, but I was pleased. Probably my biggest problem with the movie is that some of the characters are lackluster and unimpressive. Most of the characters don't have a lot of depth to them and turn out exactly how you would expect them to turn out. Fortunately though, the acting is pretty good throughout; especially from Bryan Cranston and, surprisingly, Elizabeth Olsen. But let's be honest, you don't go to see a movie like this for the story or acting. You go into this movie to see Godzilla, and let me say he is f*cking awesome. While you don't actually get to see Godzilla a lot, when he shows up on screen it is a sight to behold. With beautiful cinematography and some of the best CGI ever put into a movie, watching Godzilla throw down with the other monster will make you feel like a kid again. The last 20 minutes of this movie are worth the price of admission alone. "Godzilla" knows exactly what it is, a summer blockbuster; but instead of being a lazy cash grab it is obvious that the director put a lot into it to make a really good movie. This is the perfect film to go see with a few friends and just have fun. It may not be an Oscar winner, but it is one of my favorite movies so far this year. 

Pros: Beautiful CGI and cinematography, good performances from Bryan Cranston and Elizabeth Olsen, Godzilla is f*cking awesome, works as a great disaster movie, surprisingly interesting plot with good dialog.

Cons: Several lackluster characters, wish there was more of Godzilla.

4/5 Stars

Blue Ruin Review

     In 2009, the crowd funding website Kickstarter launched; the purpose of the site is for people to advertise a project they would like to work on and complete it using funds that are donated to them through internet backers. Comic books, clothing lines, video games, food products, and gadgets have all been funded using the site; but my personal favorites that have been completed involve movies. As a cinephile (a person who loves movies), it makes me happy to see a director or writer be able to make a film using Kickstarter when no big studios would help fund them. It gives people the chance to make truly unique and special. Probably the most famous movie Kickstarter would have to be the "Veronica Mars" movie (which I loved) released earlier this year after receiving almost six million in donations from fans; but a lesser known movie funded using the site just released called "Blue Ruin." And not only is it the best movie funded through Kickstarter, it may also be one of the best films this year. 

     "Blue Ruin" follows the story of Dwight, a young homeless man who is content with spending his days living out of his car and eating out of dumpsters. One day he is approached by a local police officer who has to deliver some bad news. The man who is responsible for the death of his parents is being released from prison, as you can imagine this shakes Dwight's foundation to the core. Confused and bewildered, he decides to head back to his home state to confront the man. He ends up tracking the man down to a bar run by his family, Dwight sneaks inside and hides in the bathroom; shortly after the man come in to wash his hands. Dwight needs to decide then and there, let it go and move on with his life, or kill the man responsible for his parent’s death. Either choice will shape the rest of his life; he just needs to realize what's most important to him, his life or revenge. 

     Reminiscent of Jeff Nichols 2008 film "Shotgun Stories," "Blue Ruin" is simply one of the best films you'll see all year and American film making at its finest. A classic revenge story, this is an emotionally jarring movie from start to finish. Bolstered by several strong performances, especially from the lead actor, "Blue Ruin" is incredibly intense and suspenseful throughout several points of the movie that will have you on the edge of your seat. The movie also makes you think; it brings up questions about what is morally just, should the sins of the father impact the future of their sons and those types of things? This is one of those movies that don’t have a lot of dialog, but the little that is said is powerful stuff. Also, this movie is downright beautiful. The cinematography is top notch and some of the best I've seen so far this year. Really the only problems with the movie is that while it's well paced it can get rather slow between the more intense scenes, and it takes a good 15 or so minutes for something truly interesting to happen. "Blue Ruin" is a gem, I don't know how else to put it. If this doesn't end up on my best of the year list I will be amazed. Available on demand, this is a must watch for any true movie fan.

Pros: Beautiful cinematography, very strong performances, incredibly intense and suspenseful, emotional story of revenge, brings up though provoking questions, little but powerful dialog. 

Cons: Well paced but can often be slow, takes a little too long to reach the meat of the story.

4.5/5 Stars

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 Review

     The other day someone asked me why they decided to make another Spider-Man trilogy, it's all because of legal reasons. Essentially, when Sony acquired the rights to Spider-Man there was a stipulation that they had to use it within a certain time frame; so that's why they are making a new trilogy, if Sony didn't make more movies they would have lost the rights to Spider-Man. A lot of people were surprisingly upset that there were going to be more Spider-Man movies, the first two received critical acclaim but the third was just a disaster. Many had lost faith and just wanted to let the series lie. But when the new iteration "The Amazing Spider-Man" came around, it shocked many with its new approach and was actually preferred over the originals by a lot of people. Met with positive reviews and an outstanding box office smash, a lot of people were extremely excited for a sequel. But with so much hype built up, can "The Amazing Spider-Man 2" be everything we wanted it to be?

     Taking place not long after the events of the previous movie, Peter Parker has really stepped into the role of Spider-Man. While he manages to do a lot of good and stop crime left and right, he is villainized by many saying that his presence is unneeded and that he does more harm than good. While this is going on, his personal life is in disarray; he decides to break up with his girlfriend Gwen for her own safety, and is torn about keeping his secret from his aunt. Peter learns that Norman Osborn, the head of Oscorp, has died and he decides to go see his son Harry who he was friends with many years ago. Harry eventually tells Peter that he is dying from the same disease that killed his father and that he needs Spider-Man's blood in the hopes for a cure; obviously, Peter is apprehensive. Balancing his personal life and his super hero duties starts to take a toll on Peter; plus a new, seemingly unstoppable villain, who calls himself Electro has just showed up and is determined to kill Spider-Man. All Peter really wants is to get his life to a normal place, but he knows with great power comes great responsibility.

     To be honest, I really didn't like the original Spider-Man trilogy. I'm not sure exactly what it was, but they never did it for me. So "The Amazing Spider-Man" coming around in 2012 actually surprised me, I really enjoyed it; I don't think it's the best super hero movie ever, but I certainly liked it more than the original movies. So when I first saw the trailer for the sequel I was immediately interested, unfortunately the end result did not live up to my expectations. The thing that the new movies really have working for them is the casting, it's been great. Andrew Garfield was the perfect actor for the part in my opinion, his approach to the character and sense of humor make him great as Peter Parker and Spider-Man; and Emma Stone is fantastic as his leading lady. Dane Dehaan is also in this movie as Harry Osborn, I'm been a fan of him ever since I saw "chronicle" and he does a great job again. Jamie Fox plays Electro in the movie and he's pretty awesome; he plays a menacing and interesting villain, and is also helped by much improved CGI over the original. The fight scenes between him and Spider-Man are the highlights of the movie, along with several other great action sequences. While "The Amazing Spider-Man 2" has a lot of things going for it, for everything it does right it manages to do something wrong as well. On more than one occasion, the movie comes off as rather cartoonish with some jokes that just fall flat; but then shortly after they'll have scenes that are significantly darker. It makes the tone seem all over the place. Another problem that a number of people have pointed out is the ending; it comes off as just a promo for the sequel. It's alright if a movie alludes to or sets up a sequel, but in this movie it came off as little shameless. The movie also features three villains, but in reality it's only one. Electro is the main bad guy for almost the entire movie, but in the last half an hour they throw in the Green Goblin and the Rhino; it just feels really unnecessary. But the biggest problem that I have with the film would be the story, I really just didn't care. The plot is rather uninteresting and all over the place. A lot of stuff happens at once and it tries to be too much. "The Amazing Spider-Man 2" had a lot of promise, its predecessor brought a great cast and a new approach that breathed life into a series many had given up on; but with this new movie some may have lost hope once again. While visually beautiful with great performances, a jumbled plot an unachievable ambition held this movie down. We know for a fact that there will be another movie in a few years; I just hope that it manages to be better than this one. 

Pros: Perfect casting, some cool action sequences, great CGI, good performances by the whole cast, good sense of humor, Electro is a cool villain.

Cons: Comes off a little too cartoonish, some jokes fall flat, two unnecessary villains, tries to be too much, rather uninteresting story, jumbled plot, ending just comes off as a promo for the sequel.

2.5/5 Stars